The Association for Peace in the Middle East has published an “open letter” to President Anwar Sadat of Egypt expressing hope that he will be able to achieve peace between Arabs and Israelis but cautioning that “first, you will have to dissipate the Arab hatred of Israel.” According to Alan Carney, president of the San Francisco-based group, who signed the letter, it was mailed to Sadat last week.
The Association describes itself as “a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization to promote peace and friendship between Arab countries and Israel.” Its board of directors consists of businessmen, academicians and religious leaders of various Christian denominations.
The letter to Sadat warned: “The ‘hate Israel’ propaganda in the Arab countries–as reflected by it in the United States–directly helps the Soviet Union to provoke a war of annihilation of Israel which, inevitably, will end in Communist control of Arab oil.”
The letter stated further: “We believe that the key to solving the dilemma–return of territories and secure borders for Israel–is for Arabs and Israelis to develop mutual trust and good will. Except for East Jerusalem (which could become a federal district) and minor areas of essential strategic importance, we are convinced that Israel would give up all territories occupied in 1967 if and when its Arab neighbors prove not to be hostile.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
