THE JEWISH NEWS
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Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951
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CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
HEIDI PRESS
Associate News Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 23rd day of Tammuz, 5741, the following scriptural
selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 30:2-32:42.
Prophetical portion, Jeremiah, 1:1-2:3.
Candle lighting, Friday, July 24, 8:41 p.m.
VOL. LXXER, No. 21
Friday, July 24, 1981
Page Four
DEFENSE 'WITHIN THE LAWS
Destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor by
srael continues to aggravate the elements who
seep searching for means of making Israel and
ter leaders the scapegoats in world disputa-
ions.
There is no denying the military genius that
vas revealed in the bombing of the nuclear
eactor. There is repetition of admiration for the
kills that have given new status to the Israeli
nilitary planning. But that does not reduce the
tatreds manipulated in many quarters. This
ompels the continuing search for facts and for
•easoning to evaluate the occurrence of June 7,
vhich will surely go down in history as one of
he most amazing tactics in military history.
Did Israel violate international law with the
attack on the threatening reactor in Iraq? Legal
Ind military tacticians and authorities who
lave studied the matter give Israel a clean bill
)f health. Chief among the legal experts who
lave vindicated Israel is the eminent attorney
Louis Nizer. Writing in the Toronto Globe and
Mail under the heading "Israeli Attack Within
he Law," Nizer made a specifically conclusive
assertion regarding the role played by Israel in
what the haters would denigrate as unlawful,
declaring:
It appears to be politic to condemn Israel. This
s continued obeisance to OPEC and the need for
_ts oil. However, it would accord with conscience
not to impose sanctions or cut off military or
ether aid to Israel. The condemnation of Israel is
really a "slap on the wrist" which is supposed to
mollify Arabic protests, while at the same time
approving the applicable legal precepts. Such
compromises are typical diplomatic devices, but
they are hypocritical as well as morally defi-
cient.
Israel has acted in accordance with interna-
tional law recognized for centuries, even by the
Islamic Code. Israel has acted in the only way it
could to save its people from genocidal oblitera-
tion.
A number of incidents in world history which
Jaye established precedents for defensive ac-
tions are quoted in the Nizer article. Explaining
[srael's being "within the law," he stated in his
definitive article:
If there is a real and serious threat to the secu-
Aty of a nation, it may take pre-emptive action. A
leading treatise, "Oppenheim's International
Law," states:
From the earliest time of the existence of the
Law of Nations self-preservation was consid-
ered sufficient justification for many acts of a
state which violate other states."
History is replete with illustrations of this doc-
trine. To cite only a few:
In 1807, Canadian insurgents, rebelling
against their country, seized an island within the
American territory, and equipped a boat called
the "Caroline" to carry supplies to their fellow
rebels. Canada, without notice to the United
States, sent troops into American territory and
seized the "Caroline" and its supplies and de-
stroyed the boat. The United States protested
that its territorial integrity had been violated,
but Great Britain and Canada proved that their
act was "necessary for self-preservation" since
that was not sufficient time to complain to the
United States government and get relief.
In 1585, England learned that Spain was
readying the Armada to conquer her. England
sent Sir Francis Drake and a fleet to attack im-
mediately and disrupt the Armada's prepara-
tions.
It took three years for the Armada to be re-
constituted, just as it will take Iraq three years to
build another nuclear reactor.
A precedent indicating that the Koran also
endorsed the related Israeli action is alluded to
by Mr. Nizer, who states:
The Koran and the Islamic law are similar to
the Anglo:Saxon law. A leading Islamic writer,
Muhammed Hamidullah, writes in his book
"Muslim Conduct of State" that a war is defen-
sive and lawful "when the enemy has not actu-
ally so invaded, but has behaved in an unbeara-
ble manner." He supports this proposition with
illustrations from the Prophet Mohammed's
own actions. In the early years, when Moham-
med was threatened by his enemies, he attacked
Khaibar, which is justified on the ground that he
was "nipping war in the bud." The Koran not
only justifies pre-emptiye attack but labels those
who die in such efforts martyrs. "Whoever fights
in defense of his person and is killed, he is a
martyr . . . Whoever fights in defense of his fam-
ily and is killed, is a martyr."
Thereupon Mr. Nizer applies the occurrences
he referred to by analyzing Israel's precarious
position in an area predominantly Arab, stat-
ing:
Iraq is an implacable enemy of Israel, an-
nouncing its hostility year after year. As re-
cently as 1977, Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein,
said: "We will never recognize the rights of Israel
to live as a separate Zionist state." Of all the
surrounding intransigent Arab states, Iraq is
the only one which has refused to sign a cease
fire with Israel. She openly declares herself to be
at war with Israel. Hussein is known as one of
the most bloody leaders in the world.
Factors inviting political and diplomatic de-
cency in judging Israel also are introduced by
Mr. Nizer. The following in his article are worth
noting:
a
Finally, we ex mine the doctrine of excessive
force. Israel did not drop an atomic bomb over
the Iraqi nuclear plant. It did not exploit the
provocative threat to destroy Israel, and bomb
Iraq recklessly. With extraordinary precision, it
destroyed a specific plant where the nuclear
weapon could be constructed. It did so on a Sun-
day when human loss would be at a minimum.
Indeed, as a demonstration of technological
brilliance, it must give pause to hostile Arab na-
tions, and evoke admiration from even the
Soviet Union as well as the United States. Surely
the force used was not excessive.
History is certain to treat the matter objec-
tively, and surely with as much pride for Israel
as is indicated in the admiration for the skill
described by Mr. Nizer.
Yet there is a reverberation of hatred that is
described curiously as mistrust.
Therefore the need to review the issue and to
invite authoritative comment to indicate Is-
rael's having been within the law. Therefore the
appreciation for the value of so informative an
analysis as Mr. Nizer's. The record is clear. Is-
rael and her friends need not apologize for
resorting to protect the lives of Israelis and the
sovereignty of their state.
`Prayer Is Reaching'
Volume for Children
The Union of American Hebrew Congregations has published a
beautiful volume for children in its Union Education Series.
The paperback volume, "Prayer Is Reaching," is co-authored by
former Detroiter Rabbi Daniel B. Syme and Rabbi Howard Bogot. The
beautiful illustrations were done by Marlene Lobell Ruthen.
"Prayer Is Reaching" focuses on Mrs. Ruthen's lovely drawings of
children, framed by the two rabbis' brief text about prayer. The 23
pages take only a few minutes to read and the book is aimed at
relating God to the everyday world of children.
The concluding page gives the Shehekheyanu blessing in trans-
literated Hebrew, and in the English:
Blessed is the Lord our God,
Ruler of the universe,
for giving us life,
for sustaining us,
and for enabling us
to reach this season.