2 Friday, April 2, 1982
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
The Multiple Experiences and Accelerated Burdens
Confronting Israel Demand New Confidence in
Emerging Factors Assuring Freedom, Peace Hopes
By Philip
Slornovitz
Passover Meditations, Agonies Affecting Freed om Legacies, Begging for Retention of Faith
Crossing the Red Sea and living in the desert for 40 years before reaching the
Promised Land, in the days of the Pharaohs of old, may have been easier than the battle
for justice by modern Israel. In some respects they are akin. The Israelites of 3,000 years
ago must have been divided into political cliques, else there would not have been a
divisiveness. In spite of disunity and the craving for the morsels of Egypt there was a
triumph on the road to national sovereignty. That's the hope for the present critical hour
in Israel's history — that there will be a measure of unity to assure security and survival.
The latter is a hated term, yet it cannot be eliminated from the Jewish dictionary beacuse
the dangers to existence are so immense.
Unity is important even — especially! — in self-criticism. In an honorable
democractically-oriented society, truth is mandatory and facts must be studied ration-
ally and realistically.
Israel is subjected to severe attacks from all sides.
Once again Israel is in the limelight in limitless fashion. Palestinians as an issue in
Israel's deliberations with the Egyptians is matched by innumerable stories about the
torturing of young Arabs in territory administered by Israel, and the incidents cause
anguish and genuine concern. The accusations leveled at Israel's military leaders and the
administrators of the Judea-Samaria area which is commonly referred to as the West
Bank are reason to be distressed.
If the charges are true, if they are not one-sided accumulating enmities and bias that
is usually heaped upon the Israelis, then there is need for approaches to eliminate both
the prejudices as well as the causes for them.
Israel must be above reproach in its striving for an honorable existence and for amity
with neighbors.
Jewish communities in the entire Diaspora have a stake in this. The accumulating
accusations call for action. What is needed is proper refutations in the interest of truth.
Then there is the Palestinian issue and the rising tide of PLO-ism. It has begun to
invade Jewish ranks.
Israel already is negotiating with so-called Palestinians in an effort to establish
accord with Arab chieftains, mayors of cities in the administered territories and whoever
can be reached to talk about peace on a par with the Egyptians.
Tragically, such Arab cooperators in a dialogue for peace are few and far between; in
fact, they are non-existent. When the recognized Palestinians keep shouting PLO slo-
gans, there is an approach to understanding why there are so many irritations that have
led to bloodshed. It is indeed a tragedy and every effort must be made to avert its increase.
With regard to the PLO, there are new trends that are cause for concern and for
delving more deeply into the rising tide of hatred, as well as the Jewish and Israeli
responsibilities to meet them.
In a New York Times Op-Ed Page article on March 21, Yossi Sarid, member of the
Labor Party opposition in the Knesset, made this statement:
In order for an American initiative to have some chance of success it
must be acceptable to at least some Israelis. Yet the Israeli partners for an
American initiative need not be a majority of the people. A minority faction
convinced of the effectiveness of an American policy will often fight public
opinion with all its strength to convince other Israelis of the policy's advan-
tages.
That is exactly what happened during the long negotiations that led to
peace with Egypt. Israeli public opinion was often dangerously cool, skep-
tical that any agreement was possible.
But the "Peace Now" movement — a very small, moderate group, led by
junior officers from the Israeli reserve forces, which advocated immediate
peace even if this meant making considerable concessions — succeeded in
keeping the peace process alive. The movement did not have a Knesset
majority or a large public following, but its arguments — that Israel must
not miss the historic opportunity to make peace -- were strong enough to
convince the majority of the population. If the "Peace Now" movement had
not arisen as an active, loyal partner to the Egyptian-American initiative, it
is very doubtful whether the Camp David accords and the peace agreement
would have been signed.
Before Washington comes up with an initiative, the. Administration
must be certain that it will have partners in Israel — partners who see the
proposed plan as a useful catalyst and a "sure starter." The Administration
will fail if it recognizes only the Palestine Liberation Organization. But if it
encourages the peace process by urging both sides — Israel and the PLO
toward mutual and simultaneous recognition of the right to self-
determination, it will find in Israel a fair number of partners.
Without a solution to the Palestinian problem there will be no stable
peace in the region. Without a stable peace, even the separate peace treaty
with Egypt will be very fragile. If we wish to save the peace with Egypt, we
must prepare to negotiate a solution to the Palestinian problem.
It is unlikely that such negotiations would be possible without PLO
participation, and the only basis for negotiations with the PLO is mutual
recognition: the Arab Palestinian nation must recognize the right to self-
determination of the Jewish nation in Zion, and the Jewish nation must
recognize the Arab Palestinian nation's right to self-determination.
It was necessary to quote the entire reference to the views of the Labor member of the
Knesset in order that his approval of negotiations with the PLO should be on the record.
Sarid's declarations may well be a minority viewpoint in his party. But it represents
an alteration of generally-accepted viewpoints and of Israel government attitudes
toward the PLO. It is quite possible that even the vilest enemy could in the course of time
emerge acceptable for discussions in the interest of peace. But such an approach 11111F
on a multi-partisan basis. It must represent national agreement. It must have a seen, _..
unity.
For such a purpose there should have been a positive reply to Menahem Begin for the
formation of a nationally-united, inter-party government, something that has thus far
been rejected.
Furthermore, there must be proof that even the PLO is ready to talk peace and to
abandon the goal of destroying Israel. There has to be a sense of responsibility.
It is true that in time there must come an accord to include all parties. But Israel
presently stands alone, Egypt excepted, in the striving for peace. The Labor Party can't
play politics under such conditions. There has to be a sense of realism, and if unity can be
attained, it must come first from the Jewish ranks. Then there will be the hope expressed
in the Labor Knesset member's proposals.
Meanwhile, in this Passover season, there is more aggravation than hope, more
discord than sacrifice for peace. The great sacrifice is already in the offing, with the
approach of the April 25 date of Israel's abandonment of the Sinai. How far is the road
ahead in other directions?
The Passover is saddened by these and similar meditations. The atmosphere is
gloomy. The media serve as the medium for accelerating the bitterness that has
encumbered Israel and process-wise Jewish people.
In a period of several years, instead of supplementing the means leading toward
peace, the powers controlling news and editorial opinions have given credence to view-
points that are dipped in suspicions and scapegoatism. An appropriate target was found
in the prime minister of Israel who was nevertheless chosen, together with his associate
in the peace aims, Anwar Sadat, for the Nobel Peace Prize. Subterfuging the venom for
Israel is the hatred that accumulated toward Menahem Begin. Yet, this target for hatred
is the man who engineered the sacrifice for peace, the abandonment of Sinai, and now
there is a crisis in Israel involving a rebellion against such ,a heavy price for peace. This,
too, is part of the agony converging upon the current Passover.
It is that very target for hatred, Menahem Begin, who confronted by the sensations
spread under the heading "Jews fighting Jews" in the matter of the Sinai withdrawal,
has stated that he will adhere to the agreement for peace but will in no fashion approve of
the spilling of Jewish blood while this is being concluded.
No matter how true some of the accusations leveled at Israel, the manner in which
the media resort to criticism is appalling. A local editorial writer, to select one example,
found it necessary to state, under the headline "Israel's policy jeopardizes the entire
peace process," that "Israel under Mr. Begin seems to be headed toward de facto incorpo-
ration of the West Bank, if not outright annexation."
This is contrary to every element in the Begin-formulated proposal for autonomy,
and no sensible Israeli would move towards the annexation thus charged.
Vital to the issue, however, is the established fact that Israel and Egypt are not
abandoning their peace aims, that Hosni Mubarak is determined to adhere to the Camp
David agreements. On the very day when the Detroit Free Press writer spoke of an end to
peace, Mubarak declared, in a Cairo interview with Anthony Lewis of the New York
Times, that Egypt would like to restore relations with other Arab countries but "never at
the expense of our relations with Israel." How much more could he be expected to assert in
his dedication to peace? Yet editorial writers, endlessly pursuing the hatred for
Menahem Begin, denigrate the entire issue and add fuel to the fires of discord rather than
striving to encourage good will and better understanding when dealing with the Middle
East cauldron.
Such is the agony of the Passover that is celebrated, in spite of the difficulties
confronting Israel and world Jewry, with a clarion call to unity in support of the basic
goals of the People Israel: the clamor for peace and the determination to avoid obstacles in
that path, the adherence to the legacies which call for retention of hope never to falter in
time of crisis, retaining faith that the highest ideals rooted in the Passover aim for
freedom and justice will not be unduly sacrificed.
There will be much meditation about Passover and its lessons in the coming days,
commencing with the Seder. They must traditionally emerge in a spirit of confidence that
hope and faith will not be abandoned and that peace and freedom will indeed be the
blessing for all.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe Menahem Mendel Schneerson Gains Interfaith Acclaim on His 80th Birthday
RABBI SCHNEERSON
Sunday will be a most interesting day on the Jewish
calendar. It will gain, as the occasion it marks already
has attained, an unusual aspect of American devotion to
spiritual values.
The Hebrew date is the 11th of Nisan, and it marks the
80th birthday of Rabbi Menahem Mendel Schneerson,
the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
His followers number in the many tens of thousands,
hundreds of thousands additionally forming an army of
S ympathizers who are moved by his frequent calls to
action for the advancement of learning and the elevation
of Torah principles.
The non-Jewish world often emphasizes the re-
spect gained for him, and this is demonstrated in
the decision reached by the U.S. Senate to Make
Sunday a "National Day of Reflection" in honor of
the Lubavitcher.
What a remarkable tribute to the man who was
born in Nikolaev, Russia, in 5662 (1902); who attained
his worldly education at the Sorbonne in Paris; who
loves art and literature; who has made friends with the
most distinguished in the world, including •eads of state.
As the seventh in the line of Lubavitcher leaders, Rabbi Schneerson marks c..--
tinuity with the ability to befriend people. This will be in evidence Sunday when
hundreds arrive from Israel, on a chartered plane, to be joined by 400 from France, to
mark the important birthday of an eminent Hasidic leader.
Hasidic ranks grew immensely in recent years as a result of the inspiration that
came from the Lubavitcher Rebbe Schneerson.
The proof is at hand in the Michigan communities. His followers have grown here
into an impressive community. Chabad — from the Hebrew words Hokhma, Bina, Daat
— Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge — is a watchword for many.
There is also a Detroit area role in the current Lubavitch celebration. A growing
number of sympathizers among Metropolitan Detroit residents are sharing in the
Hasidic enthusiasm and are providing support for the movement. It is a sentiment
gaining in evidence in many communities and attests to the energy with which the
Lubavitch leaders inspire adherents to their idealism.
Only a few distinguished personalities attain the honor accorded Rabbi Schneerson
by the U.S. Senate and through it the nation's leader. Therefore, the birthday greetings
to the Lubavitcher Rebbe on his 80th birthday are both from Jewish and interfaith
quarters.