THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, December 25, 1981

17

Gibraltar Jews Content, But Wary of Future

democracy, they fear the Semitic and anti-Zionist
Jewish guests, no pork or ing 4,000 Spaniards of em- are no Jewish figures potential
blows to their idyl-
arms smuggl-
shellfish are served at offi- ployment in the colony and among the candidates to lic seclusion and feel vul- propaganda,
ing, political violence and
succeed
him.
passing
on
the
benefits
to
cial functions.
Though they appreciate nerable in the face of a the terror currently sweep-
NEW YORK — In 1963,
Schoolboys stroll along Morocco, as all traffic be-
Sir Joshua Hassan, prime Main Street. wearing tween the Rock and the the steps taken toward possible influx of anti- ing Spain.
minister of Gibraltar, deliv- "kipot" as they pass the mainland- must now pass
ered a lecture to the Jewish statue of Lieutenant Ben- through Tangiers. Morever,
Historical Society of zecry, an Orthodox officer some 12,000 Moroccans
Choose From A
England on The Treaty of who symbolizes all Gibral- have, replaced the once
Utrecht 1713 and the Jews tar's fallen in World War Spanish labor fOrce.
Large selection of rings
of Gibraltar."
One.
Britain is conditioning
watches and other fine jewelry
In his lecture, Sir Joshua
Yet, a close look at this Spanish entry into the
pointed to Article 10 of the seeming idyllic situation for European Common Market
14 and 18 K GOLD
treaty: "Her Brittanic Jews reveals profound ap- upon an end to the embargo
Diamonds
and Fine Jewelry
Majesty, at the request of prehensions. For the last 13 on Gibraltar. Spain is de-
the Catholic King (of years, the Rock has been manding the return of the
pain), does consent and isolated from Spain. The Rock to its sovereignty as
'These services done on premises
1--ee, that no leave shall be closing of the border at La the price for its entry into
• Jewelry Repair
yen under any pretense Linea hermetically sealed NATO.
• Watch Repair
whatsoever, either to Jews Gibraltar and insulated its
. • Restringing
or Moors (Moroccaris), to re- population from the politi-
The British colony re-
side or have their dwellings cal extremism and violent mains an important
in the said town of Gibraltar spasms of the post-Franco strategic point in the At-
lantic alliance control-
RDanny
era.
It should be recalled that
According to the rab- ling the crossroads be-
after the expulsion of the bis, the closed border tween the Atlantic and
Jews in 1492, Spain was vir- acts as a brake against the Mediterranean and
tually "Judenrein." Though assimilation, for before also between Europe and
Great Britain occupied Gib- Franco sealed off the Africa.
"Where the customer comes first"
raltar in 1704, Spain con- Rock the youth were ab-
The above-mentioned
Quality jewelers for 3 generations
firmed the right of the sent from Shabat serv- businessman feared that
British monarch to posses- ices, spending their Gibraltar, in the hands of a
Mon.-Fri. 9 to 5 Sat. 9-3
All bankards honored
sion of the Rock only nine weekends in Spain.
23077 Greenfield Advance Bldg. suite 389 Sfld.
pro-Arab Spain facing a
Shelly
years later by the Treaty of
Further anxiety has been potentially Islamic fun-
557-5544
Utrecht.
stirred by Spanish press damentalist Morocco, could
Yet, this was soon fol- comment on alleged neo- be a conceivably dangerous
lowed by a Spanish em- Nazi activity along the scenario for the free passage
bargo on the Rock, not Costa del Sol.
of Israeli shipping through
dissimilar to the current
When asked about the in- the Straits. The problem is
situation, which forced
further complicated by
the British settlers to cidence of anti-Semitism on Morocco's often proclaimed
the
Rock,
Sir
Joshua
stated
seek provisions from
"though there may be designs upon the Spanish
Morocco, a few miles that,
resentment in some quar- enclaves of Ceuta and
across the Straits.
ters, the Gibraltarian is suf- Melilla along the North Af-
The emperor. of Morocco ficiently civilized not to rican Coast.
agreed to provide whatever make an act of anti-
Despite discreet Arab in-
was required, on condition Semitism:"
vestment in Gibraltar and
that Gibraltar be open to all
A prothinent business- the centrality of the mosque
his subjects, both Jews and man and ex-minister felt for the Moroccan commu-
Moors.
that while the border is
England was then placed closed, Spain serves as the nity, the latter is regarded
in a dilemma, for by carry- butt of public discontent. "If condescendingly and public
ing out the treaty she would it is opened, the Jew may opinion tends to identify
be cutting off her own local become the new scapegoat," with Israel.
source of supplies. The suc- he said.
Sir Josha recalled that Sir
cessive governors of the
Despite the over- Gordon Macmillan, who
Rock solved the situation by whelming desire of Gib- served in pre-state Israel
repeated promises to Spain raltarians to remain before becoming governor of
that the Jews and Moors British (in the 1967 re- Gibraltar, approached hi_ m
would be evicted, and at the ferendum 12,138 voted at a Cabinet meeting in
same time ignored orders to for British sovereignty 1952 to express his condo-
that effect from London.
against only 44 for lences on the death of
The number of Jewish Spain), the Catholic Chaim Weizmann.
residents rapidly increased Spanish-speaking major-
Sir Joshua, besides
and by the time of the ity has been cut off from being prime minister, is a
Spanish siege of 1726-1727, its religious and linguis- practicing attorney and
the community numbered tic hinterland. One also the administrative
more than 1,000. Jewish Jewish leader feared that president of Gibraltar's
support for the British side the opening of the largest synagogue.
during the siege consoli- Spanish border could Though there were sh-
dated their position and lead to a resurgence of outs of "Hassan to Is-
they became an integral Catholic fundamen- rael!" at a strike against
part of the garrison.
talism, bringing with it a his government by the
more overt anti- Transport and General
Thus, the Jews have
flourished in secluded Semitism.
On the other hand, as Worker's Union in 1964,
tranquility, disturbed
Sir Joshua has won 19
only by their evacuation most of the Jewish commu- elections since 1945 as the
nity
is
active
in
retail
busi-
to Madeira in World War
Labor Party candidate.
it has been hurt deeply
Two, due to the fear of a ness,
Just try a fresh Empire Kosher
by the effects of the eco-
He claims that his
German invasion of the nomic recession upon greatest supporters are the
Chicken. Whether it's a roaster,
Rock through Fascist tourism. Indeed, the local
Moroccan
community,
as
fryer
or broiler, you'll taste our
Vichy- press is demanding that the
or
pain
they see him as a bulwark
ntrolled Morocco.
marvelous
difference with the
Gibraltar government against Spanish ambitions
first
bite.
It's
the quality kosher
Today, a community of tourist Office in London be — a settlement with Spain
604 Jews lives peacefully closed, as it is a waste of would, they believe, lead to
chicken . . . and you'll never want
among a general population public funds. Thus, from an their repatriation to
anything else again!
of 27,000. While every child economic viewpoint, by Morocco.
in the community attends opening the border, Gibral-
Sir Joshua declares that
the Jewish school, "God tar could attract part of the
The next time you shop, buy a real quality
massive tourist trade along he has no intention to stand
Save the Queen" is sung in
Hebrew in the Rock's four the beaches of southern in the next elections in Feb-
kosher chicken . . . by no other name than
ruary, 1984. Though Gib-
synagogues. The British Spain.
raltar's
Mayor
Serfaty
is
Franco's decision to close
governor seeks advice of the
the border in 1968 was also a prominent member of
community in setting the
date for elections so that aimed at strangling Gibral- the Jewish community, Sir
tar's economy and forcing Joshua's departure from the
they should not coincide
out the British. He suc- political scene would mark
with Jewish holidays.
Moreover, in respect to ceeded, however, in depriv- the end of an era, as there

By SHIMON SAMUELS

Director, European Office
Anti-Defamation League •

No Job Too Small

W EINT

IT

ou'll never settle
for less!

Empire

.k.

•. • ■ ••