THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Can Carter Administration Halt Brother Billy's Antics tion. And more and more By RABBI MARC TANENBAUM (A Seven Arts Feature) "Am I my brother's keep- ter?" Cain spoke those cyni- cal words after he slew his brother, Abel, and then was banished as a vagrant with the mark of Cain on his head. Many people are wonder- ing aloud these days whether Billy Carter has not inflicted the mark of Billy" on the forehead of his brother, President Jimmy Carter, and his administra- people are asking why this Administration and the Congress appear to be so impotent in stopping Billy from conducting his own American foreign policy, not to speak of preventing his disgraceful public at- tacks against Jews and other fellow-Americans. It was morally troub- lesome enough that Billy Carter tried to exploit his brother's Presidency selling "Billy Beer." And many did not think it endearing that good old' Billy attacked with impunity the intelli- gence and integrity of vir- tually every member of the White House staff. Not too long ago, Billy Carter ridiculed the sports figure Phil Niekro as a "Polack," and re- peatedly he has maligned the Jewish community in slanderous words suggestive of Ku Klux Klan mentality. Worse than that, behind his deceptive clowning it is now revealed that he has been engaged in a covert re- lationship as a foreign agent for Libya — one of the greatest supporters of ter- rorist groups in the world today. The time has come for the White House, the Congress, the mass media and the American people to treat Billy Carter for what he is — not just a good-natured loud-mouthed buffoon, but potentially as a public menace who must be held responsible for his words and deeds. Friday, August 15, 1980 15 We Make Our Own Glasses HEADQUARTERS FOR LATEST DOMESTIC AND ORT IMPORTED FRAME FASHIONS • • PRESCRIPTIONS FOR GLASSES ACCURATELY FILLED I 1 0% SENIOR DIGNEIFil FRAMES • Immediate Repair • Reasonably. Priced ROSEN OPTICAL SERVICE 13720 W. 9 MILE nr. COOLIDGE OAK PARK, MICH. LI 7-5068 Mon.-Fri. 9:30-6 Sat. 'til 5 Closed Wednesday Recently Professor Leonard Fein of Brandies University, a well known dove, held a press conference in Jerusalem where he announced that he and dozens of other prominent American Jews were adding their names to a previous statement drafted by Peace Now which was headed "Their way isn't ours" and was signed by 250 Israelis. The statement, which has been widely publicized, suggests that the erosion of support for Israel in America and in the United Nations is due to the policies of the Israel Government. ZOA ACTION GUIDELINES Begin replies: Don't give comfort to our enemies A public service to our community, the Zionist Organization of America — Detroit District — Sidney Silverman, President Dear 'Professor Fein, What did they rejoice about? Are I know that you enjoy a complete we not all in the hands of Divine command of the Hebrew tongue Providence? They craved my and I have, therefore, no compunc- death. It transpires that the Maker tion in replying to your letter of of men and the Creator of soul's has July 4 — which reached me yester- not, for now, hearkened to their, day — in the language of my call. thoughts and feeling. I venture to say that I have serv- Every since I learned Zionism ed the Jewish people for more than from Ze'ev Binyamin Herzl and 50 years. My old eyes have seen Ze'ev Jabotinsky I believe with all much: two world wars, seven other my heart that Eretz Israel belongs wars, jail and concentration camp; to the whole Jewish people and not five years underground — depriva- only to those Jews who live in it. tion, starvation and more. Hence, I have no objection to Jews Given this experience — which who live in the diaspora criticizing you will admit is not small — I per- the policy of the Israel Government mit myself to express astonishment of the day; by its very democratic why a man like you has to organize nature, it is transient. American Jews in order to publish The fact is, and one can of course a statement which lends — not, God find reason for surprise at this, forbid, intentionally — comfort to Jews abroad and especially in the those who gleefully declare: "Look, United States did not exercise this the Jews of America are turning right during the office of previous their backs on Israel." governments. Was it that they Why should one act thus in the never had any cause to criticize particular times that confront us? their policies, their commissions, Do you not see what is happening in omissions, whereas in these days Copenhagen? Did you not read the there are some Jews who feel they Fatah Damascus resolution? Don't can bountifully indulge in this you hear the speeches from the right? I make no complaint, but of rostrum of the United Nations? Do itself the fact is worthy of note. you, with your intelligence, not However, there is a distinction perceive that the whole purpose is between words of criticism and to squeeze us into a thin strip of aggressive abuse. I felt that what territory in preparation for "The we face is not the exercise of the Day?" What else has to be rendered right of dissent but a verbal aggres- in writing or orally to make you and sion which, in itself, would warrant your colleagues understand that we sharp criticism of its author. I do are fighting for our lives? not wish to go over those remarks You employ a certain turn . of but perhaps you will be good phrase : you say you are against a enough to look at them 'again. With "Greater Israel." I shudder at this in mind I enclose, herewith, these words. This spuriously- he Jerusalem Post clipping. applied expression takes us back to lease read it. the Nazi days. The British used to All my life, Professor Fein, I contend that that demon ave been an anti-chauvinist. I slaughterer wanted to establish a Ave nothing in common with Mon- "Greater Germany." There are sieur Nicolas Chauvin of the Englishmen now, anti-Zionist and Napoleon III era who heaped praise anti-Jewish — Mr. Ian Gilmor on everything France did. I know [Lord Privy Seal and Foreign Of- the shortcomings of our people, its fice spokesman in the House of petulance, the drop-outs, the Comm,ons] is one of them — who yerida, its penchant for undeserved assert that the writer of this letter, hatred — "sinnat chinnam" in together with his friends, want to Hebrew — which has pursued it create "a Greater Israel." The in- from ancient times until today. You nuendo is clear. The purpose is might, perhaps, register the fact beyond doubt. Must Jews, that according to the testimony of professors among them, lend Israeli citizens who wrote letters on credence to this nonsense, this in- the matter to the editors of citement? What "Greater Israel?" "Ma'ariv" and "Hatsofe," the The whole territory between the Peace Now demonstrators in front Jordan River and the sea is 70 kms. of the Prime Minister's Office, wide, or, in the AmericAn'terms you whose path you accept and whose -well comprehend, 40 miles. Is that doctrine you spread, jumped for joy what you call a "Greater Israel?" on learning that I had suffered a Western Eretz Israel being smaller heart attack and was hospitalized. than Belgium, would one talk of a Does that not deserve to be labelled "Greater Belgium?" "sinnat chinnam" with the added True, there is the problem of the adjective unbridled? Palestinian Arabs. You are among . st S those who call them Palestinians. Do you not remember the Pream- ble to the Mandate given to Britain over Eretz Israel (Palestine) — or, as Herbert Samuel contrived to call it, Palestine (E.I.) There it is written: "Recognition having been given to the historical connection between the Jewish people and Palestine..." Note: "the Jewish people and Palestine." Dear Professor Fein, in those days every intelligent human being knew, understood and remembered that Palestine is the foreign name given for Eretz Israel. One could verily read the above-quoted sentence: "...the historical connec- tion between the Jewish people and Eretz Israel." And now, I, who am not willing to hand over parts of that Eretz Israel to foreign rule, to foreign sovereignty — I am called' by you who advocates progress, "chauvinist"? Yes, indeed, as stated, there is the problem of the Palestinian Arabs. Never did we seek to do them wrong. The absolute historic truth is that they inflicted on themselves all the wrongs done to them. By their own hand and that of their leaders they suffered. You should know that as long as we fought the British for the liberation of Eretz Israel from colonial rule there was total peace between Jew and Arab in the country, and then, on the morrow of November 29, 1947, they, the Palestinian Arabs, attacked us to literally annihilate us. And then, on the day following the declaration of our in- dependende, regular armies in- vaded our country from the north and the south and the east to destroy us: The fact that neither succeeded is no historic injustice; it is historic justice. Indeed, ponder for- a mo- ment what would have transpired had we not repelled those who at- tacked us, bent on erasing the memory of Israel in Eretz Israel in the generation of the Holocaust. The truth is that my colleagues and I wish, to the extent possible, to redress that wrong, which the Arabs brought upon themselves when they strove to deprive us not only of the land of our forefathers but also of our lives. Hence, the idea of the autonomy for the Arab in- habitants of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District, which is totally our idea. It was not the Americans who proposed autonomy, nor the Egyp- tians. It was we, the Jews, the Zionists, the disciples of Ze'ev Jabotinsky, who proposed this humanitarian idea. It was accepted in Washington and in Cairo both (and we shall let no man distort it). By the idea of the autonomy, for the first time in their history the Arabs will be able to live together With us in Eretz Israel in peace, in understanding, in freedom, in mutual respect and advancement, they themselves conducting their own affairs. Security alone we shall reserve, for were we not to do that, not only would our brethren and children be killed but peace itself would be murdered and bloodshed would be permanent. For into the vacuum that would be thus created would enter the PLO which, as decided upon in Damascus, seeks to liquidate — liquidieren — the "Zionist entity," i.e., the State of Israel. . Is not this, our course, worthy of the support of a man who considers himself progressive? Is this chauvinism? Is progress embodied in the man who wants a "Palesti- nian state," ruled by the PLO, a jumping-off ground for the destruc- tion of Israel with the help of Arab states, the billions of petro-dollars, the use of the oil weapon and even, perhaps, the atomic bomb, the full might of the Soviet expansionist empire which stretches from Leip- zig to Kabul? If that is progress, Professor Fein, I fail to understand what is reaction. Indeed, it is my duty to say to you that a "Palestinian state" — a 22nd Arab state — is the basest expression of dark reaction which is on the rampage in our today's world, no less than it was in the thirties and which uses the "Big Lie," as camouflage and mis- representation so that professors, too, are its frequent victims. Having said all this, I have the honour to add. one thing more. Yes, indeed, in keeping with my convic- tion, Jews have the right to criticize the government of Israel In which I serve as prime minister — at any given moment, any' second, any hour, day and night. But I, too, have the right to ask of them to unders- tand one thing at least: On matters that relate :to the national security of the little nation in Eretz Israel, please refrain from proffering ad- vice, at least in public, within earshot of our enemies who con- spire to do us evil. Remember, please, the simple fact that we care for our children and grandchildren — and they, these little children, live here. I ask your forgiveness for the un- due length of this letter, but I could not refrain from some measure of emphasis in these exceptional times. And may God grant us strength to withstand the tests of the future that await us all. Yours sincerely, MENAHEM BEGIN