Friday, July 12, 1957
Purely Commentary:
While the major Middle Eastern puzzle today revolves
around the rumors about secret peace negotiations, the avalanche
of propaganda, with its attendant anti-Israelism continues.
Arab leaders, divided among themselves, split asunder by
desires for personal aggrandizements which cause them to plot
for territorial control over their neighbors, put on a show of unity
by mouthing one bit of evidence as proof of unity: their common
hatred of Israel.
Nevertheless, there are signs of better understanding of the
problem. Basil L. Walters, the executive editor of the Knight
Newspapers, was deeply impressed by "Arab hospitality." For-
tunately, the American sense of fair play also has led him to
Israel, where he has learned something about modernity plus
hospitality plus ingenuity plus determination to live. Senator
Hubert H. Humphrey also met with both Arabs and Jews, and
he is today a staunch believer in the possibility of peace, the
need for better understanding, the necessity to eliminate intrigue
from Middle Eastern affairs. Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, the head of
the National Conference of Christians and Jews and president
of the World Brotherhood, is back from the Middle East with
an abhorrence for extremism and praise for Israel.
Let us first take up the Clinchy argument. In a message to
his coworkers from Rome, Dr. Clinchy pointed out that "the
word Bible came from the Greek word biblos, derived from the
name papyrus to Greece." He proceeded to say that in olden
days "the standard of live and let live was disregarded. The
morality of live and- help other cultures to live was laughed at.
Successive civilizations insisted on uniformity — cultural mon-
ism." Basically, he added, the struggle in the Middle East now is
"between leaders 'possessed' by an obsession with cultural
monism, and the 'merging possibility of cultural pluralism in
that region."
Then comes his evaluation of Nasser's talk of driving the
Israelis into the sea and he likens it to the totalitarian philoso-
phies of all times. Reporting that "in Beirut, Christians of many
cultures, Jews, and Moslems of Lebanon have agreed to work
for World Brotherhood," Dr. Clinchy states: "To be sure, Israel
is a word the rest of the Middle East do not want to recognize,
but that can be overcome, if work is done now for all cultures."
In "just a paragraph about Israel," Dr. Clinchy has this to
to say in his message:
"I had not seen • this area since 1928. Israel is an amazing
expression of the human spirit of which we may all be proud.
By combining science, technology, money, education and spirit
with will power, Israel is redeeming a land and 2 million
human beings. Israel is proving something which all of Asia
and Africa wants to believe: that individuals who have lived
in ancient ways can skip centuries and be made into modern
carpenters, plumbers, electricians, scientific farmers, engineers,
musicians, teachers, and artists. Israel is proving that water
can be piped hundreds of miles from its source to make deserts
blossom, barren hills grow trees, machines free humans front
drudgery. Its spirit can move youths to dance and sing in the
streets. It is regrettable that circumstances force Israel to feel
that she must put so much of her efforts into defense. But the
total accomplishment is good, and Israel's culture, like Rodgers
and Hammerstein's June blossoms, "is bustin' out al% over!"
This can happen in Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Know-
how, money and machines are available. All it takes in addition
is real brotherhood. In Israel there is no corruption in govern-
ment; the distance between the poor and the rich is righteously
reasonable, kept so by honest taxation, and the people are
taught a moral faith. Israel's example speaks to Asia, 'If you
will work and pay this price you can live well too'."
This is most interesting. Dr. Clinchy has no axes to grind.
He deals with all faiths in his great movement for good will,
in this country through the National Conference of Christians and
Jews and on the international front through World Brotherhood.
But' we were especially intrigued by what Senator Humphrey,
one of the most distinguished American leaders, had to say about
his visit to the Middle East. -
Senator Humphrey spoke of the importance of war: "There
is a shocking contrast between irrigated land and unirrigated.
When one sees the desolate Negev, the great southern desert
of Israel, and learns that Israel expects 100,000 immigrants this
year, he better understands too why the Israelis are so insistent
on irrigation of the Negev. The fact is that water is at least as
important as oil in the Middle East, if not more so. The Nile,
Jordan, and the Tigris-Euphrates are all international rivers,
and if maximum use is to be made of their waters it must be
done under some kind of international arrangement."
Then he described his view of "the vitality of Israel":
"The new Israeli state is a striking contrast to the ruins
of older civilizations one sees on every side. It is a young,
vigorous nation — strongly and confidently led by men and
women of the caliber of David Ben-Gurion and Mrs. Golda
Meier. It is a working democracy, with active political partici-
pation. Israel is a good friend of the United States; she
has used to the utmost advantage every bit of economic aid
we have given her. She is a showcase of what can be done
in this dry, poverty-stricken area of the world when there is
a will, when there is good organization."
The real contrast was drawn by Senator Humphrey a bit
later. The Minnesota Senator, during his stay abroad and upon
his return, emphasized Egypt's need for help from this country.
He advocated assistance to the Egyptians and he had good things
to say about Nasser and the Egyptians. Yet, he was compelled,
Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey
Dr. Everett R. Clinchy
Israel and Her Neighbors:
Contrasting Views of
Eminent Christian Leaders
By Philip
Slomovitz
after an interval between his visit in Egypt and his return to
this country, to make distinctions that merely proved the exis-
tence of cancerous enmities in the Middle East which must be
traced to the lack of vision and the bias of Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Senator Humphrey met with David Ben-Gurion as well as
with Nasser. He "tried to give President Nasser the benefit of
every doubt, to thoroughly test his good faith"; and he pressed
Ben-Gurion more than an acknowledged friend would expect.
Here are his impressions:
"President Nasser is an _ardent nationalist who does sym-
bolize revolt of the Arab peoples against colonialism. While
wanting to be the strong man — the leader of Pan Arabism —
his basic insecurity is a.sevealeil by his suspicion, prejudice, and
distrust.
"With the candor of American fairness — not naive innocence
— I put President Nasser's good faith to personal test: and found
it lacking. Since our discussions, Radio Cairo and the Egyptian
Press, both under his direct control, have distorted and deliber-
ately misrepresented my views expressed during my stay in
Cairo. This distresses me because if Nasser wants a more sym-
pathetic ear in America, the first thing he better learn is that
we like people who deal on top of the table.
"President Nasser leaves you with an impression of stubborn-
ness born partially out of trying to cope with huge tasks beyond
his own experience or understanding. A stubbornness that could
lead to dangerous desperation.
"Prime Minister Ben-Gurion leaves you with an impression
of thoughtful determination. to overcome any obstacles, of con-
fidence in the justice of his cause and the ability of his people
to accept any sacrifice in order to achieve their common ob-
jectives of a permanent, stable, homeland for the Jewish people.
"Nasser is overly sensitive and critical about what he terms
domination by the western big powers.
"I heard no complaints from Ben- a
Gurion.
"Yet I heard a great deal of it
from -Nasser — complaints against
the United States, despite the fact
that he had been saved by the United
States intervention in the United
Nations. Nasser was definitely un-
happy with the United States. He
was pessimistic about our future re-
lations.
"Ben-Gurion had his victory lit-
David Ben-Gurion
erally taken away from him, yet he
did not complain. He was much more objective and philosophical
in his attitude.
"When it comes to their educational backgrounds and per-
sonal qualifications for sound leadership, there is little compari-
son.
"Nasser is a Military product, with little . or no exposure to
western culture or ideals, little real understanding of the United
States, and handicapped both by lack of travel and knowledge of
the world in which he has become such a force.
"By contrast, Ben-Gurion has all the qualifi-
cations of a great leader. He is a student Of history
— a scholar in his own right. He speaks nine differ-
ent languages — he is a student of law — a talented
orator — and skilled in the democratic processes
Nasser
of parliamentary government. With it all he has a greater
secret—humility. Ben-Gurion really typifies his country: He
is rugged, courageous, imaginative. He seems to combine some
of the qualities and characteristics of Andrew Jackson and
Franklin Roosevelt, with a. noticeable dash of Harry Truman.
"In Egypt, the poverty is appalling; the people are still cen-
turies behind the modern world about them. They deserve a
better opportunity and that opportunity could be theirs if Egyp-
tian rulers would concentrate their attenion and resources on
Egypt's social and economic needs. Assistance could and would be
available.
"In Israel, a modern miracle is being wrought out of one of
the oldest areas of the world; a youthful spirit is evident every-
where, and tremendous strides of progress are being made —
and shared by all.
"Today, Egypt is headed in a dangerous direction—unwilling
to stand up shoulder to shoulder with others who -recognize- the
serious menace to freedom in the world, and letting itself get
enmeshed into the tentacles of Kremlin influence preying upon
Egypt's nationalist spirit for ulterior aims.
"But of one thing you can be sure: Israel is a friend of the
United States and the rest of the free world. There can be no
doubt about this. She is a natural ally. Without any formal
treaty or alliance, we have in the people and government of
Israel a loyal and brave ally. This unwritten alliance -is based
upon mutual understanding and respect.
"Israel is not only anti-communist; she is pro-freedom. And
the Israelis are prepared to defend that freedom.
"Perhaps if Nasser's aims were concentrated on helping his
own people, he would be facing fewer troubles today. But he is
obsessed with the past, and looks ahead in terms of suspicion of
the west and intrigue in the Middle East.
"As much as the Arab world prOfesses unyielding oppo-
sition to Israel's existence, Israel is not only here to stay—it is
already contributing to improvements for the Arab people.
It is forcing Arab leaders themselves to do more toward de-
velopment of their own countries to keep some semblance of
pace with the shining example of progress in the midst of
their backwardness.
"The truth is that eventually Israel will benefit its neighbors
— and will need its neighbors for trade. and commerce.
"Time, patience, and a regional approach to many of the
pressing economic problems may be the key to lessening ten-
sions and eventual settlement of the area's complex political
problems."
This is a long quotation, but it is important enough to share
with every one who has an interest in Israel, with all who are
concerned in world peace.
Perhaps all these messages from abroad will bring the
desired results; enlightenment to those who seek war that they
cannot succeed by the sword; that they- must strive for peace;
that ony through peace will the sick be healed, the hungry fed,
those eager for enlightenment provided with means to advance
their cultural cravings.
•
The good Christians of America are helping in this great
effort, as Clinchy and Humphrey have proven. More must come
forth with demonstration of good will: always in the interest of
peace. Perhaps we already are closer to it than we realize. .;
Between
You & Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1957, JTA, Inc.)
Zionist Affairs
The Zionist Actions Commit-
tee meeting, which opened this
week in Jerusalem, and is
scheduled to last til July 25, is
not one of the gatherings which
American Zionist leaders want-
ed at the present time . . . Even
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, presi-
dent of the World Zionist Or-
ganization, had his doubts
whether the Actions Committee
—supreme Zionist body between
Zionist Congresses — should
hold its meetings now ... How-
ever, the Israeli Zionists insist-
ed on 'holding it, and thus im-
posed their will on the leaders
of the American Zionist move-
ment . • . The reason American
Zionist leaders were not anx-
ious to hold the parley now
lies in the fact that some issues
may be raised at the Actions
Committee which may turn out
to be embarrassing for the
American Zionist movement ....
There are extremists in the
Zionist movement in Israel,
both in the rightist Herut party
and in the leftist Mapam, who
always go • out of their way to
embarrass American Zionists
... This time they are prepar-
ing to come up at the Actions
Committee with the kind of
political issues which Ameri-
can Zionists would like to
avoid . . . Some of these issues
may be raised after a review
presented at the Actions
Committee on the achievements
of the American • Zionist move-
ment, and others may come up
in the course of the political
debate which will take place at
the sessions . The Actions
Committee will, among other
things, also have to decide
whether the World Zionist •Or-
ganization. does or does not ree-.
ognize the newly-formed Amer-
can Jewish League fOr Israel
as an independent group within
the world Zionist movement
* * *
Jewish Generosity
The record-smaShing cern-
paign of the United Jewish
Appeal this year will go into
history as did the UJA drive in
1948 when American Jewry
contributed the highest sum,
ever raised . . Outstanding is
Detroit which pressed beyond
all previous records by rais-
ing close to $6,000,000 .
Passing all previous records
also are Cleveland, Miami, New
Orleans, San Diego, Phoenix,
Winnipeg, and a number of
other cities . . Passing their
record of last year are Boston,
San Francisco, Newark, St.
Louis, Hartford, Baltimore, Buf-
falo, Pittsburgh, Kansas City,
Dallas, Atlantic City, Indian-
apolis . Also Syracuse, Oak-
land, Milwaukee, Philadelphia,
Toronto, Albany, Norfolk, Des
Moines, Patterson, Memphis,
Washington, D. • C., Denver, At-
lanta, Tulsa and - at least two
dozen other communities . . , In
some of these cities, the cam-
paign is not yet completed and
is being pushed very intensively
. In New York City, the
United Jewish Appeal has
passed last year's pace by reach-
ing the $25,000,000 point in its
1957 total . . Some communi-
ties are conducting their- cam-
paign in the fall . . . They, as
well as communities where the
campaign is already completed,
will be visited by top UJA
leaders in SepteMber not for the
purpose of fund-raising, but for
exchanging ideas and informa-
tion on problems • facing the
UJA . . . in these "goodwill
missions," more than 40 na-
tional UJA leaders will visit 72 ;
cities . . They will work in
teams of two,. and each leader
will visit at least three com-
munities . . In this way, they
will conclude their mission just
a few days be-fore Rosh Hash-
anah, encouraging the tOMMU-
13ideS to start the new Jewish
year in the spirit of, generosity.