Holtzman Discusses Peace for Israel, Criticizes Carter's Efforts in Mideast

"Peace that will allow Israel to exist, and that will enhance the economies of all the countries" in the Middle East is a viable goal, Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman '62 (D-N.Y.) said yesterday in a speech sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Zionist Alliance.

Holtzman visited the Mideast last December and January during what she called "the heady days right after Sadat's trip to Israel." She praised Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's "contagious optimism" and said she was "very heartened by the enthusiasm of the Egyptians."

"But I also came away with a deeper understanding of the problems that exist," she said, referring to the "deep scars left on the Israelis" from their 30-year struggle to maintain their nation's sovereignty. During this time the Israelis were confronted with repeated unkept promises and commitments she said.

"Unless Israel is secure, it will not make a peace," she said, adding Saturday's attack by Palestinian guerillas will reaffirm Israel's growing sense of insecurity and fear of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Past dealings by the American government with the Mideast have been a history of repeated mistakes, Holtzman said. She added that the Carter administration has mistakenly been accepting the PLO as a legitimate voice of the Palestinians, but she found little support for the PLO anywhere in the Mideast.

Holtzman also citicized President Carter's recent proposal which would furnish both Israel and two of its Arab adversaries with some of the most advanced U.S. weaponry in a $4.8-billion arms sale package.

Rather than promote flexibility in Mideast peace talks, as Carter hopes, the sale would aggravate the situation by increasing Israeli insecurity. Holtzman said.

"The adverse effects of this arms sale will be enormous, and I regret it very much," she said.