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River & Drake Orchard Lake & Thirteen Mile I Browse Bookstore Warren Rx Orchard Lk. & Northwestern Middlebelt & Fourteen Mile — ANN ARBOR — Blue Front Newspapers Community News Center 701 Packard at State 330 E. Liberty THE JEWISH NEWS Ave 0 dixA, eaf.km- , eit Diplomat Urges Pressure On PLO To Recognize Israel tA44, T he table wasn't really round. The seating ar- rangement was more like a circle of rectangular tables. Nevertheless, the Greater Detroit Interfaith Round Table-sponsored ap- pearance last week of Israel Consul General Uri Bar-Ner was an attempt to bring the 25 Jews, Christians and Moslems who attended into the circle of those who understand Middle East realities. By their presence at the in- terfaith event, Bar-Ner's in- terlocutors demonstrated an interest in a fair solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. So Bar-Ner, who replaced Zvi Brosch at the Israel Con- sulate in Chicago last month, faced an audience willing to listen, if not outright sympathetic. The rules of dialogue are simple: One may speak, but also must listen. And par- ticipants seemed anxious to smooth rough edges when the discussion grew heated. Jews referred to Arabs as "my good friend" and Arabs hastened to assure Jews that they believe in Israel's right to exist. Some of the questions put to Bar-Ner were from those un- familiar with Israel. "How can a state be Jewish and democratic?" asked Dr. David Church, pastor of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Dearborn. Other questions came from people with intimate knowledge of the • Middle East. "Have you asked the Palestinians what they want? Has Israel made an honest at- tempt to sit down with them?" asked Kamal Shouhayib, a Lebanese-born Druze. To Church, Bar-Ner, a Haifa-born professional diplomat, explained that unlike the United States, Israe — and Europe as well — is not a melting pot of ethnic groups, but a mosaic of ntionalities. Moreover, Judaism is a corn- bination of religion, peoplehood, language and civilization, which makes comparisons with other religions or nationalities dif- ficult. "In Europe, you have Christian Democratic par- ties," he added, illustrating how religion and politics are Uri Bar Ner: Dialoguing. - mixed outside the United States. Yet Israel has no state religion. To Shouhayib, Bar-Ner, responded that Israeli authorities are in constant communication with Palesti- nians, as they were before the uprising in the territories, which has entered its sixth month. Borrowing a term often us- ed by those involved in inter- faith circles, Bar-Ner said Israelis have conducted an ongoing "dialogue" with Palestinian mayors. "But they always say, 'We don't represent anyone here! They always say, 'Go to the PLO.' " But the Palestine Libera- tion Organization, with its covenant calling for the destruction of Israel, "hasn't the ability to construct, only destroy!' U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz was left stan- ding alone in Jerusalem's American Colony Hotel dur- ing his recent Middle East shuttle, because the 15 Palestinians he had invited to "dialogue" with him didn't show up. The PLO threaten- ed their lives, Bar-Ner charged. "If you can, influence the PLO leadership to change its covenant," the consul asked his listeners. "Tell them either to do it or stay away" from American and Israeli advances to Palestinians in the territories. If a Palestinian partner to negotiations will step for- ward, one who will be ready to live in peace with Israel, "we will be there momentari- ly," he promised. "It can help," Bar-Ner told The Jewish News of his meeting with the interfaith group. More than an exercise in public relations, such gatherings can aid the search for peace, he said. Those with relatives and friends in the Middle East will tell them the Israeli position, he said, ad- ding that channels of com- munication in the Mideast can be opened by small discussions in the United States. American Jews also have a part to play, said Bar-Ner, who has held diplomatic posts in Bombay, Copenhagen, Washington, D.C. and New York City. Criticism of Israel is part of dialogue, "but you have to think if public criticism in America is helpful or is it useful to our opponents!' American Jews must in- volve themselves in Israel's demographic issue — will Israel always have a Jewish majority? — and with the character of the state — will Israel always be a democracy? To keep Israel Jewish, it needs Jews. That means more Americans must make aliyah, Bar-Ner said. "Influencing Israel's character cannot be done by remote control," he added. "If one wants to prevent the pass- ing the "Who Is A Jew" issue, he must make sure there are enough people in Israel who feel that way!' (The proposed "Who Is A Jew" legislation recognizes only conversions performed by Orthodox rabbis.) As Israelis, Reform and Conservative Jews eager to block the "Who Is A Jew" law could use the power of the ballot. "Two hundred- thousand Reform and Conser- vative Jews in Israel are 15 seats in the Parliament," he said. Bar-Ner emphasized the importance of Jewish educa- tion in the United States, "focused on the centrality of Israel to create bonds among the young generation and to prevent estrangement!" Preventing assimilation in the Diaspora "is an Israeli concern as well!' Bar-Ner reflects a characteristic Israeli op- timism that problems — even those of war and peace — may be difficult to solve, but are not insurmountable. No longer passive bystanders to world events, there is oppor- tunity for Jews to solve their own problems because a sovereign Jewish people ex- ists in its own state. "As Jews, our fate is in our hands to- day," Bar-Ner said.