LZA Supports Soviet Jewry Compromise Communizing the Yidddish Theater A Black Hero Among the Resisting Hostages NEW YORK — The National Executive Committee of the Labor Zionist Alliance has voted to support the compromise pro- posal of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization that: while every Jew who can be, will be rescued from the Soviet Union, "financial assistance for absorption and resettlement will go to only those Soviet Jews opting to go to Israel or those Soviet Jews with immediate family already in America who opt for resettlement in the U.S." In making the announcement, Prof. Allen Pollack, president THE JEWISH NEWS A Weekly Review Commentary, Page 2 VOL. LXXVI, No. 18 of the Labor Zionist Alliance and a member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization, repeatedly emphasized that "ev- ery Jew who can be rescued will be; no one will be denied a letter of invitation from the state of Israel." Both he and the NEC members noted that "no one will be forced to go anywhere." Soviet Jews can select freely their new country of residence, but Jewish communal funds should not be available for use in their absorption outside of Israel, said the LZA, unless they have immediate family at their destination. of Jewish Events 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 424-8833 $15.00 Per Year: This Issue 35` Tragic Escalation of Oppression Inspiring Literary Aristocracy Editorials, Page 4 Jan. 4, 1980 Israeli Officials Disappointed With Amount of U.S. Credits Syrian Ambassador Quits, Rips Assad UNITED NATIONS — Hammoud el-Choufi, Syrian ambassador to the UN and former secretary-general of the ruling Baath Party, envoy to Moscow and chief of the United States section at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, an- nounced last week that he would go into exile in France and, with other exiles, form a political movement to bring "democracy to Syria." He particularly criticized his government for reacting to sectarian violence with mass arrests and executions More than 100 Alawites, members of a minority Moslem sect with disproportionate political and commercial power in Syria, have been killed in the past six months. The murders have been blamed on members of the Moslem Brotherhood, an extremist Sunni group. President Hafez el-Assad, who is an Alawite, "should have reconsidered his style of government," Choufi said. "But the regime dealt with this as a police problem. Now I have great fear of Syria being Lebanized, split into warring sects." Choufi is a Druze. Clearly stung by the public defection of so senior an official, Syria accused Choufi of collaborating with Egyp- tian intelligence agents "in the service of Camp David policies." Choufi, 52, was the most senior official to defect since Assad seized power nine years ago. Syria said Choufi was ordered home on Dec. 7, after presenting views at the UN contrary to Syrian policy. He refused to heed the order. His resignation coincided with a congress of the Syrian Baath Party, which opened last Saturday. Western diplomats thought it likely Choufi would join exiled opposition politicians such as the head of the Moslem Brotherhood, Issam Attar, and former premier Salah Bitar. Bitar, who lives in Paris, recently began publishing a magazine critical of conditions in Syria. Attar has issued periodic calls for the overthrow of the Syrian government from exile in West Germany. JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli officials have expressed disappointment with the $200 million in military sales credits that President Carter has agreed to add to the $3 billion aid package for Israel over the next three years. The White House announced late Monday that the President will seek Congressional approval of that sum. Israel had requested a total of $3.4 billion in military and economic assistance for the fiscal year 1981 which begins next Oct. 1. According to Israeli officials, the short-fall means that military expenditures will have to be reduced substantially and the government will be forced to implement even tougher economic austerity measures than those already announced. Defense Minister Ezer Weizman returned from Washington on Monday where he had spent a week conferring with President Carter, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Defense Secretary Harold Brown, Special Ambassador Sol Linowitz and other top officials on the new aid package. The $3.4 billion Israel sought, double its present allocation, was expected to cover the loss of purchasing power of the U.S. dollar owing to inflation. Congress has already approved $2.2 billion in military aid credits over the next three years to help Israel carry out the terms of its peace treaty with Egypt, including the redeployment of its forces from Sinai to the Negev. Congress also approved $800 million dollars in economic aid. The exact amount Israel will receive for fiscal 1981 will not be known until the Carter Administration announces its budget later this month. In an- nouncing the additional $200 million for mili- tary purposes the White House said the increase "reflects our sympathy and concern for Israel's security and well-being." The White House statement said, "The deci- TEL AVIV (JTA) — The World Jewish Federation of sion was based on consideration of such factors Nazi Victims has announced that it will hold a demonstra- as inflation and Israel's balance of payments tion outside the West German Embassy in Tel Aviv on Jan. deficit and takes into account the fact that the 21 to protest the final restitution agreement recently signed between the Bonn government and the Conference Israeli government has instituted since last on Jewish Material Claims against Germany. November extremely tough austerity measures The agreement calls for the payment of 440 million designed to overcome those economic prob- Marks ($200 million) over a three-year period. It will be the lems." . last payment to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. The statement also stressed that President The Israeli government has endorsed the agreement, Carter is determined to hold down federal ex- but Tuvia Friedman, chairman of the federation, said at a penditures. Weizman came in for sharp criti- press conference that his group will challenge it. cism in some Israeli quarters for failing to per- He said they were dissatisfied by the way Dr. Nahum suade the Administration of Israel's need for a Goldmann, chairman of the Claims Conference, handled the negotiations and are convinced that the payments are larger aid package. The defense minister, who too small. reported on his mission to Premier Menahem According to Friedman, the payment of restitution Begin, rejected the criticism. He maintained (Continued on Page 5) (Continued on Page 5) Survivors Protest Claims Agreement Talking Box for Deaf-Blind Wins a 12th Grade Student Weizmann Scientific Prize REHOVOT — A new electronic device which will permit easier communication between people who are both deaf and blind and others with normal faculties won David Abramov, a Natanya 12th grader, the IL 100,000 ($280) first prize in this year's Weiz- mann Institute — Discount Bank Science Models Contest. Up to now, one has "talked" to a blind and deaf person by tapping on his fingers in a special alphabet-like code. Now, thanks to the Abramov device, for which a patent request has been filed, the "speaker" transmits the message electronicly to the handi- capped man or woman with whom he is "speaking." Abramov, in striped shirt in the photograph at left, developed this new instrument out of a desire to communicate with his friend, at left, who is both blind and deaf. .