2 Friday, August 1, 1975
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
`Moderation' in the
Duping of the Media
Are the media, newspapers, commentators, television
and radio newscasters being duped by the distortions re-
garding the so-called Arab "moderation." A delusion that
has led many American legislators and important personal-
ities in the media to fall into the trap of believing that An-
war Sadat is a moderate, and some have even contended
that Yassir Arafat has turned to moderation.
It is this sort of delusion that may prove very damaging
to the pursuit of truth regarding developments in the Mid-
dle East. The more the important newscasters keep empha-
sizing the myth. of "moderation" the more difficult will be
the task of convincing the American people that Israel, in
its anxiety for peace, keeps conceding the Arab demands for
withdrawals from protective areas that have been secured
in the 1967 war while failing to get assurances of good will
and abandonment of war aims by the Arab rulers.
This is a most distressing expose of what should have
been so evident on many occasions when Arab fables sought
to mislead the American people, while the saber-rattling
and the greedy rejection of the Jewish will to live in a tiny
area was being denied to them. Yet men who have held high
ranks in the government of this country and in Congress
continue to give credence to the "moderation" theme. For-
mer U. S. Senator J. William Fulbright, Senator Charles
Percy and Senator George McGovern are among those who
have fallen prey to the "moderation" claim.
I. L. Kenen, writing in Near East Report, has taken
care of the Fulbright myth. He has dealt with Fulbright for
many years during his career as Israel's defender in Wash-
ington and, writing "Fulbright Turns to Fantasy," he has
stated:
How Sad the Role of Libertarians When They
Give Status of 'Moderation' to Barbarians . . .
St. John Renders Service . . . Yost's Blunders
An important analysis of the question in Israel Digest,
under the title "Are the Arabs Duping U. S. TV and the
Press" by Edith Eft-on contains revealing information re-
garding the conditions that are now in evidence when the
Middle East is discussed by newscasters and commenta-
tors. Here is a portion of the Israel Digest article that has
special significance in relation to the "moderation" claim:
By Philip
Slomovitz
amining the deadly weapOns they carry while mouthing
sanctimoniously? Even if only a few will be guided to real-
ism and to truth, the record must be set straight. Israel's
position is too grave to brook continuation of falsehoods and
misrepresentations aimed at alienating friendships for the
embattled little state whose desire is for freedom to live
without the constant need for sufficient defensive weapons.
Complacence: St. John Warning
Well, the answer is out now. An extraordinary
expose of what lies behind Egyptian "moderation"
has appeared in the May Commentary magazine,
To he complacent is to yield to terror. Robert St. John's
published by the American Jewish Committee; it powerful address Sunday to the men's clubs of Conservative
was written by Joan Peters.
Judaism provides a program for action as well as warni -
Mrs. Peters is a former staff writer for the
against complacency. His address is timely, his advice 1.vi
Chicago Daily News who has published pieces
It re-imposes an obligation on all Jews to beware of trouble
about the Middle East in the New Republic and the
by being active against any and every manifestation of bigo-
New Leader; and she is the free-lance producer-
try. anti-Semitism and for a friendship rooted in a sense of
narrator-writer of the two dozen CBS radio mini- justice.
documentaries on the October 1973 war — the se-
ries called "The War and its Aftermath." She re-
Facts Yost Ignored About Jordan
turned just recently from Egypt, where she went to
Charles W. Yost, who has held responsible posts in the
cover the story of the new "moderation." Her re-
United Nations as the U.S. chief delegate, has not helped
port, based on massive interviewing of people in all
classes, is called "In Search of Moderate Egyp- relieve tensions in the Middle East with his report on his
visit to Amman. He can feel as glorious as he wishes in his
tians." And to sum it up in one phrase: she found
expression of having been privileged to be received by Hus-
none.
sein and his government officials. But there could have been
Her article documents the lack of "psycho-
room for an explanation that Hussein, who is often por-
logical" change in Egypt, in shocking fashion. The
trayed by men like Yost as a peace-lover could have averted
Peters tape recorder registers a sustained anti-
tragedy for himself and war for Jordan had he listened to
Semitic screech. Over and over again she heard
admonitions from Abba Eban and other Israelis not to en-
Egyptians fly into raging attacks against Jews, as
ter the conflict in 1967. Hussein invited the crushing results
such. They were described as "cold-blooded,"
when
he fired at the New City of Je r usalem, at the Hebrew
"blood-thirsty"; as trouble-makers, ever since the
University
and at the Hadassah Hospital. The result is
Biblical days of Abraham, who had brought incest known.
and social diseases to Egypt. Hitler's murder of six
In a distressingly short-sighted and deceptive
Where Yost fails especially is in his having completely
million Jews — the tragic source of the creation of
article appearing in the Washington Post (July 7),
ignored the truth about Jerusalem. He wrote of Hussein's
the -Jewish state — was dismissed as a "bore," an
former Senator J. W. Fulbright has resumed his
desire to establish an open Holy City but he did not indicate
irrelevancy, and was even obliquely defended. Pa-
role as a mouthpiece for Arab propaganda.
lestinian terrorists were lionized for the virtue of that Hussein had driven all Jews out of the Old City in 1948,
Fulbright nefariously asserts that U.S. sup-
that Jews were barred from the Western Wall, that syn-
killing Jews.
port for Israel endangers our oil supplies and af-
agogues were destroyed and tombstones from Mount Sco-
Over and over again, she heard the ancient
fects oil prices. Such a linkage, however, has been
pus used for sidewalks and in latrines. Yost knows about
and untrue anti-Semitic line portraying Jews as a
repeatedly denied by Secretary of State Kissinger
them. His syndicated report didn't indicate it. He has
sinister
international
force,
dominating
all
the
and is refuted by the facts.
thereby added to the grievances that are mounting up
nations in which they dwelt. She heard Egypt's
against Jordan.
More than one-half of total world oil produc-
Foreign Minister Fahmy fulminate against the
tion is by non-Arab OPEC members, impelled by
"Jewish lobby" in America which he declared was
Baruch Litvin's Memorable Labors
economic, not political, motives. Oil price hikes
guilty of "blackmail," "embezzlement" and of
long preceded the 1973 war. Furthermore, Euro-
depriving the U.S. of "freedom of action."
Baruch Litvin, the venerable Mt. Clemens Orthodox
pean, Asian, and African nations which supported
Over and over again, she heard violent attacks
scholar, was a remarkable man. He began as a radical, re-
the Arabs and even broke relations with Israel in
on Israel and on the U.S. for supporting Israel.
gained his, faith and dedicated himself to pursuing the most
1973, have received no price discounts or preferen-
President Sadat's press spokesman called the Is-
traditional Jewish needs. His defense of halakhic rules gave
tial treatment.
raeli Army "Hitlerian," and described Prime Min- him immense status in American Jewry. He could not have
Fulbright suggests that drastic energy conser-
ister Rabin as a "terrorist." Foreign Minister drawn overwhelming support for his views, but his consist-
vation measures are required "if we are to give all-
Fahmy's alleged affability to Israel dissolved into
ency merited the respect he gained in many quarters.
out support to current Israeli policy." But this goal
"angry accusatory shouting"; Israel, he declared,
His most notable achievement was his successful un-
must be actively pursued regardless of American
intended to grab all the land from the "Euphrates
dertaking to gather, translate where necessary and publish
support for Israel because no nation should be in a
to the Nile." "Israel," he said, "is against human
the views of the outstanding Jews in world Jewry on the
position to dictate our foreign policy. Bowing to
rights." U.S. support of Israel, he said, was both
question of "Jewish Identity," which is the title he used in
Arab demands, as Fulbright advocates, would only
"evil and futile," for "who will survive at the very
the book he financed and published. It contained all of the
invite further blackmail.
end? The 3,000,000 Israelis, or the 150 million Ar-
replies
to David Ben-Gurion on the question "Who is a
Fulbright's praise of Arafat as a "moderate"
abs?" Israel, she was told by prominent Egyp-
Jew?"
The
45 Jewish personalities represented form a veri-
is all the more outrageous now that the PLO has
tians, "had no right to exist."
table Who's Who of the world's most noted scholars and
taken credit for the barbaric massacre in Jerusa-
statesmen.
The ultimate intent to annihilate Israel reigns
lem's Zion Square.
intact in "moderate" Egypt. Indeed, says Joan Pe-
It was a sensational undertaking. Mr. Litvin had com-
Equally difficult to comprehend is his conten-
ters, that is the majority attitude. She spoke to no pleted his task when the eminent Sir Isaiah Berlin of Lon-
tion that "the principal Arab countries . . . are all
"extremists," to no "terrorists." And that attitude . don refused to permit his reply to be included in the pro-
led by moderate and responsible men . . . united in
is what really lies behind Egypt's diplomatic de-
posed book. Ben-Gurion then withdrew his permission for
a consensus for making peace with Israel . . ." If
mand for a rollback of Israeli borders, with no re-
the essays to he published. He finally relented and with the
so, why do Arab leaders still adamantly refuse to
ciprocal guarantee of nonbelligerency. The mean-
exception of Berlin, all the world leaders' opinions appear in
sit down in face-to-face negotiations with Israel?
ing of the "moderate" diplomatic posture — a
the volume and a significant aim became a reality, earning
Finally, although Fulbright assails Israel's
counterfeit "detente" — is widely understood by
front page space in this and other newspapers.
"intransigence," he insists, paradoxically, that
Egyptians. One group of intellectuals summed it
The man's sincerity was impressive and Inspiring. The
"Israel will be secure only when she gains accept-
up for Joan Peters with laughter: "Once the bor-
battle over the mehitza in the Mt. Clemens synagogue, his
ance as a normal state in the Middle East" and
ders are settled, Israel won't exist anymore. They
triumph in the courts, his strict adherence to halakhic
"the only secure borders are those which are ac-
know that, and we know it better. Apparently, only
rules aroused national interest. He wasn't liked by many
cepted by one's neighbors." This has been Israel's
American journalists do not know."
for his Mehitza stand, but even his opponents admitted an
position all along. Surely, if blessed by Fulbright,
Joan Peters told me this: "The American
honesty of approach to what he believed and for which he
it can hardly be considered an intransigent pos-
press has been offered a very clever hoax. The Ar-
was ready to make .sacrifices.
ture.
abs have finally understood that Americans re-
Indeed, Baruch Litvin became a memorable name. He
Yet Fulbright can hardly be expected to see the
spond favorably to the concept of 'moderation.'
was deeply interested in Israel, a grandson studies at the
difference between intransigence and flexibility.
That's the theme of their propaganda now. Mil-
Technion, his wife was a lifelong partner in a struggle
After his Sunday column in the Washington Star,
lions of dollars have been poured into propaganda.
which became a labor of love for them. The Litvin story is
we wonder if he sees the difference between fan-
The Arabs can win the war in this country — this,
eminently worth recording.
tasy and reality. Fulbright presents an absurd
to them, is the front that counts. And they have
scenario for the future in which American military
Damaged Patriotism
scored a major propaganda victory in our press.
support for Israel precipitates another Mideast
When I returned from the Middle East and again
war, a further oil embargo, and an eventual Amer-
Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield doesn't have a
heard all the talk of 'moderation,' I thought I was
monopoly on loyalty to the United States and on patriotism.
ican occupation of Arabian oilfields, leading to a
in the world of Orwell! It was Newspeak! If I
Why, commenting on the Greco-American "pressures" in
Vietnam-style quagmire complete with a flourish-
hadn't had my notes and tapes, I'd have thought I
ing anti-war movement at home.
the Turkish situation and the Jewish-American actions on
was losing my mind. I was hearing an entirely dif-
Israel in the Middle East situation was it necessary for him
There is no useful purpose in refuting Ful-
ferent story from the one I had gotten in Egypt."
to comment that even as a product of early Irish settlers in
bright's fantastic predictions as if they were facts.
It is scarcely news that our press can confuse
this country his loyalty was only to America? Why the im-
We are all too familiar with the erroneous assump-
rhetoric and substance. But the life of Israel is lit-
plication that there are dual loyalties when people — Amer-
tions upon which his views are based, and we la-
erally at stake. If the networks do not want to give
icans
as loyal as he is — are appealing for certain rights and
ment Fulbright's inability to discriminate, as other
Hitler the last sepulchral word, they will expose
in
support
of causes they believe in? Why does a leading
"anti-war" Senators have pointedly done, between
the lethal hypocrisy of the Arab "moderates," who
U.S. troop involvement in Southeast Asia and U.S.
Democrat harm a basic American idea of the right either to
merely mean by "moderation" that they wish to
commitment to a loyal democratic ally who desires
differ or to express views on emerging political and social
annihilate Israel tomorrow, rather than today.
only the necessary aid to defend herself and ensure ,,,, , W111 . 4
needs, even if they relate to foreign affairs? This type of
help tp,asimonish_ tegislator,s,and.the media not democracy from a leading Democrat leads only to auto-
her oWn'security and
to he duped by the soft talk of Israel's enemies without ex-
cracy.