Zionists do
LONDON, ONT. (Staff)—
Zionists do hot control the media in Canada but certain "cultural groups" — namely Jews — have learned how to manipulate it to present Israel's case to the public, a news analyst and academic told the Canadian-Arab Heritage Conference here last week.
Replying to a question from the floor. , A.E. MacKenzic told an apparently disappointed audience, consisting mainly of Canadian Arabs, that there were few publishers of "Zionist",.or Jewish, origin in Canada.
. —MacKenzie. a, member of the University of Western Ontario's Office of International Education., explained that one of the reasons why Israel was treated with sympathy in the press here was becauseJit is
ai Western European-styled natjon whose values and ethics the West can understand.
Addressing about 45 persons at the Ramada Inn. MacKenzie linked this perception of Israel with the fact that the non-Vyestern Third World —to which the Arab countries bielong — often gets shortchanged by the world's major news services.
A former chairman of the London Board of Education, MacKenzie asserted that Asia and Africa receive light news coverage because; developments there are usually dismissed as being iinimportarit. "The flow of news between nations is weighed in favor of the West and North America," he said.
MacKenzie, vyho said he is a student of the press, ais well ais a freelance journalist, said it was a shame thatlhe Canadian hews
edia but
media had only five fulltime reporters covering the Third World.
He said newspapers are looking for material to publish, and urged Arabs to organize themselves in order to reach the press with their views on the Arab-Israeli struggle. MacKenzie said he could not. accept the Arab thesis that Canadian journalists were inherently pro-Israeli.
He illustrated his assertion by citing aii example from the Six Day War. During the 1967 conflict, journalists covering the Israeli front were permitted to go wherever they pleased. Reporters in Egypt, on the other hand? were largely confined to their hotel rooms and therefore were.unable to convey Egypt's side of the story, he noted.
By contrast, Egypt was co-operative during the Yom Kippur War and this hew
attitude was reflected in the more balanced press coverage of the battles, MacKenzie added. -
He was one of three speakers who addressed themselves to the subject of "Canadian Projection of the Arab Image." 1 he others were Rev. John Hanly Morgan, president of the Canadian Peace Congress, and Prof. L.M. Kenny of the University of Toronto's Department of Middle East arid Islamic Studies.
Heath MacQuarrie, a Conservative member of the federal Parliament, could not attend as expected because he was in Cuba.
The three-day syinposium was co-sponsored by The Canadian-Arab Society of London and-.The Canadian-Arab Federation.        : ..' ■
Morgan, minister emeritus of Toronto's
First Unitarian Congregation, said Canada's media gives .Arabs a fair hearing all over the country except in Toronto. But he predicted that this is "beginning to change/ He did not elaborate.
He said the experience Canadian Arabs have had with the press somewhat approximates the reception social progress movements have received.
Morgan forecast "the day will come when the Toronto Jewish community — which is very united on Israel — would form a 'counter caucus'." He said this would happen when Jews discovered"the truth about the Palestinian people."
Added Morgan: "We may then fiffd allies among oiir Jewish brothers and sisters." ^ -
He said the Canadian Peace Congress is
is told
supported by trade unions and various ethnic groups.
Prof. Kenny said Canadian, school textbooks perpetuate myths concerning I$lani ancl Arabs."Text-bopk writers have not kept up with social, demographic and political developments" in the Middle East, he remarked. Arabs are still portrayed as turbaned Bedouins on camels and Cairo is seen as the centre of the caravan trade. .
Israel receives preferential treatment in geography books, he said. "WTiile no one can deny the industrial and agricultural achievements of Israel, this doesn't mean that other Countries niust be ignored. The Israelis are not the only oneis vyho made the desert bloom..."
Kenny said the Canadian Zionist Federa-
Cont'd on Page 18
reassurance
simplification and misreading of the government."
He reherated his position on the controversial proposal made earlier to the Association of Counties and Regions of Ontario in an October address. "I believe that it is simply unfair and inaccurate," he wrote, "to suggest that our government would allow the tax status of any of these institutions to change in a fashion that would impede the tremendous contribution which they make to the fabric of Ontario's society."
While noting he has yet to receive the Blair Comriiission report on tax reform scheduled to be tabled next month, the premier added: "...we have gone as far as we can to assure the individuals who are committed to charitable, educational and non-profit institutions of our corrimit-merit to protect their financial integrity and continued capacity to contribute to our society."
In a brief to the Commission last month, the Toronto Jewish Congress argued that
WASHINGTON (JTA) -
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says that the U.S. approved the censure of Israel's policies in the occupied Arab territories because it reflects America's position since the Six Day War aiid because of pending developments at the United Nations.
He expressed support of the Security Council's consensus statement, in response to a question from a delegate to the 22nd annual North Atlantic Assembly in Williamsburg, Va., where he had just given an address in support of NATO.
Kissinger was asked about the "cynical" belief that the U.S. vote might have been different if the censure had come up before the Nov. 2 presidential elections. He replied: "That belief is totally incorrect."
He added that the U.S. had to take into consideration the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mandate on the Golan Heights which expires Nov. 30 and the general debate on the Palestinian question in the General Assembly.
"If we were to contribute to peace in the Middle East, we must be prepared to take into account the views of all parties," Kissinger said.
The consensus statement, he continued, "sharply reflects" statements the U.S. , itself has made over the past 10 years — since the 1967 war. He said the censure did . not reflect a change in U.S. policy, observing that "we felt we had an obligation to go along with the consensus."
Kissinger also pointed out that the U.S. has cast seven vetoes of Security Council resolutions on Mideast issues alone. He rioted that this is a period of "great uncertainty in the Middle East" and that it was"in the national interest and in the Interest of peace in the Middle East that wie voted for it."
He said the U.S. would have voted for such a resolution last May if the Arabs had agreed to delete' 'two sentences" as they did in the consenstis statement. He also pointed out that the statement does not have legal force.
The secretary of state said the easing of Syrian-Egyptian tensions means progress "can again" be made "toward peace negotiations" and toward a general or preparaitbry conference in Geneva.
He said European participation in the _Middle East political process would depend on European-U.S. coordination. Kissinger's references to the U.S. position over the past 10 years, some observers felt, appeared to reflect his thinking all along, since he became secretary of state three years ago.
It also seemed to buttress the view that the State Department believes a Mideast settlement must be along the lines of the Rogers plan.
^Seo both editorial and Middle East Analysis on Page 4.)
Carter 'clearly committed'
to anti
FRIENDS SWAP STORIES
= ■< ■ ■ =
1 Harold Wilson 'lights up' Golda Meir prior to the annual Balfour Day dinner in la-ael given by the Lsrael—British 1 g   Commonwealth Association. The two former prime ministers have been friends for several years. (IPPA photo) g
-^iiiinniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiuHiiiiiiiiiinHiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiJiiNiiiiiit^
By SHELDON kiRSHNER
TORONTO —
President-elect Jimmy Carter is "clearly committed" to enacting tough legislation to combat the secondary and tertiary Arab boycott, an American Congressman suggested here last week. ^      ■ '
Stephen J. Solarz. who represents Brooklyn's 13th District, the largest Jewish constituency, in the United States, declared that anti-boycott legislation is of the utmost importance, as the boycott has assumed "sigriif-icant proportions" since the 1973 Yom Kippur War:
Speaking to some 425 women, and a sprinkling of nien. at UJA Dav, here, the 36-
situation of Syrian Jewry has undergone a "marginal improvement" since the 1973 war. Solarz, who was granted an audience with President Assad when he visited Damascus in 1975, disclosed he plans to return to Syria in December to lobby on behalf of the Jewish community.
Aside from Solarz, the day-long session was also addressed by Peter Newman, editor of Maclean's Magazine; Prof. Irwin Cotler of McGill University; Toronto Sun writer Joan Sutton and Prof. Harry Crowe of York University.
(A CJN reporter who came to cover the morning session featuring Cotler, Crowe, Newman and Ms. Sutton was not allowed into the meeting . despite the objections of UJA
year-old Solarz said public relations officials. UJA
By JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL —
Election of a Parti Quebec cois government is no cause for alarm in the Jewish commiinity, in the view of Leon TeitelbaUm, chairman of the Eastern R,egion, Canadian Jewish Congress.
Teitelbaum, in a brief iii-terview with The Canadian Jewish News, said he did not
believe Charles Bronfman's chances of being elected national president of Congress had been damaged by his pre-election day corh-ments. Delegates will choose a successor to Judge Sydney Harris, of Toronto, at the plenary session in Montreal next May.
"People will forget and they will have to forgive." he said. He believed Bronfman's
extension
TEL AVrV [JTA]—
Damascus 'radio has announced that Syria has agreed to a six-month extension of th< mandate of the United Nations^ Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights, due to expire Nov. 30. But recent developments in Lebanon have caused concern in Israel and. may require a new policy decision with respect to that country in the very near future, sources here said.
Syrian troops, serving as part of the all-Arab peacekeeping force, crossed the Li-tani River into southern Leb-
anon and reached Marj-Ayoun, a to>ynship just north of the Israeli border settlement of Metullah. The Christian radio station iri Beirut reported that other Syrian units crossed the river on their way to the Lebanese port of Tyre.
More alarming, however, was the bazooka attack on an* Israeli patrol along the Lebanese border near Zar'it and the firing of several Katyusha rockets at Nahariya from across the Lebanese border. In both attacks there were no casualties and Israelis returned fire.
Sydney ^ugarman, having completed his special assignment with the advertising department of The Canadian Jewish News, has now returned to his post as assistant property manager of The Oshawa Group Lid.
Vera Gillman, who has been advertising co-ordinator, has been appointed to the position of advertising manager. Announcement of her appointment was made this week by Ray D. Wolfe, chairman of the board.
"error can orily be explained by hurrian frailty."
While he feels the political situation should causC no alarm in the Jewish Community, he said the only possible danger lay with the emergence of greater influence from more radical elements within the Parti Quebecois.
"Levesque has shown himself to be a bright, competent leader and there are many highly intelligent people in the party." the Eastern Region chairman commented.
Although the Bronfman address was given to an audience of about 4(X) at Allied Jewish Community Services' Cummings House, the remarks concerning the Parti Quebecois were personal and do not represent the views of the organization, Executive Director Manuel Batshaw stressed following a meeting between AJCS and Congress leaders.
Joseph Ain, president of AJCS, sent the following telegram to Premier Rene Levesque and his administration:
' 'To the new premier of Quebec and his administration we pledge our full cooperation in achieving the common aims of all who wish to live in a progressive and enlightened society.
"At AJCS, we are deeply involved in, and optiniistic aboatr the development of new and expanded social services and particularly those for our youth and the aged.
"AJCS will continue to work closely with the government in the fields of health, welfarie and education and can be counted on to respond to human needs as we have always done in the past. We will continue to be concerned with the well-being of everj^ persoii in our Jewish community."
Earlier, Canadian Jewish Congress sent a congratulatory telegram to Levesque, expressing the hope and expectation that the new administration would benefit Quebec's population. The message said Congress "looks forward, in due Course, to your acceptance of our request for a conference."
(See analysis on Page 5.)
a reconvened Congress can push through the kind of legislation he has in mind by the spring of next year.
A secondar>'boycott occurs when Arab states refrain from trading with firms that deal with Israel; A tertiary boycott applies to companies . having a business relationship with firms trading with the Jewish state, he explained.
In an interview following his speech, Solarz said the
Day had been advertised as open to the public. . (Penny Offman, UJA Day chairman, later told The CjN the panelists had been asked if they wished the press to attend their session. Cotler, Crowe and Newman objected to press coverage, she ex-plairied. "It's- their choice and preference and if they are giving me their time, I'm going to give them their preference.")
In his analysis of the :boycott, Solarz explained that .the U.S. effort to curb it goes back to 1966, when Congress passed the Export Administration Act. However noble the legislation may have been, it proved to be largely ineffective because it provided for no penalties, he said.
Two classes of "corporate Citizens" emerged — those who flaunted the spirit of the law and those who adhered to it, Solai-z noted. Ultimately, the majority of firms chose to ignore the Export Adminis-'tration Act. Through clever parliamentary means, the Ford administration obstruc-te,d attempts to add teeth to the Act. Although President Ford's political agents succeeded in blocking a compromise bill, "we've laid ,the groundwork for winning the legislative war." Solarz asserted.
In the face of new anti-boycott legislation, the Arab states will "prove to be far more acquiescent" than is widely expected, he added. Solarz, a member of the important House International Relations Committee, said the Arabs take a flexible, approach to the boycott. doing
Cont'd on Page 18
the proposal to remove the tax exempt status of charitable organizations in Ontario would strain the fragile financial base of mOst of its agencies to the breaking point. Jewish communal bodies, including synagogues, would stand to lose close to $4.5 million to realty taxes should the historic exemption be dropped, the TJC brief pointed out.
Davis said, in his letter to The CJN, that the Budget Paper E reforrns were merely "proposals advanced so that there might be a broad and open dialogue between all those concerned about equity and taxation with respect to the best possible means of achieving that sort of equity."
' Acknowledging "the intense concern and sincerity" expressed by those committed to charitable institutions, the premier, however, took exception to the criticism forwarded by TJC President Milton Harris thait"the government is not sufficiently cognizant of the impact of this proposal on private institutions and has been insensitive as to what these private agencies do.".
In answer to an observation by Rabbi Gunlher Plant in The Globe and Mail, that the tax propositions indicate "the increased expansion of the public sector at the expense of the private realm." Davis wrote: "...the private sector seeks only, through the government of the province of Ontario and the Bliair Commission, to find the most appropriate and just way of protecting both residential and corporate taxpayers from being taxed unfairly with respect to the land which they occupy."
The property tax proposal is one of 15 items outlined in Budget Paper E, now under review by a 10-mari commission headed by former East York mayor Willis Blair. Proposal number 7 of the paper suggests that direct . aissistance grants from the government are preferable to the present system of property tax exemption.
e sum goes
arms
By YITZHAK SHARGIL
TEL AVrV [JTA] — ' Arab countries have signed contracts for more thjan $35 billion worth of arms since the Yom Kipptir War and $7 billion worth of these weapons have arrived in the Middle East, informed sources reported here.
Saudi Arabis's share, reportedly, is S14 billion in weapons. The mounting flow of weaponry. 66% ordered from Western countries, combined with recent moves toward greater co-operation amcmg Arab confrontation states, is causing concern among Israeli officials.
There are fears here that the growing Arab arsenals may encoiirage Arab leaders to think in terms of military options against Israel,, the sources indicated.
The priorities the Arab States are applying to their purchases place air forces first, then anti-aircraft weapons and other air defence equipment, followed by land force arms and finally mari-
time forces.
Israeli officials are keeping close watch on the rapid military buildup, noting that it is being accompanied in recent months by the highly visible efforts of Egypt to improve its strained relations ■ with Syria and to strengthen ties with Jordan and Saiidi Arabia.
Another reported source of concern to Israel is Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's continuing difficulties with his domestic economy. Israeli officials believe there are ominous parallels between Sadat's problems and those in Egypt when corruption, economic problems and an elephantine bureaucracy payed the way for the seizure of power by the late Gariiel Abdel Nasser/ who became the leader of anti-Israel forces in the Arab world.
The sources recalled that Israeli Chief of Staff Morde-chai Gur warned recently that there were dangers to Israel's security from the proximity of Saudi Arabian borders and shores to Israeli-held Eilat Gulf maritime lanes.
Inhabitants of a Druze village near Haifa, for the first time had their blood pressure taken by a mobile unit of doctors and nurses. Whole village turned out to see the tests.