N C•4 (.0 C71 Purely Commentary The ganging-Up on Israel and the Insults to U.S. Jews By Philip Historical Society Re-Elects Dr. Kano, - VOMOVitZ 'Diplomatic Double-Talk' in the Syrian Issue An End to Insults Against American Citizens Whenever a crisis arises in the Middle East, old canards are revived and immediately little Israel is looked upon with sus- picion that her armies will attack her neighbors. "On the books"—but only on the books—there is a clau se in the U. S. Mutual Security Act expressing the "sense of Co n- gress" in opposition to aid to such countries that practice d is- crimination against American citizens. It has never been enforc ed The moment the Syrians started quarreling among them- selves, the old nonsense was resorted to that Israel is an issue in it, that Israel has an army of 35,000 and is a threat to poor Syria which has only 25,000 warriors. Not a word is said about the overwhelming number of Arab states and armies that con- tinually harass and threaten Israel. What the geniuses who spread the ridiculous reports and who fail to examine the true facts in the Middle East case do not recognize is that only little Israel keeps all the Arab states together; that if it were not for the threats the Arab potentates make against one another that if they do not hate Israel enough they will be assassinated, they would be at each other's throats and the visible Arab disunity would erupt into warfare; that this hatred which is the only element of unity among the Arabs is the most detrimental factor in world affairs because it serves to strengthen the hands of the masters who are perpetuating a feudal system that keeps the Arab masses enslaved. The newest conflict into which Israel has been dragged in by the constant attacks upon Israeli fishermen on Lake Tiberias brings to light anew the sad problem which should have been averted z.nd still is solvable—provided there will be just realism in the United Nations. In 1956 Israel found it necessary to go into Egyptian ter- ritory to prevent the continuing intrusion of the fedayeen—the bandit Arab group.; that were responsible for thefts and murders in Israel. During the years since Israel's rebirth, there were occasions when it was necessary for Israeli commandos to destroy Arab military installations whence there originated attacks upon Jewish settlements and Jewish fishermen. Syrian infiltrations and attacks upon boats manned by Jews on the Sea of Galilee necessitated the most recent Israeli retaliatory raid and is now the subject of a United Nations Security Council debate on the aggravated issue. Primarily, it should he known that Israeli defensive action has been, in the main, in Israel territory bordering on Syria. The entire Sea of Galilee—also known as Lake Tiberias—is in Israel's territory. Land bordering on this historic lake also is Israel's. although a portion of the northeastern shore is only ten yards in depth within Israel. But right above it are the Syrian hills. Nearby are the Syrian villages whence clandestinely Syrians enter Israel's territory, go fishing in the Galilee Lake and are backed up by Syrian troops which have only too often been shooting at Israel's fishermen. The retaliation is under- standable. If there is no other way of ending the intrusions, Israel must wipe out such installations which are the causes of harassment. If the UN hal acted to prevent the Syrian intrusions. if the world organization had adopted, last December. the resolution , that was intioduc«1 by 16 nations—including nine African— I which called for direct peace negotiations between Israel and her Arab neighbors, it might not have become necessary last Thursday for the American spokesman at the UN, Adlai Steven- son. to assert that, whatever the facts in the present case before the Security Council "they do not, in our view, justify the Israeli reversion to any policy of retaliatory raids." Stevenson. regret- tably, continues to echo the viewpoint of anti-Israeli element in the State Department where submission to Arab threats certainly has not been helpful in attaining. the aspirations of President Kennedy and many others in his administration for an Arab-Israel accord. How unreal can one he? Stevenson told the UN that "there has been both provocation and retaliation." That's playing both ends against the middle. It is a failure to admit that the re- taliation came long after Israel had tried to have the UN put an end to the provocations which continued endlessly. It is our deep conviction that the State Department view is detrimental to the true policies of the UN, because it permits the continua- tion of obstruction without a serious effort to bring two con- tending forces together—the U. S. representative voted against the peace proposal by the 16 nations that sponsored the defeated amendment last December—and from this conviction also stems our disappointment at the least constructive view taken by Stevenson last week. The fact remains that there has to be firm action . by the UN to prevent provocation more than retaliation, because without the first there will not he the lattei. But the attitude for which Stevenson has been known since his own visit to the Arab countries as well as Israel, prior to his active campaign for the Presidency, offers little hope of relief for Israel. He seems to he pursuing a position of skepticism that has become biased in favor of the Arab position. It is unfortunate that one of the distinguished American leaders should have failed to become more fully acquainted with the situation to be able to exert an influence in favor of peace. rather than to act negatively. . , PHILADELPHIA—Dr. Abram Kanof, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was reelected president of the Amer- ican Jewish Historical So- ciety at the and the State Department closes its eyes to the shocking practic es society's '70th of Arab countries which benefit from American econom is anniversary meeting, April assistance. 1. Elected to Congressmen James Roosevelt of California and Seymo ur vice-presiden- Halpern of New York hope to cut off assistance to countries th at cies were Su- practice discrimination, and they have introduced a bill to th at preme court effect in the U. S. House of Representatives. Justice Edgar While the charges against Arab countries that bar America n J. Nathan, Jr., Jews while accepting American dollars are a matter of reco rd of New York, and are well known, the comments of Congressman Halpern a re and Philip D. especially pertinent at this time in view of his personal e x- Sang, of Chi- periences of having failed to obtain a visa to visit America n- cago. The society, financed projects in Saudi Arabia because he is a Jew. which fosters Calling the attention of Congressman Thomas E. Morga n, the study of * chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of the role of the Representatives, to H. R. 10787 which he introduced jointl y Jew in the with Congressman Roosevelt, in an effort to correct the wrong settlement and that are being committed, Congressman Halpern wrote: "In substance, this legislation would 'provide that the Government of the United States shall furnish no aid to any foreign nation or citizens thereof in carrying out any activity under which American citizens will be discriminated against.' "I am aware of the interest you and your committee have given this matter of discrimination against American citizens by certain recipients of United States aid and I commend the committee's past efforts in this regard. The committee has written into the language of previous mutual aid bills and anti-discriminatory clauses and has accepted amendments de- vised to accomplish the same results. "Despite the strong language expressed in the declaration of policy and other sections of the Acts, these practices still continue and our aid still goes on. Obviously we must spell out in strong, unequivocal and mandatory language, that the United States will no longer tolerate discrimination on religious —or any other—grounds and make it compulsory that violators of this principle be refused any future aid. Nations must be required to implement established standards of conduct in order to qualify for aid from the United States. "A typical example of this discriminatory policy is my own bitter personal experience. Despite repeated efforts I have not been able to obtain a visa to visit- Saudi Arabia, even to visit American-financed projects there, which we in Congress author- ized and all the American people paid for. The issue, however, far transcends my individual experience. "It is disgusting, is it not, Mr. Chairman, that United States citizens, businessmen, officials, soldiers and even Congressmen are barred from Arab nations receiving aid which is paid for through the taxes on all American citizens, no matter what their faith. These tactics are intolerable and we should protest them not only in our most adamant words but in our actions. "I think the time is long past due that this government demand that these Arab states cease this insulting practice against Americans in which they demand "security clearance" on their religious conviction in order to visit or deal with these countries. "To date the State Department has fallen far short of implementing the expressed 'sense of Congress' to eliminate Arab discrimination against American citizens. This makes a mockery of the will of the American people as expressed in the anti-bias clauses already adopted by their representatives in Congress. "In addition, the State Department has also failed to apply the President's announced principle of linking foreign aid to social justice and morality. "How can our government continue providing public funds to these countries which not only discriminate within their own territory but are attempting to export, through economic co- ercion, their discriminatory policies to the United States? " The answer to this repugnant situation is obvious. The United States needs—and demands—action which spells out in no uncertain terms how we feel about these barriers and boy- cotts. The answer is the mandatory language of the Roosevelt- Halpern bill. "The adoption of the provisions of this bill is the only way to win respect of nations throughout the world and is the only way to eliminate this disgraceful situation which so basely negates all fundamental American principles." Rep. Halpern's statement registers the proper protest so ably and so clearly that it deserves the widest circulation. If only all Americans were to read it and to become aware of a grave injustice that is being practiced against our citizens by a nation that benefits so much from our dollars and our numerous grants, and from the oil business it conducts with us! Regrettably, there is a certain amount of fear among State epartment officials and members of Congress lest offend the A rabs. They do not realize that Saudi Arabia has all we to lose from rebuke by the U. S. and from rejection of the discriminations a practiced against us. The Arab states have everything to gain from a normal relationship that would bar prejudices against our citizens. But the negative attitude seems-to persist in the UN Security r !mil. The Soviet attitude complements that of the Arabs and Stevenson has helped both of them. Unless the French delegate CO. I:CS to Tor•ael's lid, and only if Major General Can C. von Horn, Chief of Staif of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organi- It is doubtful whether the Roosevelt-Halpern bill has even a z:q on. will exert his influence in support of an accord between ghost of a chance of being adopted, in view of the opposition to Israel and the Arabs in order to avert future strife, "diplomatic the provisions contained in it by men like Senator Fulbright. At double-talk." as New York's Senator Kenneth Keating branded least, it is on the record as a protest against discrimination— statements by State Department officials, will continue and even if it comes from a minority in Congress. peace will remain a dream. * * There is only one way of assuring peace in the Middle East. Cemetery Desecrations and that is by a strong UN stand in condemnation • Damage to 1,500 graves in the Lindon, N. J., Jewish cemetery of repeated Syrian attacks on Israel in defiance of armistice agreements may mount to an estimated loss of $200.000. But if the vandalism and territorial rights of the autonomous State of Israel. Steven- stems from a rising anti-Semitism than the loss is not measurable son, once the idol of the masses, can regain his popularity only in dollars. In that case our problem of facing the issue of bigotry if !u.‘ shows a modicum of strength in dealing with the combined in this country is becoming more serious. l;•;Sli-Arab forces that are ganging up against Israel in the UN. •The devastation of gravestones on a cemetery is serious Thus far, he has only echoed State Department weaknesses which enough. But when it turns into the devastation of human senti- are hardly helpful to American prestige. ments, then the loss becomes an American problem. Dr. Kanof development of America, re- ceived special commendation from the Civil War Centennial Commission at its annual meet- ing. On behalf of the commission, Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., ex- ecutive director, presented a Certificate of Achievement to the Civil War Centennial Jew- ish Historical Society Commis- sion. Justin G. Turner, chair- man, received the certificate on behalf of the society. Vice President Johnson Presented AJC Wise Award (Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News) BALTIMORE — Vice Presi- dent Lyndon B. Johnson was presented Tuesday with the 1962 Stephen S. Wise Medal- lion award of the American Jewish Congress Maryland Chapter. Some 500 persons attended the dinner at-which the presen- tation was made by Dr. Joachim Prinz, AJCongress president. The award contains the inscrip- tion "For distinguished service to the cause of democracy and inspiring leadership as Vice President of the United States and chairman of the President's Committee on Equal Employ- ment Opportunities." A medallion award for Jew- ish community service was pre- sented at the dinner to Harry Greenstein, executive director of the Associated Jewish Chari- ties of Baltimore and former adviser on Jewish affairs to Gen. Eisenhower, when he was commanding general of United States Occupation Forces in Germany at the end of World War II. The award was presented by Louis E. Shecter of Baltimore national co-chairman of the or- ganization. Mrs. F.D.R. Presides at Opening of Israel Bank in New York (Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News) NEW YORK — The Israel Discount Bank Ltd. opened its first branch in the United States on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Tuesday in a ceremony at which Mrs. Eleanor Roose- velt cut two ribbons placed across the front doors. The Israel Bank has been licensed by the New York State Banking Department to accept deposits and conduct commercial banking operations. After Mrs. Roosevelt cut the ribbons, one in the national colors of the United States and the other in the colors of Israel, Mayor Robert Wagner opened the doors as a gesture of good will from the people of the city. Mrs. Roosevelt then opened the first account in the branch and received the first passbook from R. Recanati, resident di- rector.