Newspaper Page Text
Pagt Faw
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Friday, Dec. 12, 1949
Boris Smolar
BETWEEN YOU AND ME
INSIDE ISRAEL
American miliary experts are of the opinion
that the year 1970 may be the decisive year in
the Israel-Arab fighting. This also seems to be
the opinion of Israeli military experts.
The Americans believe that Israel can over
come the Arabs in 1970 but not in six days as
was the case in 1967. They foresee that if a
full-scale war develops in 1970, the battle will
last at least three weeks and will be much bloodier
than the Six-Day War of 1967.
The Israelis keep in mind what Moshe Dayan,
their Defense Minister, said earlier this year. He
stated that if Israel manages to get through 1969
against major military mishaps — and without
losing territory anywhere—she will be over the
worst.
As the year 1969 is now coming to its end, the
people in Israel—although unable to answer the
question how long can the present Middle East
situation continue—feel far more confident than
during the summer months. Things looked bleak
during the hot summer along the Suez Canal; they
don’t look so bleak now with the winter rains
approaching.
Under pressure of his impatient officers, Nas
ser seems to be bent on attacking Israel and con
quering the Sinai. Israel’s preventive moves across
the Gulf of Suez brought about a definite turn
for the better around the beginning of September.
The Egyptians have learned that they are still
no match for Israel, even with the immense mil
itary aid they receive from the Soviet Union. They
have proven to be much inferior to Israel in
land fighting; in aerial combat; and even in ma
rine assaults.
What is beginning to worry the Israelis is the
fact that Arab terrorists are gaining in strength
and tactical effectivneses. Israelis have usually
played down the effect of Arab terrorism, but
the commando attacks on Israelis are now growing
within the country, gaining the support of local
Arabs in the occupied territories and also of some
local Israeli Arabs. The year 1970 wil see stronger
measures by Israel against Arab terrorist activ
ities.
• * *
INSIDE THE UN
The United Nations observed on December 10
its Human Rights Day. As the session of the UN
General Assembly is drawing to its close, the
question is being asked: Will the present Assem
bly finally adopt the pending proposal to appoint
a High Commissioner for Human Rights?
The proposal was originated by Jacob Blau-
stein, noted Jewish leader and industrialist who
served as member of the United States delegation
to the United Nations. It has been on the UN
Assembly agenda for several years. Mr. Blaustein
was impressed by the fact that more than 100,000
complaints on violations of human rights have
been received in over 20 years by the United
Nations and nothing has been done about them.
An intimate friend of Dag Hammarskjold, the late
UN Secretary-General, Mr. Blaustein suggested
the establishment by the United Nations of a
post of High Commissioner for Human Rights sim
ilar to the post of UN High Commissioner for
Refugees.
Four years ago in 1965, Costa Rica formally
proposed Mr. Blaustein’s suggestion to the Gen
eral Assembly. The Assembly in turn requested
the Commission on Human Rights to consider it.
A nine-member working group was set up to
study the matter. Later, the UN Economic and
Social Council approved a draft resolution urging
the Assembly to establish a UN High Commis
sioner’s Office, with “the degree of independence
and prestige required.”
It was recommended by the Council that the
UN Secretary General propose the name of a
person fit to occupy the post of High Com
missioner, and that the High Commissioner be
appointed by the Assembly for a five-year term.
His office, the recommendation stated, should be
financed from the regular United Nations budget.
An expert panel of not more than seven members
should advise and assist him.
• * *
MYSTERIOUS INACTION
It is easy to see that the establishment of a
post of High Commissioner for Human Rights
could be helpful to people sending complaints
from the Soviet Union and other countries to the
United Nations, especially to Soviet Jews wishing
to leave their country who are being arrested
even for presenting their demand. However, the
UN Assembly mysteriously found no time to
consider the resolution of its Economic and Social
Council neither in 1967 nor in 1968. It decided
last year to give “high priority” to the matter
at its 1969 session.
But the 1969 session is now nearing its end
and nothing has been heard so far about Secretary-
General U Thant indicating any action on naming
a candidate for the post of High Commissioner.
Nor does it look as if the Assembly will take
final action on the proposal formally presented
by Costa Rica four years ago—a proposal which
would make it possible to bring complaints
against anti-Jewish discrimination to the UN to be
acted upon speedily and effectively.
There is no enthusiasm in the United Nations
to act on the thousands of complaints it receives
every year from Communist countries on viola
tions of human rights there. However, when it
came to Arab complaints against Israel’s alleged
mistreatment of Arabs, the UN lost no time in
sending some of its members “to investigate”
the Arab allegations.
Copyright, 1969—JTA
In brief
Continued from page 1
vincial cities during the past two
weeks prompted th DAIA to call
for improved security measures
for local Jewish institutions.
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The train
ing in Red China of at least
400 El Fatah guerrillas was dis
closed to a Nablus military court
last week by the former com
mander of the guerrilla base at
Karameh, Jordan. The prisoner,
Mouhammed Othmann El Haj
Nimmer Abdallah, was sent
enced to life imprisonment at
hard labor for his activities as
an El fatah unit commander on
the West Bank.
He told the court that he
underwent an extensive course
in sabotage in Red China and
that while he was there, at least
400 other El Fatah recruits
were being trained in guerril
la warfare and toughened by
long marches over difficult ter
rain. He said the recruits were
taken by bus from Jordan to
Baghdad, Iraq and then flown to
Peking.
.cwf-a-
NeNpAper
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7 ARTS FEATURES
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC
_ AGENCY
Association - Founded 1885 WORLD UNION PRESS
For Every Cause, A Time
We commend the Atlanta Jewish National Fund Coun
cil for its decision to postpone a fund-raising event in the
interest of the Federation’s emphasis on Israeli needs.
Actually, the organization had cleared the date months
ago as an occasion at which the beloved Emeritus Rabbi
Joseph Cohen was to be honored as a “Bringer of Light.”
Perhaps then the group should have earlier been requested
to hold the event in obeyance long before it reached the
stage of making reservations.
However the purpose of a central organization and the
volunteerism of independent groups isn’t a matter of kovet,
but the very practical means of clarification and avoidance
of conflict and confusion wthin the general community. Due
to escalating needs of Israel, the Federation has asked that
the way be cleared for the fullest kind of emphasis on the
pending Welfare Fund campaign.
Certainly since the aim of JNF is purely and simply
to help Israel, particularly in view of the on-going and
extraordinarily soul-testing exigencies, there does not exist
any conflict of interest. There would very well have been
confusion of loyalties and a diversion of energies, so badly
needed at this time in unification.
As officials of the Atlanta JNF group point out, this
is the second time the organization has yielded the timing
of a function in the name of the broader and greater inter
est. |
The Officials deserve the community’s praise for such
understanding and we are pleased that we can articulate
it in this means.
We trust that when the new date approaches, the
broader community will rally to the JNF purpose with ap
propriate support. For a lifetime of dedication to “Kelal
Yisrael” and to congregation and community, Rabbi Cohen
merits full recognition and acknowledgement through a tes
timonial dinner.
It is a tribute to the intensity and spirit of his service
that this group has chosen to honor him. It is a tribute to
the officials that they have decided to postpone the event.
\ \
Happy Hanuka
Greetings
TO ALL OUR FRIENDS
from the Staff of
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Adolph Rosenberg, Editor and Publisher
Kathleen Nease, Vida Goldgar, Harry Rose,
Betty Meyer, Kathy Wood, Gertrude Burnham,
Buddie Parver, Paul Warwick, Ed Kahn
NEW YORK (JTA)—An es
timated 3,000 persons mostly
high school and college students,
created a traffic jam on New
York’s upper East side as they
marched with flashlights, Hav-
dalah candles and torches to pro
test the detention by Syria of
two Israelis who were passen
gers aboard a TWA airliner hi
jacked to Damascus last Aug.
29. The marchers, who assembled
first at the Isaiah Wall opposite
the United Nations, planned to
demonstrate in front of the
Syrian Mission to the UN on
East 47th Street but police cor
doned off the entire block. The
march was peaceful and police
did not interfere until the traf
fic tie up reached such propor
tions that the youngsters had
to be shunted into a side
street.
Syria Frees 2 ... .
Continued from page 1
diplomatic relationship with
that country.” Mr. Weiser re
ported that the company “also
kept the Israel Government in
formed about our activities.” He
appealed for support for inter
national legislation and public
opinion to “put an end to hi
jacking and air piracy” and thus
to “make the skies free for
everyone.”
Copyright, 1969—JTA
Beautiful Antique Secretary
Louis XV Style
Circa 1750, 44” wide, 8” tall
(Idoma’s Antiques has papers
on this piece)
IDOMA ’S ANTIQUES
327 Buckhead Ave., N. E.
233-1374