Home Needs Goals The Jewish Home for Aged this week was granted an extension by the state in its bid to clean up violations in the area of infec- tion control. For the sake of the Borman Hall residents, we urge families and Federation to come together for a better hold on what will be. Whether or not Borman Hall passes its upcoming re-inspection, the results, even if successful, could be nothing more than a Band-Aid. We urge the Federation and the board of directors of the Home and the families in- volved to come to a solution that will con- tinue the Jewish community's commit- ment to the care and security of our elder- ly, whether that solution is a new facility in West Bloomfield, the continuation of the current Seven Mile Road location or other solutions. A goal needs to be set and a plan executed. Set Pollard Free As president, George Bush managed to offend the American Jewish community far too often, most notably his derogatory comments about pro-Israel lobbyists and his squeeze play against Israel over the loan guarantees. Such actions accounted in large part for his rejection by the vast majority of Jewish voters in the recent election. There is, however, an action open to Mr. Bush that would redeem him in part. He could commute Jonathan Pollard's prison sentence to time already served. More than making amends, justice and compassion dictate the action. Mr. Pollard, the former Naval intel- ligence officer who pleaded guilty to spying for Israel, has already served nearly seven years. Five of those years have been in soli- tary confinement — unusually harsh treatment. Seven years for passing secrets to the United States' one true friend in the Mid- dle East is more than enough, particularly since a strong case exists for the Pollard argument that the government reneged on its legally binding pledge not to throw the book at him in exchange for his guilty plea. Traditionally, lameduck presidents have used their final weeks in office to issue commutations and pardons, and a behind- the-scenes effort to get Mr. Bush to free Mr. Pollard is already under way. Significantly, the Pollard case has always been about more than Mr. Pollard's having broken the law. It is also a reflec- tion of Washington's almost schizophrenic approach toward Israel; one day the Jewish state is our only democratic ally in the Middle East, the next it is a thorn ir- ritating our relationship with oil-rich Arab states that remain hostile to Israel's exis- tence. The vehemence with which the govern- ment, led by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger (the subject of another presidential pardon campaign relating to Iran-contra prosecutions), went after Mr. Pollard stems from this conflict of inter- ests. Commuting Mr. Pollard's sentence, therefore, would also serve as a symbolic act of reaching out toward Israel when do- ing so no longer has any practical drawbacks in regard to Mr. Bush's stan- ding in the Arab world. Nothing Mr. Bush can do now will undo the past. But he does have the power to help heal past wounds. We urge him to show compassion toward Jonathan Pollard. Letters Pollard Letter Was Improper Your Oct. 30 issue published a letter by a government employee, David D. Dworkin, which was pure garbage. He said that Jonathan Pollard received an appropriate sentence. Our system of justice is not the same as that of China or Saudi Arabia, where they ex- ecute people for the slightest law infraction. Under our judicial system, persons who violated the espionage act, similarly to what Jonathan Pollard was charged with, received from one to five years, and for what his wife had done, received from zero to one year. As you know, that was not the case with Mr. Pollard. Mr. Dworkin said that lives of children were in danger withoilt giving any evidence. It was just the opposite. Mr. Pollard's disclosure allowed Israel to supply its citizens with gas masks in addition to other preparedness .. . We want American justice to prevail. Even the Jewish judges that denied Mr. Pollard's appeal admitted that the severity of the sentence was too harsh. They denied it on legal procedural grounds. The gentile judge was mind- ful of other illegal pro- ceedings of the government and strongly recommended an open trial . . . Dr. Sidney Leitson Chairman, Citizens for Justice, West Bloomfield Dry Bones Lu pr 'ti9-e 'MC (-(EAR 'TWO 'THOUSAND 7 1-IERE'LL BE A CC F- LU RUSS‘A , Bur IT'S TORNIMG OUT 1-0 136 MORE LIKE A GoTt-fl C NO\JeL. AGoUT 1;14 Ric AGES' IL H- B WE 'THOUGHT THE 21ST CEMTURY LOCULD BE CAKE A „ FtrraRiSTI C r • SCI-Fl 1-10\n€ Fabulous Night, Rude Audience IS* The Balfour Night was fab- ulous! The excellent music and entertainment were plen- tiful and we enjoyed them immensely! Also plentiful was the rude- ness! The audience loudly chattered throughout Mack Pitt's music and continued even through Hal Linden. Many, many people kept get- ting up and down and moving about during the entire evening. The culmination of the evening was when the final applause began and, en masse, a large number of peo- ple left their seats, con- gregating in the aisles so that when he came out for the en- core, we had to move our seats to see Mr. Linden. Those who departed con- gregated in the lobby, speak- ing loudly so that others couldn't hear Mr. Linden. It is unfortunate that such a well-planned and wonderful evening had to be affected by the lack of courtesy and con- sideration of so many people. Denise Diskin Ann Arbor Bill Clinton, Mideast History Mr. Clinton says he is opposed "to the creation of a Palesti- nian state" (Nov. 6). Doesn't our new president know that an independent Arab Pales- tinian state already exists? Doesn't he know that Pales- tine already has been divided between Arabs and Jews? Every map of the Middle East before the 1920s showed Palestine including land ly- ing on both sides of the Jor- dan River. The League of Na- tions gave Great Britain the administration of all of Pales- tine for a Jewish home. The British rulers ousted all Jews living east of the Jordan River and gave that Palestine East Bank to the Arabs — now the Kingdom of Jordan. To this day, all Jews are banned from living or even visiting that eastern part of Palestine .. . lb help bring real peace and security to both Arabs and Jews, our President Bill Clin- ton must recognize that a two-state settlement of the conflict already exists. Hymie Cutler Director, Michigan Committee for a Safe Israel C71