Israel’s Education Minister Doesn’t Buy N.Y. Times Story on Leading Opposition Figures

Israeli Education Minister Zevulun Hammer said he does not believe that any leader or representative of Israel’s Labor Party would say that the United States should reduce its aid to Israel. “I believe in the patriotism of the major political powers in Israel, and, therefore, I am confident that no leader of the Labor opposition would come and say to the American government to pressure Israel by cutting economic aid to her,” Hammer said.

The Education Minister, a leading member of the National Religious Party, made these remarks in response to a question at the press conference last Thursday evening at the Israel Consulate about an article by The New York Times editorial page editor, Max Frankel, which charged that “leading” opposition figures in Israel favor sharp cuts in U.S. economic aid to Israel as a means of toppling the government of Premier Menachem Begin in order to end the government’s West Bank settlement policy.

Hammer said that the storm that erupted over Frankel’s column shows the deep division in Israeli society. He said that in his view the “major political forces” in Israel should join the government and establish a national unity government. “The task of the National Religious Party is now to unite all the forces in Israel to face the difficult political challenges Israel is facing,” Hammer said. He added that he does not believe in early elections in Israel and that his party will not join efforts to oust the Begin government before the next general elections, scheduled for 1984.

Hammer held his press conference here at the end of his 10-day visit to the U.S., during which he appeared before Jewish groups and met with officials in Washington. He left for Israel Thursday night.