December 1989, Page 44

Arab-American Activism

By Catherine M. Willford

Zionists and Anti-Zionists Agree on Palestine

Both Zionists and anti-Zionists favored a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem at an Oct. 17 panel discussion in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Rep. David Bonior (D-MI) reserved the Gold Room for the occasion, and Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) chaired the panel organized by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). Moderated by ADC President Abdeen Jabara, the four panelists were former US Senator and Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern, President Emeritus of the World Jewish Congress Philip Klutznik, former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Neumann and Professor Edward Said of Colombia University, a member of the Palestine National Council.

McGovern told a packed audience he favored an international conference to make peace in Palestine. Klutznik preferred face-to-face negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, but agreed that self-determination for the Palestinians was mandatory.

Ambassador Neumann feared dire consequences, including collapse of the Camp David accords, if the administration failed to achieve peace now. Dr. Said stressed Israeli brutality in the West Bank and Gaza and the responsibility of the United States, as a superpower and Israel's mentor, for what is happening in the Middle East.

NAAA Protest US Military Deal with Israel

Alfred Shehab, president of the National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA), sent a strongly worded objection to Defense Secretary Richard Cheney regarding the recently announced memorandum of understanding to "lend" to Israel military research and development materials. Shehab called expansion of military ties to Israel "wholly inappropriate" in light of continuing human rights abuses.

The offer is allegedly designed to persuade Israelis and their congressional supporters to refrain from opposing the sale of M1 tanks to Saudi Arabia.

Shehab pointed out that the administration will most likely face opposition on the tank sale no matter what it promises Israel.

Washington Times Confronted on Racist Statements

Following the July 31 report of Colonel William Higgins' murder by Hezbollah in Lebanon,Washington Times Managing Editor Wesley Pruden asserted in an Aug. 2 article that Israel was "adrift in a sea of 400 million murderous fanatics." ADC President Abdeen Jabara sent a letter to the Washington Times demanding an apology and a retraction from Pruden for his racist anti-Arab comments.

Pruden responded with a second column on Aug. 7 entitled "Adrift in a Sea of Mortal Enmity." He declined to acknowledge the racist nature of his comments, and commented that Arab Americans have learned "that the way to get attention-and avoid the point of honest debate-is to accuse their critics of 'racism.'"

A letter from Faris Bouhafa, ADC's director of media and public relations, calling for Pruden's resignation resulted in a third column from Pruden criticizing Bouhafa for his "covert" anti-Jewishness. During this controversy, ADC President Abdeen Jabara, Hassan Hassan of NAAA, former Ambassador Andrew Killgore (publisher of The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs) and former Ambassador Robert Neumann of the Center for Strategic and International Studies met with Washington Times publisher Arnaud de Borchgrave.

While stating that he could not tell a columnist what to write, De Borchgrave said that had he reviewed the language prior to publication, he would have discussed the matter with Pruden. ADC President Jabara commented after the visit that the incident raised consciousness about Arab-bashing and showed the Washington Times that "we're not going to let such outrages pass without challenge."

Khalil Gibran Memorial Garden

Oct. 17 marked the groundbreaking services for a memorial garden to Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran in Washington, DC, on a site across the street from the Vice President's home and the British Embassy.

Three cedars of Lebanon were planted at the ceremony for the garden, which will include fountains, sculpture and stone benches etched with the words of Gibran. Though 80 percent of the funds for the project have already been donated, contributions are still needed. Tax deductible donations may be sent to The Khalil Gibran Centennial Foundation, c/0 1738 N St., NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Catherine M. Willford is the circulation director of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.