U.S. Jews Disappointed as Prelate Drops Israel Talks

The Archbishop of New York’s cancellation of meetings with top Israeli officials while on a Mideast trip Sunday quashed the hopes of American Jewish leaders that his planned talks would signal a “meaningful breakthrough” in Israel’s quest for official diplomatic recognition from the Vatican, said Burton S. Levinson, national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.

During a 10-day trip to Jordan and Israel, Cardinal John J. O’Connor had planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and President Chaim Herzog. But shortly before O’Connor left for the Middle East over the weekend, Israeli officials revealed that the cardinal had broken his official engagement with the two top leaders. They said O’Connor cited an unexpected Vatican obligation on Jan. 5 that would shorten his trip.

“After the cardinal agreed to . . . (the visit), he was ordered to change the itinerary to downgrade his contacts with Israeli leaders,” said Levinson, a Los Angeles attorney. “That causes a lot of frustration and disappointment.”

Levinson shared in the speculation of Israeli officials that the Vatican had ordered O’Connor to eliminate any official visits with Israeli officials. The attorney suggested that the Vatican feared upsetting Arab interests and endangering Catholics living in the Middle East.

“We believe there is a lot of sensitivity by the Catholic church about the relations of Catholics who live in countries that are basically Arab. . . . I think from a certain pragmatic standpoint it’s understandable, but from our viewpoint it’s a matter of morality,” Levinson said Sunday.

Msgr. Peter Finn, a spokesman for O’Connor, denied reports over the weekend that the Vatican had ordered the itinerary changes. Finn said the schedule is still flexible and that O’Connor hop1702043764officials, including Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek. O’Connor arrived Sunday in Amman, Jordan.

The impetus for O’Connor’s trip stemmed from controversial remarks he made to the New York Times last June, after he failed to secure the release of the American hostages during a trip to L1700946286perspective” it was apparent that “a homeland has to be provided for the Palestinian peoples.”