64 Friday, October 22, 1976

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

U.S. and Israel Roles in Sinai Field Mission

BY DR. MILTON MUTCHNICK
Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of arti-
cles by Dr. Milton Mutchnick, assistant professor of in-
ternal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical
School. Dr. Mutchnick annually visits Israel and his ob-
servations cover vast areas of Israeli experiences.
The Sinai peninsula hosts one of the world's most
desolate and inhospitable deserts. The extent of the
land's barrenness is- reflected in the virtual absence of
desert fauna in many areas of this hostile region.
The United States has constructed an electronics
station on a bluff overlooking the Gidi Pass. Its pur-
pose is to monitor the Egyptians and Israelis and to
ensure maintenance of the Sinai II accords.
The accords were signed in September 1975 and
served to separate the Egyptians and Israelis and to
introduce a buffer zone between their armies. Ameri-
can civilian personnel closely monitor the movements
of the two adversaries and report infractions to both
sides for immediate rectification. The Americans do
not serve as policemen and do not enforce the accords.
American civilian technicians, designated as the
Sinai Field Mission (SFM), arrived in Israel in February
1976 and have only recently moved into the permanent
structures situated between similar, but less complex
Egyptian and Israeli observation stations.
From the outside, the station is unassuming in
appearance and consists of clusters of interconnect-
ing, self-contained units. There is a pleasant surprise
awaiting the hot, dust covered traveler when he ap-
proaches the entrance of the camp. There are signs
placed on plots of desert terrain in front of the build-
ings demanding that all "Keep off the Grass." This is
a welcome sign that Americans must be in residence
and obviously in good humor.
With entrance to the buildings, the visitor is
greeted by soft music permeating the air conditioned
environment contained in wood paneled corridors and
offices. Members of the SFM walk about their modern
facility wearing orange uniforms which prominently
display the letters SFM. The scene is somewhat re-
miniscent of the television series, "Space 1999."
There are 168 Americans living in the station. Of
this number, 143 are civilians and 25 government
workers from the State Department's Foreign Ser-
vice. Ed Pearsy is the project administrator. Although
there is no American military presence, Pearsy oper-
ates the SFM with the military precision he had prac-
ticed as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force before his re-
tirement.

American humor is displayed in the photo at left, where a "Keep off the Grass" sign welcomes visitors to the
Sinai Field Mission. Pictured at right, the mission as a cluster of buildings, housing 168 Americans who
monitor Egyptians and Israelis as a result of the Sinai II accords. The mission also houses the living quarters and
recreational facilities for the Americans.

The work schedule calls for a period of two weeks
duty followed by one week of leave. Personnel are en-
- couraged to leave the camp and spend the week in Israel
or Egypt. This serves to forestall the depression incur-
red by the monotony of isolated duty.
Most of the staff have opted to visit in Israel de-
spite the fact that the Suez Canal and Cairo are closer.
Roads in the Suez are primitive and passage across
the canal undependable. Reports of endemic plague in
the Suez region have also discouraged trips to Egypt.
Life is pleasant in the SFM for those remaining on
duty. The "mess" is open from 6 a.m. to midnight and
provides some remarkably tasty meals from spotless
kitchens. The quantity of food is unlimited and is pro-
vided at no cost.
The SFM boasts recreational facilities which in-
clude pool tables, exercise room, woodcraft and metals
shops, a motion picture theater, tennis and basketball
courts and even a jogging course laid out in the fierce
Sinai terrain.
All employes are given a paid 18-day round trip
leave to the U.S. each year. Personnel sign on for a

one-year, renewable, term and all their salary including
a substantial monthly bonus is tax free.
Medical care is provided by paramedics who in
turn can rely on the support of nearby Israeli Army
physicians. Israel has provided emergency helicopter
airlift for ill or injured Americans and transported
them to university health facilities in Israel.
The American outpost initiated operation of a
sewage treatment plant which produces clean, but not
potable, water. The SFM has decided to utilize this
water for — you guessed, growing grass!
Morale is high and is a direct consequence of a
mighty effort to ensure the comfort of the personnel. The
living quarters are luxurious and remind the visitor of
the Holiday Inn. This comparison is a valid one as the
SFM purchased units originally constructed for the
Holiday Inn Corp.
Israelis, Egyptians and UN peace keeping troops
gaze with unveiled amazement and admiration at the
small piece of America perched atop a desolate hill in
the Sinai.

Carter Pledges Economic and Military Support for Israel

(Editor's note: The
Jewish Telegraphic
Agency asked both Presi-
dent Ford and Democratic
Presidential candidate
Jimmy Carter to answer a
series of questions dealing
with their positions on is-
sues vital to the Jewish
community. The questions
were submitted to both
candidates at" the same
time and both were asked
to respond by a given
deadline. Carter's
answers follow. The Ford
reply appears on Page
5.)

Q. Do you pledge U.S.
economic aid and political
support to Israel as well as
military assistance
adequate to maintain its
security and integrity as
an independent Jewish
state?
A. I certainly do pledge
economic and military as-
sistance to Israel
adequate to maintain its
security and integrity as
a Jewish state, as well as
political support. This aid
should not be used in a
carrot and stick fashion.
Israel must feel secure in
the support that it ex-
pects from America in
order to take the neces-
sary risks for peace.
I also believe the Un-
ited States should not
Create the need for aid to
Israel by eroding Israel's
adversaries. There must
be a clear American pol-
icy on arms sales -- par-
ticularly sophisticated of-
fensive weapons.

Q. What is your evalua-
tion of the two Sinai ag-
reements arranged
through Secreatry of State
Henry A. Kissinger's dip-
lomacy a year ago?
A. The Sinai pacts can
form the basis of a mean-
ingful, lasting peace. I be-
lieve, however, that there
were a number of flaws in
Secretary Kissinger's
diplomacy. First, overt
pressure applied against
Israel during the so-
called "reassessment"
following the failure of
the March 1975 shuttle
was wrong. It
strengthened the belief
that Arab intransigence
will ultimately produce
American pressure for
Israeli retreats without
Arab reciprocity.
Second, shuttle diplo-
macy is no substitute for
direct negotiations. Such
negotiations should not
be restricted to a final,
overall peace conference.
Third, the Sinai pacts
did not go far enough to-
ward the normalization
of relations. Greater con-
cessions and a movement
towards normalized rela.
tions could have been
produced. Fourth, the
emphasis in the Sinai
talks was placed on milit-
ary rather than political
considerations. Any real
peace must involve politi-
cal and military settle-
ments; that is the full
range of normalized rela-
tions.
Q. Do you think the PLO

is the group with which to
deal in approaching a solu-
tion to the Palestinian
problem: if not the PLO,
then with whom? Would
you support the PLO as an
equal partner in any re-
sumed general conference
on the Middle East?
A. The PLO is not the
group to deal with in solv-
ing the Palestinian prob-
lem. The PLO is an al-
liance of guerrilla organi-
zations, not a govern-
ment in exile. (In Jewish
ranks the Arab bandits
are viewed as terrorists
rather than guerrillas.)
The PLO is unrepresen-
tative of the Palestinians
and unelected. The PLO
should not participate as
an equal partner in any
resumed Geneva peace
conference because the
PLO's stated aims are
diametrically opposed to
any peace which envi-
sions the continued exis-
tence of Israel.
At this time, any
movement towards a sol-
ution to the Palestinian
problem must emanate
first from the Palesti-
nians themselves. Any
emerging Palestinian
leadership must recog-
nize Israel's right to exist
permanently and in peace
as a Jewish state in the
Middle East. Palestinians
who seek to be included
must abandon the PLO's
methods of terror.
Q. How do you think the
U.S. can move the Soviet
Union to increase immig-

ration? Do you favor lin-
kage of legislations such
as the Jackson, Vanik and
Stevenson provisos as a
means to this end? What
ways would you propose
that the U.S. seek to keep
those people in the Soviet
Union who wish to remain
there but also wish to prac-
tice their religious belief
and cultural life?
A. The Administration
must put human rights
high on its foreign policy
agenda.
I would do everything I
possibly could as Presi-
dent to encourage the
Soviet Union to liberalize
its emigration policies for
Jewish citizens who want
to move. I would not hesi-
tate to use trade pres-
sures to effectuate that
purpose .
Q. Would you support
federal legislation with
teeth to combat the Arab
economic 6oycott? If so,
outline examples of legis-
lation you would advocate.
A. I favor federal legis-
lation to combat the Arab
boycott. I believe the bills
now before the Congress
and included in the Ex-
port Administration Act
and the Tax Reform Act
can provide an effective
means of neutralizing the
boycott. I believe that
there must be effective
implementation of these
laws by the executive
branch. I would make
sure that the government

applies these laws vigor-
ously.
Q. What is your opinion
of HEW and Labor De-
partment guidelines ort af-
firmative action proce-
dures which are asserted
to promote reverse dis-
crimination?
A. I favor the affirma-
tive action programs. I
think that if someone
wants to move into a
neighborhood or go to a
school, he should not be
excluded because of race
or religious beliefs. I do
not believe in quotas.
This year (in the Democ-
ratic Party) we made the
first good step, where you
try to treat everyone the
same, not exclude any-
body because of group
membership, but also not
exclude other groups be-
cause you want to favor a
particular group.

Q. What is your opinion
of U.S. policies regarding
busing and housing which
have been asserted as
seemingly weakening the
stability of neighbor-
hoods?
A. For too many years,
urban policy has been an
enemy of neighborhoods.
If we are to save our
cities, we must revitalize
our neighborhoods first.
Under the Republicans,
the FHA and HUD have
become threats to the
health of our neighbor-
hoods. The Neighborhood
Housing Services prog-

ram should be made av-
ailable to the neighbor-
hoods where it can make a
difference.

We need a national law
against red-lining and
federal regulatory offi-
cials who understand
that banks are chartered
to serve their com-
munities. We need honest
officials in HUD. We must
make homes available to
our people again.
Q. Do you favor a form of
tax relief to parents whose
children attend non-public
schools?
A. I am firmly commit-
ted to conducting a sys-
tematic and continuing
search for constitution-
ally acceptable metho:
for providing aid to
rents whose children au-
tend non-segregated pri-
vate schools.
While I was Governor of
Georgia, voters au-
thorized annual grants
for students attending
private colleges in Geor-
gia. We must develop
similar, innovative prog-
rams elsewhere for non-
public elementary and
secondary schools to
maintain a healthy diver-
sity of educational oppor-
tunity. In many areas of
our country, such schools
provide the best educa-
tion available. Recogni-
tion of these facts should
be part and parcel of the
consciousness of any
American President.

