Evron Assures U.S. Jews There is No Erosion of Israel-u.s. Relations

Ephraim Evron, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, cautioned American Jews today not to regard Israeli-American relations as being eroded and expressed “out gratitude” to President Carter for his part in achieving the Egyptian-Israeli peace.

Addressing a breakfast session of the United Jewish Appeal Young Leadership Conference at the Sheraton Washington Hotel shortly after Israel and Egypt formally exchanged Ambassadors today, Evron advised, “Let’s be more objective when we face various issues” involving Israel and the U.S.

He noted that a question has been put to him as to “how far has erosion between the U.S. and Israel gone?” He said, “When I didn’t respond in an affirmative manner, I was criticized because I didn’t buy this idea that there has been an erosion.” Evron recalled that despite President Truman’s recognition of Israel as a State in 1948, Truman also had taken steps contrary to Israel’s positions. “Had there been an erosion in Truman’s position?” the Israeli envoy asked.

“The basic relationship” between Israel and the U.S. as “countries” and as “governments,” he said, “is unique and unshakable. I don’t mean we don’t have arguments but we would be making a great mistake were we to say that the U.S. is turning its back on Israel” because “it would be encouraging the Arabs to think that is happening.”

Declaring, to applause, that “full diplomatic relations” between Israel and Egypt are “a reality” and “is beginning today,” Evron emphasized that “much, much credit is due to President Carter for his perseverance, for twisting arms — (Egyptian President Anwar) Sadat’s arms — for achieving peace. So today, I want to extend to him our gratitude for the role he played in achieving that peace between Egypt and Israel.”

The Israeli Ambassador drew laughter when he said he didn’t want to interfere in American politics. He noted that he has listened to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D.Mass.) and “it was a pleasure to hear him expound support for Israel.” He said he also heard the Republican Presidential aspirants and “I couldn’t find any unfriendly candidate.”

Evron said “The basis” of U.S.-Israel relations “is healthy and deep and we must know how to build on it” and “how to handle ourselves,” when “not to act, when to press our case when we should.”

NO TAMPERING WITH UN RESOLUTIONS

Touching on other subjects, Evron said “The Jew has the right to live in Hebron” and rejected that it is “a hindrance and an obstacle to peace.” Evron also emphasized that “the basis” for the Camp David accords is United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 “as they are today.”

Evron said “Israel took terrible risks in the peace it signed. I’m saying to the people in Washington, about what they call ‘new initiatives’ that on one thing they should be certain. Today we are not going to repeat the mistakes that cost us so dearly in the past.” The envoy added, “I don’t want to believe — I don’t believe — the U.S. Administration will follow this course.”

Before Evron left the breakfast hall, Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder of the Jewish Defense League, demanded the podium. When the chairperson demurred, because he was not on the program, shouts of “let him speak” came from the audience. Kahane said he would speak for 15 minutes but he cut his remarks by half as people began to leave. He denied that peace has been attained between Israel and Egypt, demanded the “annexation” of the occupied territories, the placement of Jewish settlements there and the “removal” of the Arabs. He exhorted his dwindling audience to immigrate to Israel.

The three-day Young Leadership Conference which closed today, was addressed at its opening dinner Sunday night by Sens. Paul Sarbanes (D.Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Robert Packwood (R.Ore.), Republican caucus chairman. Sarbanes emphasized that “It is a grievous misreading of history-to-suppose that the conflicts in that troubled region (the Middle East) arose in response to the fact of Israel. On the contrary,” he said, “Israel has been and remains a rock of stability and strength which constitutes on important strategic asset to America and the West.”

Sarbanes said, “Support for Israel is not a Jewish concern. It is the concern of all men and women of principle and vision. The millions of other Americans who support and sustain Israel is not a Jewish lobby or an Israel lobby. They are an American lobby striving for what is best in America’s principles.”

Packwood said, “In the last half of this century, the history of the Middle East is Arab intransigency and Israeli willingness to compromise in hope of getting the peace they have never gotten.” He noted that “Some European nations are trying to change” Resolution 242 and want Israel to rely on the UN and the U.S. Packwood recalled earlier “guarantees” such as the pledge of freedom of navigation through the Straits of Tiran, that did not hold. “Israel is reluctant to accept pledges” in view of their failure in the past, he said, adding, “If I were Israel, not one inch would I give up.”