World Briefs Ignorance Is Not Bliss New Palestinian guidebook ignores Jewish presence in historical Israel. NECHEMIAH MEYERS Israel Correspondent Rehovot, Israel ourists now streaming into Bethlehem, Jericho and other towns controlled by the Palestinian Authority are being handed a most extraordinary guidebook. Titled West Bank and Gaza Strip Palestine, it is prepared by peo- ple clearly guided by ideological considerations. That's because it manages to overlook the reality that Jews have had something to do with much of what has happened in this land during the past few thousands of years. T Orthodox Schools Double Enrollment New York (JTA) — Enrollment in non-Orthodox Jewish high schools in the United States doubled during the past decade, according to a new cen- sus by the New York-based Avi Chai Foundation. The census also reports that 80 per- cent of the current total of 185,000 day school students attend Orthodox institutions. It also finds that more day school students are choosing to remain through eighth grade and that the New York metropolitan area accounts for two-thirds of the nation's day school enrollment. JNF Owns Syrian Land Jerusalem (JTA) — The Jewish National Fund said it owns 19 square miles of land in Syria. JNF Chairman Shlomo Gravetz said Israeli officials should use the land as a bargaining chip so that Israel could retain portions of the Golan Heights as part of a peace deal with Syria. The land, purchased by Jews in the d 1/14 2000 26 For example, consider this passage from the book: "This small piece of land was involved in almost every event of importance in the history of the world. It has been influenced by many civilizations, from Pharonic Egypt down to the Moslem and Christian Arabs and the Israeli Jews of today. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans have all had an impact. Ruins of Canaanite temples, Byzantine monasteries and church- es, and Moslem mosques and minarets stand witness to this rich past." The text will seem rather puzzling to Bible-read- ing tourists. After all, they are well aware that long before there were "Israeli Jews", the ancestors of that people inhabited this land and, among other things, wrote the Hebrew Bible, built two Temples, numer- ous synagogues and thriving civilizations. But the authors of West Bank and Gaza Strip Palestine appar- ently didn't feel such details were worthy of mention. The matter is not trivial. The country's future will not be determined solely by military and eco- nomic factors; collective memory, what people remember about their past, will be no less decisive. In that last sphere, the Palestinians have a distinct advantage. For while Israelis have "new historians" who constantly question what they term "Zionist myths," our neighbors seem united in belief that both the past and future of this land is theirs. To them, Jews are for- eigners who, for lack of an alternative, must be tolerat- ed in the meantime. Of course, while that "meantime" continues, the Palestinians are anxious to have economic ties with the Israelis. In Jericho last week, for example, the casino had hundreds of Israeli cars parked outside and a nearby shopping center was crammed with free-spending Jerusalemites and Tel Avivians. Likewise, contributing to the Palestinian econo- my are the shekels earned by Arabs who work in the West Bank's Jewish settlements, even though the set- tlers — according to the aforementioned guidebook — are "thugs and criminals." While the Palestinian Authority seems to have dif- ficulty recognizing the history and current relation- ship between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs, at least part of the Palestinian economic world does not. That view is expressed by Hashem Ortani in the course "Palestinians in the 20th Century," which he is teaching at the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem under the auspices of the Hebrew University and the Center for the Study of Arab Society in Israel. Participants, drawn from the Israeli media and universities, have heard a great deal not only about the Palestinian economy, but also about the culture, politics, social services and religious life of Israel's neighbors. But what still needs to be heard from Palestinian political leaders is a straightforward statement that the Jews and their state have a rightful place in the Middle East. Such a proclamation would go a long way toward settling even the concerns of the many Israelis who still favor the promise this peace process offers. ❑ late 19th and early 20th centuries, was transferred to the JNF's possession after Israel was created. Holocaust Tops `Worst' List Rabbis Ban Internet Use New York (JTA) — The Holocaust defeated a 1917 British document that favored the creation of the Jewish state in Palestine as the worst idea of the millennium, according to an Internet poll. The Holocaust's overwhelming vic- tory in the MSNBC.com poll came after the Balfour Declaration had jumped to an early lead. "It's important to keep in mind that the Worst Ideas of the Millennium was intended to be a light-hearted survey," said the editor in chief of MSNBC, Merrill Brown. Jerusalem (JTA) — Rabbinical leaders of several fervently Orthodox groups in Israel recently banned their follow- ers from using the Internet. The rabbis cited access to pornog- raphy on the Internet as the reason for the ban. Weizman Denies He Will Resign Jerusalem (JTA) — Israeli President Ezer Weizman denied reports he intends to resign in the wake of the disclosure that he received nearly $500,000 from a French millionaire friend. Weizman told Israel Radio he was awaiting the conclusions of a probe by State Attorney Edna Arbel. Weizman has not denied receiving money from French businessman Edouard Seroussi, but said he did nothing illegal. Medical Relief Resolution Passed Miami (JTA) — A group representing women from more than 600 U.S. Reform temples is calling for a study of whether marijuana can provide relief for certain medical conditions. In a resolution passed at its 42nd biennial assembly in Orlando, Fla., Women of Reform Judaism also urged elected officials to support legislation to reclassify marijuana as a "prescribed controlled substance" so that it can be used for research and given to critically ill patients. Sweden Probes Nazi Links New York (JTA) — Sweden's prime minister vowed to investigate his coun- try's wartime links to Nazi Germany. Goran Persson's promise came after a television documentary revealed that at least 260 Swedes were members of Hider's SS. Five of the nation's political parties have called for a probe to uncover neutral Sweden's ties with Nazi Germany before the country hosts an international conference on the Holocaust on Jan. 26-28 in Stockholm. Israel Rejects Refugees' Return Jerusalem (JTA) — Israel rejected a Palestinian demand that the Jewish state permit the return of millions of Palestinian refugees and compensate them for their lost property and suf- fering. The exchange took place during the latest round of final-status talks, held in the West Bank town of Ramallah.