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RNS/REUTERS

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Louis Farrakhan speaks during a press conference.

ability to spread his special brand
of craziness. But their response
does little to address the broader
problems — the economic and
racial polarization that may rep-
resent the single greatest threat
to this democracy, or the moral
problem posed by the virtual
abandonment of a significant part
of our population.
Perhaps a better response
might be to ignore the Rev. Far-
rakhan and the march — but to
pay close attention to the social
forces driving both.
Jewish leaders could use the
occasion of next week's march to
generate active discussion about
new ways to deal with the na-
tion's race and class time bomb.
Instead of focusing on Far-
rakhan's anti-Semitism — an is-
sue that we will, unfortunately,
have many additional opportu-

-

nities to confront — Jewish lead-
ers could try to involve the com-
munity in a renewed effort to find
answers to the crisis that has giv-
en Farrakhan this opportunity to
become a "real" leader of his com-
munity.
Only blacks and Jews seem in-
terested in next week's events.
Perhaps Jewish leaders could use
that interest — despite the fact
that it stems from the widespread
and justifiable Jewish loathing of
the Rev. Farrakhan—to help the
nation as a whole come to grips
with problems that are rapidly
spinning out of control.
The Rev. Farrakhan's ascent
is deeply disturbing to the Jew-
ish community, and with good
reason. But he will become far
more dangerous if this plunge
into urban anarchy and despair
is allowed to continue. 111

WO,

•• „

•

-

Peres Challenges
Syria, Lebanon

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New York (JTA) — Israeli For-
eign Minister Shimon Peres has
called on Syria and Lebanon to
"stop hesitating" and commit
themselves to "work day and
night" for a peace agreement with
Israel.
Mr. Peres made his call before
the new session of the U.N. Gen-
eral Assembly in a now-familiar
address that touted the advances
in the Middle East peace process,
Israel's unflagging determination
to pursue it and its fruits for the
entire region.
He chastised the Syrians for
not sticking to the talks and for
insisting that negotiations can be
pursued only through military
channels.
He challenged them to work
"on all levels, combining all is-
sues" — "ceaselessly" and "with-
out fatigue."
Mr. Peres also went out of his

way to single out for praise the
leadership of Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak at a time when
Israeli-Egyptian relations are
strained by allegations that Is-
raelisoldiers killed Egyptian
POWs in 1956 and 1967.
And he pointed with pride to
the signing of the second phase
of the self-rule agreement with
the Palestine Liberation Organi-
zation. Mr. Peres said his gov-
ernment has no plans to try to
defuse the political tensions or
win over the opposition.
"I am not a great believer in a
campaign to explain our position
- I think deeds are more popu-
lar than words," he said. "I don't
think a government has to be
popular at every moment."
Mr. Peres also expressed con-
cern about U.S. Jewish political
lobbying in Congress against the
Oslo accord.

(

