Realistic Portrait of Jordan's King Hussein

Thailand Jews.:
Only 6 Families

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, September 7, 1973-53

am.
In the biography "Hus- er, King Abdullah, when he tially what it was when he
succeeded his father in 1952
sein," published by Robert was assassinated.
Thailand was formerly
—the management of a coun-
Luce, Washington, P e ter
Snow conferred with the
known as Siam, and Jewish
Snow, diplomatic correspond- leading figures in the Middle try split by the conflicting merchants occasionally visit-
17515 W. 9 Mile Rd.
demands of the Palestinians
ent of British Independent East, including Golda Meir,
ed
there
on
their
travels
in
and the East Jordanians. His
Suite 865
Television, News, has com- who gave him a good account own tribal roots and the Asia. But there is no record
piled the basic facts about of her conversations with pressures of his power base of their having lived there
Southfield, Mich. 48075
the Jordanian king and has AbdUllah. Described in this on the East Bank made him before the 20th Century.
drawn interesting conclusions important biography is Mrs. an East Jordanian first ; and
In 1921 the Siamese foreign
that lead to a better under- Meir's account of her talks the bloody clash with the
standing of one of the most with Abdullah and how they commandos became unavoid- minister wrote to express his
important personalities in collapsed at a time when it able. But would any other government's accord with
seemed that peace was near leader—of any other polit- the establishment of a na-
the Middle East.
It is noteworthy that this between Israel and the Jor- ical affiliation—have main- tional home for the Jewish
tained the balance? It is very people.
authoritative biographer has danian king.
nitted
most
of
the
avail-
In the 1920s a few refugees
Snow states in his descrip- doubtful. Certainly, his vio-
n
material relating to tive work: "The truth about lent subjection of the Pales- from Soviet Russia arrived
a ► .
Hussein's interests, tactics, Hussein and Israel still re- tinians was the product not and settled in Bangkok. After
associations with his fellow- mains shrouded behind a net- of the ruthless mind of a 1933, 120 refugees from Nazi
Arab rulers.
work of rumors and counter- military dictator but of an persecution settled there and
Snow incorporated in his rumors, and the sense of my- agonizing process of decision- most of them left after
World War II.
biography the complete ra- stery is deliberately encour- making.
dio - telephone conversation aged by the Israelis." He
An Israel embassy was
"It is the author's convic-
between Hussein and Nasser, states that Mrs. , Meir refused tion that, in spite of all his opened in 1958 and friendly
to
divulge
anything
to
him.
on June 6, 1967, in which
shortcomings, Hussein's per- relations between the two
Hussein was led to believe The reference in Snow's com- ception of the realities of the countries were expressed in
that Israel was about to col- ments is on the repeating Arabs' predicament and his technical and economic co-
lapse, that the Egyptians views of a possible peace be- courage in frequently giving operation.
were winning. That's when tween the two countries. And voice to what other Arab
In 1966, a Jewish center
Hussein proceeded to shell there remains the view that leaders may privately ap-
Jerusalem, contrary to the in practice there is an un- prove but publicly condemn, with a synagogue was estab-
advice of the Israelis.. He derstanding for amity be- far outweigh any more sel- lished. A number of Torah
could have saved his position tween Jordan and Israel with fish reason for his personal scrolls were presented to the
- and might have come to so much business conducted survival: and if he has, for community by the Singapore
Jewish Welfare Board in
between them.
terms then with Israel.
his own purposes, inflated
1960. There is no Jewish
There
is
an
impressive
the mission of the Hashem-
Snow's "Hussein" is a
cemetery and burials are
panoramic account of a young conclusion in which Hus- ites to ridiculous proportions,
ruler's rise to power. The sein's character is interest- his rule has nevertheless conducted in a corner of the
family background is drawn ingly interpreted. He states: made a positive start to the Protestant graveyard. The
"Hussein's central prob- formidable challenge of mak- permanent Jewish commu-
—including the future king's
presence with his grandfath- lem in 1972 remained essen- ing the best of Jordan's high- nity of Thailand today con-
ly vulnerable economic and sists of six families aug- I NAME
mented by 250 temporary
political situation.
Please Allow Two Weeks
Jewish residents.
1••
"We are left with Hussein
himself—a gentle, sensitive
The great menace to the
man with a deep sincerity
and personal charm that life of an industry is indus-
even his bitterest enemies t r i a l self-complacency. —
admire. His family life is David Sarnoff.
more English than Arab, his
friends men of action rather
than intellectuals. He still
regards life as an adventure
and likes to be thought of
more as the Brave Young
King at the head of his army
than the sophisticated states-
man. His views are un-
ashamedly conservative, and
he shows no sign of relaxing
the patriarchal authority of
the crown over all matters
of importance. He believes
naively, passionately in his
family's divine right — and
of steadily rising costs of production
duty — to rule, even if it is
and mailing, over the past three years
assailed from all sides. He
The Jewish News is compelled to in-
has grown powerfully into
the task he inherited when
crease its annual subscription rate to
he was little more than a
$10, effective , Oct. 5, 1973.
boy, but, beneath the sur-
face, he is still troubled by
the complexes and uncer-
tainities of his childhood. He
enjoys life, but is somehow
too modest in his tastes and
too inhibited to be described
as a playboy. He derives
great pleasure from laughing
we are making it possible for those
loud and long with his friends
desiring
to do so to pay their sub-
in private over his continu-
ous feud with his Arab neigh-
scriptions in advance, for one year,
bors. He revels in living dan-
at the old rate of 5 8, by using the
gerously.
blank below. The accounts of those
`To many of his people,
making use of this offer will be
and most of his neighbours,
his whole make-up is alien
credited accordingly.
and out-of-date, impervious
to
the
demands
of
a
fast
NM
NM
MI
MI
maturing population. B u t
The weekly rate per
whether
or
not
people
regard
starting on Oct. 5
copy
1 Hussein's leadership as de-
1 The Jewish News
will
be
30 cents.
117515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865
1 sirable, it is a fact. After
20
years
as
king
of
the
III - 'Southfield, Michigan 48075
most turbulent country in
1 the Middle East, Hussein has
Gentlemen:
1 demonstrated that what de-
The Jewish New s
cides events is not the shout-
17315 R . ,, Mile Rd.
insert
my
New
Year
Greeting.
:Please
III
Suite 865
ing of slogans and the search
Southfield. Nish. 18075
for acclaim but the exercise
and Fami1y
Gentlemen:
111Mr. and Mrs.
of power." —P.S.
for one additional year.

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