Premier Menachem Begin cabled congratulations to President-elect Ronald Reagan on his landslide victory last night, saying that he “look(s) forward to close and fruitful cooperation between our countries for the cause of peace and liberty.”
He also sent a message to President Carter expressing thanks “on behalf of the people and government of Israel for your friendship, your great-contribution to Israel’s security and incessant efforts to bring about peace in the Middle East.”
Begin, who will leave for the U.S. Sunday on a 10-day visit, will seek a meeting with Reagan, reliable sources said here today. He is already scheduled to meet with Carter in Washington Nov. 13. In his message to Reagan, Begin said:
“Please accept on behalf of the people and government of Israel heartiest congratulations on your election to the great post of President of the United States. The decision of the American people is an expression of its democratic spirit, an example to all nations living in freedom or striving to achieve it. We believe in your friendship to Israel and look forward to close and fruitful cooperation between our countries for the cause of peace and liberty.”
Despite the six-hour time difference, the American election results were known in Israel long before down from radio and wire service reports, although the planned live television coverage via satellite was cancelled for technical reasons. Newspapers here proclaimed Reagan the victor even before the results were official in the U.S.
Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir said Israel hoped that the identity of interests between it and the U.S., which Reagan stressed during his election campaign, will find greater expression than heretofore.
SEE POSITIVE REACTIONS BY REAGAN
Opposition Labor Party leaders Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin welcomed the Reagan sweep. Peres, chairman of the Labor Party, expressed his belief that the new U.S. President will display a very positive attitude toward Israel. He said he gained that impression from talking to Reagan and he also felt that the Reagan team would not be locking for ardent supporters of Israel. Peres noted that Reagan has favored a Jordanian solution of the Palestinian problem which coincides with the position of the Labor Party.
Former Premier Rabin, in on article written before down today and published this evening in Yediot Achronot, saw the Reagan victory as an expression of the American people in favor of a more decisive foreign policy and greater military strength. He predicted that Reagan will take a tough policy toward the Soviet Union which, according to Rabin, will place cooperation between the U.S. and Israel on a sounder basis.
Mayor Rashod A-Shawa of Gaza, regarded as one of the more moderate Palestinian leaders, said he was not disturbed by Reagan’s pro-Israel statements during the election campaign. He said promises made during a campaign do not necessarily determine the winner’s policy after he takes office.
But Mayor Elias Freij of Bethlehem, another moderate, warned that a Reagan Administration might strengthen Israel for beyond its legitimate security needs and that would harden the Israeli attitude toward the Palestinians and Arabs in general.
Editorial opinion in Israel’s two mass circulation dailies differed in tone. While Yediot Achronot said Israel would be better off under the protection of a strong America such as promised by Reagan, Maariv observed that “the American people elected a man who is unknown as to his global conceptions. If he has any, they were revealed in his pre-election statements” which were “weighted” to win support, the paper said. Maariv added that much will depend on the nature of the team Reagan selects.
Political observers here attached considerable importance to the results of the Senate elections which gave the Republicans their first majority in that chamber since the first Eisenhower Administration. They noted in particular the defeats of some of the strongest supporters of Israel, including Sen. Frank Church (D.Idaho), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He was beaten by Republican Steven Symms who, according to these observers, is known to be connected with Libyan interests.
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