Washington Report, June 28, 1982, Page 6

Lobby Activities

For Arabs:

Since the first day of Israel's invasion the National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA) has been working individually and with other Arab-American groups in Washington in an ad hoc coalition to bring political pressure to bear on the Reagan Administration and members of Congress to have them help, bring about an Israeli withdrawal.

On Capitol Hill, NAAA supplied the draft copy of a suggested resolution to Rep. Nick Joe Rahall (Democrat, West Virginia), who introduced a slightly modified version in the House on June 10. The 11 sense of Congress" resolution (359), although not binding, says in part, that Congress "urges that Israeli military forces and all other foreign combat forces be withdrawn from Lebanon." Thirteen Congressmen have so far signed their names as cosponsors. Attempts to have a similar resolution introduced in the Senate have proved unsuccessful, NAAA's new President, Robert Joseph, sent a letter to President Reagan calling on him to cut off all military and economic aid to Israel until it withdraws from Lebanon. Administration officials have been saying that no cut off of U.S, aid to Israel is being contemplated, although the Administration did withhold formal notification to Congress of the recent F-16 sale.

Mr. Joseph also sent letters to Senator Charles Percy (Republican, Illinois), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Clement Zablocki (Democrat, Wisconsin), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, urging them to hold investigative hearings on possible Israeli violations of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act. David Sadd, Executive Director of NAAA, echoed this request during testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. The act stipulates that American-made weapons sold to foreign governments by the U.S. may only be used for "internal security" and "self-defense." NAAA says that Israel violated this law.

Other Arab-American groups in Washington with which NAAA representatives have been working to rally U.S. public opinion against Israel's invasion include the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Palestine Congress of North America, and Americans for Peace and Unity in Lebanon. These organizations, which are primarily educational, have organized rallies in several American cities and daily demonstrations at the U.S. Department of State and at a site near the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.; coordinated the distribution of leaflets and petitions at five subway stops in Washington; and arranged for volunteers to make telephone calls to the Arab-American community in Washington, urging them to register their dissatisfaction with Israeli actions and the U.S. government's response to their elected officials.

For Israel:

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has been working in tandem with officials of the Israeli embassy and American Jewish organizations to justify Israel's invasion of Lebanon to U.S. government officials and the American public.

The day after the invasion Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Moshe Arens, flew to New York for an emergency meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, a group to which AIPAC belongs. The circumstances suggest that the purpose of the meeting was to coordinate a unified American Jewish defense of Israel's action.

Later, two reserve generals and the head of Israel's broadcast authority came to the U.S. and made appearances on television talk shows, had meetings with editors, and gave lectures—all in defense of Israel's invasion operation. Mr. Begin was engaged in similar public relations efforts during his recent U.S. visit.

AIPAC and the Israel embassy distributed "fact sheets" and background information papers to members of Congress immediately after the invasion, attempting to explain why they believe the action was both justified and in compliance with international law. AIPAC is also trying to make the case on Capitol Hill that Israel has dealt a blow to Soviet influence in the region by inflicting heavy military losses on the Syrians and the PLO and in so doing has served U.S. national interests.

Thomas Dine, Executive Director of AIPAC, told the Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee that the U.S. should work toward removing all foreign forces from Lebanon while at the same time help establish a multi-national peacekeeping force to patrol the south.

Meanwhile, members of the American Lebanese League (ALL), headquartered in Washington, D.C., have lobbied 12 senators and top administration officials for the removal from Lebanon of not only the Israeli forces but also those of the PLO and Syria, according to the group's Chairman, Robert Basil. Mr. Basil and many members of his group—which is primarily educational and social, so that lobbying is done by members acting as private citizens—support the Phalange, a faction of Maronite Christians which has received Israel's moral support and military aid for several years. Mr. Basil explained during a telephone interview with The Washington Report that with Israel's forces now in Lebanon it will be "easier" for the U.S. to appear balanced in calling for the removal of "all three" military forces from Lebanon.