LOCAL NEWS 1
Lawrence
Continued from Page 1
Press feature on Israel's
40th anniversary last year
and reminded the audience of
the series on Islam that show-
ed both the positives and
negatives of the Arab world.
`,`We have done more than
you've seen or more than
what you want to give us
credit for," Lawrence said.
"We have said — and it has
caused discomfort and anger
— that you will not solve the
Middle East problems unless
you involve all the people af-
fected. We are further down
the line than most
newspapers on this issue, in-
cluding the one down the
street (Detroit News)."
He said the Middle East "is
the most explosive issue I've
had to deal with in my 25
years in journalism." He also
admitted Israel is held to a
higher standard by the
American public and the
media than most other
countries.
The media, he said, is in-
terested in Israel "because of
our Judeo-Christian heritage,
because it was founded on the
ashes of the Holocaust,
because it is the only
democratic state in the Mid-
dle East and because it is an
important U.S. ally.
cq
L
JULES R. SCHUBOT
jewellers — gemologists
EMBE
14.e.91CO, GEM VP
§ 3001 West Big Beaver Road • Suite 112 • Troy, Michigan 48084 • (313) 649-1122
END YOUR ROOFING PROBLEMS THROUGH
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Woolf Roofing & Maintenance Inc.
A Third Generation Roofing Family in Detroit
Commercial - Industrial — High Rises
Single-Ply and Built-Up Systems
Fully Insured
Member
5-20 Year Warranties 18161 W. 13 Mile Rd.
National Roofing
Sheet Metal Fabrication
in Southfield
Contractors
Association
Free Inspections
646-2452
20
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1989
"There is far more (public)
linkage with Israel than with
any other country in the Mid-
dle East.
"Israel is a source of
enlightenment for much of
humankind," Lawrence said.
"And I expect more from
Israel for that reason,
whether it is right, wrong or
unfair."
He defended the Free Press
policy of publishing articles
and letters on all sides of a
question as an effort to com-
bat hatred.
"There is more passion and
prejudice in this community
than in any other I have liv-
ed in. Our role is to provide
the broadest set of view-
points" to promote
understanding. "That's why
we'll have Abe (A.M.) Rosen-
thal on our opinion page one
day and Joe Sobran the next,"
he said.
Lawrence was unhappy
with Jewish News criticism of
the Naylor incident. He men-
tioned his exchange of letters
with Editor Emeritus Philip
Slomovitz, the Jewish News
editorial "Morning Unfriend-
ly" and last Friday's critical
opinion piece by Berl
Falbaum.
Lawrence said he first met
Slomovitz after Slomovitz
called for a boycott of the Free
Press for its 1982 coverage of
Israel's invasion of Lebanon.
Slomovitz this week express-
ed respect for Lawrence while
disagreeing with some of the
Free Press coverage and
Lawrence's recollection of a
boycott. Slomovitz said he has
never advocated a boycott of
any organization.
Slomovitz said the 1982
Free Press articles "aroused a
Jewish sense of outrage" and
calls for a boycott. Slomovitz
said, "I pleaded against it"
and he made many telephone
contacts within the Jewish
community to halt the
cancellation of Free Press
subscriptions and advertising.
"In his comment this week,
David Lawrence did me an in-
justice," Slomovitz said.
Lawrence also drew some
friendly fire from Arline
Gould after his talk. Gould,
David Lawrence:
Holding Israel to a higher
standard.
slated to be the next presi-
dent of Greater Detroit
Hadassah, chided Lawrence
for being "slippery" during
his presentation, sidestepping
the tough questions.
Hadassah past president
Diane Klein agreed that
Lawrence had made an ex-
cellent presentation, but
thought written questions
would have been more
critical.
Hadassah President Susan
Yorke was concerned that the
meeting would be heated,
"but people controlled
themselves.
"Lawrence didn't say
anything I didn't expect, but
he did say he walks a
tightrope and he tries to be
fair. I don't necessarily agree
with what he thinks is fair."
Yorke said it was important
for the Free Press and for the
Jewish community that
Lawrence made the ap-
pearance, "for the lines of
communication to remain
open." O