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¡,._s,á,
by
Stanley
R.
Rader
Last Chance for Middle East Peace?
JERUSALEM, August
6
AJ;
we prepare to leave Jerusalem for París and the United States. there is
guarded optimism in Jerusalem that the latest Egyptian response
to
the most
recent Israelí proposals wUI keep alive the elaborate. intricate and painstakingly
slow process of reachi!lg an interim agreement in the Sinai.
This seemed to be the consensos last evening during a dinner in Jerusalem
hosted by the Japanese ambassador to Israel in honor of four Japanese Congress–
men (Diet members) who; with Mr. Armstrong and the Ambassador lnter–
national Cultural Foundaúon (AICF), were in Israel to promete beuer
understanding between the peoples of Japan and Israel. A few days before, tbese
same Congressmen had visited Cairo. In each capital the Congressmen were
urging their counterparts and the foreign mi.nistries of both Israel and Egypt to
do what they could respecúvely to conlinue the dialogue and momentum toward
peace and to settle ultima1ely the
v~latile
Middle East situation which poses such
a
clear and present danger to all ofmankind.
Yesterday the-Japaoese Coogressmeo and
1
were received by lsrael's Prime
Minister, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, wh.o briefed us on thc past. present and future of
this troubled and explosivo region. Egypt is lhe key to any settlement in the area,
said tbe Prime Minister, nol only because it is the largest of lsrael's Arab
neighbors but also because during each war Egypt has carried the main burden
of the armed conftict with lsraef. lo addition, eaeh time the hostilities came Lo an
end, it was only after Egypt had indicated its wWingness to stop fighting (at least
for the momeru).
When as.ked by the Japanese about lsrael's willingness to make a com–
promiso in the Sinai to etfect an inlerim agreement, the Prime Minister stressed
lhat there were only three strategíc arcas in tbe entire Sinai peninsula - the oil
Relds at Abu Rudeis, the Gidi and Mitla passes. and the Straits ofTiran. Israel
had already indicated its willingness to give up the oil fields which provide them
with
60%
of their total oil requirements, but it could not give up the passes in
sucb a manner as to undermine its entire military defense nor could it give up
control to the Straits ofTiran without absoluto assurance thatlsrael's passage to
tb~·
Rec! Sea and the !odian Ocean would be guaranteed.
Although tbe lsraeüs seemed to be appreciative of tbe etfons of the Vnited
States in its role as intermediary, it seemed to this observer that there was a
feeling that perhaps the United S tates' role (and that of Mr. Kissinger) has done
mucb
¡o
prevent the Egyptians from sitting down face to face witb tbe lsraelis
and settling tbeir ditferences more quickly and perhaps more effectively. Never–
theless, everyone appeared
to
welcome. anotber launching of the K issinger shuttle
between Cairo and Jerusalern before the end of the montb. lf Mr. Kissinger
begins another tour ofthe Middle East, it wiU be only upon the invitation ofboth
governments, and
it
will mean this ti"¡'e that be has received assurance that the
many world-famous women delegates, ;
the ludicrous propositions on the part of
many women's extremist groups, and
the cndless haggle over the inclusion of
the word "zionism" in paragraph
25
of
the so-called Declaration of Mexicó City
- all of these and many more brought to
mind one of lsaiah's prophecies con–
cerning ancient Judah and Jerusalem:
"As for my people ... women rule over
them" (lsaiah 3:12).
lt
was apparent
that womeri could rule no better - and
no worse - than the males of this world,
since both genders are beset by the same
human nature.
Women ofVirtue
The "virtuous woman" of Proverbs 31
has for 3,000 years been a standard of
uuc
f~mininily.
As a whole, h.owever.
the anciem lsraelite society to which
t~is
wisdom was directed failed 10 obey its
injunctions.
Historically - at leas! in th_e Western
WEEK
ENDINO
SEPTEMBER
6.
1975
world - appreetauon and respect for
women began in the ancient Roman Re–
public. A womao was revered and re-
. spected; her voice was beard in family
councils; she inftuenced public atfairs;
she was not relegated to the house
(whicb was common in other societies
then), but was able to circulate in pub–
líe; she was given the choice seats at
public festiviúes; men bowed 10 her.
Custom. tradition, and myths honored
her.
lt
was Cornelia who counselled her
sons. the Gracchi, not to desist in the
fight for the good of the people, even at
tbe risk or their own lives. lt was Veturia
who disarmecl Coriolanus to save Rome.
The power of the women of Rome
derivéd from their moral quality. the
excellence of their counsel. the nobility
of theír spirít. the dignily of their ac–
tions, and their serenity, inspiration, and
courage. But respect for women could
only exist as long as there were meo
capable of respectiog thellL Women's
panies are very close 10 an agreement,
if
not already in complete accord. This
will certainly be an imponant step for an ultimate peace in the enúre a rea.
h was very
importan~
according to Mr. Rabio, that the Japanese aod tbe
rest of the world undcrstand the ditfereoce l:ietween peace and ao armisúce
because it was the armistice of 1949, not a peace settlement, tbat led to tbe
borders for Israel and its neighbors - borders wbicb prevailed until tbe Six-Day
War of 1967- the same borders which tbe Arab nations are insisting that Israel
withdraw to once again..
AJ;
Mr. Rabio explained, after the Vnited Nations bad
parútioned the former ·British mandate and thus created the state of Israel, the
Arab armies invaded, aod only after tbe tide and fortunes ofwar had changed in
favor of the lsraelis was an
armi.stice
effected. According
!O
the prime minister,
Israel roade every effort for a permanent peace settlement, but sucb settlement
was steadfastly refused by the Arab nations. lt was obviously tbe prime minister's
position that an ultimate peace settlement wiU provide for a withdrawal of Israelí
forces from the present lines but not necessariJy 10 those Unes as they existed
afterthearmistice
in 1949.
Prime Minister Rabio also made plain to tbe Congressmen that it would be
disastrous to the ent.i re peace elfort if Israel is expelled from the United Nations
or in some way is reduced in status within tbat international body. The United
Nations has been perfonning many importan! roles in the area sioce 1948, and it
is vital for it to keep its presence there. U.N. forcesare posted in the buffer zone
in both the Golan Heights and the Suez area. U.N. agencies have also been
caring for the Palestioian refugees.
1t
is hoped that the peace conference in
Geneva wW uitiroately be reconveoed uoder the auspices of the
U.N.
so that all
tbe problems of the area can be resolved once and for'aiL
In any event, another outbreak of hostilities would clearly be a disaster. lt
could lead lo the danger of confrontation between the Soviet Union and the
United Sta les, as
well
as the threat to the industrialized nations of another oil
embargo. For the Arab peoples, a new war migbl be the end of their last chance
to avoid additional irryparable losses wbich for more thao twenty-seveo years
have condemoed the enure Arab world to economic and social stagnation.
lf an' ultimate peace should result, on the other hand. the Arab world would
bave anywhcre from twenty-five to fifty years to recapture tbose lost years and to
use the income from the production of petroleum to transform their entire
economy and society. This would be a rare and historie chance for the· Arab
people and for the entire region -
a
chance without precedent perhaps in the
enlit;.e. history of man, but a chance that will be
sur~ly
wasted. if an,other war
should occur. Of course. in oraer for the
en
tire
Arab world to prosper, even witb
peace, it will be neoessary for those Arab n_aúons which produce oilto share their
wealth with Egypt, Jordan. Syria and Lebanon. Without sharing this oil wealth
a
peace between Israel and its Arab oeighbors would not prevent a radicalizing of
the area that would result .from the greater disparity between the super-rich oil
producing countries aod tbeir poverty-ridden neigbbors.
After the war of October 1973, the Egyptians believed that even a limited
peace would belp usber in more prosperous times. The United States and the
Europeans would provide capital and know-how, and King Faisal would provide
a share of Saudi Arabia'$ great wealtb. Prosperity has not followed, bowever,
because Europeans and Americans alike were concerned about the lack of
a
real
settlement in the area despite the reopening ofthe Suez Canal and the rebuilding
ofthe war-ravaged cities along its banks.
Now is the time for President Sadat to boldly take
the
lead of the Arab
world: to bring hóstilities Loan en<l witb Israel once and for all and to lead
all
of
the Arab oations; rich and poor alike, into a cooperativo effort - ultimately even
with Israel - 10 make the entire Middle East region flourish as
it
did sorne
2,000
years ago.
·
exalted role disappeared with tbe cor–
ruption of .1be empire. The over–
whelming rights and privileges accorded
to women soon became license to do
·e
vil.
Women of the Roman Empire gained
immense power. They toppled thrones,
made and unmade emperors, and used
their sexual powers to place the basest of
men in key positions of government.
Women truly reached equality with
men. but
it
was equaJity in vice, crime.
and immorality within the framework of
a decadent socie1y.
lt
is this, more than any' other peril,
that women must beware of.
As
a Mexi–
can busi-ne.'isman said to me, "1 whole–
heartedly agree with the movement for
women's equality, butl would hope tbat
they would distioguish betweeo having
liberty (libertad) and being libertine
(libertinaje)."
Meo and women
both
need to learn
that lesson. O
NEEOEO:
TV VIDEO-CONTROL ENGINEER
Our Television Dep:aftment in Pasa–
dena. Califotnia, has a job opening for
an
experienced TV video--control engi–
neer. A mínimum of two years' recent
experience in broadcast engineering
and at least on& year in video-conttol
operations ere required.
In addition, the department prefers
applicants with general television-main–
tenance experience who are willing to
work a swing shih
(4
p.m. to midnight)
and traveJ with a remota video crew
when necessary. Salary ís dependent
upon
experience.
Anyone interested may write the
Per·
sonnel Department, Ambassador Col·
lege. 300 W . Gréen S
t. .
Pasadene.
Calif.. 91
t
23.
Those
who have applied for jobs in
the past end have
not been hired should
not
hesi-tate
to
reapply
1f
interested.
15
l.