Max Fisher's Political Acumen • - Premature Diplomacy • New Agnew Terrorism THE JEWISH NEWS A Weekly Review Commentary Page 2 VOL. LXIX, No. 22 For Want of Confidence: Panic-stricken Underestimate Israel's Will to live Editorial Page 4 f Jewish Events 9 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 424-8833 $10.00 Per Year ; This Issue 30c August 6, 1976 Israeli, Moslem Officers Confer; orkers Defying PLO at Border Argentina Releases Eight WZO Employes JERUSALEM (JTA) — The five World Zionist Organization shlikhim and the three Argentine Jewish employes of the WZO who were arrested in Cordoba, Argentina, July 22 have been released. Yosef Almogi, chairman of the WZO Executive, in a radio broadcast, thanked the Israel Foreign Ministry for handl- ing the situation so discreetly and successfully. The release was greeted with a sigh of relief by officials who had maintaineed the arrests were the result of a misunderstanding. All eight were arrested after attending a Zionist seminar in Cordoba. There is still no information as to the cause of the arrest. The release came after diplomatic efforts in Jerusalem and Buenos Aires and two days after three major Argentine Jewish groups had an- nounced that they had asked the Argentine gov- ernment to free the eight prisoners. The DAIA, the central body of Argentine Jewry, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Argentina and the Argentine Zionist Organiza- tion said in a communique Monday that the ar- rest had "caused justified concern in the (Jewish) community" and had noted that the eight Jews were devoted exclusively to teaching and spread- ing Jewish and Zionist values. In Israel, the official efforts for the release of the WZO represethatives were handled entirely bY the Foreign Ministry through Ram Nir Gad, the Israeli Ambassador in Buenos Aires. He met with the Argentine foreign minister, interior minister and chief of staff among others. A Jewish Agency spokesman said that there is no reason why the shilkhim should not resume their work in Argentina since they had been re- leased without any conditions. It was learned that one of the shlikhim, Amnon Rudin, whose father is an Israeli police official, called his pa- rents in Jerusalem to tell them he was safe and ready to continue with his mission in Argentina. The other shlikhim are Mr. and Mrs. Yitzhak Estrugo of Kibutz Bahan and Mr. and Mrs. Yosef Pick of Tel Aviv, who had immigrated to Israel from Argentina. The names of the three Argen- tine Jews were never released. (Continued on Page 7) TEL AVIV (JTA) — A common desire to keep Syria out of southern Lebanon is the reason given for the talks that Israeli officers have been having with the officers of the Arab Lebanese Army, the group that has been fighting with the Palestine Liberation Organization against Lebanese Christian forces. It was revealed Tuesday that the meetings had been held at Rosh Hanikra, the high cliff overlook- ing the Mediterranean at the Israeli-Lebanese border. The last meeting was held on the Israeli side at the Panoramic View Restaurant familiar to Israel and foreign tourists who visit the area. Jerusalem sources point out that it is Israeli policy which has permitted the Arab Lebanese Army to be in south Lebanon since Israel has announced it would not allow Syria to move into the region. This 1-ts become the main guarantee of safety for PLO and Moslem leftists who have moved into southern Lebanon after fleeing from the Syrian Army. Israel says the initiative for the talks came from the Arab Lebanese Army which asked the United Nations to arrange them. The Israelis stress that the talks are directly between the two parties and the UN officers take no part in them. The two sides reportedly discussed problems about the border, including those concerning the crossing into Israel of southern Lebanese villagers seeking medical aid and jobs. They reportedly agreed that these people will not be interfered with and that Arab terrorists will not be allowed near the border. Israeli officials stress that the meetings have no political signifi- cance and are regarded as a con- tinuation of the meetings that Is- raeli officers have long had with Lebanese army officers. The Arab Lebanese Army is made up of Moslem soldiers led by Lt. Ahmed el-khabtib who broke away from the regular Lebanese armed forces which is headed by a Christian general. Lebanese workers are continu- ing to enter Israel despite threats from El Fatah terrorists. One of the workers said armed Palestine Liberation Organization agents came into his village Sunday night and threatened to kill all of the inhabitants if they continue to go to work in Israel. In response, all of the Maronite Christians in the village armed themselves and guarded the vil- lage through the night. All of the 17 workers who went to Israel to work at the Dubek Cigarette Company's sorting plant in Safad have worked steadily this week along with some other workers. The sorting plant is expected to employ about 40 Lebanese villa- Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres waves through the border gers while another 150 will work security fence at Lebanese civilians awaiting treatment at an Israeli first for the Jewish National Fund. aid station. U.S. Quits Maine Meeting on M.E. Trade WASHINGTON (JTA)— The decision of the U.S. Department of Commerce to cancel its participation in this week's University of Maine Middle East American business conference was followed by withdrawal of ,peakers representing three other federal departments. According to a report from the conference site, upwards of 350 Americans and Mid-East visitors tered and paid a fee of $1,000 each. Of these, more than 200 were from Iran and Arab states, including Eg.,, pi, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Panelists in the conference originally included four representatives from Commerce along with two field officers who were to pass out information about international trade. Speakers also were scheduled from the departments of State, Treasury and Justice. Late last week, the Commerce Department withdrew its field representatives from the conference. The decision on the speakers were said to have been taken after aspects of the conference, including a disucssion of how American firms could get off the Arab blacklist were reviewed. Reacting to the Commerce Department's decision, John R. Brown, Jr., the conference director, charged in a telegram to Commerce Secretary Elliot Richardson that "the subversion of a major department of the U.S. government to the aims of a minority group with foreign allegiances is an insidious condition which cannot be tolerated." Brown was presumed to be referring to Jewish organizations which have protested against the exclu- sion of Israel in the original planning and discussion of means to get around the. Arab boycott of Israel and American firms owned or managed by Jews. (Continued on Page 8) (Continued on Page 7) 'Classic Anti-Semitism' Being Used by Agnew NEW YORK (JTA) — The Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith has charged that "the dis- graced Spiro Agnew, a convicted felon who has been engaging in classical anti-Semitism," has taken con- trol of a tax exempt educational foundation, "Educa- tion for Democracy," for the purpose of organizing a movement to reflect his anti-Israel, pro-Arab views. According to Arnold Forster, ADL's general coun- sel, the foundation has been converted into a member- ship organization and has begun publication of a newsletter, "Memoranda," which features anti-Israel propaganda, as well as attacks on the American news media. Forster said a nationwide mailing is now being (Continued on Page 6)