Bush Pledges U.S. Will Maintain Israel’s Strength

Vice President George Bush, in his first appearance before a major Jewish organization since President Reagan’s Administration took office in January, told 161 participants in the United Jewish Appeal Washington Leadership Mission that Israel is “fundamental” to the strategic interests of the United States.

Speaking at a reception in his honor on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Bush said that “Israel’s innate strength will be maintained by this Administration and Congress,” and added that “international terror will not be condoned as a means for political change.”

Neil Norry, UJA national vice chairman, chairman of the Washington Leadership Mission, presented the Vice President with an original antique map of the Holy Land depicting the 12 Tribes of Israel in appreciation of Bush’s humanitarian achievements throughout his years of public service.

The reception was hosted by Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D. Ohio) and Sen. Rudy Boschwitz (R. Minn.) and was attended by 35 members of the Senate of both political parties who came to greet and talk informally with the mission participants.

CLOSE TO $4 MILLION IN PLEDGES

Earlier in the day, the group caucused under the leadership of UJA national chairman Herschel Blumberg and announced pledges to the UJA 1981 Campaign totaling $2,835,400, compared to $2,091,525 pledged by the same donors in 1980, a dollar gain of $743,875 and an increase of 36 percent. The community leaders also pledged $1,001,500 to Project Renewal.

Ephraim Evron, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, spoke to the group on recent Middle East events and noted that he and Ashraf Ghorbal, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S., are now exchanging visits, “something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.”

The Washington Leadership Mission was developed by the UJA in cooperation with the Council of Jewish Federations to broaden lay leadership’s understanding of the federal government.