* Professional instructions
* Classes for all skill levels -
beginner to expert
* Special program for the younger
skiers (ages 6-9)
* Small classes
* Adult classes too!
* Charter buses Saturday & Sunday

Perling 14k and Diamond Xiiggy eaiiing,s - Prired for eveiyone

THERE is A DIFFERENCE.

WEINTRAUB JEWELERS

In-store Specials Everyday
Sunset Strip • 29536 Noithwestem Hwy.
Southfield • 248-351-4000

Hours: Mon,- Sat 10-5

(248) 583-1300

fax: (248) 583-1305

31051 stephenson hwy
madison heights, mi 48071

under new ownership

10/16
1998

44 Detroit Jewish News

Netanyahu has always been cordial.
powers. It allows a [alleged terrorist]
Friedman referred to himself as a
Bin-Laden to sit in Afghanistan and
"Rabin-ite." Indeed, during talks in
with relatively little effort hatch a plot
Washington, a beleaguered
and carry it out in Africa. Globaliza-
Netanyahu faced a roomful of
tion empowers both good guys and
reporters. Friedman, according to
bad guys to reach farther into the
Jewish
News Washington Correspon-
world, faster and deeper.
dent
James
D. Besser, was just leaning
"I believe, in today's world, the
against the back wall of the room
U.S. has a hugely important role as
when the Israeli prime minister
the world's only superpower to stabi-
stopped the meeting and asked Fried-
lize this world. My mantra is that
man if he had any questions.
without America on duty, there will be
Later, he spoke about their relation-
no America on line. So that's really
ship.
very much what colors my views on
"Bibi is the prime minister of
foreign affairs.
Israel," said Friedman. "I have great
"I'm a big believer that for the sta-
respect for that office. I wouldn't have
bility of our society, we have a huge
voted for him, but he has always been
interest in reforming, developing,
a gentleman to me. There is nothing
enlarging and tightening the social
personally wrong between us."
safety nets that will bring the have-
And Arafat?
nots, the know-nots — what I call the
"Yeah, I've interviewed him over
turtles — into the game."
the
years. Interviewing him is very
When he finishes the book, he
hard. His mind tends to split off in a
plans to begin work on an update of
lot of different directions at once. I
From Beirut to Jerusalem, starting
never find it very satisfactory."
probably at the assassination of Israeli
He added that he doesn't spend a
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
great
deal of time interviewing world
Where is Israel and the peace
leaders
because they look at him as
process going, according to Friedman?
"Tom
Friedman
of the New York
He said he can "imagine" that
what
do
I
say? It's a cliche, but
Times,
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
it's the man on the street, the average
Netanyahu will go forward with the
person, who I talk to. I really don't
current proposal with the Palestinians,
run around from country to country
handing over 13 percent of the West
seeing presidents."
Bank in return for Palestinian security
But -other than Saddam Hussein,
commitments and laying the basis for
the
only Middle Eastern power figure
final status talks.
he
hasn't
interviewed is Syrian Presi-
"I am more confident than less
dent
Hafez
al-Assad. Someday, he
confident that, with a little nudging
said, he'd like to spend five hours with
from the U.S., I think we can have
him.
this deal. And I think if Bibi does do
that, how we will look at him will be
The Pluralism Disaster
very different. This may not in any
When Friedman speaks to Jewish
way have been his real intention. But
organizations, pluralism — not the
if he does it, God bless him. And I
Middle East — is the issue that most
will be the first to write that he's done
people want to discuss.
the right thing.
"Is my Jewish state going to some-
"I've said- this to him in our own
how, implicitly or explicitly, indirectly
conversations that the best way to
or directly, delegitimize me or my
secure Israel's future and to stabilize
kids?" he said. "That is a deep, deep
the Middle East is for him to move
issue in the minds of a lot of Ameri-
forward on Oslo. I am for anyone
can Jews, and I think that it would
who promotes Oslo, and I am against
be a real disaster for the Jewish people
anyone who stands in the way of it. I
if that happened. I'm hoping that
believe it is about Israel's future, and I
the wisdom will be found to avoid
believe it is best for Israel and for the
that.
peoples of the Middle East."
"I have a philosophy of never giv-
ing to a charity in Israel that [repre-
Buddies With Bibi
sents] an Israel you wouldn't want
Friedman says that Netanyahu has an
opportunity to be remembered histori- your own children to live in. The cri-
terion for giving to Israel shouldn't be
cally in a positive way. Should he fail
that it is beating up some Arab coun-
to work out a deal with Palestinian
try because they make you feel good
leader Yassir Arafat and the Palestinian
that they are winning a war. It's
Authority, Friedman said he'll remain
because you care about the character
a critic.
and content of the Jewish state." El
Friedman's relationship with

,

lb-•

