Jewish Leaders Rap Sale of Planes

Jewish leaders today criticized the Carter Administration for its decision to sell fighter planes to Egypt and Saudi Arabia as an unwise and unwarranted move.

Rabbi Alexander Schindler, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said “We deeply deplore and strongly oppose” the sale. “The only purpose of such sale can be to encourage continued Arab refusal to negotiate in good faith with Israel. We urge Congress to veto this unwise, unwarranted and dangerous step.”

Theodore Bikel, chairman of the American Jewish Congress national governing council, said the sale compromises the Administration’s avowed role as mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict. “We are deeply concerned that these arms may be used in another Egyptian war of aggression against Israel should current peace talks break down.” As regards arms for Saudi Arabia, Bikel stated, “such combat material is likely to be used for deployment against Israel. Saudi Arabia has no need for these arms except for belligerent purposes against the Jewish State.”

Rabbi Joseph Sternstein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, termed the sale to Egypt and Saudi Arabia as “morally, politically and even militarily unjustifiable. It is contrary to the interests of peace and a setback to the current negotiations. It is morally unjustifiable, for the arms would be used against Israel, an American ally; politically unjustifiable, for it would alter the balance of power; and military unjustifiable, for Egypt is not threatened and Saudi Arabia cannot absorb the arms.”

This afternoon 35 members of Betar staged a sit-in at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations to protest the sale of planes to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. A Betar spokesman said 15 of the protesters were arrested but released shortly afterwards. A small delegation met with Deputy Ambassador James Leonard to explain Betar’s opposition to the sale.