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Settlements:
Sticking Point
Thank you for publishing the op-ed
column "The End Game" by Hannan
Lis (Nov. 28, page 34).
In a perfect world, Israelis could
build and live anywhere in the West
Bank or Gaza area. Unfortunately, we
don't live in such a world. As has been
pointed out many times, time and
demographics are working against
Israel and its people.
While we all want to see a peaceful
and prosperous Israel, we must look at
the facts. Rightly or wrongly, the
world, except for America and Turkey,
is strongly siding with the
Palestinians. This is particularly true
not only in Arab and-or Muslim
countries, but also in Europe, South
America and non-Muslim Africa.
Muslims currently outnumber Jews
150-1 worldwide — a margin that
will only increase. In today's global
world, this is very critical. Soon, there
will be more Arabs (including
Palestinians) in Israel, including the
West Bank and Gaza, than Jews.
Soon, Iran is likely to have nuclear
weapons.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
reminds us that Israel is slowly dis-
mantling illegal settlements, but more
are being added at the same time.
Of course, Palestinian violence must
stop; but Israel gives the Palestinians
excuses by its policies, including set-
tlements. Ultimately, as former Prime
Minister Ehud Barak said three years
ago, the peace that will be finally
reached will be the same peace that
could have been reached with the
same terms in 2000.
Tragically, Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat cannot grow in stature as did
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat,
Jordan's King Hussein or Israel's
Menachem Begin and Yitzchak Rabin,
yet this miserable situation must be
changed. Israel should eliminate all
illegal settlements and stop building
new ones as a first step.
Harvey Bronstein
Southfield
Peace Process
Discussion Needed
I would like to commend Hannan Lis
for his outstanding Community Views
article ("The End Game," Nov. 28, page
34). He managed to express in a very
calm, rational way the great dilemma
that Israel and world Jewry faces.
12/ 5
2003
6
One of the key points he confronts
honestly is that Israel must recognize its
responsibility vis-a-vis its Palestinian
population, despite the heinous attacks
of terrorism perpetrated by some.
As a fervent supporter of Israel, I still
feel that Israel has frequently shown dis-
dain for world opinion and true democ-
racy. The arguable location of the "wall,"
the further expansion of the settlements
in the face of U.S. requests to halt them,
the entrenched position of the Sharon
government — these are just some of
the examples of Israel's intransigence.
Israel's only true friend seems to be
the United States; and here we Jews are
reveling in the support of such question-
able "friends" as Rush Limbaugh, Jerry
Falwell, Tom DeLay, Gary Bauer, 011ie
North, etc., all of whom may not be so
supportive in the future when things
may get worse.
One almost gets the sickening impres-
sion that Arab terrorism plays into the
hands of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, since it is an excuse for not dis-
mantling the settlements — as if he ever
really intended to do that.
I believe that Sharon has been leading
Israel into a suicidal dead-end street,
with passions on both sides heating up
to an even bloodier conflict.
It is my fervent hope that Hannan Lis
will be listened to, for the present wave
of worldwide anti-Semitism bodes ill for
all of us Jews, and some of it may be our
own fault.
Eric Bilks
West Bloomfield
A Connection
To Remember
I have returned from co-chairing a
Women's Exchange with Detroit
Jewry's Partnership 2000 Region in
Israel. While exploring women's
issues, we developed leadership and
built relationships involving eight
Michigan women and eight women
from the Central Galilee.
I see our entire mission like a
patchwork quilt made up of each of
the great experiences that packed six
days, Nov. 2-8: the colors of the
Israeli flag flying, the smells of the
tea and herb market, the spectacular
views of the green Jezreel Valley, the
clear blue skies that spread out before
us, and the black of night with the
city lights of Nazareth Illit and
Migdal HaEmek.
As I looked at my photos, I could
see the faces of the children touched
by the PACT Program in Natanya,
the expressive hand gestures and the
beautiful face of the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee repre-
sentative who made aliyah from
South Africa, Israel Ne'eman's com-
pelling dialogue about the Palestinian
intifada (uprising), America's press
coverage and the lack of good PR for
Israel, Kibbutz Harduff's program to
involve people with special needs and
what they were accomplishing, the
hospice program that is now a model
for all of Israel, and the after-school
Excellence in Music Program and
what this offers children of the
region.
The thing that stitched all of these
pieces together, and colorfully bound
these images in my mind, were the
women of our mission: Israeli and
American, That our Israeli partners
gave so much of their personal time
to share with us their community
and the programs that meant so
much to them was a great gift to all
of us.
We didn't just put a face on the
country, we put a face on our own
community — and we will forever be
connected. The best part is that we
are on a continued journey.
It's a mitzvah to go to Israel and a
responsibility to share and educate
people about Michigan's commit-
ment to Partnership 2000 and the
people of the Central Galilee.
Everyone who goes to Israel on a
mission is forever changed. The
friendships you make and the memo-
ries you share last forever and bond
you with your community.
Nancy Glass
West Bloomfield
Mission goers(bottom row) Julie
Zuckerman (Israel Overseas professional
from Federation), Nancy Glass, Lisa
Weiss; (middle row) Karen Reiflen Lisa
Scheiman, Gina Horwitz; (top row)
Kim Gladstone, Lori Davidson (co-
chair), Abbe Sherbin.
Please Help
Rebuild Museum
I am the student rabbi in Terre
Haute, Ind., for my second year. On
Nov. 17, arsonists destroyed the
Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute,
and it has greatly affected the corn-
munity there ("Few Clues," Nov.
28, page 31).
The inside of the building was
destroyed, and it has been deter-
mined that some sort of accelerant
was used to set the fire. The shell of
the building remains with the words
"Remember Timothy McVeigh"
painted on the side.
Local authorities as well as the
FBI are involved in the investiga-
tion. This has been classified as a
hate crime. The Chicago branch of
the Anti-Defamation League has
announced a $2,500 reward for any
information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the perpetrators.
This museum, the concept and
life's work of my congregant Eva
Kor, was the only museum of its
kind in Indiana. It served primarily
as an institution geared towards
children from Illinois and Indiana,
to educate them on the horrors of
the Holocaust, specifically, the chil-
dren who survived this ordeal. Eva,
herself, is a survivor of Auschwitz.
She and her twin sister, Miriam,
were the only two survivors in her
entire family. Sadly, they were two
of "Mengele's Twins," who were
brutally experimented upon in the
death camp.
The community of Terre Haute
has come together in an incredible
way. Particularly supportive has
been the Christian community,
whose clergy have organized all sorts
of public displays of support.
Please ask your congregations,
tikkun olam committees, etc., to ear-
mark some of their tzedakah collec-
tions to help in this effort. Many of
the artifacts that were lost were irre-
placeable. It will take significant
resources to rebuild.
Leah Herz
Terre Haute
Donations may be sent to CANDLES
Holocaust Museum, 1532 S. Third,
Terre Haute, IN 47802