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Friday, October 5, 1984
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CANDLELIGHTING AT 6:49 P.M.
VOL. LXXXVI, NO. 6
OP-ED
Some major Israeli problems
and the search for solutions
BY CARL ALPERT
Special to The Jewish News
Haifa — For individual Jews,
Judea and Samaria Domes
Yom Kippur marks the season for per- political considerations will diet,
sonal stocktaking. For Israelis collec- the extent to which Jewish settlem€
tively it also provides occasion for seri- will continue, but the uncovering of
ous contemplation of the country's underground anti-Arab terrori
problems. In looking at some major is- group has not contributed to a peace!
sues which Israel can expect to face in solution of the problems involved. T
the months ahead, we find that many antics of Meir Kahane may be E
of these problems are perennials, al- petted to muddy the waters ev
though their relative position on the further.
list may change from year to year. The
Immigration — The number
following is this year's list, in the order
new arrivals, whether from the Soy'
of significance:
Internal Political Stability — The Union or from the free western wor
failure of one of the two large parties to has been reduced to a mere trickle. T
obtain any commanding position as a situation is not expected to imprc
result of the elections has split the
country down the middle and, as never
Temporary solutions ma)
before, given the tiny factions a power
and influence far exceeding their
be found, but few expect
numbers. Temporary solutions (such
as the current unity government) may them to last long.
be found, but few expect them to last
long. Perhaps electoral reform is
needed to change the system whereby until Israel betters its economic po
Israel chooses its government.
tion, or something unexpected hf
Inflation — The dizzying decline pens somewhere overseas.
in the value of the shekel has brought
Yerida — Emigration of Israf
the government to the verge of bank- out of the country is likewise linked
ruptcy, even while the man in the the international situation here, bot
street enjoys a false prosperity. Pain- economic and military. The brain
ful action, possibly to include wide- drain seems to ahve slowed down, hr
spread temporary unemployment, has is still a matter for concern.
been initiated, but any long-term solu-
Elections in the United States ---
tions will require mutual agreement Policies of the American governmeA.
between the two rival large parties.
have a direct influence on Israel'
Exit From Lebanon — The possi- economy and defense, hence the int
bility that Israel's troops may be est here in the outcome of the Nove
drawn back closer to the Israel lines, or ber elections. No one in Jerusalem w
even completely back, across the bor- venture to take sides, openly '
der, seems much closer. Conditions in covertly, nor has the Israeli man-,
Lebanon will be the deciding factors; the-street yet come to any conclusion
in Israel the will to withdraw is almost whether the Republicans or the Der--
universal.
crats will be better for Israel.
State and Religion — A hardening
Water — Few seem to take this,
of the Orthodox line has contributed to problem seriously, but Israel's annual
a polarization not only in the secular- water consumption is just about equal
religious confrontation, but also in re- to its available resources. It will tat,._
lations with the non-Orthodox Jewry far less than the Biblical seven lean
outside of Israel. The situation is years to make this a matter of supre
fragile.
urgency.
'
Hussein says No
King Hussein of Jordan showed his true colors again this week by
rejecting Israel's latest offer for peace talks. There had been some optimism
over the fact that Jordan had resumed diplomatic ties with Egypt and that
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Murphy had visited several
Mideast capitals last week in the hope of initiating a new peace initiative.
But Hussein called Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres' invitation to
"come to the negotiating table in order to reach a true peace" nothing more
than an exercise in subterfuge and deception." The Jordanian monarch
accused Israel of expansionist designs and the United States of not pressuring
Israel enough to make concessions to the Arabs.
The Hussein rejection should give Washington pause. But it won't. In-
stead, the Administration will contiue to woo Hussein with financial and
arms promises rather than putting the pressure where it should be placed —
on King Hussein to cooperate or face reduced aid.
The universality
of Yom Kippur
The Day .of Atonement will achieve nothing
for him who says, I'll sin and on the Day of
Atonement I will atone.
Mishna-Yoma
Rosh Hashanah is the Birthday of the World, in tradition and in liturgy.
Yom Kippur is the fulfillment of that ideal as it rises to the great spiritual
heights of encouraging the human aspects that make people akin, that
universalize the hopes and dreams inherent in the aspirations that make
civilization the attainment of the glories aspired to without venom.
It is the human spark that is taught on the sacred Day of Atonement, and
in prayers and the dreams accompanying them there is the lesson of
eliminating gall. The Ten Days of Awe, reaching their heights on Yom
Kippur, merit the Birthday of the World designation because .of the very
universality embedded in the lesson provided by mankind. And it can be
mankind's tutelage because there is so little that is chauvanistic in the Yom
Kippur spirit.
Yet, the- Cold War continues, wars are considered inevitable, kindred
peoples aspire to power and there is no limit to the price exacted for power.
That is why, on Yom Kippur, the emphasis is on prayer, the urge is for
solemnity, the supplication is for better days to mark an adherence to the
universalism that is so emphasized in the Holy Days' ritualism.
There is the repetitive during the Ten Days of Awe, the intervening
between the Birthday of the World and the Day of Atonement. They combine
to register anew the hope that hatred of man for man will vanish, that peoples
will learn to benefit from sorrow to create the glory aspired to and now limited
mostly to prayer. It is the fulfillment of the higher hopes that is the aspiration
of mankind on this Holy Day.
,
198 41.
"UJE'RE LEAViNG SO
LEMMA CAN BE 131CiFiEl›!"