Purely Commentary
Hanuka's Eternal Lesson
As we prepare to usher in the Hanuka festival, toward the end
of the coming week, we should keep in view a number of basic facts.
Hanuka's eternal lesson is that men have a right to battle for
their faith, for their basic rights as human beings. The Maccabees
fought for the right to worship. They also struggled against dictators
who aimed to undermine the very existence of the Jews of old as
an entity.
More than that: Jews of old sought the right to be different,
to adhere to a faith that was unlike that of the invading armies who
undertook to suppress their political independence. To this day, this
basic right to be different stems from the Maccabean struggle, and
it applies also to the insistence upon cultural and spiritual freedoms.
Hanuka's role in our people's determined will to hold on to inherited
traditions is basic to Jewish existence. That is why the festival has
become so vital to Jews everywhere and why it offers such an im-
portant lesson in Israel's present struggle to hold on to the regained
independence.
Israel has, in a true sense, recaptured the democracy which
distinguished our people's ancient role. To retain this democracy,
the struggle goes on. It continues wherever there are tyrants. It goes
on where there are elements who seek Israel's destruction. Hanuka
therefore emerges as a renewed inspiration in this year of challenge
to the fighters for freedom and independence.
Is Israel's Plea for Peace Falling on Deaf Ears?
Israel's greeting is aimed at peace. Her songs are directed at
shalom—the hope for amity. She pleads for an end to war. But all
appeals seem to be in vain. They seem to fall on deaf ears.
Every utterance by an Israeli—in the Knesset, at Israel cabinet
meetings, at the United Nations—emphasized a desire to sit down
with our cousins, the Arabs, and talk peace. To no avail!
Israel has been criticized severely by all the major world powers.
Perhaps it was a mistake for Israeli troops to go into Jordan: per-
haps Syria should have been the objective. If such is the reasoning,
then it is admitted that Israel had to do something to resist the in-
filtrations, the sabotage, the murders and the pillage that was con-
ducted by the Syrian El Fatah groups. And if their nests were in
Jordan, isn't it explainable why Jordan was selected for the attack?
If the invading terrorists were on the Jordan border, then perhaps
that's what had to be uprooted.
But poor Hussein of Jordan is under attack by his kinsmen!
That's a pity. For a number of years he has retained power only
because Israel is on his borders. He has been Nasser's target for a
long time. Now he faces real danger. It'll be to the benefit of the
entire area that his enemies should be repulsed, that Nasser should
not gain a foothold in Jordan. But that must be divorced from the
issue involving Israel's security.
Let it be noted how Israel pleads for peace, how earnestly the
Israelis crave for an end to the battles and to the tensions that have
multiplied on the Israel-Arab borders:
In his statement at the Israel cabinet meeting on Nov. 20, Prime
Minister Levi Eshkol said:
"Once again, I wish to express the hope that there will be
an end to this trail of blood . . . To the Arab rulers, I say:
Live and let live, in peace and tranquility, within your own
borders . . .
"To peace-loving nations in the world, I appeal: Act to end
hostile actions and to reduce tensions . . ."
Speaking in the Knesset on Nov. 14, Prime Minister Eshkol
asserted:
"Our policy is founded upon two concepts: striving for peace
and deterrent defense . .. Israel sincerely desires peace, but she
is absolutely determined not to sit idly by while aggression is
perpetrated against her citizens . . ."
In his speeches at the UN, Israel's Ambassador Michael Comay
spoke in similar terms.
Why aren't the big powers pushing for peace, for direct negotia-
tions for amity between Israel and the Jewish State's neighbors,
instead of resorting to one-sided action of excoriating Israel while
being so mild in their wrist-slapping when Arab aggressions con-
tinue endlessly? For the sake of a good UN image, it is time for a
change—for a firm stand that will put an end to the war-threatening
Middle Eastern situation.
The censure of Israel could hardly be called an act of courage
on the part of the great international organization. Having failed to
rebuke Syria two weeks earlier—because of the Russian veto—the
condemnation of Israel is tantamount to hypocrisy. Only when the
UN begins to display unprejudiced courage will it have earned anew
the right to be considered spokesman for the nations of the world.
.
*
*
*
Comay's Hope for 'Mutual Freedom From Fear of Attack'
It is understandable that Israelis are deeply disturbed over the
Security Council's harsh resolution. So are people with a sense of
justice everywhere—and especially the Israelis' Jewish kinsmen—
because the one-sidedness of the rebuke is so apparent.
Israel's UN Ambassador Michael Comay evaluated the resolu-
tion realistically when he spoke, after the distressing balloting last
Friday, about the fundamental cause of Arab-Israel tensions, about
the Arabs' failures to discharge their responsibilities under armistice
agreements, Israel's duty "to ensure the defense and security of its
population" and Israel's regret that the UN Security Council had
refused for 15 years to act on its complaints against the aggressors.
Especially moving was the concluding statement by Comay, in
which he asserted:
"As for the future, my government reiterates its hope that
from now on the population on both sides of the borders can
dwell in a mutual freedom from fear of attack. If that hope is
realized, the action on 13 November and the terrorist raids which
preceded it, should mark the end of violence across the demarca-
tion lines. I would repeat what the Israel Foreign Minister said
on 14 October, in opening the debate on the Israel complaint
against Syria. Mr. Eban declared that: 'Any government which
respects Israel's integrity and independence and Israel's daily
peace will encounter a reciprocal respect on Israel's part.' I am
authorized to reaffirm that the government of Israel's policy is
one of full respect for the status quo in the area, and for the
integrity of the existing borders, including its common border
with the Kingdom of Jordan.
"If the Israel attitudes I have described were to be recipro-
cated by the Governments of neighboring States as well, it would
2—Friday, December 2, 1966
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Judging the 'Incredible'
While Enacting Policies That
Reek With Hypocrisy
By Philip
Slomovitz
immediately produce a new and more hopeful outlook for peace
and security in the Middle East. To that end, the authority and
influence of this Council, and of peace-loving States represented
on it, should now be brought seriously to bear on Arab govern-
ments. They must be required to desist from a policy of threaten-
ing or using force against Israel's territory and population, to
put an immediate stop to raids across our borders, and to accept
the principle of peaceful co-existence—pending the establishment
of permanent peace, as envisaged in the General Armistice
Agreements and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council
itself."
I This is a deeply moving statement. How much more honestly,
firmly and pleadingly could the spokesman for an abused people
have spoken?
The existing crisis is mostly among the Arabs. Only the hatred
for Israel unites them. Nasser has an eye on Jordan, Saudi Arabia
and Kuwait, while he is blundering in Yemen. Iraq and Syria are
flirting with the Soviet Union—the guiltiest of all in the Middle East
crises.
There will no doubt be another lull, and trouble may brew anew
soon. The world continues to live in a state of hope that reason will
begin to reassert itself against political scheming which threatens
the peace.
*
*
*
"Incredible Stupidity"?
One of the Detroit papers saw fit to publish an editorial entitled
"Israel's Incredible Stupidity" in comment on the Jordanian crisis.
Was it "incredible" and "stupid"? Was everything that had
happened at the United Nations the soul of wisdom? Was there
justice in constant vetoing of resolutions of rebuke to Arabs while
condemnations of Israel were nearly unanimous, with the United
States and Soviet Russia acting like bosom pals?
The Arabs are boycotting many things: they are even planning
to boycott the presentation of the Nobel Prizes in Literature in
Stockholm on Dec. 10, because two Jews are to be the recipients.
An Algerian spokesman was reported stating that the awards to
S. Y. Agnon and Nelly Sachs are "political." This anti-Nobel Prize-
winners action is part of the struggle between Arabs and Jews—part
of a struggle aimed at destroying the homeland for Jews who have
escaped Nazism and Moslem persecutions. Is this less stupid and not
so incredible? What about all the previous actions by our own
government whose representatives have played a game of appeasement
in the UN—so incredulously inconsistent with our policies elsewhere!
Only General S. L. A. Marshall had the courage to speak up and
to condemn American action at the UN!
And poor Arthur Goldberg is the goat!
American Aliya
First in Numbers
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
TEL AVIV — Former Premier
David Ben-Gurion, reporting to a
women's symposium here Wednes-
day, said that last month Ameri-
can immigration to Israel consti-
tuted the largest category of new-
comers. He said that the total
number of American settlers was
not large but that because of the
decline of immigration from other
countries, America was Number
One.
Ben-Gurion made the disc cure
in an address to a gather
"active citizenship" organi
oy
the Women's International Amist
Organization. He told the 500 -
women that existing methods of
attracting settlers from the West-
ern world had proved "inade-
quate."
.
He said emissaries to encour-
age such aliya should be taken
from "the best of Israel's
people" and not simply repre-
sentatives of Israel's political
parties. "Americans don't want
to listen to emissaries telling
them about the difference be-
tween Mapam and Ahdut Avo-
da," he declared.
He proposed instead that select-
ed emissaries should appeal to "in-
tellectual Jewish youth" in Amer-
ica in the name of the idealism
which has promoted many of them
to join the peace corps and the
fight for Negro rights. He asserted
that such an approach would bring
"tens of thousands" of young
American Jews to Israel.
State Department's Ironic Middle East Policy
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1966, JTA, Inc.)
WASHINGTON — Leading Ad-
ministration spokesmen here have
said that aggression unchecked is
aggression unleashed—in justifing
raids against North Viet Nam. Is-
raeli leaders feel the same way
about aggression. This led to the
recent counter-action against Jor-
dan, the source of infiltration and
terrorism.
United States spokesmen, in-
cluding Ambassador Arthur Gold-
berg, were quick to denounce Is-
rael for adopting the militant de-
fense concept used by the United
States in Viet Nam.
There was one difference.
Neither the Viet Cong nor North
Vietnamese have—on the home
territory of the United States—
mined roads, blown up citizens,
derailed trains, or fired on Ameri-
can farms and residences.
But Arab aggressors, professing
admiration of the Viet Cong and
emulation of its terroristic tactics,
did make such attacks in many in-
cursions across the borders into
Israel. Israelis cannot understand
why the United States feels it is
proper for American troops to go
to distant Viet Nam to fight ag-
gression while denouncing Israel
for taking similar measures in de-
fense of Israeli homes and citizens.
The fact is that the United
State is genuinely disturbed
about Arab terrorism. American
policy-makers, however, seem
to be even more troubled by the
prospect of the United States
being forced to support Israel
against America's "friends,"
Jordan and Egypt, and Iraq.
Strategists have secretly con-
cluded that it is better for Israel
to passively absorb punishment
than to bring about a war in the
Middle East. Such a conflict might
cause an East-West confrontation
there. The United States is deeply
involved in Viet Nam. The estab-
lishment does not want to have the
U.S. Sixth Fleet alerted, with at-
tached Marine units and the U.S.
Mediterranean Strike Force tied
down when reserves, reinforce-
ments, and replacements are need-
ed in Viet Nam. Nor does the
United States want to be linked
with Israel in a showdown against
the Arab world.
The State Department philoso-
phy is that it would be disastrous
for the United States to be drawn
into a war on Israel's side. Pro-
Communist Arabs might obtain
Soviet support, liquidate remain-
ing United States influence in the
region, and eliminate Imperialist
Jordan and Saudi Arabia. There-
fore, Israel must be restrained
from taking militant self-defense
measures — according to Washing-
ton's global tacticians.
The gap between Washington's
practice and preachment will be
the subject of much Congres-
sional discussion when Con-
gress meets next month. Criti-
cism has already been heard.
Citing the American reprisal
policy in North Viet Nam, a lead-
ing Republican Congressman has
asked the Administration to be
consistent and to accord Israel
the same sell-defense rights ex-
ercised by the United States.
Rep. Seymour Halpern, of New
York, said he was "disturbed to
find the United States siding with
the Soviet Union at the United
Nations against the recent Israeli
defensive reprisal action when
the United States responded so
forcefully to North Vietnamese
infiltration and terrorism."
He said he regretted that "our
government, through the state-
ments of the American delegation
at the United Nations, fails to view
the Israeli action in its full con-
text. The Israeli action cannot be
separated from the pattern of
provocations and aggression that
forced the Israelis to act. Cer-
tainly, we must allow Israel the
same right of self-defense that we
claim for ourselves far away in
Viet Nam."
The Congressman found it
ironic to note that the Syrian-
trained commandos who have
perperated minings and shoot-
ings inside Israel's borders pro-
claim identity with the Viet
Cong and openly state that they
are using Viet Cong tactics
against Israel."
He said: "I do not understand
why we single out one incident
from a complicated chain of events
to blame Israel for defending her-
self. The same State Department
spokesmen have long justified our
bombing of Noth Vietnam by
saying that we have a right to
strike across borders at the source
of terrorism and infiltration. We
reserve one course of action for
ourselves but deny it to the small,
embattled, isolated and friendly
nation of Israel."
Rep. Halpern did not think the
United States stand against Israel
at the UN was "either fair or in
the national security interests of
the United States." He pointed
out that a "one-sided condemna-
tion of Israel by the United Na-
tions, when the Arabs have staged
n-
many attacks without s
age
demnation, will only e'
ler-
further Arab terrorism a
mine peace and stability in the
Middle East."
Soviet Union Reneges on Promise
to Send Its Soccer Team to Israel
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
TEL AVIV — The Soviet Union
has again rebuffed Israel on an
exchange program, this time in
canceling a scheduled visit by the
national soccer team, it was dis-
closed here.
Two months ago, the Soviets
canceled a scheduled exchange
which would have brought the
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra to
Israel for a tour and sent the
Israeli Philharmonic to Moscow.
Officials said everything was set
for the visit by the soccer team
to Israel in February, but weeks
passed with no information from
Soviet authorities for final ar-
rangement for the visit.
The Israeli Soccer Association
made inquiries which brought an
official announcement that the
team would not come to Israel,
but offering one of the lesser
Soviet league teams. A report on
the latest development is expected
soon from the Israel Embassy in
Moscow.
Israeli Surgeons Complete
Unique Heart Operation
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Surgeons
at the Hadassah-Hebrew University
Hospital Monday inserted artificial
valves in the heart of a resident
of Kiryat Gat. The operation is
one of the first of its kind to be
successfully completed.