2 Friday, June 3, 1977
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
An Old Issue Related to Gornnens,tions EmanatPs from VVhite House
-Ind Causes Serious horl- for IsrP
Innoring
Her Friends
P ,srsecutions Arouses Prntes+.-
Jewish Losses Sustainr by Ar
-
by Philip
Sfomovih.
A Distressing Statement by the President of the United States
More. perhaps. than any of his predecessors. President Jim my Carter has given e m -
phasis to the situation in the Middle East. Talk about peace and his aim. on behalf of
our government. to effect it. is highly commendable. Even if the term peace now means
only a prolonged truce, an aspiration for it is a mark of idealism. But the President
does more than talk of peace: he has given comfort to Israel's enemies by introducing a
theme called Palestinians without defining the historical meaning of an idea that seems
to have become a major objective in his newly attained diplomatic career.
This is an issue all its own and it demands analysis leading to . xpose because of the
damaging aspects of an unrealistic plank in his foreign policy platform. There were Pa-
lestinians before Israel's rebirth and Jews as well as Arabs were in that category. Many
of the Arabs now are in that part of former Palestine which became by United Nations
resolution the state of Jordan.
This is only one part of a factor in a situation that needs taking into account Israel's
security. There are now 20 Arab states. The PLO would establish a 21st which they
would call Palestine and thereby would set up a menacing military front for Israel.
This is one portion of a new policy instituted by President Carter that has created
distress and has already introduced a menacing threat to Israel. But there is something
else that occurred. of so surprising and upsetting a nature that it must inevitably be
viewed with shock and serious concern. For the first time in the chronicled history of
White House dealings with the Middle East. President Carter introduced the subject of
"compensation." Without regard for the sufferings encountered by a million and a half
Jews who were forced to leave Moslem countries and were robbed of their possessions.
the President tacked on to his already agonizing Palestinian fad a matter involving corn- •
pensation for refugees.
At his press conference on May 26, the President was asked by a newsman-.
Mr. President, last March 9 you talked about the idea of Israel wthdrawiig to
her '67 borders with only minor adjustnients. Is that still your position? And is
there any way that Israel could retain the West Bank of the Jordan and make that
fit in the definition of "minor adjustments"?
To which came this statement in which the President raised an issue for which he
can not remain Unchallenged:
That is still my position, although I might add again that the United States, in-
cluding myself aS-President, we do not have a Middle Eastern settlement plan. But
the basic premises have been spelled out very clearly in the United States resole-
Lions that have been passed, coming from the Security Council, voted on and sup-
ported by our Government. And these have been binding policies of the Govern-
ment.
They do include the right of the Palestinians to have a homeland, to be com-
pensated for losses that they have suffered. They do include the withdrawal of Is-
rael from occupied territories from the 1967 war. And they do include an end of
belligerency and a re-establishment of permanent and secure borders. All these
Begin, Dayan and Dulzin: How
Israel Works as a Democracy
Israel's role as a democracy keeps gaining admiration.
The recognition of this fact acquires emphasis at every
manifestation of public concern in matters affecting domes-
tic as well as foreign affairs.
The May 17 election proved it, and the deliberations for
the formation of the coalition cabinet added weight to the
reality of the high standards of Israel's progressivism.
More proof came when there was consideration of
Moshe Dayan becoming the next foreign minister. His de-
viation from the Labor Party—showing a deep interest in
his possible selection for that high post he even offered to
resign from the Labor Alignment—drew insults about pro-
stitution, whoredom, etc. The more effective protest came
from the Likud Party, some of whose members protested
the Menahem Begin selection for the foreign ministry post.
It had been expected that Leon Dulzin, now the treas-
urer of the Jewish Agency, would be the choice for foreign
minister. To have shelved him from Likud governmental
administration in one of the highest available posts would
surely be an error and Begin himself must have begun to
:ealize it.
Therefore. there will be respect both for viewpoints from
political party leaders as well as public opinion.
That's what makes Israel the remarkable democratic
country it is. Public opinion counts. The press is effective.
The people are alert. Such a nation earns the admiration it
has gained inernationally.
Gerald Ford's Opportunity
to Define His Israel Views
It may not matter too much, now that he is out of
power, yet Gerald Ford has a good opportunity to tell his
fellow Michiganders how he reacts to the Middle East, to
the Zionist ideal he had always encouraged, to Israel as a
partner in sustaining democratic truths in the Middle
East.
Under President Ford there were frequent vacillations in
pursuing American policies in that troubled area. There
are even more repetitive uncertainties about the Middle
East and all-too-often President Carter's policies emerge
into puzzles. His emphasis on the Palestinians is not a
happy omen.
The former President has already responded to criticism
of his successor. He may have that opportunity again
when he comes here to address the Hebrew University din-
ner on June 15. But what the community will be especially
interested to know is how certain the pledge to Israel occa-
things have been spelled out in writing in those United Nations positions which we
have endorsed. every Administration, since they were passed.
I would certainly assume that withdrawal from West Bank territories, either
partially or in their entirety, would be a part of an ultimate settlement. But that's
something that has to be worked out still between the Israelis and their neighbors.
We do not intend to put forward a description of what the exact borders should
be; that's not our role to play. We will explore possibilities for common agreement
and reserve the right to make our opinions made. But we have no control over any-
one in the Middle East, and do not want any control over anyone in the .Middle
East.
But those three basic principles—permanent peace, secure borders and resolu-
tion of the Palestinian question—all have been and still are integral parts of any
peace settlement.
Compensation had been a subject for discussion in the past and Israel did not shun
the issue. But it was always understood that if and when the subject arises it must take
into consideration the wealth of which Jews were robbed in all of the Arab _states. In
some of these countries Jews had deeper roots than the Arabs themselves. They were
Arabized Jews. Fortunately. Israel was the reborn nation able to welcome them.
As in matters involving territorial boundaries. the only way of solving the problem
is for the contenders. Jews and Arabs, to meet at a conference table to iron out differen-
ces. Wasn't this a campaign motto by President Carter. that there should be direct nego-
tiations between Arabs and Israel?
Perhaps there should be gratitude to President Carter for fanning all the issues.
new and forgotten. as means of bringing the discussion to the fore. If Israel is to face-
new difficulties. let them be on the record. Menahem Begin. who has been tried by
many fires in his years of struggles for an effective Israeli nationalism. may prove to
be the person highly qualified to confront the new challenges.
President Carter. who had planned to place a ban on military aid to Israel. report-
edly was dissuaded in a matter of hours of his public statement. by Vice President Mon-
dale, and Senators - Javitz and Humphrey, among others, not to penalize Israel. Then
came a strong statement of reiterated assurances of retention of American-Israeli
friendships. But the original motivation and the eventual change of heart resulting from
political "pressures" remain a matter of record. The emphasis is on Presidential vacil-
lation. This is a matter for concern not by the Israelis alone but by all Americans.
The introduction of the "compensation" theme, unilaterally Carter's idea. is cause
for protest. It was not enough for a White House aide to attempt to nullify it. Too many
ifs-and buts have entered into the situation to justify silence, The President had asked
for advice and cooperation in the conduct of his office. He has cooperation and support
and the advice he now receives should have been asked for prior to the utterance of a
view that called for greater knowledge of the facts than it revealed in its public expres-
sion.
sionally juggled with can be made to stick regardless of Ezra Shapiro's Dynamic Role
either. White House or State Department differences in
views or their squabbles, as they had occurred during the
American Jews have an important share in the conduct
Truman • Administration:
of agencies and movements that mean much for Israel's
There is a Republican minority in Congress which includ- existence and progress. An American, Dr. Israel Gold-
es many staunch supporters of Israel. These need to be en- stein. had a background of such vastness that he was ele-
couraged. President Ford is in a position to give comfort vated to the chairmanship of the Keren Hayesod—the
to Israel in time of stress. Will he 'express it effectively United Israel Appeal functionary in Jerusalem. When he
when he comes here for the Hebrew University event?
,retired
three years ago, another eminent American Zion-
.
ist, Ezra Shapiro. was named to fill that important posr.
Ezra Shapiro had a significant background in propagat-
.Hebrew University's Renewed
ing Zionism during the early and difficult years. He was a
Hebraist. He was dedicated to Jewish educational values.
Appeal for Detroit's Support
His passing is a loss to .Jewry and to Israel.
The Hebrew University's appeals for American Jewish
support for many years received hearty responses here. A
lull in activities by the Michigan Chapter of American
Friends of the Hebrew University fortunately for Israel's
educational system is ending with the revival of the local
participating group in the Hebrew University's interest.
and to lift the ban on his
JERUSALEM (JTA
With the Technion as the first major Israel school of
higher education, the Hebrew University became the lead- Samuel Flatto-Sharon leaving the country.
Flatto has troubles in an-
er in the cultural aims of the Jewish state. The university called on the Jerusalem Dis-
other area. A disenchanted
had its foundation in 1925 when the Earl of Balfour. the au- trict Court last Sunday to
thor of the Balfour Declaration, joined Dr. Chaim Weiz- lift all restrictions imposed supporter, former wrestling
Raphael Halpe-
mann in ground breaking for the great school of learning on him and to return the IL champion
•
on Mount Scopus. Without world Jewish backing the univer- 10 million bail on which he
announced last week
sity will have a tough time continuing its multi-program- was released from custody that he would challenge the
med activities. The dinner here on June 15 aims to enroll pending the disposition of legality of Flatto's election.
supporters for the Hebrew University and it is hoped that an extradition request by
He said he would submit
the response will be very generous.
France. Flatto, who won a
"information about Flatto's
Knesset seat in the May 17
irregular election prac-
elections. based his appeal
tices" to the Central Elec-
The Untolerable Pressures.
on the law granting immu-
tion Committee unless the
nity to Knesset members.
Our government's spokesmen in Washington keep
MK-designate renounced
The millionaire financier
denying that .there are pressures on Israel. Yet there is
his Knesset seat. A spokes-
is wanted in France. on
repetitious assertion. now by President Jimmy 'Carter,
man for Flatto said that
charges of illegal financial
that there is "influence - on Israel. Does this equate with
libel. action would be
activities and fraud. He
"pressure"?
brought against Halperin.
Fled to Israel in 1972 and be-
A conference in Geneva last week voted to force admis-
Meanwhile. the election
sion of the PLO into the conferees' quarters of a Geneva came a citizen. Extradition
to
the next Knesset of sever-
proceedings
have
been
conference on the Middle East. Israel alone voted against
al high ranking military re-
stalled because. according
it. There were abstentions.
serve officers will require
to the .Justice Ministry. the
What does such a vote mean? Is it or is it not pressure
amendment of the present
iFrench
request
omitted
cer-
to force Israel to her knees'? Do international conferences
law that bars MKs from
have a right to rule for or against Israel when decisions tain pertinent details.
holding command posts in
are to be made by collective action?
1"lattu asked the court to
armed forces.
Israel's autonomy has one major meaning: that Israel
rescind the attachment of
must he master of her own destiny. There must he inter- his property in Israel. to re-
The best known case i.,
national cooperation but decisions affecting Israel's exist-
tiirn his passport \vhi , .h was that of Gen. Ariel Si ar
leposited with the poli c ( , the Yom Kippur Wa.
ence can not be regulated unilaterally.
Flatto-Sharon Court Appeal
Claims Extradition Immunity