Billy Carter Hosts Libyan Dele Gation to Georgia, Takes a Slap at Jews

The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith sharply criticized yesterday President Carter’s brother, Billy Carter, for hosting a Libyan delegation to Georgia and signing a friendship agreement with it. This morning, Maynard Jackson, the Black Mayor of Atlanta, refused to meet with the Libyan delegation, saying he was too busy. Carter rapped the Mayor and reportedly said Jackson acted “under the pressure of Jews.” During a reception here last night for the Libyan delegation, the establishment of the Libyan-Georgia Friendship Society was announced. Billy Carter, who visited Libya last September as part of a delegation of Georgians, said the Libyan visit here is a reciprocal visit.

Stuart Lewengrub, ADL’s regional director, charged that Carter, by inviting the Libyan delegation, is ignoring the “terrorist-supporting nature” of the Libyan government. “Doesn’t Billy Carter know he is dealing with representatives of a nation which has expressed the deepest hatred of all America stands for, hatred for Israel and an utter disregard for human life?” Lewengrub asked.

During the reception, Ronnie Drandoss, national director of the Conference of Jewish Activists, a newly formed group headed by Rabbi Meir Kahane which describes itself as “non-violent,” disrupted the meeting by trying to read a statement denouncing President Carter. When guards tried to remove him, the businessmen present demanded that he be heard and he finished the statement and left.

Yesterday’s criticism of Billy Carter by the ADL was the second time in recent weeks that he came under fire from Lewengrub. Last month he was sharply reprimanded by Lewengrub for using the term “bastardized Jew” at a local fund-raising dinner honoring Phil Niekro, a sports figure of Polish descent. Carter reportedly said he didn’t know Niekro was a “Pollock,” but thought he was a “bastardized Jew.” In both incidents, Billy Carter declined to respond to Lewengrub’s statements.