Schindler Tells Israelis That Their World Image is That of a Nation Without Strong Leadership

Rabbi Alexander Schindler, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told Israelis today that their world image was that of a nation without strong leadership because it has postponed dealing with basic problems such as the Palestinians.

Addressing a press conference here, Schindler also said that the Security Council speech last Tuesday by U.S. Ambassador William Scranton did not herald a change of U.S. policy toward Israel. American policy in the Middle East seeks to differentiate between the extremists and more moderate elements in the Arab world and to encourage the latter to come under American influence. Schindler said.

He observed that the world view of Israel was that its leadership could not stand up to the challenges of the region’s basic problems. Whether this is true or not makes no difference as long as the world sees Israel in that light, he said. Schindler warned that failure to deal with a problem does not eliminate it from the scene. If Israel has policies that it keeps under wraps for tactical reasons, all well and good. Schindler said, but if it has no policy, it is high time that Israel adopted one.

ROLE OF U.S. JEWS

The American Reform rabbi who was elected to the chairmanship of the Presidents Conference in January, said Israel could count on the full and unswerving support of American Jewry which is convinced that Israel and the U.S. share the same basic interests. Organized American Jewry has an unyielding determination to speak up for Israel. “We will not commit the sin of silence a second time in the same generation,” Schindler said. But he cautioned that American Jews know, and Israelis should know, that there is a limit to the influence organized American Jewry can exert on their nation’s policies.

Referring to President Ford’s opposition to additional funding in the foreign aid program for the transitional quarter between the end of fiscal 1976 and the beginning of fiscal 1977. Schindler said he did not believe the President’s position stemmed from personal pique because he has been criticized in Israel.

Schindler was invited to Israel last month by the government to give Israeli leaders his assessment of U.S. policy and to learn the Israeli position in light of recent developments. He and Yehuda Hellman. executive director of the Presidents Conference, arrived here last week.