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- - NE DETROIT JEWISH -NEWS
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GAO Ignored Israel's Strategic Value to U.S.
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By MORRIS J. AMITAY
There has been much dis-
cussion in Washington of a
lengthy General Account-
ing Office (GAO) report on
U.S. aid to Israel.
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The GAO, which serves as
a Congressional "watchdog"
on government spending,
went into great detail
analyzing the U.S. foreign
assistance to Israel and its
relationship to Israel's
economy, defense produc-
tion and future debt burden
— among other issues. In
doing so, it sometimes lost
sight of some basic truths
–regarding Ariierican assis-
tance to Israel's armed
forces.
This aid is not a gift — it
is a vital contribution to the
national interests of the
U.S. in maintaining peace
in the Middle East and in
checking both Soviet and
radical expansion in the
entire region.
The current $2.5 billion
level of aid can easily be
defended if one realizes
the enormous benefits
which accrue to the U.S.
from this relatively mod-
est assistance — one per-
cent of our own defense
budget.
Israel has strengths and
capacities unique to the
Middle East, and among
them are a commitment to
democracy, proven military
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capabilities and reliability
as an ally. From this there
flows the premise that a
strategic partnership with
Israel would enhance U.S.
influence in the region and
promote America's global
goals.
The Memorandum of
Understanding signed by
Israel and the U.S. in No-
vember 1981, although very
general, acknowledged this
formally for the first time.
This agreement, however,
was unilaterally suspended
by the U.S. without ever
being implemented after Is-
rael's annexation of the
Golan Heights.
This was done as if to
"punish" Israel — as if the
agreement was only for Is-
rael's benefit. It also
demonstrated the Adminis-
tration's taking Israel for
granted. Actually, given the
identity of interests be-
tween the two countries, the
U.S. can rely on Israel, as it
has in the past. But unless
concrete arrangements for
military cooperation are
worked out in advance,
when a crisis erupts in the
region, valuable time — and
American lives — could be
lost.
The uniformed U.S.
military are great fans of
Israel. They have seen Is-
raeli forces take on the
latest Soviet equipment
— and even on rare occa-
sions, Soviet personnel —
and come out on top. The
former commander of the
U.S. Rapid Deployment
Force, and current com-
mandant of the Marine
Corps, Paul X. Kelley,
acknowledged to this
writer that it would be
years before the U.S.
could project any credi-
ble force in the Middle
East — and that until
then "we would have to
rely on our Israeli
friends."
In fact, a Defense De-
partment report in the
mid-1970s asserted that the
Isreali Air Force could de-
stroy the Soviet fleet in the
Mediterranean if general
hostilities erupted. Given
Israel's capabilities, why
isn't a strategic partnership
being created?
The answer is not a sim-
ple one. It is partially be-
cause our foreign policy es-
tablishment believes
American alignment with
Israel means the loss of
American influence in the
Arab world, particularly
with the so-called "moder-
ates." It is also due in some
measure to the animosity
towards Israel of our cur-
rent Secretary of Defense,
and the lack of anywcounter-
vailing view in the White
House.
For whatever reasons, the
U.S. is spending unneces-
sary billions on building up
our Rapid Deployment
Force and supporting unre-
liable allies, while the prac-
tical and strategic benefits
of a closer association with
Israel are being ignored.
* * *
Democratic and Re-
publican leaders in
California have been
battling over the redraw-
ing of Congressional dis-
trict lines. Last week, the
Republican governor
called for a Dec. 13 spe-
cial election to vote on a
Republican redistricting
initiatives.
If the plan passes, two
freshman, Jewish members
of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, Mel Levine and
Howard Berman, could face
serious problems. To make
matters worse, Levine and
Berman could be thrown
into the same Congres-
sional district as two other
Jewish members of Con-
gress, veterans Henry
Waxman and Anthony
Beilenson = all Democrats.
Additionally, Northern
California and freshman
Jewish Congresswoman
Barbara Boxer would be re-
districted into a more GOP-
leaning district.
Needless to say, if the
play passes, and some feel it
well could, Congressional
support for Israel, particu-
larly in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, could be
adversely affected.
Measure Curbing Digs
Passed in Controversial Vote
JERUSALEM (JTA) —
The Knesset was in an up-
roar Tuesday, following the
sudden and unexpected in-
troduction and passage of
the controversial archaeol-
ogy bill Monday at mid-
night. There was a demand
by some Knesset members
that the midnight vote be
declared illegal and voided.
The introduction and pas-
sage of the bill, which is in-
tended to curb the right of
archaeologists to excavate
because of the possible
presence of ancient Jewish
* * *
graves, took place as the
Knesset was about to end its
session after eight hours of
debate on several bills. Most
MKs had left the building,
believing that the agenda
had been completed.
Suddenly, Deputy
Speaker Meir Cohen-
Avidov of Herut, who was
chairing the session, an-
nounced that Menahem
Porush of Agudat Israel
would introduce his private
member's bill, "the Law to
Protect Gravesites." While
Porush said he would forego
a long speech to explain his
_ proposal, Herut Whip Ron-
nie Milo rounded up party
Dig Protesters
members still in the build-
Now on Trial
ing and the draft proposal
JERUSALEM (JTA) — was accepted and sent to
Fifteen ultra-Orthodox committee for debate.
Some observers feel
Jews went on trial here this
week for disturbing the that the midnight vote
peace but only 14 showed up might have averted a co-
in court after being released alition crisis with the
on bail last Friday. A war- Aguda Israel by satisfy-
rant was issued for the ar- ing the Aguda that an at-
rest of the missing man, tempt had been made to
identified as Yeshayahu have the controversial
bill accepted.
Cohen.
But the vote has created a
All were arrested follow-
ing riots in the Mea new coalition crisis with
Shearim quarter three other factions, including
weeks ago against ar- Tami and Tehiya, which
chaeological diggings near claim that the sudden vote
the Old City wall. Two of the was a cheap trick which
defendants were charged brought no credit to the
with assaulting a police- Knesset.
man.
The
Archaeological
Council, which met Tues-
Presiding Judge Miriam
day to discuss Porush's bill,
Maor, who granted bail
after Aguda Israel Knesset said its passage would be a
members intervened, in- black day for Israel. Prof.
structed the accused to stay Yigael Yadin, Israel's lead-
out of Jerusalem except ing archaeologist, whose
when the court was in ses- father's grave was desec-
sion. They were required to rated last week, apparently
sign a pledge not to partici- by ultra-religious elements,
pate in any demonstrations called the midnight vote a
trick to ensure the passage
for the duration of the trial
and to surrender their of a bill which would ham-
passports and identity pap-
string archaeology. He said
that if this trick works,
ers.
"something must be wrong
Naor severely repri-
in the State of Israel."
manded Aguda MKs
Menahem Porush and
Shlomo Lorincz who had Katyushas Fired-
promised to guarantee
the appearance of all the from Lebanon
defendants in court if Hit in Galilee
they were released be-
TEL AVIV (JTA) — Two
fore the Sabbath.
When Cohen failed to re- Katyusha rockets were
port to the police as required fired from Lebanese terri-
Saturday night, Porush and tory towards western
Lorincz declined to sign a Galilee on Saturday. They
guarantee for him. The two caused slight damage but no
Orthodox MKs broke their casualties.
It was the first time in
word, Naor said. They had
appealed directly to Pre- many months that shells
mier Menahem Begin to have fallen in western
gain the, release of the reli- Galilee from inside Leba-
gious zealots.
non.