This Week

Debacle At Durban

Advocating For Israel

Federation's Israel Solidarity Initiative mobilizes
Detroit resources and support in response to crisis in Israel.

Another component will be to continue to
advocate for Israel in the general community.
Already several meetings urging fairness toward
Middle East coverage have taken place with the
IINT hen Detroiters go to Israel Sept. 9-
Detroit
Free Press and the Detroit News.
14 on the IsraelNow Solidarity
"After
our meetings, we did track a difference
Mission, they will gather signa-
in the way they are reporting," Zousmer says.
tures from Israelis in the Central
To strengthen the Israel advocacy component,
Galilee on a banner that will then be carried by
Federation has funded a special six-month staff
Detroiters at a national rally for Israel in New
position. Don Cohen will coordinate the various
York City, Sunday, Sept. 23.
advocacy programs. Formerly the director of the
"Israel is in a time of great crisis," says
Anti-Defamation
League/Michigan Region and
Lawrence Jackier, incoming president of the
of
the
Dayton
(Ohio)
Jewish Community
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Relations
Council,
Cohen
will work with Gale of
"Unfortunately, it's facing issues that many, many
the
JCCouncil.
Cohen
will
focus on a number of
people ... thought we'd never have to face again."
areas that include strengthening college campus
Simultaneous rallies will be held around this
advocacy efforts, coordinating Detroit's delega-
country and in Paris, London, Buenos Aires,
tion to the solidarity rally, assisting in updating
Moscow and Jerusalem, says Gail Hyman of
the Council's Web site and offering outreach to
United Jewish Communities, rally sponsor and a
those returning from Birthright Israel trips.
New York City-based umbrella organization for
One of his first responsibilities is organiz-
Jewish federations in North America.
ing
the 18 college students from area Hillels
"There are already signals this will be an
sponsored
by the JCCouncil to participate
enormous success," Hyman says.
in the New York City rally. The Council,
Philadelphia is sending 106 buses to the
along with Federation, Cohen adds, is also
rally, Chicago, two planes; a 17-bus cara-
partially underwriting two buses transport-
van is heading for the rally from
ing more students from local Hillel groups
Cleveland; and an 18-car train from
to the rally.
hen
Don
Co
Washington, D.C.
Another 15-person delegation will
"We see this rally as an embarkation
accompany
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of Sara
point, as people carry the message of support for
Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in West
Israel back home and continue to solidify soli-
Bloomfield. The rabbi has a few more discount
darity locally," Hyman says.
roundtrip plane tickets ($171) available.
In Detroit, the Federation and Jewish
His group also will pray at the gravesite of the
Community Council are stepping up support for
Lubavitcher
Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel
Israel by launching the Israel Solidarity Initiative.
Schneerson
before
attending the rally.
'This initiative mobilizes the Jewish community to
Also
in
solidarity
with Israel, the Federation
advocate on Israel's behalf," says JCCouncil president
plans to direct more money to Israel through the
Ann Zousmer, co-chair with Jackier of the initiative.
annual campaign 2002 effort. A challenge grant
"Our objective is to keep Israel at the top of our
provided by Madge and Bill Berman and David
minds," says Mark Davidoff, Federation's executive
Handleman will aid children, families and other
director and chief operating officer.
vulnerable populations in Israel.
"This is a defining moment for us as a com-
"It's time for every member of the community
munity and as a people," says Penny
to
step forward and continue to pull together,"
Blumenstein, outgoing Federation President.
adds
Davidoff
An educational component of the initiative
will be a speakers' bureau. Speakers will give
updates on the Middle East situation, advocate
on Israel's behalf and encourage individuals as
The Federation will simulcast the New
well as groups to find ways to support Israel,
York City rally, which starts at 1 p.m. Sept.
says Allan Gale, JCCouncil assistant director.
23. Gather at 12:30 p.m. at the Max M.
"I sense a discomfort in our community about
Fisher Federation Building, 6735
the events in Israel," says Zousmer, "and this initia-
Telegraph, Bloomfield Township. For infor-
tive is to educate us to have a sense of solidarity."
mation on where to meet at the rally, call
The initiative also will target college students
Don Cohen, (248) 642-5393. The UJC
by educating them about Israel and giving them
Web site: www.ujc.org
responses to questions that may arise on campus.

SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffWriter

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9/7

2001

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Bleak Outlook

Israeli terrorism experts
view prospects for peace.

HARRY KIRSBAUM

Staff Writer

T

hey both paint a bleak picture of peace in the
Middle East. One looks at the damage done to
those involved in terrorist bombings, the other at
future terrorism scenarios.
Alan Cohen, a psychologist at the Community Stress
Prevention Center at Tel-Hai College in Kiryat Shmona,
and Boaz Ganor, director of the International Policy
Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary
Center in Herziliya, stopped in Detroit while on a U.S.
speaking tour sponsored by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Cohen's outlook is perhaps brighter because he's helping
people cope. Tel-Hai'S center
handles community-based stress
intervention, including post-
traumadc stress in individuals or
groups, and helps people return
to normalcy after a critical event.
"We have mined personnel in
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in an
emergency intervention approach.
We are in contact with the profes- Alan Cohen
sionals to ensure that they them-
selves don't suffer the untoward
consequences of extreme stress,"
he said, citing counseling, giving,
practical advice, relaxation meth-
ods and breathing techniques
used at the center.
What started out as an opti-
mistic outlook when peace was
possible turned into a breach of
trust when Israelis witnessed the
failure of Camp David and the start of the uprising, he
said Even more upsetting -- psychologically --- was the
reaction of the Israeli Arabs, their neighbors, also joining
in the uprising.

More Through Violence

Ganor, who advises the Israeli and other governments on
how to counter terrorism, addressed reasons behind the esca-
lating violence. He said blame should not rest solely on
Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat, but also on Israel.
"The Israeli government educated Arafat through the
years that by the use of violence, they can get more than
what they can get through negotiation," he said The lesson
began in 1994, when the Palestinia.n Authority was created.
"The [late Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin government
said, We are going to fight terrorism as though there is no
peace process, and we are going to go on with the peace
process as if there is no terrorism.' It sounds very good,
but it doesn't work," Ganor said.
Even the hawkish Binyarnin Netanyahu, former prime
minister, fell into the trap, he said.
"After Israel opened the Kotel, we suffered the death of
19 IDF soldiers in one week," said Ganor. "When
Netanyahu decided to withdraw from Hebron, the message