Mr Begin opposed

Press, 24 September 1982, Page 1

Mr Begin opposed

NZPA New York ' Four major Jewish groups ; openly opposed the Israeli i Prime Minister, Mr Begin, i yesterday, demanding that Israel name an independent I panel to investigate the west 1 Beirut massacre of Pales- I tinians. 1 The calls came soon after 1 Israel’s Knesset (parliament) 1 rejected such a move at Mr Begin’s urging. i The American Jewish i Committee and the Ameri- i

can Jewish Congress said in a joint statement that Israel owed such an investigation to itself and the civilised world. Similar requests came from the Association of Reform Zionists of America and the Washington-based B’nai B’rith ' International, the world’s biggest Jewish organisation. The head of-Reform Zionists, who represent Zionists among members of Judaism’s reform branch. Rabbi

Roland Gittelsohn, said that once Israel decided to enter west Beirut it could no longer completely absolve itself of all responsibility for the massacre which ensued.

The president of B’nai B’rith International, Mr Jack Spitzer, said, “The world, which needs to learn the facts about this horrendous atrocity, must have . the assistance of Israel to clear the air.” It was the first time in recent memory that top United Stales Jewish groups were so openly at odds with an Israeli • government. Normally, United States Jewry, the world’s largest and most prosperous, keeps such criticisms private.

The statement by the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress said that it was not an admission of guilt for Israel to appoint an investigative commission. . “The obligation that the Israeli Government assumed when Israeli troops took over west Beirut and their proximity to events make it imperative that such an independent investigation take place as soon as possible.” Begin hangs on, page 8