Purely Commentary
By Philip
Slomovitz
(Continued from Page 2)
to search for peace and therefore,
would like to pose to you several
- questions of practical value.
You hope that some day "We
might together study and live in
this beautiful country." Does that
imply that you disagree with Ar-
ticle Six of the Palestinian National
Covenant, passed by the P.L.O. in
July, 1968 that would allow only
those Jews to remain here who
came to Israel before the "Zionist
Invasion," which you define as
starting in 1917, (page 51 of the
resolutions of the same congress),
and which would thereby exclude
me from my homeland?
Do you agree that the problem
in the Middle East is essentially
one which involves only the Pales-
tinians and the Israelis and no one
else? And that it is we who must
share the responsibility for finding
a solution?
to exchange ambassadors? Does
this mean you want to give up
violence and negotiate with us?
If you have answers for these
questions, it would help to clarify
the situation and thereby add to
the quest for peace.
Until now you have chosen bullets.
I hope you change your mind be-
cause we are tired of the killing
and tired of the blood. We don't
want to study war any more. We
await your next letter.
T. B.
National Union of Israel Students
•••■•••■■■••■.■•■■•■ •••••.∎ ■11 .1 ■ 1
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
... and Me'
(Copyright 1970, JTA Inc.)
CULTURAL BRIDGES: Stronger ties between American Jewish
scholars and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem were developed
through a three-day conference in New York last week, marking the
10th anniversary of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the univer-
sity.
You ask us to influence our gov-
The institute, headed by Dr. Moshe Davis, who was research pro-
ernment to recognize you — what
fessor in American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary,
does this mean? Do you want rec-
has during the 10 years of its existence contributed a great deal to
ognition as equals, or as sole pro-
cementing the academic link between the Hebrew University and the
prietors of our land? Do you want
Jewish scholarly world outside of Israel. Its research projects on
In this lengthy and complete quotation of the two significant letters we have the views of the antagonists, 'aspects of Jewish contemporary history in various.countries--as well as
the frank statement of the Arab spokesmen whose motto is kill, destroy, end Israel's existence; and the its special role in training of students in contemporary Jewish life--
defensive, the plea for justice, the dignified assertion to the right to live and to retain Israel's identity. hive attracted no little attention in this country. This was best testified
The Arab is dissatisfied with 14 states: he wants a 15th so that Israel should not live. Before World War I to by the fact that more than 100 scholars and about 80 graduate stu-
there was in the main a mythical Arabia: now there are 14 Arab nations. Their Jewish cousins have never dents from some 20 major universities attended the three-day collo-
given up the right to Eretz Israel. The modern Arab politician would deny him that right. The consequence: quium.
the present conflict.
One of the most interesting talks at the seminars was that of Dr.
Therefore it becomes constantly necessary to remind the Arab who claims that he is the possessor of
Yehuda Bauer of the Hebrew University. He analyzed the attitude
Israel, of Zion and Jerusalem, that there is a Covenant: "Unto thy seed have I given this land . . . (Genesis taken by the Western world during the period of the Nazi mass-anni-
15:18). It is necessary for historical accuracy to repeat that Jerusalem was not without a Jewish majority
hilation of Jews, including the American policy on Jewish refugees
for 130 years and that Jews were always in Judea and in the City of David—never abandoning the prayer
problems between 1933 and 1939.
and the hope which has recently been fulfilled.
Somewhat of a dissonance was the scholarly lecture by Prof. Nathan
Now there is talk of a killing—as expressed in the above letter from the Arab; and the representatives of
, ersity. He
the terrorists who were interviewed in Newsweek posed sanctimoniously as being able to establish a Pales- Rotenstreich, the eminent philosopher of the Hebrew UnA
dealt with the outlook for world Jewry in the 1970s and sounded like a
tinian entity in which Jews would be sharing statehood with Arabs. This type of sharing was evidenced in
prophet
of
gloom.
He
saw
a
decade
of
tension
coming
not
only
for Israel
1948, when Jordan took control of the Old City of Jerusalem, when Jordanians drove out those Jews who
but also for American Jewry. He spoke in general terms without pre-
were not massacred; when synagogues were desecrated: when gravestones were used to build sidewalks:
senting
any
basic
facts
to
substantiate
his
fear
of
what
may
happen
to
when, in defiance of United Nations decisions, Jews were denied access to the holy site—the remaining
Jews in the United States in the coming 10 years.
Temple Wall that became known tragically as the Wailing Wall.
4
Now they would have Jews risk a repetition of such an experience—of submission to degradation and
TAX INCENTIVES: Increased giving this year is due primarily to
genial of human rights under domination of threats to kill!
the large and small groups of local Jewish community leaders stimu-
How can one solve such an aggravated problem? What hope is there for a solution when Russian arms
lated by the UJA to visit Israel and study conditions there at first hand.
keep feeding the Arab military market?
They return home convinced that Israeli needs this year require more
The letters we have quoted portray the aim to kill on the one hand, the frantic call for rational, peace-
ful approach to the issue on the other. The two appear irreconcilable. Yet one never gives up hope. Perhaps giving on the part of American Jewry. They bring eye-witness reports
that are impressive and productive.
the miracle which guided Israel's destiny will emergt , again to influence all concerned .. .
Tax incentives also encourage greater giving this year to the fund-
•
•
•
•
•
•
raising campaigns conducted by the communities. These incentives are
First We Must Reach a State of Truth in International Relations
firmly woven into the newly enacted Tax Reform Act thanks to repre-
Before we can have the miracle one in Jerusalemnd to give the and build the land with them. sentations made at Congressional hearings by leaders of the Council of
w
to kill Arabs. Why create added bitterness with Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, as well as by representatives
of peace we must have the reality proof that Jews wish
of non-Jewish groups interested in philanthropic activities.
of truth. How can we possibly Let the 300,000 Arabs who live exaggerations?
Most important among the new provisions that permit greater tax
We deplore distortions and pray
hope for an end to conflicts when at peace with the Israelis as
there is a tendency to distort Israeli citizens speak out on this that they will be abandoned. Per- saving is one increasing the amount that may be contributed tax-free
from
30 per cent of adjusted gross income to 50 per cent, with some
facts, to keep telling the lie in subject. We brand the accusation haps we'll then have a chance to
the hope that it will become the as a lie and deplore its having return to amity and to the hoped- exceptions. The communities advise contributors to consult their
truth?
been permitted into print without for miracle for peace in the accountants to find out how the new tax laws can help them increase
their contributions.
Middle East.
A typical example of sacrificing proof.
The religion news reporter
truth for fantasy and the lie was
the trick "a fiery young Detroit could have gotten the venom
Moslem" played on a local relig- closer to home—from the Arab
ions news reporter. It is hard to propaganda mills in Washington,
blame the reporter, except that at the UN, from the oil interests.
On Tuesday, three were killed Gaza prior to the Six Day War,
an interviewer usually asks ques-
And she could have become more
TEL AVIV (JTA)—A military
tions and has background knowl- intimately acquainted with the spokesman said Sunday that Is- and 18 wounded, the highest one- after which he went into hiding.
day
casualty toll on the waterway The arms seized included guns,
edge of what is happening in the fiery Arab mind by asking the raeli forces repulsed a midnight
machineguns, submachineguns,
area he or she is concerned with. returnee from Amman if there raid by a large party of Egyptian this year.
Israel reported that four Egyptian mortars, explosives and ammuni-
That is why the very first dis- is a single Jew in all of Jordan commandos on a position in the
tortion that made the story, that (or Saudi Arabia and possibly southern section of the Suez Canal boats were sunk in the Suez Canal tion.
Wednesday in a major confronta-
refugees in camps are starving, is Kuwait) and whether any Arab zone.
Two Israeli civilians were killed
cause for concern. If it were true, from anywhere has ever been
He said the Egyptians were tion.
April 23 in a Syrian ambush in the
Syrian Air Force jets raided
it would be bad enough. But the barred intrance into Israel.
driven back within "minutes,"
Golan Iieights. A military spokes-
an Israeli position in the Golan opened fire on traffic moving along
fact is that refugees are cared
Isn't it time that inquiring re- leaving the bodies of three soldiers
Heights last Saturday. According man said about 20 Syrian soldiers
for that they get relief funds in porters learned how to ask ques- behind while two more bodies
to Damascus, they inflicted a road between Rafid and Kunei-
addition to earning money on the tions in order to ascertain truth were seen floating on the canal.
"heavy losses and casualties." tra, less than a half mile from
side.
The Israeli position sustained no
and reality?
An Israeli military spokesman the Israel-Syrian demarcation line.
casualties
or
damage,
the
spokes-
Their tragedy is that the ref-
The revival of anger over the
reported
that four Syrian MIG-
man
said.
An
Israeli
spokesman
Israeli units returned the fire.
ugee problem is being per- El Aksa fire last year is an indi-
21s attempted to bomb a hilltop Several
Syrians were reportedly
petuated by the same stubborn- cation of the irrationality of the said the Egyptian raiding party
bunker
in
the Gesher region but hit and carried
ness that causes Arabs to re- fiery girl who was interviewed. It left behind military equipment in-
off by their com-
missed their target and fled.
fuse to discuss peace with Israel, had been proven: there were many cluding two bazookas, Russian-
rades.
A
military
spokesman
reported
and even worse: by the insist- fires in holy places and no one made Kalachnikof rifles and flare
Police have reported that 50
that Pvt. Itzhak Shwilli was killed
ance of the Arab states to keep blamed innocent people. The pistols.
residents of Nablus were still
Cairo radio claimed that a 200- and two other Israeli soldiers were
that problem alive as a weapon Israelis restored the El Aksa
being held for questioning in the
wounded
Saturday
during
an
man
Egyptian
force
•crossed
the
against Israel. No refugee prob- Promptly and repaired the damage,
grenade throwing incident April
lem is permissible in an honor- but the returnee who is spreading canal, destroyed an Israeli posi- Egyptian mortar attack on Israeli
22 in which six women tourists
able society, and when there is hatred seems to know nothing tion and killed all of its defenders. northern section of the Suez Canal
and 15 local Arabs were wound-
a planned effort to force the about it. All she knows is the The force returned safely, the zone. A third Israeli soldier was
ed. The six women were not
wounded later in the canal area.
refugees into a compulsory state added oportunity for the spreading Egyptians said.
badly hurt and most of the
Security sources disclosed that
They described the raid as "the
it is all the worse.
of hatred against Israel.
wounded
have been discharged
first of its kind" since the 1967 some 50 suspected terrorists have
from the hospital. Officials said
It is probably true as "the
Worse, perhaps, than this war. It was accompanied by a been arrested in the Gaza Strip in
the
grenade
was thrown from an
fiery- Moslem" told the reporter.
"fiery" lie-spreader's story was heavy artillery bombardment of recent weeks and 12 others killed
automobile at a waiting bus
that Nasser could not survive a
the new account of the role'of Israeli positions. An Israel spokes- in Israeli raids on arms caches
which
had
stopped
for Nablus
peace effort with Israel: because
the guerrillas in the Middle man said the artillery fire was re- in refugee camps in and near
sightseeing.
the politicians among the terror-
East given by Henry Taylor. It turned and Israeli jets success- Gaza.
ists are threatening assassina-
is worse because columnist Tay- fully attacked the Egyptian gun
The three American women
The suspects were apprehend-
tions. But we doubt whether the
lor formerly held a U.S. Em- positions at about 1:30 a.m. local ed and the arms found in the El among the tourists, while hospital-
masses of the Arabs go along
bassy post.
time and returned safely to their Burej, El Mouazi, Jebeliyeh and ized, issued an appeal to Presi-
with either this fiery Moslem or
Shati refugee camps. All of them dent Nixon to "send more Phan-
When Taylor resorts to exagger- bases.
with the Nasser clan.
mhse.
ated figures, he renders a great
Israel shot down two Soviet- are believed connected with the toT
" military governor in Nablus
The outrageous lie that the re- injustice. When he speaks again, made Ilyushin-28 bombers which Popular Front for the Liberation
porter permitted to go into print as he had in the past, of two raided El Arish in the northern of Palestine, the security sources warned the mayor and other Arab
is the charge that Israelis are and a half million refugees and Sinai Saturday. The Israelis said said.
notables that continuation of vio-
robbing the Arabs, that this Mos- then of a million who left Pales- the Egyptian planes dropped their
The organization's political lead- lence would bring stringent
lem was driven out of Jerusalem, tine in 1948 he inflates figures bombs on a populated part of the er was captured April 12 while measures against the West bank
that Israelis shoot even at that are certain to stir more hate.
Arab town but killed only a flock trying to escape into Jordan, and town. The mayor contended that
donkeys.
It has been established that of sheep and destroyed a cowshed, three other key terrorists were grenade incidents were the actions
Ilundreds of thousands of un- 450,000 Arabs left Palestine at the an animal quarantine station and seized in the Sinai trying to enter of individuals and that the entire
biased people have visited Jeru- urging of their leaders who told an ice factory. El Arish is about Egypt. But the most important population of Nablus should not
catch of all, according to these be made to suffer for such inci-
salem in the past year. We chal- them they would return to possess 90 miles south of Tel Aviv.
Israeli spokesmen said 13 Isa- sources, is 24-year-old Jallal Aziza, dents.
lenge any one to produce the evi- everything Jews have built up.
The Popular Front for the Lib-
dence that Israelis are robbing Those refugees left in spite of elis have been killed and 37 wound- alias Abu Hafez, commander of
eratioin of Palestine said in Am-
Arabs, that Israelis shoot at any Israelis' plea that they remain ed in the last 11 days of Egyption the Front's military arm.
artillery and air strikes along the
Aziza was born in Gaza, spent man that it was responsible for
48 — Friday, May 1, 1970
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Suez Canal.
time in Egypt and returned to the grenade incident.
Israelis Re-pulse Raid by UAR Commandos;
Jets Shoot Down 2 Soviet Bombers in Sinai