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ti»e Southern Israelite
Published weekly by Seethem Newspaper Enterprise*, MO Courtland
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Saathara Israelite invitee literary contributions aad correspondence but
'b not conaidered aa sharing the view* expressed by writera. Deadline la 5
p m Friday, but material received earlier will bare a muck better chance
of publication.
Adolph Rooeaberg. Editor and Publiaber
Vida Golditar. Amis tact Editor
Kathleen Neaae, Edward M Kahn, Cathy Wood.
Haxel Blackburn
NeNpAp
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Georgia Press Assn.
FR Sewn Arts Features
World Union Press
Founded 1685 AJ p A Features
| The * *Burdensome ” General
g So General Brown is at it again! Succumbing once more to
the apparently irresistable temptation to put his toes where
3 his teeth should be, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
has been quoted as saying Israel is a “burden” to the United
States.
Possibly this reference would be less objectionable, were it
not a followup to Brown’s vicious statement about Jewish in
fluence back in 1974, and his adverse comments at his reten
tion hearings.
Brown, by reputation, is automatically suspect in any
reference to Israel or Jews. This time he’s taken on Great Bri
tain as well.
Still, “burden” does not necessarily have to be accepted
negatively. Many of us, as individuals or as a community,
carry burdens, family, financial, whatever — willingly.
Israelis themselves carry the enormous weight of heavy taxa
tion ... the new Value Added Tax (VAT) surely is burden
some. Just as surely, many Israelis grumble about this
burden. . .without ever doubting its need.
Charitably, General Brown’s remarks could be given the
same sort of interpretation. With his record, however, this
kind of charity is hard to grant.
Since President Ford, despite urging from all sides, seems
disinclined to go beyond a figurative tap on the hand, Brown
will undoubtedly continue to periodically stir up controversy
with his insensitivity.
We suggest a “consider the source” response, coupled with
fervent hope that the general’s judgment remains separate
from our country’s foreign policy.
Cotendwi
•HANUKA
•PESACH
Fri.-Fri., Dec. 17-24
Sun.-Sun., Apr. 3-10
*TU B’SHVAT
Thursday, Feb 3
*FA8T OF E8THER
•ISRAEL
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Thursday, March 3
Thursday, Apr. 21
•PURIM
•LAG B'OMER
Friday, March 4
Friday, May 6
'Holiday Begins Previous Evening
j Carter Responds To JTA Query j
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency asked both President Ford and
Democratic Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter to answer a series of
questions dealing with their positions on issues vital to the Jewish com
munity. The questions were submitted to both candidates at the same time
and both were asked to respond by a given deadline. Carter submitted his
answers first, which follow. President Ford’s response will appear next
week. — THE EDITOR
SUPPORT TO ISRAEL A. The Administration must put human rights
Q. Do you pledge U.S. economic aid and high on its foreign policy agenda. The Helsinki
political support to Israel as well as military treaty of comprehensive security and cooperation
assistsadequate to maintain its security and in Europe was supposed to lead to greater personal
integrity aa an independent Jewish State? freedom for the people of Eastern Europe and the
A. I certainly do pledge economic and military Soviet Union, including greater freedom to travel,
assistance to Israel adequate to maintain its to marry, and to emigrate. In the last 13 months,
security and integrity as a Jewish State, as well as 4he Russians have all but ignored their pledge —
political support. This aid should not be used in a an d the Ford Administration has looked the other
carrot and stick fashion. Israel must feel secure in wa >'
the support that it expects from America in order I would do everything I possibly could as Presi-
to take the necessary risks for peace. dent to encourage the Soviet Union to liberalize its
I also believe the United States should not create emigration policies for Jewish citizens who want to
the need for aid to Israel by eroding Israel’s securi- move. I would not hesitate to use trade pressures
ty through uncontrolled arms sales to Israel’s to effectuate that purpose . . . In all my
adversaries. There must be a clear American negotiations, in my private discussions, and in all
policy on arms sales — particularly sophisticated other relationships with the Soviet Union, one of
offensive weapons. The present policy of selling the advantages I would hope to secure for our
arms simply to repatriate petrodollars has won the country would be the release or the freedom of
United States neither greater influence in the area J ews from Communist Soviet Union,
nor greater stability in the region. Q- Would you support federal legislation with
THE SINAI PACTS teeth to combat the Arab economic boycott? If
Q. What is your evaluation of the two Sinai
agreements arranged through Secretary of
State Henry A. Kissinger’s diplomacy a year
ago?
A. The Sinai pacts can form the basis of a
meaningful, lasting peace. I believe, however, that
there were a number of flaws in Secretary
Kissinger’s diplomacy. First, overt pressure
applied against Israel during the so-called
“reassessment” following the failure of the March
1975 shuttle was wrong. It strengthened the belief
that Arab intransigence will ultimately produce
American pressure for Israeli retreats without
Arab reciprocity.
Second, shuttle diplomacy is no substitute for
direct negotiations. Such negotiations should not
be restricted to a final, overall peace conference.
Third, the Sinai pacts did not go far enough
toward the normalization of relations. Greater
concessions and a movement towards normalized
relations could have been produced. Fourth, the
emphasis in the Sinai talks was placed on military
rather than political considerations. Any real
peace must involve political and military
settlements; that is the full range of normalized
relations.
ROLE OF PLO
Q. Do you think the PLO is the group with
which to deal in approaching a solution to the
Palestinian problem: if not the PLO, then with
whom? Would you support the PLO aa an equal
partner in any resumed general conference on
the Middle East?
A. The PLO is not the group to deal with in solv
ing the Palestinian problem. The PLO is an
alliance of guerrilla organizations, not a govern
ment in exile. The PLO is unrepresentative of the
Palestinians and unelected. The PLO should not
participate aa an equal partner in any resumed
Geneva peace conference because the PLO’s stated
aims are diametrically opposed to any peace which
envisions the continued existence of Israel.
At this time, any movement towards a solution
to the Palestinian problem must emanate first
from the Palestinians themselves. Any emerging
Palestinian leadership must recognize Israel’s
right to exist permanently and in peace as a Jewish
State in the Middle East. Palestinians who seek to
be included must abandon the PLO’s methods of
terror. The Palestinian leadership must control
those everpresent extremist elements who are un
willing to accept political compromise. The current
actions and statements of the PLO strongly
suggest the political evolution necessary for
Palestinian inclusion in the peace process has yet
to occur.
SOVIET JEWS. ARAB BOYCOTT
Q. How do you think the U.S. can move the
Soviet Union to increase immigration? Do you
favor linkage of legislations such as the
Jackson, Vanik and Stevenson provisos as a
means to this end? What ways would you
propose that the U.S. seek to help those people
in the Soviet Union who wish to remain there
but also wish to practice their religious belief
and cultural life?
so, outline examples of legislation you would ad
vocate.
A. I favor federal legislation to combat the Arab
boycott. I believe the bills now before the Congress
and included in the Export Administration Act
and the Tax Reform Act can provide an effective
means of neutralizing the boycott. I believe that
there must be effective implementation of these
laws by the executive branch. I would make sure
that the government applies these laws vigorously.
Compliance with the boycott abandons those prin
ciples of equal protection and equal rights upon
which the United States was founded.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION,
HOUSING, BUSING
Q. What is your opinion of HEW and Labor
Department guidelines on affirmative action
procedures which are asserted to promote
reverse discrimination?
A. I favor the affirmative action programs. I
think that if someone wants to move into a
neighborhood or go to a school, he should not be ex
cluded because of race or religious beliefs. I do not
believe in, quotas. This year (in the Democratic
Party) we made the first good step, where you try
to treat everyone the same, not exclude anybody
because of group membership, but also not exclude
other groups because you want to favor a par
ticular groua
Q. What |s your opinion of U.S. policies
regarding busing and housing which have been
asserted as seemingly weakening the stability of
neighborhood?
A. many years, urban policy has been
an-ertemy of the neighborhoods. We have sent in
bulldozers and called it urban renewal. The
government has not given neighborhoods a chance
to make it on their own. The government has
stacked the tax deck against the neighborhoods.
When a homeowner spends a little money fixing
up his house, the assessor raises his taxes.
Republican tight money and the Republican reces
sion reduced the percentage of families who can af
ford their own homes from more than fifty to only
thirty-two.
In many neighborhoods, when you look down
the street, and see a vacant lot or a boarded-up
house, chances are the government is the owner. If
we are to save our cities, we must revitalize our
neighborhoods first. Under the Republicans, the
FHA and HUD have become threats to the health
of our neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Housing
Services program should be made available to the
neighborhoods where it can make a difference. We
need a national law against redlining and federal
regulatory officials who understand that banks
are chartered to serve their communities. We need
honest officials in HUD. We must make homes
available to our people again.
Q. Do you favor a form of tax relief to parents
whose children attend non-public schools?
A. I am firmly committed to conducting a
systematic and continuing search for con
stitutionally acceptable methods for providing aid
to parents whose children attend non-segregated
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