EDITORIAL
Poor Omen
Picketing and disruption of Maj. Gen. Shlomo Gazit's talk at
Wayne State University on Wednesday is hardly a service for the
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
The actions of Palestinian students at WSU are a microcosm of
the long history of Arab-Israeli problems this century. The Arab
refusal to accept ā or even talk to ā Israel has hindered resolution
of the conflict and kept the Palestinians imprisoned by their own
ideology.
Wednesday's demonstration is one more sad refusal by Palesti-
nians to listen, to exchange ideas. Gazit, the Detroit Zionist Federa-
tion scholar-in-residence, is qualified to discuss the Palestinian issue
as Israel's former head of military intelligence and first administrator
of the West Bank. In his association with Tel Aviv University's Jaf-
fee Center and during his short stay in Detroit, he has proven to
be knowledgeable, flexible and articulate, factors immaterial to local
Palestinians.
Wednesday's demonstration in Detroit will have no bearing on
the outcome of the Israeli-Palestinian question. But as a reflection
of Palestinian attitudes it shows that Palestinians remain trapped
in a 70-year, all-or-nothing approach to Israel.
That thinking has led to an unending conflict, self-imposed
misery for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and a harden-
ing attitude by Israelis.
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This week's cover story provides a behind-the-scenes look at
Prime Minister Shamir's Jewish solidarity conference in Jerusalem
last week, an effort to rally support from Jews throughout the
Diaspora for the State of Israel and the people of Israel.
The theme of the conference was unity, and there were public
declarations from both Labor and Likud leaders, as well as the
delegates from some 50 countries, stressing a common history and
destiny. But even as these words were being spoken, there were in-
dications of the reality of the deep ideological and political rifts
within the national unity government.
Just as the conference was beginning, an internal intelligence
report was leaked to embarrass Shamir, indicating that the Palestine
Liberation Organization must be included in any dialogue with the
Palestinians. And as the delegates returned home, still recalling how
Aiming Guilt
At The Refugees
Your article in the March 17
edition, "Humor is Helping
Waiting Soviet Jews," was an
informative piece on the pro-
gress of Soviet refugee migra-
tion and gave us a glimpse in-
to their aspirations and
destinations.
I was dismayed, however, by
Rabbi Roman's quotation, "I
worked to free them so they
could be Jews, not so they
could come here and be
I wonder whether Rabbi
Roman imagines that the
responsibility to settle and
defend the Jewish homeland
6
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1989
political enemies Yitzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres shared a plat-
form and a vision at the conference, they learned that Peres's own
peace plan has been leaked, underscoring the deep division within
the Israeli government as to how to proceed in dealing with the
Arabs.
What are we to do in practical terms to show our support for the
people and State of Israel without necessarily endorsing the specific
policies of one party or the other? The most practical and beneficial
action is to do what the more than 1,500 conference delegates did:
visit Israel.
More than organizational press releases or individual declara-
tions of unwavering support, Israelis want to see us visiting them,
meeting with them, talking to them, supporting their economy, and
proving our support with actions rather than rhetoric.
Israelis have been hurt and ashamed by the fact that non-Jewish
tourism from Germany, England, and other European countries out-
paces Jewish tourism from the United States. Those who visit at-
test to the fact that travel is safe; the intifada continues but is con-
fined to the administered territories, far removed from religious,
historic and scenic attractions.
There always will be excuses for putting off the trip, for waiting
for things to calm down. But Israel needs us, and we need Israel.
And what better way to enhance one's own sense of spiritual renewal
while helping our brethren in terms of morale, economy and
solidarity?
ailib l. Vā
LETTERS
belongs to the Soviet
emigrees alone and whether
our own incredible
materialism is an egregious
affront to his sense of sacrifice
to communal causes?
History seems . to repeat
itself as each new wave of
Jewish immigration to this
country brings with it a form
of disparagement from the
"natives" at home. These
same problems of rampant
materialism and disaffilia-
tion from Jewish ties are
endemic in our own com-
munity .. .
I hope Soviet Jewish
refugees are not asked to bear
responsibility for our in-
securities and that we can, as
a community, face our
demons and conquer them.
Bus Trip Story
Distorts The Facts
nience of bus travel in Israel.
There are numerous bus runs
and bus stops. I rarely have to
wait long. The next Tel Aviv-
Jerusalem bus arrives as soon
as the previous one pulls out.
The buses are clean, smoke-
free, air-conditioned and
comfortable.
As an American who lives
approximately three months
a year in Israel and who has
been traveling to Israel since
1971, I strongly disagree with
Ms. VanGelden's distorted
portrait of bus travel in Israel
(March 17).
I have traveled by bus ex-
tensively, both intra- and
interurban, in Israel. I am
delighted with the conve-
Visitors travel easily and
inexpensively throughout the
country. Children and young
teenagers can be indepen-
dent, not having to depend
upon their parents for rides,
as must our suburban
children.
During nearly 50 trips to
Israel, I have never had a pro-
blem with a driver nor with
Elaine Zaks
Supervisor, Resettlement Service
Southfield
another passenger. I have
always found a willing
answer to my queries.
Ms. Van Gelden has exag-
gerated for effect and has
thus created a negative and
derisive picture of Israel and
of Israelis.
Sybil Mintz
West Bloomfield
Jordan Remains
Palestine Solution
Yes, Jordan is Palestine,
Mitchell Bard writes (March
24) but no, that truth is irrele-
vant today. King Hussein has
"moderation," Mr. Bard
argues; Israel benefits by hav-
Continued on Page 10