Presidents Conference Urges’intensive’campaign Against Proposed Arms Package to Saudis

— The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has called on its 34 national member agencies to launch an “intensive” campaign directed to the White House, the State Department and Congress against the Reagan Administration’s proposed arms package to Saudi Arabia.

Howard Squadron, chairman of the Conference, released the text of a telegram he had sent to members of the Presidents Conference urging them to organize a letter writing and mailgram campaign to the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. government and to request local chapters to visit their Senators and Representatives during the current Congressional recess “to express deepest concern” over the arms package which would include AWACS, air missiles and additional fuel tanks for Saudi Arabia’s F-15s that would permit them to fly over Israeli air space with offensive weapons.

In his telegram, Squadron urged Presidents Conference members to “stress that America’s strategic interests in the Middle East require a commitment from Saudi Arabia to the peace process and to underscore the threat posed by the arms race to the economy and security of our country’s friend and ally, Israel.”