)
.4
Jewish
Population
Figures
Updated
.
The Dignity
of Israel:
Envoy Dinitz's
Reply to
Distortions
Regarding
State's Pledges
NEW YORK — The world Jewish population is estimated at
14,259,525, according to the American Jewish Year Book, whose 1978
edition is being published this month. This figure represents an increase
of about 115,000 from the previous year. The U.S., with approximately
5,775,935 Jews, has the largest Jewish population in the world.
The world Jewish population estimates were compiled by Leon Shapiro,
professor of Russian and Soviet Jewish history at Rutgers University. The
U.S. figures were supplied by Alvin Chenkin, research consultant, Coun-
cil of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.
,
After the U.S., countries with the largest Jewish population are: Israel,
3,059,000; Soviet Union, 2,678,000; France, 650,000; Great Britain,
410,000; Canada, 305,000; and Argentina, 300,000. Forty-seven percent of
world Jewry is located in North, Central and South America, 29 percent in
Europe, 22 percent in Asia, 1.5 percent in Africa, and 0.5 percent in
Australia and New Zealand.
In the United St'ates, Jews comprise 2.7 percent of the total population.
Among the Jewish population figures for U.S. cities listed in the
(Continued on Page 5)
Quoting Bible
in Peace Quest
* * *
Freedom for
Nazis to Deny
Freedoms
to Others?
HE JEWISH NEWS
A Weektv Review
of Jewish R'e'nts
Editorials, Page 4
Commentary, Page 2
February
VOL. LXXII, No. 23 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 424-8833 $12.0Q Per Year: This Issue 30`
to;
1978
Arms for Egypt Incite Opposition
ewish Leaders, Congress
Drawn Into Mideast Dispute
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Egyptian President
Anwar Sadat's invective against Israel in his Na-
tional Press Club speech Monday was in direct con-
trast with his informal remarks to eight Jewish
Americans he met behind closed doors at Blair House
immediately before he addressed the press club.
In his telecast speech he accused .Israel of "in-
stitutionalization of anarchy and aggression" and de-
scribed Israel's policy as a "short cut to chaos and
lawlessness," but in chatting with the Jewish group
he spoke in a spirit of accommodation and friendship
with Israel and talked enthusiastically about the Is-
raeli people.
"His press club speech was tough and agressive,"
one of those at the Blair House meeting said. "That
was completely absent during the hour with us."
"The Israeli government cannot hide behind
fanatic groups which are beating the drum of
war in their feverish campaign to build these
settlements," Sadat told the press club. "It is the
task and responsibility of every government to
curb the excesses of all individuals and groups.
the unholy
In fact, the government is
march of the law-breakers. They should all
realize that the establishment of an ultra-
modern and foreign-financed ghetto around
every Arab town is not a -way to Co-exist."
The Egyptian president appealed to Americans to
support his demands for an Israeli withdrawal from
all occupied territories and for the creation of a Pales=
tinian state. He said that despite the obstacles Israel
was placing in the way of peace he would give peace
"every possible chance, until A. reach the conclusion
.
that enough time has elapsed without achieving any
tangible progress."
Nothing newsworthy with regard to Middle East
diplomacy emerged from the Blair House meeting
inasmuch as those present made it clear to Sadat
from the outset that any specifics on negotiations
were up to the Israeli government and other govern-
ments involved.
Aware of the opposition within the Jewish com-
munity leadership against any attempt to manipu-
late it into taking a position inimical to Israeli policy,
Sadat said that his "open letter" to the American
Jewish community was not an effort to separate Jews
froth Israel since he said this would be arkimpossible
* *
While President Carter hailed Anwar . Sadat as "the
world's foremost peace-maker," Israel Foreign Minis-
ter Moshe Dayan, arriving in New York on Wednesr
day, declared that Sadat's accusations about new Is-
rael settlements were negating peace were mere pre-
texts in a desire to refrain from genruine peace-
making.
Dayan declared that under no circumstances, in
view of experiences under Arab threats of destruc-
tion, would Israel withdraw to the insecure 1967 bor-
ders.
Upon returning Sunday from his Camp David meet-
ings with Sadat, President Carter met with. Vice Pres-
ident Mondale and Senators Jacob Javits (R-NY),
Richard Stone (D-DFla.), Abraham Ribicoff (D-Conn.)
and Rep. Sidney Yates (D-I11.).
Carter was scheduled to meet with Jewish leaders
at a dinner meeting Wednesday, including Rabbi Ale-
xander Schindler, of the Conference of Presidents
and Philip Klutznick, of the World Jewish Congress.
had no such intention or such illusion. :
task and
In keeping with this spirit, Sadat told the
Jewish group his intent was to obtain 'under-
standing for his objective which he said is peace,
not war. He said he inherited hate from the late
Egyptian President Nasser and he wanted to re-
place hate with love. He said he felt that Israel
had two important desires — recognition and
real peace — and that by going to Jerusalem he
thought he could offer both.
He was sorry, Sadat was reported as saying; that
Israel does not reciprocate with the same broad vis-
ion. He said he was saying this more in sorrow than
anger and-he was intent on persevering in the search
fol. peace, according to those present.
"Obviously," one -of those present said later, "Sadat
was trying to sell himself. However, he impressed me
very much. He is a mystical person, an extraordinar-
ily fine salesman who conveys genuinenes and sin-
cerity. He appears very earnest. I would gather he is
quite messianic. He is no slouch, but a very powerful
man. One can understand why he is able to sell him-
self to President Carter."
- During the meeting one of those present suggested
to Sadat that he is inconsistent, that he speaks of love
in one place but not in another.
Meanwhile, Sadat told reporters after his
meeting with the Houseinternational Relations
committee on Tuesday that he gave the legis 7
lators a full report on Middle East developments
and made it clear that his request for arms
would go beyond the F-5E aircraft, a jet fighter
(Continued of Page 16)
Jewish Spokesmen Divided Over Meeting With Sadat
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Philip M. Klutznick, president of the World Humphrey; Dr. Martin Myerson, president of the University of
-Jewish Congress (WJC) and seven other prominent American Jews met Pennsylvania; Robert R. Nathan, Washington economist; Dr. Av-
with President Anwar Sadat of Egypt Monday morning at Blair House at raham Udovich, of Princeton University; Max Karl of Milwaukee;
and Dr. Guido Goldman of Harvard. Two others who were invited,
his invitation, as individuals and not as representatives of communal
Morris L. Levinson and Edgar Bronfman, both of New York, were
organizations with which they might be associated.
Klutznick said he received a phone call last weekend from Egyptian\ unable to attend because the east coast snow storm grounded their
Ambassador Ashraf Ghorbal inviting him to meet with Sadat. The Jewish flight.
Sadat was accompanied by Egyptian FOreign Minister Mohammed
leader said he accepted because Sadat "is here as the guest of the President
of the United States on a mission that is vital to the whole world — peace Kaamel, Egypt's Ambassador to the U.S. Ashrpif Ghorbal and Said Marei,
in the Middle East. If he invites me as an American Jew to meet him, I speaker of the Egyptian Parliament.
would consider it demeaning not to accept the invitation." --
Klutznick, who spoke to reporters outside Blair House, disclosed that he
Klutznick stated that, "I was invited as Philip Klutznick but I cannot had met privately with Sadat for a half-hour before the general meeting
disassociate myself from the office which I hold in the World Jewish but stressed that nothing in the private talk was contradictory to what
Congress. Therefore, I will pursue its mandate in my discussions. I con- was said at the general meeting. (See main story above.)
sulted with some of the WJC officers in the United States and Canada
The Jewish leaders' attendance is regarded in some quarters as repre-
senting a division within the AmeriCan Jewish community. The Confer-
before accepting."
Other Jewish leaders were Lester Crown of Chicago; Max Kam,
PHILIP KLUTZNICK
pelman of Washington, a former aide to the late Sen. Hubert. H.
(Continued on Page 5)
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