Begin Supports Boycott of Olympics

Premier Menachem Begin said last night that he would ask his Cabinet to recommend that Israel boycott the Olympic Games in Moscow and press for their transfer to a site outside the Soviet Union. He made his statement to reporters following a 40-minute meeting in Jerusalem with U.S. Ambassador Samuel Lewis.

Begin said he understood President Carter’s position on the Olympic Games and in fact supported it. But he pointed out that the decisions on this issue are made by the Olympic committees and governments can only make recommendations. He said he would propose that his government recommend a boycott to the Israel Olympic Committee. Carter announced Sunday that he had informed the U.S. Olympic Committee that he would not support sending the American team to Moscow unless the Soviets pulled their forces out of Afghanistan.