called for peace between the
two peoples, and added: "I ac-
cept the prize in the name of
the Arab citizens of Israel and
on their behalf, as a right and
not as a favor. They see in this
an additional distinguished
forum which can advance
their desire to explain to all
who are interested, that they
too are remaining in this land
forever and ever; they too see
in this land their homeland,
for they have no other."
Echoes of the award con-
tinued to reverberate for
weeks. A public reception in
honor of Mr. Habibi, held at
a Histadrut cultural center in
Haifa, was noisily picketed by
opponents who directed most
of their spleen at a fellow
guest, Faisal al-Husseini, who
is generally regarded as the
leading PLO representative
in Israel.
The continuing public
discussion has followed the
expected lines, some seeking
to differentiate between
politics and culture, and
others insisting that in Israel

For many reasons,
it's not easy to be
an Arab in Israel
today.

today such separation is
impossible.
I was present at the award
ceremony in Jerusalem.
While Professor Neeman's ob-
jection was booed by some in
the audience, and the award
itself was loudly applauded,
there was no mistaking that
many in the hall were
unhappy.
But there was something
else that I observed. The im-
pressive proceedings closed as
the entire audience and all on
the platform rose and joined
in the singing of "Hatikvah."
No, not all. Emil Habibi
stood, respectfully, but
silently.
For a moment I was
angered. He could accept the
Israel Prize and the cash
award that went with it, but
he could not sing the national
anthem.
And then I realized, as a
matter of fairness, that he
could not, in good conscience,
sing it. Indeed, how can any
Arab in Israel sing the words,
"So long as a Jewish heart
beats within our breasts, and
our eye looks to Zion . ."
For him to mouth these
words would be incongruous.
On the other hand, he could
have joined in the final words
of the hymn: "We have not yet
lost our hope to be a free na-
tion in our own land . . ."
For many reasons, it's not
easy to be an Arab in Israel
today.

❑

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.

SIMON & FELICIA LEFKOWITZ

MRS. JUDY LUNSKY

KAL & ADA BANDALENE

HOWARD, CINDY, NOAH
& ADAM BABCOCK

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.

lann ron nave

FRAN & GEORGE LIPSHAW
Las Vegas, NV

EVE MARKOFSKY

1:Inn

inn

111L13`2

We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
JOE & ELSE MERIN &
GRANDSONS MATTHEW & MIKEL

to all
our friends
and relatives.

to all
our friends
and relatives.

GLORIA & ERNIE BEREN

DR, & MRS. DAVIS A. BENSON

We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year

May the coming

May the coming

STUART, SHULA & ASHLEY LEVY

year be filled

year be filled

with health and

with health and

happiness for

happiness for

all our family

all our family

and friends.

and friends.

MARILYN &
BARRY GOODMAN

RONALD & CAROL BIGMAN
Boca Raton, FL

We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
DR. HARVEY & LINDA LEFKOWITZ
RHONDA, HELENE & STEVEN

A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
MARSHA, HARRY, EMILY &
JENNIFER EISENBERG

To All Our
Relatives
and Friends,
Our wish for a
year filled with
happiness,
health and prosperity.

A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.

HAROLD & RUTH GARBER

To All Our
Relatives
and Friends,
Our wish for a
year filled with
happiness,
health and prosperity.

IZRAEL & LILI BESSER & FAMILY

May the coming year be
one filled with health,
happiness and
prosperity for all our
friends and family.

ROSALIE & PETER BEER
& JULIE GRUNWALD