Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R. NY) declared here last night that should Egypt fail to observe the Camp David accords after Israel completes its withdrawal from Sinai April 25, he would propose to the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, to cut all aid to Egypt.
Addressing a leadership assembly sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York in conjunction with the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, held at Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue, D’Amato said that the United States should use its considerable “economic clout” to bring more Arab countries into the Camp David peace process.
He said that if Egypt will be allowed after April 25 to “move back (to the Arab fold) and undercut the peace process” no Israeli leader will be willing to take risks for peace any more.
Referring to the tense situation along the Israel-Lebanon border, D’Amato said that the Palestine Liberation Organization bears responsibility for the destruction of Lebanon. He said that if Israel invaded Lebanon, it will do so “because they are forced to” in the face of the huge military buildup by the PLO in Lebanon which is directed at Israel.
SACRIFICES ISRAEL IS MAKING
Howard Squadron, chairman of the Presidents Conference, told the gathering of some 400 people that Israel has not been given credit for the enormous sacrifices it has made for peace. He said that one of the tasks of the American Jewish community is to see to it that Israel is recognized for the risks it undertook for peace and the military, financial and political sacrifices it made by returning the Sinai to Egypt.
Squadron said that the United States should give Israel “support and comfort” at this time, noting Israel’s isolation in the world. He warned that a “desperate Israel” without friends and support will probably have no choice but to resort to a preemptive attack in Lebanon.
Another speaker at the meeting was Rabbi Meir Kahane, leader of the Kach movement in Israel and founder of the Jewish Defense League in the United States, who attended the assembly with a large group of his supporters. He was allowed to address the meeting briefly, apparently to avoid a disturbance. Kahane urged American Jews not to trust Egypt or President Reagan and called on them to appeal to Israeli Premier Menachem Begin to act immediately to halt the withdrawal from Sinai.
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.
