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P««e 4 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 23, 1977
Cairo raises queries
The Weekly Newspaper far 80a there Jewry
Our 54th Year
Jack Gcldbart: Editor A Publisher
Vida Goldgar: Managing Editor
J. Allen Anderson: Advertising Director
Published every Friday by The Southern Israelite, Inc.
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Miwfcsr: Jxiiah TtWfnpfcic Agamey; Rtlfb« News 8rvk*;~Anrif ■ J«witki Prm Awn.;
Cwrfii Ptvm Asm.; NsIImsI Niwiygyir Asm. .
Where were you?
On another page of this issue, an active community member
takes issue with the relatively small number of people who turned
out for the recent rally sponsored by the Women's Plea for Soviet
Jewry.
We’d like to add our disappointment. Conditions for Jews in
the Soviet Union appear to be worsening. Experts feel that
external pressures have, in many instances, been the key factor in
easing the persecution of Jews.
Persistent demonstrations and letter campaigns can be
effective. This year, for what is believed to be the first time since
demonstrations began in our nation’s capital, the Soviet Embassy
accepted a “statement of concern” from representatives of the
Greater Washington Women’s Plea for Human Rights for Soviet
Jewry. This is, at least, some progress and a tribute to the
persistence of the Washington group.
The Atlanta rally was not a “Jewish” plea. It represented the
combined effortsof more than 30 Jewish, Catholic and Protestant
organizations. Yet fewer than 300 women showed up to lend their
support.
For shame!
Don’t stop now
Newspaper headlines, television and radio newscasts, and man-
on-the-street conversations are focused these days on the exciting
and hopeful developments in the Middle East.
With'the exhilaration comes a concern. We fear complacency
on the part of some who have been generous in their support of
Israel through the dangerous and difficult past.
This is no time for complacency. Israel’s strength has brought
that valiant country to this point. A large measure of that strength
has been made possible by our dollars.
Those dollars are still vitally needed—our obligations continue.
The Atlanta Jewish Welfare Federation is presently conducting a
campaign to translate pledges into cash, before the end of the year.
We Urge your cooperation.
Jack Ceidbert, whose cohunn regularly appears in this space, is
la Morocco with other editors of the E ngUsh/Jewish press on a
study-mission sponsored by the Moroccan government.
by Dr. Kenneth W. Stein
JERUSALEM—The opening
of the Cairo conference
last week was an intermediate
juncture in Egyptian-Israeli
negotiations which had its public
■beginning in Anwar Sadat's
historic trip to Israel. Judging
from the travels of Middle Eastern
leaders before and after the Sadat
trip three weeks ago, one might
suspect that what will be openly
discussed at the Cairo conference
When King Hussein was in
Atlanta in April speaking before
the Southern Center for
International Sutdies, he did not
hide his distaste for that resolution
which denies him the right to
represent Palestinian interests.
He made it emphatically clear
then, and in a press interview two
weeks ago, that he would like “to
untie the knot of Rabat." The
presence of West Bank and Gaza
Strip Palestinians at the Cairo
Anolvsk
has already been partially agreed
upon in various private
discussions.
The numerous peace treaty
formulas that have emerged in the
Arab and Hebrew press in recent
days, the “trial balloon” of Israeli
Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan’s
suggestion about a partitioned
West Bank, the Saudf Arabian
reaffirmation of Arab rights to
Jerusalem, and the repeated denial
that a separate Egyptian-Israeli
settlement is being sought indicate
that more than procedure is being
discussed in private.
After King Hussein's visit to the
Egyptian capital last weekend,
Sadat and the Jordanian king
spoke about their adherence to the
Rabat summit conference
reaohation. Explicitly, they were
referring to the political status won
by the Palestinian Liberation
Organization at the Arab summit
conference in October 1974 where
the PLO was annointed “the sole
legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people.” Why did
Hussein or Sadat choose to
mention the Rabat summit
resolutions? Were they publicly
telling the rest of the Arab world
that at some future date they might
seek an alternative to the PLO?
conference suggests that a viable
political alternative to the PLO is
being nurtured.
Quite noticeably, King Hussein
is not being violently attacked by
members of the Arab “rejectionist
front." Those Arab countries that
brook no compromise with Israel
recognize that the slightest
antagonism against Hussein might
drive him willingly into the grasp
of Sadat's settlement initiative.
Such a possibility would make
Syria’s recalcitrance that much
more lonely, and perhaps,
ultimately untenable.
Not only is the question of
Palestinian representation in the
throes of debate but the wake of
Sadat’s visit has generated
expected political division in the
Arab-world. Arab unity wax not a
prerequisite for Sadat’s visit to
Israel. Undoubtedly Sadat knew
that his 35'minute plane ride to Tel
Aviv would only polarize
positions. Now, instead of an
intermediary between Israelis and
Arabs, U.S. Secretary of State
Vance is seeking to mediate
between the Arab countries that
border on Israel, and Egypt.
If, in fact, large portions of
substance have been agreed upon
already, Sadat, too, may
ultimately become more of an
intermediary for his Arab
colleagues with Israel, than an
advocate in negotiations against
Israel.
The Cairo conference itself at
various stages will discuss the
substance, the nature and
implementation of a settlement, if
one is to be achieved. Substance
will be questions concerned with
territorial withdrawal, border
demarcation, use of waterways
and, perhaps, mutual and great
power guarantees. The nature of
peace will probably concern
matters relating to cultural
exchanges, trade relations,
diplomatic representation, ending
the state of beligerency and treaty-
signing.
Implementation of a settlement
will be the most arduous of the
negotiating components.
If there are “stages" of territorial
withdrawal, how long will each
stage endure? How will
determination be made about the
success or failure of each side’s
commitment to a particular stage?
Will the United States once again
be the sole peace monitor as it is
presently in the Sinai? How will
“staging” affect the creation of
demilitarized zones, limited force
zones, and permanent peace
keeping arrangements? At what
point will the respective countries
have to turn to their people and
parliaments for acceptance and
ratification of items negotiated?
The questions are endless. The
problems are staggering and latent
distrust still remains evident. Not
since 1949, when Israelis and
Egyptians met to discuss armistice
lines have there been face-to-face
negotiations.
Diplomacy may still prevail.
You have no idea what it’s like trying to
reason with those Arabs!”
Carter biography
free to Arabs
WASHINGTON, D.C. —President Jimmy Carter’s biography
entitled “Why Not the Best” is being translated into Arabic, and
will be passed out as a free gift to many Arabs.
A spokesman for the United States Information Agency told
The Jewish Post and Opinion that the government is paying $1,150
to buy 1,000 copies of the book to give away free to Arabs.
“We have information centers and libraries throughout the
world, and this book would make good presentation material for
our offices in the Arab world," said Erwin van Swol, information
officer for U.S.I.A.
“We’ll be giving them away free to opinion leaders, college
professors and others," he said.
Arabic rights for the book were purchased for only $100 from
Broadman Press of Nashville, Tenn. by The Anglo-Egyptian
Publishing Co., of Cairo, Egypt.
The Egyptian publisher plans to print 5,000 copies of the book,
which will sell for only $1.15 a copy.
Ptni and Opinion
