2 January 23, 1976
• THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Unconscionable Criticisms
With the Critics Who Would Deprive Us of Pride
and the Normality of Jewish Propaganda . . . As-
sembled Facts to Define Status of Jews Among the Arabs.
United Nations must be strengthened, the legitimate
and national rights of the Palestinians must be
Critics of Israel are multiplying by the scores. Some
firmly grounded, and all UN reolutions concerning
are exceedingly tough. That does not make them anti-Sem-
Palestine back to 1947 — that is, back to the Parti-
ites. Jews also criticize Israel and if ever Jews were to cease
tion Plan — must be mobilized against Israel. The
being self-critical it would be a calamity.
Palestinian question must never again be dealt with
But there are varieties and multiple stages in criticism
in the United Nations as a mere refugee problem,
and much of it needs to be studied.
but must be handled with a view to a separate Pales-
Some critics go overboard out of a desire to be even-
tinian state.
handed, without measuring conditions that demand greater
DIE ZEIT: Would this also create a basis for
rationalizing.
recognition by the PLO of a separate Israeli state, of
A typical example of haste in judgment was Gary
Israel's right to exist?
Wills' "Israel's Bad Conscience" in the Free Press. How can
MUSHIN: I don't like to answer this question.
a man, in these trying times, when the only slogan heard
If Israel remains what it is — a racist, Zionist, impe-
from the Arabs is "Destroy Israel" equate "conscience" with
rialist state — all it will get from our side is bullets
the right to self-defense? Wouldn't a human being be un-
and shells. Not until Israel has become something
conscionable to himself if he did not defend himself when
different will the Jews see our faces and, indeed, our
the knife is at his throat held by those professing to be
outstretched hands — not unless they are ready for
friends? Isn't this the situation for the People Israel that
peaceful dialogue with us, so as to create with us the
must defend itself while nations claiming to be endorsing
democratic, secular state of Palestine. We want to
the nation's sovereignty—England, France, Sweden, Rus-
co-exist with them, in a unified state or a state with
sia, Japan — are stabbing the state in the back?
two cantons. We don't want to throw them into the
Another example: the Detroit Free Press editorial com-
sea
or drive them into the desert.
ment about Israel "swallowing pride." There is no obliga-
DIE ZEIT: But that really amounts to denying
tion on anyone's part to flatter Israel, to pat the people af-
them the right of existence in a state of their own,
fectionately. But this people, the Israelis, stand alone. They
doesn't it?
have only Uncle Sam to provide defense against a cutthroat
MUHSIN: They will have to accept this even-
situation in the international forum and on war-threaten-
tually. Our right of existence in all of Palestine
ing borders. Isn't it possible for Americans with a tradition
comes first.
for fair play to back up their government in a stand for
DIE ZEIT: And a Palestinian state confined to
justice for the Jew and for Israel?
the formerly Jordanian West Bank of Gaza would
So, there also is a begrudging of Pride . What's the sub-
not satisfy these juristic claims?
stitute for it? If it is suicide, haven't the naive learned the
MUHSIN: No, never. We want back every piece
lesson of history that it has no place in Jewish tradition?
of land, every field, every village and every house
It has been evident that the Detroit News editorials
that was ever ours. We will not yield on that. Right,
have been more rational than those of the Free Press, that
natural right, is on our side.
the former often adopted the courageous stance of a Daniel
DIE ZEIT: Can one put it to the Israelis to com-
Patrick Moynihan while the latter sought appeasement
mit this sort of national suicide?
which has no place in a battle for justice. How sad that two
MUHSIN: They will have to learn to under-
competing newspapers must be judged so bluntly.
stand, but they won't understand until they change
their outlook. That will happen when they are down
We, the Propagandists
on their knees before us, when we have smashed
This assertion of a right to self-defense is not made
them to pieces by force of arms.
without the realization that it will be branded "Jewish
DIE ZEIT: In other words, peace is not in sight?
propaganda." Let it be so, but let it be understood as the
MUHSIN: For now, neither war nor peace. And
right to protect the people that refuses to submit to plans
in the future, war again, new wars. It's inevitable.
for its suicide, for a nation that proclaims a "never again"
Such are the facts Israel must contend with, and if
attitude towards those who would introduce another geno-
what Jews say in viewing them is propaganda, then so be it.
cide.
When Dr. Rafael Lemkin, the Jewish scholar, coined But let the fair-minded in this land judge Israel and Jewry
according to the standards of American traditions.
the term genocide, he was issuing a warning not in behalf
of fellow Jews alone but for mankind.
Anyone who permits genocide for others may well in- Some More Propaganda
Admittedly propagandistic, more is introduced here to
vite it for his own people.
Jews were the first victims of Nazism. Then came enlighten those who are puzzled by the avalanche of hatred
Christianity and all mankind. The Grand Mufti of Jerusa- that has invaded the international forum of the UN and has
lem, Haj Amin el Hussein, Anwar el Sadat and other Arabs misled many editors and news analysts.
There are the audacious statements at the UN Security
collaborated with Hitler, but there were Moslems who knew
what the Nazi crime meant for humanity and Islam is not Council that Arabs do not intend to harm Jews: they are
linked with the criminals, even if Moslems were among the only against the Zionists; the claim advanced is that Arabs
have, for 1,300 years, lived in peace with Jews and treated
latter.
This point was made before and need not be elaborated them well. Let the facts be known on this score. An authori-
tative historian provides this background data on the
upon.
*
*
*
subject:
At times, Jews — and Christians — have lived
The Venom in Classrooms
comfortably in the Arab world. Yet even in good
The matter of propaganda and self-defense does need
times life in the Arab world was precarious for Jews
elaboration.
— if less so than during certain eras in Christian
The proof is where guilt for the spread of venom should
Europe. In Spain, for example, the Jews of the prin-
be anathema. There is much guilt on the campuses and in
cipality of Granada enjoyed high status; a Jew,
university Middle East and Near East departments.
Samuel ibn-Nagrela, was a vizier and commanded
The poisoning of minds is at our very doorsteps. There
the armed forces. But in 1066 a Moslem mob rose
are such classes at the University of Michigan and the facts
against the prosperous infidels; 3,000 Jews were
must be known. There is a portion of a department dealing
killed,
and the rest fled.
with the Middle East where Israel is defined in most venom-
Moslem religious, legal and historical tradition
ous terms. Students report that the PLO had its approval
has been deeply ambivalent about nonconforming
there before it was welcomed to the UN. But when students
faiths ever since Mohammed laid down his teach-
brought The Jewish News articles as evidence of an Israel
ings in the Koran. Although his doctrine, like the
role in the Middle East they were shunned with the com-
precepts of other faiths, has been modified by vary-
ment that the JN is Jewish propaganda. And in imme-
ing emphases and interpretations over the centu-
diate pursuit was an avalanche of Arab publications which
ries, it is still the basic standard of Arab ethical and
the students were expected to accept as truths and realities.
Therefore the reassertion of the right to self-defense
social values.
through factual Jewish propaganda. A people threatened
The Koran sanctions toleration of certain reli-
with destruction must have defense and they are our
gions that claim to be based on divine revelation,
people.
notably Judaism and Christianity. Their adherents
There is also the reality and the fact of a frightful situ-
— known as "people of the Book," i.e., believers in
ation which threatens the security not of Jews alone but of
holy writ and in one God — are not to be forcibly
the entire Middle East. In these columns — call them prop-
converted and may worship in their own way as long
aganda if so de'sired — the facts are based on the declara-
as they accept the sovereignty of their Moslem rul-
tions of Arab spokesmen. The intention is to show the ex-
ers. But the dissenting faiths are in no way to be
tent of the Arab plan to destroy Israel. If this is propaganda
considered on a par with Islam, which is expected to
it certainly is not of the Jewish making but of Arab blood-
supersede them altogether.
thirstiness, as the following, the complete text of an inter-
After Mohammed's death, the Arabs explosively
view by the West German magazine Die Zett, with Zuhayr
extended their domain until it reached from the In-
Muhsin, who calls himself the PLO "defense minister":
dus Valley to the Atlantic. War on unbelievers be-
DIE ZEIT: What will be the PLO's objectives
came virtually a religious duty. It was expected that
when it participates in the Security Council's Near
eventually the whole world would be converted.
Meanwhile, the treatment of the millions of uncon-
East debate, scheduled for Jan. 12, 1976?
verted Christians and Jews was defined in a body of
MUHSIN: . . . The positions of the PLO in the
By Philip
Slomovitz
local or regional laws and agreements, collectively
known as the Pact or Covenant of Omar.
The Pact is based on the Koran's prescriptions.
Although the rules varied, the general principle was
that adherents of tolerated religions, known as
dhimmis, were to be "protected" only as long as
they paid tribute and kept their place. They had no
control over their destinies; any special privileges
they enjoyed were by definition revocable.
Under laws of the Pact of Omar dhimmis were
excluded from public office and armed service. They
were forbidden to own arms, hence defenseless
against violence. They could ride no horses, only
donkeys or mules. No matter how poor, they had to
pay heavy special taxes, which were often collected
in humiliating ways. Non-Moslem farmers paid dis-
criminatory land taxes and were forbidden to bring
new land under cultivation. As a result, dense
Christian settlements in parts of the Mideast It
ually disappeared.
Even in tranquil times, the restrictions re-
mained on the books, and the illiterate Moslem mas-
ses remained imbued with the idea that they had a
right to be better off than unbelievers. By becoming
rich, powerful or proud, dhimmis could easily in-
flame the mob, which was quick to envy and vio-
lence, and thus Jewish communities often paid
dearly for their leaders' good fortune.
During recent centuries, as European power
took hold in much of the Arab world, oppression was
mitigated to some degree. By the 19th Century, Jews
in a number of Moslem countries had achieved citi-
zenship, a lively cultural life and sometimes pros-
perity. But where European dominance did not pen-
etrate, as in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, nothing
changed.
In their attitudes toward non-Moslems in their
midst, many of the Arab nations are virtually still in
the Middle Ages. And as long as they are, their as-
sertions of old friendship for Jewry and their prom-
ises of equality and democracy will have a hollow
ring.
Would that the Arab claims were true. Then they
would be applicable to the present time and Jews and Arabs
would, as they can, live together in harmony. But Arabs
also claims that Israelis — Zionists! . . . Jews! — mistreat
them. There are facts on that score as well. Israeli law does
not discriminate and the charges are refutable.
In a study prepared for the Institute of Jewish Affairs
and the World Jewish Congress by Dr. Natan Lerner, an
eminent Israeli academician and legal authority, the follow-
ing is outlined:
The Declaration of the Establishment of the
State of Israel, issued by the Provisional Council on
May 14, 1948, determines that: the state "will en-
sure complete equality of social and political rights
to all its inhabitants, irrespective" of religion, race or
sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, consci-
ence, language, education and culture . . .
As to political rights, elections to the Knesset
are general, secret, proportional, the whole country
constituting one single electoral unit. Arab partici-
pation in the elections oscillates around 85 percent,
a percentage undoubtedly high in a country where
the vote is not obligatory and abstention carries no
sanction, and where moreover Arabs are urged from
abroad not to vote.
Freedom of expression was not curtailed even in
the case of publications vigorously attacking the
foundations of the state; the Arabic dailies appear-
ing in Jerusalem are not less free than the Hebrew
press.
As to freedom of religion and worship, no com-
plaints have ever been made by minorities. In ac-
cordance with the prevailing system, mainly inher-
ited from the time of the Mandate, recognized
minorities have sole jurisdiction over all matters of
religion and personal status. Thus, Moslem reli-
gious judges have exclusive jurisdiction in all cases
of marriage and divorce, alimony, guardianship,
wills, etc., their jurisdiction being even wider than
that of judges of the Jewish Rabbinical Court, which
is only competent when the parties agree to it.
In the field of education, Israeli Arabs have--p-
arate schools in Arabic in their towns and villages,
without prejudice to their right also to attend gen-
eral Jewish schools. The Law on Compulsory Edu-
cation applies fully to the Arab sector.
In terms of citizenship, all Palestine citizens
who remained in Israel were automatically granted
full citizenship, and residents of the area who fled
are exempt from the requirement of having some
knowledge of Hebrew.
Propaganda?
Certainly! But it is propaganda stating facts, without
ignoring the arguments of the enemy; propaganda in de-
fense of life: propaganda for the protection of the people
whose very existence is endangered.
And on these scores apologies are unnecessary.