Protests continued this weekend against the U.S. support of a United Nations Security Council resolution last Wednesday which condemned Israel for its April 12 raid on southern Lebanon but failed to mention the terrorist massacre of 18 persons in Kiryat Shemona on April 11. The resolution, which condemned “all acts of violence,” was approved by 13 of the 15 Council members. China and Iraq did not participate in the vote.
Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, chairman of the World Zionist Organization-American Section, expressed deep disappointment over the U.S. vote and declared that “we are not opposed to friendship between the United States and the Arab countries, or to American aid to Arab countries, but we are most decidedly against any American stand which supports injustice.”
She expressed concern over the possibility that the latest U.S. vote might signal a reversion to less sympathetic attitudes of earlier American administrations. In addition, Mrs. Jacobson stated, “The American vote was not only unjust and unbalanced–condemning the effect and ignoring the cause–but will encourage terrorist activity and absolve the Arab governments from any responsibility for curbing such activity.”
Rabbi Israel Miller, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and president of the American Zionist Federation, told some 700 communal leaders attending the hiennial convention of the National Jewish Welfare Board in Cleveland, that he had been assured by U.S. leaders that although the resolution did not mention the terrorist attack in Kiryat Shemona the phrase in the resolution, “all acts of violence,” referred to that attack and this made the resolution acceptable to the U.S.
Rabbi Miller, however, expressed shock at the passage of the resolution. He said that a “high U.S. official,” whom he declined to identify, stated unequivocally that it is in the interests of the U.S. to keep Israel strong. He acknowledged that a rapprochement between Israel and her Arab neighbors is necessary but added he was concerned that the rapprochement “will not be a sellout of Israel.” He said that so far there was no overt act to indicate that this would be the case.
NOT SATISFIED WITH KISSINGER’S EXPLANATION
In Washington, David M. Blumberg, president of B’nai B’rith, termed the resolution “another disheartening example of the lopsided justice on Middle East issues that has weakened peace-making efforts, distorted the purpose of the United Nations and diminished its credibility) The comparison between the resolution and the Security Council’s repeated unwillingness to resist international terrorism speaks for itself.”
Rep. Edward I. Koch (D.NY), assailed the U.S. vote. “I am ashamed that our government joined in this travesty,” he declared, “Not only must Israel defend her borders and try to maintain internal stability, she now must wonder where her friends stand.” Noting that America’s improved relations with Egypt “offer the promise for stability and peace in the Middle East,” the Congressman added: “It is my fervent hope that the U.S. vote in the United Nations is not an indication that improved relations with the Arab world will take place at the expense of our long-standing moral commitment to and support of Israel.”
A delegation representing the Conference of Presidents met Thursday evening with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger in Washington to discuss a number of issues prior to his departure for Geneva and the Mideast. One of the issues discussed was the U.S. vote in the UN. The Jewish leaders expressed dismay over the vote and expressed hope that this did not signify any shift in U.S. Mideast policy. According to one report, Kissinger assured them that this was not the case but reportedly failed to satisfy several of the Jewish leaders with his explanation of why the U.S. voted for the resolution rather than vetoing or at least abstaining on the vote.
At the UN, the spokesman for the U.S. delegation, Courtnay Sheldon, reported that the U.S. Mission had received numerous telephone calls, letters and some 100 telegrams criticizing the U.S. vote. Prior to the vote, the U.S. failed in a move to amend the resolution to include a specific condemnation of the terrorist attack in Kiryat Shemona.
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