The Cabinet is united in its belief that all efforts aimed at helping Soviet Jewry should be encouraged and that Israel must not intervene in the dispute between President Nixon and Sen. Henry M. Jackson. This was confirmed today by a top source here who said Israel’s policy had been "correct" until now and would continue to be correct.
He stressed that what had been achieved so far for Soviet Jews–the relaxation of the ransom tax–had been the result of both Nixon’s efforts and the Russians’ knowledge that he had a strong like-minded Congress behind him on this issue. The source also stressed the importance of Nixon’s formal undertaking to continue his efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry.
It was not often, the source noted, that an American President made such undertakings. The source said there was not necessarily a contradiction between Nixon and Jackson nor necessarily a clash between them–since they both desired the same ends for Russian Jews. He indicated that Israel was quietly hoping for some sort of compromise between them.
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