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LETTERS
Letters are posted
and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com
Here In America,
Let's Buy Israel
As we contemplate the challenges
that Israel faces ("Dim Prospects,"
March 22, page 14), we each must
look as individuals, introspectively, as
to what we can do to help. I, and
many others, believe that strengthen-
ing Israel's economy is vital to meet-
ing the challenges of these difficult
times. • Here in the diaspora, there are
many things we can do to help.
I have just moved into a new med-
ical office and building that my
brother, Jonathan, and I built in
Novi. We ordered a Telrad phone sys-
tem, our second such purchase in the
last few years, as our primary phone
system for both of our offices. This
system is made in Israel. Purchases of
systems such as these give employ-
ment to those in the electronics and
high-tech communications industries.
All the art in the office was pur-
chased in Israel during my last trip.
We have also ordered plastic shelving
for storage and some medical equip-
ment, also made in Israel. Sterilizers,
such as the Tuttnauer autoclaves,
could be used in both doctors and
dental offices, and are made in a sub-
urb of Jerusalem. It is surprising how
much other superior-quality medical
equipment is also made in Israel and
distributed in the United States.
We should also support those in
the community who sell Israeli prod-
ucts, such as all the Jewish book-
stores.
For those in the auto industry, the
Israeli high-tech robotics, and other
computer and electronic industries,
have representation in this area with
sales staff and service that represents
the pride of Israeli export. We should
do our best to support these indus-
tries.
All of these purchases help the
Israeli economy by providing jobs
that strengthen the socioeconomic
fabric of the nation. With unemploy-
ment at 10 percent, this is vital in
keeping the country strong.
All of these suggestions cut
through all of the religious and polit-
ical labels so that one can feel corn-
fortable about these purchases trick-
ling down to help all facets of Israeli
society.
Here in the United States, the
Israelis are not asking us to enlist in
the army, serve in the reserves or even
pay any taxes. All Israel wants is sup-
port, and by buying Israeli products,
we can help strengthen the nation
economically and help increase
morale by improving employment.
My prescription is to buy Blue &
White to keep Israel in the Pink.
Dr. Robert K. Brateman
Novi
Another Day
Of Infamy
March 13 will be long remem-
bered by Israel. That is when the
United States presented a resolution
to the United Nations Security
Council ("Resolution Seeks
Palestinian State," March 15, page
30).
Previously, the U.S. would have
vetoed the same resolution had any
other nation presented it to the
Security Council. Now, it was the
U.S. that declared that the
Palestinian state should be formally
recognized by all the nations.
The Security Council passed the
resolution by a vote of 14 in favor
and one abstention. The Syrians
abstained because the resolution did
not specifically address the issue of
the Golan Heights.
With official recognition of the
state of Palestine, what precludes the
Palestinian Authority from declaring
that the state exists and its own ver-
sion of the borders of that state?
These borders would include, within
the state, all of the so-called "Israeli
occupied" territories: Judea, Samaria,
eastern Jerusalem, the Old City and
Gaza.
The Israelis living in these territo-
ries would be persona non grata and
subject to expulsion, making these
lands free of all Jews. The barbed
wire and gun emplacements that
existed in dividing Jerusalem would
again be established. Jews would not
be allowed into the Old City to pray
at the Kotel.
As before, when Jordan occupied
the Old City, all synagogues and reli-
gious buildings would be destroyed
or converted into Muslim sites.
As a state, the Palestinians would
have full right to ally themselves with
any other Arab nation. They would
be able to bring into their country
masses of other Arabs with military
equipment for the ultimate battle to
enforce their "right" to all of the pre-
vious Palestine mandated lands.
They would be able to prepare for
the liberation of "their lands" from
the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan.
The Syrians would most likely
then prepare for all-out war in the
Golan Heights and the drive to
Tiberias, Haifa and Acre, coupled
with an attack into the Galilee from
Lebanon.
The Arab nations siding with the
new Palestinian state have 1.51 times
more land than the United States
and 675.76 times more land than
Israel. They have a population
almost equal to the United States
and 61.31 times more population
than Israel.
It should, therefore, be quite obvi-
ous to those siding with these
nations and the Palestinians that the
Arabs need more land and Israel is in
the way.
The U.S. resolution will not lead
to peace and an end to the blood-
shed in Israel. Rather, it will give
great encouragement to the Arabs to
move to eliminate Israel in an all-out
war against Israel.
Wr.
,
,
:* * *ttitaP.:4*
Dr. Wilbert Simkovitz
Clawson
Cap Sp Gown Rules'
line have changed the
rules from previous
years! The Jewish News on
May 10 would like to honor
all Michigan high school
graduating seniors who are
Jewish and have a four-year
cumulative grade point aver-
age of 3.60 or higher on a 4.0
scale (or 4.0 and higher for
schools using 4.5 as their top
grade).
In previous years, the num-
ber of submissions from each
school was limited.
To be included in our Cap
& Gown section,
go to our Web site
detroitjevvishnews.com to
obtain submission guidelines.
Deadline for applications is
April 19.
271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
— Alan Hitsky,
associate editor
3/29
2002
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