ss THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Peru: Anti-Semitism and the PLO By DR. WERNER FRYDMAN (Copyright 1982, JTA, Inc.) Various PLO materials are distributed by Com- munist groups in the uni- versities; some of them use bulletin boards for PLO propaganda and virulent attacks on Zionism and Is- rael. For more than a year now, there has been a daily transmission on Radio Santa Rosa of "The Palesti- nian Voice," a program which spews out anti- Semitic poison, splashed with songs and words of support for the "movements of national liberation in Latin America." Besseiso attended the fes- tivities in the town of Ica connected with the grape harvest. He was welcomed by the mayor of the city and asked to sign the "Book of Illustrious Guests." The PLO was also invited to par- ticipate in the XVII Con- gress of the Federation of Peruvian Students, which took place in June at the University of San Marcos. Also worth mentioning is the invitation by the or- thodox Communist Party to the PLO representa- tive in Lima, who spoke to union leaders and was introduced by Gustavo Espinoza, secretary of in- ternational relations with the Communist Party. There is no doubt that the Anti-Semitism in Peru has never been official pol- icy. Peruvian governments have traditionally re- spected the Jewish minority and have always been will- ing to listen to community leaders who denounced anti-Semitic acts and atti- tudes. Today, living in a democ- racy, Peru's Jewish minor- , , (5,000 people) enjoys full '____ghts and the government maintains friendly rela- tions with its community leaders. Anti-Semites in Peru, however, have adopted an anti-Zionist position. Thus, anti-Semitism is now rooted in Peru's extreme leftist groups which have em- braced numerous anti- Zionist positions, while pro-Nazi groups have freely expressed their anti-Jewish accusations that went as far as casting aspersions on the Jewish religion. . Peru has authorized the setting up of a Pales- tine Liberation Organiza- tion office. Its represen- tative, Issam Besseiso, works tenaciously with both left and rightwing extremists in an effort to disseminate anti-Israel propaganda. They have an enormous budget. Not long ago, members of parliament traveled to Lebanon and had inter- views with PLO leader Yasir Arafat, who moder- ated his views without NEW YORK — Rabbi speaking about "extermina- Joseph P. Sternstein, tion of Israel" and without president of the American mentioning the Palestinian Zionist Federation, has Charter. Vigorous protests called upon American from the Jewish community Jewry and its leaders to prevented other "junkets" help strengthen Israel's from taking place. position among the Ameri- A TV program conducted can people and in the media. by a Peruvian journalist Speaking before a meet- who interviewed Arafat for ing of the AZF's Executive the first time, provoked a Committee, Rabbi Sterns- tempest which lasted for tein noted that "there are several weeks. The Jewish several important issues community put out an offi- which must be addressed cial statement denying the without delay by the accusations of "Jewish in- American Jewish leader- tervention in freedom of the ship and warrant the full press," and condemning the increasing wave of anti- Levin Praises Semitism in the country. A community leader, Eduardo CJF Citrin Bigio, appeared on TV with WASHINGTON — The a panel of journalists and work of Jewish federations answered all of the accusa- in meeting communal tions and published threats. needs, assisted through Besseiso, the PLO repre- coordinated planning by the sentative, has traveled Council of Jewish Federa- throughout Peru setting up tions, has won praise from committees in support of the U.S. Senator Carl Levin Palestinian cause. He was (D-Mich.). received royally in "Jewish federations Arequipa, whose mayor is a throughout the country mmunist, while in the have provided direct highly d rthern city of Piura, his professional volunteer presence and activity leadership . . . which has caused the mayor to resign. met the needs of the Jewish His visit to Ayacucho, community as well as the one of the centers of na- non-Jewish community in tional terrorism, was which the agencies are lo- criticized by the news- cated," Levin said in a Se- paper "Opinion Libre," nate speech. He pointed to which said that the PLO the role played by the Coun- in Peru "is carrying out cil of Jewish Federations, `unholy' activities before noting that CJF is currently the eyes of our celebrating its 50th an- authorities." It added niversary. that the PLO has ex- He also praised the selec- pressed a desire to sup- tion of Detroiter Martin port "liberation move- Citrin as the new CJF ments" in Latin America. president. presence of the PLO in Peru is a decisive factor in strengthening anti- Semitism. In addition, there are Nazi publications which incite racial hatred — "TeMple" (Temper) and "Trinchera 88" (Trench 88), as well as Communist newspapers and ultra- leftist magazines which promote terrorism and at- tacks against Israel and Zionism. The democratic parties, Accion Popular, Apra and Partido Popular Cristiano, maintain support for Israel and the Zionist movement. The Catholic Church also has a fraternal relationship with the Jewish commu- nity. The attendance this year — for the first time in the history of the 100-year-old Jewish community in Peru — of the president of the re- public at Rosh Hashana services is significant. President Belaunde Terry's words were full of affection and revealed that the pre- sent democratic regime will not permit attacks on any persons on religious or ra- cial grounds. The Jewish community of Peru, though small in num- bers, is well organized and is very conscious of its role in supporting Israel and Zionism. It is on a continu- ous state of alert and united Friday, February 5, 1982 21 U.S. Threatens UN Sanctions against anti-Semitic at- tacks whose inspiration, financing and guidance come from outside the coun- try. UNITED NATIONS — The U.S. threatened Wed- nesday to drastically reduce its financial support of the UN if a Syrian-sponsored resolution to oust Israel from the General Assembly is adopted. Open covenants of peace openly arrived at. — Woodrow Wilson Sternstein Tells AZF 'We Must Join Israel PR Fight' mobilization of our educa- tional and public relations efforts on behalf of Israel." The most important was the increasing perception of Israel as a burden, both fi- nancially and diplomati- cally, for the United States. If a such a misconception becomes acceptable, then "America would seek to dis- engage itself from past and future commitments to the Jewish state. To avoid this, Rabbi Sternstein said that the Jewish community must educate the American people and the Reagan Administration to recog- nize that Israel "repre- sents a crucial and indis- pensable strategic ally for the interests of the United States and in the Middle East . . . provid- ing America with vital services." These include not only a loyalty to Western democratic ideals, but also such con- crete assets as an effec- tive intelligence and mili- tary force which serves to counter the heavy Soviet presence in the area. Rabbi Sternstein also warned against the growing U.S. reliance — and depen- dence — on Saudi Arabia. EXCITING EARRINGS ALL NEW SELECTION HEARTS OF GOLD GIFTS OF LOVE A. Ret. 168.75 — 20% OFF 135.00 B. Ret. 141.61 — 20% OFF 113.29 C. Ret. 85.23 — 20% OFF 68.19 CASH REFUNDS A. Ret. 87.72 — 20% OFF 70.18 B. Ret. 62.38 — 20% OFF 49.91 C. Ret. 98.26 — 20% OFF 78.61 rat Tappe d FREE GIFT WRAPPING 26400 West Twelve Mile Road in Southfield's Racquetime Mall Foreign Aide TEL AVIV (ZINS) — The newspaper Yediot Ahronot reported that a secret U.S. document claims the U.S. would be greatly strengthened if it used Is- raeli bases and even Israeli military units if necessary. • Northeast corner 12 Mile & Northwestern Hwy. 357-5578 MIME VISA /MEI Mon. - Sat. 10:00 - 5:45 • Thursdays 10:00 - 8:45 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed .