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Information Gap
I
n Washington two weeks ago, pressure
from the major national Jewish organiza-
tions played a major role in blocking the
appointment of an Arab-American to a
Congressional committee on terrorism.
The background: Last month, U.S. Rep.
David Bonior, D-Mich., suggested that Salam
Al-Marayati, a Los Angeles Arab activist, serve
on a 10-member council to review policy on
preventing and pilnishing terrorism. U.S.
House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-
Mo., agreed to make the appointment to the
National Council on Terrorism. The ink was
barely dry before the Zionist Organization of
America called for the overturn of the appoint-
ment. Within a few days, major American Jew-
ish groups, such as the Anti-Defamation
League, the American Jewish Congress and the
Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish Organizations, agreed.
Al-Marayati, they said, had justified terrorism
in the Mideast, had refused to condemn Hamas
and Hezbollah, and was an enemy of Israel.
Gephardt withdrew the appointment, offering
the excuse that his nominee couldn't get a securi-
ty clearance in six months, by which time the
work of the commission would be over.
So is Al-Marayati, who some leaders in the
Los Angeles Jewish community laud for being
a moderating voice on that area's Human Rela-
IN FOCUS
tions Commission, a closet supporter of terror-
ism? The 38-year-old director of the Muslim
Political Action Committee told this newspa-
per and others that "There is no excuse for ter-
rorism." His organization criticizes Hamas and
Hezbollah for acts of violence while praising
them for social service work.
The whole matter leaves a series of disturb-
ing questions, ones that cannot be answered in
the rush of decision-making. Why didn't
Gephardt's staff see this coming? Why isn't
there another Muslim American to take Al-
Marayati's place? Have Jewish groups met with
Al-Marayati to seek his explanation? Have they
met with other Arab-American groups in this
era of bridge-building to discuss their con-
cerns? Is there a new litmus test for being on
federal terrorism panels? Must one be pro-
Israel and never in any fashion have expressed
understanding of terrorism. (Every Arab leader
with whom the Israeli government negotiates
— bar none — would by ineligible.)
Let us be clear. We are not saying that Al-
Marayati is qualified to sit on an anti-terror-
ism committee. We simply do not have the
information to make that decision. And it's
highly unlikely that, without requesting elu-
cidation of past comments directly, Jewish
groups or Gephardt are in a position to do
much better.
Garden Of Mitzvahs
On behalf of Congregation Shir Tikvah, volunteer Dotty
Smith, above, picks lettuce for Yad Ezra clients. In honor of
Lag B'Omer, Janet Moses, synagogue education director, spear-
headed an effort to have students plant a flower and vegetable
garden at the Oak Park-based kosher food pantry. So far, let-
tuce, kale, kohlrabi and chives have been distributed to clients.
Tomatoes, radishes and beans are in the growing stages. Bar-
bara Hertz is master gardener on the project.
LETTERS
Northern Fronts
nd now Syria. The engine driving
Mideast peace making efforts has
rapidly shifted from the shoulder
ramp to the fast lane.
It's happening so quickly that we want to
make sure that the speed doesn't kill. We
applaud the efforts of Prime Minister Ehud
Barak to reach out to Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah as
well as Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
Arafat. In Israel itself, as another confidence-
building measure with Israeli Arabs and Arab
neighbors, four non-Jewish lawmakers were
appointed to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee, the first time such doors
have been opened to Arab and Druze legisla-
tors.
And credible news sources out of Damascus
say that President Assad's government is lean-
ing on Palestinian opposition groups to cease
their fire against Israel, and change the focus
to social programs to better improve the lives
of the people. The proof of that is yet to be
seen.
All of this in a matter of days. Is this the
same Middle East that two months ago every-
one said was on the brink of war?
Proponents of global economies have often
said that for the Arab countries to keep up
with the economy of Israel, they must make
peace with both Israel and the United States.
Perhaps we're seeing the beginnings of the
peace needed for the regionalization of the
Middle East economy.
Perhaps the killing, the destruction, is about
to finally end.
But perhaps we're also deluding ourselves.
With the exception of Yitzhak Rabin, we
haven't been this far down the road of peace
before.
It feels good, but we keep waiting for a
mine to explode or a setback to occur. Indeed,
the last time the peace process was in full
swing, horrifying terrorism quickly followed.
We urge that all sides in this effort allow for
setbacks and use responsible caution as the
process moves ahead. Also, we urge the Clin-
ton Administration to fulfill its role as Israel's
partner in peace, not as its mentor.
Prime Minister Barak seems more than will-
ing to take the lead in this effort. Let's let him
be the leader among leaders. And hopefully,
this time, respect and empowerment will mean
peace.
Hate Groups
Lessen Us
I am a front-line decorated
combat Marine. There are not
WO many of us around these
days; in fact, our numbers get
smaller with each passing
year. You might even say we
are a minority group.
I served my country during
the Korean War with the First
Marine Division, and I served
with every ethnic and minori-
ty group possible. These were
my brothers-in-arms. My life
depended on them as their
lives depended on me. Never
once did we let each other
down. Never once did I con-
sider their ethnic heritage or
their skin color or their reli-
gious beliefs. I was just darn
glad that they were there for
me when I needed them, and
not once did they let me
down.
Having said that, I now
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find myself disgusted and
offended by the various hate
groups ("Creating Hate," July
9) now in our country. My
loyalty is to my country, its
government and our people of
all races and religious beliefs,
excluding no one. This is
what we are all about. This is
what makes our country
great. We have the best from
every nation and we should
be proud.
It's the hate groups that
are out of line. Their think-
ing is bigoted and twisted. It
has no place here in the land
of the free and home of the
brave. Let's remember who
brought us through all these
past wars, making sure we
remained free. It was all of
us.
Let's reach out our hands
to one another and make our
country even greater.
Dave George
Troy
7/23
1999
Detroit Jewish News
27