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