The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has called on U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese “to reconsider the continuing presence of the PLO office in Washington and those who are using it to advance the terrorist cause.”
The Conference, which represents 40 secular and religious national Jewish organizations, urged Meese to take action following the terrorist grenade attack on Israeli soldiers and their families in the Old City of Jerusalem October 15, in which one man was killed and 69 soldiers and civilians, including an American citizen, were wounded. The Palestine Liberation Organization claimed responsibility for the attack.
A telegram to Meese, signed by Conference chairman Morris Abram, stated that “No less than Soviet spies acting under the guise of diplomatic representation, the PLO threatens the safety of American citizens.”
Abram noted: “The PLO’s stated goal is to ‘purge the Zionist presence’ from the Middle East. It has vowed to do so by armed attack, and it continues that policy. We believe that our country should reconsider allowing the same PLO to operate a so-called ‘information’ office in Washington. The PLO’s continued presence in our midst poses a danger to the security of Americans while the implied recognition that the U.S. grants to the PLO by permitting it to operate serves to enhance its position and stature.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
