Community Views
Editor's Notebook
History Unfolding On TV?,
We've Been There Before
PHIL JACOBS EDITOR
We've been grip-
ped as a commu-
' pity twice in the
past three years
while we stood
around a televi-
• sion set. We must
not lose sight of
what happened
then to temper
what is happening now.
"Then" was January of 1991.
Four hundred Jews came to-
gether at Shaarey Zedek to hear
Allied Jewish Campaign
and frantic cadences in their
voices told us that missiles, pos-
sibly tipped with poison gas, had
exploded somewhere in Tel
Aviv.
Gathered around the televi-
sions, Detroiters shouted in
anger, some cried and some re-
mained struck in a stunned si-
lence.
Mr. Keyes delivered his
speech to a courteous audience
who tore themselves away from
the television. In the meantime,
area media started showing up,
Fisher Building. The room was
packed and again, the attention
was given to a television set.
There we watched as Prime
Minister Rabin and PLO Chair-
man Arafat shook hands and
signed principles of peace.
People within the room ap-
plauded. Some wiped tears
away from their faces, others
talked about a chill of optimism
and excitement they felt run-
ning up their spine. The re-
porters were back again, this
time to get the quotes of hope
putting microphones in front of
stunned faces. One daily news-
paper reporter asked aloud,
"Why won't anyone talk to me?"
A person answered, "When
you are watching your home-
land attacked, how can you
talk?"
The next day we read that
Palestinians stood on the roofs
of their apartments applauding
and screaming encouragement
to Saddam Hussein's missiles.
So now we switch to Sep-
tember of 1993. The meeting
place this time was the Max
instead of fear.
There were, however, some
who stayed silent again. Some
of those in the room on Monday
were in the Shaarey Zedek lob-
by that eerie night in January,
1991.
Their silence might reflect an
uncertainty, a desire not to com-
mit themselves to the euphoria
just yet.
In west Jerusalem, the televi-
sion voices said there was quiet,
an eerie wait for something that
was incoming. As in 1991, nobody
is certain what that will be. ❑
Watching the peace signing in 1993.
Watching missiles hit Tel Aviv in 1991.
keynote speaker Alan Keyes, a
conservative think tanker and
supporter of Israel, talk on the
role of the allied coalition in the
Persian Gulf War. Before ad-
dressing the 400, he spoke to a
smaller group in a private room.
There was a knock on the door,
and when it opened a Jewish
Community Council spokesper-
son told us that air raid sirens
were blaring in Tel Aviv.
Quickly, two television sets
were rolled into the spacious
Shaarey Zedek lobby. Network
correspondents with grim looks
It's Difficult To Trust
Rabin's Decision
MBIL FALLOW SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
So what are we well. He should not be permit-
ted the PR ploy of ceremonially
to make of it?
Are Israel's revoking the covenants while
most bitter ene- pursuing a strategy to destroy
mies prepared for Israel.
The final agreement must in-
peace? Are they
ready to end the clude demilitarization for all the
bloodshed and vi- major Arab nations. If Assad is
olence which has seeking peace, then why is he
plagued the State arming at a record pace? And if
of Israel for a half century? Are peace is the objective, why do he
they ready to reverse a history and his Arab partners need
of institutionalized hatred of arms?
It is understandable that Jews
Jews?
These questions — and many everywhere look to the break-
others — are perplexing Jews through with hope. Five decades
not only in Israel but through- of war is more than enough, par-
out the world during this holy ticularly for Israelis who have
season. They are troubling ques- had to endure unimaginable
tions and they come 20 years af- hardship throughout the years.
But it is disconcerting to hear
ter Jews throughout the world
were shocked when Arab nations Jews supporting the plan on the
attacked Israel on Yom Kippur. argument that Israel is ready for
Thus, while in 1973 Jews peace. Israel has always been
were devastated by war, today ready for peace. The onus and
the heart and soul are bursting obligations for peace have not
to rejoice at the historic break- rested on Israel's shoulders; they
through while the head is warn-
ing them to beware. Is peace
"The Arab principals
really here?
Obviously, if PLO leader Yas-
are, at best,
sir Arafat and other Arab na-
tions are sincere, what more
suspect and
could we ask for in our prayers
the risks are
for the New Year? But how do
we know? How do we know
incalculable."
whether Arafat and such cold-
blooded dictators as Syria's As-
sad and other less visible Arab rest on the Arabs.
It is the Arabs who had as
leaders really mean it this time.
The consequences of a poten- their objective the destruction of
tial error are irreversible. If the Israel. The Arabs have launched
Rabin government is wrong, Is- the wars in the last five decades,
rael's very survival is at stake and it is the Arabs who have
because a peace agreement forced Israelis to live with ter-
means surrendering strategic rorism every day of their lives.
If skeptics approach the plan
positions.
Even without relinquishing with doubts and cynicism, who
the Golan Heights, cutting the is to blame them? Much of the
borders from 26 miles to about liberal community has been pro-
10 miles on the West Bank is a claiming for five years that
concession of major import for Arafat recognized Israel follow-
many vital reasons, including ing the famous Stockholm con-
ference with well-known liberal •
military ones.
The most troubling aspect 9f public leaders in 1988.
Arafat came out of that con-
the proposed peace plan is that
little has been said about the ference with double talk which
PLO's three-phased strategic the liberals interpreted as recog-
plan which cells for autonomy, nition. If it was recognition, then
statehood and the destruction of what is new in his recognition of
Israel this week?
Israel.
This selective interpretation
Arafat has outlined this strat-
egy to Arab audiences and none indicates how precarious the sit-
has challenged the PLO. Indeed, uation is, how careful one must
Benjamin Netanyahu explained be in the nuances of proclama-
this problem to a news anchor. tions by Arafat and other Arab
If the Likud leader's information leaders.
The issue really is not Gaza,
is correct, then much more will
be required of Arafat than revo- Jericho, the West Bank or Golan.
cation of the infamous The issue is trust. And trust can-
covenants, which, since 1964, not be guaranteed in signed
agreements or ceremonies in
called for Israel's destruction.
It is essential that Arafat and Washington, Jerusalem, Tunis
his followers be required to re- or elsewhere.
Can we trust the assurances
pudiate the phased strategy as
which are on the table? Can we
Berl Falbaum is a West trust that those who have com-
Bloomfield-based freelance mitted their lives to destroying
writer and a frequent con- Israel? ❑
tributor to Community Views.