Vietnam Poses Communal Issue

(Continued from Page 1)

in the peace movement and in the
leadership of revolutionary youth
groups.
There have been suggestions
that the "Establishment's"
friendly attitude toward the Jew-
ish community and Israel has
prompted non-Jewish friends to
voice words of caution. The
Communists are depicted as anti-
Semitic and anti-Israel. Why
Jews
then do many young
march around with Red flags
and portraits of Ho Chi Minh
and Mao Tse-tung, people ask.

Persons making such sugges-
tions and raising such questions
conspicuously welcomed a mes-
sage from Prime Minister Golda
Meir to President Nixon com-
mending the President on his Nov.
3 Vietnam speech. The White
House was seen by many as pub-
licly announcing Mrs. Meir's en
listment with the "Silent Major-
ity."
Others in Washington went far-
ther. They interpreted the Meir
letter as a subtle repudiation of
American Jews who oppose the
Nixon Vietnam policy.

Many Jews might resent pres-
sures from the -right for conform-
ity on Vietnam as the polariza-
tion intensifies emotions. But con-
sternation is developing because
of events in the leftist camp. The
radical left has displayed new in-
dications of prejudice.

When the Weathermen faction of
the Students for Democratic So-
ciety exploited the Nov. 15 peace
mobilization in Washington, a
split occurred in New Left ranks.
Among other things, there was
the question of "liberating" vari-
ous embassies.

As police fought in the streets
against extremists surging to-
ward the embassy of South Viet-
nam, a debate raged among
other New Leftists. Should they
take to the streets to aid the
embattled Weatherman, Yippies,
Crazies, and Mad Dogs? The
issue was hotly argued by a
meeting of the self-styled radi-
cals of the new National Jew-
ish Organizing Project, a con-
clave of Jewish youth par-
ticipating in the mobilization.
After emotional denunciations of
the "pigs" who were "gassing
innocent kids," the assembled
hundreds were at the point of
storming into the streets, with
all the fury of Warsaw Ghetto
partisans, to fight the authori-
ties.

Then one radical youth got the
floor. His remarks caused a sud-
den silence in the crowd. He an-
nounced discovery of a Weather-
men list of the "Fascist-Reaction-
ary" embassies to be liberated.
The Embassy of Israel was on the
list. The Jewish radicals quickly
dropped the idea of reinforcing
their "brothers and sisters." They
elected, instead, to march out that
night to participate in the solemn
procession against the war. They
carried names of war dead from
Arlington Cemetery to the Capitol.
Later, the Jewish "radicals - held
a Hebrew memorial service in
front of the White House. reciting
the Kaddish for the victims of
Nixon's war."

of Nasser and the El Fatah ter.
rorists.

Supporters of U.S. .Vietnam
War Policies Hail Mrs. Meir's

Message to President Nixon

Mrs. Meir "knows as do her coun-
trymen that the fate of small, still
free nations everywhere is deeply
involved in Vietnam." Rep. Ford
is a strong advocate of the sale of
Phantom jet bombers and other
military equipment to Israel.

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jewish
Bernard Direnfeld, national
of commander of the Jewish War
and non-Jewish supporters
President Nixon's Vietnam war Veterans of the United_ States,
policies had boundless praise •for which has always taken a hawkish
Premier Golda Meir of Israel whose stand on the Vietnam war, claimed
message to the President support- that Mrs. Meir's support of Mr.
ing his Nov. 3 Vietnam speech Nixon was "highly relevant: to the
created a stir in Washington. The security both of Israel and the
praise came chiefly from Repub- United States." Direnfeld claimed,
licans and others who have pre- in a statement, that "There are
viously denounced war critics and many parallels between Israel's
the mass anti-war mobilization long search for peace and Ameri-
here in which thousands of Jew- ca's present efforts to negotiate a
ish youth and adults participated. meaningful peace in Vietnam."
The White House disclosed
A Washington columnist na-
that the President himself
tionally syndicated by Newsday,
"d cc ply appreciated" Mrs.
a Long Island newspaper, has
Mier's praise for his speech.
reported that the White House
In a reply to Mrs. Meir, Nixon
attaches great significance to
said he was "grateful" for her
the Meir message. Nick Thim-
"thoughtful m e s s a g e," was
mesch reported that "Golda
"pleased by its positive reception
Meir's unexpected message of
in the United States" and was
congratulation to President Nix-
"especially gratified to know that
on on his Vietnam speech has
leaders around the world like the
delighted the White House and
prime minister have found hope
startled aides of former Presi-
in it."
dent Lyndon B. Johnson who
panted in vain for such support
Israeli official circles have de-
when he was stuck with running
nied that Mrs. Meir's message
the war."
constituted an endorsement of the
President's Vietnam policy. But
The well-informed correspondent
the U.S. Information Service in disclosed that "Dr. Henry Kissin-
Israel published a contrary in- ger, the President's national se-
terpretation. A press release hand- curity advise:, took one look at
ed out on the Meir letter carried the communication, as relayed by
the headline "Israel's Prime Min- Walworth Barbour, U.S. ambas-
ister Backs Nixon's Vietnam Pol- sador to Israel, and urged Presi-
icy." The release was datelined dent Nixon to respond immediate-
Washington.
ly."
In her message, Mrs. Meir con-
Thimmesch said that "Johnson
gratulated Nixon on his "mean- yearned for any kind of support
ing speech" and expressed "hope message from Israel on Vietnam
that he will speedily succeed in but was rejected." He asked "Why
bringing about peace in Vietnam. did Nixon. who got 17 per cent of
The President's speech contains the Jewish vote in 1968, get the
much that encourages and message which Lyndon Johnson,
strengthens freedom-loving small who got nearly all the Jewish vote
nations the world over which, in 1964, desperately wanted?" Re-
striving to maintain their inde- plying - to this rhetorical question,
pench•nt existence. look to that Thimmesch said that Mrs. Meir
great democracy, the United "developed a personal sympathy
States." she declared.
for Nixon during her recent state
House Republican leader Ger- visit to Washington as his guest.
ald R. Ford of Michigan said he
Mrs. Meir knows that while Nix-
commended to all Americans "the on isn't popular with American
bright vision" of Israel "which .Jews, Israeli military leaders like
the Premier expressed in her con- him, and in a recent policy state-
gratulatory message to President ment she described him as an old
Nixon on his Nov. 3 speech to the friend of the state." said Thim-
nation." Rep. Ford attacked "the mesch.
simplistic and myopic view of the
Although the Arab onslaught
struggle in Vietnam which some against Israel and the U.S. in-
strident cri tics of President volvement in Vietnam "are not
Nixon's policy take" and said it analagous . Mrs. Meir feels
was "sharply refuted by the that she and yr. Nixon are two
prime minister of I s r a e I." He world leaders in a real fix . . .
praised her "indomitable courage Israel fears that if the U.S. pulls
and independence of mind" which out of Vietnam in humiliation, the
"cannot he questioned." He said Arab world, particularly the radi-

Resumed Israel-EEC
Talks Slated Dec. 10

BRUSSELS (JTA) — The second
round in the negotiation of a pref-
erential trade agreement between
Israel and the European Common
Market countries will take place
here Dec. 10-12.

There is already a complete
agreement on general principles.
though positions differ slightly on
sonic details. Israel hopes that the
ECC will improve its sales ability
Thousands of other non-radical in the industrial sector. It also
Jews participated in the general looks for an improvement in the
demonstration. Members of Hind. agricultural sector since Western
Foundations, Yeshiva U. students. Europe is the natural market for
and other young people solidly Israeli produce. A number of con-
within the Jewish communal cessions to be granted to Spain,
structure saw no conflict in also a citrus producing country.
marching for their convictions might be extended to Israel,
even though a few Red banner's sources said.
The Israelis are aware, however.
were in the crowd.
that their requests can pose a
Many youths said they opposed
delicate problem for the European
the Vietnam involvement as an community which would like to
unjust war but considered Israel's balance concessions to Israel with
different context. similar grants to Egypt and Leba-
plight in a
non. The ECC will open explora-
They saw Israel as the obvious
tory talks with Egypt later this
victim of aggression.
month. An Egyptian spokesman
Many Israeli students came to said his country has asked for a
the demonstrations to observe. preferential agreement and the
They left early. The Communist same has been requested by Leba-
banners reminded - them too much , non.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
10—Friday, November 28, 1969

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rael." wrote Thimmesch.
He stressed that Mrs, Meir is
shrewd enough to know that her
support of Nixon's Vietnam policy

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An Event of Communal
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