Friday, February 18, 1977 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Purely Commentary By Philip Israel Under Scrutiny with a Mounting of Negatives Which Fail to Depict the Morality of a People With the Same Prob- lems and Blunders That Affect Mankind Everywhere All the concerns here outlined are finding their Crucial Day on Israel's Calendar: echoes in the Israeli political campaign now raging as Rabin's Fate in Mapai Decisions seriously as did the Ford-Carter contest in the U. S. only four months ago. There is bitterness, name- Israel is being judged — and tested. For that matter, who isn't? In a world in transi- calling, accusation—and out of it must come a demand tion, is there a single people that doesn't have its trials for an end to corruption and frauds and for genuine and tribulations, its political contests and controver- striving to solve the economic ills. In a land whose sies, its economic difficulties? military and defensive burdens are so great the solu- Some 'even have corruption and fraud. It took the tions to economic ills will not come easily. But the United States three generations to be rid of Tammany approach is not without seriousness and devotion. Hall manipulations. We are doing better and there is So, come next Wednesday, the Israeli political con- hope that the Nixonism that has plagued the land will flict may assume a new dimension. On Feb. 23 the dominant Labor Party will decide on its preferences. not be repeated — not too soon, at least. Now Israel is under scrutiny. There were fraudu- If Rabin is placed again at the head of the Labor ticket, lent acts, and they may affect the future of Yitzhak it will mean that he will be forming another coalition Rabin in his political aspirations. There was corrup- government. There isn't even the craziest of vis- tion and the country is shocked out of its wits. There is ionaries who believes that any of the political parties anger and resentment, and when people complain can attain a majority and rule on its own. there will surely be emendations and the government The May 17 election is certain to see many will be more cautious. There is violence, and a student changes, the arrival on the government scene of of sociology must judge Israel with amazement that Yigael Yadin who is conceded anywhere from eightto a there isn't more of it in a society of some affluence and dozen Knesset seats. Labor is foreseen as losing some much poverty, with the Sephardic majority suffering seats. There is growing admiration for Menahem Be- many ills. There is prostitution and its extent is being gin, but no one grants him a triumph other than reten- exaggerated — for the simple reason that there has tion of an important role as perhaps again the second been a measure of immorality in the Holy Land in numberically powerful party in the Israel parliament. ancient times and from earliest times in modern his- Except for the help that must come from Diaspora tory. Henrietta Szold conducted campaigns against missionaries and prostitution in the 1920s and 1930s. Jewry to assure continuity in Israel's economic and This is both a bill of complain as well as a defense educational functions, the political struggle is Israel's. — and one does not have to risk being charged with It may, however, affect relationships with the outside whitewashing while asserting that a nation actually world - and Israel's friends, watching the political in a state of war is able to resist the many difficulties. struggles, are hopeful that the wholesomeness that always rescues Israel from travail will succeed again. The point is that Israel is a normal people, perhaps too normal under existing conditions, and her difficul- Diaspora Jewry: Should It ties are being tackled with courage by the people as a Exert Influence Within Israel? national unity. There are economic problems and they While Israel's problems are Israel's business, are serious and distressing. One must hope for solu- tions and strive for improvement. Go into the villages, there now is a new trend, demanding that World to the countryside of Israel, and the people's determi- Jewry, as a factor in Israel's purposes, should have a nation, acceptance of burdens, their will to live, is ad- say in Israel's internal activities. What is meant, of mirable. course, is that American Jews should not be aloof, that There are yordim, thousands have left the land their spokesmen should have a role in Israel's func- and more are craving to go into more fruitful oppor- tions, that especially with regard to the expenditure of tunities. This is indeed, cause for concern. In a philanthropic dollars American Jews should ask for an partnership like Israel's with the Diaspora there must accounting and for the right to supervise. There is a bit of history to recount on this score. be constant planning to overcome the pressures and the obstacles. It is to be hoped that time will solve Soon after the rebirth of the modern state of Israel, some 28 years ago, there was a disruption in the ranks many if not most of the problems. Slomovitz of the leading party in American Zionism, the Zionist Organization of America. Men like Louis Lipsky, Ezra Shapiro, Judge Louis Levinthal and others who res- igned from the organization and formed a League for Israel. Their action was based on the charge that ZOA was invading Israel's internal affairs and was involv- ing itself in politics. The dissidents wanted complete abstention from American invasion of Israel's ac- tivities. There is not doubt that there was justice in the political factor of their protest. Now the view is that American Jews are wrongfully evading the responsbil- ity of taking a deep interest in Israel's internal func- tions. There are many Israelis who say that those who provide the means to support the elderly in Israel, to supervise immigration — whatever is left of it, to fi- nance the universities and to assist in other functions must also have supervisory rights over those ac- tivities. Is the Jewish Agency shirking its duties ir regard? This is something that must be solved t; When Leon Dulzin was defeated for the chairmanship of the Jewish Agency and the dominant leadership of the Zionist movement by Yosef Almogi, there was serious concern-about the attitude of the American leadership. They haven't stopped talking about it in Israel that it was Labor Party domination and that a tried public servant — Leon Dulzin — was sacrificed un- necessarily. Max Fisher and Charlotte Jacobson de- fended their preference. They still have much to exp= lain for having accepted domination for the ruling Is- rael party without, as claimed, taking into considera- tion the proven ability of a man who had already held that office as aPro tem of officials for more than a year and in other capacities for some years. This commentator believed that the Jewish Agency leadership had erred in the Almogi-Dulzin contest, but that's water over the dam. What about the future? Will American Jews be fully represented in Israel in matters involving the social services and the educational processes towards which some American dollars are devoted? Prof. William Haber plays a role in the administering of funds for universities and this may be one of the steps in the direction of a true partnership between Diaspora and Israel. But it can't stop there. Those who demand that a stronger Ameri- can Jewish voice be heard in the conduct of the non- political aspects of Israel's life have a meritorious case. It should not be ignored.. Diseased Pine Forest Near Jerusalem al -s Uprooted, Replanted as University and JNF Scientists Seek Causes for the Malady JERUSALEM — Deci- mated by a still-unknown malady, the Sha'ar Hagai forest — gateway to Jerusalem for the past half century — has begun to be uprooted in order to be planted anew. This likelihood, how- affected in some measure. ever, is sharply disputed Worst hit were the 125 by the country's, leading acres which have been expert on the matsucoc- levelled downhill from cus, Dr. Yosef Halperin, Shoresh on the north side entomologist at the Gov- ernment's Institute for of the road. Forest Research at The only tree affected Ilanot. by the malady is the According to the Meanwhile, the JNF Jerusalem Post, a total of _ Jerusalem pine, but this 125 acres of trees were tree constitutes 80 per has decided to act even if is no final agree- leveled in the past few cent of the Sha'ar Nagai there on the cause of the months, leaving thi3 Forest. The new plant- ment familiar hills flanking the ings will include other malady. "There is an interim Tel Aviv-Jerusalem kinds of pine, but not the conclusion that the only highway barer than most Jerusalem pine. Israelis have ever seen The malady was first tree affected is the them. The tract is being noted in 1972 when JNF Jerusalem pine," says replanted with the onset foresters spotted pines Mordecai Ben-Porat, de- of the winter rains. drying out from the bot- puty director of the JNF tom upwards. (When a forestry division. "It's bet- The area levelled con- diseased pine dies nor- ter to act on the basis of stitutes one-eighth of the mally, the dessication this partial information forest which stretches for process usually proceeds than to sit back and do no- two and a half miles from the crown down- thing." alongside the highway. wards.) The JNF began the Jewish. National Fund clearing operation a few An inter-disciplinary months ago, forestry officials said that cutting down the cut-and-replant oper- committee of scientists 1,500 tons of Jerusalem was set up by the JNF — ation will be extended to pine opposite Shoresh. other parts of the forest if which is responsible for The new section of the malady continues to the country's forests — to investigate the mystery. forest, designed by a spread. landscape architect, will The committee, headed be more varied and in- So far, there is no sign of its abating. Of the forest's by Prof. Avraham Fahn of teresting than the one it the Hebrew University, replaces. It too will con- has investigated 12 possi- sist principally principally of conif- ble causes including soil ers. is what people Trees grow upward: so and water deficiencies, are accustomed to seeing as they drive up Sha'ar should men. Trees, with fungus and air pollution. Hagai," says Ben-Porat. their green leaves and The one possibility seen But it will be multi- tenderly tinted blossoms, as likely by some of the seek the light: so should experts was the effect of textured. There will be an insect known as mat- three different kinds of men. sucoccus which was found pine — Stone, Canary Is- 4none, > 1. land and —Blau, "The Wonderof Life" on the dying trees . 2,000 acres, 62.5 have been which tree, Judas them affected by the cedars. There will also be some changes color with the Sha'ar Hagai malady) — as well as cypress and non-conifers such as the seasons. ,m-r=nr la TREES • _A _ Slope in foreground overlooking Sha'ar Hagai road has been cleared of Jerusalem pine preparatory to replanting. Cypress trees downslope were which = killed Jeruaslem p ine. - , , . by ntaladv • unaffected :4 t • a e .4 4 is .4 4