Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R. NY) said that Israel has an important decision to make in responding to U.S. questions on the future of the West Bank “and how it makes that decision may well determine the course of events in the Middle East respecting U.S. mediation for peace.”
Addressing commencement exercises at Brooklyn College Thursday, Javits declared that although it may seem “unust” to “put the burden of moving peace forward once again upon Israel so soon after the U.S. decision to sell fighters to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Israel has many times surmounted grave challenges in diplomacy and war and I am confident that Israel will respond to this challenge positively.” The Israeli Cabinet will meet tomorrow to formulate replies to the questions posed by the Carter Administration.
In that connection, Javits called on Israel to “signal” the U.S. that it regards the sale of advanced warplanes to Saudi Arabia and Egypt as an incident and not a major change in the 30 year-old special relationship between Israel and the U.S. “Will Israel give the signal that it has lost confidence in the U.S. special relationship. Or will it give the signal that, notwithstanding a disagreement over the jet fighter sales package, it maintains confidence in the U.S. -Israeli special relationship. To give the latter signal would be very much in the highest national interest of the United States as well as the best course for Israel’s integrity and security,” Javits said.
EXPLAINING ISRAEL’S DILEMMA
The New York Senator, who opposed the planes package deal in the Senate debate, warned that if Israel did not respond in a positive manner, it “could open Israel to the accusation–however unjust that accusation might be–that it has failed to do its part in restoring momentum to the negotiations for peace in the Middle East.” On the other hand, Javits said “It is the unique responsibility of the Jews and others in the United States who are knowledgeable on the subject to inform our fellow Americans of the excruciating dilemma which the Carter Administration’s policies may be forcing upon Israel.”
According to Javits, “There may be circumstances as yet hypothetical, which could compel Israel to stand against a Mideast policy of President Carter on the grounds of Israel’s overriding national security interests and survival as Israel sees it.”
Javits said he hoped the decision to sell 60 F-15s to Saudi Arabia would be viewed by that country as “an invitation to play a more active and open role” in the Middle East peace negotiations. He observed that while Saudi Arabia acted with “moderation” on the issues of oil production and pricing, it “appears much less to be considered moderate” when it comes to Mideast negotiations. He also expressed hope that President Anwar Sadat of Egypt will again be “seized of the passion for peace which motivated his historic initiative” last November.
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