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Deporting The Truth
There are times when Israel's leaders de-
cide to risk the condemnation of the United
States, the United Nations and the rest of
the world in order to protect the security
of the citizens of the Jewish state. Such a
time occurred last week when, in response
to the brutal murders of four Israeli soldiers
and a border policeman, the Rabin govern-
ment deported 415 suspected leaders and
allies of Hamas, the Islamic fundamental-
ist group whose avowed goal is the exter-
mination of Israel and the Jewish religion.
It was a strong move, particularly when
the Mideast peace talks are floundering
again, but the Rabin government is not run-
ning a popularity contest. After numerous
gestures made toward advancing the peace
talks and proving that Israel was willing to
go more than halfway in negotiating with
the Arabs, Mr. Rabin decided that in this
case extreme measures were necessary to
thwart the increase in terrorism.
The truth is that Hamas represents a
grave threat to the more moderate Arab
world in general and the Palestine Libera-
tion Organization in particular because the
fundamentalist group is becoming a stronger
political force on the West Bank and in Gaza
In private, the PLO is no doubt grateful for
Israel's action, but the public response from
Palestinian leaders is outrage against Israel
and threats that the peace talks have been
jeopardized. Who, though, has more to lose
than the Palestinians if the peace talks shut
down?
Israelis are cynical, but not surprised, by
the double standard of a United Nations con-
demnation of the deportations that fails even
to mention the terrorist murders of Israelis
that precipitated Jerusalem's response.
And where was the world outcry several
months ago when Egypt cracked down on
fundamentalists in a manner far more harsh
than Israel, with mass arrests and author-
ity to execute anyone belonging to a terror-
ist group?
In Israel's case, the deportations were for
no more than two years, and they were al-
lowed by the Supreme Court, which provides
for court appeals.
Hamas is violently opposed to the peace
process, as well as Jewish life. "The war is
open until Israel ceases to exist and until
the last Jew in the world is eliminated," ac-
cording to llamas soldiers. But because Is-
rael is committed to seeing the Jewish people
flourish, not disappear, it has taken the un-
pleasant and unpopular step of deportation.
The sad truth is that Israel much prefers
the verbal attacks of all the world than the
murder of but one of its citizens.
Priorities Year 'Round
This is a time of year when charitable orga-
nizations don't have to look far for that extra
volunteer, contribution or act of kindness. In-
deed, on Christmas Day, many area Jews will
be working in soup kitchens or volunteering
so that a Christian friend or worker can have
the holiday off.
What is important to remember is that after
January 1, area charities experience a huge
drop-off in donations of all sorts. The donations
they collect now often will not make it through
the first quarter of 1993. It's almost as if the
rest of us only equate homelessness and
hunger from Thanksgiving through January
1.
Those on the front lines of care for the needy
tell us that dire conditions continue year-
round. Surveys have shown that homelessness
and domestic violence climb during the months
of July and August. Landlords are more like-
ly to evict a person behind in their rent when
the weather isn't so cold. An angry and hurt-
ing person might hit their child more often
when the weather is hot and the job opportu-
nities run cold.
So please. As much we want to pat ourselves
on the back for Christmas Day volunteering,
for providing Thanksgiving meals and
Chanukah joy, the bringing in of a new year
unfortunately doesn't erase the need. The spir-
it of the holiday should be as important and
high a priority in mid-February and mid-June
as it is in November and December.
Dry Bones
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Letters
Relief Efforts
Are Supported
CHAIM - Children of Holo
caust - Survivors Association
In Michigan gives its heart
felt support to those aiding
the refugees of Somalia. Acts
which aid humanity, helping
those facing imminent death
from starvation, symbolizes
a distinct departure from
times past when the world
turned its back on our people
causing the suffering and
deaths of millions of Jews.
We continue to support
these relief efforts and we en-
courage others to do the
same.
Charles Silow
President, CHAIM
Grosse Pointe Council
Appreciated Article
We would like to thank The
Jewish News for highlighting
the Grosse Pointe Jewish
Council in its Dec. 4 issue. As
a result of the article we have
received many calls from
west side temples and orga-
nizations.
Our council of 130 families
continues to grow as the word
of our existence spreads to
other Jews living on the east
side, including St. Clair
Shores, Mt. Clemens, War-
ren, Detroit and Grosse
Pointe.
Since our inception, the
strong relationships we have
built with the Jewish Com-
munity Council and the Fed-
eration have helped us
enormously. Our friends at
the Agency for Jewish Edu-
cation have been instrumen-
tal in structuring our Sunday
school, which provides a Jew-
ish education to students
through age 13.
The Grosse Pointe Jewish
Council is proud to be part of
the greater metropolitan
Jewish family. We are grate-
ful for the support and expo-
sure which The Jewish News
provided our group. We look
forward to reading of other
developing Jewish communi-
ties which exist on the pe-
riphery of the core Jewish
area.
Karen Opdyke,
Ron Feldman,
Co-Presidents
Peace Process
Contradicts Policy
The Bush-Baker so-called c-="
"Middle East Peace Process" I
is a fraud. It is in direct con-
tradiction to the historical
and traditional U.S. foreign
policy of opposing aggression.
The Arabs are clearly the
aggressors in the Middle c=,
East; and Israel is clearly the
victim.
Therefore, instead of try-
ing to force Israel to submit ti
to insolent and unjustified ,)
Arab demands, President
Bush and Secretary Baker
should be branding the Arabs
as the aggressors and de-
manding that they make
peace on Israel's terms.
Also, George Bush and
James Baker should be
telling the Arabs that they
owe war damages and ter-
rorism damages to Israel,—
and that arrangements must
be made to pay the same.
President Bush and former
Secretary of State Baker
should be exposing the Arab
claims to the West Bank and
Gaza Strip as fraudulent, _z
hypocritical, frivolous and
without merit. The Palestin-
ian-Arab land is not in the
West Bank or Gaza Strip. It „2
is in Jordan, and has been
there ever since Transjordan
was separated from the
British Palestine Mandate in
1921-1922. Therefore, it is ob-
vious that the only place for
the Palestinian state is in
Jordan.
The international commu-
nity, the United Nations and
paragraph two of Resolution
242 do not recognize the "ac-
quisition of territory by war."
Therefore, the Jordanian,
Egyptian and Arab claims to
the West Bank and Gaza are
not valid because Transjor-
dan (now Jordan) and Egypt c'
"acquired" those two terri-
tories "by war" in December
1947.
Robert C. Ewing
Santa Maria, Calif
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