Jewish Aide to Carter Withdraws over Differences on Mideast Policy

The White House said today that Mark Alan Siegel, President Carter’s liaison with the American Jewish community, has withdrawn from those duties because “he has had and has some differences” with the Administration’s Middle East policies. But Siegel, 31, who holds a doctorate in political science, has not resigned from the Presidential staff and no decision on his official future has been taken yet, Presidential Press Secretary Jody Powell told reporters today.

Siegel, Deputy Assistant to the President on Political Affairs since Carter’s inauguration 14 months ago, dropped his role with the Jewish community last week, Powell said. He said President Carter regards Siegel’s reasons for leaving that function as “reasonable and honorable.”

Powell said he was “not inclined” to relate the Siegel matter to “more general things” and that it had no effect on the President’s Middle East policies which include an aircraft sales package to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia that has aroused concern in the American Jewish community.

Asked by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency for details of the Siegel case which was leaked to the press last night, Powell said that Siegel “had and has some differences of opinion and had some concern both of the process and the product” of the President’s Middle East policy “particularly as it relates to the Middle East arms sale package.” He said that “in light of the differences, he (Siegel) thought he no longer should be put in a position of explaining a point of view he could not in good conscience do.”

QUESTION OF SIEGEL’S FUTURE

Powell’s statement that he does not know “what Siegel wants to do” prompted speculation that he was implying that Siegel will resign from the Presidential staff with an appropriate statement that would satisfy his personal career, the President’s need to maintain authority over his aides and the concerns that Siegel’s action will have on the American people.

However, Powell said, Carter, Presidential Political Assistant Hamilton Jordan who is Siegel’s superior, Siegel and he himself will discuss Siegel’s future and supply the “answer” to the public as soon as they can. Powell could not estimate when a decision would be taken. “It’s a tough problem to deal with,” he said.

ALSO AT ODDS WITH BRZEZINSKI

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has learned that Siegel has been at odds with the President’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski on Middle East policies and felt that Brzezinski’s views were the ones that have aroused the greatest concern in the Jewish community.

Siegel has been addressing Jewish groups all over the U.S. to give the Administration’s point of view on Middle East affairs. His position apparently became more difficult as concern over the Administration’s Middle East policies increased and he appears to have shared some of those concerns. Last week, Siegel drew audible criticism when he defended the President’s position on Israeli settlements and the aircraft package deal before the Young Leadership Council of the United Jewish Appeal here.

Powell said that Siegel’s liaison post will not be filled for the time being. It was indicated that the President’s Counsel, Robert Lipshutz, and his domestic policy director, Stuart Eizenstat, who have also dealt with Jewish groups, will continue that function along with their other duties but on a broader and more intensive scale. In addition to his liaison assignment, Siegel’s titles are Political Deputy to Jordan and political liaison to the state and national Democratic parties.