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Page 2-THE NEWS-October, 1983 Focas On laaet ■By Kenny Gross Attitudes And Reactions Lebanon and The UJS. Diaspora One of the notable features of the past year’s activities by Israel was the reaction by the overwhelming mass of U.S. Jews to Israel, its people and its government. With few ex ceptions they retained a loyal and steadfast attitude, despite an onslaught from the news media, unequalled in bit terness and exaggeration and in some instances employing downright lies. The exceptions (from the people) were the few “know ledgeable” deviates and, of course, the so-called liberals, who are really “left wingers.” These excelled in the columns of The New York Times and more so on certain television networks, whose intent was to blacken and discredit Prime Minister Begin and to force his removal. This led George F. Will, in order to put things in to their right perspective, to say, “That if the American Civil War had been reported on television, there might now exist two U.S.A.'s.” Menachem Begin was accus ed of overreaction to the shell ing of northern Israeli set tlements by the PLO. This is part of the mood of “trivializa- tion” of the Holocaust. So what if 40 Jews were mur dered in Europe since 1981 when Philip Habib came on the scene? Or if 200 houses were damaged in northern viUages and settlements? Or if people and their children had to live and sleep in shelters? To whom did this happen? It happened to Jews. What’s this in comparison to the Holo caust? “The task of the Jew is to be a victim and Jews who refuse are overreacting. And by so doing they forego the sympathies, which as victims, they might have been award ed.” (Benno Weiser Varon) And then there are the Jewish academics, who as signers of advertisements and writers of Op-Eds, attacked Israel’s entry into Lebanon. (This was prior to the Beirut Massacre.) Anthony Lewis was such an example. He manufactured article after ar ticle, printed by The New York Times, accusing Israel (Begin) of betraying Zionism by fighting the PLO. What he was really trying to hide was his antagonism to Zionism. Prime Minister Begin had to go out of his way to state that Anthony Lewis was no friend of Israel. Lewis would have countered the PLO with his peaceful wisdom and brotherly love. He did not like Israel for what it was, not for what it did. As a radical he disapproved of Israel for years past. The crea tion of Israel defeated his universalist Utopia. And he would welcome every “failure” of Israel. He even admitted on occasions, by impliction, that he was a Jew, by writing about “we.” This was done to show that although Jewish, he wasn’t partial to Israel and this established his moral alibL For what could be a bet ter credential than leading (as a “we Jews”) the anti-Israel force? Well, enough of these self deprecating Jews. Leave them on their thrones on high, pass ing judgment on all who dis please them and disturb their Utopian dreams. The Sephardi Role in Israel There is a popular belief in the U.S. (press and network in spired) that the Begin govern ment (and presumably his suc cessors) are voted into power by a rowdy mob of ignorant newcomer Sephardim, who are essentially emotional and do not know any better. This view was originally inspired by disappoint^ labor leaders, who were turned, out of government, after a long 30 year stay. The truth was that the people as a whole were sick and tired of rule by a corrupt class of people, who had been in power too long. It so happens that the Sephardim were the ones who sutfered most under that labor regime. They were denied equality of opportunity in the “privileged” worker social structure. After all they had not been nurtured on Karl Marx nor Engels nor even the Histadrut (General Trade Union) philosophy.^ An objective review would soon reveal that those who had been denied the privilege of higher education in the countries of their origin, such as Morocco and subsequently in Israel, have caught up and are making an ever increasing contribution to the standards of excellence in all fields, in cluding politics. They are, therefore, now ex erting their rights according to their belief and free of Labor Party duress. They are the largest group in Israel, be ing in excess of 50 percent of Jews. Consequently their role in public life will show con siderable increases especially in government and the army. We should regard this change with pride, for it is the fruit of years of struggle. Jerusalem and the West Bank The names Judea and Samaria were in common use, not only in biblical times but in the twentieth century, until after the defeat of Jordan in 1967, they introduced the “West Ba^,” trying to sug gest that Jordan was legiti mately sconced on both banks of the River Jordan—east and west. This is a falsehood. Jor dan grabbed Judea and Samaria in the chaos of the 1948 War, brought about by arbitrary United Nations cease fire orders. The Encyclopedia Britan- nica, the British mandatory government in pre-1948 Palestine, the U.N. General Assembly in its Palestine par tition resolution of November 29, 1947 and, note well, even the U.S. State Department us ed the term Judea and Sam aria. Judea is, therefore, still Judea, and Samaria still Samaria. But many have fallen into the semantic trap of the name “West Bank” by lazy and un thinking usage. They have seriously we^ened Israel’s claims to these areas. Officials in the State Department are not fully aware of the history of the change of name and have accept^ “West Banks” legitimacy. Perhaps our learn ed President, too, needs to be advised. The danger of this practice is more than meets the eye. East Jerusalem is included in the “West Bank” because it is in Judea. And when one glibly suggests that in order to placate the “moderate” Arabs to buy peace by giving up the “West Bank,” it is not generally understood that this includes East Jerusalem. If this were understood, this term would never be used and thus it should never be used. Judea and Samaria are recognized and real. We made a mistake with “Palestinian.” Arabs have claimed the sole rights to “Palestinian.” But the un sophisticated Golda Meir recognized this Arab ploy, first used in 1971, with her “I, too, am a Palestinian.” If only more leaders had recog nized this trick, the term “Palestinian” would not be us ed today to justify Arab claims. There is a danger in the use of names. Let us be more cautious and accurate. Judea and Samaria have no connec tions with Jordan, whose real, declared at birth, name is Trans-Jordan. EARN 16% ON YOUR MONEY Interest Paid Monthly FULLY SECURED AND INSURED $2,000 MIN. CALL: 392-0161 366-1925 il5lS1515B131BIB15U5I518lBlSl5t515lBIBlB3tSSlSlSt31SlS35lS5l51S Imp9rlml printing products Specialists In Raised Printing Stationery — Business Cards Wedding — Bar Mitzvah Invitations Business & Social Announcements Pro/eet Reeeiveg Approvsd (Continued from Page 1) Ed Mottaman beams with approval. First Citizens Bank and Dr. Monroe T. Gilmore. “Many more of those present have asked us to speak with them about making donations,” said Morris Speizman, immediate past treasurer of the Foundation. “We look forward to these meetings in the next weeks with positive anticipation. ’ ’ At the Preview, Rolfe Neill, Publisher of the Observer and News, made public a grant of $50,000 from the Knight Foundation, a na tional philanthropic foundation. Showings at the Temples for the High Holidays Both the model and the plans and illustra tions were on display in the Temples during the holidays. Excit^ and curious Temple members crowded around eagerly pointing out special features or asking questions. At Tem ple Beth El, the model was reviewed and ex plained to each of the Sunday School classes with many of the parents looking on. Brochures showing iUustrations of the in terior and exterior of the project, as well as detailed plans of the room layout, are still available to the temple. Federation Fly-In (Continued from Page 1) Charlotte’s contributors in in dividual and in groups ses sions. The needs of Israel, world Jewry and Charlotte Jewry were discussed in detail. In the end, the Charlotte donors spoke up and out and demonstrated their commit ment to the sum of $346,000. This was a 20% increase over the same gifts in 1983. “1984 is a crucial cam paign,” said Ron Katz. “As a community we expect to be in the new facilities in 1985. The JCC, the Hebrew Academy and others will be looking to the Federation to assist them with their increased operating costs. These funds will have to come from the 1984 campaign. We have pledged to be able to support our magnificent pro ject. What we have seen from these donors is the tangible commitment to underwrite that pledge with dollars.” AtBud^ you’re #jj •Low rates by the day, weekend or longer •We feature Chevrolets and Hondas •All major credit cards accepted Four convenient locations in Charlotte: Douglas Airport 519 E. Trade St. Sears SouthPark Radisson Plaza LOCAL RESERVATIONS: 398-4085 ELSEWHERE WORLDWIDE 1-800-527-0700 Call Hardy Spate for your special corporate rate sticker A Budget Sjritcm Licen* 4731 SwBdmn Road Chariotf. N.C. 28210 (704)SS4-im Stuart Cojae Pr«sid*nt Sears Rent aCar Budgeti rentacar ® I You may use your Sears credit card. Check local of- I fice per rental requirements Call: 366-3383
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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