az
M
ANA;
nk
Insight
Remember
When • • •
Ideas & Issues
Insiders' Perspective
Israeli government officials talk of Arab summit and Israel security
during local stopover.
0
n a whirlwind two-day visit
last week, representatives of
the Chicago-based Midwest
Consulate General of Israel
paid a visit to the Southfield offices of
the Detroit Jewish News. The Chicago
region includes Detroit.
In a Sept. 8 conversation with
Editor Robert A. Sklar, Staff Writer
Sharon Luckerman and Israel consult-
ant Don Cohen, Deputy Consul
David Roet and Sagit Kaufman, direc-
tor of public affairs, touched on a
range of issues, including
the upcoming U.S.-Arab
Economic Forum in
Detroit, Israel security and
the prospects for Mideast
peace.
Roet joined the Midwest
office in 1999, after spend-
ing seven years on staff at
the Israeli Embassy in
Seoul. Kaufman, an Israeli
lawyer who specializes in
intellectual property and
anti-trust law, is a former
assistant professor of law at
the Interdisciplinary
Center Herzliya. She
joined the consulate gener-
al staff in July.
An edited transcript of their inter-
view at the Jewish News follows:
On the dearth of Israeli studies
chairs on U.S. campuses:
Roet: There are chairs in Middle East
studies and you know what their lean-
ings become. Compared to students,
my knowledge is wider and my expe-
rience is wider. But it's very, very dif-
ficult for me to stand up when
accused of being a child killer because
I support Israel. If it's difficult for me,
it's certainly difficult for Jewish stu-
dents who have not grown up in
Israel and who unfortunately don't
know its history. Also, they don't have
the passion of their parents or grand-
parents toward Israel.
One cannot deny that most of the
time, college students are in a reaction
mode instead of being proactive in
their support of Israel.
part in the Middle East as an equal
partner.
On the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum
coming to Detroit Sept. 28-30:
Roet: Israelis should be working to
promote economic ties with Arab
countries, whether it's with the Gulf
states, Egypt or Jordan. We see no
negative part at all actually. There has
been an Arab boycott of Israeli prod-
ucts, not an Israeli boycott of Arab
products.
On the value for U.S. support of
Israeli
Roet: For us, and for the Palestinians
unfortunately, the support we get here
in the United States is crucial. The
fight on the ground in the Middle
East might be less important for the
Palestinians than the fight for public
opinion. So we appreciate the support
we receive from the Jewish communi-
ty and from Jewish organiza-
tions here.
People say you judge
Israel's strength by its econo-
my, the number of planes,
how many tanks. But for us,
how strong the ties are
between us and the U.S. is
also how we evaluate our
strength. Support of Israel
among many in Michigan's
congressional delegation is
bipartisan and true; and we
appreciate it.
On Israel's security fence:
Israeli envoys David Roet and Sagit
Kaufman at the JN offices
We saw some encouragement in the
fact that this is an economic summit,
which is for things, not against other
things. We hope this is the way it's
going to be. We hope this summit will
not be used against Israel. As I under-
stand it, Israelis can participate, but
only as individuals.
I think the summit would have
been, of course, much more produc-
tive to have a final goal of building
political and economic ties with Israel
— and have Israel as a natural partner.
That goal should lessen the worries of
those who believe Israel wants to be
an economic imperialist in the area.
Israel's natural partners for the foresee-
able future are Europe and the United
States. But we would want to play a
Kaufman: It's very impor-
tant to understand Israel is
doing the best that it can to
try to provide Palestinians with an
ordinary way of life — keeping them
working the lands, keeping them
doing the same things as before, but
also to try to prevent any terror
attacks in Israel. We have to be alert
for that. You cannot negotiate while
there are terror attacks.
The other thing, it is important to
emphasis the route and structure of
the fence. Sometimes, I hear the
"Apartheid Wall" or the "Berlin Wall."
If you really understand the fence, you
know this is false. Ninety-four percent
is a fence complete with sensors. Only
6 percent is built with concrete in
places you have to protect Israeli citi-
zens from gunshots from snipers.
People cannot cross the fence if they
are not allowed. There are many gates
in the fence, which can allow people,
INSIDERS' PERSPECTTVE on page 34
From the pages of the Jewish News
from this week 10, 20, 30, 40, 50
and 60 years ago.
History is made as Israeli Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO
Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the
Declaration of Principles peace
treaty while President Bill Clinton,
Secretary of State Warren
Christopher and 3,000 guests
look on.
AikatalANVW".‘"..,
:JVVX
4
,
The guest speaker at Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit's
25th anniversary will be Rabbi
Mayer E. Rabinowitz, dean of the
graduate school at the Jewish
Theological Seminary of America.
East Lansing's Congregation
Kehillat Israel, which relies upon
clergy from other cities, will have
Cantor Herbert Nadler of New
York lead High Holiday services
this year.
taw
s
The European Union of Jewish
Congregations approves creation of
a bet din (Jewish religious court) for
Europe.
A postcard exhibit of U.S. syna-
gogues, arranged by David Brosky
of Port Huron, opens at the Jewish
Community Center in Detroit.
vostirvkww,
Former U.S. Vice President Alben
W. Barkley will speak during
Sukkot at Adas Shalom Synagogue
in Detroit on "Israel — Its Present
and Future."
‘awsAtts.vN;:.."'NwNN,Tzs:,..
Albert K. Epstein, noted inventor
and chemist, speaks to stockholders
of the American Palestine Trading
Corp. and the Palestine Workers'
Bank at the Detroit-Leland Hotel.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Detroit opens daily Hebrew School
for ages 6-14.
— Compiled by Holly Teasdle,
archivist, the Rabbi Leo M Franklin
Archives of Temple Beth El
9/19
2003
33