2. Friday, March 18, 1983
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Exposing Glorified Terror Is an Obligation, Assisted
by Author Cynthia Ozick . . . Weakness in Confronting the
Animosities Makes Education Mandatory for Knowledgeable
By Philip
Slomovitz
An Award to Star Reporter
for Exposing Incompetence
Confronting Anti-Israelism
tively, the co-chairman of the Foreign Affairs
settle for. Yet in the respectful regard for the con-
Council even might not have been so quick at the
tents and purpose of the Beirut "archive," it
end of the meeting to laud Maksoud's efforts to
would appear to be the definition that is offered.
create a "bridge" between the Arab League's Fez
Miss Ozick rendered a real service with her letter dis-
If an award were available at this time for good Jewish
plan, which is unacceptable to Israel, and
crediting terrorist claims. Nevertheless, there were valu-
news reporting it would go to Elsa A. Solender, associate
President Ronald Reagan's recently articulated
able attainments in the acquisition of the PLO records
editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times.
peace plan, which is also unacceptable to Israel.
which should not be dismissed. The plans for more terrorist
Miss Solender reported on a meeting in her home town
On this evening at least, it seemed as if no
acts were revealed in their "documents," and their atti-
which was addressed by a prominent Arab who is noted for
other alternatives exist for negotiating peace in
tudes
became more clarified, also for the record.
his propaganda campaigns against Israel.
the Middle East. At least no other recognizable
Such are the experiences in a tense period in history.
Editorializing, as she appreciably did, Miss Solender
alternatives were effectively put before the audi-
ence.
indicated that a "much Jewish" attendance at that meeting
Memorable Events Keep
failed to present the factual Jewish position on Israeli mat-
For 'Ambassador Maksoud, the event was a
Important
Names Alive
triumph.
ters. Therefore the Baltimore Jewish Times copyreader
properly headed her report: "Arabs 1, Jews 0 at Local Meet-
The judgment of this is simple. Arabs emerge shrewd,
Selection of a new ambassador, or any other official in
ing." So that the Jewish shortcoming should be understood Jews inarticulate. It is not a matter of winning a-debate but Israel, is strictly Israel's business. There has been too much. -
it is necessary that the opening paragraph of the Solender of keeping the record straight and of providing proper sup- talk about American official antagonism to Likud and pref-
report be quoted:
port for the Jewish position which is one of striving for life erence for the Labor Alignment.
It was reason, sweet reason, and reconcilia-
and preventing the death sentence that would be imposed
Now that a new Israel ambassador to the U.S. is to be
tion, too, that the Honorable Clovis Maksoud,
by the Maksouds. But there is an inadequacy, even from selected, it is also Israel's business. Nevertheless, a com-
Permanent Observer from the League of Arab
Jewish pulpiteers. There is a failure to produce knowledge- ment in one of his recent New York Times essays by
States to the United Nations, seemed to be radiat-
able defenders of the just cause of keeping Israel alive. This William Safire is exceedingly interesting. Safire proposed
ing as he addressed the Baltimore Council on
applies to all Jewish communities, and a lesson stems from for the Israeli position the name of the brother of the man
Baltimore.
Foreign Affairs last week, and then fielded sev-
who attained fame in the Entebbe rescue. Safire wrote:
eral questions from the floor.
The lesson is that unless proper Jewish.knowledgeable
The Israelis should make certain their new
Much of the audience of about 200 persons
defenders are trained to protect Israel, the verdict will
ambassador to the U.S. replacing Mr. Arens, is not
was Jewish, and Jews asked most of the ques-
remain: "Arabs 1, Jews 0."
only tough minded and bilingual but also able to
tions. But if you had been awarding debating
make full use of access to the U.S. public that our
points, it would have been the gold medal for
Cynthia Ozick's Expose of
television offers. The current number two man in
Maksoud — a professional diplomat and a master
the embassy, Benjamin Netanyahu (brother of the
Terrorists
Posing
as
Archivists
of rhetoric — and an "E" for earnestness (and
slain hero of Entebbe) would be a superb surprise
So many elements entered into the fabric called the
emotion) for the Jewish laymen who tried to chal-
choice: a former soldier and U.S.-trained man-
Lebanese record, and so much needed correcting, that it has
lenge his account of Middle East history and his
agement consultant, he kept his cool and oper-
become an endless chore for all concerned with the factual
view of "The Path to Peace in the Middle East."
ated effectively in Washington during the worst
Miss Solender, giving a .full account of the Maksoud in life. The obligation to set the record straight will obligate
moments of the Beirut period. He is 33 and not a
historians
for
years
ahead.
speech, pointed out that "no one challenged Maksoud to
professional diplomat; in this curious period,
One of the claims by Israel's enemies was that Israel
produce documents or even public statements by Yasir
those are both assets.
either
acquired
forcefully
or
destroyed
what
the
PLO
called
Arafat . . ." and similarly indicated that the "much Jewish"
We do not need another six months of resent-
attendance failed to be self-defensive at that session. A "their archives." It became an accusing matter and the
ment, recrimination and failure. What we need is
good portion of the Solender story is necessary as an expla- eminent, prize-winning short-story writer Cynthia Ozick
willingness to learn from mistakes and a new
exposed the canard in a letter to the New York Times in
nation of the proposal of an award for her splendid report-
sense of Mideast realities. We are not going to
which she stated:
ing:
change the world overnight. We are not going to
In his Feb. 20 Week in Review article concern-
What Maksoud was telling his Baltimore
gain new allies by abandoning old allies.
ing Israeli views on Palestinian nationalism,
audience — as he had often and eloquently told
This is interesting as an indication that an historic
David Shipler uses a recurrent characterization
many another audience in the United Nations and
event, such as Entebbe, is not forgotten, and neither are the
of
the
PLO's
Palestine
Research
Center
in
east
other forums — was that Zionism is racism. But he
names of the heroes in such occurrences. The Safire
Beirut as an archive "of Palestinian culture and
was too smart to come right out with the incen-
nominee may never reach the rank proposed for him by an
history."
diary equation. He knew very well the composi-
American, but remembering him via an heroic brother does
Meron Benvenisti, an Israeli commenting on
tion of the audience he was addressing. And no
introduce him to a vast audience. There is, indeed, good
the Israeli army's removal to Israel of the contents
one came right out and asked him, "Ambassador
reason why a good name of an able man should be known
of this so-called cultural archive, is quoted by Mr.
Maksoud, do you regard Zionism as racism?"
and therefore also remembered.
Shipler as follows: "This was not only to destroy
What questioners did do was try to restate
them (the PLO) as a political or military power, but
Maksoud's account of Middle East history with
Milton Firestone: In Memoriam
also to take from them their history, toerase that
equally simplistic Zionist versions of the same
Milton Firestone was a good reporter. That skill ex-
because it is troublesome. This was a profound
events. Which of course was precisely what Mak-
panded into good editorship. In that role, he elevated the
need or urge not to allow the Palestinians to be a
soud wanted and expected. Isn't this usually what
Kansas City Jewish Chronicle into a newspaper .of merit.
respectable or historic movement."
happens in meetings when professional Arab dip-
More than that: he was a factor for excellent commu-
lomats and propagandists are questioned by
According to Is-
nity
building
with his Jewish devotion which was shared by
American Jewish laymen?
raeli press reports
his wife as his associate editor.
(and both Mr. Ben-
American Jews don't encounter many Arabs.
The passing of Milton Firestone is a loss to Jewish
venisti and Mr. Shipler
By and large, they tend to expect them to be swar-
journalism
and to American Jewry. He was a devoted
are on the spot, with
thy savages dressed in bedsheets. with blood-
Zionist and strong defender of Israel. Jewish learning was
immediate access to
thirsty impulses (and intrinsic dishonesty)
among his chief concerns.
verification), the cen-
masked only by their seductive cleverness. Along
4.4
Blessed be his memory.
ter compiled personal
comes a Clovis Maksoud. Intelligent. Articulate.
files on high-ranking
Sophisticated. A Christian. An experienced dip-
Israeli military offi-
lomat. Able to fend off verbal attacks by well-
cers, monitored Israeli
meaning but amateurish American Jewish
police, military and
laymen with as much ease as he can fend off the
nuisance of a fly.
civilian radio and tele-
vision broadcasts and
Maksoud claimed that the Israelis had over-
CYNTHIA OZICK
served as a clearing
run East Beirut the very morning after the
house for communications exchanged by ter-
Lebanese Army had assumed control of it, a sign,
rorist organizations all over the world.
he said, of Israeli determination to conquer Leba-
In addition, this "cultural" institution's "fa-
non and defy efforts to rid it of foreign armies. His
culty" included Sabri Jarais, an adviser to Arafat
report wasn't true. Nobody challenged his exagg-
and to Abu Jihad, the PLO's chief terror strategist
eration.
(whose code name "Jihad" means holy war), as
Maksoud claimed that Israel had made too
well as Elias Shufani, a highly-situated member of
much of its sacrifices in ceding the , Sinai back to
Fatah, Arafat's personal terrorist organization.
Egypt in the Camp David accords . . .
In short, the Center for Palestine Studies, though
Maksoud belittled the significance of the Is-
enjoying academic status and diplomatic immun-
raeli Commission of Inquiry into the massacre of
ity — and despite any other purpose it may have
Palestinian refugees in Beirut by Lebanese Chris-
served — was in actuality a leading PLO intelli-
tians. He claimed that demands for Lebanon to
gence center.
conduct a similar inquiry had been unrealistic
and unjustly made because no authority exists in
To represent the military capture of a camouf-
Lebanon which could conduct such an inquiry.
laged military arm as an "erasure" of culture and
He was not asked why the Arab League — the
history is a stunning falsehood. But what would
embodiment of that "nation of many states" that
be worse yet is if it were not a falsehood as Mr.
Maksoud had touted — could not be empowered
Benvenisti seems to claim. -
Joseph Handleman, national chairman of Ameri-
by truly concerned Arabs to conduct such an in-
Then, what he would be telling us is simply
can Red Magen David for Israel, and Louis Rosen-
quiry.
that "Palestinian culture and history" add up to
berg, right, national president, are shown greeting the
There were other points on which Maksoud's
little more than the PLO's already well-
new president of the National American Red Cross,
recital might have been effectively challenged by
established, and nearly-universally recognized,
Richard Schubert, second from left, and his predeces-
cool, experienced people who have fully mastered
continuing will to dismantle the Jewish state.
sor George Elsey. Under Elsey's athninistration, the
the issues, as he has, and know how to ask suc-
It is difficult to believe that the desire to undo
Red Cross in the U.S. has worked closely with ARMDI
cinct, pointed questions.
an existing nation is the definition of culture and
for International Red Cross recognition of Magen
Had Maksoud been cross-examined effec-
history that Mr. Benvenisti (or Mr. Shipler) would
David Adom in Israel.
ARMDI Leaders Greet
President of Red Cross