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THIS ISSUE 60r
SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
CLOSE-UP
The Jewish Chorus:
NOVEMBER 18, 1988 / 9 KISLEV 5749
PLO Peace Offensive
Is Directed At U.S.
HELEN DAVIS
Israel Correspondent
London — The PLO's decision to
establish an independent Palestinian
state — and implicitly recognize the
right of Israel to exist — could present
the most serious diplomatic challenge
in Israel's 40-year history.
True, the decision taken at a
meeting of the Palestine National
Council in Algiers on Tuesday morn-
ing was born out of a need to satisfy
the demands of the Palestinians in
the Israeli-administered territories,
who are anxious to translate their
11-month-old intifada into tangible
political gains.
The larger purpose, however, was
to capitalize on the profound public
sympathy that has been generated for
the Palestinian cause and, biggest
prize of all, to win the support and
recognition of the incoming Bush
administration.
In its acceptance of U.N. Security
Council Resolution 242, which
acknowledges the right of all states
in the region to exist in peace behind
secure borders, the PLO has gone
some way toward conforming with
Washington's long-standing demands
for its acceptability and
respectability.
Nevertheless, the high-flown
rhetoric of PLO chairman Yassir
ANALYSIR
Arafat still has some way to go in win-
ning Washington's approval. If history
is any guide, the United States will
reject his embrace of Resolution 242
because it is so hedged about with
ambiguity and pronouncements of
Palestinian national aspirations.
The central weakness of Arafat's
dramatic declaration of an indepen-
dent Palestinian state (with
Jerusalem as its capital) was his
Continued on Page 16
Palestinian Students
Mark 'Independence'
ALAN HITSKY
Associate Editor
ica tl
Voices of the
Jewish Liperieticc
Journalist Howard Simons traveled
around the United States for four years
taping the memories of American Jews.
He ended his journey convinced that
Jews have come closer to realizing the
American Dream than any other group.
A book excerpt.
Page 24
"The declaration means a lot to
Palestinians," said Wayne State
University student Nasser Abu-
Farha. "It declares our right to a
Palestinian state and we are
celebrating here and in occupied
Palestine!'
Farha led a Palestinian rally
Tuesday at WSU, which included an
hour-long parade of 50 chanting
students outside the Student Center
Building and a program of con-
gratulatory speeches and solidarity
messages.
In contrast, three members of
WSU's Students for a Secure Israel
waved two small Israeli flags and
distributed literature to disinterested
students.
Farha called the Nov. 15 Palesti-
nian declaration an historic
document.
"We have declared our state and
now we want all nations to recognize
it," he said. "We want the United Na-
tions forces to take over the ad-
ministration" of the West Bank and
Gaza in place of Israel.
Asked if he thought Israel would
accept the Palestinian declaration,
Farha said, "They have already re-
jected it. That really shows who is
seeking peace in the Middle East."
Arab students, some wearing arm
bands calling for "Palestine
Statehood Now?' marched with a por-
table loudspeaker around Gullen
Mall.
Their chants included "We need
Palestine, democratic Palestine,"
"Zionism is racism, we say no?' "Vic-
tory, victory PLO, Palestine yes, oc-
cupation no?' "Hey, hey, go home, we
support the PLO," and "Hitler,
Shamir are the same, the only dif-
ference is their name?'
The rally was sponsored by the
General Union of Palestinian
Students (GUPS) and the Palestinian
American Youth (PAY). Both are
recognized by WSU and funded by the
WSU Student Council. The Student
Council this year allotted PAY a
$2,100 budget. GUPS has not yet
received a formal budget.
Robert Margolis, president of
WSU's Students for a Secure Israel,
distributed leaflets at the noontime
parade and discussed the Middle East
Continued on Page 22