Avalanche of Yuletide Anti -Semitic Mail
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright 1967,
JTA Inc)
WASHINGTON —The Christmas
season has revealed the develop-
ment of a new anti-Semitic .line,
emotionally charged with com-
plaints against "Jewish control of
Jerusalem and Bethlehem."
Yuletide mail received by Con-
gressmen brought messages of
peace on earth, and goodwill to-
ward men. But some of the com-
munications bemoaned the con-
tinued Israeli occupation of Arab
territory, the plight of the Arab
refugees, and the allegedly sinister
roles of such personages as Am-
bassador Arthur J. Goldberg and
the. Rostow brothers. Walter W.
Rostow is President Johnson's per-
sonal adviser on international se-
curity affairs. Eugene Rostov' also
has advised governmental bodies.
The Republicans tend to reject
anti-Israel pressures because the
emerging GOP position is that
the administration wasted mil-
lions in aid on Arabs who lined
up with Moscow. Republican cri-
ticism of the President has been
based on charges of inadequate
support of Israel rather than too
much. Israel is seen in Republi-
can eyes as an anti-Communist
bulwark whose support is in
America's best interest.
Interviews with a number of Con-
gressmen elicited a similar re-
sponse on one point. They said that
a pro-Israel statement or action
often drew more denunciations
than plaudits. The friends of Israel
seldom send notes of approval and
support, it would appear.
A congressman, asking not to be
identified, said he backed Israel
because of his own conclusion that
Congressmen consider most of
the anti-Israel material as crank this was consistent with the Ameri-
mail. While the pleaders for the can objectives of peace and jos- ,
Arabs generally avoid outright tice. "But," he added. "this is an
anti-Semitism, it was noted that election yearSand it is good to have
some attacks on Israel are ad- a little reassurance. My mailbox
dressed to nun-Jewish members of
Congress but not to Jews. Such
letters contain snide references to
Jewish "domination" of Christian
holy shrines. Questions are raised
about the objectivity of persons
like Ambassador Goldberg.
was jammed when things looked
bad for Israel last May. Since May
I have not relaxed my watch on
developments and on all legislation
and policies on the Middle East.
But a spotcheck of current mail
would quickly show that there is
considerable opinion against Israel.
It may not be representative. But
it's what I get."
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Friday, December 22, 1967-3
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Canadian Jews Ask Mose ow to Stop Bias Polity
MONTREAL (JTA) — The Ca- Union. The congress appeal was
nadian Jewish Congress appealed in the form of a letter tranSinitted
Monday to the Soviet government through Soviet Ambassador 'Van F.
to remove the disabilities hamper- Shpedke and linked the plea to
ing the religious and cultural free- the celebration of the 50th anni-
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A steady increase in anti-
Israel mail developed since the
Six-Day War in June. The first
theme was the accidental Israeli
attack on the U.S.S. Liberty.
Next came the official announce-
ment on the permanent status of
Jerusalem. This brought letters
from Christian clergmen. Stock
phrases were used, indicating
that the missionaries who op-
posed Zionism are still active.
The letters denounce every Is-
raeli reprisal and quote any Is-
raeli statement that sounds pro-
vocative out of context. They uni-
formly ignore Arab terorism and
belligerent remarks from Arab
capitals. Arab collaboration with
Russia is overlooked in a con-
venient manner. Israel, however,
is blamed for allegedly inflaming
the region and forcing the Arabs
to break with Washington.
Writers portray themselves as
"grass-root" Americans who feel
their congressman has overlooked
the facts. When a senator speaks
out, for instance, for sale of U.S.
arms to Israel, he may expect
more negative than friendly re-
sponses. A legislator's supporters
tend to take him for granted.
Critics of Israel quickly respond
with literate appeals for the Arabs.
Anti-Semites exploit the ma-
terial of the so-called "American
Council for Judaism." Reprints
of anti-Israel material published
by the council are often en-
closed in letters to Congress.
-
Most congressmen place no cre-
dence in the council material. Its
presence affixed to a letter tends
to discredit the writer.
The bigots are mindful that 1968
is an election year. Their more or
less tactful correspondence con-
veys the message that a politi-
cian's pro-Israel stand might cost
him votes.
An informal canvass suggested
that neither Democrats nor Re-
publicans tend to take their anti-
Israel mail very seriously. Demo-
crats resent the attacks on admin-
istration policies and attempts to
discredit President Johnson's five-
point peace formula. They recall
the wide popular support for Israel
in June and see this as a barome-
ter of the average voter's climate.
Democrats feel the Israeli victory
can be sold as an Administration
achievement because President
jOlinson avoided U.S. involvement
while someone else thrashed the
Communist-backed forces.
Arabic Added to Forms
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Jerusa-
lem's municipality has added Ara-
ble to all stationery and forms in-
tended for Arab residents, whose
letters and material will be in
Arabic only, from now on
A" your lives te as happy and 6ri gki
as /lie nine durninq candles of die Aenorak.
AMERICAN k i ma SAVINGS
**socios-ct.
MICHIGAN'S LARGEST STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS AND LOAN INSTITUTION