LETTERS

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Security And Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
in the Hague, an agency of the United
Nations, ruled that the security fence
built by Israel in the West Bank is ille-
gal and should be torn down.
First, the ICJ is nothing but a debat-
ing society, like the U.N. It has no le
authority, and it is in no position to
"rule" on any matter that is in dispute
between two parties.
Second, the ICJ has shown itself to
be extremely biased and discriminatory
in all issues pertaining to Israel.
Third, it has proven to the Free
World that its judgment is myopic and
prejudiced in many matters.
For example, Israel is not the first •
nation in the world to build a security
fence:
• Saudi Arabia is building an $8 bil-
lion security fence around its border
with -Yemen to block the entry of smug-
glers and Al Qaida operatives.
• India plans a security fence to keep
terrorists from crossing its border from
Pakistan, near Kashmir.
• Botswana has erected an electrified
security fence along its border with
three other African nations to keep out
infiltration of refugees and hungry live-
stock.
In its deliberations, the ICJ made no
mention of these security fences or of
close to a thousand Israelis and foreign-
ers who have been murdered by
Palestinian homicide bombers in the
last 3 1/2 years.
When Palestinian refugees left their
homes in Israel, between 1947 and
1949, they did so voluntarily. Now the
•Palestinian terrorists are complaining
that Israel is standing in the way of
their freedom of movement and their
human rights. Israel wants only'to pro-
tect the lives of its citizens. What does
the International Court of Justice want?
It certainly isn't justice!
Rabbi Jack Goldman
West Bloomfield

Another Look At HMC

I found letter writer David Arm's recent
critique of the existing needs within the
Detroit Jewish community to be inter-
esting and meritorious ("A Different
Perspective," July 16, page 6).
However, his critical analysis of these
needs in reference to the new Holocaust
Memorial Center was misplaced.
Although the community may want a
fleishig (meat) kosher restaurant and
may need a Jewish library as well as
additional support for Jewish education,

7/23

2004

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it is not as a result of the new museum
that these priorities have not been met.
If Mr. Arm ever chooses to visit the
museum, he will discover the multi-
dimensional experience of the museum
is designed to provide an education
beyond events surrounding the Shoah.
The entire first section of the museum
presents and educates the viewer about
the history of pre-war Jewish culture
and life, while the third section focuses
on current and post-war Jewish themes.
The middle section, or approximately
one third of the museum, is dedicated
to giving a meaningful historical
account of the 6 million Jews lost.
In light of the recent International
Court of Justice ruling, it seems that
anti-Semitism is very much alive and
flourishing in Europe and that the les-
sons of the Holocaust have yet to be
learned by many Europeans.
If Mr. Arm feels that educating the
Jewish and more importantly the non-
Jewish community about the history of
the Shoah is a low priority, he is enti-
tled to his opinion. The museum is
remarkable and a source of pride and
another example of the national leader-
ship and vitality of the Detroit Jewish
community.
We should honor the museum while
continuing to work on the other priori-
ties set out by Mr. Arm.
Jeffrey Appel
Huntington Woods

Memorial Has Value

The letter disparaging the Holocaust
Memorial Center was sickening to read
("A Different Perspective," July 16, page
6).
The writer fails to understand that
the memorial has taught many thou-
sands of visiting students what hate and
prejudice can do as they learn how the
world allowed the slaughter. The writer
does not understand that this building
has, in fact, brought knowledge to chil-
dren who were unaware of anti-
Semitism — its causes and its devasta-
tions.
i
As for "another Holocaust," there will
not be one, period; a building would
not be a reason or necessity for the cer-
tainty of that statement.
As for his desires for a "living, breath-
ing Jewish library ... a viable fleishig
(meat) kosher restaurant" and an inex-
pensive Jewish day school instead of the
HMC, possibly we could have all if the
writer could encourage others to join in
a call for exchanging extravagant
homes, luxury cars and kingly living for
modest styles to finance his wishes with

the difference.
His use of "no business like Shoah
business" can only indicate a man in
need of humanity and Yiddishkeit.
Albert and Vivian Best
Farmington Hills

Remember Buenos Aires

Ten years ago this month, a bomb
exploded at the Jewish community cen-
ter in Buenos Aires, killing 85 people
and wounding hundreds.
It was the deadliest anti-Semitic
attack outside of Israel since World War
II. Unlike Sept. 11, July 18 is not a date
burned in the minds of people around
the world. But for the victims and their
families, the local - and international
Jewish communities, as well as those
concerned with the welfare of the
Americas, it remains a day of mourn-
ing. July 18 is also a symbol of frustra-
tion in the pursuit of justice.
A decade after a van loaded with
explosives destroyed the center which
housed the Argentine Israelite Mutual
Association (AMIA), no one has been
brought to justice, despite strong indi-
cations that Hezbollah, supported and
abetted by Syria and Iran, was instru-
mental in the attack.
Recent developments have provided a
glimmer of hope. During a speech in
May before the American Jewish
Committee, Argentine President
Kirchner pledged his commitment to
solving the case, which has been mired
in investigative gridlock and 'corruption.
The U.S. has also launched several
initiatives, including the Syria
Accountability and Lebanese
Sovereignty Restoration Act, which is
meant, in part, to halt Syrian support of
terrorism. This month, both houses of
Congress are expected to introduce a
resolution condemning the attacks and
calling for international cooperation in
the investigation.
These are crucial steps in the right
direction. The global terror threat
affects everyone, not just the latest vic-
tim. In that vein, the search for truth
and justice in the AMIA attack deserves
the world's full attention.
Terror anywhere invites terror every-
where.
Andrew S. Doctoroff
chapter president,
American Jewish Committee
Bloomfield Township

LETTERS on page 8