Simcha Dinitz, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, last night rejected charges that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are a hindrance to peace and denounced American Jews who use the media to criticize Israel’s policies. “I am for an exchange of views between American Jews and Israel..,” but “the New York Times and the Washington Post do not have to be the first channel of dispute between American Jews and Israel,” he said.
Dinitz made, these remarks in answer to questions at a “special dialogue” with Rabbi William Berkowitz of B’nai Jeshurun. Some 2000 persons attended the “dialogue” which celebrated Israel’s Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the Conservative congregation.
In saying that the Jewish settlements did not prevent a peace settlement, Dinitz noted that from 1948-67 there were no Israeli settlements on the West Bank and the Golan Heights, but the Arabs refused to make peace. He said the only settlements that hampered Mideast peace were those in the minds of Arabs who continue to refuse to accept the legitimacy of the State of Israel.
Dinitz said he could also not accept the argument that even if these territories were returned to Syria and Jordan in a peace settlement Jews could not live there as Arabs live in Israel. Finally, he pointed out that Israel in 1947 agreed to the partition of Palestine and was then willing to give up even a city such as Nahariya in return for what it thought would be peace.
DIALOGUE, NOT PRESS STATEMENTS
Dinitz’s remarks regarding Jewish critics of Israeli policies came when Berkowitz, noting that 100 prominent American Jews signed a statement several days ago supporting a demonstration in Tel Aviv against unauthorized settlements on the West Bank, asked whether American Jews should criticize Israel publicly or be silent as a price for not living there.
The Israeli envoy said that in his first meetings with an American Jewish organization after taking up his post three years ago, he told the group, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, that “I am for an open dialogue” between American Jews and Israel.
He said there are numerous channels that are used but said the public media should not be one since it provides ammunition to Israel’s enemies. Dinitz said that he looked over the list of 100 signers and every one has a channel to voice his criticism to Israelis, including to Premier Yitzhak Rabin.
However, Dinitz said while Israel will continue to have a free exchange of views with American Jews, “when it comes to decisions that effect the life and security of Israel,” such as the final borders, “only the people of Israel can make the final decision” because it is their lives that are at stake. “We are entitled to our own big decisions and our own small mistakes,” he said. He invited those who want to publicly criticize Israel to make aliya and then argue for their policies through the Israeli political process.
DENOUNCES AGNEW’S STATEMENTS
Asked about Spiro Agnew’s attack on “Zionist influences in the U.S.” and American media, Dinitz replied that “I will not open a dialogue with a former Vice-President of the United States.” However, he said remarks such as Agnew made are typical of anti-Semites going back to the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
Dinitz added, “I don’t think we should be over sensitive” to such bigoted remarks. “The record of Israel and of American Jews is so splendid that we can walk with our heads high and look down at these things.” He also stressed that he did not believe that Agnew’s views were shared by the majority of the American people.
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