Jackson attacks Bush, spells out policy on Israel

Press, 12 April 1988, Page 10

Jackson attacks Bush, spells out policy on Israel

NZPA-Reuter New York . Jesse Jackson, campaigning for the Democratic nomination to the United States f Presidency, has accused the Republican ; i Vice-President, George Bush of betraying the economic and civil rights dreams of Martin Luther King, jun. In an open letter to the late Mr King, delivered at a Baptist church in Harlem | Mr ’ Jackson said “progress has not been great” since Mr King was shot in Memphis on April 4, 1968. ,j “We have sorely missed your great heart and your mighty witness,” Mr Jackons said to an overflow crowd nine days before the April 19 New York primary. “George Bush promises a continuation of the past years — against the enforcement of civil rights for all. Americans; against the struggle for economic

justice; against the struggle for peace.” ; j [ Mr 1 Jackson delivered his speech from a text, a rarity for him, and con-{ eluded with Mr King’s famous call: “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.” j But the speech lacked Mr Jackson’s usual fire! He said later the location and | the moment had made him so emotional he could not look up when he read the “free at last” lines.

Earlier, in a television interview, he sought to allay fears that he was too pro-Palestinian and said jiff elected president he would not meet the Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman, Yasser Arafat. i

Mr Arafat’s photographed embrace with Jackson in 1979 deeply disturbed American Jews.

After his past support

for Palestinians and his description of New York City as “Hymietown” in the 1984 campaign, Jackson was addressing a key issue in the crucial New York primary, where Jews are a quarter of the Democratic voters and where he trails the frontrunner, the Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis.

; Mr Jackson said his Middle East policy made Israel’s security his first obligation and he would use diplomacy to persuade the Palestinians to recognise its right to exist. ; He said he would not reply to criticisms from rivals, including/ the charge of the Tennessee Senator, Albert Gore, that Mr Jackson morally equates Israel with the Palestine Liberation /Organisation. / Mr Gore, trailing badly in New York,/has called Mr Dukakis timid for not criticising R/r Jackson,

and naive oni foreign policy. Mr Dukakis meet Jewish leaders! in New York today, Mr i Jackson is to meet business leaders of Fortune 500 companies and Mr Gore will canvass the Wall Street financial district as all three candidates intensify their drive for New York’s 255 delegates to the July party convention/

The first debate of the primary isj scheduled for tomorrow. ■ Mr Dukakis narrowly leads Mr Jackson in delegates, but a win in New York could give his candidacy a surge for the following ' Pennsylvania and Ohio primaries.

The latest national polls show Mr Dukakis would narrowly beat, the Republican I front-runner Mr Bush, whose nomination is now assured, but Mr Bush would overwhelm Mr Jackson.