Shamir Defends Rejection of U.S. Peace Proposal

Meeting Friday with an eclectic array of Hollywood movers and shakers, Christian supporters of Israel and foreign affairs buffs, Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir defended his rejection of a U.S. proposal for an international conference to revive the Middle East peace process.

“In such a conference Israel will have two choices: to capitulate or to walk out,” the Israeli leader told a luncheon sponsored by the World Affairs Council at the Century Plaza.

Instead, he repeated his call for direct negotiations with each of Israel’s Arab neighbors.

“As Egypt can testify, those who accept our outstretched hand will not regret it,” Shamir said.

About 300 protesters, primarily of Arab descent, protested Shamir’s Southland visit by staging a loud, two-hour demonstration outside the hotel.

As the protesters chanted slogans calling for an independent Palestinian state governed by the Palestine Liberation Organization, 20 Jewish Defense League activists staged a counterdemonstration about 100 yards away.

No Violent Incidents

Police kept the two groups separated, and there were no violent incidents.

Although public debates within the American Jewish community have mirrored the divisions within the Israeli public over Shamir’s position, there were few signs of disunity during the prime minister’s second day in Los Angeles.

Efforts were made to have Shamir talk with local Jews who favor the position of Israel’s Labor Alignment, which supports the peace plan proposed by Secretary of State George P. Shultz, but to no avail. The Labor Alignment, led by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, is a partner with Shamir’s Likud Bloc in Israel’s national unity government. Peres favors the U.S. proposal.

“He knows that he’s got half of his country against him. He doesn’t have to come here to listen to complaints as well,” said Robert Eshman, Los Angeles director of American Friends for Peace Now, a group of Israeli army reservists who have called for territorial concessions as part of a peace settlement.

As Shamir addressed the World Affairs Council, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, many wearing native Arab kaffiyehs, stood across the street from the hotel chanting slogans such as “Free, Free Palestine” and “Long Live PLO.”

‘Iron Fist Policy’

“I’m here to protest the iron fist policy on the West Bank and Gaza--I think it’s inhumane,” said radio personality Casey Kasem, who held a picket sign during the noon rally. “If there’s going to be peace in the Middle East, enemies are going to have to sit down with enemies.”

“The key issue to us is not this peace plan or that peace plan,” said rally organizer Dr. Anthony Saidy of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. “It is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”

Although a large majority of the protesters were of Arab descent, there was also a sprinkling of other sympathizers, including one-time Israeli soldier Yossi Khen, 37, who now resides in Los Angeles and works as a computer programmer.

“In order to resolve the conflict,” Khen said, “the Israeli government has to withdraw from the occupied territories for peace.”

While most interviewed said they would favor peaceful co-existence between autonomous Israeli and Palestinian states, college student Ali Saleh, 32, said: “Israel should not exist as a Zionist entity. . . . It shouldn’t be a Jewish state.”

As the protesters waved banners on the sidewalk, others cruised by in a pick-up truck, dressed as Israeli soldiers acting out the beating of a West Bank protester. At one point, a large Palestinian flag was unfurled from the balcony of a room in the hotel to loud cheers.

Waved Banner

About 100 yards down the street, Jewish Defense League supporters waved their own banner reading, “Never Again.” JDL leader Irv Rubin said he was there “to show our support for Israel and its current policies.”

“We think it’s about time the Arabs left Israel,” he said.

Asked where they should go, Rubin responded, “Lebanon, Jordan, Beverly Hills, Century City, North Hollywood, Pacoima.”

Shamir, who had canceled a late-night meeting with major donors to Israeli and Jewish charities Thursday because of fatigue, started his second day in Los Angeles on Friday with a breakfast session attended by about 50 actors, agents, producers and other Hollywood insiders at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The prime minister was cordially received by the group, and he was asked polite questions, participants said, even by those such as actor Richard Dreyfuss, who have openly criticized his policies.

Entertainer Steve Lawrence said afterward that Shamir “made a good impression” in defending his government’s hard-line policy toward Palestinian protesters, 96 of whom have been killed since the unrest began Dec. 9, mainly by Israeli troops.

Lawrence said: “His defense is that, ‘Yes it is troublesome, it looks terrible and it is terrible, but there is no (other) way to counter violent means--you have to use violent measures. . . . Nobody likes to see anybody get hurt, and it seems there must be a way to peacefully resolve this situation. But it’s a very difficult and complex problem. There are no easy, simple answers.’ ”

Lawrence acknowledged that the Jewish community is divided over Israeli policies.

“But if you get two Jews in a room, you get three opinions,” he joked.

Dreyfuss, for one, asked Shamir his position on negotiating with the PLO. But the Academy Award-winning actor did not engage in debate when the prime minister replied that Israel would not deal with terrorists.

The answer did nothing “to allay any suspicions or fears,” said Dreyfuss, adding: “You have to negotiate with your enemies; you don’t negotiate with your friends.”

At a later meeting with $5,000 contributors to the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Shamir was asked about the battering that Israel’s image is taking abroad.

“Why don’t you just throw the media out,” one participant urged.

Shamir responded that the Israeli army occasionally bars the foreign press from the occupied territories

One of the strongest expressions of support Shamir has received during his entire weeklong U.S. visit came from a delegation of Christian ministers, who presented him with a scroll praising Israel on the 40th anniversary of its establishment as a Jewish state.

“Good morning,” Shamir said in English as he met the group in a hotel room. “ Shalom ,” the Rev. Fred Eiklor responded in Hebrew. “ Boker tov. Ma shlomkha .” (Hello. Good morning. How are you.)

He said that the ministers represented thousands of Christians who believe in Israel as an expression of God’s will.

“We genuinely pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” Eiklor said. “Not for a false peace that would be piece by piece until Israel is no more, but a genuine peace. We support you and we love you, Mr. prime minister.”

Shamir, visibly moved, responded: “Thank you very much. Your arguments are brilliant. . . . Your devotion to our country will become a strong arm in our arsenal of defense.”

The Israeli leader is to meet with supporters in his hotel today and leave for New York after a private dinner tonight. Plans call for him to fly back to Israel on Monday evening.