Thousands of signatures affixed to petitions which criticize the Carter Administration’s arms package were sent to President Carter, it was announced by Leo Dunn, president of the Jewish Community Council. The petitions were circulated in the Greater Boston area in response to the administration’s announced intention to sell sophisticated military equipment and warplanes to Egypt and Saudi Arabia while at the some time diminishing the amount of defense material going to Israel.
The petitions asserted that such actions are contrary to furthering peace, undermine American credibility as a peace seeker and mediator in the Middle East, transform America into an “arms merchant,” violate U.S. promises to Israel, and increase Arab intransigence in negotiating peace with Israel.
In his letter to Carter, which accompanied the petitions, Dun stated, “I hope you will respond favorably to our concerns and that the Administration will let the world know clearly and decisively that America fully supports its only dependable ally in the Middle East–Israel–and that the United States will not become the arms merchant to Arab countries.”
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