THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
6 Friday, April 4, 1975
Israel Political Party Funding
Scrutinized, Raises Criticism
free shops, building 'firms,
banks, etc.).
Some parties are involved
in types of financial enter--
prises which enable them to
execute financial maneuvers
away from the state comp-
troller's eyes (according to
.law, the. state comptroller
supervises the expenses of
all the parties which receive
funds from the treasury).
By UZI BENZIMAN
(Copyright 1975, JTA, Inc.)
JERUSALEM !Israel's
Nvo largest political parties,
;,,abor and Herut, together
-vith the smaller National
sieligious Party, hlve re-
_-.ently launched an initiative
..lesigned to wipe off their
.-lebts by obtaining a "con-
-olidation loan" from the
'reasury.
Their proposal has caused
videspread resentment and
criticism. Newspapers have
attacked the three parties,
Jointing out that while the
.public at large was being
irged to tighten its belt,
here could be no justifica-
ion in asking the taxpayer
o subsidize for spendthrift
,
Some parties maintain
networks of educational
and social institutions,
and they can without too
much difficulty transfer to
purely political goals part
of the monies which they
raise from running these
institutions. The Histad-
rut enterprises and the
kibutzim are believed to
support some of the par-
ties, particularly the So-
cialist parties.
,
-
The opponents within the
,louse to the consolidation
lan scored a tactical victory
Then the three parties were
sorced by the pressure of
public opinion to include the
ubject on the Knesset plen-
Ty's agenda —'thus delay-
ag the ratification of the
proposed treasury loan by
lie Knesset Finance Corn-
rattee (according to law, all
,-,overnmental guarantees
-eed the finance commit-
se's endorsement).
The political parties in
srael finance their activi-
les by funds that come
1.om three official sources:
'he treasury, the Jewish
.Agency and the Histadrut.
-
Student Lounge
►
ources of money, mostly -
ecret. These aro parties
?hich own real estate. Oth-
rs get overt and less overt
ontributions from busi-
iessmen and contractors.
'arties are -partners in corn-
aercial enterprises (such as
iublishing houses, duty-
JERUSALEM — A stu-
dent lounge and cafeteria
wing in the faculty of law on
the Hebrew University's
Mount Scopus campus was
dedicated by Mrs. Bunnee
Taft, of Westport, Conn.
and Hollywood, Fla., in
memory of her late husband
Allen Robert Taft, and her
son, James Gordon Taft.
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JERUSALEM (JTA) —
Premier Yitzhak Rabin took
a dim view of Egyptian
President Anwar Sadat's
statement to the Egyptian
parliament that Egypt
would agree to only a three-
month extension of the
mandate of the United Na-
Catskills Famed
for. Food, Vun
CATSKILLS, N.Y. — The
Jewish resorts in this rural
area have achieved a world-
wide fame and following,
growing from small farms
that took in weekend boar-
ders to 1,000 square miles of
resort complexes, including
300 hotels, 1,300 swimming
pools, 30 golf courses and
400 tennis courts.
Known as the Borscht
Belt, Broadway Uptown,
and a lot of other nick-
names, the Catskills resorts
have become famous for
their recreation, entertain-
ment and food.
More than 200 nightclubs
in the resort complexes han-
dle top name stars from
Hollywood, New York and
Las Vegas.
Although the parties re-
ceive money from all these
official and unofficial
sources, some of them are in
severe economic distress.
The debts of the Labor and
Herut are each believed to
top IL 30 million ($5 mil-
lion), while the NRP owes
some IL 12 million.
The Concord is billed as
People are naturally ask-
ing how such massive debts the world's largest resort
were accumulated. In fact, hotel, and can feed up to
most of the debts had been 3,000 people at one meal.
amassed before the party Grossinger's has 1,300
financing laws were legis- acres that includes lakes,
indoor and outdoor pools,
lated.
Nevertheless,. Israeli pub- bridle paths, tennis courts,
lic opinion — as expressed ebaseball diamond and an
in the mass media -- be- airport.
lieves that before asking the
Many entertainers got
treasury to guarantee the their start in the Catskills,
consolidation loan on almost including comedian Jerry
give-away terms — the par-. Lewis, and Grossinger's be-
ties must scale down their came famous after boxer
bureaucratic machineries, Barney Ross trained there
artist raise money among in 1934. He was followed by
their own members, must other fighters, and then the
sell their assets, and above travel writers. _
all must lay open all their fi-
nancial arrangements to the
inspection of the tax-payer-
Center Book Club
cum-voter.
-..
Most of the parties enjoy
acome from all these three
ources, but there are few
jhich get money from only
wo — those which have no
vpresentation in the His-
%drut or those which are
lot included in the financial
-rrangement established by
he Jewish Agency.
The general belief in Is-
•-ael is that these official
--ources of party income do
tot reflect their real in-
ome. Most Israelis believe
hat the parties have other
Rabin Takes Dim View of Sadat Plan for UN Forces Extension
559 - 5492
to Discuss 'Money'
"Jews Without Money,"
by Michael Gold, and "Ev-
erything But Money," by
Sam Levenson, are the next
books of discussion in the
Jewish Community Center's
cultural program book se-
ries 1 p.m. Wednesday in
the Henry Meyers Memorial
Library.
The book Series examines
the American Jewish
writer, American Jewish lit-
erature and the role both
have played in the develop-
ment of America. The pro-
gram is held every other
Wednesday and is open to
guests. For information,
contact the Center cultural
arts department; 341-4200.
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tions Emergency Force UNEF "in its present form" tion.the Sinai in this connec-
(UNEF) in Sinai which ex- was an integral part of the tion.
He also indicated the So-
pires this month. Rabin de- disengagement agreements,
scribed it as a "negative in- meaning that up to now it viet Union would probably
dication" at Sunday's had been a matter of course back the "more radical de-
cabinet meeting according that its mandate would be mands" of the Arabs
to a statement released to extended P5r a minimum pe- against Israel in- a Geneva
conference.
riod of six months.
the press.
Schlesinger's comments
It was Israel's first offi-
"Failure to resume the
came during a television in-
cial reaction to Sadat's UNEF mandate, or a
terview in which he dis-
speech before the People's change in its duration,
Assembly in Cairo. Observ- would be regarded by Is- closed that the United
States would make no "new
ers noted that those parts of rael as a negative indica-
commitments" on military
Rabin's remarks made pub- tion," the premier's state-
lic after the cabinet session ment said. It added that supply for Israel pending
were extremely cautious in Israel would continue to completion of President
tone and contained no refer- observe the cease-fire Ford's current review of
ence to what some consider agreement and the disen- U.S. policy towards the Mid-
to be more "positive" as- gagement agreement on dle East in general.
pects of Sadat's speech, the basis of reciprocity.
A Pentagon spokesman
especially his announce-
said the review includes
ment that the Suez Canal
Israel's caution in its "all the countries" of the
would be re-opened on June . reaction to Sadat's speech area now receiving U.S.
reflected a dilemma con-
5.
Rabin stressed that fronting the government, military equipment: Jor-
dan, Saudi Arabia and
sources here said. On one Iran.
hand, Israel does not want
After saying that Egyp-
to appear in the position of
AIPAC to Meet
rejecting an apparent at- tian President Sadat's state-
in Washington
tempt by Sadat to leave the ment on reopening of the
WASHINGTON — Is- _door open to further nego- Suez Canal in June was "a
rael's former Foreign Minis- tiations — possibly before surprising conciliatory
ter Abba Eban and Sens. the Geneva conference is step" and that he was
Henry M. Jackson (D- reconvened. On the other "happy with Sadat's pledge
Wash.) and Jacob K. Javists hand, Israel does not want- to extend mandate of the
(R-N.Y.) will be the keynote to welcome a political state- UN Forces in the Sinai for
three more months, Schle-
speakers at the 16th annual ment that as Rabin noted,
policy conference of the has definite negative impli- singer, was asked to com-
ment on Kissinger's news
American-Israel Public Af- cations for Israel.
conference statement last
The two points that Is-
fairs Committee in Wash-
raeli officials were quick to week that the U.S. commit-
ington April 14-15.
More than 125 represent- express reservations over ted to Israel's survival.
, Schlesinger replied, that
atives and 30 senators have were precisely those that
"is an issile that would have
accepted invitations to at- Sadat apparently regards as
to be deait with in the reas-
tend separate House and proof of his intentions to
sessment" of American pol-
Senate receptions during "pursue all possible oppor-
icy towards the Middle East
tunities for the settlement
the conference.
and then he added: "What
Separate briefings on the of the Mideast conflict."
the Secretary did say was
current situation in the These were the three-month
survival of Israel remains an
Middle East will be given by extension of the UNEF
objective of Americanol-
Israeli Ambassador Simcha mandate and the re-opening
icy A commitment of
Dinitz and Assistant U.S. of the Suez Canel.
American policy but the
The latter, while gener-
Secretary of State for Near
precise measures to achieve
East Affairs Alfred Ather- ally welcomed, was not re-
that objective were not spec-
garded by Israeli officials as
ton.
ified."
Delegates will adopt a an Egyptian concession al-
Schlesinger said he
statement of policy on the though it was a "de-escalat-
would be inclined to resist
Middle East, Soviet and Syr- ing faCtor" after a week of
ian Jewry, the Arab eco- tension, sources here said.. withdrawal" of Israel's
forces if he were in
nomic boycott and other is- Some political circles ex-
charge, but "on the other
pressed the view,. however,
sues.
that if the canal is indeed hand, I think that it is nec-
essary to recognize that
re-opened without demands
some suitable adjustments
further Israeli territo-
ZOA Publication for
rial withdrawals, it would must be made and what
Hits Oil Company indicate that Sadat has precisely those adjust-
ments must be depends on
NEW YORK — A recom- chosen "the path of diplo-
the judgment of the Israe-
macy."
mendation that ARAMCO
lis as well as the others."
In Washington,- Secre-
(Arabian American 'Oil
Asked if the U.S. would
tary
of
Defense
James
Company), which includes
"endure another oil boycott"
Schlesinger
said
Monday
Mobil, Exxon, Texaco and
Schlesinger said "We would
Socal, be required to regis- that if he were responsible
not, I think, expect readily
for
Israel's
strategy
he
ter as a foreign agent be-
to tolerate such a renewed
would
be
"inclined
to
re-
cause of .its activities in
boycott." As to "what we
trying to change American sist withdrawal" of Israeli
could do about it," Schlesin-
forces
from
the
Golan
policy in the Middle East at
ger replied "that would re-
the specific order . of Saudi Heights and the West
main to be seen but I think
Arabia was made this week Bank as long as the Arab
that the reaction of the U.S.
nations
refused
to
concede
by Perspective, a new Wash-
might be far more severe
ington newsletter published Israel's right to exist.
Schlesinger did not men- this time than last time."
by the Zionist Organization
of America.
Israeli Bank Shows Growth
Citing documents pub-
lished by the subcommittee
NEW YORK — The con- American depository re-
on multinational corpora-
tions of the Senate Foreign solidated . year-end balance ceipts are traded over the
Relations. Committee, sheet for Israel's leading counter in the U.S. securi-
chaired by Senator 'Frank bank, Bank Leumi le-Israel ties market.
Church (D-Idaho), Perspec- B.M., shows a 12 percent Havana Meeting
tive charges that ARAMCO increase in consolidated as-
haS been trying to sway the sets. Consolidated total as- Condemns Israel
NATIONS
UNITED
United States away from its sets of the Bank Leumi
Foreign Ministers
policy of friendship for Is- Group now exceed $6.8 bil- (JTA)
of non-aligned countries
rael at the personal order of lion.
Bank Leumi le-Israel is who met in Havana March
the late King Faisal of
the. flag institution of a 17-19 reportedly drafted a
Saudi Arabia.
worldwide banking organi- declaration calling for sanc-
The great victories of life zation -comprising subsidi- tions against Israel and its
are oftenest won in a quiet ary banks, branches and expulsion from the UN.
way, and not with alarms offices on every continent
Great dangers give also
excepting Australia and
and trumpets.
Antarctica. The bank's _ great honors.
—Benjamin Cardozo
-