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VOTE
•
With Barak At The Helm
A
cement of the One Israel coalition — to power,
s the stunning results of Israel's elec-
Israel's extremes continue to rise. Far-left and far-
tions became clear Monday, the left
right political causes, religious and secular, have
danced with joy while the right
gained
strength in the new parliament. In decid-
nursed a throbbing hangover. And
ing
on
ruling
partners, Barak must recall the
the center, that coveted and critical mass of
efforts of the slain Yitzhak Rabin, his military
Israelis, simply went ro sleep and said,
and political protege. Rabin
Tomorrow's another day."
was more successful at
But it was a day in which
I ftoft- v%Kt
extending the olive branch
Israelis and Diaspora Jews
to military enemies than to
awoke with many probing
IK
political
ones.
questions. What coalition
We hope Barak does seek
will make up Israel's next
a much-discussed national
government? Will U.S.-
unity government with the
Israeli ties rebound? Will
diminished Likud party,
religious pluralism continue s".
adding center-leaning par-
to be so divisive? Will Barak
ties to the list. Israel's gov-
— who until four years ago
ernment faces a daunting
spent his adult life aggres-
dual task — crafting the
sively fighting Arab terror
final phase of the century-
and armies — really behave
old and bloody Jewish-Arab
differently toward the Pales-
conflict, and managing the
tinians than his predecessor?
country's social chaos.
Mr. Barak's larger-than-
Israel's leader must tackle
expected victory is a clear
Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud
such momentous challenges
rejection of both Binyamin
Barak salutes the crowd in Tel Aviv's
with the broadest of man-
Netanyahu's policies and
Rabin Square.
dates.
personality on behalf of the
And we urge a govern-
greater Israeli public. It
ment
with our four pillars
comes with a majority of the vote of Jewish
of equal importance -- promoting Arab-Israeli
citizens of Israel; the Rabin-Peres administra-
negotiations, repairing the nation's internal
tion was much
for not having a
divides, enhancing a free market economy that
"Jewish majority."
cares for the disadvantaged, and crafting strong
Without throwing cold water, however, we are
Diaspora-Israel ties.
concerned that the many and high expectations
That last issue needs immediate and sus-
heaped on this political neophyte are too great.
tained
attention. With so much American Jew-
So we urge all parties — Israelis, American Jews,
ish
apathy
towards Israel, it's vital that Barak
the U.S. government and the Palestinians — to
and
American
Jewish leadership embark on an
pause. Barak needs breathing room to craft his
urgent path of redefining and re-energizing the
coalition. The child of the kibbutz, turned sol-
Israel-Diaspora relationship. It's vital for Amer-
dier, turned politician, is seen as intellectually
ican Jews to have an Israel they believe in.
sharp and politically cautious. He will take risks,
Today, Ehud Barak prepares to take the
but they will be calculated. He must be creative,
helm
of the State of Israel. We hope — we
clever and persuasive.
pray
—
that his pledges for Jewish and Israeli
Barak comes to Israel's helm at a fateful
unity
meet
with remarkable success.
moment. For while he returns Labor — the
For Star Wars Episode I — The Phantom Menace...
I am in line now
I will wait a few weeks
I will rent the video
I won't see it
Vote on JN Online www.detroitjewishnews.com
Results from last week's poll (38 respondents)
Should Israel support creation of a Palestinian
State? Yes 45% No 55%
IN FOCUS
-
Bibi's Legacy
mr
e pause for a moment to reflect on
Binyamin Netanyahu. This once-
great communicator became bogged
down with an uncompromising
right-wing coalition. He dramatically lost his tal-
ents of impressing his secular, nationalist views
on Israel's increasingly divided society — some
say divisions he stoked. Scandals took their toll as
Netanyahu lashed our at what he called a left-
wing dominated media. Finally, Netanyahu
endured a constant cold shoulder from a White
House seen as Israel's warmest friend ever.
That said, we offer some credit to the battered
former Likud leader. He oversaw the arduous
process of dragging his Likud party to accept ter-
ritorial compromise. He made Palestinian com-
pliance to the Oslo Accords integral. The econo-
my's growth cycle was bound to stall, but Russ-
ian integration into it continued. And despite the
screams about the influence of religious parties,
their impact on daily life in Israel changed little
in the past three years — in part due to the
intense lobbying of American Jews. Binyamin
Netanyahu was — and could become again —
Israel's prime minister. His service to the Jewish
people deserves respect. ❑
•
Greening Of The Desert
Davey Rosen of Farmington Hills had heard about Israel's suc-
cess in greening the desert, but he had no idea that he would
end up planting trees in the Jewish state. He's pictured planting
lemon trees in the experimental garden of Kibbutz Ketura,
where he volunteered for two months as part of the Hadassah-
sponsored Young Judaea Year Course. He'll attend the Universi-
ty of Judaism in Los Angeles this fall.
LITTERS
Dedication
Overlooked
•r:
The power of the
press is quite distress-
ing.
A reporter was
assigned to review
our final meeting.
Despite the fact that
Dr. Leon Warshay,
professor of sociolo-
Leon Warshay and Milton Steinhardt lis-
gy at Wayne State
ten at the last AZM meeting.
University, skillfully
reviewed the history
of the American
and effort to keep Israel in the
Zionist Movement and the
forefront of the Jewish com-
passion and dedication for
munity.
Zionism that the members
I was dismayed by the gen-
had, it seemed to be lost in
eral impression this article
your account ("Friends At
gave that these members sit
The End" May 14).
around and only argue over
Having worked so closely
Israeli politics all the time.
for the past 19 years with
This is not the situation at all.
these professional people, I
Instead, they spent years and
have been totally impressed
years working on important
by their constant devotion
programs to educate the Jew-
0
0
5/21
1999
Detroit Jewish News
31