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JACK GELDBART
j The Soilheri Israelite j
NfcWiwl weekly by The Southern Israelite, Uc., P. O. Box 77388,
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NNA»
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Georgia Pram Assn.
World Union Press
Society of Profsmional
Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi
Mbs
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3 The sadness of Rabin
There seems to be no real anger over the recent revelations
of Premier Rabin’s secret bank account.
The feeling, instead, is one of sadness.
Somehow, there has always been the admittedly naive hope
that the Israelis were above this kind of crass self-interest
and misconduct.
Many 'commentators claim Rabin’s actions are a sign that
Israel is maturing, that she now joins the fraternity of other
nations whose leaders have proved to have feet of clay.
That may be true, but the thought makes one sad. The im
age of Israel as a nation of Sabras and Halutzim rebuilding
the land, without any thought of private gain, is one we
prefer.
Even though we could not reasonably expect Israel to re
main forever the idealistic example for the world, one is still
saddened that it .might no longer be so.
We should not, however, make the mistake of thinking that
Rabin’s transgression signals any large scale loss of values by
Israel’s leaders. In fact, it is heartening that the change of
leadership appears to be headed for a quick, efficient transi
tion.
Israel’s vitality will not diminish. Perhaps what we’ll see is
a heightened sense of wisdom that is touched with the
sadness born out of a nation’s loss of innocence.
r' -
I'm mad
.
at the Red Cross
That’s right, Fin mad at the Red Cron.
I know there are institutions that are sacred
and beyond criticism and the
Red Cross has always been one
of them. It is in the category
with baseball, apple pie and
motherhood. I recognize as well
as anyone that the Red Cross has
performed untold humanitarian
acts through the years. But hear
me out.
I’m mad because the Red
Cross has made incredibly unfair decisions con
cerning Magen David Adorn, Israel's version of
Red Cross service.
Ever since 1949, Israel has tried to gain admis
sion into the International League of Red Cross
Societies but has been denied, even though she
qualifies in nine of the ten provisions for admis
sion and adheres to the seven principles of conduct
and service that have been set up.
There can be no objection on religious grounds
since Israel furnishes non-sectarian service and
operates its aid stations, ambulances and blood
banks seven days a week, throughout the year.
Even Israel’s enemies recognize and respect the
Magen David Adorn but the Red Cross denial is not
based on the quality or responsibility of service.
The reason is hard to believe: it is because of
Israel’s emblem, of all things.
I’m sure you’ve all seen it
at one time or another. This is Af -
il s
Looks okay, doesn’t it? But
the International Red Cross g
insists that to become a mem- t
her Israel must discard its ▼ y
emblem and accept those ««i c*
used by the organization: the “Red Cross,” “Red
Crescent.” or “Red Sun.”
S’?
OVL . _ .r
They look like this.
Is there any wonder
that Israel will not
agree to give up the Ma
gen David for one of
these? The Red Cres
cent is the emblem used
by Turkey and the Red
Lion is the symbol ap
proved for Persia, now
Iran. Both those Mos
lem nations had objected that the Red Cross was a
symbol offensive to them because of its religious
implications and they were promptly allowed to
use their own emblems and admitted to member
ship.
When Israel raised the very same argument,
they were denied admission. An official of the
International Red Cross confirmed recently that
this refusal is based on the political bias of a ma
jority of the 125 members of the organization, a
tacit admission that an avowed humanitarian or
ganization would permit political reasons to block
acceptance of a highly respected operation.
This denial has had serious consequences for
Israel. As a non-member, Magen David Adorn can
not cooperate fully with the International Red
Cross in providing care for wounded, exchanging
prisoners and burying the dead. Many Israelis kill
ed in the Yom Kippur War are not buried in
Jewish cemeteries and many still lie along the
fronts of that war. Estimates are that 413 Israelis
killed in wars with the Arabe are still not buried in
Jewish cemeteries.
This is why I am mad and I intend to write the
Red Cross and let them know how I feel. I invite
you to join me.
+
&
c
Another opinion
What to do about Ted Turner
The anti-boycott battle
We’re being treated once again to the spectacle of confusion
over what is going to happen concerning a federal anti
boycott bill.
On the one hand, the President has consistently repeated
his campaign promise that he would “do everything I can as
President to stop this boycott of American businesses by the
Arab countries.” 1
And yet this last week the Senate Banking Committee
reported out a bill that Chairman William Proxmire said per
mits “a somewhat effective boycott against Israel."
When asked why the committee had adopted amendments
permitting mgny forms of boycott against Israel, Sen.
Edward W. Brooke said, “The administration wants some
law, but they don’t want a law with any teeth at all.”
Now what are we to believe? Is the Carter administration
supporting an anti-boycott bill, or not?
The way to find out is to write the President and ask him.
by Stuart Lewengrub
Is Ted Turner anti-Semitic?
, What should we do about our
season tickets for the Braves and
Hawks? Why did Turner say
such a thing? Last week, the
ADL office was deluged with
telephone calls of this nature
from concerned Jews throughout
the city as well as from others
out of town who had read Mr.
Turner’s foolish and tasteless
remarks in which he dis
paragingly alluded to the
religious beliefs and back
ground of player agent, Jerry
Kapstein.
On the day the remarks
appeared in Red Smith’s syn
dicated column, we spoke with
Turner at some length. He seem
ed to deeply regret what he had
f mtoOK,fines IK LAST
i
been quoted as saying. He seem
ed to want to apologize to the
Jewish community as quickly
and as strongly as possible. He
was clearly embarrassed and
perhaps a little frightened that
his statements would cause a
rebellion among the Atlanta
area Jews who are generally
supportive of Atlanta's sports
frachises.
Turner immediately sent a
letter of apology to the ADL and
released the same to the news
media. Neither ADL or any
other organization can speak for
the entire Jewish community.
Like anyone else, maybe more
than anyone else, Jews will con
tinue to think and speak for
themselves. Nevertheless, we
were asked for our professional
opinion on the man and his
statements. —
In consultation with our chair
man, Harris Jacobs, and with
our national office, I suggested
that we accept the apology and
Mr. Turner’s word that the
statements were intended in jest
and do not represent his true
convictions. We also accepted his
statement that he realizes that
anti-Semitism is no joking
matter. In so doing, it was my
feeling that Turner’s public
record suggested that he was
prone to uttering ill-conceived
statements which he later had
cause to regret. Moreover, we
had no knowledge or evidence of
previous anti-Semitism on his
part that would suggest a
hostility toward Jews. He did
have a record of general wise
cracking.
Neither I or anyone else really
knows what Ted Turner feels in
his heart about Jews. Who
knows what he thinks, or what
he says in the privacy of his
home or club or when among his
non-Jewish friends? So, what we
have to do is proceed according
to what we do know and, I think,
in this instance give him the
benefit of the doubt.
We also considered this — of
what benefit would it be to con
duct a vendetta against Mr.
Turner? What would be added to
the positive human relations of
our community? Is it not wiser,
in this case, to be forgiving and
to hope that the man has been
sensitized; that perhaps he un
derstands that just as a family
which has seen a loved one
stricken with a disease cannot
consider that disease a joke, the
Jewish people cannot consider
anti-Semitism a joking matter?
We hope that Ted Turner will
recognize that a man who is in
the public eye, as he is, has an
even greater responsibility than
others in what he says and does.
Consequently, he has to exercise
greater discretion in his public
statements and greater sen
sitivity in his comments and in
the thought processes^ at lead
to those comments.
Ted Turner is in a position to
do a great deal of good in this
community. His television sta
tion and his teams command a
great deal of attention. He, per
sonally, receives substantial
press coverage. Perhaps this in
cident will have a sobering and a
positive effect. As we Jews have
learned thoughout the ages,
sometimes out of a bad situation
something good can emerge.
(Mr. Lewengrub is
Southeastern Regional Director
of the Anti-Defamation League
of B'nai B'rith)