2 Friday, July 15, 1983
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
New Jewish Agenda ...
... on the Agenda
Disputes over the admission of the New Jewish
Agenda into membership in Jewish communal movements
places the critics of Israel's political policies on the agenda
of policy-making . . . and rightly so. It focuses attention on a
major confrontation not to be ignored. It has bitter roots in a
matter that has both Israeli and Diaspora concerns with
echoes in the American foreign policy. Traced also to ex-
periences gained in the venom-imbedded United Nations,
the basis for discussion assumes a global Jewish tension.
The harshness of it is especially affected by the New
Jewish Agenda's advocacy of direct negotiations with the
PLO. Therefore the resentment that approached unanim-
ity when an American delkate to the United Nations was
rebuked for dealing with PLO representatives contrary to
U.S. official commitments, as well as to near-unanimous
opposition to negotiating with the PLO which is considered
Israel government policy.
The dispute assumed wide proportions when the Wash-
ington Jewish Community Council denied membership to
this minority group in Jewry after its executive committee
endorsed a welcome to the element by an overwhelming
vote, and the Detroit Jewish Community Council's execu-
tive committee voted in favor of admission of a 30-member
New Jewish Agenda element here by a two-to-one vote.
This is the result of democratic processes as they oper-
ate in a liberal, collective American Jewish community. It
is, in fact, the operative policy in all Jewish ranks, includ-
ing the Israeli. That is why there are the peaceniks who
are as voluble as the conservative Beginites under whose
aegis so much venom has been generated in recent years.
At issue is the democratic process, and in its wake
Jewish communities would do well to follow the example of
Israel. That nation's Knesset includes all opinions, and
Communists are not barred. The Israeli democratically-
elected Knesset includes all shades of opinion and the
majority of the Arab representation is Communist-minded.
Judged by such standards, the dispute over this admit-
tedly numerically-small group is therefore the abnormal.
but it does intrude the basic issue revolving around it: the
encouragement it would give to dealing with and welcom-
ing as a partner in parliamentary discussions the PLO
whose chief aim is the destruction of Israel.
Therefore, the validity of challenging the Jewish coun-
cils, wherever they may function, on the question of admis-
sibility of the Jewish Defense League. If Jewish councils
open their arms to one group — New Jewish Agenda —
which advocates consorting with terrorists who would de-
stroy Israel, why not provide a platform also to a Jewish
group now denied comradeship because it favors violence in
dealing with the violently anti-Jewish? If issues are to be
shared with consorters of the PLO, why not also with those
who would go to extremes in eliminating the PLO? Isn't the
democratic platform suitable for all alike?
Views differ and ideologies are often disputable, but
the democratic platform should be viewed as able to survive
the bigoted.
The opposition to sharing a Jewish, a democratic, a
human platform remains intact. That element is out of the
bounds of humanism. It is as if in the early years of Hit-
lerism that Jewish cringers, the Naumanns, had advocated
negotiating with Julius Streicher. Just as that was incon-
ceivable in the early 1930s, so should it be for advocates of
PLOism in the 1980s.
JDL, NJA in Their Relations
to Community Responsibilities
The Democratic Way of Life Is Being Tested by
the Application for Membership Rights Even
by Those With Ideologies Called Destructive
fused or hesitated to play golf with him. Already a member
of the club in good standing, there was a problem. It was
solved in some fashion.
Would the Council for Judiasm have been admitted to
official partnership with the Jewish community had there
been enough adherents to apply for it? It is doubtful. Can
the New Jewish Agenda be equated with the council? This,
too, is debatable. What the query itself denotes is that in
such issues democracy is at stake, and the Israeli-oriented
and libertarian-minded could and probably would say that
if the extremest, including anti-Israel Communists, can be
members of the Knesset, why can't all the enumerated be
associate members of the Jewish Community Council, or
Federation, of all functioning Jewish bodies?
If such a. viewpoint gains adherence, what's the fear?
Differing views won't destroy wholesome citizenship.
A Human Touch in Inhuman
Approaches to Normalcy
in Arab-Jewish Conflicts
A letter published by the New York Times on July 5 is
a veritable approach to honorable treatment of human val-
ues, especially in the Middle East. It deals with a Saudi
Arabian offer of a prize for research in an important medi-
cal problem. The letter speaks for itself and is presented
here, headline and name with identification:
, A Saudi Medical Prize
Is Beckoning Israelis
To the Editor:
Saudi Arabia's offer of a prize of 250,000
Saudi Riyals (about $83,000) for outstanding med-
ical research into "diarrheal diseases" gives rise
to guarded optimism for the Middle East.
In identifying itself as an "international"
competition — doubtless to be guided by impar-
tial scientific canons — the general secretariat of
the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine
opens the way to an intriguing Saudi linkup with
Israel, and such an eventuality was surely con-
sidered by the Saudis. Who knows but that this
does not presage a disposition to a new Saudi tilt?
Among the likely contenders for the prize is
the research achievement reported recently
(EMBO Journal; Vol. I, No. 7, 1982: pp. 801-804) by
Prof. Carlos Gitler of the Weizmann Institute of
Science, one of Israel's primary scientific re-
search centers. Concentrating on amebic dysen-
tary, Prof. Gitler — in collaboration with Weiz-
mann doctoral student Jan Rosenberg and Dr.
Eileen Lynch of the Albert Einstein Medical
School in New York — has achieved a major
breakthrough by identifying and purifying the
toxin used by the amoeba to destroy intestinal
and other body tissues.
Now that the culprit has been properly iden-
tified, the creation of a vaccine can reasonably be
expected to follow.
It is to be hoped that Prof. Gitler and his team
will be entering the competition., How pleasing if
this medical advance against the scourge of mil-
lions in both the underdeveloped and the de-
veloped world were to serve as the first of many
bridges between the two countries.
The scientist and statesman Dr. Chaim Weiz-
mann, first president of Israel and founder of the
institute that bears his name, dreamed of that day
35 years ago, when he said, "The Institute can
achieve much for the good of Israel, and when
peace comes to the Middle East for the good of our
neighbors:"
Can it be that the Saudis are signaling that
such a time is close at hand?
Christian B. Anfinsen
Professor of Biology
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, June 24, 1983
This is a plea for humanism as well as an appeal to
reason. It emphasizes the possibilities of creating goodwill
between Arabs and Jews. It presents a positive Zionist
approach to honorable and neighborly cooperation.
There is entirely too much venom in human relations,
and it applies to many sad experiences in recent years.
The factual statement reproduced here will, hopefully,
inspire better relations. Hopefully!
McCartney Omissions
Shortcomings in the recent James McCartney report
about the massive American aid provided for Israel were
especially deplorable because of the emphasis given by the
newspapers syndicating his columns.
As an addendum to the exaggerations in the
McCartney report, Congressman Lawrence J. Smith of
Florida makes these observations:
I found the article both interesting and in-
formative and another example of biased jour-
nalism against Israel.
The article only mentions certain sections of
the GAO report. The report also mentions many
positive aspects of U.S. aid to Israel. It states,
U
. . potential threats from other Middle East
nations" create Israel's "increasing assistance
requirements."
The report also claims "Israel's relationship
with the U.S., and the strong U.S. support and
assistance for its defense, is founded on its
staunch U.S. friendship and on its position as a
democratic form, of government in the Middle
East region."
In refuting this article, you might also want to
mention the fact that aid to Israel stays in the U.S.,
since the Israelis must purchase American goods
with U.S. grants and loans.
Of course, it is much more sensational to keep needling
Israel. But facts eventually make their way into public
consideration. Congressman Smith contributed toward it
with his realistic message.
JNF Projects Have Changed the Holy Land
By ZVI VOLK
World Zionist Press Service
Throughout the eight de-
cades of its existence, the
Jewish National Fund has
Now we come to a very touchy subject: that of commu- been instrumental in carry-
nity responsibility.
ing out some of Israel's most
. It is true that a wholesome Jewish functioning body impressive national build-
must place emphasis on the creative, the spiritual-cultural, ing projects: first came land
the great moral teachings of the Jewish people. This calls purchases for settlements in
for a strong community. Strength is dependent on philan- the lower Galilee, Judea
thropy.
and Jezreel; then, in the
Both the Jewish Defense League and the New Jewish 1920s and early 1930s, land
Agenda have been on record urging the boycotting of the reclamation in the valleys
major Jewish funds. They are known to have advised their of the north. In the midst of
followers, and Jews en masse, not to contribute to the exist- this activity, the focus
ing funds. In one instance a new and competitive fund has shifted to the northern bor-
been introduced.
der, where a chain of tower
Is this the way of identifying with the Jewish people? It and stockade villages had to
is on this score that both groups and their cohorts merit be established overnight,
only rejection and perhaps condemnation.
following the Arab riots of
the mid-1930s.
Country Clubs' Rulings ...
Today, of course, these
are veteran kibutzim like
... and Charity Dissenting
Hanita and Eilon. From the
Some 25 or 30 years ago, the Jewish country clubs north the emphasis shifted
adopted a ruling that no one could belong unless he con- to the south, where there
tributed to worthy causes, to Jewish philanthropies and was a need to establish simi-
Israel-supporting agencies and civic movements.
lar outposts in the Negev. In
In a leading local club, one of the founders of the 1946 the JNF engineered
American Council for Judaism (which was labeled by its "Operation Negev," in
opponents as neither American, nor a council, nor Jewish) which 11 new outposts
dissented. As a consequence, fellow-members either re- sprung up amongst the des-
.
By Philip
Slomovitz
ert wastes.
With Israel's indepen-
dence, the JNF helped pro-
vide work — in afforesta-
tion — and homes to masses
of new immigrants. Today,
many of the work villages
have been transformed into
successful moshavim, while
the fruits of the immigrants'
labors have matured into
mighty forests.
The JNF turned to
regional planning in the
mid-'50s. Starting with
the Lachish region cen-
tered around Kiryat Gat,
southwest of Jerusalem,
and then moving south,
entire regional infras-
tructures were planned
before the first inhabi-
tants moved in.
Responding to the chal-
lenges of the post-Camp
David era, and the handing
over to Egypt of Sinai, the
JNF worked feverishly to
prepare the infrastructure
for new villages in Hevel
HaBesor (the "Peace Sa-
lient" in the northwestern
Negev, on the new border
with Egypt).
Meanwhile, the Galilee
demanded attention,
Within a few years, central
Galilee, with its small
Jewish minority, suddenly
had more than 30 new out-
posts, each perched strateg-
ically atop a rugged hillside.
The 150 million trees
..;•
which the JNF has planted
now cover more than
150,000 acres of the coun-
try.
For more information
about JNF projects, call the
JNF Southfield office,
18877 W. 10 Mile Road, at
557-6644.
4`v
Before and after photographs illustrate the work
of the Jewish National Fund, which, during the more
than 80 years of its existence, has planted some 150
million trees.