John Feild
Slomovitz FEPC Director;
Seabron Assistant
olis informed Acting Foreign Minister Golda Myerson a few
Purely Comments y
Israel's Position: Let the Facts Be Known
It is pressingly urgent that the facts regarding the new Middle
Eastern conflict—resulting from Israeli-Syrian battles—should be
clearly understood. They must be viewed in co-relation with the
events that had transpired on the Egyptian borders. Neither situa-
tion is properly evaluated in our newspapers, and Jews as well
as non-Jews often misunderstand the situation and are inclined
to view—as they should—with critical solemnity the loss of life
and the destruction of property. But a realistic understanding of
the conditions which have prompted Israel to retaliate on several
occasions will surely help to soften the harsh criticisms that have
been leveled unjustly at the sorely-tried Jewish State.
Unfortunately, the newspapers that evaluate the situation prop-
erly are too few to assist in creating a good atmosphere for Israel.
One newspaper has presented the Israel position in the Syrian
struggle and we consider it sufficiently important for full quota-
tion. In a cable from Jerusalem to the New York Times, Harry
Gilroy has outlined Israel's position in the Syrian crisis as follows:
The Egyptian-Syrian military agreement was a factor in
the Israeli decision to attack Syria. The move was made after
consideration of the adverse effect it might have on Israel's
appeal to the United States for arms.
These disclosures about the motivation of the attack in
which, by United Nations report, at least 41 Syrians were killed,
are reliable even though they cannot be attributed to any
source.
Since the attack foreign observers here have been search-
ing for the reason. The killing of 41 or more Syrians seemed
disproportionate retaliation for the shooting by a Syrian anti-
tank gun at an Israeli police boat in the Sea of Galilee. A hole
was shot through the boat, but there were no casualties.
The ISraeli government views troubles with Syria over the
Sea of Galilee in at least two contexts.
The first of these concerns interference by Syria with
Israeli fishermen. It happens that all the good fish in the sea
are in the northeast corner, where Syrian territory comes with-
in 10 meters (11 yards) of the water's edge. The frontier was
drawn that way between the old French mandate of Syria and
the British mandate of Palestine, but the Syrians of the vicinity
received permits from the British to fish in the sea.
Israel has realized that harassing fire from Syrians against
Israeli fishermen was based on the desire, even need, of local
Syrians to get fish from the sea. Israel has reportedly offered,
through the Israeli-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission, to
grant permits to Syrian fishermen.
The offer has gone unaccepted, presumably because appli-
cations from Syrians for permits would constitute recognition
of Israel. Syria has taken'the view that her citizens had the right
to fish in the sea, while Israel has determined that nothing
should be done that would suggest that Syria has legal claim
to any part of the waters of the Sea of Galilee.
The fishing season is just beginning in the sea.' The shoot-
ing at the police boat indicated to Israelis that the Syrians would
attempt to step fishing.
According to Israeli records, 25 cases of shooting by the
Syrians at Israeli boats occurred during 1955. United Nations
records are understood to show no Israeli deaths in those in-
cidents. Israelis attribute this solely to fortune. In U. N. circles
it is consideml a possibility that the Syrians have usually in=
tended to miss with their harassing fire.
However, the fact that the. Syrians hit the police launch
Sunday indicated that the firing was in earnest. It appears
that the Syrians began the exchange of fire. V '
The Israeli operation that followed obviously had been
well prepared. Why? foreign observers ask.
The question of fishing rights was the first concern. The
fishing is done by settlers of Ein Gev, on the east bank of the
Sea of Galilee. Fishing income means E150,000 Israeli (S82,0 00 )
annually to the settlers.
The settlers want to live in peace. Last week, it is reliably
reported, a settlement meeting discussed giving up fishing this
coming season rather than risk the lives of members.
Foreign observersV grant the justice of Israeli's cause in so
far as the right of fishermen to go unmolested on the Sea of
Galilee is concerned. But even among Israelis there are some,
perhaps a small, minority, who question the toll of life taken
to enforce that right.
It is at this point that the second context in which the
Israeli government views the troubles on the sea is most im-
portant - In the last two months Israel watched the forging of
the Egyptian-Syrian military pact, establishment of a joint
command with an Egyptian chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Abdul
Hakim Amer, as its head, the visit of Egyptian jet planes to
Syria and talk of establishing air bases there for the new com-
mand. .
Government officials here were aware of the statement of
General Amer that the joint command "now has sufficient forces
to resist any Israeli aggression at any time."
To the government here, the picture of Syria and Egypt
_
became a , single view. Israel _understood that Egypt, at least,
wanted the government here to receive that impression. The
conclusion- drawn by the _Israeli government was that this
development worsened the situation between Israel and Syria.
In the minds of Israeli officials a contrast exists between
Syria and, for instance, Lebanon. Israel has suffered on a few
occasions from infiltrators who originated in Lebanon. But the
attitude here is that Lebanon as a nation is innocent of evil
designs on Israel. Egypt is considered to have evil intent to-
ward Israel. When Syria bound herself with Egypt, the Israelis
decided Syria should be considered to have a malicious purpose.
The cannon shot fired at the • Israeli police boat then be-
came, to those who decide security - matters, evidence . of a
Syrian-Egyptian blow at ,Israel.
Foreign observers still are left wondering at the retaliatory
blow at Syria the very moment when Israel is waiting for
Washington's answer to her request for arms. All that can be
said certainly is that the government considered this aspect of
its decision to attack. The fact that the attack was made de-
spite such consideration no doubt will be carefully studied in
Western capitals.
France has already conveyed to Israel concern and dis-
approval over the attack.
The Israeli government still believes the primary means of
protecting the state is to have enough armed strength to fright-
en neighbor's into leaving Israel alone. It might be guessed that
in the minds of Israeli security officials, action against Syria
would appear to be a demonstration that the Army strikes out
in retaliation of wrongs done to Israel but immediately. returns
to its base after vengeance is done.
The stated policy of the government continues to be that
It wishes to make peace with the Arab States. It still has little
faith in the proposal of Prime Minister Eden of Britain that
he act as mediator.
It is now admitted here that British Ambassador John Nich-
'Shooting in Earnest' .. . fsraet's
Right to Self-Defense . . . A
Plea Against Misunderstanding
of the Jewish State's Position
By Philip , Name
days ago that Britain was not urging Israel to cede the Negev.
However, there is suspicion that Prime Minister Eden has a
plan for a compromise involving yielding some part of the
Negev.
The Israeli government recently received a message that
Premier Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt would keep trouble
from breaking out on his side of the border. The message was
brought by Col. C. Banks, British Member of Parliament who
has good connections in Egypt. The day after Colonel Banks saw
officials here, there was shooting along the Gaza strip.
However. Premier Ben-Gurion continues to tell visitors
that he thinks peace could be made if Premier Nasser and he
had a direct talk.
Premier Ben-Gurion is for peace but he also stands for
retaliation, and the governments of the Western powers keep
telling him the second attitude is antagonistic to the first.
This evaluation of an explosive situation clearly speaks for
itself. It reviews bluntly and frankly the issues at stake.
It is clear from this review of the situation that there is
"shooting in earnest." It is evident that a major cause of the
troubles is the refusal of the Arab states to recognize the basic
fact of Israel's existence. There is - a clear indication that at least
one state—Lebanon—is not looking for trouble. (It is generally
known that the Christians in Lebanon, the Maronites, are de-
manding peace with Israel).
The facts therefore emerge clearly: that Egypt is in back of all
the troubles, and that the Egyptian-Syrian anti-Israel pact was
intended, as Col. Nasser has since stated, for a two-way attack on
Israel, simultaneously by Egypt and Syria.
What is Israel to do: commit suicide? This is just what the
young state refuses to do, and as-a result there is retaliation, to-
ward oft repeated attacks.
We do not favor war, er retaliation, or endless fighting. But we
must plead for the right of a people to defend itself, just as we
would uphold the right of an individual to protect his life. Israel
is engaged in a battle of self-defense. We plead in her behalf that
she should not be misjudged, that she should be given a chance—
and should be assisted in that chance—to protect the lives of her
1,750,000 citizens.
John G. Feild, at present sec-
retary of the Toledo Board of
Community Relations, has been
appointed executive director of
Michigan's newly-established Fair
Employment Practices Commis-
sion.
Announcement was made by
Sidney M. Shevitz, Commission
chairman, who also stated that
William M. Seabron, of Detroit,
has been named assistant direc-
tor.
Both men will assume their
posts in January, Shevitz added.
Feild will replace Dr. Louis L.
Friedland who has been on a
leave of absence from Wayne
University while serving as act-
ing director and establishing the
organization of the Commission.
A graduate of Wayne Univer-
sity, Feild served with 14th Air
Force (Flying Tigers) during
World War II. He was recently
voted president-elect of the Na-
tional Association of Intergroup
Relations Officials, a society of
400 professionals.
His other professional assign-
ments have included service as
consultant to the President's
committee on Government Em-
ployment Policy, Philadelphia
Civil Service Commission and the
Southern Police Institute.
In his present position, Fend
has administered the municipal
Fair Employment Practices Law
in Toledo. He was formerly
with the Mayor's Interracial
Committee in Detroit.
Seabron has held positions with
the Urban League for 10 years,
serving in Minneapolis as indus-
trial -secretary, and Detroit as
administrative assistant to the
director.
Unfair Coverage of Israeli News
There is a measure of injustice in the manner in which the
American press treats Israel in relation to the situation in the
Middle East.
Here is a typical example: Time magazine, viewing the issue,
stated: "Israelis, who greeted the Soviet arms delivery to Egypt
with hints that it might find itself driven to preventive war, and
denounced Eden's talk of border compromise as 'dismemberment,'
last week admitted privately they might have been too abrupt. They
talked of a corridor across the Negev, of giving Jordan free access
to the port of Haifa, of compensation for the 900,000 Palestine
Arab refugees huddled on its borders."
This is misrepresentation. It is a well known fact—starting
from the last item—that Israel had offered compensation, and par-
Members of the Department of
tial repatriation to a token number of Arab refugees, several years
ago. But the Arabs turned down the offer. Their leaders appar- Michigan, Jewish War Veterans
ently are not interested in the human element; they are concerned and its Ladies Auxiliary, have
only with keeping the refugee issue alive, as an instrument in the planned a number of activities
for veterans during the holiday
battle against Israel.
season.
But the more shocking statement is that relating to the pro-
Under the chairmanship' of Ted
posed corridor through the Negev. Long before the present trou-
bles, Israel had made that offer; and there also was an offer to Bale, Ben Desenberg and Ann
Harrison, the Department will
Jordan to use the Haifa port.
Israel is the whipping boy: that is why so many liberties are sponsor its annual "Give a Gift
being taken by an unfriendly press with the situation in the Middle to a Yank Who Gave" program.
Gifts, purchased and wrapped
East. The exceptions—Washington Post, New York Times, a few
other newspapers in New York and in a handful of other commu- by members of JWV, are taken
nities—seem to establish the rule, of a lack of press friendship for on Christmas morning to many
of . the state's veterans hospitals.
Israel.
They are distributed to hospital-
*
*
*
ized veterans, regardless of race,
Egyptian Embassy Invades Our Legislatures
color or creed.
We have warned time and again against the danger of the in-
The Auxiliary, in addition, will
vasion of Arab propagandists in this country. They have become
brazen and they are flooding the country with anti-Israel propa- service the Downtown USO all
day on Christmas, next Monday.
ganda.
Michigan's State Senator Charles S. Blondy has been reporting Approximately 2,500 servicemen
to us about a revival of anti-Semitic propaganda in our State. The will receive a full-course turkey
vilest type of literature, attacking American Jewry, has been reach- dinner.
All food is being donated by
ing the desks of members of our State Legislature.
The latest group of propagandists to invade Lansing is the the Auxiliaries and prepared by
press department of the Egyptian Embassy. All the accumulated its members who will serve con-
misinterpretations of the Middle East situation are incorporated in tinuous shifts, working from 10
the "literature" that is flooding the desks of our legislators. Our a.m. to 10 p.m.
"Operation Turkey" is being di-
public relations agencies should take note of this at once. There
must be- no delay in the fight for truth and in a serious effort to rected by Mrs. Harry Kogan and
prevent attacks not only on Israel, but also on the good faith of Mrs. Al Calfinm, co-chairmen.
American Jewry.
Jwv to Ch e er
GI's on Christmas
*
*
*
The Stereotypers' Strike and the Newsboys
Fred Houghtling, one of the supervisors of the Southfield
Station of the U. S. Post Office, makes an interesting point. He
comments that if the newspapers should fail to appear before
Christmas, there will be another problem: that of the news-
boys. He estimates that there are more than 20,000 newsboys who
distribute the three Detroit dailies, and he recalls that his son, who
had 8,8 customers as a newsboy, received a6 Christmas gifts. If
there will be no newspapers, there will be no Christmas presents
for the boys—unless the thoughtful people in our community will
think- of them after the holidays. Management and labor, while
negotiating with eight unions, should have taken into consideration
this- non-unionized force in the newspaper field. The newsboy is
saluted so seldom that the one-time-a-year special gift should not
be ignored.
An Uncharitable Attack on Israel
In an editorial entitled "Arab vs. Jew," the Catholic weekly
Our Sunday Visitor speaks of the recognition of Israel by Presi-
dent Truman as having been made in "almost undignified haste."
This is most uncharitable.
Half-truths do not establish facts, and the flippant manner
in which the issue is viewed by Our Sunday Visitor is appalling.
Our Christian friends have forgotten that the Arabs, not the Jews,
defied the authority of the United Nations. They forget that the
establishment of Israel represented an effort to right an historic
wrong, to rescue more than a million Jews, to end the homelessness
of a persecuted people, to make Prophecy come true!
President Truman's name will go down in history for his many
courageous acts, and his recognition of Israel will be rated among
his wisest moves. It was an act of justice, and the concurrence in
it of more than 60 other nations (the Arab bloc excluded, of course)
proved his wisdom. Now to condemn it is unwise, unjust, uncharit-
able.
Advance Deadline
For Next 2 Issues
Earlier deadlines for photo-
graphs and editorial material
have been set by . The Jewish
News for its editions of Fri-
day, Dec. 30 and Jan. 6, be-
cause of the occurrence of both
Christmas and New Year's on
Monday, the normal deadline
day.
Photographs must be re-
ceived prior to 10 a.m., Fridayp,
Dec. 23 and editorial matter
by 1 p.m., that day, for the
issue of Dec. 30. Similarly, for
the issue of Jan. 6, the same
deadlines will be effective on
Friday, Dec. 30.
Advertising deadlines will
remain the same for both
weeks: 12 noon, Tuesday, Dec.
27 and Jan. 3 for display ad-
vertising; 4 p.m., Tuesday,
Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 for display
classified advertising; and 11
a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 28 and
Jan. 4 for classified liner ad-
vertising.
2----DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, December 23, 1955