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ditorials
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Simchat Torah
Ending To Start Over
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Jewish state and hides behind the Law of Return
as a shield from justice. That certainly was not
the impetus for Israel's founding nearly five
decades ago.
But while Israel's actions were laudable, those
This is the season to be joyful. With so much
of some American officials in this nightmarish
time, effort, energy, sadness and pain over our
case have been appalling. In particular, some of
divisiveness, we celebrate Friday night Simchat
Israel's newest "friends" in the House Republican
Torah. Some synagogues will offer aliyot to those
leadership, such as Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.),
who desire. Some temples will unroll the Torah
chair of the House Appropriations Committee,
around the entire congregation. Others will
and Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Ala.), head of the
dance with the Torahs.
foreign operations subcommittee, have unfairly
It is a time when the person sitting in the
and unwisely threatened to hold up Israel's eco-
back row of Judaism has an opportunity to hug,
nomic aid unless Mr. Sheinbein was extradited
kiss and sing songs of our joy and commitment
immediately.
just as much as the person in the front. We urge
Mr. Callahan and Mr. Livingston have been
you to take this opportunity. Life, as we say, is
cozy with pro-Israel activists, but the first time
too short not to seize the moment and the beau-
their friendship was put to the test they resorted
ty. Kiss the Torah, hold it, and you'll feel the
to the old Israel-bashing tactic of threatening to
energy of something wonderful and real coming
hold up American aid. Besides eroding the U.S.-
back to you.
Israel relationship, such behavior causes ques-
In this week's Close Up story, we cover this
tions about the depth of the new pro-Israel
wonderful document of our survival. Some see it
coalition that has been created in the
as a code book for life. Others draw their inspi-
Republican-led Congress.
ration from it. But when Simchat Torah is over,
Is this really how the United States treats its
our involvement with the Torah continues. It's a
allies? Threatening each time there's a disagree-
week-after-week present. The learning you and
ment between Washington and Jerusalem is
your children can glean from it is something that
hardly the way friends treat each other.
will touch you as a Jew forever.
We can certainly understand American frus-
Remember that even though we want to
tration with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
touch the Torah it's really the Torah that touches
Netanyahu's intransigence in the Middle East
us. Take advantage of that wonderful opportuni-
peace process, which could be one factor in the
ty.
events of the past two weeks. But threatening
Israel's foreign aid is hardly an inducement to
the Netanyahu government to work more
closely with American mediators. Recent histo-
ry suggests that when legislators unsheathe the
foreign aid weapon, a backlash in Israel usually
works against the objectives of angry legisla-
The Israeli attorney general's decision this week
tors.
to permit the extradition of a Maryland Jewish
Let's not pretend that Israel's economic
teen-ager charged with murder demonstrates
reliance on the United States was
Photo by AP/Nati Harnik
once again that Israel is not a
ever merely a matter of American
banana republic but a democracy
altruism and generosity.
shaped by the rule of law.
American
aid to Israel, it should
Unfortunately, some American
be
pointed
out, benefits both
officials who should know better
countries.
Given
that reality,
don't understand that distinction.
threatening
Israel's
aid for politi-
Despite complex legal proceed-
cal reasons is counterproductive.
ings, Israeli Attorney General
That being said, how can one
Elyakim Rubenstein determined
Maryland teen-ager's legal quag-
that Samuel Sheinbein, one of two
mire pull a pair of allegedly tight
teens charged last month in the
allies into such a rift in which
Maryland mutilation death of 19-
threats of economic pullbacks
year-old Alfred Enrique Tello Jr., is
surface?
An old Yiddish proverb
eligible for extradition, even with
advises,
"Hiten
zol men zich di
his father's debatable status as an
Samuel Shein bein, right, is freina nit far di feint," bewaretf
Israeli citizen.
led to jail in Israel.
your friends, not your enemies.
We applaud Israel's determina-
More than ever, this case
tion to proceed according to the
demonstrates that Israel — with its emer-
letter of the law, despite a host of diplomatic,
gence as a thriving economic power —
political and economic pressures. And we corn-
would
do itself a huge favor by finding ways
mend Mr. Rubenstein for his cool, judicious
to
wean
itself off U.S. aid. At the very least,
handling of this explosive case.
that
would
be a strong step in the right direc-
Mr. Rubenstein's decision ensures that Israel
tion
toward
warding off empty threats from a
will not be transformed into a safe haven for
supposed friend ❑
every potential Jewish criminal who flees to the
With Friends Like
These ...
10/24
1997
32
Rim Aljaroushi, an Arab toddler, in a Tel Aviv operation received
the heart of a Jewish child killed in a road accident.
LETTERS
Editorial
Reflects Hope
Thank you for your editorial
on-the peace process ("Some
Optimistic Signs On The
Peace Front" Oct. 17).
More than 21 months ago,
I was given the opportunity
to write an opinion article for
The Jewish News. At that
xi
time, I wrote of my strong
optimism for an eventual
agreement including not only
the Palestinians, but even the
Syrians.
Since then, a series of
events have prevented much
progress. In fact, those of us
that still believe in eventual
success are becoming an ever c:
smaller minority. Yet your edi-
HOPE on page 35
Photo by AP/Housein Housein
Dennis Ross, Benyamin Netanyahu and Yassir Ara at at a meeting
in Gaza.