Cabinet Ministers Angered by Herzog’s Criticism of U.S. Jews

Angry Cabinet ministers demanded yesterday that Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Chaim Herzog, be called home to explain his public remarks Friday that American Jews had not responded adequately to the dangers inherent in the anti-Zionist resolution adopted by the General Assembly’s Third Committee. (See separate story.)

Foreign Minister Yigal Allon made it clear, however, that he did not intend to summon Herzog back to Jerusalem and certainly not to fire him as one incensed American Jewish leader reportedly demanded. Allon indicated, nevertheless, that he would insist that Herzog explain his remarks and explain why he had made them publicly and in such a deleterious manner.

Many ministers blasted both the form and content of the UN envoy’s remarks, made during a meeting in New York last Friday at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. They found particularly disconcerting the extensive coverage given Herzog’s allegations in the American news media. The general feeling at the Cabinet session was that Herzog’s remarks could severely damage Israel’s interests.

Most political observers here were inclined to agree with the Cabinet members that Herzog’s allegations were impolitic and undiplomatic. “What counts is results,” one observer said, referring to the fact that 408 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed a resolution condemning the anti-Zionist resolution and that the Ford Administration also denounced it. The implication was that Jewish efforts had been responsible, at least in part, for these responses.

Another observer demurred, however. He suggested that there was much truth in Herzog’s allegations, although it was foolish for him to have voiced them publicly. According to that observer, the Congressional action was the result of initiatives by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and Ambassador Daniel Moynihan rather than of Jewish lobbying efforts.