A Reminder to Gromyko:
An Historic Document:
Recalling Russian diplomat's powerful ap-
peal at the United Nations for justice to Jewry
in the re-establishment of the Jewish State.
Congressional Affirmation of Zionist Lib-
ertarianism . . . The 1942 Declaration: 'The
Common Purpose of Civilized Mankind: A
Traditional American Policy Confirmed'
—Editorial, Page 4
The Road
to Peace:
Why Not Also
Disengage
Animosities?
—Commentary, Page 2
THE JEWISH NEWS
A Weekly Review
Editorial
Page 4
of Jewish Events
Review on
Page 48
Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper
Vol. LXVI. No. 20
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Mendelssohnian
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Reviewed:
His Piety and
Role in
Enlightenment
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January 25, 1974
Meir's Alliance Gains Strong
Endorsement, Survives Attacks
Israel Prime Minister Golda Meir and her interim government that is functioning while negotiations are in
progress for the formation of a new cabinet survived opposition attacks Tuesday when the 10-hour Knesset debate ended
with a 76-35 confidence vote. Even the Rakah Communists supported the government on the Suez Canal disengagement
issue. Likud's was the main solid vote against the government. The new Knesset went into session Monday.
By DAVID LANDAU
Chief, Jerusalem JTA Bureau
it also reflects Egypt's achievements during the
first days of the fighting."
Speaking of the danger of escalation, she re-
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Premier Golda Meir told
vealed
that since Oct. 22 there had been 1,075
the Knesset Tuesday that in the government's view
the alternative to the disengagbement agreement shooting incidents' on the Egyptian front—costing
with Egypt would have been the resumption of the Israel 22 dead and 107 wounded.
As to the future, she said the military and stra-
war. In fact, there had been days between the
cease fire and now when "this possibility seemed tegic position along the new line to be held by
Israel would be "suitable to their military purpose
almost inevitable."
Mrs. Meir said Israel has not signed the agree- in the event of fighting." She said:
"Throughout the entire region east of Thedi and
ment out of weakness or military inferiority. "We
signed the agreement with the object of advancing Mitla passes the Israel army will remain deployed
toward - a permanent peace settlement and, above in all strength required, prepared for any even-
all, in order to prevent escalation into a renewal of tuality. The forces stationed in the restricted zones
the war."
complement the basic military deployment of the
Mrs. Meir led off a 10-hour political debate— Israel' army and their capability to meet any vio-
the first debate of the eighth Knesset and the first lence and its capability to meet any violation of
public airing in Israel of government views on the the cease fire."
.disengagement agreement. Among the speakers
Regarding the role of UNEF, Mrs. Meir said:
were Moshe Dayan, Menahem Begin, Ariel Sharon "We are not relying on the UN forces, but on our-
and Abba Eban. Mrs. Meir said she had no doubt selves." Nevertheless, she continued, so long as
that if war were resumed Israel would triumph, there was no permanent peace the UN role was
"but responsible and sober judgment required us important in maintaining the agreed buffer zone.
to prefer a different line of development—a path Any unilateral indication by Egypt that it wanted
that will open up and strengthen prospects of the UNEF force out would be taken by Israel as
advancing toward peace."
evidence of "menacing plans," Mrs. Meir warned.
She said the agreement "is the fruit of our vic-
She stated . that despite contrary announce-
tory in the war. But we do not ignore the fact that ments and statements emanating from Cairo, "a
careful examination of statements by authoritative
Egyptian spokesmen shows that the government of
Egypt intends to start clearing the canal and fit-
ting it out for shipping once more, and to work
toward the repopulatiori and rebuilding of the
abandoned towns and restoration of normal civilian
life there." This action could be "a highly signifi-
cant turning point in the development of the
region, a turning point in the direction of peace."
She said that various documents which had not
been published had been shown by the govern-
ment to foreign affairs and defense committees.
She praised the U.S. government and President
Nixon's help for Israel and particularly Kissinger's
personal efforts in bringing about the agreement.
He, unlike previous middlemen, had not taken a
position himself but had remained the honest
broker, "faithfully explaining Egypt's considera-
tions to us and also making clear to Egypt Israel's
positions."
Mrs. Meir was vague on the U.S. role in the
agreement itself, but said that because of its role
in bringing about the agreement it "became a factor
capable of testifying to the intentions of the parties
. . . and the exact nature of the commitments
undertaken by them. Israel attaches considerable
importance to this role played by the U.S. The
(Continued on Page 8)
Kissinger: U. S. Ready to 'Follow
the Course' as U. S. Non-Guarantor
'Who Is a Jew?' Issue Major in Orthodox
Bargaining for Role in New Government
By JOSEPH POLAKOFF
JTA Chief Washington Correspondent
FP 1
-
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger said Tuesday that
the U.S. was not a "guarantor" of the Israeli-Egyptian disengagement agreement he
helped work out last , week, but stated that if there is another outbreak of war in the
Middle East the U.S. will be "involved" whether it is engaged in a diplomatic obligation
or not.
Kissinger spoke at a press conference at the State Department noon Tuesday,
his first since returning from his intensive diplomatic rounds in the Middle East. He
told newsmen that when he was in Damascus, Sunday, the Syrians for the first time
put forward a concrete suggestion on a phase of negotiations with Israel, that he
conveyed it .to the Israelis and was promised an answer after next Sunday's cabinet
meeting in Jerusalem. He did not say what the phase was but it is assumed to relate
to Israeli prisoners of war.
Referring to his major diplomatic achievement in the Middle East, Kissinger
stressed that the U.S. was not formally bound to take any action in the event of a
violation of the Israeli-Egyptian disengagement agreement. "In the sense of having a
formal obligation of a specific action in case of a violation of the agreement we are not
guarantors," he said.
He added that if there is a new outbreak of war in the region and one side or the
other asks for U.S. diplomatic help, "we will follow the course" from where the viola-
tion has occurred.
Kissinger described the Nixon letters on the limitation of forces which were signed
by both Premier Golda Meir of Israel and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as "a
device" by the U.S. to convey to each party what the limitations should be and not a
U.S. guarantee.
(Continued on Page 10)
TEL AVIV '(JTA)—The two major obstacles to the establishment of a new coalition
government—the National Religious Party's demands. for a broad-based national unity
government including Likud and the bitter controversy ova the "Who Is a Jew?" issue
—remained unsolved as talks continued between the various factions. But solutions
appeared in the offing that would shelve the religious issue until after a new government
is established and would give the NRP leadership the appearance of having done all
they could to bring about an all-party coalition.
Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir, who is directing the Labor Alignment's coalition
talks, expressed hope that a new cabinet will be formed within 21 days. Sapir asked the
special working committees assigned the task of ironing out inter-party differences to
complete their work next week. The talks are going on between Labor and the NRP
on one hand and Labor and the Independent Liberal-Civil Rights bloc on the other. It
was the latter that agreed more than a week ago to join a Labor-led coalition if the
"Who Is a Jew?" question is set aside for several months so that a new government
can take up more urgent political issues.
The NRP leaders balked on grounds that this would be tantamount to planting
a "time bomb" in the new government. But it appeared possible Tuesday that NRP
leader Dr. Yosef Burg and Chaim Zadok, a Labor Alignment MK, will go to the U.S.
shortly to sound out the views of the various religious trends there. Orthodox groups
in the U.S. are demanding a commitment by a new government to amend the Law of
Return to stipulate that all conversions must be in accordance with Halakha—Orthodox
rites—to be recognized. Reform and Conservative Jewish leaders in the U.S. have urged
Premier Meir not to surrender to Orthodox demands on that issue.
The NRP leadership is also being pressed by its "young guard" not to back
down on its demand for a broad coalition with Likud, something Labor has so far
categorically rejected. It appeared Tuesday, however, that the NRP.will insist only that
the Labor Alignment meet with the Likud people to discuss the formation of a national
regime.
(Continued on Page 8)