Carter matches Reagan pledge to Israel

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 8

Carter matches Reagan pledge to Israel

NZPA-Reuter Washington

President Carter campaigned for the . important Jewish vote ‘. yesterday,pledging to continue an unshakeable commitment, to Israel’s security and to oppose the creation of an indepen-. dent Palestinian State.

Mr Carter, sought to. ease concernthat he might favour Arabs if he won a second White. House term in the November . election, and he rebutted charges by the Republican candidate,' Ronald Reagan, that, hiscourse had been weak and confused on the Middle- Eiast. to . . the . Bnai Brith, the world’s largest Jewish service : organisation, a day after Mr Reagan had accused him in . the same forum of breaking faith with Israel, the President declared: “There will be no socalled reassessment of our support for Israel in a Carter Administration . . .there will not be. one policy for an election year and another after the election.” Mr Carter appeared before the Bnai Brith as he pushed His . drive to . hold together the coalition, including Jews, blacks and labour unions, from which a Democratic presidential candidate traditionally, draws support. Earlier in the day, the general board ot- the American .Federation, of LabourCongress of Industrial Organisations combined labour movement endorsed him- for election. '

Among the board’s members were union leaders who opposed him in his battle with Senator Edward Kennedy for the'Democratic presidential nomination .and criti’cised his performance in the White House. V;’ . The . President, whose Administration does not recognise ..Israel’s, claim that Jerusalem' is 'its capital,- said he knew ithie importance of Jerusalem in' Jewish history and would make certain that its future would be determined" only", with Israel’s concurrence.

-' When Mr Reagan spoke, to: the Bnai Brith . on Wednesday he drew cheers when . He said Mr Carter had not called . the Palestinian Liberation Organisati on a terrorist group-but he (Mr Reagan) was not afraid to use that label. The President said yesterday he-would not recognise thef P.L.0.; or negotiate with ib.until. it had recognised Israel’s right .to exist in peace. He- then ' said to applause: “As I. have repeatedly stated, it" is long past time for an end to terrorism.”- ~. The. .President, who undertook three campaign trips in three days this week, planned : to leave for his Camp , -David, retreat . in Maryland for the week-end. - J: Mri : Reagan , campaigned yesterday <n Florida and Louisiana.-, v - J , ,; .> .Unfounded . rumours , tba£ he had .suffered .a heart .attack cut short a strong rally on ?..WaU.i Street andj>stock prices fell in heavy trading.

. The stock market, has generally looked favourably, on Mr Reagan, and .. analysts said, the rumour about his health was an important factor in the slide.

Mr Reagan accused President Carter - yesterday of playing a dangerous political game with America’s national security, through Administration leaks about secret new technology to project United bombers;'-. 'The disclosures about the technology which -'"permits aircraft to fly .undetected by radar, were a grievous blow to- national -security, one that gave . the. Soviet -Union a long head start to find ways of •.nfeutralising the American breakthrough, said Mr Reagan. ' ./ : Since the new aircraft would* not be ready for use until- 'the: 19905,, Mr Reagan said, the Carter Administration’s action had now given the Kremlin a-10-year head start on developing ways to counter this type of ultra-sophisticated weapons system. . . The Independent candi-to-one vote, the Fenderal Election Commission has rulecF ’that*” he? Will " become eligible; -for - Federal... funds (possibly’more than $2O million) after the election if he receives 5 per .cent or more of A the;. Total vote- cast for President'.- Mr Anderson has been getting about 15 per ;;-ia s opinion