Goldmann; Summit Conference Expected to Reaffirm Resolution 242

Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, predicted yesterday that the US and the Soviet Union would reach an agreement on the Middle East after the American Presidential elections next fall. But he did not think the US would go along with any imposed solution for the region. Dr. Goldmann made his remarks at a press conference prior to his departure for Paris. He doubted that the summit conference in Moscow would produce more on the Middle East than a US-Soviet reaffirmation of their support of Security Council Resolution 242.

Dr. Goldmann said there was a “great likelihood” of an agreement after the American elections because President Nixon, if re-elected, will no longer be seeking the Jewish vote and if the Russians agree to make substantial concessions in some other area, the US might agree to meet them half-way on the Middle East.

He said that while the US would never agree to impose a settlement on Israel, the very fact of a US-Soviet agreement on the Mideast would have considerable influence on Israel and the Arab states. Dr. Goldmann said he believed that the Arabs despair of achieving anything through the use of force and are prepared to explore peaceful avenues to a settlement.

He said Egypt seemed to be ready to agree to all sorts of concessions but was adamant on one point–no territorial concessions. This assertion by Dr. Goldmann was identical to the remarks of Austrian Foreign Minister Rudolph Kirchschlaeger in Salzburg last Sunday. The Austrian diplomat who recently conferred with Egyptian leaders in Cairo, said the Egyptians were ready to negotiate all points with Israel but would not give up a millimeter of Egyptian territory.