Goldmann Says Expects Another Bid from Nasser; Hits Israeli Foreign Policies Again

Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, declared in a West German television interview today that Israel’s foreign policy over the years and its approach to peace with the Arabs has been “wrong and Ineffective.” He expressed the opinion that Egyptian President Nasser genuinely wants peace in the Middle East and said he was still in contact with Nasser emissaries and expected Nasser to invite him to Cairo again for “exploratory talks.” Dr. Goldmann created a furore in Israel last year when he asked the Israeli Government to approve his acceptance of an alleged invitation from Nasser to meet in Cairo to explore Mideast peace possibilities on a private, individual basis. Dr. Goldmann has come under bitter attack from Israeli and Zionist officials for his past criticism of Israeli foreign policy and his advocacy of a “neutralized” Israel whose security would be guaranteed by the world powers. Dr., Goldmann’s televised remarks today were in the same vein as an interview with him published yesterday in the Cologne Stadtanzeiger. He asserted in the interview that if Israel had agreed after the Six-Day War to quit most of the occupied territories in return for Arab recognition of Israel “there would have been a chance for a solution.” He said the U.S. peace initiative still had a chance for success but warned that if there is a new war in the Mideast “Russia is likely to intervene because she could not take another Arab defeat. She has invested too much.”

Dr. Goldmann told the Cologne newspaper that although his projected meeting with Nasser was aborted, he was still in contact with the Egyptian President and with top Palestinian leaders. “A representative of President Nasser is still visiting me regularly,” he said. “I have also met prominent Palestinian leaders in the Old City of Jerusalem and King Hassan, of Morocco, has invited me for a talk.” On Bonn television he said he expected another invitation from Nasser if the present Mideast peace initiative fails. Dr. Goldmann told the German television audience, “I have always said that time is against Israel and this has proven to be the case. Nevertheless I am optimistic that a settlement will be reached in the not too distant future.” He said that at his age, he did not worry about attacks on him and would rather be “a non-conformist than a yes man.’ ” In the published interview, Dr. Goldmann contended that “the younger generation in Israel is more realistic” that the generation in power. “Young Israelis don’t hate the Arabs, although they may have a certain feeling of superiority vis-a-vis the Arabs. In the older generation you find an attitude that all non-Jews are enemies and cannot be trusted.” he said. Dr. Goldmann said the basis of his Mideast policy is that the Arabs have rights in Palestine.