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4 IHt SOI IHtH\ ISH4t.llIt October X, |47<* l * The Southern Israelite I hr tieHcfy \empnpw for Southrrn Jrurx Our 55th Yrar V A deafening silence VklaGoiifear LdlV 40tC PtfOifc'*" Faith Poo HI AfcMbl<*r Ldfltr I mda IjBudn Ao.*?rta*ng LhrecVjr Hark \«hoU r'r'yJuCUur MdTM^r r' j'fl!.,',.- ff -<Kj, by Thr Southrrrt Is'arhtr im Sx"cr« Ciciii hjit'jye ^cuct <1 Atlanta. Oa (ISSN' WSM&i (USE'S 776060; Moilmo Addr-si. P O Box 77366 Atlanta Georya 30357 location 166 15th St , N W Phonr (4041 676-6246 Advert rvmq rata* aoaiabir upon rrqorU Subw nptKin* $15 00 I yrar. $25 00 2 yew» '*i> ■' - ' trr-'y ’ .■+~ffr^r Agrrr y (Wiiigioui 'rwj Se-wi- Vwtf * ■ -'j Ayv ' —-cPtrw A',b' Na'rrta Vwb^ipr Ass- Our voices count Jacobo 1 imerman is a free man this week and a new citizen of Israel (See story. page two). After two and a half years in various prisons and under house arrest in his apartment, the Argentinian newspaper editor was stripped of his titi/enship and expelled I imerman's case elicited widespread protests from Jew ish and non-Jewish organizations and individuals Unquestionably these appeals had direct bearing on his release Mrs Timerman. before being reunited with her husband in Israel, said. "Ms husband's release is a hopeful sign for the thousands of other innocent political prisoners still in Argentina's jails “ Whether in Argentina or the Soviet Union these prisoners are heartened and helped by our voices joined in protest I here will be a special opportunity to show our support at the annual Simchat I orah rally to be held Sunday evening. Oct 14. in Atlanta I et's all participate Homecoming (trie of (Georgia's least visible but most effective contributions to the Washington political scene returns home to Atlanta this week I ong before Washington ever heard of him. Bob I ipshut/ played a valuable role in the progress of our community. We suspect that after a brief time to resettle and resume the practice of law he will pick up where he left off Welcome back Bob by Stuart l>f»«jrub fwiutheawai Ikitecu*' Ant - Ikrluniat.cn I r rtf or During the tan month, the issue of Jewish-black relations, the PUO. the SCUC. Jesse Jackson. Andrew Young, etc has been covered in print inside out. upside down, and every which way almost One question which has not been raised often or loud enough is —at what point will black leaders say publicly and privately to the Uowervt. Jacksons, and Williamses. "You art wrong" I realize that no group, especially a minority group, likes to wash its dirty linen in public or be subjected to accusations of divisiveness. But there are times when decency and integrity demand that you chastise your own and this is one of those times On many issues blacks, as Jews, must stand together and present a united front to be most effective In this case, the almost non-existent criticism of blacks by other blacks, the deafening silence, is uncalled for and m a sense is contributing to a growing rift between Jews and blacks, and to our own sense of isolation and frustration. As Edmund Burke wrote, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing ” Despite our need and desire as Jews to present united fronts, when (he Jewish Defense League was engaging in activities that were unwise, harmlul and violence oriented, the organized Jewish community criticized them, privately and publicly, and urged them to mend their ways W e tried to reason with them and persuade them that harassing the wives of Soviet diplomats in Manhattan supermarkets was not the way to save Soviet Jewry We also objected to and dissociated ourselves from the Jewish Defense I eague when they invited racial conflict by chaining themselves lo the fence of a synagogue, holding baseball bats and clubs, to prevent a black mjlitant from speaking TgRRlFK ftbCE & For A &JLL&0ARD Ted./ there In a civili/cd nation there has to be a morality that transcends even the concept of group togetherness When people are engaged in activities that are morally indefensible and which are dividing old friends, others have lo say openly, “You do not speak for us “ I would think that for black Americans there is more at stake here than whether SCI.C or Jesse Jackson gets the most media coverage, and whatever other benefits they might expect from their political pronouncements There are questions of credibility, integrity, and the wisdom lo recognize that a group does not aid its own cause by ignoring or condoning repugnant words and actions of some of its members. It is unlikely that anything that Jesse Jackson, Joseph Lowery or Hosea Williams says or does will greatly affect Israel’s decisions on issues of their own survival. The Israelis and most Americans recognize that these three have chosen to use the Middle East as a stage to advance their own personal or institutional goals. Nor are Jackson and Lowery likely to change the PLO People who throw kids out of schoolhouse windows, machine gun a four- year-old girl and firebomb tourist buses are not likely to be swayed by linking arms with Lowery and singing “W'e Shall Overcome ” Nor. in the long run, will Jackson and Lowery havdv^any meaningful impact on relations between American blacks and Jews We are angry at these individuals and at those who support their mischief, not at a whole race. There are issues on which we will agree and work together, and other issues on which we may disagree, but which need not result in deep animosities between us. At least, I hope that this is the way it will be. For now. we need to hear some alternative voices in the black community. Who knows? Once those voices begin to emerge, I.owerv and Jackson and Williams may find themselves way out in left field, where they belong I hcrc arc times when American Jews disagree w ith a specific policy of Israel While we recognize that the ultimate decisions on any Israeli policy must be made in Jerusalem, by Israelis, not in America by us. we still share our differences w ith them and offer our opinions and counsel, not because we oppose them, but because we support them In short, Jews are not immune from criticism by other Jews, and that contributes to our credibility and sense of community integrity. When I observe Dr Joseph Lowery hugging and grasping the blood-stained hands of Yassir Arafat, ol Jesse Jackson showboating for the Arabs of Nablus while criticizing Israel, and, worst of all, Hosea Williams profaning the name of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the concept of peace by pinning a King “peace" medallion on Libya's Muammar Qadaffi, I listen for other voices and thus far I’ve heard far too few Only the Urban League's Vernon Jordan, and Baynard Rustin have publicly disagreed with the Arafat- SCLC, and Arafat-Jackson mutual admiration society Only they have dared to say that the PLO are killers and outlaws, and that they do not merit the recognition and attention of American blacks Several blacks in Atlanta have expressed this privately to us, and perhaps they too will speak out. 1 hope so How can anyone who was associated with Dr King stand by silently and watch Hosea Williams honor Qadaffi in his name, especially knowing that Qadaffi has bankrolled, supported and given refuge to the world's most vicious terrorists and murderers, and that it was he. Qadaffi. who provided the major support financial and military for Idi Amin, the ty rant responsible for the deaths of more blacks than anv ruler in modern history ’ I wonder if Amin, who lives in Libya today, under Qadaffi's protection, attended the medallion ceremony If so. he must have laughed himselt silly. If people like Lowery. Jackson and Williams are using the Middle Fast for a stage from which they wish lo advance their personal or institutional goals, which I believe they are doing, and if they have gone there with their mind' already made up. which it i' apparent they have, then thev deserve to be denounced by the blacks whom thev claim to represent. It they arc not so denounced, then whatever negative results emerge become the responsibility of those who remained silent as well as of those who committed the acts B’nai B rith zonks Spain NVASHINGION B nai B’rith International has denounced the Spanish government for embracing the Palestine l iberation Organization and called on Madrid “to resist Arab blackmail” and recognize Israel. In a statement responding to remarks made by Miguel Oreja. Spain’s loreign minister, at the United Nations. B’nai B’rith President Jack J. Spitzer pointed out that that country “has separated itself from the rest ol Western l urope as the only democracy that does not, and will not, recognize Israel ...“How can Spam hypocritically refuse to accept the legitimacy” of Israel and vet deal with a terrorist organization under the pretense of contributing to the peace process?” he asked.