Aid to Israel and Russia

In response to “Robbing Russia Isn’t an Option,” by George McGovern, Thomas R. Mattair and Richard F. Wilson, Commentary, March 25:

Had the trio dared to “name names” rather than offer vague accusations against “some of Israel’s congressional supporters” this article would surely have bordered on defamation.

One must wonder aloud why McGovern and his colleagues failed to reveal that they are fronting for Arab interests? This is certainly obvious to those of us who recognize that the Middle East Policy Council is the new and sterile public relations name for what was formerly the American Arab Affairs Council.

To respond to only a few of the historically revisionist statements in this piece, the pro-Israel community is broad-based throughout this country and on Capitol Hill. It has always been supportive of an internationalist United States, recognizing that it is incumbent upon America to support democracy wherever it exists. Current advocacy for aid to the Commonwealth of Independent States is motivated by the same sentiment that has defined the longstanding relationship between the United States and Israel, i.e., shared respect for democratic values. To allege that Israel’s supporters would abandon the C.I.S. to economic instability, and in its wake political and social instability, is ludicrous.

With regard to Israeli immigration, Israel has afforded refuge to over 400,000 immigrants in the past two years, a staggering task which would be the equivalent of the U.S. absorbing 20 million people in the same time. Moreover, fewer than 2% of the Soviet immigrants have settled in the territories. In fact, the Israeli government has no policy whatsoever to settle immigrants in the territories.

BRUCE M. RAMER

Chair, National Board of Trustees

American Jewish Committee, Los Angeles