Urges Moratorium on Discussion of Mid-east Conflict During Campaign

The head of the Action Committee on American-Arab Relations, an Arab propaganda organization, called on the four major Presidential candidates today “to set a moratorium for the duration of the campaign on the discussion of the Arab-Israeli conflict so that there would be no need for any candidate to bid for the Jewish vote.” According to Dr. M.T. Mehdi, secretary-general of the group, the moratorium would not be an abridgement of freedom of speech because it would be “a voluntarily imposed self-restraint…to prevent a greater evil.” Dr. Mehdi made his moratorium call in identical telegrams to Vice President Hubert Humphrey, former Vice President Richard Nixon, Senator Eugene McCarthy and Governor Nelson Rockefeller.

He said the Arab-Israeli conflict should be taken out of the American political campaign out of respect for the memory of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy “if his tragic death should not go in vain.” Dr. Mehdi repeated a statement he issued directly after the Kennedy assassination – that the act of the accused gunman, Palestinian-born Sirhan Sirhan, reflected “the frustration of many Arabs with American politicians who have sold the Arab people of Palestine to the Zionist Jewish voters.” That, according to Mehdi. “is an explanation, not a justification of Sirhan’s action.’

(Bishara Salameh Sirhan, father of the man accused of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is seeking the help of Israeli officials to help him get to the United States to help his son. Sirhan, who lives on the West Bank, has reportedly sought information about documents and the foreign currency allocation necessary for such a trip. Sources said that no difficulties are expected if Sirhan proceeds with plans to go to the U.S.)