Mrs. Meir Calls for Responsible Efforts to Help Soviet Jews

Israeli Premier Golda Meir issued a plea last night for organized and responsible efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry and scored the “irresponsible Jews who are harming this cause by using tactics similar to (Yasir) Arafat’s (leader of El Fatah).” Mrs. Meir made this plea to a meeting with 40 Jewish leaders representing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Although Mrs. Meir did not identify by name the “irresponsible Jews.” it was understood that she referred to the Jewish Defense League whose excessive tactics on behalf of Soviet Jewry has been criticized by many Jewish organizations. Present at the meeting, which was conducted in Mrs. Meir’s suite at the Waldorf Towers, was Israel’s Foreign Minister Abba Eban; Israel’s Ambassador to the United States. Yitzhak Rabin; and Consulate General Rehaveam Amir. The meeting was chaired by Jacob Stein. President of the United Synagogue of America, in the absence of Conference President Dr. William A. Wexler who was out of town. Mr. Eban spoke at length about recent developments affecting Israeli foreign policies and Israel-American relations. The last time he had briefed this group was on Sunday, September 20th. Mr. Eban indicated that the United States is not pressuring Israel to return to peace negotiations without rectification of the violations of the 90-day cease-fire. The atmosphere of the meeting was described as being cordial, relaxed and much less tense than the September briefing when the Jordanian civil war was at its height.