Washington Report, November 1, 1982, Page 5

Lobby Activities

For Arabs:

Just before the U.S. elections, the National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) stepped up their efforts to publicize the annual levels of U.S. aid to Israel, in the hope of building it into a campaign issue.

On October 25 NAAA launched its largest and most expensive media blitz to date, according to Ronald Cathell, NAAA's Communications Director. The pro-Arab lobby purchased newspaper and radio advertisements for up to one week in a crosssection of four American cities: Little Rock, Arkansas: San Mateo, California; Topeka, Kansas and Albany, New York. NAAA also rented billboards in Topeka to display a picture showing the words "Lebanon '82" with blood dripping from them. The caption on the signs bore the message NAAA is trying to get across through all of its advertisements: "Is this how we wanted our tax dollars spent by Israel?" Mr. Cathell said the media drive was also a test campaign to help determine the most effective advertising mediums and most receptive ethnic and income groups.

For its part, ADC sent its 11,000 plus members a six page pamphlet which included statistics on aid to Israel and suggestions on how to draw attention to them during the campaigns. Members were encouraged to raise the issue of aid during debates, town meetings, radio talk shows and other public forums, as well as to ask candidates directly for their positions.

Meanwhile, over 50 individuals who coordinate NAAA's lobbying efforts in congressional districts nationwide began to meet with their incumbent Representative and Senators to explain NAAA's position on reducing aid to Israel. The coordinators also asked the legislators to complete a five-question survey designed by NAAA's national office to gauge Congressional support for President Reagan's peace proposals of September 1.

For Israel:

Over 20 political campaigners in this year's national elections have received in excess of $100,000 from a new political action committee (PAC) formed to assist pro-Israel candidates.

The National Political Action Committee—known as NATPAC—was formed earlier this year by New York businessman Marvin Josephson. He received assistance from a number of entertainers, including comedian Woody Allen, whose name was signed to a fund-raising letter sent to some 200,000 persons. Advertisements were also placed in major American newspapers and smaller Jewish weeklies. The total collected so far is over $400,000.

Whereas individuals can contribute a maximum of $1,000 to individual candidates, PACs are allowed to donate up to five times that amount. NATPAC's strategy, according to a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, has been to provide the full $5,000 rather than contribute smaller amounts to a greater number of campaigns.

The funds were dispersed to those candidates—irrespective of party affiliation—who faced close contests. They included Senators Lowell Weiker (R-Conn.) and James Sasser (D-Tenn.), as well as Chic Hecht, a Republican challenger trying to unseat Democratic Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada. Tom Lantos (D-N.Y.), Samuel Gejdenson (D-Conn.), Dante Fascell (D-Fla.), Sidney Yates (D-Ill.) and Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) were among the Representatives who received $5,000 each.

A six-member panel chaired by Josephson decides which candidates receive NATPAC support. The panel includes: Barry Diller, chairman of Paramount Pictures; Rita Hauser, a New York attorney; George Klein, a New York businessman; Martin Peretz, editor-in-chief of The New Republic andJames Wolfensohn, an investment banker.

Mr. Josephson said he hopes that NATPAC will have enough funds in 1984 to participate in all congressional races.