2 Friday, May 30, 1975

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Purely Commentary

Evenhandedness Can Be Evil . . . Resume of Multiple
Developments Affecting Israel's Role in Current
Middle East Controversy and U. S. Involvement

.

By Philip

Slomovitz

U. S. Senate and Israel:
(An exception: Mike Wallace's 60 Minutes
Milton Viorst, in an important analysis of
rule in the south of Africa. Now one
Justice, Fair Play and
program retains guilt for having failed to the African situation, writing from Accra,
hears a refrain of regret throughout
correct its prejudiced interpretation of the Ghana, quotes from an article in the govern-
Confusing Even Handedness
the black capitals, and perhaps the
status of Syrian Jewry).
ment-owned Ghanian Times "complaining
signs of a gui lty conscience. O ver
Pragmatism compels realization that even
There is, however, this to be said: The that black Africa, was, under the mantle of
and over again one hears in the for-
the most serious menace to a people's way of even-handedness of the Arabs is treated as if African solidarity, being treated pretty
eign ministries that black Africa
life or very existence often carries with it ad- Israel were a great power oppressing a few shabbily by its Arab neighbors at the nor-
would seize upon the slightest pre-
monitions leading to more effective confron- offended and persecuted Arabs, and seldom hern end of the continent." The leading
tation with realities.
text in Middle East negotiations to
have the media treated the entire conflict in Ghanian political writer suggested in that
undo past wrongs and restore the old
A typical example is the debate that devel- its true light: of 20 nations, possessing the article that the Organization for African
relationship, wh atever the Arabs
oped over the timeliness of the letter to Pres- wealthiest areas in the world, dominating Unity (OAU) had, in effect, been reduced to
might say about it ."
ident Ford from 76 U.S. Senators from 46 millions of miles of territory, swinging war- an instrument serving Arab political ends."
Quoted here are not Jewish sources and
states — 51 Democrats and 25 Republicans. threatening sabers at every opportunity,
4
" . . . a conclusion one draws from
this is not Jewish propaganda; nor does this
Was it hasty action? Should the friends of constantly being supplied with the deadliest
weeks of talking in black Arica is of challenge the stupidity of overemphasized
Israel in the U. S. Senate have waited - until weapons with which to threaten Israel, are
an increasing recognition that the even-handedness. What is involved is sheer
after the Ford-Sadat-Rabin talks?
denying breathing space to 3,500,000 people
basic notion of a solidarity that en- justice, and fair play must be restored in hu-
What the critics of what the dissenters — 500,000 of them Christians and Moslems
compasses black and Arab Africa—if man relations.
called hasty action did not take into consid- — in a tiny spot that is a mere pin prick on
not the Third World itself .— is ficti-
eration were the demands that had been the world's map.
tious. What the implications of this
made in advance upon President Ford from
This is the basic issue: abandonment of
trend may be for the United States are Jewish vs. Arab Refugees:
Cairo and other Arab capitals for suppres- Arab intransigence that refuses to recognize
hard
to predict, expecially if thought- Also Even-Handedness?
sion of the friendly relations between Israel Israel's right to existence.
.
less
mistakes
like the Nathaniel Davis
and the United States. On this score alone
If there really is such a thing as even-
Senator Percy made 'one point in defend-
brouhaha recur endlessly to offend Af-
the action of the 76-Senators, which provided ing his position of not signing the latest sen-
handedness,
how do the Jewish escapees
rican sensibilities. But south of the
so much comfort to the Jewish community atonal letter to President Ford: he said he
from persecutions in Arab lands compare
Sahara, one can sense that the days of
had an effect of timeliness.
the much-hearlded Arab refugee ques-
had demanded of the Arabs that there
the so-called Afro-Asian bloc as a with
tion?
Understandably, the Arabs did not like it. should be direct negotiations between Israe-
power in global diplomacy are num-
They do not like anything that gives Israel,a lis and Arabs to solve the territorial and
The following important facts, as recorded
bered. There is simply not sufficient in the Encyclopedea Judacia, must not be
measure of security. It is all right with them other problems. This points to the roots of
common
interest
between
its
various
overlooked ;
and their friends that Arab states should be the issue: Let the Arabs sit face-to-face with .
segments to keep it together."
Th
These
are the total s
aided overwhelmingly with weapons, but Jews to talk peace, and peace will cease to be
ish immi-
Of major i mportance in the Viorst article
Israel must be deprived of the means of a myth. -
grants to Israel from May 14 , 1948,
is this review of Israel's role among the
defense.
to Dec. 31, 1972.
Africans:
An A-rab spokesman said as much in an Newly Menacing Threats
Algeria
13,135
"The issue on which the black
interview with Barron's magazine. The
Tunisia
uni s i a
46,885
Despite
the
efforts
to
attain
a
modicum
of
Africans consider themselves taken,
Saudi Arabian spokesman, Dr. Farok Akh-
Libya
34,347
oar, who was educated in American universi- peace; although Syria rationalized and ex-
of course, is Israel. Throughout the •
Morocco
255,633
tites and now is on propaganda tours for his tended the life of the UN peace keeping mis-
years from the beginning of African
Egypt
37,922
independence until late 1973, the Is-
and other Arab countries, did not hesitate to sion by another six months , there is no end
In addition, the bulk of the Jewish
deny that Israel has a right to sovereignty, to threats to Israel. Having succeded in one
raelis maintained a warm and spe-
communities in three other countries
and his argument was that the Jewish state of the most dastardly acts at UNESCO the
cial relationship with black Africa.
immigrated to- Israel up to December
Arab
states
now
are
mouthing
additional
Israelis helped Ghana set up its
was not entitled to aid for defense from the
1951. They were:
threats. They include preparation for the
United States.
navy, the Ivory Coast build its tour-
.
. Aden
3,155
A heartening aspect in the tense situation ousting 'of Israel from the International La-
ist hotels, Tanzania establish its col-
Yemen
45,199
involving the frequently uttered warnings of bor Organization (ILO) as well as the World
lective villages. Drawing upon its
Iraq
121,512
own experience with inhospitable
an erosion in American interest in Israel's Health Organization (WHO) and there are
These
are
facts
not
to
be
ignored
when the
safety and survival is that even the least even preparations to attempt the expulson of
soil, Israelis worked in agricultural over-all-issue affecting the peace of the Mid-
Israel
from
the
United
Nations.
programs in almost almost every dle East will be dealt with. Not recorded
cooperative, like Senator . Mike Mansfield,
Th
These
are the roots of viciousness that t un-
black. African country, and here is the immense wealth lost by the Jew-
said that the 76 Senators were too
hasty in their appeal to President Ford, sug- doubtedly contribute towards the rejection
hundreds of black Africans were ish escapees from persecutions in Moslem
gesting that they should have waited. Taking of prejudices and assumption of positive
brought to Israel to be trained in countries. Will that, too, eventually be con-
con-
technolo gy and management. Unlike sidered?
a similar stand, Illinois Senator Charles steps like those of the 76 U.S. Senators from
the great industrial powers, Israel
Percy went a long way in reiterating friend- 46 states in the Union.
ship for Israel , althou gh sugge§ting a return th Is it possible that the Arab potentates and
had neither a history of African colo- Evenhandedness Can Be Evil
their propagandists do not understand the
nialism nor the economic-military
to the 1967 lines. Senator Percy -
Evenhandedness, when abused by bad edi-
was
ada-
basics
of
simple
justice
which
block
their
might to be threatening. The Afri- tonal judgment, IS evil. This was proven by
mant in his demand for freedom of passage
for flag-bearing Israeli cargoes through the aims to destroy Israel?
cans were comfortable with the Is- the untruthful, viciously hate-inspiring let-
An added comment is in order about
raelis, who seemed to be asking little ter in the Detroit News Sunday edition. The
Suez and for recognition of Israel's sover-
eignty by all of the Arab states, including UNESCO, the United Nations Scientific and
in return besides friendship.
tendency to be impartial in granting space to
the PLO. He did not approve immediate seat- Cultural Organization whose shocking at-
"It is that friendship which the expressions of opinion on the Middle East is-
ing of the PLO at the anticipated Geneva tacks on Israel aroused the protests of the
black Africans repudiated under in- sues can not be criticized. But when a writer
world's most distinguished leaders in art,
conference.
creasingly intense Arab political resorts to hatred the editor handling the let-
Nevertheless there also was an unfortun- science and literature. The charges that had
pressure and, finally, the imposition ter owes a duty to his readers to exercise
of the oil embargo during the Yom discretion.
ate element in the senatorial action which been leveled at Israel that excavations con-
was played up sensationally by the media. ducted near the holy places in Jerusalem
Kippur war. One by one, every black
It was not merely the accusation that com-
Announcing the letter by the large numbers were ruining historic sites were rejected as
African countr y! , broke diplomatic re- munism,stems from Tel Aviv (the Kremlin
of members of the U. S. Senate, the number- sheer nonsense. An interesting incident oc-
lations with Israel. In the United supplying arms to the Arabs thus is digni-
ter on Detroit's Station WJR at 4 p.m. May cured. The eminent French author, Simone
Nations and in other forums, the fied as non-communist) that made the abu-
22 commenced by editorializing with the de Beauvoir broke a principled precedence of
black Africans have faithfully fol- sive letter so destructive. An appeal for a
comment that "an attempt to pressure" refusing to travel to receive awards and she
lowed theArabs' anti-Israeli line — people's destruction should be treated as
the President was being made by 75 Sena- came to the Holy City during the Jerusalem
while pointing out, along with their garbage, and the Detroit News Editor has
tors (at that point there already were 76 sig- Book Fair to accept a $2,000 prize. She made
other grievances, that the Arabs earned a rebuke for contributing to an insult
natures to the letter to the President). The her trip in order to be able to express her
have shown scarcely any interest in to human decency by giving space to that
indignation at the UNESCO action in the
their own struggles against white type of evil.
attempt to pressure" accusation, uncalled very land which was abused so disgracefully
for even by a prejudiced propagandist for en- by UNESCO's yield to Arab pressures.
envies of Israel, was an insult to the highest
The come
67-year-old
Miss
American legislative body. It could be viewed had
to Israel
to De
ex Beauvior said she
ress her disgust
g
as an unintentional blunder, as an indiscre-
with UNESCO and her support
tion that need not be viewed as harmful. But of Israel. Commenting on the for the state
it does echo an attitude of caution when deal- that Israel was endangering the accusations
historical
ing with anything favorable to Israel while, monuments and structures with the cur-
in the process of seeking "even-handedness," rently conducted diggings, as charged by the
On April 9, 1940, Rabbi Abraham Jacob- group of Americans on a tour of Scandinavia
there is always a free road to whatever the Arabs at UNESCO, Miss De Beauvior, after son of the small Jewish community in Tron- that has a three-fold purpose: to thank Scan-
Arabs
wish of to even-handedness
pr agate. touring i the sides involved in the charges, dheim, Norway was in Sweden to obtain dinavians for their rescue of Jews during
This may
business
was
kosher meat for his congregants, the most World War II, to visit places of Jewish inter-
is true." '
pp
under discussion at the annual convention in s said: "Nonsense. The opposite
northerly Jewish community in the world. est in Denmark, Finland, Norway and
Washington of the National Association of
As he journeyed homeward, his mission Sweden, and to combine this with the scenic
Israel and the Africans
Arab-Americans. In ,Near East Report, its
i
completed, a Swedish frontier guard broke and cultural attractions of the four coun-
very able Editor Emeritus I. L. Kenen gave
Another aspect of the Arab-Israel conflict the news to him that the Nazis had just in- tries.
an account of the grievances that were ex- that is gaining new consideration is the rela- vaded Norway and Rabbi Jacobson had bet-
As Rabbi Werbell points out, 1975 is a
pressed in viewing the media and the man- tionship of Israel with the African states.ter remain in Sweden.
propitious
year for Jews to visit Scandina-
ner in which spdkesmen for press, radio and For years Israel provided assistance to the
Thus, the rabbi of Trondheim became one via, because it marks 200 years since King
television stressed their even-handedness in underdeveloped nations. But Arab pressure of thousands of Scandinavian Jews who Gustav
III of Sweden gave Aron Isak of
treating the Middle East situation. Perhaps in recent years resulted in an abandonment owed their survival to a combination of Mecklenburg permission to settle in
there is less cause for complaints by the Jew- of friendship for Israel by many of the black Swedish hospitality and the bravery of Dan- Stockholm and hold religious services
ish community, since, admittedly, whenever nations. Now the latter have come to realize ish and Norwegian patriots.
there.
there are abusive effusions from Israel's ene- that they are not receiving minutest comfort
Thirty-five years later, Rabbi Jacobson's
A Werbell,
detailed tour
brochure
available
mies there is usually available time to pre- for their many needs from the Arabs and a grandson, the Swedish-born American Rabbi
Room
1223, is 500
Fifth from
AV-
sent the Jewish and the Israeli viewpoints. change in attitude is foreseen in many areas. rabbi, Frederick E. Werbell, is leading a enue, New York, N.Y. 10036.

-

NY Rabbi's Scandinavian Tour,
Honors World War II Efforts

