October 1999
October 6, 1999 Generals Do Not Make Good Civilian Leaders!
October 10, 1999 Hypocrisy and Confusion
October 10, 1999 Membership -- Women In Green
October 12, 1999 To: The Residents of Efrat and Gush Etzion
October 12, 1999 The Story of the Maon Farm
October 14, 1999 A Compromise Leading To Surrender
October 17, 1999 Yossi Sarid Has Taught Us Well!
October 18, 1999 Mitzpe Cramim in Danger Too!
October 18, 1999 MY HEART IS ON THIS HILL
October 26, 1999 Uprooting Jews From Their Homeland
October 27, 1999 Funding Wye Is Not in the "Strategic Interest" of the U.S.
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Jerusalem, October 6, 1999
Generals Do Not Make Good Civilian Leaders!
Ehud Barak has donned civilian clothes but continues to have the same army
shortcoming. of not being able to adapt to a democratic way of life. His
tactics are still army-like, arbitrarily maneuvering the Jewish People this
or that way, in order to have executed efficiently and without undue
difficulties, what he decides he wants done. Added to this personal
problem, is his completely barren background of a traditional Jewish
upbringing, so that he is out of touch with the aspirations and hopes of
the great majority of his People who want to remain Jewish, who desire to
live in a Jewish State, and who consider this Promised Land holy.
Barak is intelligent enough to understand that his present Labor Party is
out of touch with large segments of the Jewish People. Therefore his
advisors came up with the deception that the supporters of Barak are from
all segments of the Jewish People. As proof of that ploy an attempt was
made to gather divergent persons and parties into a so-called unity camp.
In order to accomplish this, Barak had to pay a severe price -- the
appointment of David Levy, who knows no English, as Israel's Foreign
Minister, and whom many feel is wholly unsuitable for this job.
Part of the plan of the illusion of unity, which Clinton's former advisors
devised for Barak, was the support of a so-called religious party (Meimad)
for his One Israel Party. Meimad is an inconsequential break-off from
the National Religious Party; previously, it had failed to obtain the
election of even one of its members to the Knesset. This tells you what an
insignificant minority it is, as far as the religious population of our
Country is concerned. Nevertheless, Barak went along with this phony
formula and put a servile Meimad minister, Rabbi Melchior, into his
cabinet. Unfortunately, these successful electoral maneuvers have
apparently encouraged Barak into thinking that he can get away with
anything, and accordingly, we are all in for some rough undemocratic days
ahead.
Barak has thus emerged as a leader who does not deal honestly with his own
Party, and certainly not with the Jewish People. As such he represents a
danger to an open and free society, and more particularly to a true
democratic resolution of the difficult problems that face Israel today. He
has now been freed from the restrictions of the election period, imposed
upon him by the Carville team. Accordingly, he continually makes rash and
harmful pronouncements as with his promise to be out of Lebanon within a
year, or that the "safe passage" road for Arafat's Arabs will
unconditionally open on schedule. Then, at the last minute, a delay must
be announced due to unresolved important differences. It is apparent that
no real thought precedes such "shooting from the hip" utterances by Barak
in his desire to please Clinton and Albright and the ever hostile European
community.
Unfortunately, we do not have a free and open media. Instead, they serve as
a smokescreen for Barak's actions. Despite the fact that the media has in
its hands potent material to expose Barak's serious shortcomings, it
chooses to ignore it, and refuses to properly probe him as it mercilessly
and prejudicially did to Netanyahu. The media thus fails to perform its
important task in a democracy. In these crucial times it denies the
Israeli public a chance to be fully informed so that it can act
responsibly. The public deserves to be informed of the manipulative and
undemocratic actions of Ehud Barak.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, October 10, 1999
Hypocrisy and Confusion
Israel is living in times where the world is in a state of moral
debasement and confusion. However, Israel has placed itself in a position
where it can hardly espouse the broad and universal moral message which its
giant Prophets gave to the world thousands of years ago, and which is still
relevant and meaningful to all leaders of nations today.
The problem manifested itself recently with the Austrian election
results which apparently gave a Nazi oriented Party a sizeable vote.
Israel's Foreign Minister Levy threatened to remove its Ambassador to
Austria, should that Party join the Government, and based its threat on
moral grounds.
Unfortunately, Israel has placed itself in an untenable moral position
by its agreeing to deal with the murderer Arafat as a partner in the "Peace
Process." Although Arafat does not presently possess Hitler's capacity to
liquidate Jews, Arafat's many pronouncements against Jews and Israel, and
his behavior both prior and since the signing of the Oslo Accords, is
morally indistinguishable from the behavior of Hitler, whom he and the
Arabs still admire. "Mein Kampf" is a best seller among Arafat's Arabs,
yet Prime Minister Barak is undaunted and blindly moves forward with the
various one-sided "agreements" with Arafat, and makes no demands that
Arafat first gives proof that he has changed his past ways and attitudes.
Moreover, Israel has immorally agreed to release Arab murderers and
terrorists from its jails as part of the Barak Government's recent
commitments at Sharm-el-Sheikh to Arafat. Although there has been some
delay in the execution of this commitment, there is no doubt that Barak
will eventually bow to Arafat's demands on this point as well. Whatever
strength Ehud Barak has shown, it certainly does not lie in the area of
Jewish morality. His support for a gambling casino within Israel is just
one of many indications that he lacks any understanding of what traditional
Jewish morality is all about.
The incongruous moral "stand" of Israel invited a bizarre but
predictable response by the Austrian Freedom Party leader, Joerg Haider.
Describing as hysterical and unacceptable Israel's threat to remove its
ambassador (Levy had made this threat in the Knesset on Wednesday), he
stated: "In a civilized world, one does not react with threats, but sits
down at the discussion table with those who have different ideas."
Once Israel has so lowered its universal standards of morality as it has
done in dealing with the unrepentant arch-murderer and terrorist Arafat as
a "peace partner", and, in addition, immorally agreeing to release Arab
murderers from prison, it considerably weakens its moral and justifiable
stand concerning recent unsettling developments in Austria. It invites
the sort of inane comment by the Neo-Nazi leader, Haider, which in effect,
removes Jewish morality from consideration, when discussing "different
ideas."
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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October 10, 1999
Membership -- Women In Green
Dear Member, Friend and Supporter,
It is certainly appropriate at the start of a New Year to greet our
many members, friends and supporters throughout Israel, the United States ,
England and Canada. The past year has not been any easy one for the Lovers
of Zion, and the upcoming year may even prove to be more difficult. Yet we
have learned that we can accomplish a great deal by our united efforts.
And so it has been throughout our long and ancient history. The dedicated
relatively few amongst our People has led us out of situations that were
even more severe than what we face today.
You can be proud to be associated with our organization which has made a
name for itself by its proven dedication and love for this Land and our
Jewish People here and throughout the Diaspora. It is not easy to win
praise from those who do not agree with you, but that is what has
occurred, A leading writer from the widely circulated Hebrew daily
"Maariv" has called the Women In Green "the most authentic resistance
movement to have arisen in Israel." Unfortunately, there is still much to
resist. Zionism is in disfavor with the present Barak Government, and with
a powerful and vocal minority that control the Israeli and world media.
Our organization is an important leader in the fight to keep Israel a
Jewish State. We have led the fight against using anti-Zionist textbooks in
our high schools which Meretz Education Minister Sarid has recently
introduced. We recently organized a large demonstration against opening up
our roads for "safe passage" to Arafat's terrorists from Gaza and Hebron.
Moreover, we have vigorously opposed giving up any portions of our Jewish
Biblical Homeland, and we will be in the forefront in the upcoming fight
for Jerusalem. As Ben Gurion put it so well: "no Jew has the right to give
up any part of the Land of Israel since it belongs not only to those Jews
living in Israel and in the Diaspora, but to all Jewish children of future
generations." Ironically, giving up portions of our Land to the Arabs,
has not brought the desired " peace". Sadly, few people in Israel really
believe the Arabs want peace. Despite the multitudinous concessions by
Jews, the Arabs have not ceased teaching in their schools, nor has their
vitriolic propaganda in any way abated, against Israel and Jews.
The bottom line however, is that we need your help and support. A large
membership and supporters has proven time and again to make our voice far
more effective. It is vital therefore that you renew your annual
membership* immediately, and where applicable to join as a member
forthwith, and get your friends and relatives to join Women In Green as well.
Together we can make a difference. Your leadership here in Israel, and
in the States is made up entirely of volunteers who are wholly dedicated to
our People and Israel. You will find no better way to identify with your
belief in Israel, and the fight for its survival, than through the active
support of our organization.
With an eternal love of Zion,
Ruth and Nadia Matar
Annual Membership is U.S.$36. in the U.S.A, Canada and England.
In Israel it is 60 NIS.
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, October 12, 1999
To: The Residents of Efrat and Gush Etzion
Dear Residents of Efrat and Gush Etzion,
As a first step in the uprooting of Jewish communities in Eretz
Yisrael, the government intends to uproot the agricultural farm in
Maon in the southern Hebron hills. Just a year and a half ago, Dov
Dribben,äé"ã , one of the founders of the farm, was murdered at that place.
In parallel, the government is handing over to the Palestinian
Authority thousands of dunams of land in the heart of Gush Etzyon, for
agricultural farms of their own (which can and will turn into populous
towns!).
The time has come to wake up and act !
Today - the Maon farm,
Tomorrow - G-d forbid, Efrat !
Only in Unity can we struggle
and with G-d's help, avert the decree !
Residents of Efrat and Gush Etzyon will travel
THIS FRIDAY, October 15th, 1999 for a
get-acquainted and support visit
to our brothers and sisters in Maon
Buses (fee) will leave
At 8:15 from Efrat (at bus stop near Lev Efrat)
At 8:30 from the Gush gas station
At 8:45 from Carmei Tzur
Return around 12:00 noon
Please reserve seats at 050-500834 or 9932811 or fax 9309148
(or e-mail nmatar@netvision.net.il)
Va'ad Peulah Efrat
Marilyn and Josh Adler 993-2811
Eve Harrow 993-2172
Nadia and David Matar 993-2083
Naomi Baruchi 993-2713
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Jerusalem, October 12, 1999
The Story of the Maon Farm
by the Ma'on residents
On the day after Pessach 1997, three friends, Josephat Tor, Ephraim
Perel and Dov Dribben, were allotted a hill some 2 kilometers east of
Moshav Maon in the Southern Hebron Hills by 'Amana" (the
settlement development company). For the first 6 months Ephraim and
Josephat slept on the ground with only a canvas cover and a few dogs
as company. In August 1997, after Josephat was attacked and wounded by
a group of Arabs, they were given a caravan to live in.
On the day after Pessach, the three were attacked and Dov Dribben was
killed by Arab terrorists. He was 28. The other two were wounded.
Dov, who was in the process of moving his wife and 4 sons from Ma'on
to the farm, had not yet completed the house he was building for
them. His family remained in Ma'on and planted some olive trees on
the farm, on the spot where he was murdered. The farmhouse was
eventually finished by volunteers, especially by Harel Ben-Nun (may
HaShem avenge his blood) a skilled builder. He was 19 years old and
killed in an ambush by Arab terrorists in Yitzhar a few months later.
Josephat married 3 weeks after Dov (may HaShem avenge his blood) was
killed. He is now living in the completed farmhouse with his wife and
son. Ephraim is studying at the Hebrew University at the moment and
his place has been taken by Micha, his brother who is living in a
caravan with his pregnant wife. Also living on the farm are two more
young couples with small children and a few teenage boys who have
built their own house. Over the two and a half years the families
have invested all their meagre savings, not being able to leave the
farm for long periods of time in case of another attack. They are not
fenced in, nor are they being defended by the army. They have planted
vineyards, olive and other trees and had to build fences to keep the
marauding deer from the nearby nature reserve from eating their
saplings. Their sacrifice and dedication to the land is
heratbreaking.
The government claims that the farm is illegal and wants to remove
them together with seven other so-called "illegal hilltops settlements."
The army claims that the Maon farm is in the firing range of their training
ground in the Judean Desert. We claim that the government is planning
to give the area away to the Palestinians and withdraw the army. Then
the farm will not be in the Israeli firing range but the nearby settlement of
Carmel and Ma'on will be within the firing range of the Palestinian
army. We call upon the government to strengthen the Maon farm and
keep the passage from Hebron to Beersheba open and safe, instead of
allowing the Palestinians to cut the country in half.
Are we going to stand by and let the Arab villagers kill and inherit
the land where they spilled Jewish blood? There are 4 small boys growing
up in Maon who will be able to see but never again visit the place where
their father Dov was murdered, nor see the trees they planted for him.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributed by the Women in Green as a public service.
HELP US SAVE THE MAON FARM AND OTHER SETTLEMENTS
Fax and phone Prime Minister Ehud Barak and remind him
of the famous quotation in the Bible applicable to Arafat:
" Hast thou murdered and also inherited?"
DO NOT LET EHUD BARAK REWARD TERROR
DO NOT LET HIM DISMANTLE THE MA'ON FARM
Barak's phone: 02-6705510
Barak's fax: 02-5664838
Barak's email: rohm@pmo.gov.il
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, October 14, 1999
A Compromise Leading To Surrender
Women In Green strongly condemn the total capitulation of the
YESHA Leadership and the others involved, on the subject of the dismantling
of the " hilltops." The compromise arrived at is not a compromise, but is
nothing less than an agreement to uproot Jews from their homes. This
capitulation is wrong and furthermore sets a dangerous precedent for future
decisions on the fate of the communities in YESHA. You can be sure that
Barak's Education Minister, Yossi Sarid, would have, as he has previously
declared, laid down on the roads to prevent such a compromise if Arabs were
involved, and not Jews.
Ironically Barak is causing all this to happen in our own
homeland! To add insult to injury, Barak, irresponsibly, has attached a
label of illegality to these pioneering settlements. He thus supplies our
enemies with a further weapon to use against us. At the same time he
demeans and frustrates those "pioneers," who are essentially the best
element of our present society.
According to the new criteria that has been accepted today, the
YESHA leadership, God forbid, will also agree to Barak's settlement bloc
plan, which entails uprooting entire communities, not part of a designated
"bloc", and moving such a community to another place. Calling a spade a
spade, this is transfer of Jews, pure and simple.
We join with Member of Knesset, Chanan Porat, in his call to the
YESHA Leadership and the others involved in this compromise, to repent.
What is involved here is a sellout of fundamental principles of Zionism,
and our right to settle in all parts of our Biblical homeland. No one can
seriously believe for one moment that such a move will lead to peace with
Arafat and the Arabs. It is another mortal blow to the morale and unity of
the Jewish People.
Only a strong, determined and united stand against the
evacuation of even one caravan from our national homeland will prevent
further uprooting.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jeruslaem, October 17, 1999
The following is an Ad which Women In Green placed in Hebrew in the
newspapers HaAretz and Mikor Rishon and in English in the Herald Tribune
on Friday, October 15, 1999.
Our Education Minister Sarid Has Taught Us Well!
Yossi Sarid, Barak's Education Minister has shown us the way to resist Barak's
anti-Zionist attempt to dismantle 12 of our hilltops in our ancient homeland of
Judea and Samaria.
SARID wrote in an article in Yediot Achronot on June 27, 1990:
" … So that there will be no misunderstandings between us and it is not said that
we did not warn you in advance, we will not obey the order to transfer, and our
children and pupils will not obey them…
" … The day that the transfer order is given , which is a totally illegal order, will
be the day that orders are refused."
The red line for Sarid was the transfer of Arabs. He and his followers would not obey
IDF orders in that regard.
Sarid and Barak continue to show no understanding or belief in their own People and
its historic rights to this Land. Their actions are aimed at destroying the morale and
national faith of the ancient Jewish People. Barak blindly ignores the massive illegal
building of the Arabs both in and around Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria. He
applies the so-called principle of the rule of law only to the Jews. Respect for the law is
undermined when such blatant inequality in its application exists.
If the red line for Minister of Education Sarid is the transfer of Arabs, how much more so
is the red line being crossed when what is involved is the transfer by Prime Minister Barak
of Jews from parts of their National Homeland. Are we Jews not entitled to resist and
condemn vociferously any attempt to give up even an inch of our historic homeland? Their
right to resist is no less than Sarid's readiness to fight for the rights of the bulk of migratory
Arabs who have come into this Land relatively recently. Neither Clinton nor Blair would
remain in office one day if either dared to give up an inch of their own homeland, Why then
should not Ehud Barak's electorate apply the same criteria to him?
Brought To You As A Public Service
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women In Green)
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, October 18, 1999
Mitzpe Cramim in Danger Too!
Dear friends,
Not only is the Maon farm in danger of being uprooted but also
Mitzpeh Cramim next to Kochav Hashachar.
The 8 families living there are getting organized to oppose the
uprooting. Here included is their letter to the PM.
They need a lot of help and support. You can help: call or fax them
and show your concern, your moral support and ask what they need.
One of the 8 families is the Gur Arieh family at
tel 02-9941775 or fax:02-9941711
Sincerely,
Nadia Matar
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To Prime minister Mr. Ehud Barak
Sir,
We are 8 families who live in Mitzpe Cramim. We are building this
place in order to settle our land and to make it fruitful.
We have built our houses here, settled in and have forged a tie to
the place in our very souls. The place is beautiful and the view is
heartstopping.
We are law-abiding citizens -- we came up on this hill with the
knowledge that the location was approved. This is the information
that reached us from all the relevant official bodies, that is the
Defense Ministry, the IDF, the Civil Administration and the Jewish
Agency. In the last few days we have been surprised to hear that
matters are not what they've seemed.
Nevertheless, once we set up Mitzpeh Cramim we will not entertain
the thought of leaving and giving up on Jewish settlement in Eretz
Yisrael. Certainly not when such settlement is located on state land,
east of the Alon Road, in an area where the importance of Jewish
settlement is incontestable. This is a strategic point in the
defence of the eastern border of the state of Israel, with direct
implications for the security of the Jordan valley.
We therefore ask to allow us enough time to complete the necessary
authorizations, including the formal process involving an approved
master plan, so as not to uproot us from our homes.
Sincerely,
Citizens of Mitzpeh Cramim
Families:
Albilieh
Bloch
Gur Arieh
Glick
Chamady
Yizresky
Sarussi
Rok
*******************************************************
Jeruslaem, October 18, 1999
My Heart is on This Hill
by Shiri Gur Aryeh
I was just a little girl of four when my family moved here, to Kochav
Hashachar. I grew up in this place, among its vineyards and
breathtaking views overlooking the Jordan Valley on Israel's eastern
border. I have spent my entire life here watching this community grow
into a sprawling suburb north of Jerusalem.
Now it was supposed to be my turn. My chance to build not just a home
but a special community, adjacent to Kochav Haschachar, together with
my peers who grew up here with me. Not miles away, not just some
hilltop, but the very mountain that overlooks my parent's home.
We dreamt about Mitzpe Kramim for quite a while. Like many young
couples we wanted to live near our parents - but not too close. We
wanted the same opportunity that our parents had: to create a new
community in the Heartland, exemplifying the mosaic that is Jewish
life while contributing to the security of Israel in this most
strategic of locations, right off the Alon road.
So we went through all the legalities and obtained all the necessary
permits from the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the Jewish Agency and
the civil administration. Yet, here we find ourselves today facing
the bulldozer of peace that insists we are somehow standing in its
way.
I sit and wonder how destroying my home is of benefit to the peace
process. I look out my window and see nothing in this area but the
breathtaking landscape of the Jordan Valley - and, of course, my
parent's house. Yet, somehow, my home, my community, my hard work has
been declared illegal, an obstacle to peace.
As I watch my daughter play with our dog on our front lawn I wonder
if there is a way to save this place. Perhaps if the Prime Minister
would visit us here for just a few minutes and see this remarkable
town that we've built, maybe he would understand that we are not just
a camp of makeshift buildings. We are a living, breathing community
whose members have invested their blood, sweat and tears into making
it flourish. We are doing nothing more than fulfilling the Zionist
dream of building a Jewish community in the Land of Israel.
No matter what happens in the future, we will remain committed, law
abiding citizens of the State of Israel. My husband will continue to
serve faithfully as an officer in the Armed Forces and we will
continue to show only the utmost respect for our Prime Minister, no
matter how wrong we feel he may be. But for myself and in the name of
my peers, I dare declare that my heart will always reside in Mitzpe
Kramim.
Shiri Gur Aryeh
Mitzpe Kramim
Fax: 972-2-9943446
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Jerusalem, October 26, 1999
Uprooting Jews From Their Homeland
The Barak government has no shame. Barak has completely abandoned the
long held Zionist orientation of the majority of his People and has chosen
instead as his criterion: "acceptance by the Goyim". By acting in this
manner, Barak indeed may win Carville and Clinton's favor; however, he will
be taking a course of action opposed to the beliefs and faith of his
forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in their and our Promised Land.
Barak has cleverly maneuvered Yesha to do his dirty work through the
facade of a so-called "compromise agreement" with them. To make him appear
as one who is intent on moving the "peace process" forward, he has
arbitrarily determined that certain "settlements" have to be dismantled.
Among those to be removed is the small community of MITZPEH KRAMIM,
located to the north of Jerusalem. Yossi Sarid, Barak's "Jewish" Education
Minister, correctly points out that it isn't the size of the removal that
is important, rather it is the establishment of the principle of removal.
So it is that the eight families of MITZPEH KRAMIM, including their
eighteen small children, are scheduled by Barak to be forcibly evacuated
from their homes.
MITZPEH KRAMIM is not a camp of makeshift buildings. It is an
established community whose members by their blood, sweat and tears have
made a previously unoccupied barren area flourish. They acted in the
finest Zionist tradition of upbuilding our homeland. Never mind that these
homes were built with the full cognizance and consent of the Israel Defense
Forces, the Ministry of Defense, the Jewish Agency and the Civil
Administration. Barak has ruled otherwise. They must go.
The same Education Minister, Yossie Sarid, has previously
hypocritically told us that an order of transfer is "illegal" and should
not be obeyed. He wrote that in an article several years ago in Yediot
Achronot. He was referring to the transfer of Arabs, but the principle
involved is exactly the same. Barak's Minister of Education educates our
children that transfer of Arabs is illegal yet transfer of Jews is
permissible. Barak has apparently adopted this intolerable and prejudiced
view of Sarid.
Bearing in mind Minister Sarid's unequivocal pronouncements against the
concept of transfer, Women In Green chartered a bus for their supporters
and traveled to MITZPEH KRAMIM, on Sunday, October 24, 1999. We wanted to
show our identification with this beleaguered Jewish community. A ceremony
was held there in the presence of a large turnout from the Media and
world-wide television. Nadia Matar, a leader of Women In Green and others
spoke. Nadia was emphatic that transfer of Jews was as unacceptable to
us, as transfer of Arabs was to Sarid.
Women In Green planted trees and vines to demonstrate their Zionist
faith that the community of MITZPEH KRAMIM must be allowed to continue to
grow and develop at this site. It is appropriate and necessary for all
Jews to raise their voices in vigorous protest to Ehud Barak. If Jews are
not permitted to reclaim barren parts of their Holy land, and by their
labors make the earth bloom and flower once again, then any "peace" based
on a denial of this basic right, is meaningless, and will not work.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, October 27, 1999
Funding Wye Is Not in the "Strategic Interest" of the U.S.
As a Member of Congress, the primary consideration on how to vote on
Wye funding must be what is in the best interest of the United States of
America, and not what is in the best interest of Israel. By that sole
criterion, voting for Wye funding in any amount is a cardinal sin.
The United States has strategic interests in the Middle East where
80% of the world's oil supply is presently located. Both the United
States, and many leading industrial nations are vitally concerned that an
uninterrupted flow of oil at a reasonable price be obtained from that
region. The ideal, of course, is that the region not be involved in any
conflict which would disrupt this vital oil supply.
The Clinton Administration is guided by the above evaluation.
They argue that funding for Wye is essential in order to bring peace to the
region. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Wye funding will promote
conflict and bring war to the Middle East.
The basic flaw in President Clinton's thinking is that it is based
on hope and wishful thinking and ignores the realities. America does not
possess the ability to control or change the nature of slick Arafat, and
wily Hafez Assad of Syria. These are the individuals on whom the United
States must rely for the success of their "huge investment." Both these
tyrants, in their respective dictatorships, have a track record of complete
disregard for democracy, ruthless acts of barbarity, immorality and a long
and sordid record of broken promises and commitments, irrespective of any
agreement they may have signed. Add to this Arafat's little concealed
adulation and continued support of Saddam Hussein of Iraq, and Gadaffi of
Libya. Everyone is aware that at the "appropriate" time Arafat will join
forces with them against America, as he has done in the past,
notwithstanding the aid and assistance America will provide him with.
Accordingly, voting on monies that will not bring peace to the
area, but rather war and turmoil, is counterproductive and harmful. It
will help arm Arafat, whose duplicity Congress is unable to control. All
who have any expertise in the area know that Arafat will inevitably, and at
the first strategic opportunity, join with the other enemies of stability
in the Middle East to destroy Israel, the only reliable ally America has in
the region. In forging a relationship with someone like Arafat, America is
going against all the hopes and ideals that America has long stood for,
and which have set standards for the world. It cannot be stressed too
emphatically: Clinton's present foreign policy on Wye is against America's
own self-interest. No Senator or Congressman can, in good conscience, vote
the huge amount of the funds necessary to implement Wye, when it will only
result in strengthening an unreliable Arafat to subsequently destabilize
the entire Middle East.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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