Kennedy Does Not Plan to ‘defer’ Efforts for Arab-israel Peace

High Administration sources today denied a report that President Kennedy had decided to “defend” White House efforts for Arab-Israel peace.

These sources, close to Mr. Kennedy, said the reports were spread by a State Department faction seeking to placate the United Arab Republic at a time when other elements within the Department have lost patience with Nasser’s support of pro-Communist forces in the Congo and elsewhere in Africa.

The White House has positively made no decision to abandon the objective of Arab-Israel peace and Mr. Kennedy’s position remains precisely as stated last August, sources said. They pointed out that the President has so far had no opportunity to act on the Arab-Israel situation because of more pressing crucial situations involving the Congo, Cuba, Laos, delicate diplomacy with the USSR, and the missile gap problem as well as the domestic recession issue.

While the Big Powers are maneuvering at the United Nations on the alignment of Afro-Asian forces on the Congo crisis, allegations were spread and “planted,” sources said, without Mr. Kennedy’s knowledge or authority, that the White House was abandoning plans to promote Arab-Israel peace. Sources familiar with the weekend developments characterized it as a “short-sighted” attempt by some State Department elements to propagandize Nasser.

President Max Bressler, of the Zionist Organization of America, stated today at the Jewish National Fund assembly here that “we still cherish” President Kennedy’s promise to work toward an early Arab-Israel peace. “We realize full well that President Nasser is exercising his influence in Asia and in Africa not only against Israel but against the United States, as has been amply demonstrated by his role in the Congo, ” Mr. Bressler said. “I am firmly convinced that the time has come for our country to undertake such steps that would put an end to the pernicious influence “and activities in the Near East that are both anti-American and anti-Jewish. “

The ZOA President pointed out that the United States has within its power to reward its friends and restrain its enemies, actual as well as potential. “Let this power be used for peace and progress in the Middle East, as indeed it is being used throughout the world, ” he urged. “I say this is an American profoundly concerned with our American prestige abroad and America’s aspirations for world peace. Our country’s national interests and those of Israel fully coincide. “

Last August 26, Mr. Kennedy promised the ZOA he would use “all the authority and prestige of the White House” to promote Arab-Israel peace. Mr. Kennedy hoped to bring about a peace conference of Arab states and Israel.