Purely Commentary
By Philip
Slomovitz
El Al's Needs for Additional Landing Rights
in U.S.
. Outrages in the Skies and the In-
ternational Indifference ... Ezra Pound's Sins
International Responsibilities for the Continuing Outrages in the Skies
Editorial expressions on the outrageous
manner in which hijackers were able to
force West Germany to release murderers
to their allies indicate that public opinion
generally disapproves of yielding to black-
mail.
It is unfortunate that the United Nations
reacts with such indifference to proposals
to take firm steps against terrorism. The
American proposals seem to have been
shelved and it is no wonder that U.S. Am-
bassador to the UN George Bush should
have reacted bitterly to the callousness.
The U. S. State Department had advised
the Bonn government not to yield to terror,
yet the hijackers were encouraged by their
brazenness to defy all human, decencies.
Now terrorism has been given added com-
fort to continue its criminal acts.
The Chicago Tribune has called the
German decision to accede to terror an
"ill-considered capitulation."
The Detroit News judged the ocsurence
realistically by stating editorially with ref-
erence to Libya, where the hijackers and
the Munich murderers were welcomed as
heroes:. "There will be no immediate pen-
alty for Libya, which gave them asylum.
Western nations need her oil and gas for
their industrial development. It is almost
•
certain none will blackball or boycott Libya.
Maybe it's difficult to trap individual and
unidentified terrorists but that's no excuse
for condemning or ignoring the recklessness
of a nation such as Libya, however oil rich.
The New York Times judged the "Out-
rage in the Skies" as a renewal of the chal-
lenge to the nations of the world to face
the issue promptly with a refusal to yield
to terror and blackmail by stating:
"For a start, governments should put
every possible pressure en Cuba and
Libya to extradite the hijackers, along
with the accused murderers Bonn sur-
rendered. If this requires economic boy-
cotts of airlines and other enterprises,
they should be invoked; for if govern-
ments fail to act in this situation, private
individuals and organizations will take
matters into their own hands. The threat
of trade onions at London's International
airport to boycott all flights by Arab air-
lines is only one example of what we can
expect. Yesterday's Israel raids on guer-
rilla bases near Damascus are an even
more ominous threat of fast-escalating dis-
ruption.
"The airlines themselves m u s t, of
course, make every effort to improve their
security systems; but the major action
must come from governments, including
the government of the United States; such
•
Injustice to El Al Must Be Corrected Speedily
With traffic between the United - States and Europe and Israel
reaching the 10,000,000 mark, it is deplorable that the Israel airline,
El Al, 'should have been placed in serious difficulties by being re-
strained to the Kennedy Airport in New York without additional
rights to render service to its air passengers in the Midwest and West
Coast of the United States.
It is urgent that negotiations for extension of the El Al service,
which have been interrupted since 1968, should bring relief to the
important Israeli airline which services hundreds of thousands of
American traveleps to Israel and other countries.
In 1968, when the last negotiations were conducted, the family
flight carriers were led by Israel, with 60 per cent. TWA then had
10 per cent of the customers, and the remaining 30 per cent was
divided among all the third flight carriers. Now, El Al's percentage
has been reduced to 40, TWA doubled to 20 per cent and the third
flight carriers incr e ased from 30 to 40 per cent.
This created a critical situation for El Al, and the emerging prob-
lem calls for solution to guarantee the same privileges for the Israel
airline that are enjoyed by other companies. The fact is that the
existing regulations are unfair to the Jewish traveler who desires to
use the El Al services and is compelled, if he travels from Detroit,
Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other
American cities, to go to Kennedy Airport in New York to make
his E Al connection. While other European companies have been
granted additional landing rights in the U. S. since 1968, the Israel
line has been deprived of such privileges.
This is an injustice that must be corrected, and every effort
should be made to induce the State Department and the Civil Aero-
nautics Board to correct the existing regulations. The travel agencies
should add their voices to such a demand, and responsible Jewish
communities should join in asking for just treatment for El Al.
Ezra Pound's Anti - Semitism: Permanent Stain on His Record
Apparently as a posthumous gesture, Ezra Pound is being granted
tributes, and his name is being linked with the undying geniuses in'
literature. No one denies his abilities, but while granting him eulogies
it should never be forgotten that he was a traitor to his country, that
he propagated the lowest forms of inhumanities and that he was a
vile anti-Semite.
He was denied a great honor only a few months ago when a
majority of scholars voted against giving him recognition in the world
community of literary fame. There was a prolonged debate over it,
and he lost. He had reportedly tried to exonerate himself by denying
being an anti-Semite. lie clainied that he was only attacking usury.
But he linked only Jews, he unhesitatingly propagated Nazi tactics for
Jews, he hated and did not hesitate to advocate venom.
No matter how much he will be admired by those who love his
poet:. , it is important for posterity that his anti-Semitism should not
be forgotten.
Detroit's Jewish School Situation
A follow-up report on the declining enrollments in Jewish schools
in this country indicates that Detroit's position is less disturbing than
the national trend.
In behalf of the American Association for Jewish Education, Dr.
Hillel Hochberg. director of its department of statistical research and
information, states!
"Our records indicate that in 1970/71 the United Hebrew
Schools had an enrollment of 2,265, and 10 additional schools en-
rolled a total of 5.727 pupils. In 1971/72, the respective figures were
2,160 and 5,300."
the basis •d" this report, it is heartening to know that in spite
of th. 'eduction of chools in our area the school enrollment is holding
its tal.
C course, th• 'sass enrollment is in congregational schools, and
that serves as an admonition of new developments and the possible
transfer of most students into the congregational area.
If the teacher problem could be solved, as it must be as soon
as possible, we could look with greater hope to a better future for
our educational programing.
2—Friday, Nov. 10, 1972
-
—
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS. .
action Is shamefully inexcusably overdue."
The issues are very clear: the power
acquired by oil-infested nations often rules
out possibilities of enforcing civilized prin-
ciples on the international scene; and the
fears that have been spread with arrogance
by a pack of murderers have cowed many
nations into submission and is making it
difficult for the international community to
punish those who harbor murderers.
An American proposal for action against
terrorism is being ignored. A nation like
Libya is able to defy the entire civilized
World by welcoming hijackers and labeling
them heroes. Common decencies continue to
be flaunted in the UN.
How long can this continue? Will the ad-
ministration voted into power in this coun-
try take a firm stand? Will it be able to
influence other democratic countries not
to yield to terror?
No one is safe anywhere unless there
is firmness in dealing with the gangs that
make travel insecure, the mails unsafe,
the lives of diplomats endangered and trav-
eling becoming hazardous.
The challenge to the conscience of man-
kind rings wherever there is a sense of
decency. And it is even more than that:
it echoes the resentment against the threats
to human lives everywhere. There must be
an end to this sort of inhumanity, and if
•
•
•
the United Nations is incompetent, con-
cerned nations will have to find a better
way of dealing with the situation.
The first step, of course, is the outlaw-
ing of nations like Libya where medieval-
ism has taken root. Perhaps the other pit.
producing nations will disassociate them-
selves from the terrorism that stems from
their ranks. Perhaps they will stop financ-
ing the murderous schemes. If the free
world, that is dependent upon their oil, can
exert such an influence, we may witness
the first step toward sanity.
The nations whose relationships with
those who have condoned the murders is
based on oil deals must be held responsible
for what has happened. It is their duty to
secure assurances of cooperation from their
business partners against the terror that
has become an international danger. With-
out income from their oil, without these bil-
lions they secure from the free countries,
the oil producers won't remain the all-pow-
erfull. Let there be action—by the oil pur-
chasers more than any others. Together
with others, motivated by a conscience for
humanity perhaps we can see the dawn of
a better day with an assurance for human
beings wherever they may be, wherever
they may travel, whatever faith they may
worship, regardless of their national allegi-
ance.
Urgent Need for Revitalization of Community - Sponsored Bet Din
Some years back, the Jewish Community Council included in its roster of functioning divisions an
arbitration board.
It will be recalled that the late Abraham Cohen Lapin headed the modernized Beth Din end that
a number of cases involving local community disputes were resolved amicably under his direction.
Such a community function would be natural for us at this time. Recurring disputes between teach-
ers and school administrations have especially demanded action to avoid taking Jewish issues into courts
and to assure amicability among us.
This is not a question of whether or not the barn door should be closed before the horse is stolen,
Right now we are witnessing disputes in two schoolsystems. In one of them there had already been talk
of a Beth Din, but the resulting charges and counter-charges before a rabbinical court could be set up
only confused the issue. If there had been in existence a Beth Din operated by the community, thus
obviating disputes over composition of such a court because it would undoubtedly have a large panel to
choose from, emerging issues could be solved speedily and with a lessening of rancor.
Even at this late date it is not too late to re-introduce a procedure that worked well in the
past. Whatever can be done to keep disputes within our ranks, so that they can be resolved without
spreading more suspicions and distrust, should certainly be tried.
For the future, restoration of an old practice of solving community arguments by means of a Jew-
ish court of law—a Beth Din—can prove of great benefit. It is true that existence of such an arbitrating
commission could also invite abuse—because many might attempt resort to it when it is totally unnces-
essary—but the current experience in our schools is convincing enough to call for adoption of an old
workable method for conciliatory purposes.
11 4 1.7. 1 3)71 ri.1411 .
Hebrew Corner
Tzahal—Israel
Army of Defense
Tzahal (the Defense Army of
Israel) formed out of the Hagana
organization which guarded (the
security of) the Jewish community
even before the establishment of
the state.
Tzahal consists of the soldiers in
regular service, army units com-
posed of conscripts, and reserve
forces.
Conscription applies to all males
and includes the services of un-
married women.
Women who declared that they
are religious and do not wish to
serve in the army are exempt
from conscription. Deferment is
also granted to students studying
professions in which the army is
intrested, as well as to other cit-
izens where there are personal
or economic reasons for it.
Women serve in Tzahal in on-
combatant duties—as clerks, store-
keepers, telephonists, medical or-
derlies, technicians, drivers, etc.
The obligation to serve in the re-
serves applies to males up to the
age of 49, and to women who have
no children up to the age of 34.
The organization of the reserve
forces, who undergo training for
one month a year, enables Tzahal
to mobilize all the combat units
within 24-72 hours after the order
is given.
It is thus possible to maintain a
limted regular army to carry out
routine security functions and to
repulse the first attacks pending
the mobilization of the reserves.
(Translation of Hebrew column pub-
lished by Brit Ivrit Olasult, with the as-
sistance
of the Memorial Foundation
'Soli- Jewish Culture.- • •
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