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476-4764
AJCongress Files Law Brief
in War Production Job Case
NEW YORK — Is an em-
ployee who quit his job be-
cause his religion barred
him from producing war
material entitled to unem-
ployment compensation?
This is the issue in
"Thomas v. Review Board,"
now before the U.S. Sup-
reme Court. The American
Jewish Congress has filed a
friend-of-the-court brief in
support of the employee, a
member of Jehovah's Wit-
nesses named Eddie C.
Thomas, urging reversal of
an Indiana Supreme Court
decision denying unem-
ployment compensation
benefits to him.
Thomas, of Gary, Ind.,
worked for one year at the
Blaw-Knox roll foundry in
East Chicago, Ind. and was
then transferred to a job on
Blaw-Knox's tank turret
line. When Thomas realized
that in his new post he was
producing tank turrets, he
quit because participation
in the production of arma-
ments violated his religious
principles.
He applied for unem-
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ployment compensation
but was denied benefits
9
under an Indiana statute
which disqualified per-
Editor-in-Chief
sons who voluntarily
Emeritus, JTA
leave employment with-
(Copyright 1980, JTA, Inc.)
out good cause.
The Court of Appeals of
Indiana reversed that deci-
CHALLENGES AND ACTION: Severe challenges
sion but Indiana's highest
and critical decisions will be faced by Israel in the coming
court reinstated it, assert- - weeks and months. The difficulties for Israel will reach a
ing that denial of benefits
high point of May 26, the target date — though not the
did not require Thomas to
deadline — for the negotiations for the kind of autonomy
- violate any cardinal tenet of the Arab population in Gaza and the West Bank will be
his faith and that his reli-
given by Israel under the Camp David agreements.
gious beliefs were unclear
Difficult bargaining between Egypt and Israel lies
and poorly articulated. The
court further ruled that an ahead, with the U.S. government pressure on the part of the
governments of England, France, West Germany and oth
award of benefits to one who
West European countries that are inching toward a mo.
quits work for religious rea-
pro-Arab stance. Their attitude will be reflected in United
sons where such benefits
Nations debates in July. These countries are expected to
are denied to persons who pressure the United States to "go beyond" the UN Resolu-
quit for personal reasons
tion 242 on which the Camp David agreements are based.
which are not religous
They want to bring in the terrorist Palestine Liberation
would violate the Estab-
Organization into partnership in the Egyptian-Israeli
lishment Clause of the First
negotiations. Saudi Arabia, commanding increased lever-
Amendment.
age with our government and other oil-dependent nations,
The American Jewish
Congress brief argues that is similarly pressuring the United States and Egypt to alter
Camp David policies at Israel's expense, and to accept the
the Supreme Court of In-
PLO as a negotiating partner. Saudi Arabia is also insist-
diana misunderstood the
ing on Arab control over Jerusalem; she leads the Arab
requirements of both
world on this issue.
clauses of the First
Intensive action to frustrate attempts to force Israel
Amendment.
into making concessions on the Camp David agreements
that would be inimical to her security is now being -mapped
by leading Jewish organizations in this country. Their
plans provide for redoubling their efforts to explain to the
American people exactly what Camp David does and does
not demand of Israel; the accomplishments they already
reached during the process of its implementation — which
are virtually ignored; and the importance of avoiding one-
sided pressure by the U.S. on Israel.
The American Jewish Committee, which cannot be
linked to "Zionism" even by the most extreme Arab prop-
agandists because of its record as a non-Zionist group since
its founding in 1906, is one of the organizations. It is now
set to play a dominant role in the intensified efforts to
interpret Israel and the Middle East peace to the American
people. It has placed this commitment as top priority on its
1980 program. It is determined to convince Americans —
the general public as well as non-Jewish religious and civic
groups — of the importance to having the U.S. keep a
balanced and positive stand in the negotiations emanating
from the Camp David accords. Its present position is that
U.S. implementation of Camp David has been inconsistent,
often confusing to American allies, often comfort to Israel's
enemies, as occurred with the recent U.S. approval of the
UN Security Council's anti-Israel resolution which was
subsequently disavowed by President Carter as a "mis-
take."
The question which the AJCommittee asks now is —
what is the American government stance today? Its annual
convention, scheduled to take place in New York in the
middle of May, will go on record as pledging the organiza-
tion to help frustrate attempts to force Israel into making
concessions that would spell danger to her security.
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MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION: Because the
AJCommittee is known as being non-Zionist — it is not
even a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations — and goes its own way in
seeking proper treatment by the U.S. of Israel, its influence
in Washington is quite substantial. Its explanations of is-
sues- concerning Israel to non-Jewish groups are similarly
taken seriously.
One of the functions of the AJCommittee is to take
from time to time the pulse of the American public with
regard to Arab-Israel issues. The organization does this
through the Gallup Poll, Harris Poll and other institutions.
The results of the polls are usually not made public by V
AJCommittee, however they are of great help to to orgai.
ization in finding its way to elements in the population
which seem to be dangerously ignorant on issues concern-
ing Israel. At the same time, the findings of the polls a: -
communicated to top Israeli leaders giving them an idea
the impact of Israeli policies and pronouncements on
American public opinion.
STRENGTHENING EGYPTIAN ISRAELI TIES:
In a move to establish the present moods in Egypt toward
Israel, top leaders of the American Jewish Committee re-
cently visited Egypt without any publicity. They were cor-
dially received. They are now exploring with key Israelis
and Egyptians how American Jews might help promote
economic cooperation between the two countries.
On the other hand, the AJCommittee will continue to
monitor the Arab involvement in the American economy
and will watch how the federal regulations against the
Arab boycott of American firms are being enforced.
-