Mild U.S. criticism of new fighting

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 8

Mild U.S. criticism of new fighting

NZPA-Reuter Washington President Carter has deplored the fresh fighting on the Israeli-Lebanon border, but refused to condemn Israel for what he called retaliation against provocation. The President’s comments, made at a news conference in Washington, were received with delight in Israel by the Government of the Prime Minister (Mr Menahcem Begin), recently fearful that the Carter Administration was weakening America’s traditional commitment to Israel.

Commenting on the rocket attacks on Israel this week and consequent Israeli air strikes against southern Lebanon, Mr Carter said: “The whole thing is sitting and teetering on an even more major outbreak of violence.”

But he added: “If provocations were absent, there would be no need for retaliation.” The new Middle East developments are a cause of concern to the Carter

Administration, which has often stated that 1977 offers an exceptional chance for a Middle East settlement and still supports the convening of a Geneva peace conference before the end of the year. Later, the American Secretary of State (Mr Cyrus Vance) told the Council of Jewish Federations convention in Dallas that th,e United States would not jeopardise Israel’s security by bringing pressure to bear on the country by withholding military or economic assistance.

Informed sources said that Mr Carter’s mild stance on the renewed fighting demon-

strated an Administration desire not to alienate the influential Jewish community in the United States even further.

Mr Begin has expressed deep regret over any civilian casualties in the Israeli air raids but said he did not apologise for the raids. Mr Begin spoke after a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Israel

(Mr Samuel Lewis) who, according to diplomatic sources, conveyed United States concern at the latest build-up of violence in southern Lebanon. Mr Begin told reporters: “If there were civilian casualties I regret it very deeply but I do not apologise for the operations of our air force because it was carried out in aboslute defence of our people.” Mr Begin said Nahariya had been “atrociously shelled by Soviet-supplied Katyusha rockets used by the P.L.O. (Palestinian Liber-

ation Organisation) who are implacable enemies of our people.”

Noting that among the three Israelis killed in Nahariya had been a mother of two children, the Prime Minister went on: “To defend

our people those air raids were carried out and if there is quiet on the other side, there will be absolute quiet on our side. If they attack us, there will be counterattacks.”