JEWISH NEWS The New Year's Tribulations ... Genocide Pact Must Be Adopted Editorials Page 4 Niebuhr, Other Vol. LII, No. 15 to Jewish 1 I of Jewish Events fs/1 I I—I I GA t ■ .I A Weekly Review Philo-Semites Commentary Page 2 Hanuka Greetings Communities Everywhere Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle °gall° 27 17100 W. 7 Mile Rd., Detroit — VE 8-9364— December 29, 1967 $6.00 Per Year, This Issue 20c Pope Peace Call Seen Dropping Jerusalem Internationalization Congressman Ford Asks Greater U.S. Aid to Avert Soviet Middle East Threat By MILTON FRIEDMAN (Copyright 1967, JTA Inc.) WASHINGTON — The Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has strongly rejected the adminis- tration assessment that the Soviet military buildup in the Middle East does not "pose any im- mediate military threat to the United States and its allies." Israel feels that the unrelenting Soviet arms shipments to the Arabs poses a very real threat. So does the escalation of Russian naval and air power movement into the region. The State Department, however, does not regard Israel as an ally. President Johnson's Dec. 19 re- marks differentiated between United States commitment to South Viet- nam and Israel. The President made clear that America has a "treaty" with Saigon but none with Israel. House Minority Leader Gerald Rep. Ford R. Ford has opened a heavy attack on the administration's Middle East policy. Rep. Ford, Mich- igan Republican, questioned the "credibility" of President Johnson's "commitment to Israel." The GOP assault is aimed at the apparent failure of the administration to back Israel as firmly as the Russians are supporting the Arabs. (Editor's Note: Congressman Ford expressed the views outlined in this report in a radio interview with Milton Fried- man, our Washington correspondent, over New York's station WABC, Sunday night). Rep. Ford served notice that the second session of the 90th Congress will challenge the administration's response to the Soviet-Arab buildup. The Republicans will demand stronger U.S. support for Israel — including provision of jets and other arms Israel previously obtained from France. A drastic change in Israel's defense posture is seen by Rep. Ford in the arbitrary cancellation of contracts by France, Israel's prime arms source. The Republican leader sees American support of Israel in "the national security interests of our own United States." Rep. Ford is aware that the White House has deferred action (Continued on Page 6) ROME (JTA)—Pope Paul VI, in his Christmas address to the College of Cardinals Sunday, called for peace in the Middle East "not saturated with hatred and future vindictiveness." He urged that free access to the holy places of of the three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, be guaranteed "by an institution of international character with special regard for the historical and religious physiognomy of Jerusalem." The Pope also called for respect for all communities in the Holy Land to freely enjoy their religious rights, and praised the United Nations Secur- ity Council's decision to send a representative of the secretary-general to the Middle East on a peace-seeking mission. The Papal call for free access to holy places seemed to indicate that the Vatican has ceased to press actively for its long-term objective of internationalization of Jerusalem, and has begun to work instead for some form of international guarantee., possibly by the United Nations, the World Court, or through a new three-faith body under UN aegis. Pope Paul said that he considers the UN resolution of Nov. 22, which established the mis- sion of Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, to be "the first step" on the road to peace, and hoped that 31 it would have the "sincere support" of all responsible leaders. He called for intensified aid to the "old and new refugees," the "poor and impotent victims" of conflict in the Middle East. Christmas Worship in Bethlehem Draws Large Crowds JERUSALEM (JTA)—Some 4,000 worshipers, including more than 100 American service- men on leave from posts in Europe, attended an overflow midnight mass at • the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Sunday night, or watched it on cinema-size television screens on Manger Square outside the church. In all, the first Christmas celebration in Bethlehem under Israeli occupation went off smoothly, and drew large numbers of pilgrims despite warnings from terrorist organizations to stay away. One act of sabotage marred the occasion. A transmis- sion line was blown up, cutting radio and telephone communications between Bethlehem and Jeru- Leading Frenchmen, salem. But the damage was repaired in less than an hour, and service was restored. Including Gaullists, The absence of any other incidents was at- tributed in large measure to precautions taken Seek Peace in M. E. by Israeli authorities. More than 1,000 Israeli PARIS (JTA) — Two hundred and fifty mem- policemen stood guard along the four-mile road bers of Parliament, Gaullists and prominent between Jerusalem and Bethlehem when the political leaders among them, signed an appeal traditional procession of pilgrims, led by the Latin urging France to join with other big powers Patriarch. Msgr. Alberto Gori, began shortly after to work for direct Israel-Arab talks of bring about peace in the Middle East. The appeal was noon. Automobiles were banned from Bethlehem authored by General Koenig. a leader of the for the day, but special buses were provided by French Resistance movement in World War II, Israeli authorities to carry pilgrims to and from who is chairman of the Committee for Solidarity the town. Steps were also taken to exclude all with Israel. but Christians in order to avoid a crush of tour- It affirmed Israel's right to have "secure ists and other curiosity seekers which might have borders" in face of the new dangers that threaten overtaxed Bethlehem's limited facilities. her, and said that "it cannot be envisaged that Israel should abandon any position before being The high mass drew the consuls from Roman certain of protection from destructive hatred." Catholic countries, a sprinkling of Americans and The document said that "the great powers, and other tourists from abroad, and Arabs from the 1 France especially, have a duty to contribute to the West Bank who apparently ignored exhortations creation of a direct dialogue, thus bringing about on the Amman radio not to attend services in an end to the conflict in the Middle East." areas under Israeli control. A majority of Israel's The signing of this appeal by members of Arabs, and those of the West Bank, belong to the France's Parliament appeared to confirm an Eastern Orthodox and Armenian churches, which editorial comment by Pierre Paraf in Combat (Continued on Page 9) do not celebrate Christmas until next month. Demagogue Shukairy Resigns Under Pressure Ahmed Shukairy JERUSALEM (JTA) — Ahmed Shukairy, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which trains terrorists and saboteurs for depreda- tions in Israeli-held territory, has resigned under pressure from his deputies, according to Cairo radio reports. Shukairy was accused by his colleagues of failing to coordinate all the organizations which commit acts of terrorism against IsraeL Egyptian newspapers reported Monday that a council of 100 Palestinians will now be chosen by Egyptians to head the PLO. The council will be made up of political leaders and terrorist organizers' from Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The council will elect a 10-man- executive committee, the Cairo radio said. (Writing editorially, under the title "Arab Derdagogue Steps Down," the New York Times on Wednesday asserted that Shukairy's resignation "could mark a significant step toward peace in the Middle East." The editorial states that Shukairy was dropped because of his precipitate flight from battle because of his embarrassing bombast and because his new high command has been disrupted by the Israelis." The editorial concludes: "The Palestine Liberation Organization has changed leaders, but will it change its aims and tactics? That will be the real test of Arab intentions.") (See Commentary Page 2, Related Stories, Pages 6, 7) Expose of Prejudice: Arnold J. Toynbee's Jewish Psychosis An analysis of a former sympathizer with Zionism who has become a professional agitator against Jews and Zionism. . By Josef Fraenkel our London correspondent IN NEXT WEEK'S JEWISH NEWS