Hussein's Story of His `War' With Israel
Vic Lance and Pierre Lauer did
the interviewing and their book,
published by William Morrow Co.,
(150 Madison, NY16)—"Hussein of
Jordan: My 'War' With Israel"—
was translated from the French by
June P. Wilson and Walter B.
Michaels.
Some views expressed here are
commonly known. They were re-
peated in speechs in Washington,
in the Jordanian king's multiple
statements. Yet, there is much
here that is new and that can stand
scrutiny.
On the face of it, as the title in-
dicates, one would imagine that the
book is a slur on Israel—although
Hussein, as is known, constantly
speaks pf his desire for peace. Yet,
there iT so much here that refers
to Hussein's fellow-Arab rulers that
these comments are of special in-
terest.
Actually, it is Nasser and the
Syrians who should be angry.
There are accusations about their
arrogance that indicate the fre-
quency of friction between the
Arabs.
On several occasions in the inter-
views, Hussein spoke out against
Ahmed Shukairy, the terrorists'
leader who threatened Israel's de-
struction. Yet, when the Six-Day
War broke out, Shukairy was in
Jordan. This is one of the incon-
sistencies in the Hussein speeches
and actions.
Often, the two journalists who in-
terviewed Hussein indicate in their
annotations some of the historic
developments and the confusions
that creep in.
But in the main there are the
usual accusations by Hussein
against Israel. As far as his asser-
tions are concerned, Israel still is
the aggressor.
Hussein fails to indicate that
while he was asked by Israel not
to join the war on the side of
Nasser, he commenced the attack
on Jerusalem. That's when the
most damage was suffered by
Israel. And be does not tell the
whole story of his sudden fra-
ternization with the man—Nasser
—who had abused him so often.
Only between the lines does one
read about the Hussein enmity
with his Egyptian brother who he
had embraced just before the
June 1967 war.
Others are quoted in this book:
Zeid Rifai, chief of protocol at the
state: "The Palestinian Arabs are
frustrated, bogged down in misery,
and their suffering has led them
into the path of despair—guerrilla
warfare—because for 20 years they
have been treated unjustly.
"In trying to establish a national
identity, they run the risk of dis-
torting the issue and forcing it
beyond the conflict between Israel
and her Arab neighbors who after
all—Jordan excepted—are not di-
rectly involved in their problem.
"It would be far better to irri-
gate the deserts of the Middle East
with desalinated water than with
the blood of Arabs or Israelis."
The charge of "unfairness" is, of
KING HUSSEIN
course, disputed. The desire for
Jordanian palace, had his say. In creative efforts is acceptable to
Israel. What is not indicated is that
the main it is the old story.
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Ancient Egyptian Temple
Uncovered in Lower Negev
‘11■ 1100 WwW."1 000"...00 "4■00 %.,/
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The ruins of
an Egyptian temple to Hather, the
cow-headed goddess of the desert,
have been discovered in the area
of Solomon's Pillars, in Timna at
the southern end of the Negev.
The ruins, believed to date back
to the days of the Exodus, were
uncovered by an archaeological
expedition of the Hebrew Univer-
sity and the Tel Aviv Museum,
headed by Dr. Benno Rottenberg.
Dr. Rafael Givon, an Egyptolo-
gist, said that the Timna temple
fmd was the farthest known site of
an Egyptian cult outside the Nile
Valley. The only other known ex-
ample of an Egyptian temple is the
temple found in the Sinai Penin-
But the two authors of this Hus- the Arabs reject it.
sula,
further to the southwest.
"Hussein
of
Jordan"
is
a
reveal-
sein story have, in fairness, incor-
porated in their volume the com-
plete text of the Hussein-Nasser
telephone conversation in which
they aimed at blaming the United
States for the Six-Day War. Hus-
sein is given a chance to explain.
The lameness of the explanation
becomes apparents.
Other data is part of this record.
There is an outline of the aid Hus-
sein received from Arab poten-
tates. This, too, adds to the value
of a volume which is Hussein's
statement but which contains much
to expose a nefarious stand.
Hussein defends himself: "I didn't
fight under real conditions. I never
declared war on Israel and I never
made war with Israel. Naturally, I
responded to each of Israel's acts
of aggression, in 1956, in 1967, and
still more recently, in 1968."
Yet there is a record of a request
to him to refrain from shooting on
June 5, 1967—and he did!
The two authors touch upon
many things—the Russian role,
the stand of Habib Bourguiba.
The refugee question is intro-
duced. The many war-making
factors are outlined. While there
is a frequent statement that
could be interpreted as partial,
the total picture painted by
Lance and Lauer gives their book
great importance because the
Hussein view is presented in full,
and some of the contradictions
are noted.
There are some concluding re-
marks by the authors that are
worth noting. For instance, they
'Israeli Society' by Dr. Eisenstadt
Prof. S. N. Eisenstadt of the
Hebrew University in Jerusalem
provides basic data about the
emerging Jewish society in Israel
and the social structure that dis-
tinguishes the Jewish state in
"Israeli Society." It is an impor-
tant volume published by Basic
Books as part of the series pro-
duced for the Hebrew University
and the Institute of Contemporary
Jewry on the subject "The History
of Zionism and the Yishuv."
Offering an analysis of the back-
ground of the Yishuv's institutional
patterns, explaining the character_
istics of the various aliyot — the
Friday, June 6, 1969-17
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
migration movements into Pales-
tine and then into Israel — the
author proceeds to explain the poli-
tical settings, the social stratifica-
tions, the differentiations and the
emerging social organization.
This volume has its great value
not only for the important defini-
tions of the social structure but
also its explanatory reviews of the
development of the cultural institu-
tions, the educational projects, the
training of adults as well as youth.
Dr. Eisenstadt also describes the
role of the non-Jewish minority
groups in Israel, and he views
Israel as having developed into a
modern society, maintaining ori-
entations which nevertheless face
many challenges in view of the
minority situation involving the
non-Jewish groups.
U.S. Basketball Line-Up
Led by Billy Evans and Steve
Bilsky, a 12-man squad has been
chosen to represent the United
States in basketball at the Maces-
bia Games in Israel, July 28-Aug.
7. The other members of the team
are Ed. Fogler, 5-11, North Caro-
lina; Louis Goetz, 6-1, Rutgers;
Jack Ajzner, 6-81/2, Cincinnati;
four freshman, Alan Cotler, 6-5,
Pennsylvania; Steve Kaplan, 6-6,
Rutgers; Andrew Hill, 6-1, UCLA;
Eric Minkin, 6-7, Davidson; and
two former college stars Bruce
Kaplan, 6-4, NYU and Stu Kerzner,
6-1, Providence.
, , Tee human mind is full of curi-
osity but it don't love to be taught.
—Josh Billings.
ing book, well worth studying for
the attitudes that are known but
are, here, put down in specific
terms.
r
Worth noting in connection with
this book is the following from
Chronicler's column in the London
Jewish Chronicle under the head-
ing "Hussein's War":
A Jewish publisher, Mr. Peter
Owen, is to publish the book "Hus-
sein of Jordan, My War with
Israel." And Mr. Owen feels he is
right to do so.
Mr. Owen tells me: "The reason
I felt justified, as a Jewish pub-
lisher, in buying this book is that
it is, on the whole, entirely objec-
tive, and the other Arab leaders
come out of it far worse than any-
one else."
As an example of the King's
objectivity, Mr. Owen cites one
passage in the book in which the
Jordanian monarch describes how,
while tension was building up be-
tween Israel and the Arabs, "the,,
Syrians could think of nothing
more suitable than to send us a
car which exploded on our border
at Ramtha. It had been meant to
explode in the center of Amman.
Result: 14 Jordanians killed . . .
We no longer knew who was less
trustworthy: Israel or our Arab
allies!"
At other times, the King has
been rather less impartial.
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