The Jewish community here has expressed concern about President Luis Echeverria’s decision after talking with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat in Alexandria, Egypt, before coming to Israel last week, to allow the PLO to open an office in the Mexican capital. Many Jews express fear that the PLO will launch terrorist activities in Mexico.
Only a few Mexican journalists and writers have expressed criticism of Echeverria’s decision. The vast majority have approved it, as well as Echeverria’s statements in the Arab countries and Israel during his tour that Israel should evacuate all occupied territories and grant the Palestinian people their national rights. Some here have compared Arafat to the Mexican hero, Benito Juarez.
Many in the Jewish community were pleased with Echeverria’s friendly statements while in Israel and thought it meant a change in Mexican policy. But they were then disappointed when he went to Jordan and continued to make pro-Arab declarations.
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