Purely Commentary
Israel's Historic Anniversary . . . Time for Introspection
and Self-Criticism . . . Refutation of Anti-Zionist Bigotry
and Anti-Semitic Trends . . . Hope for Courageous Leadership
By Philip
Slomovitz
Israel's Historic Anniversary and the Obligation to Overcome Bigotries and Anti-Zionist Trends
An entire world's interest in Israel is in
evidence in radio and television programs,
special editions of newspapers, sermons and
other public lectures, which supplement the
mass gatherings and the celebrations of
Israel's 25th anniversary by Jewish commu-
nities and their friends.
Unquestionably, this is a time for rejoic-
ing, for le•hayim toasts, for jubilation over
Israel's triumphs and the nation's ability to
defend people and state. It is also a time
for introspection for Israel, of self-analysis
by Jews in their relation to Israel and
Israelis, of self-criticism, of frank confron-
tation with the issues involved and the
enemies to be faced in tackling not only
Israeli but also Zionist needs and problems.
If everything were to be viewed sac-
charinely, we would be harming both the
Israel and the Zionist positions. The bitter
must be taken with the sweet, and while
toasting Israel we must also take into
account the problems, the challenges, the
dangers, the traps that may be set for Israel
in many areas.
It becomes too easy to accept compli-
ments and to view much that stems from
Israel as if it were faultless. There is a
very minor example in a comment on the
TV show portraying an Israeli child which
featured a noted actor, kibu•zim and kibutz-
niks. The NY Times reviewer commented:
"Nothing was missed in the technicolor
travelogue except perhaps direct reference
to Israel's current problems, military and
political." From these few semi-critical
words stems the warning, in Israel's and
Jewry's best interests, not to saccharify
anything, ever!
Israel's most remarkable successes,
noted on the state's 25th anniversary, must
not be occasions for boasting, for over-
glorification, for gloating. Perhaps Golda
Meir. who justifiably was honored Thurs-
day, by world Jewry and non-Jewish friends
everywhere, on her 75th birthday, may have
correctly indicated that Anwar Sadat, in
his frustrations, may 'be preparing for an-
other war, in the very near future. Since
Egypt's United Nations representatives
have been pressing for a review of the
Middle East situation at the world forum,
why isn't it logical to believe that the 'major
enemy of Israel is merely stalling for time?
But if there is a real threat of an impending
war, let it not be approached with cockiness
and boasting: we do want peace, don't we?
and Dr. Nahum Goldmann may be more in
the right than most people realize that the
pressures for peace must be more strenuous
on our part. Continuation of the present
state of tension, which may lead to ever-
growing dangers for Israel and for Jewry,
is unaffordable!
*
•
*
Israel's social problems are grave and
not to be ignored. It is true that increased
philanthropic assistance from world Jewry
would provide the means for better housing,
for improved health conditions among the
less affluent, for a compulsory secondary
education school system to eliminate the
vast cultural span between Oriental and
Occidental Jews. To achieve these needs it
is first necessary to have a thorough Israeli
dedication to projects for improving the
social problems. While celebrating, there
must also be full concern for needs that
have become oppressive.
The problems are mounting. They have
not increased. They must be faced unhesi-
tatingly.
And there are the problems involving
world Jewry and the nation's enemies in
many spheres. Theodor Herzl believed that
a Jewish State would eliminate anti-
Semitism, because the people that was
always the unwelcome guest of the nations
of the world would become a host with the
re-establishment of nationhood. This has not
materialized. Soviet anti-Semitism has in-
creased. Moslem animosities have assumed
a character of brutality in threats to destroy
Israel. Blacks in the extreme anti-white
ranks have chosen the Jew as a major
scapegoat. In nearly all of these threats to
Hashomer Hatzair Reply to News Leftist Attacks
by YEHUDA BEININ
(Note: This article is ap-
pearing in response to an
unsigned article which was
printed in T h u r s d a y, an
underground paper in the
Boston area).
"Israel's Spy Ring — Sta-
bility Paid for With Jus-
tice" (title of the article
referred to) is an excellent
display of the one-sideness
with which many students
and intellectuals are inclined
to view the Arab-Israel con-
flict. Apart from the many,
allegations which are leveled,
and feeble attempts at docu-
mentation (by way of the
capitalist press), the • author
makes no attempt to foster
creative discussion, nor pro-
pose viable solutions to
the problem. At this juncture
in 'history it is clear that any
article which does not in-
clude some attempt at pro-
posing a solution to end the
conflict to the satisfaction of
the parties involved is a
worthless waste of paper and
ink. The c u r r e n t favorite
theme of the "left" is the de-
Zionisation of Israel. Such
proposals are put forward by
those who lack an apprecia-
tion of Zionism as a move-
ment of national liberation
for the Jewish people. It is
clear that the creation of one
state has in turn created an-
other problem for the Pales-
tinian Arabs. Although there
have always been elements
in the Zionist movement
which seem to care little
about such a problem, to
label the entire Zionist move-
ment as a racist tutelage of
American Imperialism misses
the point entirely.
Israel is a capitalist coun-
try because capitalism is a
part of the dialectic process,
2 Friday, May 4, 1973
—
which inevitably leads to so-
cialism. Furthermore, Israel
is often made out to be a
capital-state because it is
Zionist. This is irrational. Is
Cuba Communist because it
is Cuba, is the Viet Cong rev-
olutionary because it is Viet-
namese? Zionism is a move-
ment of the Jewish People.
There is no choice but to con-
sider the destruction of Zion-
ism as the destruction of the
Jewish working class.
It is clear, as a result of
recent actions in the Arab
countries that the Palestinian
people have little support,
little sympathy, and much
animosity from their Arab
brethren. The terrorist
actions of the destitute mem-
bers of the Palestinian "Lib-
eration" groups are to be
condemned by all. It should
be understood that such ter-
rorist activities display to the
Israeli workers an immatur-
ity and unwillingness to cope
with the Jewish Problem;
how are the Israeli workers
supposed to understand the
Palestinian P r o b l e m? Vio-
lence begets violence, yet
59% of the native adult Is-
raeli Jews believe that it is
impossible to achieve peace
without successfully dealing
with the Palestinian refugee
problem. Furthermore, 70
per cent of the S a b r as
(native - born Israelis) felt
that an accommodation with
the Arab States is dependent
upon solving the refugee
problem. (This information
was provided by Pori Public
Opinion Research of Israel,
Ltd.)
This, then, is the crux of
the matter. Mutual recogni-
tion and reconciliation. It is
clear that the Palestinian
Arabs (who are sometimes
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
called the "Jews of the Arab
World" because of the simi-
larity of economic position,
educational level, and social
progressiveness of the Jews
in the Diaspora) deserve, and
MUST have a territorial basis
to solve their problem, which,
by the way. is Israel's prob-
lem as well.
The means is another ques-
tion which must be dealt
with. Articles condemning
Israel for her conduct in the
recent Spy Ring Trial, Is-
rael's lack of a constitution,
the intolerance of the author-
ities, economic disparity be-
tween Ashkenazim and Sep-
hardim are widespread and
easy to come by. In any case,
these problems are manifes-
tations of Capitalism in most
countries of the world.
It is one thing to judge the
present Israeli leadership as
injurious to the cause of so-
cialism in the Middle East.
It is another to condemn
them as Zionists thereby dis-
missing all of the legal rights
of the Jewish people to na-
tional self - determination in
their homeland.
It is one thing to level crit-
icism against Israel where it
belongs, pointing out those
aspects of government mis-
conduct which appall progres-
sives throughout the world, it
is another matter to be pic-
ayune and attempt to Gast
Israel as all evil, and the
Palestinians and other Arab
nations as saints. It is one
thing to point out government
lies (what government in the
world does not create lies?),
it is another matter to create
them in order to support all
prior allegations.
Rather than engage in non-
productive propaganda
tactics, why not seek the
"enemy" and commence with
dialogue.
our people there is the equating of Zionism
with evil, and because all of the enemy
hordes would rather not be called anti-
Semites, they choose to attack us as Zion-
ists. This is inseparable from the links we
have with Israel and we cannot ignore
them as we re-dedicate ourselves to tasks in
Israel's behalf on the important 25th anni-
versary.
*
*
*
Most shocking proof of Russian-inspired
anti-Semitism was in evidence last week.
The authors of the faked Protocols of the
Elders of Zion were put to shame in the
French language "U.S.S.R. Bulletin edited
by the Soviet Information Office" in Paris.
If it had not been linked to the Soviet
Novosti News Agency, the outrages propa-
gated by this French periodical 'could have
been disclaimed by the Kremlin. But it is
linked with the Russian anti-Semitic policies,
and the source of the hatred inspired by the
bigots in the French capital now emerges
in all its infamy.
This anti-Semitic bulletin drew upon the
vilest methods of defiling the truth. Here is
an example of its tactics: "Tel Aviv needs
henchmen to carry out its plans; needs
underlings who will not blink at the dirtiest
and bloodiest tasks. The Zionist state trains
them in planned fashion. Thus, hardly have
Israeli pupils learned to read and write but
that they must answer to the question 'How
treat Arabs'?, 'They must be massacred!'
Savagery begins on the school bench . . ."
The generation that was disgraced when
it charged Jews with poisoning wells, during
the Middle Ages, now has its counterpart in
the Soviet-trained anti-Semites who have
concocted this type of libel. The publishers
of such vile lies were fined by a French
judge when Christian and Jewish groups
brought suit against the anti-Semites. Grand
Rabbi Jacob Kaplan of France, as a witness
in the law suit, described the hate literature
as "the most violent anti-Semitic statement
published in France since the end of
Nazism." But this type of propaganda has
been in evidence for some time. Zionism
has been 'maligned. The Soviet, Moslem and
New Left hate-spreaders have been tireless.
*
*
*
While marking the triumph of Zionism
through the Israeli successes, the bigotry
that stems from anti-Zionism must not be
ignored. We celebrate Israel's successes,
and at the same time we invite greater
concern over the security of the ideal which
made Israel's existence possible.
There is need of special concern for
realism in Jewish ranks. There is occasional
evidence of support for the anti-Zionism
hatred among misled young Jews. Let them
read what the Parisian U.S.S.R. published
and let it serve as a warning to them that
the Israeli is not alone under attack, that
the Zionist is not the only target, but that
every Jew is victimized.
Recently, when the shocking case of a
few Jews collaborating as spies with Arabs
against Israel came to the world's attention,
a series of misleading statements were
published and some young Jews shared
guilt for spreading hatred against Jews and
Israelis as co-sponsors of anti-Zionist prop-
aganda. Hashomer Hatzair and editors of its
official publication, Youth and Nation, took
note of one such attack, and we append the
ultra-liberal youth Zionist organization's
view to these columns as a proper refuta-
tion of the misleading innuendos. In the
article by Yehuda Beinin. Hashomer Hat-
zair 'contends that Matzpen and other
similar groups have a mere handful of
members. Yet they have found support in
some college ranks—on the Wayne State
University campus, for example. On the
WSU scene, the discredited campus news-
paper apparently insists upon following an
'anti-Semitic line, as shown in an article last
week charging that the Israeli spies were
"framed." It's amazing that the bigots on a
university campus should assume that those
who are reached with their propaganda are
so naive as to believe the tripe they peddle.
Only this week, five Jewish defendants in
a trial in Haifa of their membership in a
Syrian - directed Arab - Jewish spy ring,
pleaded guilty, just as those previously
charged of spying had admitted guilt; but
WSU anti-Israel propagandists would have
people believe these are atrocities in Israel
stemming from government imposed
cruelties.
The appended Hashomer Hatzair state-
ment is a necessity at this time in order to
avoid further recriminations against the
Zionist idea.
*
*
*
There is another .matter not to be over-
looked in an examination of the distressing
situation on the Jewish scene in the present
year of great rejoicing in Israel. It is the
over-all Russian problem, the interest shown
by American legislators in Soviet Jews'
right to emigrate to Israel, and the problems
that are faced by Jews who head national
organizations in this country.
Golda Meir and other Israelis have said
the Jackson Amendment and the proposal
by the White House for favored-nation trade
status for Russia are an internal U.S.
matter. But it is also an internal Jewish
matter not to be ignored. The meeting at
the White House. in which 14 Jewish spokes-
men participated, was described by them as
"historic." We hope to learn in the course
of time the extent of its historicity. When
Jacob H. Schiff confronted Presider
Howard Taft, in 1911, on the qt._ ...on
of Russian discrimination against American
Jews, he demanded abrogation of the U.S.
treaty with Russia. It was reported that he
banged his fist on the President's table and
demanded an end to bias by an anti-Semitic
Czar. The treaty was abrogated. That was
historic!
Now let us look at the facts regarding
the present situation. In the NY Times
Week in Review Section, Sunday, John W.
Finney wrote from Washington about "Jack-
son's Strategy." In the course of his
analysis of the situation involving the
favored-nation controversy, Finney reported:
"Whether the balance now tips against
the Jackson Amendment depends not so
much on the politicking of the two national
leaders as upon the attitude of the Jewish
leaders in the United States.
"If the Jewish leaders begin to waver,
many politicians will no longer feel under
such a compulsion to challenge the Presi-
dent on what he has made into an important
foreign policy issue.
"Since their White House meeting with
the President earlier this month•, the Jewish
leaders have been notably silent. Now that
the White House has been opened to them
on the issue of Russian Jews, they don't
want to do or say anything that would slam
it shut. At the same time, most if not all
of them want to stand firm behind the
Jackson Amendment."
This is why we remind our leadership of
the Schiff-Taft incident with a challenge to
historicity.
Are we flattered by the open door White
House policy into a state of silence? Russian
Jews have shown courage in defying the
menace of Kremlinism. Are we adopting a
taciturnity based on White House hospi-
tality?
Perhaps the very thought of submission
is unjustified. Perhaps there is a White
House approach to action that may bring
better results than we imagine. But even
such an extreme anticipation of a solution
to the tragedies of Soviet Jewry demands
frank and open discussion and a rejection
of secrecy in diplomatic relations—assum-
ing that Jewish leaders have suddenly
emerged as diplomats.
Israel will continue to flourish •and to
overcome obstacles that come both from
anti-Semitic international jealousies and the
threats from enemy neighbors: that we
know. Israel will continue to receive the
wholehearted support of world Jewry, with
American Jewry in the lead: that, too, we
know.
Basic 'assistance to Israel must,
se
same time, be linked with the best inter „sts
of world Jewry, with practical definition of
Zionism aims. with rejection of all sem-
blances of anti-Semitism and attempts to
undermine the Israeli and the Jewish posi-
tions, wherever the latter may be.
The current historic celebration, the
significant events that mark Israel's 25th
anniversary, will be strengthened by real-
ism. We labor together with Israel, and the
Israelis for our people's existence above
reproach, holding fast to the basic Zionist
idea that has led to an end to Jewish
homelessness; and to Jewish legacies that
call for justice and peace for all of us in a
world blessed with an amity to be enjoyed
by all peoples, of all faiths, without race
distinctions. It is well to renew hopes for
such an idyllic state 'as we toast Israel and
as we invite for the People Israel a high-
mindedness that will assure indestructibility
for the inherited idealism and 'as well as for
the achieved statehood.