The Israeli government has urged the United States not to grant a visa for a Palestine Liberation Organization representative Sabri Jiryis to re-enter the United States for the purpose of addressing a conference here this weekend.
The State Department is considering the application of Jiryis who is scheduled to make two speeches at the conference of the American Friends Service Committee in a program designed to influence the Carter Administration to recognize the terrorist organization.
The Israeli government’s position was conveyed yesterday to Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance by Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz during a 30-minute meeting at the State Department. The meeting was in preparation for Vance’s trip to the Middle East beginning Feb. 15. He is scheduled to go to Israel and five Arab countries.
Dinitz was asked by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency what he thought about the possibility of the return of Jiryis who was directed to leave the country last November because of fraudulent information on his visa application. “I have conveyed our position to the Administration that we are not in favor of representatives of the PLO getting permission to attend this conference,” he replied. (See related story P. 1.)
OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED
Regarding the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon within 10 miles of the Israeli border. Dinitz said that Israel is in constant touch with the United States and the U.S. is in constant touch with Syria and Lebanon on this matter. He said he was “reasonably sure” these contacts will continue.
On the report here from Israel that the U.S. will provide Israel an additional $300 million in economic aid for fiscal 1978. Dinitz said he understands the U.S. is still preparing the aid program and that it will be going to Congress “very shortly.”
In regard to the four categories of sophisticated arms which President Ford promised Israel but which the Carter Administration is still studying. Dinitz emphasized that no position has been taken by the U.S. and press reports that some of the arms will not be delivered do not reflect any U.S. official decision. The weapons involved are M-60 tanks, 155-mm self-propelled howitzers. a night-vision system and concussion bombs.
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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.
