Maccabiah
Games
Will Go On
With Fewer
Athletes

GIL SEDAN
Jewish telegraphic Agency

diplomatic dialogue. Annan,
Aviv, he realized Israel had
Relatives and friends mourn over
who visited the Middle East this the body of Doron Ziserman during
reached the end of its tether and
week, said the United States,
was about to respond with mas-
his funeral in the West Bank Jewish
European Union, Russia and
sive force, perhaps toppling the
settlement of Einav, June 19.
other world powers are united
Palestinian Authority itself.
Ziserman was killed Monday
behind the. cease-fire.
Skeptics, however, believe Arafat
by Palestinian militiamen who
This is noteworthy in a con-
is not motivated even by this level
opened fire on his car near Einay.
flict that for decades put super-
of self-preservation but merely
powers and other nations at odds
chose the cease-fire as a tactical
as they sought to wield influence in the region.
step until international attention moves from the
According to another view of the situation,
Middle East to other issues. Under this scenario,
Sharon's restraint is born of his desire to maintain
Arafat then will ratchet up the violence little by little,
the close relationship he has forged with the young
gradually undermining the cease-fire without openly
Bush administration, which clearly would like the
repudiating it.
cease-fire to take hold.
Arafat told reporters this week that he had given
According to this view, Sharon will continue to
strict orders to prevent attacks on Israelis, adding
grit his teeth and rein in the IDF — at least until
that Palestinians "do not commit acts of violence."
after his visit to the United States next week.
If Palestinian "pacifism" continues at this pace,
Arafat's motives are similarly opaque. Charitable
however, observers say a violent Israeli retaliation is
souls say that after the June 1 disco bombing in Tel
inevitable.

❑

tent to reflect the current situation in Israel,"
Kaufman said.
"We felt to do nothing [to the itinerary], to con-
tinue 'business as usual,' would be an abdication of
our responsibility. One guy in the Israeli office said,
`To come here now and not address these issues [is
wrong]. You may as well go to Disney Land.'"
The main mission will include meetings with
Israeli decision-makers and politicians, historians and
journalists. A focus will also be placed on meeting
everyday Israelis, such as young soldiers patrolling
Israel's borders and possibly young adults who live in
Detroit's Partnership 2000 region.

Special Precautions

The trip also has been modified to address security
concerns, and Kaufman noted, "We are taking secu-
rity precautions that aren't part of a normal mission."
Kaufman acknowledges that some may not feel
comfortable making the trip at this time. "I struggle

with the idea of going just to make a statement," he
admitted.
"[But when] I was there in January, we were at a
bar in Jerusalem. When the bill came, we saw that
the owner gave us some of our drinks for free. When
we asked why, he said 'Morale is down and while
we'll be all right, it's good to know that when times
are tough you have family.' That type of experience
happened again and again all across Israel. There was
a sense of unity."
Despite the concerns, Kaufman said, "It's a fun
trip. Going is an individual decision, but I'd say if
you decide to go, it's a good decision. It will be an
incredibly moving experience. You're clearly doing a
mitzvah by going."
Some 35 participants are registered for the trip;
organizers hope to add more names to the list in the
next few days. While they don't expect to reach the
all-time high of 148 travelers last summer, they have
already matched numbers of four years ago when the
mission was still new in Detroit.

J erusalem
he 16th Maccabiah Games will start July
16, following a decision by the American
team to participate, despite Palestinian vio-
lence in Israel.
The organizers of the quadrennial games had
been prepared to cancel then . ), but reversed
ground after the U.S. team said it was coming
and delegations from South Africa, Canada,
Australia and Britain agreed.
In all, just 2,000 athletes are expected to com-
pete, down from the 5,000 who registered.
Given the expected turnout, it is possible that
the games will be cut from 10 days to seven or
eight.
The question of whether the games would be
held followed the recent announcement by the
U.S. Reform movement that it is canceling its
summer youth trips this year in Israel.
Both developments drew the ire of Israeli offi-
cials, who feel that especially now — when
Israelis feel they are under siege from Palestinian
terror attacks and international criticism --
world Jewry should make good on its frequent
protestations of uni t J
Government of&
ion to proceedwl
- , ture
4647.

❑

6/22
2001

