Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
Records pertain to the Middle East Peace Process.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
285341665
label
CO074 Case Number 185594 Scanned
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
285341665
contentType
document
title
CO074 Case Number 185594 Scanned
description
Records pertain to the Middle East Peace Process.
citationUrl
collections
Records of the White House Office of Records Management (George H.W. Bush Administration)
Subject Files on Israel
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
285341665
generalNotes
Title terms were applied by White House staff.
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
bab3128cb270a623
ocrText
ID# 185594
THE WHITE 'HOUSE
CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING WORKSHEET
INCOMING
00074
DATE RECEIVED: OCTOBER 25, 1990
NAME OF CORRESPONDENT: MR. MICHAEL J. BOHNEN
SUBJECT: EXPRESSES DISMAY BY THE U.S. ACTION AT THE
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORTING
PLDECA
PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAEL
ACTION
DISPOSITION
ROUTE TO:
ACT DATE TYPE C COMPLETED
OFFICE/AGENCY
(STAFF NAME)
CODE YY/MM/DD RESP D YY/MM/DD
SARAH DECAMP
ORG 90/10/25
C90111115-SD
99005
REFERRAL NOTE:
A 90 /11/02 Id A90/11/07TO TC
REFERRAL NOTE:
/ /
/ /
REFERRAL NOTE:
/ /
/ /
REFERRAL NOTE:
/ /
/ /
REFERRAL NOTE:
COMMENTS:
ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENTS:
MEDIA:L INDIVIDUAL CODES: 4800 4400
PL MAIL
USER CODES: (A)
(B)
(C)
*DISPOSITION
*OUTGOING
*
*ACTION CODES:
*
*
*CORRESPONDENCE:
*
*A-APPROPRIATE ACTION
*A-ANSWERED
*TYPE RESP=INITIALS
*
*B-NON-SPEC-REFERRAL
*
OF SIGNER
*
*C-COMMENT/RECOM
*D-DRAFT RESPONSE
*C-COMPLETED
*
CODE = A
*
*F-FURNISH FACT SHEET
*S-SUSPENDED
*COMPLETED = DATE OF
*
*
OUTGOING
*
*I-INFO COPY/NO ACT NEC*
*
*
*R-DIRECT REPLY W/COPY *
*
*
*
*S-FOR-SIGNATURE
*
*
*
*X-INTERIM REPLY
REFER QUESTIONS AND ROUTING UPDATES TO CENTRAL REFERENCE
(ROOM 75,0EOB) EXT-2590
KEEP THIS WORKSHEET ATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL INCOMING
LETTER AT ALL TIMES AND SEND COMPLETED RECORD TO RECORDS
MANAGEMENT.
UNCLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
TRANSMITTAL FORM
S/S 9023534
Date November 13, 1990
FOR: Mr. William F. Sittmann
Executive Secretary
National Security Council Staff
The White House
REFERENCE:
To: President Bush
From:
Mr. Michael J. Bohnen
Date:
October 16, 1990
Subject: Expresses dismay by the U.S. action at the
United Nations Security Council in supporting
WH Referral Dated:
November 2, 1990
1+
NSCS ID# (if any) :
185594
The attached item was sent directly to the
Department of State.
ACTION TAKEN:
A draft reply is attached.
A draft reply will be forwarded.
A translation is attached.
XX
An information copy of a direct reply is attached.
We believe no response is necessary for the reason
cited below.
The Department of State has no objection to the
proposed travel.
Other (see remarks).
REMARKS:
62:15
Jelros Secretariat Director Huch Staff
UNCLASSIFIED
United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
November 7, 1990
Mr. Michael T. Bohnen
President
Jewish Community Relations Council
of Greater Boston, Inc.
One Lincoln Plaza
Suite 308
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Dear Mr. Bohnen:
I have been asked to respond to your letter of October 16
to President Bush expressing your concerns regarding the tragic
events that took place in Jerusalem on October 8, 1990, and the
United States support in the United Nations Security Council
for the adoption of Resolution 672. This UNSC resolution
condemned the violence that took place and the excessive use of
force in response by Israeli security forces. It also
authorized the United Nations Secretary General to dispatch his
representative to investigate the incident.
The United States voted for UN Security Council Resolution
672 because we thought it important to be on record opposing
what we believe was unacceptable behavior by Israeli security
forces. Our position was motivated by a genuine concern over
what had taken place and the desire to see such occurrences
avoided in the future; Secretary Baker has clearly stated that
there was no linkage to the situation in the Persian Gulf, and
that we would have voted for the resolution even in the absence
of the confrontation with Iraq.
Our vote for UNSC Resolution 672 did not, however, imply
any criticism of Israel's policy governing access to the holy
places of Jerusalem, which has been praiseworthy; nor was our
vote in any way intended to minimize the harm done to those of
the Jewish faith who were injured during these riots. There
are and can be no excuses for that.
The United States fully supports the efforts of the
Secretary General to fulfill the mandate given him by Security
Council Resolution 672. We have urged the Government of Israel
to permit his representative to come to Israel to carry out his
responsibilities, and supported Resolution 673 on this basis.
- 2 -
The events have been tragic, and we have urged all parties
to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid further exacerbation
of the painful and costly situation. The continuing violence
and counterviolence painfully attest to the need for progress
toward a negotiated settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute, an
endeavor we are dedicated to advancing.
Thank you for your interest. I hope that this information
is of assistance.
Sincerely,
William R. Brew
Director
Office of Israel and
Arab-Israeli Affairs
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
REFERRAL
NOVEMBER 2, 1990
TO: DEPARTMENT OF STATE
ACTION REQUESTED:
APPROPRIATE ACTION
DESCRIPTION OF INCOMING:
ID:
185594
MEDIA: LETTER, DATED OCTOBER 16, 1990
TO:
PRESIDENT BUSH
FROM:
MR. MICHAEL J. BOHNEN
PRESIDENT
JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
OF GREATER BOSTON, INC.
ONE LINCOLN PLAZA
SUITE 308
BOSTON MA 02111
SUBJECT: EXPRESSES DISMAY BY THE U.S. ACTION AT THE
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORTING
PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAEL
PROMPT ACTION IS ESSENTIAL -- IF REQUIRED ACTION HAS NOT BEEN
TAKEN WITHIN 9 WORKING DAYS OF RECEIPT, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE
UNDERSIGNED AT 456-7486.
RETURN CORRESPONDENCE, WORKSHEET AND COPY OF RESPONSE
(OR DRAFT) TO:
AGENCY LIAISON, ROOM 91, THE WHITE HOUSE, 20500
SALLY KELLEY
DIRECTOR OF AGENCY LIAISON
PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Sarah DeCamp
185594
JCRC
JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER BOSTON, INC.
One Lincoln Plaza, Suite 308, Boston, Mass. 02111 617-330-9600 Fax: 617-345-9691
President
Michael J. Bohnen
Executive Director
Nancy K. Kaufman
Member Organizations
October 16, 1990
Action for Soviet Jewry
American Association
of Jewish Holocaust
Survivors of Greater
Boston, Inc.
The Honorable George Bush
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
PRESIDENT
American Jewish
The White House
Historical Society
AMIT Women
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Greater Boston Council
Washington, D. C. 20500
Anti-Defamation League
of B'nai B'rith
Association of Reform
Dear Mr. President:
Zionists of America
B'nai B'rith Council of
Greater Boton
We are deeply dismayed by the U.S. action at the U.N.
B'nai B'rith Women
Greater Boston Council
Security Council in supporting passage of a resolution
B'rith Abraham
condemning the Israeli response to the recent riots in
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Eastern Massachusetts Region
Jerusalem. We believe the United States made a serious
Women's American ORT
error in rushing to condemn our sister democracy before
Greater Boston Council
NA'AMAT USA
giving them an opportunity to investigate these tragic
Greater Boston Section
events and report their findings. We join with others in
National Council of
Jewish Women
expressing our profound regret over the loss of life to
Hadassah
the rioters and the injuries of many more, Jews and
Hillel Council of Greater Boston
Israel Histadrut Committee
Arabs alike.
Jewish Civil Service
Employees, Inc.
Jewish Labor Committee
We have strongly supported the Administration's policies
Jewish Ministers Cantors
in response to Iraq's actions in the Persian Gulf. We
Association of New England
Jewish War Veterans
also share your view that there is no linkage or
Labor Zionist Alliance
parallel between Iraq's brutal crushing of a member
Massachusetts Board of Rabbis
state of the U.N. and the situation in the West Bank and
Mercaz
One Generation After
Gaza Strip. Efforts by Saddam Hussein to raise the
Orthodox Rabbinical Council
of Greater Boston
intensity of debate on the Palestinian issue are a
Religious Zionists of America
transparent and cynical attempt to deflect attention
New England Region
Shomrim Society
away from his naked aggression. We fear that in joining
Synagogue Council of
with those forces at the U.N. which routinely use that
Massachusetts, Inc.
Union of American Hebrew
forum to isolate Israel diplomatically, including Arab
Congregations
states cooperating with the U.S. in the Persian Gulf,
Union of Orthodox Jewish
Congregations of America
the Administration may be contributing to the very
N.E. Branch
phenomenon that you seek to avoid, namely diversion of
United Synagogue of America
New England Region
central attention away from Iraq's aggression.
Vaad Harabonim
Workmen's Circle
Zionist Organization of America
continue
A constituent agency of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston
Mr. President
Page 2
October 16, 1990
We believe that instead of voicing a precipitous
condemnation of Israel, U.S. policy would be
be better served by making it clear to the Arab
states and their supporters that the use of the
U.N. as a vehicle for continually heaping
opprobrium on Israel, must be ended, once and for
all. It is high time for the Arab states and the
Palestinians to end their 42 year state of war with
Israel and to begin negotiations toward a political
settlement that will resolve the issues dividing
them. Only then, will any lasting peace be
possible.
Respectfully yours,
Buhun
Michael J. Bohnen
President