Israel attacks Schmidt

Press, 4 May 1981, Page 8

Israel attacks Schmidt

NZPA-Reuter Tel Aviv West Germany would be helping to “finish off the job” it started of exterminating Jews if it sells arms to Saudi Arabia, according to the Israeli Foreign Minister (Mr Yitzhak Shamir). Mr Shamir, speaking on Israeli Television, bitterly attacked a suggestion by the West German Chancellor (Mr Helmut Schmidt) that sales to the Saudis might eventually be possible. Mr Schmidt said during a

visit to Saudi Arabia that a deal was not feasible because of West Germany’s constitutional ban on arms sales to areas of. tension, but, he added, the policy was under review. West German commentators said the issue of arms sales was only temporarily shelved. Mr Shamir said: “I have not seen the exact text of the Chancellor’s remarks but am shocked by published reports of what he said. “Along with an avoidance

and pushing aside ot a re-, sponsibility for the .wanton killing of six million of oun people [by Nazi Germany]! there suddenly appears a new morality in the Chancel-', lor’s remarks towards those, who would finish off the job, started by the Germans. . ’ I “I hope there are enough! people in West Germany wha will not subscribe to thesa views,” he said. ’ I Israel has bitterly opposed! proposed American sales ofj ultra-sophisticated weapons? to Saudi Arabia ]