Max M. Fisher, president of the Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, told a press conference here that he had unhesitating confidence in President Nixon’s interest in Israel. “The President has the interest of Israel at heart, and his position in favor of grants-in-aid and assistance to assure that nation’s security is unquestioned.”
Fisher’s press conference took place against the backdrop of the 40th General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds attended by 1,500 delegates from 300 Jewish communities in the United States and Canada. He was reelected president of the CJF and Nixon sent his personal greetings in which he referred to “our long friendship and all I know of Max’s remarkable abilities.”
Discussing the administration’s policy toward Israel, Fisher said that military aid is coming forth on a regular, orderly and uninterrupted basis and has not been curtailed. Although he did not specify when new shipments of Phantom jets would be made, Fisher expressed conviction that they would come in time. He said that he could not quote Nixon directly and that there were matters involving the administration that could be summarized as his own conviction of a most sincere effort to prevent untoward incidents in the Middle East.
From the facts he has gathered, Fisher said he believes the administration is convinced that Russia does not want a war in the Mideast and that the chances are good for the continuation of the cease-fire in spite of frequent threats by Egyptian President Sadat of a Dec. 31 deadline. Fisher confirmed that he was now active with a small group of national Republican leaders in planning the campaign for the reelection of President Nixon.
In his message to Fisher, Nixon was believed to have referred specifically to his deep interest in the Russian Jewish situation when he stated: “I want to reaffirm to you on this occasion my administration’s continuing commitment to the fundamental rights of human freedom and dignity for people in all nations. America was founded on these principles and we can do no less in honoring our birthright than to pledge our support for these same rights for all mankind.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
