Howard Squadron, former president of the American Jewish Congress, has demanded an apology from Israeli Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Yitzhak Shamir for a personal attack on him over a recent AJCongress mission to Cairo and Amman.
At the same time, however, Squadron, a New York attorney, dissociated himself from the mission which had reported a sincere desire by the leaders of Egypt and Jordan to broaden the Middle East peace process.
In a statement issued here, Squadron said: “I am shocked that Mr. Shamir should single me out in attacking a mission of the American Jewish Congress to Cairo and Amman … I was not a member of the mission, I did not visit Cairo and Amman, and I am not responsible for any statements issued by any member of the mission.”
Squadron added: “After a previous visit to Cairo, I did report to the Foreign Minister and told him of the way I had been received. But that was another time and had nothing to do with this mission in which I did not participate. I really think the Deputy Prime Minister owes me an apology.” Squadron’s reference was to Shamir’s scornful allusion, during an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Jerusalem bureau chief, David Landau, to Squadron’s description of the “lavish welcome” he had received on a visit to Cairo.
“So what?” Shamir said. “Big deal ….”
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