IsncTk Lafbor opiwsilioit r-^;
fcaus aic, fttaally coodicd in terms of *^viiig^ Isnd from tavniig to al»orb the 1.1 mOHcitt Amb mfaabt^
led lgr"ihe adiniiiistislti^^ ^ olMMined with sccmity and BibGeal dehnJons. Little is said .about Ismefi need to contioi the sliatcgic iunter-
tauitsinthesrtefritbriBLTI^ land both Jenisalem and Ronald ReailB»n ipiC9cnis,htnH. ^ Tel Aviv. Norare wctold that
to become a **home** for the millions more Palestinian emigre AralK residing in the surrounding countries.
Most Americans probably doni realize that the West Bank is not much larger than
ically elected government in the region.
Indeed,-he might even hope to :gain a sympathy vote by
Refusenik Profile
Onilnr KtaMsiiisfcy:
:^tomi
in the :lfkiaine, DMitiy KhHitunay. 35, has
I972i
mfoimaiMMi doringhis Anny «fvice^ even though tfas had
earlier. Since his paicais and aOoncdtnle^vefbr in 1918, aoiiiM^ cfamn, as they »iofibtf with Mhcr RcliBeoiks;^ that no **fiistidkgiiec. relative'*
fteM
aO
for
hetwccn l9Dand mi,knc niectcd. At the same hecanse it is known thai
he wants tocnasntfetolsnKt
lNMly/"hi?!hnoBMf':..is -pfe*-. pansd to oflcr Inm a joh.
JCNS.
THISWBEK WRfTBOmciAL:
Soviet MMdw ftrtheDil; 13ii Eail f9ift Strad, New Yoffc, N.Y. ltt2l.
the greater Niew York metro- standii^ up to "big. bad
politan area^
IsraePs settlements policy seeks to ensure that neither Judea, Samaria or iSaza, in whole or in part, wilt again come under Arabsovereign^. Reagan accordingly can be expected to accelerateempha^ sis on the presumably unwanted Arab ~ inhabitants in these territories. How ironic that the bane of the American Left, Ronald Reag9n, is liecoming their darling where
Israel is concerned. Few admit iishment of a Palestinian Arab
that his current initiative is imended more to placate Arab sensitivities than' to bring peace.
Yet the Reagan plan rests on presumed fears that Israel
#^ sr is fess secure with the craticsohitions are possible to
absorption of theterritorics in the Arab population "threat"
question. In an America on this tenitoiy. increasingly disillusioned with TheArabinhabilantsofthe
Reagan*s overall perform- West Bank are Joidanian
ance, Reagan maycometosee citiams and, therefore, enemy
his fortunes riding in part on nationals vis-a-vis Israel
the image he can project as a' true lienefactor of the Jewish State even as he seeks to displace the only democrat-
aiMHABOVEmiicsErnj^^
nation states maintain their specific national, ethnic. Or regional chracteristics can also be devised. In sum, the threat that Aralis would become a high percentage of the Israeli electorate is manageable.
Moreover, these initiatives can be complemented by positive inducements for many West Bank Aralis to exercise Jordanian residence as well as Jordanian citizenship. A multi-billipn dollar aid and investment program can surefy be accorded to Jordan by the Western poweis (given their vocal proiBounob> ments for stability in the area) as part of the bilateral peace setlement between Israel and Jordan.
New jobs and honsingm an environment more conducive to Arab cultural, linguistic religious,^nd poUticalcxprea? sion will naturally encootagr migration to Jonhm. Jewiik purchase of private real estate in the West Bank wiD, off course, continue to be n financial contribution towaid
this process:Thisisittkeeping with respect for theindhridaal civil rights of Palestinian COMMENTARY "-^ fl^BK «
Israel." For such reasons, a closer examination of the assumptions undeilying Rcagan*s attack on IsraeFs settlements policy is ceitainly in order.
In our own security interest, we should wish to see a secure Israel in Western Palestine and a deepening of its democratic roots as welL Israel must remain a potent ally. As such we should avoid threatening calk for the estafo-
"homdand** Jn her veiy midsL We shouhl not be frightened into believing that Israeli progressive aspirations are not sustainable with absorption erf* the West Rank. Demo-
under the mles of war. Thar political status is thus 1^ for determination in the
context of' Israeli-Jonianian
peace negotiations as envisioned in Camp David. At such time, the West Bank Arabs could exercise one of several options. They might wish to retain Jordanian citizenship in co-existence with increasing numbers of Israelis living around them.
Alternately, they might opt for Israeli citizenship but of course, would have to bear the responsibilities entailed, including some form of national service. As with an equal responsibility for national service, the transfer of social service responsibilities from public to private institutions would also reduce the advantages of Israeli citizenship for the average Aiab. Shouhl many Arabs nonetheless opt for Israeli citizenship, the electoral system could be changed to create a sli£|itly different electoral balance^
A system of electoral, districts would reduce what otherwise might be Arab poUtical promiinence. Such political measures are a common attribute of many representative democracies — ^ ti^ American fcdeistf democ-' racy is one such ^siem. Other democratic means that help
LFSALEIM
From A 1}
mat fics |A revkw of Jacofeo Tw
Jacoho lunerman and Arid Sharon are like two peas in a pod: amhoiilaiian personalities driVen^by dangerous myths and a oonlnsed identii^. The Defence Mini^ are the Chosen Beopfe, and Timetman shares this belief in the superiority oi* the Jews — not the Israefis.
"tlnfytheJiewiiA People; I beliei^^ can nowdosometf^ iis,"THneiiiian writes in thk (pnckie book, wli^ place in every Middle^^^Bt'sclioiar^ dustbin alpngside Arnold Sherman*s Wkem God Jii^k^ md( Men Jpint. *Tbti Disupora Jews who hflhvmainiained the values of oinm and cultural traditions^ which have been trampled by intoferance and Israeli nationafism^^oidd cstabfish a Jn«^ (my italics) to
pass judgment on Bqspn, Sharon and Eitan, and the entire general staff of the Isracharmed jfdvixs. This adone could be tl^ means ^d'wfwkii^freeof thedclaaes tha is destroying Israel, and perhaps, ti preserving Isn^"^ fiiture.*'
Thciip he is^ the perfect Zioiiist. Israel does not belongto Israelis — Jews and Arabs alike ~ but to the Jewish People. How tenddledl Cidzens of other countries should sit in jMJ^nient <» cioncns off bradr b^
In ai resent intcrvievr by Arie J^ajpan in the Jerusalem F^riesimian newspaper At^t^, "tibaatoem ihys the interviewer daiiai^ to mention that Tyre Sidlbn and Beirut were not compfclely desfaosyed, as thnerm^n had claimed in his book. "Wl9^^do>inwf^thiswMitisdtetfthatak Mr.Dlaj^in^pmi^innooenify '\ ^ "Tefl nk.^'Tmiennan replies, "Do you believe that this is a
talai^ ittto aciroimt the_ whq^
bothered with details — he is too busy reflecting on the meaning of it all. Facts are unimportant, so what matter that Timerman dedicated his book to Guni Harnik, who fell at Beaufort. "1 know that he was a pacifist" Timerman intoned. Haraik*s mother wrote in /fabrm recently that to call her soldier son a pacifist vras absurd.
Timerman says he hasnt been spared "any oC this century'^ horrors." So he is eminently qualified to commune with the "ruins of Tyre and Sidon and recdve their silent testimony."
Humbug.
i>c36 IS)
Timeilnan^^ocs oirto compare his labe statements about the flestrlKtiott he saw dnrmg his ikm hours in Ijebanon to the contibmqr over "^nhctfaer four or six million Jews" were cxtermiaatfed by the Nazis. What^ the diAcrenoe, he says. WfaatVMH|gwiihafinvfiitlefieswlM»we1teintliemi^
In his boofc« far sail it didnli bother hini whcn^ he saw a Norwegiui pbotogr^pher ststgpng pictures in Tyre. "The fact remains that Tyir is in rams, whether or notdnhlren stand on the rnbUe." One mntt remnpiber Hat Timerman canl be
From U.S. lews warn Bi^in lie may lose support
In a move that could have major impact on U.S.-l5raeli relations, several highly influential American Jewish organizations are warning Israeh Prinie Minister Menachem Begin that he cannot count on their automatic support if his continued rejection of Pre»dent Reagan's Mideast peace initiative leads to a confrontation with Washington.
Es^ntially^ the message these groups are oonveyinis in public statements and private conversation with Begin and other Isi^eli officials caii~be summarized in tins way:
Although the commitment of Americani Jews to Israel's security and welfare^reniains constant, nsany are deeply troobl^l by -such aggressive actions of J the Begin govemmenras its invasion ofLehanon* initial resistanor to impartial investigation of the massacre bf Palestinian civilians in Beirut; refusal even to consider the Reagan initiative^ and defiance of U.S. ohfection^ to additional Jewish settlements in occupied Aiah teriilories.,
As a result, if Begin's inflexibihty pots'him m a collision course vvith Reagan, he could find the American jfewish community deeply divided arul greatly hampered In its abihty to muster the hacking firom Congress and American puhhic opinion that is crucial to Israel's survival___
U.S. officials, lookifig to an expected meeting htm
between Begui and Reagan, have privately sketdied a scenario that calls for Reagan to make dear to Begin that die United States will not back away from its proposal diat th^ West Bankand Gaza,after territorialadjustmentstoprotcct Israel's security, be given eventual independence In association with Jordan." Under this "territory for peace'' formula, the Arab nations would be obliged to recognize Israel's existence and right to live in peace.
According to this scenario, if Reagan stands firm. Begin then must choose between risking a direct confrontation with the president or retreating into a more accommodatms stance. According to the officials, their hope is that when Biegin weighs these options, the realization that a continiied hanl line could shatter his support in the American JewiA community might force him into the more moderatf^ course.
However, Julius. Berman, current chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American' jfewtth Organizations, said in an interview that he does not heheve the administration's script will play that way. Tie disjfnited the notion that Begin will be forced to choose between confrontation or accommodation.
"They could simply a^nee to disagree," he argued, "and if that happens, ther6 really isn't'anything that Pkesident Reagan could do about it except to try and get toiigh by using the threat of cuts in military aid or something hke that , ^ ' ,
'3ut, if the administration does that" Berman added, "it ^ will be going beyond the fimits of what is acceptable to tfie Jewish community. Whatever split now exists will be healedr and all of the major Jewish organizations, -whatever resolutions they may have passed, wil^unite again behind Israel."
Several other leaders of Jewish oiganisntions expressed a different view. They said tliat awar^nessvi^ Coilgriess and the administration of disqniet among American Jei^ is, by itself; sufficient to hamper severely "their ahih^^^ Influence jhe government and to counteract the American public's growing sensethat Israelis being too aggressive and unreasonable.
One with extensive experience in pro-Israel lobbying in Congress said, "Every time the Begin government announce it's building a new settlement on the West Bank and getslnto a slanging match with the State Department, it fust doesn't play. On every such gc^around, 3rou flnd that people on Capitol Hill are a little more irritated and a little less vrilling to listen to you sympathetically"..
Mm M. Cndiko