Purely Commentary
Problems Galore: Refugees,
Jews in Moslem Countries,
Black Power, USSR Bigotry
By Phili p
5/0/7701fitZ
Dropsie's Honorary
Degree for. Mrs. Meir
always under threat of annihilation—physically in Moslem countries,
Refugee Problem — Status of Egyptian Jews
In a lengthy address in the U.S. House of Representatives, Con- ' i spiritually in the USSR.
If there were hope for peace in the world, there might be a
gressman Michael A. Feighan, who has been active for a number of I
years on committees dealing with immigration problems and who -solution to this problem. But in an era of constant warfare, contending
has made a thorough study of the refugee problems, gave an important forces refusing to discuss peace terms, possibilities of securing
account of the status of the dispossessed and persecuted. He outlined success for the needy, the persecuted, the refugees and the interned
the Cuban, European and Middle Eastern refugees' status and incor- in lands where so many families date their ancestry 'more than a
porated in his speech a complete summary of the Jewish commu- thousand years, is so deplorably remote!
nities in Moslem countries.
This portion of his speech, containing facts Most of which already
have appeared in our columns, is especially illuminating since it
indicates the plight of the Jews who remain among the Arabs. lie
e
presented to his Congressional colleagues these figures:
Jew s in Arab countries
(Prehostility estimate)
Aden
Algeria
Iraq
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Syria
Tunisia
United Arab Republic
134
2.000
2,500 to 3,000
7.000
5,000
60,000
3.000 to 4,000
20.000
2,500
Russia's Purges — Even Unto the Grave
con-
Even in its review of its 50 - year history, Communist Russia con-
tinues to puree, to damn its own creators unto their very graves.
A pamphlet entitled "Fiftieth Anniversary of the Great October
Socialist Revolt , tion—Thesis of the Central Committee of the Commu-
nist Party of the Soviet Union," published by the information depart-
ment of the USSR embassy in Washington, makes note of what the
Russians wish to emphasize. But the authors have made certain that
the Stalinist hatred of Trotsky should be perpetuated, that Leon Trot-
sky's immense contributions as a founder of the Soviet empire should
The inaugral convocation III
he completely ignored.
But there had to be some sort of excoriation, and the authors of ing the formal installation GC
this 52-page pamphlet made certain that they condemned Trotskyites Dr. Abraham L Hatsh, world re-
as having "sought to deprive our Party and people of their faith that
socialism could be successfully built in the USSR . . ." charging that nowned Judaica scholar, as the
new president of Dropsie College
"Trotskyism showed distrust for tile working class of the USSR ..."
Does the present Soviet regime really believe that historical facts for Hebrew and Cognate Learning
There has been a change in these figures in recent months.
the
Communists
are
excoriating
in Philadelphia, was highlighted by
Aden, for example, is now without a single Jew, all of them having can be blotted out? For — while
opponents, the factual history is being compiled, and one day the
left as a result of the reign of terror imposed upon them.
the presentation of an honorary
literature of the
Insofar as Egypt (United Arab Republic) is concerned, there Russian people. when it acquires free access to the
degree of doctor of law to the
are later reports which reveal that some Jews have been released world, will learn about its leaders' crimes in English, French and other
in Russian history. former foreign minister of Israel,
from Nasser's prisons and some have left the . UAR. But according languages, and the facts will be incorporated
to "Air," the quarterly review of Amnesty International, between Because truth, as our Psalmist said, must sprout out of the very earth Golda Meir. In impressive cere-
200 and 400 of the several hundred Jews who were arrested. mostly * * *
monies at which approximately
in Cairo, upon the outbreak of the June Six-Day War still are in H. Rap Brown's Profundity
150 colleges and universities were
custody. "Air" states that releases are continuing, that those still
H. Rap Brown was interviewed some time ago over the New York
represented in the academic pre-
imprisoned are not treated worse than other inmates of Egyptian educational television station by Charles Hobson, and he commented on
cession, Dr. Katsh became the
prisons, "which have never had a very good reputation."
all conceivable issues. The text of the dialogue has just been printed
There is another item in the "Air" report that is of interest. The in Books review magazine, and we have the actual statement he made thrid president in the 60-year his-
journal states that while International Red Cross representatives could on anti-Semitism. Hobson asked him: "SNCC has been accused of being tory of Dropsie College—the only
not visit imprisoned Jews until two months 3'20, such visits are not anti-Semitic." To which Brown replied:
post-graduate institution in Amer,
permitted to stateless Jews who have begun to receive parcels and
"That's ridiculous. I know more Jews who are anti - Semitic than I
relief from their families and are permitted to see members of their know black people who are anti-Semitic. And not only are Jews anti- ica dedicated entirely to the- study
families. The Red Cross in Geneva also has announced that it is now Semitic, they are racists because they don't like Sammy Davis, Jr. We of Hebrew, biblical and Middle
accepting funds to he remitted to Jewish families and prisoners in cannot be accused of being anti - Semitic because the Arabs were also Eastern studies.
Egypt, that while the Red Cross cannot handle parcels from abroad ' Semites. So it's not even a question of whether you are anti - Semitic or
due to customs regulations. amounts up to 1.000 Swiss francs (approxi- not. As a result of the newspaper publication that was produced, the
mately S240) can be accepted and checks should be made payable Jews becan to attack our organization. We were talking about the
to International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), 7 Ave. de la Zionist. Every Jew is not a Zionist. The ionists is a terror organization
Paix. Geneva: and that imprisoned Jews in Egypt are permitted to and, you know, like those acclamations of — you know, assumptions that
be credited with approximately $15 a month to enable them to buy were in the paper were facts related — you know, to be proved as facts.
food and other provisions from prison canteens. And if they can refute those facts then you know we have grounds for
In this connection, it is interesting to quote this statement from debate."
It's been a long time since we have heard such profundity—about
Rep. Feighan's speech:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is I Zionists being a "terror organization" (imagine this being charged by
a
SNCC
follower). How quickly the wise among the hate-spreaders
continuing its efforts — commenced soon after the end of
WZ Congress
Postponed
NEW YORK (ZINS) — The
World Zionist Executive. at a ses-
sion held here decided to postpone
the 27th World Zionist Congress to
May 1968. The Congress was pre-
hostilities—to assist Jews in Arab countries. ICRC, with its learn to say that Jews are OK but Zionists are terrorists!
viously scheduled for Feb. 19.
But what can one expect from one who fails to acknowledge any
The new postponement was a re-
established capability for neutral int"rvention in situations of
tension or conflict to provide humanitarian protective and emer- effort by whites to end race prejudice? Asked about •tenocide, Brown sult of the demands by various fac-
gency relief assistance to victims of war, has one or more charged that it is being "excuted against black people daily" — a gener- tions who maintained that Feb.
delegates in most of the Arab countries. The delegates, among alization that embraces a large portion of the American people who do 19 was to early to provide suffie-
their other activities, are attempting as necessary to secure I not and will not tolerate injustice. Asked for his opinion about Governor ient time for a careful study of
Rockefeller as "a liberal Republican candidate," Brown said: ere s the various plans proposed for the
adequate protection for th re ate ne d Jewish populations and perms-
sion for the evacuation of those desiring to depart. The United no such thing as a liberal—liberals are as much an enemy of black reorganization of the Zionist move-
people as avowed racists . . . .
ment.
States has contributed $100,000 to the ICRC for its emergency
These are views worth knowing so that the futility of rguing with
On behalf of the 'World Zionist
program for the provision of relief and other assistance in behalf
of all victims of the Middle East conflict, through an allocation such tribunes in Negro ranks — who render so much harm to the Negro Executive in Jerusalem the meet-
ing was attended by Dr. Nahum
from the $5,000,000 Middle East emergency fund announced cause—should be a matter of record.
But the record is incomplete when only the Browns and the de- Goldman, Leon Dultzin and Louis
by President Johnson on June 27. In addition, the United Nations
luded SNCC spokesmen are quoted. Fortunately, there are realistic, Pincus.
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNIICR) is considering meas-
rational, fair-minded leaders in the civil rights movement who follow
ures appropriate under the UNHCR mandate which he might
The plenary session of the World
a path of pragmatism and cooperation. Dr. Kenneth B. Clark, psychol- Zionist Executive was postponed
take in behalf of threatened or persecuted Jews.
to Dec. 27 (instead of Dec. 21) and
ogy, professor at City University of New York, urged at an American
It is important that the facts should he known, that the record
Jewish Congress meeting, harmony in a spirit of traditional American will take place in Jerusalem.
should be accurate and that the status of Jews in Moslem lands—
The first convention of the In-
adherence to mutual respect.
as well as of refugees everywhere, whether they are on the Banks
Dr. Clark proposed a program which could "build a society that I dependent Liberal party will be
of the Jordan or behind the Iron Curtain--should not be a secret
and
injustice
and
close
the
'affluence
gap'
be-
;
held
March 20-21, in Jerusalem,
will eliminate poverty
and the figures should be accurate. Rep. Feighan has contributed
tween white and black in America." Ile did not hesitate to reject black I and 601 delegates representing var-
toward an assurance of such accuracy.
ions branches will attend the ses-
*
power appeals.
There is a way of remedying the rifts that are being created by I sions. The governing board has
Is the Situation Worsening?
extremists. Dr. Clark is among the clear-thinking spokesmen for the - also decided to launch a member-
Meanwhile the situation is not improving. In a report to Israel's Negroes who help clear such a path. He and those in Jewish ranks who I ship campaign which will continue
Knesset, Foreign Minister Abba Eban detailed the plight of the are laboring for cooperation need help, and all of us owe it to them in I for six weeks, concluding with the
100,000 Jews who still live in Arab countries, pointing to the mass the best interest of a unified and wholesome American society. opening of the convention.)
arrests, persecutions, oppressions and the deprivation of their liven-
hoods—on the charge only that they are Jews. He reported the
•
•
Romania Will Be Only Communist Country
to Be Represented atIsrael Parley Next Week
situation in Iraq as especially disturbing, Jews being jailed, held I
for ransom and their shops forcibly closed. He said that in Syria the
situation is even worse, that Jews are denied water and are denied
the right to purchase food. Eban said the Arab governments call the,
Jews their subjects and consider treatment of them an internal matter.
From a non-Jewish source, from Andrew Borowiec, foreign
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
rael in a follow-up to the trade
to The Jewish News)
correspondent of the Washington Evening Star, comes a report
agreement concluded between the
TEL AVIV—Romania will be the two countries last April.
from Beirut that "the remnants of the Jewish communities in
the Arab world lead a shackled existence, uncertain of tomorrow only Communist bloc country rep-
Negotiating for Israel is a dele-
resented at the First International
and fearful for their lives and property."
gation headed by Minister of Trade
Borowiec reported that "lack of prospects for an early settlement Congress of Engineers and Archi- and Industry Z. Sharef. Romania
of the Arab-Israeli deadlock makes their position even more pre- tects, which will open in Jerusalem is the only Communist-bloc nation
carious. They are the easiest targets of Arab wrath and vengeance, next week, it was learned here that did not sever diplomatic and
the permanent hostages in the endless ethnic and religious feuds." Wednesday.
trade relations with Israel follow-
Some 500 architects and engi- ing the Six-Day War.
He maintained that 20 years ago Jews in the Arab world numbered
1,000,000 persons who "formed their own tightly knit communities neers from abroad will be joined
Last April's trade pact between
and, to a great extent, dominated commerce and trade." Those stay- by 1,000 of their Israeli co-profes-
Israel and Romania was predi-
ing in Arab lands, he said, were merchants or professionals whose sionals for lectures and discussions
cated
on a $20,000,000 per annum
"material existence is frequently much better than that of the Arabs centering on the technological de-
movement of goods in each direc-
but the fear of being at the constant mercy of Arab governments velopment of newly emerging na-
tion in place of the $2-$3,000,000
and crowds makes their life a nerve-wracking nightmare." The report tions. Prime Minister Eshkol and
trade movement hitherto. It includ-
concluded that "there is no doubt that the Jewish presence in the Foreign Minister Eban will address
ed most-favored nations clauses
the
opening
session.
Arab world is witnessing its last years."
A Romanian trade mission, head- and stipulated that goods are to
Thus the world tragedies involving the oppressed are becoming
be paid for in freely convertible
more precarious, and it is evidence that Jews in Moslem countries, ed by Minister of Foreign Trade
currencies.
like those in most Communist-dominated lands, are isolated, helpless, Giorgio Ciora, arrived here Mon-
The principal Israeli products
day to negotiate trade, aviation
sold
to Romania are citrus, tex-
and
tourism
agreements
with
Is-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2 — Friday, December 15, 1967
tiles, fertilizers and asbestos. Ro-
mania sells Israel meat, sugar,
chemicals, iron and steel products
and wooden crates to package
oranges for export.
In Bueharest, the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency was praised Wed-
nesday as the medium through
which the international press and
world public opinion are acquaint-
ed with the events and achieve-
ments of the Jewish community
in Romania and with the fact that
Romanian Jews are free to conduct
their affairs under their constitu-
tion.
sit
The tribute to JTA was con-
tained in a front-page article in
the Journal of Religious Jewry,
marking the 50th anniversary of
the founding of the worldwide
Jewish news service.