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THIS ISSUE 60cP
SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
Peace Now Is Trying
To Regain Spotlight
the radio reported the morning's
events.
Israel Correspondent
On Sunday, Prime Minister Yit-
zhak
Shamir launched an attack on
Jerusalem — A convoy of
chartered busses and private cars was Peace Now, claiming it was trying to
heading north on its way out of undermine the government's peace ef-
Jerusalem last Saturday morning. Its forts, and arguing that the protest
destination was an Arab village near group has no influence in Israel. A
the West Bank city of Ramallah. Its Monday night television interview
goal was to bring Israeli Jews program was devoted to discussing
together with Palestinians in a "Day Peace Now.
The group founded by army
of Peace," as the event was called by
reserve officers 11 years ago this
its organizers, Peace Now
The convoy was stopped by the month to pressure then-Prime
Israel Defense Forces even before it Minister Menachem Begin to con-
left Jerusalem. The day before, clude peace with Egypt once again is
Defense minister Yitzhak Rabin de- getting Israel's attention.
Group leaders say Peace Now
clared the Day of Peace to be an
(Shalom
Achshav in Hebrew) is a
unauthorized gathering amid threats
from the Gush Emunim settler move- credible opposition group because it
ment that its supporters would con- includes members of the highly re-
duct demonstrations against the spected armed forces, academics and
some prominent, if left-wing, politi-
dialogue.
So the cars and busses that clogg- cians. Peace Now also strives to act
ed the road to Ramallah were turned within the law, allowing it to take the
back. "There's no logic in it," com- high moral ground, leaders say.
But until late last year, the group
plained Hagit Ramin, -one of the bus
riders. "The Arabs are cheering us that was able to bring 400,000
while the settlers are booing us. I Israelis into the streets in 1982 to pro-
don't know who I should identify test the massacre of Palestinians in
Beirut's Sabra and Shatilla refugee
with."
As the afternoon began, the camps was drifting without a clear
demonstrators regrouped in an emp- direction, according to observers.
All that has changed. On Satur-
ty lot near the Damascus Gate in east
day,
according to a Peace Now
Jerusalem. Leaders made short
speeches in Hebrew and Arabic. spokesman, some 2,000 Israelis in
Those who gathered sang songs, in- five convoys went out to meet the peo-
cluding "We Shall Overcome." It was ple they have been battling for 15
all over by 1 p.m. when the news on
Continued on Page 18
DAVID HOLZEL
Federation Approves
Refusenik Campaign
The executive committee of the
Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit
voted this week to mount an emergen-
cy campaign in April on behalf of
Soviet Jewish refugees.
Called "Passage to Freedom" in
concert with a national effort
launched by the United Jewish Ap-
peal, the Detroit campaign hopes to
raise $2.5 million. The money will be
used to resettle the refugees in the
United States and Israel.
Allied Jewish Campaign 1989
Chairmen Paul Borman and Jane
Sherman will chair the Soviet Jewry
appeal, which will be separate from
the regular Campaign.
The result Campaign officially
closes April 12. The appeal for Soviet
Jewry will begin immediately after-
ward and conclude in 60 days.
This year, some 40,000 Soviet
Jews are expected to leave the Soviet
Union.
The financial drain on Jewish
refugee relief agencies exceeds $75
million and could go higher, said
Federation President Conrad Giles.
The Joint Distribution Committee,
which provides human services in the
Rome and Vienna transmigrant
centers, will run out of money for its
assistance programs by the end of
March and will be supported by loans
until funds are made available
through the campaign, Giles said.
HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Continued on Page 20
MARCH 10, 1989 / 3 ADAR II 5749
CLOSE—UP
Arava
Oasis
Former Detroiters
have found a
good life in one
of Israel's most
undeveloped
regions.
BUSINESS
Hong Kong
Middle East?
Israel could become a major player
on the world economic scene.