A “commitment to a viable Israeli State must be a cornerstone of American foreign policy,” said Jimmy Carter, the Democratic Presidential nominee, in a Rosh Hashanah message to the Jewish people of America, Israel and Jews throughout the world. “We must supply Israel, unequivocally and in the full amount necessary, economic and military aid so Israel can pursue peace from a position of strength and be protected against any foreseeable attack.”
Carter, who observed that “this year finds the world anxiously awaiting peace in the Middle East.” said that the road to peace “cannot be found by a U.S.-Soviet imposition of a settlement. I would never expect the Premier or the people of Israel to do something I would not do as Premier. There have been far too many secret undertakings, covert assurances and contradictory promises.” Continuing, Carter stated:
“Peace in the Middle East depends more than anything else on Arab recognition of the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish State. There must be absolute assurance of Israel’s survival and security. While there must also be a humane settlement of the Palestinian situation, the Arabs and the world must understand that the Israelis did not cause the Palestinian problem.
“Finally, on the issue of basic human rights, as President of the United States I would do everything possible to encourage the Soviet Union to liberalize its emigration policies for Jewish persons. I believe that violations of human rights are no longer the internal affair of any one nation. One of the preeminent advantages I would hope to secure for our country, therefore, will be the release or freedom of Soviet Jewry.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
