Opinion
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Squeeze On ran Starts Here
Philadelphia
I
ranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad just let loose with yet
another of his patented broadsides
against Israel. Adding to the long list of
threats he's already made, Ahmadinejad
said a countdown until the end of the
Jewish state had begun.
Such language from a member of the
United Nations about the life of a fellow
U.N. state is not merely unacceptable, but
potentially actionable. It is a patent viola-
tion of the U.N. Charter that ought not to
be allowed to pass without censure.
But remember, this is not just another
example of a wacky Muslim leader who
engages in over-the-top rhetoric. Iran is
a leading funder of terrorism around the
world. Its efforts in this regard are directly
connected not only with the deaths of
Americans in neighboring Iraq, but of ter-
rorism across the planet. It's also a nation
with well-publicized nuclear ambitions
that, when matched with its eliminationist
talk about Israel, seems set on a path that
could well end with genocide.
If, slowly but surely, the international
community has started to come around
to the realization that something must
be done to curb Iran, then it's due to
Ahmadinejad's venomous rhetoric. Recent
statements from Europe and progress in
the United Nations toward enacting mean-
ingful economic sanctions against the
Teheran regime give hope to the idea that
this problem can be resolved peacefully.
These countries are beginning to realize
that Iran is not just a threat to Israel, but
to the entire world.
It may well be that such sanctions will
not serve as sufficient deterrents in and of
themselves; and, eventually, a more force-
ful response to Iran will be necessary.
In the meantime, economic measures
remain crucial because they show the peo-
ple of Iran, as well as its Islamist govern-
ment, that a price must be paid for such
behavior. In the end, they'll have to choose
between staying part of the international
community or opting for the sort of com-
plete isolation that exists for other rogue
states, like North Korea.
So, what can Americans do about this,
besides urging our government to keep up
the diplomatic offensive? Plenty.
The campaign against Iran is not some-
thing going on just at the United Nations.
It can also be fought here in every state of
the Union.
First, we must urge state legislatures
to adopt measures forcing state-run pen-
While divestment takes some
sion funds to divest from all
profitable options off the table,
companies doing business with
plenty of money can still be
Iran and other terror-support-
made in terror-free companies.
ing states, such as Sudan (which
After all, how many
continues to carry out a cam-
Americans want their pen-
paign of genocide in Darfur),
sions and personal invest-
Syria (which, along with Iran,
6
ments putting cold hard cash
materially aids the Hamas and
Jonathan
— either directly or indirectly
Hezbollah terror groups) and
S. Tobin
— into the hands of a man like
North Korea. Progress toward
Special
Ahmadinejad?
such a divestment program
Commentary
And that's exactly what
has already been made in
companies who knowingly or
other states — namely Florida
unwittingly fund the Iranian oil indus-
and Missouri, and a bill is pending in
try and other vital sectors of the Iran
Michigan.
economy do. Such financial support not
Should we be deterred from this mea-
only works to encourage the production
sure because some on the left on college
of nuclear weapons — the same weapons
campuses and in church groups have
Teheran wants to use to annihilate Israel
sought to use this weapon against Israel?
— but also winds up assisting those who
No. To act as if there is any moral equiva-
are trying to kill American soldiers in
lence between attempts to wage economic
warfare against a democratic state unfairly Iraq.
We need to ask our legislators to
assailed by terrorists and efforts to reign
in rogue states is a victory for the latter. We demand that our states practice the ulti-
mate in socially responsible investing.
should have no compunction about dis-
missing such attacks on Israel while urging That's the very least we can ask of them
— and of ourselves. I I
Americans to understand that boycotting
terror regimes is the moral thing to do.
Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the
Resistance to divestment has also come
Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia. His e-mail
from some in the financial world who
address is jtobin@jewishexponent.com .
argue that such measures hurt investors.
,
Discount On Dental Coverage
T
card. To use our prescription
he Oakland
discount card, you merely pres-
County Board of
ent your card at your pharmacy
Commissioners
to receive a 20 percent discount
recently approved a new dental
on medications.
discount plan for all Oakland
With our new discount dental
County residents without dental
plan, you can apply by phone,
insurance. I co-sponsored this
online or a written form. Once
new plan with Commissioner
Mar cia
you apply, you are immediately
Eileen Kowall and it recently
Gersh enson
accepted and eligible to partici-
passed the board unanimously.
Comm unity
pate in the program.
After an extensive search,
Vi ew
This plan will give you sig-
a local company, Benefits
nificant discounts on many
Control Methods, was selected
dental services. There are no limits on
to administer the plan. This is the same
the number of times a member can see a
company that is helping Macomb County
dentist. You have no deductibles or waiting
implement their plan. Benefits Control
periods. There are no exclusions and no
Methods has been involved in health care
financial or age restrictions. Once you join,
costs savings strategies for over 15 years.
Last year, I received a call from a resident you can start using your card right away.
The cost? For just $69 per year, an entire
asking if Oakland County could help resi-
family can take advantage of significant
dents with dental care. We began to work
with the county administration to see if we dental services discounts. Some of the
services included are preventive and diag-
could find a way to implement a plan. Our
goal was to make it simple and easy to use. nostic care, endodontics, periodontics and
orthodontics. Many other services are also
Our new dental plan has many similar
included. Several Oakland County dentists
features to the prescription drug discount
24
July 5 . 2007
are participating and you should check to
see if your dentist has signed on.
Oakland County commissioners are
committed to helping our residents deal
with the rising costs of health care. This is
a substantive way we can help our citizens
stay healthy. The mouth is the gateway
to the body and is often indicative of a
person's overall health.
In these tough economic times, and
with so many families lacking dental
coverage, it is easy to delay your annual
dental visits. Unfortunately, it is only when
you begin to have serious dental issues
that you may realize how important it is to
take care of your teeth. I 1
Marcia Gershenson, D-Beverly Hills, is an
Oakland County commissioner.
If you have any questions about the
new dental discount plan or prescrip-
tion discount card, contact Marcia
Gershenson at (248) 808-1032 or
gershensonm@oakgov.com .
Answering
Israel's Critics
The Charge
East Jerusalem Palestinians at the YM/
YWCA there recently criticized Oprah
Winfrey for agreeing to visit Israel with
Elie Wiesel. The group called Israel the
source and catalyst of violence and
crisis in the Middle East, violators of
international law and a racist, discrimi-
natory state.
The Answer
The charges are "upside down:' as it is
the Palestinian leadership that chose
violence over negotiation and compro-
mise. It is the Palestinians who make
the racist demand that no Jews will live
in a Palestinian state, and it is they who
choose internationally outlawed terror-
ism as their tool.
- Allan Gale, Jewish Community Relations
Council of Metropolitan Detroit
©copyright July 5, 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media