Purely Commentary

Dignified Protests to Moiseyev Dancers
When the Moiseyev Dance Company comes to Detroit next week,
it will be greeted with a plea, to be directed to the Russian govern-
ment, declaring:
OTPUSTI NAROD MOY!
LET MY PEOPLE GO!
Because of Russia's antagonistic attitude to Jewry and to Israel,
American Jews, in their concern over the fate of fellow Jews in the
USSR, are utilizing every available means to direct Russian attention
to the injustices and to plead for fairness and respect for the Jewish
citizens of the Soviet Union.
There are cultural exchanges between the United States and Rus-
sia, and these are honored. But the orderly admonitions given to
visitors from Russia, the requests for expression of views to aid the
oppressed, the natural refusal to support activities of a government
that encourages animosity to Jews and is a partner in an effort to
destroy Israel, is understandable.
The attitude of those who are boycotting the Moiseyev Dancers'
appearance has been expressed with great dignity by the Soviet Jewry
Action Group which, in a "Welcome to the Moiseyev Dancers," ex-
pressed the attitude of protesters in this fashion:
Your magnificent talents and performances are an important
element in promoting friendship and good will between our two
great nations.
We hope that more and more of your artists will come to our
country — and ours to yours — and we know that the audiences
in both countries will respond warmly and appreciatively. Artists can
speak a common human language, can re-establish our common humanity
in a way that no one else can.
So much more, as we sit here tonight moved by your artistry, will
many of us be unavoidably saddened. We will be saddened because a
special pattern of inhumanity has developed for so many of the Soviet
Union's three million Jews. This is not of your making, but perhaps
you can help.
Their only crime is that some of them wish to remain as Jews
without indignity, to go on living as Jews, with the same right to learn
their own language and to engage in their own culture as other groups
have in the Soviet Union — or, failing that, to emigrate.
On June 15, in Leningrad, a number of Jewish citizens were
arrested, and fifty Jewish homes were searched in four different cities.
There have been other arrests since. They have all been Jews who
publicly declared their desire to emigrate. How many thousands of
Jews must be trembling with fear at this very moment, waiting for
the knock on their door?
We know that some of your company are themselves Jews. and
that anti-Semitism does not flourish where intellectuals gather. Indeed
some of your greatest intellectuals, like Solzhenitzen and Yevtnshenko
have courageously come to the defense of their Jewish countrymen. We
know that you are artists, not politicians. But periwigs you can help.
When you return to your country, filled with pride and satisfaction
for the increased respect you have created for all of the Soviet peoples,
plase tell your leaders, please tell your people.
Tell them that millions of Americans know about the growing
arrests. about the homes that are being searched.
Tell them that much of the world grows more disturbed by the
worsening Soviet treatment of its Jewish citizens, by the use of terror
tactics which remind us too much of the Nazi Germany which your
country so heroically fought and defeated.
Tell them not to sacrifice the Good will and resvect you have
earned for your great veople. Tell them that much of the world is
watching, and saying: Let those Jews go . . .
I et them ao . . . Let them go
This is orderly, reserved, factual, and presents a fair statement
on an existing situation.
It may well be that there are Jewish members of the Moiseyev
group. They, especially, should express themselves fearlessly when
they return to Russia. There is a new spirit among young Russian
Jews who have shown great courage in speaking out in defense of
Israel and in their demand for just rights. Let it become an establish.
ed method for action against oppression.
There was a sad experience some time ago in Melbourne, Austra-
lia, during the appearance there of the Moscow Bolshoi Ballet. It was
boycotted by the Jewish community especially because a Jewish
member of the cast, Maya Plisetskaya, was among the Russian Jews
who signed a Kremlin-inspired statement attacking alleged "Zionist
aggression in the Middle East." We know the background of such
statements and the source of the hatred they inspire. Only the fearful
Jews yield to the pressures that are tantamount to the blackmail that
now threats the decency of humankind.
When the Bolshoi and the Moiseyev groups visit us it is occasion
to express the sentiments of libertarians against persecutions.

General Pierre Koenig — French Philo - Semite
In the death of General Pierre Koenig Israel, Jewry and the free
world lose a great supporter.
Ile was an eminent backer of the Zionist cause, and he was fearless,
as a French Catholic, in his strong stand against Gaullism and every
attempt to undermine Israel's status.
Through the years, in hours of crises, General Koenig spoke out
in Israel's defense and in support of the highest libertarian ideals, in
opposition to Hitlerism and in appeal for justice.
Blessed be his memory!

Jacques Torczyner

2 — Friday, September 11, 1970

Hijacking and Blackmail Degrade Humankind
...World's Failure to Prevent Terrorism Places

Responsibility on Major Powers and the UN

By Philip

SiOMOVitz

Hijacking: the World's Disgrace ... . Yield to Blackmail Disgraces Humanity
It has become impossible to judge conditions under which banditry dominates over
elementary decency, blackmail becomes a condoned practice in international crimes, gov-
ernments yield to criminals and intolerance rules even in the world organization which. we
are beginning to believe, has been misnamed United Nations.
Murderers were released in Greece at the behest of hijackers and a handful of crim-
inals thereby established a policy for other nations when hijackers threatened human lives
in order to accomplish their nefarious aims.
True: it is difficult to deal with crime when greater crimes can be committed by
murderers, when so many lives are at stake. But the road was opened for the criminals and
all too often the world was silent.
The impotent United Nations Security Council is quick to condemn Israel: it took
minutes to convene a meeting to place Israel on trial when terrorists were being punished in
Lebanese areas, but there was no time for consideration of the blackmail that accompanied
hijacking: there is never time to act justly when dealing with Israel!
It was almost as a last resort that the United States asked for an emergency

meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday. And because of the outrageous way
in which the gang-up again was in evidence against Israel, a previous Security Council
meeting was canceled on Tuesday—only after much abuse hurled at Israel.
Mankind is on trial! The nations of the world have been put to the test and have

failed. The hijacking of last Sunday was a mere continuation of tragic experiences: why
wasn't there action to prevent recurrence of it? Why the silence of the Arab nations with
whom Israel is prepared to deal in establishing peace? Why the hesitancy of the U.S. State
Department when the security of Israel hangs in the balance?
Where was the International Red Cross during these many months — and years—
when there were false accusations against Israel, when there was barbarism, when there
were frantic appeals for intercession. and there was silence! They have won a postponement
in the current terrorist threat, but why their inactivity until now?

Even in the matter of the cease fire which was engineered by the United States with
the apparent approval of the Soviet Union, there was mismanagement: if the United States
had acted promptly when Israel's intelligence warned that the agreements were being vio-
lated, there might now have been in session responsible negotiators under the direction of
Gunnar Jarring to deal with the pressing situation. But there was vacillation, hesitancy, ir-
responsibility. Is it too late? Or—will the Nixon administration succeed in forcing Russia to
remove the surface-to-air missiles that are threatening Israel's safety?

Will the United States, with the Red Cross and the Arab nations, put an end to ter-
rorism, save the lives of innocent people who have been hijacked and act to end hijacking
and international crimes?
Will the stupidities of people who speak of the kindnesses of the hijackers, of their
wisdom relative to their objectives, of the "heroism" of murderers, continue to be counten-
anced, or will there be firm action against it?
There is no doubt that the Arab governments are responsible for havina permitted the
terrorists to go as far as they did, but the entire civilized world shares in b the guilt. The
United States is as guilty as the Soviet Union if both remain silent. The European powers
are yielding to blackmail when they condone the terror. The pilots' association, if it con-
tinues to respect the nations whence stem the murderers and the hijackers, is degrading
its calling. Those who fail to see the justice of Israel's having placed armed guards on
the Israeli El Al planes are utterly stupid, and newspapers that dignify such nonsense that
borders on appeals to hatred are rendering disservice when they do not comment to con-
demn irresponsibility.
This is actually what has happened in the world: there is a spread of irresponsibility
and a condoning of indecency. There is a failure to recognize the rights of Jews, and there is
a revival of anti-Semitism that assumes the posture of anti-Zionism and anti-Israelism.
What has happened should be a lesson to the United States: Israel craves for peace
and should have been listened to when it was proven that the cease-fire agreements were
violated. We could have been a step nearer to peace: now we are a mile farther removed!
There is another lesson in what has happened: it ought to be an admonition to the
misled youth, to the New Left who believe in a false panacea, who believed the anti-Israel,
anti-Zionist lies and who gave comfort to Jewry's enemies. Are they learning that these
enemies are their enemies?
There is a lesson in what has happened for Jews everywhere, for Zionists who can
see the justice of their aim for Jewish solidarity, for our pepole everywhere who must stand
firmly together in defense of Israel and thereby also pursuing defense lines for themselves.
Out of this tragic hour must develop new conditions to lead to harmony among peo-
ples, in spite of threats from terrorists. It is difficult to assert it when lives are at stake,
but the justice of Israel's position must be affirmed: humanity can not deal with terrorists!

Now is the time to mobilize the sentiments of the libertarian forces throughout
the world in defense of the beleaguered Jewish state. It is inconceivable that a few
hundred murderous terrorists who have no sense of responsibility towards humanity
will dictate to the world the demolition of an established sovereign state. The time
for another Genocide has passed. The Hitlerism displayed in the Jordanian desert has
no place in civilized society.
Now is the time to strengthen the Zionist movement and to support every
effort aimed at upholding the hands of the fighters for freedom in Israel—whether it
is Israel Bonds or United Jewish Appeal or the related causes that aim to provide for
Israel a strong society based on highest humanitarian goals.

In this grave hour there must be a retention of faith: out of it all must- emerge a
better day, higher goals, a return to decency. And with a return to humanitarian thinking
and acting there will be a new day of honor and peace and dignity for Israel and the Jewish
people. Then mankind's honor will be restored.

Jacques Torczyner's Role as ZOA President Merits Commendations from Nixon and Mr. Meir
Mingled with the Zionist movement's recognition of the courage of the retiring president of the Zionist Organizations of America, Jac-
ques Torczyner, is a dedication that has uplifted him among the men who have rendered greatest service to the cause and to the movement
for Israel's defense. At the banquet in Torczyner's honor last Sunday, the retiring president of the ZOA made known an important message he
received from President Nixon. It was a personal tribute, yet it represented a recognition of the merits of Zionism from the nation's Chief
Executive, and a renewal of the hope for peace. The President addressed it "Dear Jacques" and stated:
"On the occasion of the 73rd national convention of the Zionist Organization of America, I send my best wishes for a successful and
pi-eductive assembly this year.
"You have come very far and wide for an exchange of views of matters of enduring interest to yourself and to our nation.
"No one has ever said that the task ef achieving a durable peace is simple or that one simple solution could end a history of hostility
in a moment. But we must keep in mind—despite the difficulties that we have and will encounter—the overwhelming interest of all of us in
that objective, and we must recognize that a step away from war toward the threshold of peace is one step closer to the kind of world we all
want.
"I want to make special note of the concluding banquet of your convention which is being held in your honor as you retire after half
a decade of dedicated, selfless service. I welcome this opportunity to join your many friends in expressing appreciation fer your leadership
and best wishes for your future happiness."
There also was recognition of Torczyner's services in the important message the ZOA received from Israel Prime Minister Golda Meir
who. taking into account the ZOA's "great tradition of seeking the welfare of Zion and the peace of Jerusalem," added: "Warm greetings to
the outgoing president Jacques Torczyner who has rendered such significant service, and good wishes to his successor."
Thus, taken into account were the labors of Torczyner, one of the ablest men in world Zionism, and his successor, Herman Weisman,
whose earlier record augurs significant creativity to be awaited from an able man who assumes the great office of ZOA president.

THE DETROIT. JEWISH NEWS

