THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, Dec. 21, 1973-9
The Arab
Terrorists
Editorial in New York
Times, Dec, 18, 1973
The fanaticism that has
perverted the Palestinian
Arab cause for so long has
once again taken a bloody,
mindless toll in innocent hu-
man life. No civilized person
or government can stand
aloof from the tragedies per-
petrated in Rome and Athens
yesterday; no political cause
can justify the murderous
-
4111011fte
ts.
esterday's terrorism fol-
iows an all-too-familiar pat-
tern: whenever responsible
Arab leaders show some sign
of readiness to try for a
political settlement with Is-
rael, the Palestinian extrem-
ists commit one of their out-
rages. Their obvious motive
is so to arouse passions that
no political compromise can
be carried through. Neither
Arabs nor Israelis must allow
themselves to be diverted
from the path of accommo:
dation by the action of these
gunmen.
But the Arab governments
cannot escape all responsibil-
ity for the spirit of terrorism,
however much they may de-
plore individual outbursts or
claim that individual terror-
ists are beyond the control
of government authority. It
is the Arab governments
which cynically used the
Palestinian grievance to fur-
ther their own political ends
over the years; it is the Arab
leaders who have short-sight-
edly nurtured the Palestinian
guerrilla organizations into a
political and military force
which is now acting against
Arab interests as well as
against Israel.
Even at this moment the
Government of S yria is
carrying through an official
policy of treating human
beings as pawns, in its re-
fusal to exchange prisoners
of war with Israel. This in-
humane cynicism is just as
reprehensible — and breeds
just as much suspicion and
hostility — as the o v e r t
violence of the terrorists.
The terrorists now stalking
the airlines represent no one
but themselves. But the Arab
world as a whole and a num-
ber of other countries are
now on test: Will Japan and
the European governments,
whose obvious need for oil
has led them to "tilt" toward
the Arabs, muffle their out-
rage for fear of risking
further economic sanctions?
Will the oil-rich Arab states
dare to invoke their oil
weapon against countries
"rth condemn terrorism?
important, will Syria
and the other Arab states on
Israel's frontiers recognize
their obligations now to make
specific gestures of peaceful
intent toward Israel, in light
of the barbaric acts of yes-
terday?
Arab leaders protest their
readiness for co-existence
and settlement. These noble
sentiments require confirma-
tion in deeds as well as
words.
Illiteracy Continues
By 1980, unless present
trends are reversed, 820,000,-
000 adult illiterates are pre-
dicted for the world. UNICEF
is exploring non-formal, out-
of-school channels for educa-
tion to reach functionally il-
literate youths beyond school
age.
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Believing is building new lives.
Photo: Norma Holt
GIVE TO THE ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND *
William M. Davidson
Lewis S. Grossman
General Chairmen
1974 Allied Jewish Campaign—Israel Emergency Fund
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