TheC
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lewisn news
Thursday, September 8, 1988     Elul 26, 5748 60«
Second Qass Mail Registration Number 1683 - Postage Paid at Toronto
"Israel is a faa"
The 4qth Year of Israel's independence has been an occasion for rejoicing, but also a sombre reminder that the country's struggle for peace and security continues, says President Chaim Herzog in his Rosh Hashanah message to the Diaspora.
"We have looked back on four decades full of achievement," Herzog said, citing the ingathering of Jews from around the world and the creation of industry, agriculture, and educational, civic and cultural networks.
"Our dream of fulfilling the Zionist vision of an Israel living at peace with its neighbors and joining with them in developing the Middle East for the benefit of all its inhabitants reinains unaltered," the President said^^-
"Conversely, our Arab neighbors would dp well to realize that Israel, after 40 years a major state in its own right, is a fact: Coming to terms with our existence arid stretching out the hand of peace can only bring benefits to all of Us.''
Many of the current conflicts in the world are in the process of being resolved and in every case has the principle of direct negotiations without pre^ conditions been applied.
Herzog said.
"Only in the case of our conflict with our neighbors has this principle not been accepted," he added.
Israel has welcomed as olim a number of brave and distinguished former Refuseniks from the Soviet Union and many Jews coming to live in Israel from the Jewish communities of the West "and more quietly, from many countries where
Jews live under conditions of distress arid oppression;" Herzog stated.
Looking to the coming year, the President said Israelis will exercise their democratic rights in elect-: ing a new governmerit that will face important decisions which may ftjndamen-tally affect the character and security pf the country for years to come.
"Unfortunately Israel is the only democracy in our
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JERUSALEM (JPFS) -, Jewish Agency chairman Simcha Dinitz met last week in Belgrade with the Yugoslav foreign minister, the first time that a senior Israeli political figure has visited Yugoslavia since the latter broke off relations with Israel some 20 years ago.
Dinitz told The Jerusalem Post that his hbur-lpng discussion with the foreign minister encompassed bilateral relations, trade, tourism and flights between the two countries.
He said the foreign ministeir stressed Yugo-
slavia's special friendship with the Israeli people and its desire to help advance practical bilateral matters and the Middle East peace process.
Dinitz said that Yugoslavia wants' 'to strengthen its ties with Israel."
Dinitz and chairman of the JfewishAgericy board of govemPrs, Mendel Kaplan, were in Yugoslavia to;at-^e^d the annual conference of the European branch of the World Union Pf Jewish Students (WUJS). This is the first time that a WUJS meeting has been held in Yugoslavia.
area where the decision as to our future policy will be taken by the people at the ballot box. Facing us is a people living under a shadow of terror, which prevents a free, democratic discussion of the issues they face," Herzog said.
Both in Israel's achievements and problems,"our main, partners' are our brothers and sisters of the Jewish comriiunities of the Diaspora.; With you, We share fellowship in the most remarkable heritage . We still have a greatdeal to do together — our mission as a people is eternal."
Herzog said he joins with the Jewish people worldwide in praying for a New Year that will be happy, healthy and above all peaceful.
"May I particularly express my wish that in the coming year many of you will take the opportunity to visit Israel, to show solidarity With our land and pur people and to benefit from the hospitality and welcome thait every citizen will extend to you,''the President said.
"May I extend nriy personal wishes to all of you for a year of progress and achievement, ayear of the ingathering of the exiles, a year of peace and prosperity:"
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ONENESS OF HaSHEM
Three rams horns depicting the Hebrew letter Sheen together with the Israeli-fiag-blue Dalet and Yod form a Hebrew word symbolizing the Oneness of HaShem. Art by Yannai of Minneapolis. See story page 44.
EL AL HAS PLANS
E El Al has has devised several programs to counter the adverse effects of the uprising in the territories S on Israeli touirism; See stories and photos on the coyer of our Rosh Hashanah supplement.
NEW YORK (JTA)
Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat is embarking on a diplomatic offensive that includes a heavy schedule of meetings with top European leaders and plans to address the United Nations General Assembly, in New York.;'.;
Sources in Brussels disclosed last week; that Arafat will meet with top European Community ol^icials during his visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Sept. 13. The visit will mark the first time the iPLO leader has been received by the European parliamentary institution.
Arafat is scheduled to confer with Lord Plum ^ a British Conservative Who is president of the European Parliament, and Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, current chairman of the EC Council of Ministers.
PLO officials have circulated reports in recent weeks that Arafat also planis to address the UN General Assembly after the Palestine N/ational Council discusses plans to declare an independent Palestinian state arid'set up a govern^ ment-in-exile, The council is scheduled to meet in Algiers sometime iii September.
Diplomats at UN headquarters here, iKowever, said that it is ' 'premature'' to talk about Arafat visiting the United Nations. They said UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Guellar has not yet inyited Arafat to address the General Assembly, which officially opens Sept. 20. ;
The two rrien met recently at UN headquarters in Geneva and were scheduled to .meet again tp discuss a General Assembly appearance by the PLO leader. , Orie diplomat also pointed out that an Arafat ad-, dress will depend on the outcome of the meeting in Algiers* "Without a mandate from the PNC, Arafat cannot come to New York,■' the diploriiat said.
Arafat also has been invited to address the National Press Club in Washington, which regularly holds "newsmaker" luncheons, He has never before appeared in the U.S. capital.
But it is unclear at this time^ whether the PLO leader would be allowed to enter the United States for the purpose of addressing either the General Assembly or the press club. . Under U:S. immigration jaws, the U.S. government
may bar individuals belpng-ing tO' terrorist organizations from entering the United.States. The government has used the provisions on many occasions to prevent foreign officials frorii visting the United Nations , a state department sourcesaid in Washington;
Even if Arafat is issued an entry visa, it will likely contain a restriction that bars him from traveling further than 25 miles from UN headquarters in New York, That would make it impos-sib.le for Arafat to address the press club.
U.S. Jewish groups have expressed disappointment in the press club invitation, which was i-ssuedAug. 17.
In Europe, meanwhile, Arafat's upcoming visit to Strasbourg is being viewed: as important, following recent diplomatic developments in the Middle East,
[Cont'd, on page 20]
Early press rw
issue
Because of the Labor Day holiday and because of the extra-large size of this edition (136 pages in Toronto, 92 in Montreal) we went to pf,ess several days earlier than usual.
However^we'll update you on the news missed over the past weekend in our Sept. 15 issue, so stay tuned to The GJN.
Please remember that due. to thie Jewish holidays, we cannot promise publication of any edi-
torial publicity releases from now until after the Thanksgiving holiday. Deadline for thgJDct. 13 issue is Thursday, Sept. 29 in Toronto.
• IN THIS ISSUE, J.B.'s column appears on page 2 instead of in its usual place; Elaine Kahn'scolumn is on page 5, and there is no Letters to the Editor section. We hope to be back to normal by next week.