AW
terview after returning to
Israel.)
They met with leaders of the
Jewish community, visiting the
Jews' often lavish homes, their
businesses and synagogues. In
a videotape shown on Israeli
television, Yusef Geageati, the
vice-chairman of Damascus'
Jewish community, told the del-
egation:
"We are part of the Arab peo-
ple of Syria...It is our desire that
you deliver this message to the
Jews and Arabs of Palestine."
It seems the Syrian Jews also
had their reasons not to use the
word "Israel."
The condolence visit lasted
over two hours, taken up by a
lecture from the president on
how Syria was ready for peace
with Israel in return for the en-
tire Golan Heights, but that Is-
rael was ruining the peace
process by stalling for time.
The delegates went to Syria's
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
where Mr. Daroushe wrote in
the guest book that "the blood
of Syrian soldiers fallen in war
is engraved on a tablet in our
hearts." He praised President
Assad's leadership, and de-
scribed Syria as a "fortress of
liberty."
In an interview after the trip,
Mr. Daroushe said he "hadn't
tried to hide anything" while he
was in Syria, nor did he sense
any fear to speak freely on the
part of the Syrians he'd met. He
found Syria an "open country,
with freedom for all citizens,
without repression."
The Jews had "equal status,
sometimes even preferred sta-
tus," he added, and notions to
the contrary were just Israeli
and Western "propaganda."
Asked what he saw as the
benefits of the visit, Mr.
Daroushe said predictable
things about bringing Israel and
"With this visit we
showed that we are
part of the
Palestinian people,
and part of the
Arab people."
Abd el-Wahab Daroushe
Syria closer together. But he
spoke fervently about the ben-
efits the trip would bring to the
stature of Israeli Arabs.
"It will improve our position
not only in Syria, but in the
Arab world as a whole," he said.
"For a long time the Arabs have
had nothing to do with us. They
thought we had lost our na-
tional identity, lost our nation-
al pride, that we had turned
into Israelis or Zionists. [11
Drawing the Line
How Far Can We Go In Influencing the Peace Process?
A Jewish Community Council Delegate Assembly
Featuring Maynard Wishner, President
Council of Jewish Federations
Mr. Wishner will discuss the changing Diaspora/Israel relationship,
including the current debate over public criticism of the Israeli
government's peace plan and pro-Israel political activism in the U.S.
Audience Participation will be a key element of the program
Wednesday, March 30 7:30 PM
Adat Shalom Synagogue
29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills
No charge
Por reservations, call 642-5393
At the assembly, the Jewish Community Council Nominating Committee will announce the slate
of board members and officers to be presented at the Annual Meeting in May.
BEST WISHES
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