Max Fisher, of Detroit, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency, said here yesterday that he was convinced of President Ford’s “most friendly attitude toward Israel.” “After my last meeting with him, I believe I can assure you of the support of the United States and of the President toward Israel and her needs,” Fisher declared at a press conference on the eve of the opening today of a two-day meeting of the full Jewish Agency Executive.
Fisher, whose acquaintance with Ford dates back to the latter’s time as a Congressman from Michigan, said he met with the President in Washington, last Monday, before leaving for Israel, and that they had discussed for an hour a number of problems affecting Israel and Jews. He said that Ford assured him that his door was always open and said he was in the process of arranging a meeting of American Jewish leaders with the President “to take place soon.”
Fisher said he found no signs of erosion or deterioration in America’s attitude toward Israel since Ford took office last month. He said the President had asked him to deliver personal greetings to Premier Yitzhak Rabin and former Premier Golda Meir, which he did.
According to Fisher, one of the first issues Ford undertook to deal with after taking office was Soviet Jewry and their right to emigrate to Israel. Thanks to the President’s personal intervention, Fisher said, “We should soon reach an understanding which would bring a new wave of immigrants from the Soviet Union to Israel.” He said that was why immigration figures could not be measured in monthly totals although immigration from the USSR was down by a third in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year.
DEFENDS KISSINGER AGAINST CRITICISM
Fisher stressed the importance he attached to Rabin’s visit to Washington this month for talks with Ford and Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger. He said he thought it was particularly important that Rabin go to Washington now rather than later as some Israelis have suggested. He said he expected Rabin to present Israel’s position to the American leaders no less successfully than previous Israeli premiers did.
Fisher defended Kissinger against recent criticism here that he was selling out Israel for a quick Middle East settlement. “It is only natural that in the relations between two nations, however friendly they are, there should arise from time to time some difference of views,” Fisher said. He urged Israelis, however, not to forget “the historic role that Henry Kissinger played and the things he did in a period of very dark days for Israel. He is a good friend of Israel.” Fisher added that former President Nixon was also “a true friend of Israel” who “fulfilled all his promises to Israel and stood squarely behind Israel through very difficult and trying times.”
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