This Week
Post-Iraq Period
State Department o
miss
connecting to local interest groups.
HONORARY
CHAIRPERSONS:
PENN\ & HAROLD
BLIMENSTEIN
IUD\ & MARK GOLDSMITH
EVENT
CHAIRPERSONS:
GAIT. ELKUS
N.-ANC\ WINER
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RAE SHARE:MAN
Yom Yerushalayim
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Southfield, Michigan
U.S. State Department pro-
gram touted as a "foreign-
policy town hall meeting" on
May 6 attracted few repre-
sentatives from foreign policy support
constituencies like American Israel
Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC),
the Arab community or other metro-
area ethnic communities.
Keynote speaker Patricia Harrison,
assistant U.S. secretary of state, and
other State Department officials pres-
ent didn't meet with leaders of local
citizen groups interested in U.S. for-
eign policy during their visit to metro
Detroit. A State Department official
told the Jewish News the meeting was
put together quickly in the aftermath
of the Iraq war and that the invitation
list should have been longer.
Sponsoring organizations for the
afternoon program included the
Detroit Council for World Affairs, the
International Visitors Center of
Detroit, the Michigan Municipal
League and the Southeast Michigan
chapter of the Fulbright Association.
While State Department panelists
described U.S. Middle East policy in the
post-Iraq war period as one of "making
more friends in that region," Deputy
Spokesman Philip T. Reeker zeroed in
on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. He
assured the audience of about 100 that
President George W. Bush will be fully
"engaged" in the latest peace effort.
While the program focused mainly
on the reconstruction of Iraq,
described by State Department offi-
cials as fitting into a U.S. strategy of
"defense (the war), diplomacy and
development," the Israel-Palestinian
conflict came up as a secondary topic.
Reeker called the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict "vexing" and said the presi-
dent's road map would try to "work
around problems" that existed in the
Oslo process of the 1990s. He used
Jordan's Princess Rania's words in
describing conditions in the region —
"a hope gap" — but expressed tentative
confidence in recently confirmed
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas and his newly appointed cabinet.
He said Abbas' charge is "to repre-
sent the interests of the Palestinian
people," intimating that previous
Palestinian leadership had not done so.
But he had reservations as he noted
that "leadership can fail," using Yasser
Arafat as an example.
Reeker called on the Palestinians to
"end violence," but also asked Israel to
"ease the situation" of the Palestinians
by doing such things as restoring
employee taxes owed to them. He also
called for an end to what he described
as "settlement activity." Reeker noted
that Secretary of State Colin Powell
would be meeting directly with the
region's leaders.
A couple of questioners at the forum
took an anti-Israel posture, speaking
against AIPAC's Washington lobbying,
asking for Israel to end its alleged
nuclear program and stating that U.S.
support for Israel reverses good will built
up by other U.S. efforts in the region.
❑
— Jewish News staff report
BERG
SONDR• BEI:LEV
El ()RINE MARK-ROSS
DR. RALPH CASH
Strolling Dinner
6:30 p.m.
DR. MARK I . MUM
DR.. SENMOUR GRETCHKO'
IRENE' PHIL Et KUS
GINA S.:: ARVIIUR HORWITZ
II ENE & PAVEL) TECHNER
Program
8:00 p.m.
For reservations or information,
please call the ALYN hotline:
248-559-ALYN (2596)
5/16
2003
26
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Final Bow
Accomplishments include his input
into the sale and redevelopment of the
former Stouffer's hotel at Northland,
1 onathan Brateman announced
the city's acquisition of Carpenter
this week that he would not
Lake Park, the creation of
seek re-election to the
the Southfield City
Southfield City Council. Brateman,
Complex baseball diamond,
a 19-year resident of the city, elect-
the sale of the Center for the
ed to a full four-year term in
Arts and the Franklin Road
November 1999, says he has grown
improvements.
from the experience but explains
He says he is proud to have
Brateman
that professional considerations
heightened sensitivity at City
require more of his time.
Hall to the needs of the traditional
In addition to the four years of his
Jewish community as well. Programs
council term, Brateman also had
now offer kosher food, take into account
served as a Zoning Board of Appeals
Shabbat and holiday observance, and
member for four years.
meet special security needs. 111
3