32 Friday, August 15, 1975
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
•
Israel Labor and Economic Pioneer Pinhas Sapir
(Continued from Page 1)
iste• of Finance. The two
men worked in tandem for a
decade, steering the econ-
omy through a period of
growth which experts have
classified as fantastic.
When Eshkol took over
the premiership in 1963 Sa-
pir was the natural choice to
succeed him at the Finance
Ministry. He held the post,
with one brief intermission,
until resigning when Golda
Meir stepped down from the
premiership.
Political pundits were
united at that time in their
opinion that Sapir could
have had the premiership
for the taking — but he re-
fused, and put the full
weight of his influence in
the Labor Party behind Yit-
zhak Rabin's candidacy.
Sapir's organizational
prowess came to the notice
of Ben-Gurion, who soon en-
trusted him with various de-
fense tasks on behalf of the
state-in-the-making.
After independence was
declared in 1948 Sapir was
sent abroad on arms-buy-
ing missions. A year later
he returned to become the
director-general of the
Defense Ministry. Later
he moved to the same post
in the Finance Ministry,
then headed by Eliezer Ka-
plan.
In 1953 Sapir entered the
cabinet — as Minister for
trade and Commerce with
Eshkol his superior as Min-
With the Jewish Agency
chairmanship vacant since
Pincus' death shortly be-
fore, Sapir looked to this
task as a new challenge.
Americana Complex 1, 2, He circled the world in
prodigious fund-raising
3, 4
.Greenfield N. of 9 ■ Iile
5.'9-27_30: and aliya-encouragement
t THE 1•FERS IN ONE lll
efforts.
MOVIE
GUIDE
among wide sections of
public opinion against cor-
ruption in economic af-
fairs and against Tam-
many Hall-style politics
often focused on "Sa-
pirism" as its chief target.
He attracted many big
investors — through the
"economic conference"
which he established in
1973 and through his di-
versified contacts
throughout the world, but
by the same token he came
to exercise a powerful
measure of control over
the direction and place-
ment of investments
which, his adversaries
said, he used for political
ends.
The man himself was
spotless. His enemies — and
he had many — could never
pin a sordid or besmirching
accusation upon him. He
lived modestly and quietly. ,
But, it was said, the in-
tense concentration of polit-
ical and economic power in
By no means were all the
his hands led to a pattern of charges levelled against him
paternalism in the economy ever substantiated. It was
and bossism in the Labor alleged that he was inti-
movement which grew to mately linked with impris-
unhealthy proportions.
oned financier Michael Tzur
In his heyday he could — but he denied all knowl-
seal the fate of multi-mil- edge of Tzur's crimes — and
lion dollar ventures with a no links were ever proven.
word, a command, a recom-
His "Sapir Fund" which
mendation.
has already raised $600 mil-
lion abroad for welfare pro-
jects in Israel was assailed
by the press — but no blem-
ish was found on it. Sapir
insisted that it be examined
by the State Comptroller.
Only last week he proudly
presented plans for the
Fund's:next five years — in
which he envisaged another
$500 million being allocated
for welfare and education of
disadvantaged youth — all
under the watchful eyes of
the State Comptroller and
of a special Jewish Agency-
government committee.
The great riddle of his
career was his reluctance
to assume the premier-
ship. He could have had it
in 1969, when Eshkol died,
and again In 1974.
Some said he simply
feared the awesome respon-
sibility of war and peace. He
felt he was not sufficiently
qualified in political and
military affairs.
Some said he preferred to
influence policy from be-
hind the scenes. But during
Golda Meir's premiership,
although his loyalty to her
was unswerving, his influ-
ence beyond the economic
sphere was limited. He .)
headed the doves inside La-
bor — but the Golda-Day" ,-.
Galili hawkish - line h
sway despite Sapir's re-
peated warnings that to re-
tain the occupied West Bank
would mean moral disaster
for the Jewish state.
To his dying day he never
tired of echoing Ben-Gur-
ion's warnings — that the
future of Israel would be
best protected, best en-
sured, by a substantial
growth, through Aliya, of
its Jewish population.
Rabin Sees Sinai Accord With Egypt as Test
(Continued from Page 1)
ment to Israel covering Is- a pledge from Egyptian
Kissinger flew to Vail,
rael's second withdrawal in President Anwar Sadat that
at 1:00—$1
the Sinai was believed to be he will not oppose the con- Colo. today to spend the
weekend with President
Several ministers quer- the main element of discus- tinuation of United Nations Ford.
"JAWS" (PG)
ied the "optimism" that sion between State Depart- buffer forces in the Sinai for
"A WOMAN UNDER
has been reflected by Is- ment and Israeli Foreign the next three years. The
* * *
THE INFLUENCE" (R)
raeli media this past week Ministry leaders in a series language of the Ford letter
in connection with the in- of high level bilateral meet- that would commit Egypt is Dayan Wants
"THE
terim
settlement negotia- ings this week. a main element of the 4-Sided Accord
DROWNING POOL" (PG)
Department spokesman Washington talks.
tions. At a five-hour Cabi-
TEL AVIV (JTA) — For-
net session Sunday, these Robert, Funseth acknowl-
"FUNNY LADY" (PG)
Informed sources indi-
ministers — mostly on the edged that he was unaware cated the military aspects mer Defense Minister
12
Moshe Dayan has declared
"hawkish" wing of the of parallel discussions be-
of the second Sinai with-
BERKLEY
that Israel should seek si-
Cabinet — said the opti- tween the-U.S. and Egypt drawal have been corn-
EVERY SUNDAY THRU THURS.
mism was not borne out by although he noted Washing- pleted although the for- multaneous agreements
ARE BARGAIN NITES
the facts as they now ton is "in communication"
malities of some language with Egypt, Syria and the
heard them. Furthermore, with the Cairo government.
remains. Israel will re- Soviet Union or remain in
ALL SEATS $ 1.00-
it was tactically unwise to This lent substance to the
NO COUPONS ACCEPTED.
treat to east of the Mitle her present position.
Speaking at Kibbutz Gi-
evince optimism when the speculation that what the and Gidi passes and give
FRIDAY AND SAT.
Israelis and Americans are
vat
Haim, Dayan said Secre-
talks
were
still
uncon-
up
the
oil
fields
while
a
2 for 1 coupons accepted with
talking about is the nature
eluded.
few Americans will moni- tary of State Henry A. Kis-
regular admission prices.
The criticism of the media of an -American assurance for some electronic equip- singer's step-by-step
WEEKDAYS OPEN 6:45
was by implication a criti- against further Egyptian ment between the new approach will not bring a so-
Return by popular demand 1
cism of Premier Yitzhak Ra- inroads in the Sinai for a lines, according to these lution since it is only a with-
week only. Agatha Christies mys-
drawal followed by a tempo-
bin and the ministerial ne- stipulated period.
sources.
tery. Murder on the Orient Ex-
Some said that Rabin
rary cooling-off period.
gotiating
team
since
it
was
press. PG. at 7 & 9:15.
Tuesday the negotiators
Repeating his opposition
apparent to all that the wants a letter from Presi-
Fri. & Sat. Open at 7 P.M.
met for two hours and after- to the' interim agreement,
media's optimism had been dent Ford that would assert
at 7:15 & 9:30
* * *
.
wards Kissinger gave Israeli Dayan, who is still a Labor
guided by . official briefings.
Sun. Open at 2:15
The still ongoing cam-
Ambassador Simha Dinitz MK, said even if the agree-
at 2:30, 4:45, 7 &-_9:,15.
Some
"doveish"
ministers,
paign in the press and on the other hand, seemed
the Egyptian response to ment is reached with Egypt,
Rabbi Hits U.S.
comfortable with the ex- M.E. 'Reassessment the latest Israeli proposals. Syria will not sit by idly and
The contents were not dis- the Soviet Union will con-
pressions of optimism —
closed.
tinue to meddle in the re-
and indeed felt confident
NEW YORK, (JTA) —
YOU
that the settlement talks Rabbi Israel Miller, chair-
Under questioning, Fun- gion.
He said that if the Arab
were nearing a successful man of the Conference of seth continued to say that
conclusion.
Presidents of Major Ameri- the political talks are "still states are not ready to sign
_ The Cabinet did not dis- can Jewish Organizations, preliminary" and a "part of_ a peace agreement with Is-
T HE
cuss Secretary of State said this week "the Admin- the whole process" of nego- rael then Israel should
Henry A. Kissinger's widely istration is playing with fire tiation. He would not con- strive, for a non-belliger-
reported desire to begin a by promoting the sale of firm persistent reports that ence accord.
For this, Dayan said, he
shuttle trip to wind up the huge amounts of arms to rooms have been reserved at
negotiations next week.
the Arab world while delay- the King David Hotel in Je- would be willing to give up
There was apparentrN' ing consideration of new rusalem for Kissinger who half the Sinai and some
some concern that the talks Israeli requests pending the is understood to be ready to areas of the Golan
would not yet have reached completion of the 'reas- renew his shuttle diplomacy Heights.
He said there was no dif-
the "90 per‘cent certainty" sessment' 'of American pol- next week if the two sides
SUN. thru THURS. ALL SEATS S1.00
stage by then that Kissinger icy in the Middle East."
are close together. Kissinger ference between withdraw-
FRI. and SAT. ADULTS S2.00 CHILDREN S1.00
had demanded before he
He said it is "time to stop" said he would decide on an- ing from the Abu Rodeis oil-
undertakes a shuttle. One this "dangerous game." He other shuttle within 10 fields or from a settled area
on the Golan Heights if that
well-placed observer noted issued this statement in re- days.
meant peace.
that if Kissinger decides to sponse to the State Depart-
Stationing of American
come, Israel can hardly de- ment's admission that
personnel in the Sinai to
* * *
mur.
"certain" military items are operate
early-warning ra-
But officials stressed not being delivered to Israel.
dar stations has become a Flexibility Needed
An all
that the assessment of the
Rabbi Miller said delicate U.S. issue.
situation
—
in
percentage
"American military sales to
NEW film...
WASHINGTON, (JTA) —
points of success likeli- the Arab world, when added
State Department spokes- President Ford said last
hood — must be the Secre-
to the vast Arab arms pur- man Robert Funseth said week'that both Israel and
tary's own. There is chases from Britain and
that the White House would Egypt have to he flexible in
plainly a sense of appre- France, are rapidly chang- consult with the leadership achieving a peace agreement
Charlatan
hension here lest Kissin- ing the balance of power in in Congress this week on the and that a fifth Arab-Israeli
Jathes
Heston
"SKYJACK" (PG)
ger come, shuttle, depart
the Middle East in the Ar- "overall agreement" and war may bring a confronta-
Brolin
without an agreement, abs' favor, diminishing Is- that Kissinger has met with
422 S. WASHINGTON, ROYAL OAK
tion between the United
and again blame Israel for
rael's ability to deter attack Senate Foreign Relations States and the Soviet Union.
541.-0092
the failure.
and thus threatening to Committee Chairman John
He .spoke in an interview
In Washington, the extent plunge the Middle East into Sparkman (D-Ala.) and oth- on the Public Broadcast
of a U.S. political commit- another war."
ers in Congress about it.
System's 150 stations.
vil. 1I 1TINEES tEL
TIIE1TERS-1 Show only
His wife Shoshana died in
1971 — a blow from which
Sapir never fully recovered.
Late last year he married
Rifka el-Natan, a jolly Jeru-
salem widOw in her fifties
who had been active in La-
bor Party politics in the cap-
ital.
He leaves her widowed
again and reportedly un-
well, and also a son, two
daughters, and grandchil-
dren whom he dearly loved
and spent as much time
with as he could.
Pinhas Sapir bestrode Is-
raeli politics and economics
for two decades. His
achievements were legion,
but this powerhouse of ac-
tivity, never idle, working 15
hours a day without rest,
running the country — so it
was widely said — out of his
"little black notebook" —
generated severe criticism,
especially in his later years.
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