Sen. Charles H. Percy (R.III.) whose advice to Israel on dealing with Arab terrorists and governments angered American Jewish leaders, appears to have moved towards quieting the “uproar” he believes was unnecessarily caused by his remarks about the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israeli “intransigence.”
While he continues to hold his view that Israel must communicate with Yasir Arafat’s PLO, he indicated a softening in his tactical approach to the subject both in an interview Friday with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and in a speech before the American Newspaper Women’s Club here Thursday night.
Thus far, the Ford Administration has avoided identification with Percy’s remarks. While some reports maintain that President Ford backed Percy’s views in general, the White House has declined to comment on them despite queries on two successive days by JTA. Earlier, the State Department had said Percy was speaking for himself.
It seemed to some here that while the Administration may well agree with Percy it considers it impolitic to discuss the Senator’s comments while Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is about to meet with Arab and Israeli leaders in his latest peace initiative.
PERCY CONFERRED WITH DINITZ
Percy met with Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz at the Senator’s office for two hours Thursday. Their meeting, at the envoy’s request, was reported to have covered Percy’s views and his impressions of the Arab leaders he had met on his recent 13-nation trip. Percy, a consistent supporter of Israel for years, has said that he would continue to support the Administration’s request for financial aid to Israel but since the Administration’s allocations have generally been far lower than the Congress authorized, his support for larger appropriations appears to have dropped.
In the interview, which took place at the Department of Justice where Percy had attended the swearing in of a Chicago constituent, Edward H. Levi, as U.S. Attorney General, Percy deplored the “uproar,” noting that members of the Knesset and other Israelis have gone further than he regarding contact with the PLO and observed some prefer the Geneva conference to the U.S. step-by-step process.
In addressing the Women’s Club, he noticeably avoided reference to Israeli “intransigence” and reiterated “relatively speaking” several times when referring to Arab leaders he had met while including support for Israel.
SHOULD HAVE SAID ‘RIGIDITY’
“I never said recognize the PLO,” Percy told the JTA. While agreeing he had described Israel as “intransigent,” he thought he should have said “rigidity.” His point, he added, was that “as circumstances change on the other side, the attitude must change on the Israeli side.” The PLO must support United Nations Resolution 242 before Israel negotiates with the PLO, Percy said.
“There is no possibility of solving the Palestinian problem unless the Palestinians are on the record recognizing the sovereignty of Israel as a nation, the integrity of its borders, and the security of its people to live in peace.”
Percy also emphasized in the JTA interview that he had told Arab leaders “all over the Arab world,” that “I do not see Israel on your maps. It’s shown as Palestine. I want Israel put on the map. It’s not enough to tell me privately Israel exists and its sovereignty will be recognized. This must be done publicly and guaranteed and assured.” Asked to name the leaders to whom he had said this, the Senator replied they should be identified as “ministers and rulers” of their countries.
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