ruling party have caused havoc in a land plagued with so
Send Cheer, Comfort
to Israelis in Crisis
American Jewry has seldom been confronted with a chal-
lenge as serious as the one now calling for action to uphold
the hands of kinsmen facing serious crises.
Israel is in danger on the international front and is
plagued by internal problems. Indiscretions, errors, even
corruption, have shed gloom upon the Israeli nation. They
will emerge from' it, and .a chief factor in assuring
strength for an embattled people that is undergoing ang-
uish because of the irresponsibility in government in the
Speaking
in Defense of
Jewish Rights
many problems.
A people that has defied the persecutions of centuries
will emerge anew with strength from menacing situations
even like the present. But that survival must retain its
chief link—the inalienable support of kinsmen throughout
the world.
Israel's current sufferings in the nation's domestic crises
are due to the evil perpetrated by individuals. It is not Is-
rael the State and Israel the People that merits con-
demnation collectively. In time of need people and state
need the encouragement and friendship of fellow Jews
everywhere.
American Jewry'has an historic opportunity to respect
the needs of kinsmen in time of crisis and not to punish
them additionally. The serious responsibility is to uphold
HE JEWISH NEWS
Tributes to
Four Noted
Jewish Journalists
A Weekly Review
VOL. LXXI, No. 6
the hands of the builders of Zion and to
send them the message of cheer that is
so vital at this time. Israel needs com-
fort and an assurance that the sins of in-
dividuals will not be cause for punish-
ment for an entire people. In the process
of conducting the current Allied Jewish Campaign,
there is a sacred duty for the Detroit Jewish community to
say to the Israelis that they will not be abandoned in time
of need or when they suffer from irresponsibilities by a
few sinners.
Let the word go forth to the Israelis that their kinsmen
will not abandon them. May Greater Detroit Jewry's mes-
sage to Israel now be one of cheer. Through the Allied Jew-
ish Campaign this community now has the great opportu-
nity to cement faith between kinsmen and to go forward
on a path of justice and humanism for those awaiting a
helping hand from a family in kinship.
f Jewish Events
17515 W. Nine Mile Rd., Suite 865, Southfield, Mich 48075 424-8833
Venom Stemming
From Beirut
Israel's Election,
World Jewry's
Concerns
Editorials, Page 4
$10.00 Per . Year, Thisissue 30c
April 15,1977,
Rabin's Power Retention
Distresses Hopeful Peres
Shimon Peres
to Lead Labor
JERUSALEM (JTA)-Shimon
Peres won near unanimous approv-
al from the Labor Party to head its
list in the May 17 elections and be-
come Premier if Labor forms the
next Israeli government.
Peres, 54, presently Defense
Minister, saw only eight negative
votes cast, and 18 members ab-
stained.
He was warmly applauded when
he pledged that as party leader he
would be "the representative of ev-
ery member of the party, every fac-
tion, every grouping, every shade
A opinion," in an obvious effort to
JERUSALEM (JTA)-Premier Yitzhak Rabin appeared to decide finally Tuesday that he would remain in office until a new
government is formed after the elections. He told the Cabinet that "In view of" a,legal opinion presented by the attorney-
general, Aharon Barak, he had "decided to stay on."
Later the full text of the opinion was published, and legal circles immediately commented that it did allow Rabin to-step
down --if he wished to do so. Rabin resigned last Thursday night after it became apparent he and his wife had lied about the
size and purpose of illegal bank accounts he and his wife had in Washington.
Rabin's decision to stay on plainly caused some displeasure in the Peres camp. But knowledgeable sources said the
defense minister would not seek to bring party pressure to bear on Rabin to make him change his mind. Nor would Peres
take a public stand in this matter, the sources said.
The key phrase in the law provides that the Cabinet --even a caretaker Cabinet --may appoint an acting Premier (who
takes over all the powers and functions and responsibilities of the Premier) if the Premier is abroad or "incapable of
fulfilling his duties." Barak wrote that "incapable', was open to subjective or objective interpretations --but he preferred
the objective.
This meant, legal circles said, that if Rabin wished, he could seek to persuade the Cabinet that following his personal
embarrassment hs was "incapable" of functioning as Premier. But it was clear Tuesday that Rabin had decided not to do so.
Some observers went so far as to speculate that Rabin had already set his sights on a comeback and for that reason was
unwilling to cede his office to Peres any sooner than necessary. Some Laborites admitted that Rabin's continued tenure
would add to the party's problems and difficulties in the election campaign.
Rabin will be fined administratively by the Treasury authorities IL 15,000 ($1,500) for his part in the family's illegal bank
accounts in Washington. He will not be brought to trial alongside his wife, Leah. This Treasury decision, reportedly taken in
consultation with Attorney General Aharon Barak, was reported on Israel Radio.
The radio report said Rabin agreed to be fined administratively and revoked his earlier insistence on standing trial
alongside his wife because of the fact that he would have to continue serving as Prime Minister in the months ahead.
Mrs. Rabin closed the account some weeks after a newsman discovered its existence. At the time she said there was
$2,000 in it, deposited while Rabin was Ambassador to Washington, and she donated the money to charity for autistic
children. Israeli radio, before the new disclosures, said that as far as it was known, there were no deposits into the account
since the Rabins left Washington in 1973, only withdrawals. Under Israeli law, citizens of Israel must close all foreign
accounts within six months of their return to the country.
Then the newspaper Maariv said that at one point between March, 1973, when the Rabins left Washington and should
have closed the account, and the present time, there was $20,000 in the account. It was not clear from the newspaper report
whether this referred to both accounts together. Mrs. Rabin, according to the Premier, took out sums of money during her
several visits to Washington.
(Continued on Page 7)
Shaarit Haplaytah's
Holocaust Memorial
at Bnai David Sunday
The annual community-wide memorial
service commemorating the victims of the
Holocaust will be held at noon Sunday at
Cong. Bnai David, sponsored by Sharrit
Haplaytah, the organization of survivors of
the Holocaust. Yom Hashoa, Remem-
brance Day, is celebrated in Israel today.
Detailed Story on Page 8
(Continued on Page 6)
AJCongress Accuses DuPont
of Surrender to Arab BoyCott,
WILMINGTON, Del. (JTA—The American Jewish Congress accused the Du-
Pont Co. of "surrender" to Arab boycott demands and rejection of the same anti-
boycott principles that its chariman, Irving S. Shapiro, had supported in his
capacity as chairman of the Business Roundtable.
The charge was made at DuPont's annual meeting here by Will Maslow,
general counsel of the AJCongress.
He referred to a resolution submitted by four DuPont stockholders who are
AJCongress members questioning the firm's compliance with Arab boycott
demands. I ne DuPont Board' of Directors urged its stockholders to reject the
resolution in a letter circulated along with the notice of the annual meeting.
Maslow noted that the Business Roundtable, consisting of some 150 top
(Continued on Page 18)
Israel Independence
Activities Scheduled
for Greater Detroit
Extensive activities marking the anni-
versary of the birth of the state of Israel
have been planned by Greater Detroit Jew-
ry. A full week of activities begins Saturday
night at the Jewish Com- munity Center.
Other events will be held at Wayne State
University and Young Israel of Oak-Woods,
with the week's activities culminating with
an Israel Expo on April 24.
Detailed stories on Pages 20, 29
t,