THE JEWISH. NEWS THIS ISSUE 60(P SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY AUGUST 4, 1989 / 3 AV 5749 The Reason Behind Detroit Is Considered Israel's Kidnapping For Israeli Consulate could become real in terms of other American hostages in the hands of Jerusalem Correspondent Hezbollah. Israel was conducting secret Jerusalem — The main reason for Israel's snatching of radical Hez- negotiations with Hezbollah leaders bollah Shi'ite leader Sheik Abdel over the past four months for the Karim Obeid from south Lebanon on release of three Israeli soldiers held July 28 was not, as has been widely captive since 1986, according to the reported, to swap him for Israeli or source. The indirect talks ended bit- American soldiers held captive. In- terly in early July. The talks with Hezbollah were stead. the daring Israeli move was conducted mainly through a shadowy carried out thwarting a planned series of attacks aimed at U.S. and French figure named Jean Charles Israeli targets by a new consortium of Marchiani, connected to his country's terror organizations which Obeid intelligence services, who was the heads, according to a senior source in man behind the release of two French the Western intelligence community. hostages in Lebanon in April last The flood of reports this past week year. Israel invested a lot of money in that Obeid was grabbed in order to this channel, to no avail. The other swap him for two Israeli soldiers held contacts were through Shi'ite families by the Hizbollah since February 1986 living in the United States and in and a navigator whose plane was West Africa (where much of the trade downed over Lebanon in October of is in Lebanese Shi'ite hands). The talks ended with increased that year — and possibly also for the American Col. William Higgins kid- hostility on both sides, mainly napped in south Lebanon last year — because Israel's hopes were raised are inaccurate. The claim that Hig- and then dashed, according to the gins was killed in revenge for Obeid's source. Israel has frequently kidnapping was described as negotiated with terrorists for the ex- "ghoulish." According to our informa- change of prisoners — prisoners of tion, Higgins died under torture war,in this case. several months ago. But this threat Continued on Page 16 LOUIS RAPOPORT ALAN HITSKY Associate Editor The Israel Foreign Ministry is stu- dying a proposal to move the Israeli consulate from Atlanta to Detroit. Sources at the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago confirmed that the proposal is being studied, but expressed skepticism that a consul would be stationed here in the near future. "There has been discussion in the Foreign Ministry," said Bennie Dagan, consul for information in Chicago, "but there have been second thoughts about the financial aspects. It is not very likely at this moment or in the next year." David Peleg, in- formation minister at the Israel Em- bassy in Washington, said the pro- posal was one of many being con- sidered to increase efficiency. Atlanta Consul Muhamed Massarwa said opening a Detroit of would relieve the Chicago con- sulate, which now covers 11 states. Massarwa is returning to Israel after his contract was not renewed. An Israeli attorney, he has been criticiz- ed by some in the Atlanta Jewish community because he is an Israeli Arab and recently issued a statement calling for more dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians. Massarwa believes the decision to move the consulate lies more with Israel's Finance Ministry than with the Foreign Ministry. "If the Finance Ministry will give Detroit money, then Atlanta will continue to func- tion," he said. Other sources believe the opening of an Israeli Tourism Of- fice in Atlanta in the next few weeks may influence the moviing of the consulate. The Atlanta consulate serves five states in the Southeast. David Gad-Harf, executive direc- tor of Detroit's Jewish Community Council, was surprised by the pro- posal. "Moving the consulate from Atlanta to Detroit doesn't make much sense given the growth of the Sunbelt Jewish population," he said. If Atlanta lost its consulate, it would be served by consulates in Miami, Houston or Philadelphia. A consulate promotes a positive image and travel to Israel, serves local Israelis and "would speak direct- ly to the news media here, rather than by telephone," Gad-Harf said. CLOSE-UP Horse Country Jewish horsemanship in Metamora runs the gamut from enthusiast to serious business operator. LEON SILBER WITH SABABAH, AN ARABIAN 'Sel'ALtION.