Communist Paper Departs from Usual Hard Anti-israel Line

The Communist Party organs here have recently been circulating a text said to be written by Communists of “Jewish origins” which departs from the usual hard anti-Israel party line. The writers of the unsigned text, entitled “Reflections on the Future of the State of Israel.” assert that “Israel is a living reality for us” because of “historical, traditional and family ties.”

Many observers here note that the text appears at a time when there is much talk of the possible renewal of Soviet-Israeli diplomatic relations. These observers indicate the article may have been published in a western Communist Party paper at the instigation of the Soviet Union as a diplomatic move in order to sound out the opinion of the Jewish community in the Western world.

The outline of the article remains within the general Communist Party lines, but is noteworthy for its tone of moderation. It criticizes Israel’s present government and what it calls its “suicidal” policy of “annexation,” but at the same time, makes no virulent attack on Zionism and Zionist structures in Israel.

Furthermore, the writers see Israel’s survival in the Middle East among its Arab neighbors as positive and even go so far as to say Israel has the right to exist on condition that the Arab territories be evacuated and the national rights of the Palestinians be fully recognized. It criticizes the United States and its policy of force in the Mediterranean and advises the Jewish state to “change its allies.” Such an alliance, they say, is jeopardizing Israel’s chance to develop better relations with Europe and take advantage of the East-West detente. In this connection, the writers express “their hope for improved Soviet-Israeli relations in the near future.”