Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem said here today that there is growing doubt in Israel regarding U.S. intentions toward the Middle East “but there is determination you can’t push us around too much.”
Kollek spoke in response to questions from foreign and American correspondents at a luncheon hosted by the Overseas Writers at the Capital Hilton Hotel. He said “There is very serious, gnawing doubt about what the American position is.” He emphasized, however, that “so far there are no hard facts, only opinion and feelings, not facts, on the oil question, the pressures of Russia and the Third World and how America will stand up to them.”
EXPLAINS ISRAELI ELECTION RESULTS
Kollek, a member of the Labor Party, said the rise to political power in Israel of Menachem Begin’s Likud coalition which has caused dismay in the Carter Administration on prospects for a Middle East settlement, was due to “a very great extent” to the “poor internal management,” inflation, strikes and scandals under the Labor regime. He added that “Foreign affairs had a good deal to do” with the election outcome because “people” were uncertain what concessions the present (Labor) government would be forced to make.” He said some thought a stronger voice would be better in defining our interests. But a majority of the people (in Israel) do not stand on Begin’s election campaign statements.
Kollek said Israel’s situation would be “better” if it were less dependent on the U.S. but “it would make no basic difference.” He conceded that “small countries must take into account global affairs. But we have the right to make decisions so we can live and continue to live. In the end we shall have to defend Jerusalem and Israel and we cannot allow this to be an impossible task,” he said.
Kollek cautioned that “If Israel did not exist” in the Middle East “maybe the United States would not exist there. This (Israel) is not an asset you should easily disregard,” he said. Asked whether, if Begin’s statements on holding on to virtually all of the West Bank became Israel’s policy, would the American Jewish community, continue to aid Israel, Kollek replied that he “really” did not know. Kollek said that since Israel re-gained Jerusalem in 1967 it is “a better city” and “a very tolerant city.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
