President Carter assured a national Jewish audience here today that he is “opposed to an independent Palestinian state” and that the United States will always stand by Israel “in time of crisis.”
In a short address to the National Young Lead- Ership Conference of the United Jewish Appeal, punctuated many times by applause from the 1500 delegates from nearly every state of the union, Carter declared, ‘I am opposed to an independent Palestinian state because in my judgement and in the judgement of many leaders in the Middle East, including many Arab leaders, this would be a destabilizing factor in the Middle East and certainly will not serve U.S. interests.”
The three-day conference, which opened yesterday, gave Carter a three-minute standing ovation when he made his appearance. The applause was thunderous when he declared, “I won’t negotiate with nor recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist and accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.” The President declared further, “it is past time to put a total end to terrorism against Israel and the people who live there.”
Noting that the U.S. has provided $10 billion in military and economic assistance to Israel since he took office in 1977, Carter said, “we will continue to supply sufficient aid to Israel to enable it to defend itself against any possible adversary — you can depend on that.” The President observed that the U.S. has been assisting Israel for 30 years and said, “I can say, without reservations, speaking on behalf of the American people, ” that assistance will continue “not just for 30 years but forever.”
AID IN U.S. INTEREST
The President said that he wanted “to emphasize in the strongest possible terms, our aid is not only altruistic but… in the moral and strategic interests of the United States. There is a mutual relationship, there is a mutual benefit and there is a mutual commitment which has been impressed very deeply in my mind and my government and the government of Israel, “he said.
Pledging to continue to “strengthen even further our common commitment and our common goal, “the President added, “We know that in time of crisis we can depend on Israel and the people of Israel know that in time of crisis that Israel can depend on the U.S. Israel is an important force for stabilization in the Middle East. It has a vital role to play in meeting threats in that vital region,” Carter said.
Noting that tomorrow Israel and Egypt will exchange ambassadors, Carter declared, that is “another great day for you and me. “He called it “on incredible event” and “a hopeful beginning for peace and reunification among nations in the Middle East.” The President said. “Peace has become not just a hope but a living reality on one of the major frontiers of that beloved country. In the days ahead, we will work to solidify peaceful relations between Israel and Egypt and expand that peace to encompass all the nations of the Middle East.”
WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON PALESTINIAN ISSUE
The President said he would continue to work for the “resolution of the Palestinian issue in all its aspects and achieve a comprehensive peace on the basis of Resolutions 242 and 338 and the Camp David accords because that is the best way in the long run to insure Israel’s security.”
Referring to the tripartite talks between Egypt, Israel and the U.S. for “a self-governing authority ” on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the President said this is for the “Palestinians who live in the West Bank and Gaza to enable them to participate in the determination of their own future” and to make “on arrangement to preserve Israel’s security not only by us but by all nations.”
Carter added, “As we work for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians” under the Camp David accords, “we won’t hurt Israel’s security because Israel’s security is so closely linked to the security of the United States of America.”
Carter did not refer to the issues of Jerusalem, settlements on the West Bank, the Golan Heights and Lebanon which have given rise to differences between Washington and Jerusalem from time to time. Praising the young Jewish leaders, he said, “Your support for Israel is an example for the American people” and “this is a commitment which I share with you now and in the future. You represent the finest aspects of the future of our country.”
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