Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Carter’s National Security Advisor, declared last night that Israel must be prepared “to accept legitimate Palestinian rights, and to interpret the Camp David accords on the West Bank and Gaza both generously and with wise attention to the needs of an enduring peace with the Palestinian people — all, of course, with due regard for Israel’s genuine security needs.”
Addressing a dinner sponsored by the World Jewish Congress, marking the first anniversary of the signing of the Camp David accords, at the Pierre Hotel here. Brzezinski said that the time had also come “for all Palestinians” to accept UN Resolutions 242 and 338 ” and Israel’s right to exist.” But he warned that if the Palestinians refuse to enter the autonomy negotiations, the negotiations between Israel and Egypt will proceed without them.
“The time is fast approaching when the Palestinians should enter the autonomy negotiations to help determine their own future — though their unwillingness to enter must not be permitted to delay the Israeli-Egyptian-U. S. talks,” he said. But he asserted that Israel “bears a responsibility to reach out to the Palestinians in new and creative ways.”
Brzezinski also stressed that a peaceful solution for the West Bank and Gaza Strip is imperative for peace in the Mideast. He said he has no doubt that the present negotiations for autonomy will be successful. “I can reaffirm to you to night,” Brzezinski declared to the more than 500 guests, including Egypt’s Ambassador to the United Nations Esmat Abdel Meguid and some 40 other high-ranking foreign diplomats, “President Carter is totally committed to the attainment of peace in the Mideast. There will be peace for all, there will be security for all.”
But, he added,” This will take time, it will take vision, it will take courage. And it will take an understanding of the consequences if we do not all join together to seek a broad, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Mideast.”
SEES ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS COOPERATING
Brzezinski concluded his speech by predicting that peace in the Mideast will make possible cooperative ventures between the Israelis and Palestinians whom he described “among the most advanced, best trained people” in the area.
“The Israelis and the Palestinians — whatever respective arrangements between them develop from the peace process — can transform their ancient lands into a thriving community of economic and social interest in the Mideast, into a model for others, into nothing less, in fact, than the catalyst for creative development, for intellectual and technological innovation for a region that is bursting with opportunity and that is crying for peace,” Brzezinski declared.
During the dinner, Rabbi Arthur Schneier was installed as chairman of the American Section of the World Jewish Congress by Philip Klutznick, president of the WJC. Schneier is the spiritual leader of the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan and also the founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation which promotes religious freedom around the world.
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.
