Purely- Commentary

Sadat Quoted About His Russian Pals

There are many reports about Egypt and its Russian ally. Some

By Philip
Slomovitz

How U. S Can Avert War ... With Unhesitant

Military Aid to Israel . . . A Senator's View
of Sadat and the Realities in M.E. Crises

Since UN Is Inadequate, U.S. Must Avert War in Middle East .
While the United Nations serves an important purpose as the debating. arena where
there is a lot of talk (and abuse—listen to the discussions on. the Middle East during
which Israel will be the target !), and while there is talk, it is possible that war thereby is
postponed if not averted, the two big powers—the United States and the Soviet Union—
hold -the balance of power in the embattled area where Israel must be protected against 14
war-advocating nations.
Actually, there is only one power that can truly avert war: the United States. In his
threats to renew the war against Israel, Anwar Sadat attacked the United States as much
as he did Israel. He needs a warning signal: that the U. S. will not permit a conflict that
could destroy Israel. This can be accomplished by firmness on the part of our govern-
ment, in the form of fulfilled rather than pledged _military assistance.
The United States Senate voted 84 - 14 for the amendment that was proposed by
Senator Henry M. Washington of Washington, which calls for $500,000,000 assistance, "in-
cluding $250,000,000 for sales, credit sales and guarantees of F4 Phantom aircraft to Is-
rael." A State Department spokesman described that action as "permiisive, not mandatory,"
and in the meantime Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird was reported to have directed the
Pentagon to look into the urgency of supplying Israel with the Lance, the short-range mis-
sile that is vital for use against the Russian SAMs.
Although this has been denied, there are indications that the Nixon administration is
not ignoring the immediate needs for Israel's defense.
The chief argument for immediate American action was given by Senator Jackson,
who, on introducing the amendment that was adopted overwhelmingly, warned that a new
war "could become a war of attrition in which thousands of innocents could lose their lives,
and in which the danger to world peace would increase beyond anything we have known
in recent years."
The Washington senator warned that Israel has few planes at her disposal to meet
an Egyptian attack at the Suez.
An American declaration that Israel will not be abandoned—a declaration fortified
by action and military aid—is the only way of saying to the Arabs that they can't talk
war blatantly without expecting reprisals.
Israel Prime Minister Golda Meir added another valuable argument for immediate
shipment of Phantoms by the U. S. to Israel when she stated on the eve of her departure
for talks with President Nixon and Secretary of State Rogers:
"The United States is a country which not only speaks in a friendly manner to us,
but also has proven friendly . . . On the other hand, they say you are not getting Phantom
fighter-bombers because if you get stronger, Sadat won't want to makepeace, or a Canal
settlement. But in that case—any child would understand—why should Sadat put off his
acts of warfare until we do get stronger?"
The White House, having affirmed uninterrupted friendship for Israel—a gesture
repeated when the President met with Golda Meir—now has it withinits power to say to
Sadat and his associates that war is an ugly threat not to be tolerated. We don't expect it
from the UN, but we do from Washington.

maintain that the Egyptians are annoyed with their Russian visitors.
From Cairo have come indications that the thousands of Russian
militarists who are supervising the. Russian power in the Middle East
are not so popular.
The latest report published by U.S. News and World Report stated:
The Mid East keeps getting—and giving—signs that
tensions are easing.
After Secretary of State Rogers told "U.S. News and
World Report" that Soviet arms shipments to Arabs had
been "very moderate" recently, the U.S. informally advised
Israel that its request for new jet warplanes would not be
granted now.
And U.S. Senator Henry Bellmon, Oklahoma Repub-
lican, said that Egyptian President Sadat told him in Cairo:
"You Americans want these Russians out of this country.
I can tell you, you do not want them out half as much as
I do."
There are rapid changes on the first portion of this report, but
the quotation from Senator Bellmon is vital as a- revelation of what
may be taking place in secrecy in the Arab world. After all, most
threats of an impending war come from Sadat, not the Kremlin.
The latter keeps chanting an "amen" to Arab saber rattling, yet there
is the prevailing view that Russia would not approve of an all-out war
in the Middle East.
Senator Bellmon's comment may have greater value than we
realize. He was one of the 14 who voted against Senator Jackson's
amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act to provide for military
aid to Israel (Senator Hart voted with the minority against the Jack-
son amendment; Senator Griffin was in the majority of 82 who backed
the Jackson amendment). In his speech against the Jackson proposal,
Senator Bellmon spoke rather enthusiastically about Sadat. He
expressed admiration for Israel's accocnplishrnents but his views are
that Sadat desires to find a peaceful solution to his troubles with Israel.
Bellmon rejected the charge that Sadat was "saber-rattling," and
he said in his speech:
"The Egyptians have a phrase, which I cannot pronounce, which
means 'empty words'. I am of the option that from time to time the
rulers of Egypt, and even rulers in this country, engage in this exercise
partially to keep their own people somewhat appeased."
So, we repeat the hope that this really is the case. Yet the better
argument against "empty words" surely is an assurance to the
endangered small state (Israel) will be protected; and if the aggressor
has the warning that this little state will have the means to defend
itself, there will be second thoughts before there is an attack with an
extermination threat.
Saul and His. Foxy
*
Once again, prophecy on this score can be judged as foolishness
(Yiddish saying: a Novi is a nar). So, we await the verdict of time, aimed at damaging the General Zionist movement, then the situation Sensationalism
Saul Friedman is a good re-
while hoping that our belief that war is not inevitable will prove is a most deplorable one.
porter:, He - baa rendered good
correct.

It is not the Zionist Organization of America alone that is involved
here. ZOA is part of the World Union of General Zionists which has
as affiliates Zionist movements in many lands—in Australia, in Latin
In his announcement of a plan to sponsor a $500,000,000 develop- „America, in Belgium, in France and other countries. A world move-
ment project to include shops, a hotel, offices and apartments in down- ment of Zionists should give encouragement to participating organiza-
town Detroit, Henry Ford gave credit for the inspiration for such a task tions. Instead, there are negative factors which seem to signal disap-

Public Spirited Max M. Fisher

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to Mayor Rcman Gribbs and to Max M. Fisher.
Mr. Fisher's fellow citizens and co-workers in many movements,
civic and Jewish, take pride in his dedicated labors as a philanthropist
and as a realist in our daily life.
As the acknowledged leading figure in Jewish philanthropic work
—and in Jewish social service ranks—both as president of the Council
of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds and as chairman of the
executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel—he has distinguished him-
self on the highest level.
The interest he now shows in Jewish educational tasks, especially
with the encouragement he gives to the new trend of urging Jewish
communities to treat seriously the need to provide support for Jewish
day schools, gives him new status as a Jewish leader.
It is as chairman of Detroit Renaissance that he plays a vital role
in the Ford project of a $500,000,000 development to raise the stand-
ards of the city of Detroit. It is because of Mr. Fisher's labors to
assure potency for Detroit that Detroit Renaissance had taken an
option for 80 acres for a stadium adjoining Cobo Hall with an alloca-
tion of 5110,000. Now Mr. Fisher lends all his support toward the
advancement of the Henry Ford project and related tasks for the
upgrading of Detroit's status as a great American city.
There are many fronts on which Mr. Fisher serves with devotion
and dignity, and his cooperation in the Detroit development project
adds to the glory of his splendid record as a public-spirited citizen.

Zionist Dilemma: WZCongress Confusions
Zionists of all parties have good cause to be concerned over the

developments in preparation for the forthcoming 28th World Zionist
Congress scheduled to open in Jerusalem on Jan. 17. The ruling in
support of a vote by mail has not reduced -the tensions that have been
created.
A study of the Jewish press throughout the world will show that

large sums are being spent on campaigns in behalf of party representa-
tions. This is nor. -nal and understandable. But there is, nevertheless,
the hidden factor of moves to overpower, a very important element in
Zionism: the General Zionists_ There is, on the one hand, the fusion of
Hadassah with a' very small group--theA3n4I - Zion'----Shd -With another
whose importance lies only in leadership and not in membership— the
American League for Israel. And then there' 'is - the - .1.aber 'faction: in:
whose behalf the chairman of the •Jewish, Agency, the heads of the
Israel government (the president,- the prime minister, the -foreign
minister, the deputy prime minister and others) are making strong
appeals.
For a Zionist Congress, the latter appeal should not have been
resorted to. And if the combined efforts of all the other parties are

2 Friday, December 3, 1971

—

proval of one of the most important groups in the Zionist movement.
There is another factor, to which we have already alluded editori-
ally: the unnecessary expense involved in the campaigns that have

approval of leadership in the World Zionist Organization, with the
backing of the Jewish Agency and Israeli officials.
American Zionists are not alone in their puzzlement over the pro-
cedures that are being enforced. Describing the dilemma of the British
Zionists, the Jewish Observer and Middle East Review of London,
stated in part:

As far as England is concerned, to be an expensive and complicated
this corning congress will differ process. There is a feeling that
in certain respects because of the at a time when Israel needs all
recent reshuffling and reorgan- the monies possible, there is no
ization of the Jewish Agency. At justification for spending about
the next congress, the 28th of its £50,000 on an election. This, it
kind, a total of 625 delegates will is claimed, could possibly mean
participate. the loss of some regular contribu-
In Israel, however, delegates are tors to the Israeli cause.
appointed according to the repre- Whichever approach is adopted
sentative strengths of the Zionist it will be difficult to satisfy every-
political parties in the Knesset. body. While there has been some
The number of British delegates suggestion of "computerizing" the
has been increased from 26 to 27. election process, there seems to
But all parties here cdmplain that be no one who • is prepared to
this is insufficient. Previously they undertake the task. According to
were made up as follows: the - WZO constitution; it is essen-
General Zionists, 11; Mizrachi, tial that; these elections are con-
7; Poale Zion, 7; Menem, 1. .., ducted at least two months before.
It is not yet known how:the _date of congress
the delegates are to be chosen
Meanwhile, time is running out,
this year. Louis Pincus, chairman and' the whole matter is in a state
of the Jewish Agency, WAS in of impaise:
structed that elections take place
TwO
been sent:
in accordance with the resolution to England -SY-"the Jewish Agency::
of the previous congress but British to verify the results of the mem-•

service for-, the Free Press. But
he really doetint have to resort
to sensationito attain his
goal. He Could:be 4 bit more ra-
tional and. not-aupply justification
for nonsenseilnyolVing Jews just
because be is -a .•.; 300/.
We put it this-4aq because he
chose to write en,a4Ubject related
to Jewish interiiiiis. Wtwisting and
turning and .:yes4dhitorting facts.
Not so long ag,(X.we,said Senator
Griffin was inconsistent in , striving
for justice for 'Russian Jews but
not joining in providing a haven
for them in Dinel—it was when
he failed to join 78 other senators
in support of Israel.
Nowconstidency, where is the
sting !—Senator Hart, who was
among the 78, voted against aid
for Israel. Is consistencY,
Friend Philip?
Having dealt with the senators,
let's give a bit of attention to
Saul. He failed miserably in his
analysis of the figures of mone-
tary aid to Israel by the United
States—why not take into account
the vast sums that were given the

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-7

,

Arabs? He failed, while calling
aid to Israel a political gimmick,

to take into account the fact that
while Hart, , Mansfield and Ful-
bright were among the .14 who-
Friedina:nsaid that! considered the
Jackson amendment" unnecessary
and -"clemagOgie,r failed to analyze
the 82 Who voted to aid Israel: a
large ,grotip among : .whom were
many- ,1w; liberal not more lib-

- 4

eral, than Philip Hart, and many

Zionists Are still discussing its im- bership campaign. They are con-p
4ilized
%ellati tialfleT
" stifee: .;:thWP
plementation: - " tacting the various Zionist parties- a v e*'(-19
'-taitgler. Itrr'.
a lp ttlj Coaf ~ try the la0, elections in order to verify their member-
Hark stayed izteopsisteei.
was
werell Years ago` and it` -proved ship records.
Israel
While' the'CoSt 'albe election in England is estimated at approxii long befo
ea didate

.,

-

mately.v25,9p0, the cost in the..United_States_mu exceed $500,000 for Presid
one:,
and -this is:ineiecusable. Selecdon'.oflielefefe - is - view of many party
iti is
gl e as F
differences, could have been accomplished at .an. electoral conferende. part, of his sensationalism. Hart's
Representatives of the differing parties are not gazlonim, and th,..37 belief -that rite •had the Jewish

could have reached an understanding for a division of the honora.' voter , in his—pocket could-- stand
The ballots maYl'aWady'lth let-hrhillICiThe“expenses have b
probing. Friedittati'eilitone ng
incurred. The criticisms and rejections of imposed policies must
soilditional
pars
. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS he subdued. The errors of 1971 must not be repeated.