the Likud comes back in, they
may change things and then
there could be trouble."
But regardless of their pros-
perity, Russian immigrants are
quick to mention their skepti-
cism if not outright contempt for
the peace process. The recent ter-
ror attacks are fresh in their
minds, a key reason why many
and possibly most of will end up
voting for Mr. Netanyahu.
"I voted for Labor in 1992 be-
cause I liked Rabin's policies and
because I always wanted peace.
But now it is different — I don't
want to give up any part of
Jerusalem or the territories to
the Arabs, because as much as
you give them they will never be
satisfied," said Iana Raskin, 22,
a college psychology student in
Tel Aviv who emigrated from the
Ukraine in 1992. "I don't trust
Peres, and I know that Ne-
tanyahu will do a better job of
making war on terror."
Both Messrs. Peres and Ne-
tanyahu are keenly aware of the
importance of the Russian im-
migrant vote, and both are going
out of their way to make sure
that a Russian immigrant enters
the next Knesset.
In the recent Labor Party pri-
mary, the 29th slot on the par-
ty's Knesset list was reserved for
an immigrant. (Candidates in
Labor's the first 40 slots are con-
sidered certain to make it into
the Knesset.) But because the
numerous Russian candidates
for Labor's immigrant seat split
their vote, Ethiopian immigrant
leader Addisu Messala won it.
Mr. Peres immediately convened
the party activists and won their
near-unanimous support for in-
stalling a Russian immigrant in
the 25th spot on the ticket:
The Likud had a safe seat set
aside for an immigrant, but in
its coalition deal with David
Levy's Gesher party and Rafael
Eitan's Tsomet party, the immi-
grant slot was pushed down to
number 45. Unless Likud-
Tsomet-Gesher wins 45 seats in
the election, which is unlikely,
the Likud Russian immigrant
candidate Yuli Kosharovsky will
not get in.
Therefore, said the Likud
source, steps are being taken to
move an immigrant slot up to a
safe position.
In his pitch to the Russian
immigrants, Mr. Peres can use
Ronald Reagan's old campaign
line — "Are you better off than
you were four years ago?" — to
great effect. Against this, said
the Likud source, Mr. Ne-
tanyahu's issues will be "securi-
ty, liberating the economy
through free enterprise, and at-
tacking Labor for its socialist eco-
nomic policies."
But in the likely scenario that
neither candidate sways a size-
able majority of the immigrants,
the coveted Russian vote will be
neutralized.
Volunteers are our community's secret weapon. They bring joy to
the lives of the aged, befriend new immigrants, offer friendship to
people with disabilities, distribute food to the hungry. They raise
funds, run errands, sit on committees, stuff envelopes and develop
programs.
They preserve mementos of our community's past, and they plan
for our community's future.
Sometimes, their work goes unrecognized. But it doesn't deter
them from doing a mitzvah. They get nachos from what they do
and the people they help.
To all those individuals who devote their time, talent and heart to
our community and our people,
Thank you from the
e IC s
v‘ fEDto
-I A
*eh.
opolite0 9-
Allied Jewish Campaign
National Volunteer Week
April 21-27, 1996
C)
Cr)
C)
—J
Lend a hand. Be a volunteer.
For information, icall the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
Community Outreach and Education Department, 642-4260, ext. 255.
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