Dinitz Sees No Erosion of Support for Israel in Congress

Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz asserted yesterday there was no erosion of support for Israel in Congress but there was an unwillingness to spend money which will inevitably affect Israel. Dinitz made his remarks to a meeting here of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

“I see no disenchantment or criticism of Israel nor any diminution of support for a strong and viable Israel,” Dinitz said. He added that there was a more critical approach in the Congress toward anything dealing with money, there was a mood to tie the hands of the Executive and there was a weariness over international obligations.

But Dinitz said he expected Israel’s economic and military aid package, which is due to come up in Congress during the next 50 days, will be approved. He said Congress still strongly supports Israel because the American people support Israel.

However, Dinitz said that next year aid for Israel would need strong Presidential and Administration support in Congress. He said Congress would no longer increase the Administration’s request for Israel as was true in the past, He said because of the economic conditions in the United States, Congress will be less willing to appropriate foreign aid and noted that Israel’s “closest, best friends” in Congress agree with the assessment.

KISSINGER NOT WITHHOLDING AID

Dinitz denied that Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger was withholding sending arms or Any other aid to Israel pending an Israeli-Egyptian second stage agreement. But he said if such an agreement was reached, the atmosphere it would create would result in a more favorable response to Israel’s request.

Dinitz told the Presidents Conference that he was irked by those latter-day saints who take it upon themselves to remind Israel that peace is imperative for the Jewish State. He said Israel needs no reminder that it needs peace and noted that all the wars Israel has fought were forced upon her by the Arab states either through invasion or blockade. Dinitz did not identify the saints.

At the outset of the meeting, Rabbi Israel Miller, chairman of the Presidents Conference, expressed the gratitude of the Jewish people for President Ford’s statement yesterday in Hollywood, Florida, deploring religious and ethnic discrimination as a result of Arab pressure.