“Troubles of a Jewish Conscience.” Clipping, 1967 July

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Henry Pachter

Troubles of a Jewish Conscience

June 12, 1967

I have talked to a
number of citizens of Jewish descent
—some of whom have relatives in
Israel or have lived there--who, like
me, have been troubled by the ruth-
less actions of the Tel Aviv govern-
ment in the recent conflict. While we
hold no brief for Arab provocations
and fully understand Israel’s right to
self-defense, we are deeply disturbed
by General Dayan’s independence in
the execution of his assignment. By
proclaiming the Army's determination
to keep the Old City of Jerusalem,
he contradicted the words of his
Foreign Minister who—almost at the
same time—promised the United Na-
tions Security Council that Israel
would annex no territory. By pursu-
ing the Egyptians until his troops had
reached the Suez Canal, he defied the
UN. Security Council’s cease-fire or-
der; by continuing the war in Syria
long after the deadline of the cease-
fire had expired, he defied world
opinion.

In addition, we note with regret a
number of incidents which require a
thorough investigation by impartial
authorities:

‘The refusal, at the beginning of
the crisis, to accept the UNEF on
Israeli territory;

The repeated disregard of U.N.
Security Council orders and the
welshing and hemming on the given
word of the Foreign Minister or
his representative in the United
Nations;

The killing of 11 UNEF members
in the Gaza Strip;

The occupation of U.N. Truce
Supervision Commission Headquar-
ters in Jerusalem;

The brutal expulsion of Arab
refugees from conquered territory
west of the Jordan River.

‘The United States has been proud
to support the only democratic gov-
ernment in the Near Fast. It would
be sad if that government were to
be replaced by a military dictator.
ship or if it were swayed by militaristic.
chauvinistic passions which might
prevent a just and fair peace, Gener-
osity behooves the victor and we.hope
that Israel, while insisting on a peace
which would give it as much security
as can be expected within a rather
imperfect system of states, will

moderate its demands in such a
way as to avoid additional humilia-
tions, which might only give the
Arabs and their allies new cause
for revenge;

486

make constructive proposals for a
fair solution of the refugee problem.

I am frankly dismayed by the inclu-
sion in the cabinet of Menachem
Begin, a terrorist, fascist, and expan-
sionist.

We further note with regret the
wave of mistaken chauvinism among
American Jews and their friends. In
a democracy we are taught to support
our government not blindly but criti-
cally; this should also be the rule
for the support of our friends, If they
are wrong, we feel compelled to tell
them so, We therefore had to take
exception, regretfully but firmly, to a
statement of blind support, published
in The New York Times by a number
of writers usually associated with the
Left and presuming to speak in the
name of “the intellectuals.” It was
particularly surprising to find among

the signers some persons who previ-
ously had associated themselves with
protests against the American conduct
in the Vietnam War. Is it too much
to ask for consistency? We certainly

‘condemn the aggressive policies of

the Arab dictators and of the Soviet
government which abetted their provo-
cations. But we continue to uphold
the ideals of humanity and of obedi-
ence to international law against our
own and any other government, and
we hope that the peace will be fair
to all, We further hope that the
United Nations’ authority will be re-
stored in the area, especially that an
independent peace guard will be con-
stituted and that it will be given
sovereignty in disputed strategic areas
such as the Gaza Strip and the hills
overlooking the Isracli-Syrian border,
as well as the City of Jerusalem with
the holy places of many nations.

Bob Simon

Questions on the Freedom Budget

The Freedom Budget
is a coherent, pragmatic, democratic,
non-apocalyptic program for political
action. Unfortunately, the Vietnam
War makes it far more utopian than
anything proposed by Narodnicki stu-
dents who allegedly don’t understand
politics.

This is not the fault of Bayard Rus-
tin (who has been caricatured by
Staughton Lynd as a “labor lieutenant
of capitalism”), Rustin is committed

to getting what people need to recon-
struct their lives through tactically
sound politics, Real options for action
are being constricted by a deteriorat-
ing national situation rather than by
leaders “selling ‘out” the movement.

White middle-class America is mov-
ing to the Right—not toward garrison-
state fascism, but toward an endorse-
ment, no matter how apathetic, of an
indefinite future of urban decay, re-
pression of the ghettos, welfare doles,