Carter Endorses Call to Include Support of Israel in Party Platform

Jimmy Carter, front-runner in the Democratic Party primaries, has endorsed “wholeheartedly” the Zionist Organization of America’s proposal in support of Israel to be incorporated in the Democratic Party’s platform at its nominating convention in New York in July.

“I am proud, with you, to reaffirm my support for Israel and for its people.” Carter wrote in a letter to two officials of the ZOA in Washington and New York. He expressed his hope the proposal “will be included as part of our party’s national platform.”

Continuing, Carter stated: “As you probably know, on many occasions I have spoken of my strong support for Israel….A lasting peace in the Middle East must be based on the absolute assurance of Israel’s survival and security. I would never yield on that point and it is very important for this country to make that point clear to the rest of the world. The survival of Israel is a significant moral principle for the people of the United States.”

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency received a copy of the letter which Carter mailed to Paul Flacks, director of the ZOA’s public affairs department in New York, and to Allen Lesser, director of the ZOA public affairs committee in Washington. Lesser and Bernard White of Washington, a member of the ZOA board, presented the proposal to the Democratic Party’s platform committee here last week.

The ZOA’s proposal stated, in part: “A Democratic Administration would work diligently to bring about direct negotiations by the parties of the conflict in the Middle East to achieve a durable and just peace, and it would oppose the imposition of a solution by outside powers.” It added: “The Democratic Party rejects unequivocally attacks on Zionism as libelous and contrary to the concepts of freedom and liberty.” (By Joseph Polakoff)