Purely Commentary

Exposing the USSR Farcical Propaganda That
Comes via Novosti . . the Birobidjan Elaims

of Rory .

- Israel's Freedoms for -Tairists

By. Philip
Slortmiwitz

Israel's Freedoms . . . for Tourists and All Religious
-
The Truth About Birobidjan—a Timely Expose
Faiths . . . the Friendships With Latin Americans
Nothing could possibly be funnier than the USSR's Novosti release about the SOHNUT and the
The handful of United Nations representatives who voted wit h activities in Vienna which is the transfer point for immigrants from Russia on their way to Israel.
Israel in opposition to the prejudicial act that was taken recently at
Sohnut is not a secret. It is the Hebrew name for the Jewish Agency in Israel. It is open, above-
the United Nations represented the Latin American friendship fo r board, there is nothing secretive about it and it is the instrument for the ingathering of the exiles into
Israel. Since all who voted with Israel were from our southern neigh Eretz Israel. But the Novosti feature article, co-signed by Vladimir Katin and Roman Krestyaninov,
hors, it is interesting to note that they echoed a sentiment in the it speaks of Sohnut ass a movement that commits immigrants to debts to the Jewish group to such an ex-
ranks that has become a tradition among them. ,
tent that once they get to Israel they are unable to return to the USSR—Remember: the Kremlin propa-
Equally as impressive in the Latin American expression of goo d ganda says the Russian Jews all crave to return to the USSR—and therefore they are enslaved!
will toward Israel was the sentiment expressed by three Lati n
There are fantasies in the Russian mind, but nothing matches this one ! It's 'so funny that even its
American bishops of the feelings of gratitude with which they wer e travesty on truth need not be debated. That's the Soviet distortion of facts regarding Jewish- roles.
left on their visit to Israel.
Then there is the new propaganda program via Novosti of playing up the Birobidjan farce. Ex-
Monsignor Alfredo Torres Romero, Monsignor Manuel Talama tensive news stories tell about the achievements of workers in Birobidjan, the glories attained there—
Camanari of Mexico and Monsignor Ignacio Trejos Piaco of Costa Ric a, and occasionally there is boasting about the enlarged Yiddish newspaper there—the Birobidjaner Shtern.
who were accompanied by four Mexican priests, Padres Samu el
We wish to share with our readers an article in the Canadian Zionist by S. A. Adams, "Zionist
Bernardo Lemus, Benedicto Gutierrez, Miguel Perez and Francisc 0 Eye on Soviet Jewry . . . "The Biro-Bidjaner Shtern' . . . Morbid Anti-Israel Propaganda":
Altamira, said they were deeply impressed with the way Israe li
When the two-sheet Yiddish jour-
authorities assured proper maintenance of Catholic holy places an d
with the guarantee of decorum with which visitors conduct themselves nal in the so-called Jewish Autono- "The Zionism of today is nothing bane and the Jewish Defense
mous Region became a four-sheet less than a reactionary nationalist League for "attacking the Soviet
Urging Christians to visit Israel without fear, the Catholic dignitarie
said they were concerned about the Church attitude toward Jerusale m paper and its appearance increased ideology of the Jewish bourgeoisie." Union" in order to hide the exist-
from once to five times a week, the "Not only does it rely for support ence of anti-Semitism in- America.
and on the question of the status of Jerusalem.
The views of the Catholic churchmen. especially their encourage change was greeted as "a conces- on international imperialism but it
Articles of this nature appear
ment to Christians to go on pilgrimages to Israel, revives interes t sion" to Soviet Jewry. This view has become an actual partner in regularly in the new "Biro-Bid-
again in the manner in which Israel' has opened her doors freely to was put forward with much the war against the revolutionary janer Shtern." These are usually
visitors from all Arab countries who have come to see their relatives i n strength by fellow-travelers among forces in the world today." The printed in the same issue, occa-
Israel. While Jews are not permitted to go to Arab lands, and Israel Jews and even found support in article went on to say that "Israeli sionally on the same page, with
Arabs are prevented from visiting their relatives in Israel's enem y liberal quarters in Israel. But it militarism exists only because of news from Cairo and other capi-
states. there is absolute freedom for Arabs in Israel to travel freely has only taken a few months for the gold injections, supplied by tals of "progressive Arab States."
to invite their kinsmen to see them, to take them on tours of an y the truth to be revealed. The jour- government and monopolists in the They are mostly presented as vic-
nal is nothing more than a new in- international economy in which
portion of Israel they may wish to see.
tims of Israeli military oppressors.
A summary of Arab tourism to Israel that has resulted fro m strument for vicious Kremlin anti- also Zionist-capitalists play their Even the bloody events in the Su-
part."
Israel's liberal policy towards visitors was prepared for the Anti Israel propaganda.
dan and the shooting of Commun-
Shortly
afterward
there
ap-
Defamation League of Bnai Brith by its Mid East correspondent, Miche 1
In its limited form the "Biro-Bid-
ists — Biro-Bidjan, too, was the
Salomon, a French journalist, who presented these facts:
janer Shtern" used to be devoted peared an article entitled "The scene of manydemonstrations
d
pro-
almost
entirely to local news. It Racists of Tel Aviv." This repeat- testing against the events there—
"Last August, a young woman
ed
the
lies
printed
in
the
Soviet
was a Yiddish translation of the
from Amman became the 100,000th of Jerusalem. The Mediterranea
Russian papers alleging "discrimi- were represented in a manner sug-
such tourist. She was greeted at a Club at Cesarea, welcomes Ara b local news-sheet in Russian. The nation against the Arabs."
gesting that the "Israeli aggres-
special reception, presented with couples who mingle diffidenti y only difference used to be its pub-
The article alleges that there is sion" was responsible for the up-
flowers and gifts from the depart- with Jewish and Christian vaca lication of the names of Jews racial oppression practiced against surge of Arab nationalism in the
ment of tourism and cleared with- tionists. With genuine sightseein g awarded prizes for exertion in ful- the Arabs. Any Jewish "newcom- Sudan,
out the usual security checks,
curiosity, they seek out the obser filling "work norms." Any Jewish er," it claimed, enjoys full rights,
The paper has so far been silent
"The new arrivals are, in the vation tower of the Shalom, T e farmer, carpenter or shoemaker, but the Arabs, who have lived in
main. Arabs with family ties in Aviv's skyscraper hotel-offic e who produced more than the pro- the country for centuries, are be- about the recent visit of a few Is-
raelis
to the Soviet Union as the
scribed
norm
received
his
or
her
Israel. However, some are there building, the beaches of that city
ing denied equality and "thousands
out of simple curiosity, anxious to the Knesset building, and the zo 0 praise in the newspaper. Often this of them are kept in prisons and guests of the Peace Council in
Moscow.
But it has devoted three
was accompanied by a picture. An
explore a country they have heard in Jerusalem.
almost regular feature was the camps where they are subjected to columns to that of Archbishop Ma-
so much about, albeit from the
"Most Arab tourists head for th publication of photographs of Jew- inhuman treatment."
karios and the warm welcome he
most dubious sources. Coming from beach at Nathania. During an
In a six-column article, purport-
Y
backward and parched lands, they weekend, the Arabs represen ish dairymaids who worked hard- ing to discuss the "causes of con- was given by Kremlin leaders.
est
in
their
collective
farm.
Occa-
There appears to be very close
seek a view of the Mediterranean, nearly half of the thousands o
flict in the Middle East," Israel is co operation between those respon-
the cafes and beaches of Tel Aviv, bathers. Picnicking under the sionally there was also a report accused
accused of machinations to prevent
and peace. This, the sible for the Yiddish manthlY in
the Riviera style of Mt. Carmel, trees that fringe the shoreline,they about a Yiddish concert given by
Moscow and the new version of the
the zoo in Jerusalem. They prefer would pass , unnoticed in this town a local amateur group or a poem
author claims to have deducted "Biro-Bidjaner Shtern." The same
staying at hotels rather than with of Yemenite Jews, if the long -by one of the Yiddish poets.
from the examination of a set of
While most of these features books, which recently appeared on heavy, hidden hand directs both.
family. They rent automobiles, eat 'nightshirts' of the Arab bathers
Thus the series of articles which
in restaurants, and otherwise be- crd not stand out conspicuously have been retained, the new "Biro- the subject of the Middle East. Is- laspoa
Bidjaner Shtern" has now become rael is charged with spending appeared in -the "Sovietish Heim-
have in the traditional manner of among the bikinis.
rbe,
th e
sightseers.
a turgid vehicle of Kremlin an '- enormous sums
"The Palestinian tourist is Israel, and anti-Zionist propagan-
on arms. The "ag- entitled "Letters from Europe"
"The influx began in 1968 when drawn first to the coast, to a real
gressive
policies"
of
Israel
arise
were
republished
in the "Biro-Bid-
pople in the administered territory sea, but he is curious to see all da. Articles condemning Israel as from the false ideas, propagated japer Shtern." Full of anti-Israel
on the West Bank approached the of Israel. The bustle and modernity an "imperialist, capitalist tool of by Zionism that the "Jews are a criticism and denunciations of Zi-
military government of Israel for of Tel Aviv amazes him—he had the United States" are a regular chosen people."
onist ideology, these articles were
permission to continue the custom heard from Cairo broadcasts in feature. At the same time the
This official Soviet anti-Israel
efrdom
tosfr
eeiun
ghtgenmReau
Ru
Jews
Arabs are presented as "progres-
of summer visits from relatives 1967 that it had been razed to the sives" oppressed "by
propaganda is offered by the "Biro- away
mea ns
ssian leave
- Israeli ter-
living in Jordan. The Israeli ground by Egyptian bombers. He
Bidjaner
Shtern"
to
the
reader
the
Soviet
Union.
So
far
Jews
in
authorities, in pursuit of maximum learns with surprise that Israel rorists." Some of the articles, now with an admixture of Kremlin man- Biro-Bidjan have not yet dared to
normalization, assented readily, has industry, is amazed when his appearing regularly, are a mere ufactured falsehoods. apply for exist visas. Of the 14,000
and extended the permission to factory guide turns out to be an repetition of the anti-Semitic prat-
Like other Soviet-Russian props- Jews living there among a popula-
visitors from other Arab countries. Arab worker, and is further tlings of Kitchko, Ivanov and other ganda organs, the journal persist- ion of nearly 200,000, only a few
To ease their path, the regulation amazed to learn that Arab and Soviet anti-Jewish liars.
ently-
denies the existence of a are reported to have asked per-
A four-column article in the is-
calling for security bonds was Israeli workers receive equal
lifted.
sue of June 8 was entitled "Zi- Jewish problem in Russia. It ac- mission to join their relatives in
treatment.
cuses the Zionists of having invent- Israel. And most of these are Bl-
"In 1968, 16,000 Palestinian Arabs
"He is impressed by his free- onism, the Weapon of Reaction." ed this idea as a justification for derly Jews. But clearly, there is
arrived between June and Septem- dom to enter the halls of the Knes- Like its title, most of its text con- their alliance with world capital- apprehension that Jews in Biro-
ber. In 1969, the number grew to set. 'I am not permitted to enter sisted of the scurrilous anti-Semitic
ists in the war against Commun- Bidjan, too, will-follow the stream
24,000. In 1970 it was 53,000. In the Parliament Building in Cairo,' outpourings which have become a ism. In accord with other Soviet and hence the reprinting of these
1971, the number reached 110,000. a student from Egypt observed regular feature of the Soviet press. newpapers it blames Rabbi Ka- viciously anti-Israel
outpourings.
There have been no attempts re- -fle- asks to see the map showing
ported thus far to smuggle arms Israel's expansionist plans and the Israelis who learn the identity them that even
for
'better-class'
not
own
a
house
or
land; could
or engage in sabotage. looks bewildered when he is told of the tourists is one of incredulity
"But while the Israeli govern- there is none.
at first and eventual good-natured Palestinians, life in their own not own a business or open a store
diasoora was a bitter grind. without a native as partner, to
ment lightened its entry require-
"Almost all of the visitors dis- acceptance.
"Whether they lived in Libya, on whom they had to pay half of the
ments, the Jordanian government cover that they are treated better
"I was in Nathanya in mid-August
made things tougher for the Pales- in Israel than in Arab countries. when Moshe Dayan came to pay the Persian Gulf, or in Saudi income even though he had not
tinians. It was necessary for them This is not to say that the Pales- the Palestinian tourists a visit, Arabia, they were treated as invested any money or given the
to obtain special permits to cross tinian tourist has become a con- accompanied by 65-year-old Ben second-class citizens. They could business any time:"
the Jordan • River (an implied vert to the Israeli cause. His state- Ami, the mayor and founder of
Now liberty and justice-loving people must hope that the new
recognition of the Jordan as a ments reveal a hatred of 'the the town. Dayan's eye-patch made terror rampant from Arab instigations will not force Israel to abandon
border which has escaped notice). Israeli conquerors and expansion- him easily identifiable, even if he a policy of friendliness and neighborliness and that the innocent will
Also, the Palestinian, finding it ists, but his animosity is gradual- had not had with him a retinue of not suffer for the guilty who are endangering the lives of Israelis with
awkward to have an Israeli visa ly diluted by envy and the realiza: aides-de-camp, journalists a n d a type of warfare that stems from cowardice .
in the passport already held, bon that be has been lied to. He cameramen. He was greeted by
What a pity that Israel's role is not appreciated more billy!
usually applies for an additional goes home filled with the realities cheers and shouts of `Yaich' (long

"

There are churchmen who are aggravated by the -hatred that stems
from their ranks; there are undoubtedly many Arabs who-know better ,
than to be misled by false Cairo-Damascus-Beirut 'propaganda. But
there is still so much to be overcome to wipe out the hatreds _ that
have accumulated.
There was a sensational story, front-paged recently in _ the New
York Times under a two-column head, about an, alleged permission
t o Israeli Arabs to resume pilgrimages to Mesea.,Hebion Mayer Sheik n
sion, and visibly amazing and en- Mohammed All Jabari hailed that decision'-and. the 325,000 Israeli
rapturing his audiences.
who would have been affected by such a"awversal of. established
To the Palestinians, middle b Arabs
ars to craved-for pilgrimages. But the story was denied, roads to
class for the most part, and politi- Mecca
are closed to Israel's Arabs, and the contrast to Israel's free-
cally conscious, Dayan was a reve- d
of movement for Arabs became very apparent
halm). There were some astonish- om What
a pity that there can't be-mutual trust-and-a-willingness to
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS tag dialogues. One leanted from
cooperate in matters that could haVe speeded peace in the entire area!

one, at a cost of six dinars ($17). of Israel, so much so that the
"The Israeli government, anxious Arab press fulminates about the
to correct the false impression Israelis 'brainwashing' the visi-
many of the Palestinians have been tors. But the Arab governments do
given, lean over backward to nothing about stopping the tourist
make the new arrivals welcome. traffic. To do so would enrage
Commercial interests are also the Palestinians.
pleased; Arab tourists bring a lot
"Israeli guides accompanying
of money into the country and the Palestinian visitors report a
spend it lavishly. They occupy few isolated instances of 'ugly
hotels on the West Bank and, for Israelis' booing visitors. On the
the first time, in the Jewish part whole, however, the attitude of

2--Friday, January 14, 1972

live) Moussa (Moshe). He sought
out Arab groups, and what ensued
was mutual discovery without
patronizing attitudes or complai-
sance. The 'Zionist monster' was
in fine fettle under the tamarinds,
quoting Arab proverbs in profu-