OPINION I

CONTENTS

Saddam's Unquestioned
Supporter Arafat

BERL FALBAUM

I

n the millions of words
which have been written
about Iraq's invasion of
Kuwait, one major develop-
ment in the Middle East
seems to have escaped the
notice of the media: The posi-
tion of the PLO.
Yassir Arafat, the darling of
the media who has been
postured as a man who wants
nothing but peade, has align-
ed himelf with Saddam Hus-
sein, a man the entire media
has described as a new Hitler.
That can hardly be described
as a Palestine Liberation
organization policy of "peace."
Yet, none of the media has
reported on this alignment
which would seem to have
significant import. After all,
Israel's enemies continue to

When Arafat
commits to
Saddam Hussein,
no one criticizes,
no one asks
questions.

maintain it is the intran-
sigence of Israel which
prevents a peaceful settle-
ment of complex issues in the
Middle East.
When Israel continually
responded that Arafat could
not be trusted, that he is com-
mitted to the destruction of
Israel, the media sneered.
When Israel warned that
Arafat would continue his ter-
rorism, the U.S. nevertheless
opened a dialogue with the
PLO only to break it when
the terrorist organization
launched an abortive raid on
a beach in Tel Aviv.
Countless other examples
were ignored and now, when
Arafat commits his lot to
Hussein, no one criticizes, no
one asks questions, no one
suggests that Israel may have
been right.
It should be perfectly clear
to Israel's critics — as well as
to all those Jews who have
been used by Arafat in
meetings or in letters — what
Arafat's objective is: The
destruction of Israel.
The PLO, along with Libya,
are the only two Arab groups
to support Iraq and these two
groups have never
equivocated as to their

Berl Falbaum is a public relations
executive and officer of the
Jewish Community Council.

CLOSE-UP

Renewed Respect

JAMES D. BESSER
Iraq's invasion is making
Israel look better to the U.S.

ultimate goal which is to
destroy the Zionist state.
It would seem appropriate
and timely for the media to
interview Arafat, to question
him about his choice of a part-
ner and ask whether this
decision is consistent with his
so-called objective of peace.
The reporters should question
him and Secretary of State
James Baker and Kansas
Senator Robert Dole.
They might be asked if the
United States policy of main-
taining silence in the face of
the brutality of Iraq — in-
cluding the use of chemical
weapons against the Kurds —
did not contribute to the pre-
sent crisis.

While the White House and
Dole criticized Israel, the
White House removed Iraq
from the list of terrorist na-
tions, giving way to millions
of dollars of aid. All that too
escaped the media.
Reporters must also ask
where the world would be to-
day if Israel had not destroyed
the Iraqi nuclear plant Hus-
sein was building in the ear-
ly 1980s. While chemical and
nuclear war is still a possibili-
ty, Israel's preemptive strike
at the time certainly has
reduced the capabilities of the
leader described as a
"madman" in the press.
The Hussein-Arafat part-
nership makes clear another
major political reality in the
Middle East — Arafat does
not enjoy support from other
Arab nations.
What Arafat opted for was
arms and support to fight
Israel rather than "modera-
tion" and a possible coex-
istence — whatever form it
might take.
The major point is that
Hussein has changed the
Middle East political land-
scape; it will never be the
same. But so has Arafat. He
has shown his true colors; this
time he cannot hide behind
press conferences and careful-
ly worded letters to hopeful
but naive Jewish
intermediaries.
The media should hold him
accountable. The media
should ask Arafat if his deci-
sion is not contrary to all he
has said publicly in the last
two years.
It is fair to ask him how he
now expects to conduct "peace
talks" when he has supported
an invasion which takes the
world to the brink of disaster.
It is fair to ask him why he
made his decision and what
he hopes to gain by it. ❑

22

26

Sense of Unease

ZE'EV CHAFETS
There is no panic, but Israel
is uneasy about Saddam Hussein.

28

Hit Man

IRA RIFKIN
Saddam Hussein is a ruthless
killer in Iraq's seat of power.

29

Detroit Response

KIMBERLY LIFTON
The Jewish man on the street
worries about the State of Israel.

50

HEALTH

Early Care

RONELLE ROSENTHAL GRIER
Health professionals want
to see the young ones quickly.

63

ENTERTAINMENT

Fine Tuning

ADRIEN CHANDLER
News director Roger Nadel
is revamping WWJ Radio.

50

79

SINGLE LIFE

This Is It

LISA JACKNOW ELLIAS
Summer camp can be more
than just fond memories.

DEPARTMENTS

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44
52
54

Detroit
Inside Washington
Synagogues
Business
Education
Seniors

60
80
82
88
94
122

Fine Arts
For Women
Engagements
Births
Classified Ads
Obituaries

Page 1 photograph:
Josh Goldberg and Detroit wrestling team members.

CANDLELIGHTING

63

8:14 p.m.
Friday, August 17, 1990
Sabbath ends August 18 9:16 p.m.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

7

