Herzog, After Meeting with Reagan, Says He Feels Reassured of U.s.-israel ‘commonality of Interests’

President Chaim Herzog of Israel emerged from a 30 minute meeting with President Reagan at the White House today to declare that it left him “once again reassured about the close relationships that exist between Israel and the United States and the commonality of interests that we have.”

Herzog said he raised the issue of how to strengthen this relationship but refused to give any details. He said he brought Reagan a “message” from Israel which “describes the situation as we see it” in the Middle East, a situation which he called “very, very fluid.”

The Israeli President said he also discussed the possibilities for future advancement of the peace process in the Middle East, adding that he expressed Israel’s “appreciation” that the U.S. “is the main and most powerful element in the cause of peace in the Middle East.”

INCREASED U.S.-ISRAEL COOPERATION CITED

White House press spokesman Larry Speakes noted that Reagan’s meeting with Herzog took place “in a time of increasing American-Israeli cooperation.” He said Reagan “reaffirmed to President Herzog our unswerving commitment to Israel’s security.”

Reagan also told Herzog that he was “looking forward” to his discussions with Israeli Premier Yitzhak Shamir next Tuesday which, Speakes said, would be “on the full range of issues on the U.S.-Israeli agenda.” He said they would discuss ways for “enhanced cooperation” between Israel and the U.S. and how they can work together for solutions to the problems of the Middle East.

Shamir, accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens, will have a working luncheon with the President at the White House next Tuesday. He will also be a guest that evening at a dinner hosted by Vice President George Bush. The two Israelis are scheduled to meet with Secretary of State George Shultz and Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Donald Rumsfeld, Reagan’s special envoy to the Middle East, is returning from his first visit to that region to take part in the meetings next week.

THE CONTRAST TO NAVON’S VISIT

Herzog, who ends his 10-day visit to the U.S. Thursday, was not at the White House today on a State visit since he came to the U.S. principally to address the Council of Jewish Federations General Assembly in Atlanta and the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He did not therefore receive the ceremonial honors that will be given Shamir when he arrives at the White House exactly one week later.

The Herzog visit, at a time of increasing cooperation between Israel and the U.S. is also in contrast to the similar visit Herzog’s predecessor, President Yitzhak Navon, made to Reagan last January. At that time, relations between Washington and Jerusalem were at a low ebb. Some Administration officials saw the warm welcome accorded Navon as a way to help those in Israel who were building up the then President as a possible Labor opponent to then Premier Menachem Begin.

NEED TO PRESERVE DEMOCRATIC VALUES STRESSED

Last night Herzog received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the U.S. In his address there, he warned that “democracy is on the wane” throughout the world and stressed the need for preserving its values shared by Israel and the U.S.

“I was nurtured on the twin concepts of Judaism and law and justice,” Herzog said. “Perhaps the outstanding aspect of Jewish civilization is its inherent justice and the fact that the concept of justice occupies paramount place in its principles.”

He said these principles are being maintained by the few democracies left in the world while “they are daily trampled in derision and disdain in the United Nations.” He added that “It is precisely those who have totally abandoned the principles given by the Jewish people to the world in their national and international practice who now would sit in judgement on Israel.”

SITUATION OF ARABS IN ISRAEL

Herzog pointed out that 17 percent of Israel’s population is made up of Arabs. “Given the problems which we have faced during the last 35 years and the fact that a number of Arab countries continue to maintain a state of war with Israel, the condition of the Arab population, which is a loyal and integral part of our society, is perhaps the greatest tribute to our free and democratic society,” he declared.

Herzog added that “we can boast the only free Arab press in the Mideast,” the only society in the Mideast where Arabs can appeal political decision to the courts and “I am the only head of state in the Mideast who feels secure enough to stroll freely through our cities with a large Arab population, and does so.”