Discussion on US-Israel Relations and Policy

Do you see any big, great men in the Congress today?

Oh, there's a few.

By and large, it's low-grade stock.

They're very-- All they're interested in

is getting reelected.

Mm-hmm.

When they hear, when they hear a command from Israel,

they jump,

and as a result, we're losing friends.

What do you mean? What do you mean? Hold on a second, Tom.

What do you mean when they hear a command from Israel,

they jump?

Well, I think Israel probably has more effect on

the Congress than any country in

the, in the world and, and more effect probably than, uh,

in some issues than America.

Well, Senator, that reminds me. That hasn't been mentioned in this

campaign.

I know it.

No, we're-

We've all watched, you've watched, Mr.

Lance has watched, Pat, me, everybody has watched

the Israeli soldiers beating up on Palestinians-

Right

...for the last three weeks.

Is the

Israeli dog,

Israeli tail wa-wa-wagging the American dog?

Something's wagging the American dog. It might be the tail.

It might be the leash.

Well-

I don't know, but they certainly run this place.

What do you think, very briefly, United States policy should be

toward Israel in the wake of what's going on?

I think we ought to get real tough with them, withdraw all support

till they finally sit down.

Withdraw the three billion in aid?

Yes, if necessary. Uh, you have to remember that

the PLO, in all the history of this world, have

never had a piece of land that they could call their own.

Palestinian people?

That's right. Now, uh-

The Israelis say if you give them the land to, to call their own,

the PLO will arrive, they'll put up the PLO flag,

and they'll try to

liberate all of Palestine, which means the end of the Jewish state

if you do that.

I don't believe that for one minute.

I think the Jewish armed forces probably are stronger

than any combination of countries in that part of the world.

Do you share this view, Bert?

I think Senator Goldwater's put his finger right on an important point, that there

has to be something done there in mutual recognition for mutual security,

land for peace, whatever the combination is.