`Dialogue With Ishmael' Advocated:
Israeli Urges Arab-Israel Cooperation
Aubrey Hodes came to Israel
from South Africa in 1949 and has
studied the dangerous situation
there since then. He became an
adherent of the movement for
Arab-Jewish cooperation in what
was at the outset advocated as a
bi-national state and in 1957 he
became the editor of New Out-
look, a magazine that advocates
an Arab-Israel rapproachment.
In a thought - provoking book,
"Dialogue with Ishmael," publish-
ed by Funk and Wagnalls, Hodes
presents his views, analyzes the
existing situation in all its details
and in his appeal for a cooperative
approach towards a solution he
asserts:
"Israel can only become a cre-
ative channel for ideas and its
own original thought if the lines
of communication flow freely
through it. This then should be the
goal of the second phase of Is-
rael's rebirth: to open the con-
tour lines of contact with the im-
mediate environment, so that Wes-
tern concepts and techniques can
stream through it to the East and
so that Eastern wisdom and schol-
arship can flow back to the West.
But Israel cannot do this if it re-
treats behind the present wall of
distrust. It does not really matter
who is to blame for putting up
this wall. The true sin toward
history is accepting it."
Hodes, regrettably, finished
and published his book before
the new wave of terrorism and
the bomb-throwing into the Jeru-
salum market place, and the at-
tack, on travelers on an El Al
plane, which necessitated Israel's
retaliation at the Beirut airport.
Regrettably, also, he presents a
Jewish hope, without providing
too much confidence in a similar
Arab response for neighborly
and cooperative relations.
Hodes' appeal is for a "journey
to our common past and forward
to our common future," on the bas-
is of the hope expressed in the
1947 declaration of the United Na-
tions Special Committee on Pales-
tine: "Palestine will remain one
land in which Semitic ideals may
pass into realization."
There are other quoted sources
to emphasize such unity, yet the
text itself of a well written book
indicated strife that necessitates
defense by Israel and determina-
tion by Arabs to force the neces-
sity for such defense.
Hodes' thesis commences by
quoting Dr. Martin' Buber's com-
ment about the "existential mis-
trust" which created the suspicion
and fear in the Arab-Israel con-
flict and the comment by an Arab
leader, Emile Bustani, that the re-
sult of the Arab-Jewish confronta-
tion i was a "pathological anti-
pathy" toward Israel—which is "in
the 'Arab world" but "not of the
Ara li world."
lie makes a strong case for
Israel and the Jewish State's
achievements and he declares
till "it is because Israel has
de onstrated its internal drive
and will to solve problems that
It 'should prove its ability to
the good-will of the hostile
g
en onment into which it has
p jetted itself. Israel should
tak the lead in turning the Arab
wo Ids into a problem-solving
on and in helping it take, fin-
alb and irrevocably, the way of
the West . . . "
The ' basis for this argument is
his claim that Israel is a problem-
solving society while the Arab
world; tends to be a problem-per-
petuating" society. He goes so far
as to assert that:
"It is precisely because Israel
is more dynamic that it should be
morel charitable."
Irrefutable theory is challenged
by denger-laden realities, and the
Hodes view, compellingly deserv-
ing off widest concern and atten-
Ulm, could become workable only
If Arabs were willing officially to
discuss the problem with Jews—
and this they refuse to do.
There is no doubt about the
thoroughness with which
tackles the many issues. He does I
not overlook any of the weapons
used by the Arabs in an effort to
destroy Israel. He quotes from the
textbooks in which Arab children
are taught to hate. He views the
tragedy with concern, but takes
great comfort in the policy of co-
operation that was advocated by
President Habib Bourguiba of
Tunisia, and he views it as a break-
through in the deadlocked situa-
tion.
Thus, he pursued his appeal,
for partnership instead of per-
petuating a role of strangers,
pointing to the advocacy of such
cooperation by Buber, Judah L.
Magnes, Max Nordau and others.
He believes that the challenge
he poses to Israel does not mean
a negation of Zionism but "a tru-
er conception of a Greater Israel:
not one based on force, armor and
acquisition, but a new and broader
ideal in which Israel can join
forces with its Arab neighbors and
the Jews of the world to develop
not only Israel itself, but the en-
tire Middle East."
Hodes has confidence in the
young Israeli leaders, in Dayan
and Allon, in the sabras.
Proposing repatriation of refu-
gees under a watchful authority,
by constructing new villages and
a measure of compensation; urging
Tessmer Challenge
to de Gaulle Draws
Widest Attention
An advertisement in last week's
Jewish News by Ray Tessmer,
president of Jeff-
erson Chevrolet
Co., of Detroit,
challenging rj
Charles de Gaul-
le's attitude on
questions relat-
ing to the United
States, and es-
pecially to Israel,
has attracted at-
tention and he Tessmer
has received scores of messages
pledging him support in his ap-
peals to end the prejudices by
France's president.
In his signed advertisement,
Tessmer, who's not Jewish stated:
"Why, Mr. President of the peo-
ple of France, are you antagonistic
to the West?
"Why, Sir, are you especially un-
friendly to the people of the United
States, the friendship with whom
dates back to our Revolutionary
days, the people of the United
States who were so eager to assist
the people of France during both
World Wars, our people who fought
side by side with YOUR people?
"Why, Sir, are you now endan-
gering the peace of the world by
setting up obstacles in the path of
the only free people in the Middle
East, the people of Israel, by giv-
ing comfort to persons who are
ganging up to destroy little Israel?
"Why, Sir, are you preventing
your honorable plane manufactur-
ers from living up to business deals
and why are you directing that
planes for which Israel has paid
should not be delivered?
"And if the planes are not de-
livered, why aren't you returning
the $100,000,000 of Israel's money
you have held for nearly two years
now?
"Answer, Monsieur, in the name
of the great ideals of the French
people!"
2 Classes for Diabetics
It is still possible to attend the
two remaining classes for diabetics
and their families, to be held
Wednesday and Feb. 5 at the Sha
pero School of Nursing, next to
Sinai Hospital.
The free classes are con-spon-
sored by the Michigan Diabetes
Association and Sinai Hospital and
require a physician's deferral form,
which may be obtained at class or
Hodes by calling 342-9333.
-
Friday, January 24, 1969-17
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
TRAVELING
ANYWHERE
the establishment of pioneer corps;
by resorting to political, demo-
graphic and humanitarian meth-
ods, he urges action now and by
waiting for peace treaties. He has
a blueprint for an Organization
of Middle East States providing
for:
Call
EVERYWHERE
YESHIVATH BETH YEHUDAH
15751 W. 101/2 MILE RD.
SPECIAL FROM 11 TO 120 DAY TOURS TO ISRAEL
—
353-6750
Road and rail links between Cairo
and Beirut via Tel Aviv and Haifa;
Highways from Amman to Haifa and
Ashdod;
The joint exploitation of the Dead
Sea minerals and the phosphates of
the Negev and Transjordan by Jordan
and Israel;
Joint development of Eilat and
Aqaba ports;
Access from the Nile Valley to Jor-
dan, Syria, and Iraq, through Israeli
territory;
Inter-regional postal, telephone and
wireless communications;
Plans for fostering tourism by elim-
inating the political cul-de-sacs which
today hamper free movement between
the countries of the region;
Studies of power potentials in the
various states and the most suitable
location of future plants;
Exchange of technical know-how in
oil drilling, Water control, irrigation,
afforestation and the many other prob-
lems Israel and the Arab lands share
in common;
Oceanographic research and the de-
velopment of fishing in the Red Sea,
the Indian Ocean, and the Mediter-
ranean;
The establishment of a Joint Econo-
mic Commission which would study
plans for economic cooperation and
present detailed cost programs and
time schedules•
The removal of customs duties and
tariff barriers as a means of promot-
ing trade between the countries of
the region;
The study of arid zones;
Reopening of oil pipeline to Haifa
and constructing other pipelines;
Cultural exchange and research fel-
lowships for Arab scholars at institu-
tions of higher learning and for Israelis
at Arab universities;
Joint archaeological research and ex-
peditions;
Efforts to stop the flow of hashish
from the centers of production in Iran
to the markets in Egypt and North
Africa via Jordan and the Negev;
Joint control of locusts, Mediter-
ranean fruit flies, and similar pests.
FROM $399 and up
Eve. 862-0963
Arlazoroff Branch 137, Farband L.Z.O.
35th ANNIVERSARY BANQUET
p.m.
Schaver Auditorium, L.Z.I.
SUNDAY, JAN. 26th-6:30
19161 Schaefer at 7 Mile Rd.
Guest Speaker:
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ,
Editor/Publisher of The Jewish
News
Guest Artist:
REUVEN FRANKEL,
formerly Cantor of Cong. Shaarey Zedek
BELLA GOLDBERG at the Piano
For Reservations Call:
I. Brown WE 3 - 7888 or DI 1-9646
ARE YOU interested in the establishment of a
permanent facility for residential care for
Jewish retardates?
WE ARE—So, we organized the Parents As-
sociation for Jewish Residential Care.
Hodes' approach to the issue in-
cludes an appeal against resort to
nuclear weapons and his chapters
on the nuclear threat is one of
the most thorough studies of the
issue involving the danger of nu-
clear research in the Middle East.
There is much to be learned
from Hodes' book. It is replete
with data, is marked by great sin-
cerity and deserves serious con-
sideration. His plan may not be
workable, but should be consider-
ed in all seriousness. It suggests
a "dialogue" while revealing a
"monologue." Perhaps Ishmael
will reply to Israel in the course
of time.
Our meetings are held on the last Thursday of
each month at the Jewish Community Center,
18100 Meyers Road, Detroit. The next meet-
ing is on January 30th.
For further information, please contact Mrs.
Sharon Alterman at DI 1-4200.
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
Dr. Robert Gordis
Who Will Speak On
"Does Judaism Have A Future?"
*Wednseday, January 29, 1969 at 8:30 P.M.
The lecture will be held in the
Morris Adler Hall
Admission Free
*Please note change of day
1We