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Undiplomatic Behavior

Israeli consul general in Atlanta may be
recalled over Iraqi friend.

While no suggestion has been made
that classified information fell into the
wrong hands, ministry sources said a full
investigation has not yet been concluded.
Atlanta
In a Jan. 16 interview with the
he Israeli consul general for
Atlanta Jewish Times, Jacob Rosen, a
the Southeast region of the
52-year-old career diplomat who was
United States will likely be
posted to Atlanta last August, scoffed
recalled for allegedly allow-
at what he called "rumors."
ing an Iraqi friend to live with him.
"I've been in Arab countries
While no decision has
for years,". Rosen said. "What
been announced yet, Israeli
do you expect, that I- don't
diplomats close to the situa-
have Arab friends? I've been a
tion said they expect Jacob
civil servant for 27 years.
Rosen to be "removed gen-
What am I, crazy enough to
tly" from his Atlanta-based
do something wrong?"
post sometime this summer.
He faulted the Israeli
Over the past few weeks,
media for disclosing the mat-
Rosen had been under inves-
ter, saying, "It's a shame
tigation for allegedly allow-
some bad guy had to write
ing Hisham Bahalul, 29, an
Jacob Ros en
this — after my wife just
Iraqi friend he met during
had
cancer. I'm not a private
his six-year posting in
man,
but
a
public.figure.
So if some-
Jordan, to live with him and his family
one wants to write about me, it's their
"for months" in the official residence
right. But let the investigation be done
of the consul general in Atlanta.
and you'll see then."
According to . sources in the Israeli
Foreign Ministry, Bahalul, who for
years has been an art teacher to Jacob's
Disturbing Remarks
wife, Annette, was also given use of
Rosen has maintained a fairly low pro-
the consul general's car.
file since coming to Atlanta, appearing
Both are violations of Israeli con-
at some official and Jewish community
sular codes.
events. He has not been visible in the
Because the Jewish state is technical-
media during the recent months of
ly still at war with Iraq, Israeli govern-
Israeli-Palestinian violence, drawing
ment officials are forbidden to have
criticism from a number of Jewish
personal relationships with Iraqi
community leaders.
nationals, though they are allowed to
Also, some of Rosen's remarks at com-
have official contacts under certain cir-
munity
meetings, particularly what some
cumstances.
saw as his promotion of Arab culture
Jacob Schreiber is editor of our sister
and dismissive comments about his own
paper, the Atlanta Jewish Times.
government, disturbed some listeners.

JACOB SCHREIBER
Jewih Renaissance Media

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Corrections

• The captions accompanying three
photos of "Showing Solidarity" on Jan.
19 (page 26) were wrong. In photo
above left, Eddy Barak of West
Bloomfield, serving challah ar the

Western Wall, is at right. Above cen-
ter, Jeff and Susan Levin of Ann Arbor
buy kippot in Jerusalem. Above right,
MK Ammon Lipkin-Shahak, minister
of tourism, addresses Michigan Unity
Mission to Israel participants.