Portland Observer, July 20, 1983 Section I Page 3
Israeli journalist supports compromise
by John Blank
In 1967, during (he "six-day
w ar,” Israel occupied that part o f
Jordan which is today referred to as
the West Bank.
Israeli journalist and peace acti
vist Danny Rubenstein was, as he is
today, a correspondent for the
Israeli paper Davar, assigned to the
West Bank. Speaking at a forum or
ganized by the Portland chapter of
the New Jewish Agenda, recently,
he contrasted Israel's policies at that
time with her policies today.
In 1967, he said, his job was to
accompany Israeli cabinet ministers
and other officials to meetings with
Palestinian officials. Israeli officials
then spoke o f building some kind of
coexistence between the Palestinians
and Israel, spoke Arabic, tried to
learn, to enquire, to make at least
some friends. A t that time, there
were statements to the effect that
the occupation was to be only tem
porary. But, ” 1 found recently,”
said Rubenstein, "th at there is no
such intention today. It is a formal
policy o f the government (expressed
in the talks with Egypt concerning
Palestinian autonomy) to annex the
West Bank.” In the last five years,
Rubens.ein said he didn't remember
even one meeting between Israeli
and Palestinian officials.
In the early days o f the occupa
tion, Israel did not encourage Israeli
settlements on the West Bank.
Today, however, government policy
is to promote any and all kinds of
settlement there. Today, said Ruben-
stem, the annexation o f the West
Bank is almost complete: only two
years ago, there were 5,000 Israeli
settlers there; today, there are
30,000, and in the next two years
100,000 are expected.
I f this situation is allowed to con
tinue, he said, the result w ill be
detrimental, not only for the Pales
tinian inhabitants, but to the very
survival o f Israel herself.
Already today, Rubenstein said,
(here is damage to Israeli demo
cracy. " Y o u cannot have a split
democracy,” he said; yet today, in
the West Bank under military occu
pation, you already have a situation
where people are denied basic demo
cratic
freedoms.
For example.
Rubenstein mentioned that West
Bank Palestinians need special per
mission to go abroad, and cannot
even stay overnight in Israel, where
many o f them work. There is very
limited freedom o f assembly and
freedom o f the press. M any Arabic
newspapers which are available in
East Jerusalem are not allowed on
the West Bank. “ I see this as my
problem,
not just theirs (the
Palestinians*)”
said Rubenstein.
"This situation changes the mentali
ty o f every one o f us (Israelis),” he
continued, referring to the increased
m ilitarization o f Israeli life, and the
changes in moral values necessarily
stemming from being an occupying
power.
Three courses present themselves,
according to Rubenstein. There is
the solution advocated by the Begin
government: annexation o f the West
Bank. This policy will result in a sit
uation where Israel w ill have a 40
percent non-Jewish minority. In
such a situation, Israel would have
to result to a life o f hideous m ilitari
zation, worse than what exists today
and comparable to what exists in
South A frica, to maintain its exis
tence as a Jewish state.
Secondly, there is (he solution o f
expelling the Arabs from the con
quered territories. Rubenstein said
that most Israelis would oppose this
policy; only a handful (less than
200) advocate it; ironically, these
are led by a former American,
Rabbi Meyer Kahane.
T hird , (here is the solution o f
making territorial concessions. ” 1
believe the m ajority o f Israelis sup
port some form o f territorial conces
sions,” Rubenstein said, citing polls
which show that 7O% -75% o f
Israelis favor some form o f territori
al compromise. One form o f
compromise would be a Palestinian
sute encompassing the West Bank
and perhaps part o f the East Bank
(Jordan) as well (60% o f the Pales
tinians live on the East Bank and
technically are Jordanian citizens
Farmers cuts rates
on auto insurance
for drivers between
30 and 60
today). Rubenstein hopes (hat this
solution will come about.
The present inhabitants o f the
West Bank will not leave voluntarily,
Rubenstein pointed out, because
they do not want to become refugees
as did the Palestinians who left or
were driven from Israel in 1946.
Also, in spile o f the harsh features
o f Israeli military rule. West Bank
Palestinians view themselves as
better o ff than they would be if (hey
were to move to other Arab states,
such as Kuwait or Libya.
Rubenstein strongly disagreed
with the attitude, often expressed in
the American Jewish community,
that Israel should be supported no
matter what the policies o f its
government. “ American Jews have
the duty to become more involved
and undersund more (about Israel);
and the right, and (he duty, to raise
your voice. W e raise our voices for
many things (hat happen in other
countries, so why not for things that
happen in Israel? And (his is a kind
o f support to o ,” Rubenstein said.
Rubenstein’s trip was arranged by
the New Jewish Agenda, a progres
sive American-Jewish organization.
W e have rales 10", under standard rates lor drivers
between the ages of X) and b0
There's a good reason lor this farmers knows
that these drivers tend to he saler and more
careful on the highway You're the drivers who
have fewer accidents That's why farmers created
our .30/b0 package auto policy II you quality,
you could save substantially on your premiums
farmers Insurance* G roup is working constantly
to keep the costs ol insurance down, and the
amount ol protection up And this 30/b0 pack
age auto policy is one way w e do it. W hy not
call m e t .
FARMERS
Forlesl Jarlkin.
«726 N Williams Avanua
Portland Or agon 97217
ar
16031 249 2966
O ur own
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A Western
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Mr. b Mra. Jamas T. Anderson of Qreenwood, South Carolina,
ware In town visiting tffalr son Kamau Anderson. Their stay Included
a trip to the coast, a tour of Bonneville Dam ft Locks and. above, a
farewell potluck at the home of Mary Avery that Included 40 guests.
6.99
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L-R: Julia Fletcher. Jamas T. Anderson, Lola M . Anderson. Mary
Avery, Kamau Anderson, and Vivian Richardson.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
Libraries offer summer fun
North Portland, 312 N . Killings-
worth, 264-3622 will have a Sing
along with M ary Rose and Miss
Barbara on Wednesday, July 27,
2:30 p.m.
A lbina, 3603 N E 15th, 267-7147
will have a program entitled " U p ,
D p and A w ay ,” with the films.
"H a n g G lid in g ,” " F lig h t,” and
"Sky D ivin g ,” on Thursday, July
2 8 ,2 :3 0 p .m .
Preschool storytlmee for agaa 3-6
North Portland (address above)
will have storytime on Friday, July
29, at 10:30a.m .
Save 2 0 % to 35%
Kids' combed cotton
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Litlla girls' vest and paniias. pkg ol 3 end little
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