THE JEWISH NEWS

Serving Detroit's Metropolitan Jewish Community
with distinction for four decades.

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. Suite 240, Southfield, Michigan 48076-4138
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PUBLISHER: Charles A. Buerger
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Arthur M. Horwitz
EDITOR EMERITUS: Philip Slomovitz
EDITOR: Gary Rosenblatt
CONSULTANT: Carmi M. Slomovitz
ART DIRECTOR: Kim Muller-Thym
NEWS EDITOR: Alan Hitsky
LOCAL NEWS EDITOR: Heidi Press
STAFF WRITER: David Holzel
LOCAL COLUMNIST: Danny Raskin

OFFICE STAFF:
Lynn Fields
Percy Kaplan
Pauline Max
Marlene Miller
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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:
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PRODUCTION:
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c 1986 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275-520)
Second Class postage paid at Southfield. Michigan and additional mailing offices

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Subscriptions: 1 year - 521 — 2 years - S39 — Out of State - S23 — Foreign - 535

CANDLELIGHTING AT 7:53 P.M.

VOL. XC, NO. 1

The Summer That Wasn't

This was to have been the Summer of Terror. The word was that
Muammar Qaddafi would unleash his Satanic forces and get even for
America's attack on Libya last April. There would be a bloodbath in
Europe and Israel. Car bombs would explode, airplanes would be hijacked
and executives and tourists would be kidnapped. Stay home, was the
proffered advice. America is the safest place on the planet.
Stay home we did — by the millions. Domestic and•Caribbean travel
soared. Foreign tourism suffered a major decline. U.S. travel to Israel
dropped by up to 50 percent and to Europe by up to 80 percent.
Regrettably, our national behavior this summer exhibited a certain
split in our collective psyche. We cheered the American pilots who
bombed Libyan territory late last spring. We cheered the White House's
resolve to prove to Qaddafi that his state-sponsored terrorism risked
severe repercussions. But our courage was not as bountiful as we thought.
Since April, we have been hiding behind our territorial skirts, afraid to
travel abroad.
All this was apparently for naught. Europe and Israel have been no
more risky than usual. Qadaffi's clandestine troops have been even less
active this summer than usual. By staying close to our desks and never
going to sea, we have even given Qaddafi a victory of sorts: Without
lifting a finger or, even, a hand grenade, he stagnated a good part of the
tourist business on two continents, thus, seriously affecting the Israeli
economy and ruining the summer plans of a good many people.
He must have been laughing all the way to his oil fields these last
few months.
In the last few days, U.S. officials have reported that Qaddafi is
preparing a new wave of terror. The Reagan Administration pledged to
take whatever action is necessary" to thwart Libya's plans.
If the administration truly believes that Libya is on the prowl again,
it may be better to warn Qaddafi through diplomatic channels than
through public sword-rattling. It would be tragic to shame him into
taking deadly action; and if Libya does not strike, American warnings
will be regarded as another case of Washington crying wolf. There are
only so many times that the White House can pull this ploy.

That's Politics?

The Alan Cropsey and John Conyers political shows this week could
leave a long-lasting, bitter aftertaste with Michigan voters.
The near-nomination by Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Lucas
of Christian fundamentalist Alan Cropsey as state attorney general
leaves many voters questioning the efficiency of Mr. Lucas' campaign
staff. Democrat Conyers' remarks equating Lucas' shift to the
Republicans to "some Jews who led their brothers and sisters into the
ovens of the Holocaust" might be written off as just another
shoot-from-the-lip political statement.
Both incidents leave us wondering to what heights — or depths —
Michigan's elections will be pushed this fall.

4 Friday, August 29, 1986

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

OP-ED

Are American Jews Fair
In Backing Candidates?

CHRIS GERSTEN

c

ferior to that of the Republican
against whom he is running, or
when a Democrat with no record at
all challenges an increasingly sym-
pathetic Republican.
The Senate races in Colorado
and Idaho provide examples of this
phenomenon. In the former, Demo-
cratic congressman Tim Wirth is
campaigning against the GOP
nominee, Rep. Ken Kramer. On the

oncern of American Jews for
Israel — a political
candidate's position on
U.S.-Israel relations — features
prominently in the decision made by
individual Jews to make political
contributions. Their choice of whom
to support is often greatly influenced
by information on candidates
provided by pro-Israel groups and
individuals around the country.
The rule of
Along with the more-than 80
even-handedness that
political-action committees (PACs),
binds these organizations
these pro-Israel institutions and in-
is
often breached in favor
dividuals play a pivotal role in polit-
of Democratic
ical fund-raising. Before endorsing
candidates.
candidates, though, these institu-
tions and individuals must first de-
termine whether a candidate is suf-
ficiently pro-Israel to merit support.
question of Arab arms sales, both
This determination is made primar-
Kramer and Wirth have consistently
ily by considering a candidate's vot-
voted to block sales to Arab states at
ing record on two key items: foreign
war with Israel. But on foreign aid,
aid to Israel, and arms sales to Arab
a different picture emerges. Prior to
states hostile to Israel.
1984, Wirth was a supporter of
The by-laws of most pro-Israel
foreign aid, Kramer an opponent.
organizations commit them to deal-
Since then, however, their positions
ing solely on the basis of U.S.-Israel
have been reversed: while Kramer
relations, regardless of party labels.
has supported aid, Wirth has not
Indeed, GOP senators Al D'Amato
only worked to cut $75 million in as-
(N.Y.), Paula Hawkins (Fla.), Arlen
sistance to Israel, but has also voted
Specter (Pa.), Bob Kasten (Wisc.)
against the entire foreign aid pack-
and Bob Packwood (Ore.), have all
age on four occasions. Despite this
received campaign support consis-
dramatic reversal, Wirth continues
tent with their strongly pro-Israel
to be promoted as a paragon of pro-
records.
Israel support while Kramer is
But when the differences be-
shunned.
tween the records of competing can-
In the Idaho race, pro-Israel ac-
didates are less clear-cut, the rule of
tivists have engaged in an effort to
even-handedness that binds these
help the state's Democratic governor,
organizations is often breached in
John Evans, unseat the incumbent
favor of Democratic candidates. This
senator, Steve Symms, a Republican
has occurred even when a Demo-
whose early record on Israel was
crat's recent record on Israel is in-
poor. Capitalizing ,on a visit Symms
made to Libya in 1977 as part of a
trade
delegation, some in the pro-
Chris Gersten is executive director of the
Israel community have written to
National Jewish Coalition, a Republican

Party organization .

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Continued on Page 20

