Kenen: U.S. Mideast Improved in Past Year; Cites Arms Sale, Credit to Israel

The head of a pro-Israel group in Washington said yesterday that the past year has “witnessed a positive improvement in U.S. policy” in the Middle East but warned the American government to “firmly resist” the Soviet-Arab formula of an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories with Four Power guarantees but without a peace treaty. I. L. Kenen, executive vice president of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee addressed an “action seminar” held here by the Poale Zion, the United Labor Zionist Organization of America and the English-Speaking Council of Farband, the Labor Zionist Order. Kenen listed on the positive side the U.S. grant of “Israel’s request for arms and credits, enabling Israel to be strong enough to deter her foes.” He said that “Washington and Israel have come to recognize that their interests converge.” But Kenen warned that “experience has shown that the great powers are not in a position to guarantee a settlement because of their own rivalries.” He claimed that “no international guarantee or military force will be needed along the borders between Israel and the Arab states if the Arab states sincerely obligate themselves to Israel to preserve the peace and work with her in cooperation and understanding.” Kenen said “The peace can be won if the U.S. insists on direct Arab-Israel peace talks and a contractual settlement.”