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Obituaries
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Whose Nukes?
Bhutto killing sets off alarms in
Israel over Pakistan's arsenal.
Ron Kampeas
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Washington
F
or Israelis, those who killed
Benazir Bhutto removed
another barrier shielding the
Jewish state from the Islamic bomb.
Israel's media
and leadership
portrayed the
attack Dec. 27 that
ended the onetime
Pakistani prime
minister's life as a
blow
to hopes for a
ii21-:
bridge to the Islamic
Benazir
world. They also
Bhutto
suggested it raised
the risk of Pakistan's nuclear bomb
falling into militant Islamist hands.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
called Bhutto's death a "great tragedy','
reported the Jerusalem Post. "I saw her
as someone who could have served
as a bridgehead to relations with that
part of the Muslim world with whom
our ties are naturally limited!'
Chaos precipitated by the killing
poses dangers beyond Pakistan's
immediate neighborhood, said
Jack Rosen, a past president of the
American Jewish Congress, noting
that Pakistan is one of a handful of
declared nuclear powers and the only
Muslim country with the bomb. Rosen
was the first Jewish leader to host a
Pakistani leader when the AJCongress
held a dinner for President Pervez
Musharraf two years ago.
"If the government fell into extrem-
ist hands, the bomb also falls into
the hands of extremists:' Rosen told
JTA "You don't need to worry about
a nuclear Iran; you have a nuclear
Pakistan in the hands of extremists!'
Prior to her return from exile in
October, Bhutto, 54, had been reach-
ing out to Israel as part of a broader
strategy of garnering Western sup-
port for her confrontation with the
military regime led by Musharraf. The
United States had been pressing its
ally, Musharraf, into accommodating
Bhutto's push for new elections.
"She wrote me of how she admired
Israel and of her desire to see a nor-
C22
January 3 • 2008
malization in the relations between
Israel and Pakistan, including the
establishment of diplomatic ties:' Dan
Gillerman, the Israeli ambassador
to the United Nations, told Ynet, an
online Israeli news site.
According to a report in Israel's
daily Ma'ariv, Bhutto reached out to
the Mossad, among other security
agencies, for protection.
Israeli authorities favored help-
ing her, said Ma'ariv, reporting that
she also turned to Scotland Yard and
the CIA for help. Hesitant to offend
Musharraf, Israel's government had
yet to make a decision, the report said.
'Islamic Bomb'
Bhutto was not always so friendly
toward Israel. Pakistan maintained
its traditionally hostile posture dur-
ing her two stints as prime minister,
in 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. Those
were also periods during which
Pakistan's nuclear chief, A.Q. Khan,
was developing what he dubbed an
"Islamic bomb:' and, according to
reports, marketing it to Israel's most
intransigent enemies at the time,
Libya and Iran.
Musharraf contained Khan, placing
him under house arrest, but only after
the United States increased pressure
in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, ter-
rorist attacks.
Rosen said Musharraf still repre-
sented Israel's best hope for reconcili-
ation, noting other signs of warming
since the 2005 AJCongress dinner.
"Musharraf has done a number of
things:' said Rosen, who now chairs
the AJCongress' Council for World
Jewry. "He had his foreign minister
publicly meet the Israeli foreign min-
ister. He accepted aid from Israel for
the earthquake victims!'
For Jews and Pakistanis in
America, the assassination presents
an opportunity for dialogue, said
Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the
Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.
Coincidentally, Schneier said, a meet-
ing between American Jewish com-
munal leaders and Pakistani officials
had been set just prior to the assas-
sination. Now, he added, the meeting,
to take place next month, was more
imperative than ever. ❑
Builder And Benefactor
B
orn Sept. 19, 1921, a third-
generation American, Irving
R. Seligman inherited what
he cherished as "true wealth" — albeit,
not much by way of money.
From his parents Rose Eddelstein
and Harry Seligman, Irving began
with the love of family, strength of
community, belief in God's Providence
to those who effort for it, a prize fight-
er's courage and the ultimate faith that
"everything is possible."
And on Dec. 22, 2007, that's what he
left as his legacy. Mr.
Seligman, of Bloomfield
Hills, was 86.
pride and delight in mentoring —
daily interacting with his children and
grandchildren. Together, they devel-
oped three regional malls and over 30
independent retail properties.
Aided Community
A community activist, Mr. Seligman
promoted the Seligman Center for
the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills
as well as the Seligman Foundation
— a significant benefactor to non-
profit organizations such as Royal
Oak-based William
Beaumont Hospital
and a multitude of
charitable organiza-
WWII Veteran
tions including Haven,
During the D-Day
the Oakland County-
invasion of France, Mr.
based crisis center for
Seligman was on the
domestic abuse, and
first Naval wave into
the Detroit Institute of
Normandy as part of
Arts.
a tank-landing ship,
He not only achieved
the "LST-138 Crew."
his first 100 goals set,
He brought back with
but seized with no fear
him the honor and
a thousand other pos-
valor earned, starting
sibilities — with a good
a garage-building busi- Irving Seligman
cigar, a deep chuckle, a
ness with nothing but
pirate's panache and a
his intelligence, intuitiveness, wit and
leap of faith.
"inheritance."
Irving Seligman was married to
He married the love of his life, Mary
Mary Katherine for 62 years. She died
Katherine Clear, in 1945, and with her
in March 2007.
at his side and WWII near its end,
He was the loving father of Sandra
he saw the possibilities. He built the
(Gilbert Glassberg) Seligman, Scott
homes a whole generation grew up
(Carol) Seligman; and devoted
in — three bedroom, one-and-a-half
"Papa" to grandchildren, Rachel (Jon)
baths, basement, garage and sidewalks Lowy, Seth (Melissa) Meltzer, Joshua
— with an affordable price tag. When
Seligman. He was the proud great-
he learned of the financing required to grandfather of Harry Lowy and Asher
purchase them, he created a mortgage
Meltzer.
company.
Mr. Seligman is also survived
by his loving nieces and nephews;
Residential Developer
the staffs of Seligman & Associates
In 1954, Mr. "5" founded Seligman &
and Seligman Western; many, many
Associates Inc. to build and finance
friends, loyal caregivers; and pets,
residential developments and apart-
Teddy and Smokey.
ment complexes. Ultimately, he
He was brother of the late Dr. Fred
created a multitude of residential
Seligman and late Bertha Fritch.
developments nationwide. In 1984,
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
he started Sterling Bank and Trust,
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
F.S.B., a national bank, which is still
to Jewish Home and Aging Services,
family owned and headquartered in
6710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield,
Southfield.
MI 48322, or Beaumont Foundation,
From there, Mr. Seligman, an active
the Irving and Katie Seligman Fund,
participant in the Jewish Federation of 3711 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI
Metropolitan Detroit, invested further
48073.
in his family and community. With
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
vision and kindness, he took great
Chapel.
❑