Shimon Peres, head of Israel’s Labor Party and leader of the opposition in the Knesset, defended Israel’s incursion into Lebanon in an address last Friday to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Peres’ address, which came on the heels of President Reagan’s call on Premier Menachem Begin to end the heavy bombing of west Beirut, avoided mention of either the bombing or the President’s message. While refraining from comment — he told a TV reporter that “I don’t criticize my government when I am outside the country” — Peres justified the national political debate in Israel in the midst of the Lebanon fighting.
“God forbid that we should all have the same view,” he told some 300 leaders of the Presidents Conference. “That would be the end of our strength as a democracy, and even as a military power.”
Peres said America and Israel need not always agree with one another. “Washington and Jerusalem are in the some boat, heading for the some direction,” the Labor Party leader said, adding: “I see no ‘confrontation’ between our two countries.”
SAYS ISRAEL HAD NO CHOICE
In defending Israel’s “Peace for Galilee” operation, Peres said “Israel had no choice but to end the PLO threat to its security.” As a result, he added, “the American position in the Middle East has also been greatly enhanced. A whole generation of Soviet weapons has been destroyed and King Hussein (of Jordan) is not likely to turn to Moscow for Soviet missiles and planes.”
On the future of the West Bank and Gaza, however, the Labor Party leader reiterated the view that Israel should avoid incorporating into the country 1.3 million Palestinians living in those areas. “The Jewish people have never been nor sought to be a dominating nation. Our aim was always not to be dominated by others. If we add more than I million Arab citizens to the 600,000 who already live as citizens among us, Israel will turn into a bi-national state whose two parts will not be able to live in peace.”
SEES MITTERRAND AS FRIEND OF ISRAEL
During a question-and-answer period, Peres was asked if he thought the Third World Conference of Jewish Communities on Soviet Jewry, scheduled for late October in Paris, should take place in view of the French government’s attitude toward the war in Lebanon and the recent outbreak of anti-Jewish terror there.
In reply, Peres said he regarded French President Francois Mitterrand as “a friend of Israel the most knowledgeable French leader ever, both in heart and mind.” He recalled that the French President had paid a “friendly visit” to Jerusalem “to express his deep feelings for Israel and the Jewish people.” Peres added:
“Let us not rush to nominate enemies. Many Jews feel as President Mitterrand does. He and I disagree on giving a role to the PLO in any future negotiations over the West Bank and Gaza, but in contrast to the statements of our European leaders, in the context of which his remarks must be taken, President Mitterrand has clearly stated the PLO is not the sole representative of the Palestinian Arabs.
“I see no reason to cancel the Paris conference on Soviet Jewry. Let us not hide our views. Let us hope the French will succeed in halting the anti-Semitic attacks. And let us distinguish between disagreements and divorce.”
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