Evron Urges Restraint in Criticism of Administration’s Mideast Policy

Israel’s Ambassador Ephraim Evron said last night that the United States could “stop” anti-Israel resolutions in the United Nations Security Council but he also suggested restraint in criticism of the Carter Administration policy in the Middle East.

Appearing before 1000 delegates at B’nai B’rith’s international convention here, Evron attacked UN “hypocrisy” and, quoting Secretary of State Edmund Muskie’s own statement critical of the resolution on Jerusalem, said the U.S. “failed to follow the logic” of Muskie’s statement by abstaining. Evron expressed “hope” that the Carter Administration is “serious” that the “use” of the Security Council by “the Arabs and their Soviet friends should stop.” He said that while the Western powers “cringe before Arab blackmail” the “United States has the power to stop it.”

“Our duty and the duty of our friends is to face the situation,” Evron said. “It is a sad time for the world when within a few short weeks the Palestine Liberation Organization’s El Eatch” demanded the complete liquidation of Israel and the Western European nations adopted the Declaration of Venice supporting the PLO.

Evron was introduced by Murray Shusterman of Philadelphia, who said, “This has been a time of gathering doubts about America’s position on the Middle East and doubts about its opposition to the PLO.” Shusterman also said “Doubts exist too about the firmness of America’s opposition to an independent Palestinian state and, of course, we are deeply concerned about this Administration’s thoughts and what constitutes ‘occupied territories’ and illegal settlements’.”

U.S. AID TO ISRAEL STRESSED

Apparently responding to this, Evron said, “The three elements vital to our security” are the strength of Israel’s defense forces, Israel’s own internal strength and “American friendship for Israel.” Speaking of that friendship, he said: “It is vital to watch over it, to defend it against any encroachment. We have had our arguments with every Administration, beginning with President Truman, but basically our unique friendship is deeply rooted and widely supported.”

Continuing, the envoy declared: “We will do great damage if we only stressed differences and if we close our eyes to the bright side of our relationship which is by for greater than the differences we have had from time to time. Were it not for U.S. military and economic aid, it would have been nigh impossible for Israel to have survived this far.” While a “pernicious vote is cast from time to time, I have to remind you of the basic-support from the U.S. in the United Nations and other international forums.”

Mentioning the World Conference of the United Nations Decode for Women in Copenhagen, the International Labor Organization and the World Bank, Evron said that “if we overemphasize the negative and not the positive, our enemies might misconstrue what is happening and think Israel is deserted by its best friend, and think therefore, why make peace with Israel?”

Sen. Henry Jackson (D. Wash.), praising B’nai B’rith as the “cutting edge of the fight for freedom since its founding in 1843, said the “two most dangerous” trends faced by the West “is dependence on the Middle East for its oil supply” and the decline of its overall military power in relation to the Soviet Union. In an oblique thrust at President Carter, Jackson said “I worry about those born-again thoughts, about “these people who suddenly have retroactive righteousness” in building America’s defenses. “They flunked the course of history, “he said.

A glass sculpture with a Hebrew inscription of his “life-long concern for needy children all over the world,” was presented to film star Danny Kaye who has been aiding UNICEF for 26 years. B’nai B’rith president Jack Spitzer, who also presented an award to UNICEF, said that Kaye “probably is the most loved human being in the world” because he brought laughter into the lives of children:

Ambassadors and ministers of 16 European and Latin American countries attended last night’s program. The United States was not officially represented.