June 1989, Page 30

Letters to (and from) the Editors

Clarification on Humanitarian Aid

Dear Editors:

I would like to clarify some comments about the United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) in Mitchell Kaidy's article on US Palestinian charities in the May 1989 issue.

First of all, the nursing college being built at Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem is a UPA project, not that of a consortium. UPA does not, however, have its own "training program for Palestinian medical personnel." UPA does provide partial scholarships to Palestinian students, often helps medical professionals advance their training, and supports numerous health care organizations in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon.

The article does not make clear that while some organizations have begun or expanded relief efforts for the occupied territories since the outbreak of the intifada, UPA has been there all along. For 10 years, UPA has provided nonpolitical, humanitarian assistance in the occupied territories. Finally, it is worth noting that UPA receives all income from individual donations.

Thriq Abu-Jaber, executive director, United Palestinian Appeal

A New Angel in the Choir!

Dear Editors:

I would like to join the "Choir of Angels" with my donation of $100. Thank you again for providing such a crucially important magazine. Keep up the good work of enabling Americans to see the other side to the Middle East conflict.

Miroya Monsour, Pittsburgh, PA

Moroccan Solidarity with Palestinians

Dear Editors:

I just heard on Moroccan radio a new Berber folk song with the astonishing title of "Stones and Numbers"—in honor of the stone-throwing boys of Palestine!

Its lyrics incorporate such words as:

"Our stones are numberless. The numbers are those of us who are killed for our motherland; never mind the numbers, it is only our stones that count they will bring us victory!"

I thought you would like to know about this manifestation of solidarity with the little Palestinians, which has even penetrated the Berber mountains of this "Farthest Arab West"-al Maghreb al-Aqsa!

Bruce Conde, Tangiers, Morocco

More Group Subscriptions to WR

Dear Editors:

We would like to take advantage of your offer of a group subscription for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs at $5 per person for one year I am enclosing a check for $75 for 15 subscriptions.

Ted Shapin, Cousins Club of Orange County, CA

Dear Editors:

Thanks for such a great job! The magazine is looking terrific. I would like to donate 10 subscriptions to the attached list. Please attach a note that the subscription is a gift from me so that the recipients will not treat it as unsolicited material. I hope that all the recipients will really read and enjoy it, as I know you do, too. In addition, I am ordering two copies of The Flag Balloon to be sent to me at my APO address.

Claudia K., APO New York

Dear Ms. K:

We'll put your full name on the donation cards but abbreviate it on this letter. We have a lot of readers in the service of Uncle Sam overseas. As long as you all continue to send us fan letters, we'll know we are speaking out honestly for those who can't. Thanks also for your donation subscriptions to six school libraries, one church librarian, two ministers, and your congressional representative. If any of these recipients already receives a subscription, we'll divert your gift to another recipient in a similar category.

Praise for WR

Dear Editors:

Enclosed is a contribution for the "Other People's Mail" section of the Washington Report.

Let me take this opportunity to tell you that I read each edition front to back. Washington Report is just what I was looking for to keep informed about the Middle East.

Phyllis McClure, Washington, DC

Dear Ms. McClure:

Thanks for the kind words. We have now reprinted your perceptive letter to Ambassador Arad of Israel concerning his embassy's program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the "Other People's Mail" section of our May issue.

More Compliments!

Dear Editors:

I attended the conference on the Palestinian issue held at Rosemont College this past weekend and felt compelled to write to compliment your chief editor on his presentation. Like him, I believe it is time for Americans without direct ethnic ties to the Middle East to make our opinions known. His wellreasoned, eloquent comments added much to the weekend's proceedings, and his courageous stance will long remain an inspiration to me.

Sherry Babbitt, Philadelphia, PA

Response to Schindler

Dear Editors:

Can a mere farmer question the statements by Sol Schindler (Two Views, April 1989) on why a sovereign Palestinian state should not be?

He gives three "reasons." Historical—because few Arabs even suggested it until two years ago. Now I ask why history should exclude a new solution, since "history" certainly has not answered the question?

Political—an independent state was not envisioned in the Camp David accords nor would such a state be welcomed by neighboring Arab states. So I ask if Camp David was/is the divine last word and infallible? Furthermore, it should be obvious by now that what neighboring Arab states liked has had little influence on Israel thus far nor would it in case real peace was Israel's desire.

Economic—a Palestinian state could not exist without regular infusions of foreign aid. Now from a Zionist that beats all since the Israeli economy has been strictly dependent on foreign aid so long as Israel has existed, and Palestinians within the territories have always had to depend to some extent on remittances sent home by family members in the diaspora. A Palestinian state, even if existing on foreign aid, would be looking to Arab states for that aid and not expecting to exist on the backs of American taxpayers as has Israel.

Gordon S. Clark, Eastland, TX

Armed Helicopters for Israel

Dear Editors:

Enclosed is a copy of an article from the Feb. 25, 1989, issue of Jane's Defence Weekly covering an arrangement for the US to give free Apache armed helicopters (AH-64) and Black Hawk helicopters (UH-60) to Israel.

I have challenged this action on the basis that there are many aviation units in the US force structure that do not have these modern helicopters. Any giveaway of these aircraft to Israel would be at the expense of the readiness of US combat units.

I have written to Secretary of State James Baker, Senators Sam Nunn and Wyche Fowler, and Congressman George Darden from Georgia. I expressed my opposition to this irrational give away to Israel.

I recommend you use your considerable influence to encourage open debate on this very serious issue. it is my opinion that this action could not be considered at all unless Secretary Baker supported and recommended it. And, of course, if Baker is supporting it, President Bush is supporting it. Frightening, isn't it?

Harold J. Earwood, Jr., Marietta, GA

Israeli Prisoners of Conscience

Dear Editors:

Two Israeli soldiers are in jail indefinitely—for following their conscience.

Since the beginning of the Palestinian uprising in December 1988, approximately 75 Israeli reserve soldiers have been jailed for their refusal to serve in the occupied territories. Many have now been imprisoned two or three times for the act of refusal to participate in the repression of the Palestinian people. The number of soldiers who "refuse" assignment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but who have not been jailed because the army would prefer to avoid publicizing the issue, is reported to be in the hundreds.

The Israeli government and the army have recently instigated a series of moves aimed at harassing and ultimately suppressing the growing refusal movement.

Now the army has initiated its latest and most damaging policy—successive call-ups. Any reservist refusing to serve in the occupied territories may be subjected to continuing call-ups for active military duty.

What this means is that jailed soldiers will be immediately summoned for additional duty directly upon completion of their jail terms—and then jailed again, if they continue to follow their conscience. This new policy is designed to break the will of individual resisters who face repeated jailings.

Two soldiers of conscience are currently bearing the brunt of the new policy—and several more are in line to suffer the consequences.

Rami Hasson was jailed in December 1988 for his refusal to serve in the occupied territories. Again in February of this year, Rami received another call-up, refused, and was jailed for 28 days. On March 28, he completed his sentence, only to be summoned again a few days later. Rami again refused, was given a 28-day suspended sentence and called up again the next day. When he refused to serve, he was sentenced to 56 days in jail.

Rami Hasson is a 29th-generation Jerusalemite. Prior to his call up in February, he staged a three-day vigil in front of Prime Minister Shamir's house, which was widely publicized in Israel. Now it seems that the army is having its revenge.

Angelo Aiden is married and the father of four daughters. He is also now serving a second continuous sentence under the new policy—and he has already been issued a call-up for the end of April. Angelo is a community activist and lives in a two-room apartment with his family and 86-year-old father, who is dying of cancer.

We urgently call upon you to immediately protest these latest actions by the army and to show support for Rami and Angelo and the others to follow, by calling, writing, and petitioning the Israeli Embassy and local consulates, your congressional representatives, and the secretary of state for human rights.

Letters of support to Rami and Angelo can be sent directly to Yesh Gvul, PO Box 6953, Jerusalem 91068, Israel.

Friends of Yesh Gvul, 1678 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 848-9391

America Cannot Afford Racism

Dear Editors:

The US government can no longer justify the $3 billion donation it gives to Israel each year. The human rights violations and the systematic murder of Arab children constitutes genocide, which is a racist activity.

It is quite obvious to me that our country does not consist of one race of people and that is exactly what makes this the greatest country on earth. However, we will not remain the most powerful nation if racism impedes social harmony. We have to hold ourselves to a higher moral standard than people in other countries that are homogenous. The US government cannot let itself be manipulated by racist special interest groups. Can we afford to sacrifice our humanity and dignity by associating ourselves with racist governments like Israel and South Africa?

Our government sets a bad example for its citizens by paying the bill for the murder and mayhem being inflicted upon innocent men, women, and children. What if Americans started killing each other because of their color? Of course we won't allow that sort of thing here. Which means we are hypocrites for allowing our government to conspire with Israel to murder people because of their race.

Michael P. Skramstad, Long Beach, CA

More Gift Subscriptions

Dear Editors:

Enclosed is my check for $60 and a list of 12 recipients in response to your appeal for donations of subscriptions to libraries and opinion molders.

Having spent ten years in the Middle East—six in Ramallah (Friends Boys School, West Bank) and four in Beirut, and being very closely in touch with developments over there, I find the Washington Report (along with Middle East International) indispensable and most gratifying for its coverage and quality of journalism. I do hope you can manage financially as it would be a cataclysmic loss to the cause of justice and peace in the Middle East if you had to discontinue your great service. Anyway, here's my little token of appreciation and best wishes.

T. Robert Bassett, Ottawa, IL

Dear Mr. Bassett:

Thanks for the names and the check. Subscriptions have gone to all of them. If just 1000 of our readers do exactly what you've just done this year, we'll know it's worth the effort to keep publishing.

Human Rights Group in Nazareth

Dear Editors:

We are a fairly new association based in Nazareth working for the promotion of human rights in Israel and the occupied territories. At a time when world attention is focused on the intifada, we would like to draw attention to the many difficulties faced by the Palestinian communities living inside Israel which flow directly from the policy and actions of the Israeli authorities. Land expropriation and obstruction of the development of the housing sector are two of the worst aspects of this.

After a recent visit to one of at least 40 Arab villages, the existence of which is unrecognized by the Israeli government, our voluntary worker, Fiona McKay, wrote the enclosed article. We hope that you will be able to find a space in your publication for this.

Mansur Kardosh, Nazareth, Israel

Dear Mr. Kardosh

We will print Ms. McKay's informative article in a forthcoming issue of Washington Report of Middle East Affairs.