NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOGIESf LINCOLN, . KLiiRAMA 2 1967
Vol. XI,V—38
Class I'u.sliif;e I'aul t Omnlin, Ncli.
tluri Office, m l No Omiilin Ncli. tiSlfXI, I'lmin
Carl Alperf
Who Is Strongest Israel or Arabs? This is the question which has been asked repeatedly in recent weeks. We in Israel must take a realistic view of things. This lias not been a time for wishful thinking. What is the relative strength of the two sides, measured objectively? The precise armed strength ol a country is a preciously guarded military secret. Yet it is timely to recall an authoritative appraisal of the armed might in the Middle East as published in the New York Times as recently as last December by Hanson W. Baldwin, the paper's military affairs expert. Baldwin cited figures, and his report v/as quoted freely in the Israel press at the time without comment. ^ According to ISuhhvin, Israel has a permanent armed force of between 00,000 and 72,000 men. The reserves can provide some quarter of a million more nu-n and women, all of whom have had military training and know (licit* places in flip organization. Those of us who were hero during Hie Siual campaign can also recall flic extent to which drafting of buses, trucks and private ears ean quickly and efficiently make (his army and its equipment mobile. Israel is credited with GOO to S.O ' O tanks, and about 450 planes, Among the latter are about 75 French Mirages. These were the planes which shot down the six Syrian MIGs not long ago. The navy is small. It includes two destroyers (one of which was captured from the Egyptians in 19561, lour submarines and lots of speedy coastal patrol vessels. The regular armed forces in Kjiyjil consist of lietween 180,000 and ::00,O0(l men, of whom aliouf 5U*,O0D are tied down in Yemen. Jletausc of a shortage of trained reserves, the country can mobilize only-about 100,000 more fig|itln£ persnnnrt. There arc over a thnuMI ml lanlis, mostly Russian; about 50O planes, of wjiich 3D are Russian MKI-21's, and a navy willi six dr.stroyers and nine suits, Syria is credited with regulnr nrmed forces of about GO.OOO. There are 150 planes, of which 20 are MIGs. There used to be 2b. The 100 tanks are mostly Russian. Jordan uses both American and British equipment. Its army
Sidman Calls for Action! An urgent appeal to the Omaha Jewish Community io come to the aid of the beleagured people of Israel by making immediate cash payments on their 1907 U.JA pledges was issued lhis weeli by Harry Sidman, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. "I appeal to the conscience of every Jew in Omaha to stand by Israel in her hour of greatest peril. We have; just received (lie following reports from Israel. Clearly, unless we help immediately, Israel faces flic greatest trial of iier exist-, once," said Mr. Sidman. The Government of Israel lias been forced to cancel its financial aid for the cure and absorption of flio tens of thousands of immigrant families in dire need. Every available government dollar has to he uwd for defense. The J e w i s h Agency is faced with enormous pressure for relief dollars. Thousands of breadwinners whose income kept their families off (he relief rolls have been mobilized tor military duly. Among tho immigrants w h o s e breadwinners are on (lie front line tho
loss of this income is disastrous. Tho United Israel Appeal has just borrowed .$8,000,000 from New York liauks as a stop-gap measure. This money must be paid back quickly. "We can alleviate or prevent terrible suffering among the people of Israel who rely on us only if all of us give our immediate help! I appeal to every member of our Omaha community to make) immediate payment on pledges to the Jewish Appeal, aiid wherever possible, m a h c payment in full. Your help is needed more than I can possibly convey in words," declared Mr. Sidman. "In this great crisis let each Jew in Omaha look to himself. This is a moment when each man and woman must examine his or her own conscience. Kusli your payments on your pledges today. This Is the greatest emergency Israel lias faced in her 19 years of existence, Your IMMEDIATE ACTION WILL MAINTAIN THE HOME FRONT IN ISRAEL AND PREVENT THE COLLAPSE OF PKOGKAMS VITAL TO THE EXISTENCE OF THE STATE OF ISIJAKL," lie said. ) SYR IA(
^J Jerusalem)
'Dear Omaha Friends, I Imeiv m.v (rip to Israel would lie exciting, but'I certainly didn't expect it to turn into an international crisis! Needless to say we're skipping most of (lie usual tourist attractions and have involved ourselves completely with the people— what an experience! They certainly couldn't lie more thrilling than our visit with an Israeli soldier, father of five, who has been recalled. Likewise we may not bring home souvenirs, other than memories of a people whoso courage, strength and determination seem to be indcNtrucfitile. Hob has some great pictures of (he many people we've tallied to, and I have notes on their Incredible stories. I hope I can find the words to tell the stories as they should be told. With the exception of a fciv Americans who are hysterical with fear, the people here are calm, serious, concerned but optimistic. Whatever criticism we may have ever bad about Israelis arc overshadowed by my admiration for their attitudes; and actions in this time of crisis. NICVKK WAS I I'ltOUDEK TO BE A 3h\V. There are more (han 75 foreign press correspondents in Tel Aviv covering the Mid-East crisis, Bob and I registered at (he Government Press Office as correspondents and have attended the news briefings and tomorrow arc being taken on a field trip of the Israeli military Installations with the other members of the Press. Tomorrow night we will go to Jerusalem and see If anyone shows up for (he convention although It seems floiib'.uil, (Editor's note; The American .IctylKli Press Association convention opened on schedule with 30 publishers and editors attending despite Slate Department warnings to stay out of the Middle East.) Everybody sees a "different" Israel and I would guess our experiences are even more so—I pray that we never see Israel facing the dangers she faces this minute, but I know that whatever Hie future brings ISItAEL WILL SUHV1VK, out of the sheer determination of her people! I'm almost ashamed when I think of how much these people give of themselves and the pressures that must be used to get American Jewry to give only of tlicir dollars! MICKY
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MIDEAST HOT SPOTS—This Is ihe Mideast trouble zone at a glance. The'p^6l6gVan¥was"taken in September, 19GG, by astronauts Charles Conrad and Richard Gordon as ihey circled the earth la Gemini XI. It was shot from 175 nautical miles above Ihe earth.
More than 200 Omahans, crease the flow of cash so that gathered at an emergency meet- 1 tlie economy will not suffer in ing called by Israel Bonds for this period of crisis,-so that the Sunday at 7 p.m. at Beth Israel, program of development will responded to the crisis by pur-' chasing $150,000 Worth of Israel has around 50,000 men, and its air force about 50 planes. Bonds. Iraq has a standing army of about 80,000, also armed with In an atmosphere both solemn Russian weapons. It has about 200 planes. and serious the group heard None of the other Arab countries have any strength worth taped addresses by Dr. Joseph counting. J. Schwartz, vice-president, and Yet power can.be measured on another level as well. Spirit, Samuel Hothberg, national camGraduation exercises will be unity, will, morale, determination arc assets which weigh heavily paign chairman of the Israel held Sunday, June 4 for five in tho balance in any test of strength, In 1947-4B and again in 1950 Bond organization. Chairing the members of the sixth grade of Israel displayed a superiority which stemmed from sources other meeting was Mr. J. H a r r y the Omaha Hebrew Academy in than the purely physical. Kulakofslcy who with Mrs. Kti- their first graduation since the Baldwin summarized his appraisal In these words: "On paper lakofsky called the meeting into founding of the school six years the collective military power of the Arab states appears to dwarf being. ago. Members of the community that of Israel, But It is a paper superiority. Israel has many advanThe large amount of Israel are invited to attend the exertages, Chief among them arc professional leadership and clan. She cises at 2 p.m. in the auditorium occupies a central position; her forces have short distances to Bonds purchased in this emer- of the Jewish Community Cenmove to the defense of her frontiers; her enemies are separated gency campaign will help pro- ter. vide Israel with the immediate by considerable distances and have difficult supply lines." Graduates of the school are And these facts lire known to Nasser, who Is really a very cash It needs for its economic Frank Flotowitz, Norman Heisdevelopment during the present clever man. .•.'•. ler, David Nadoff, Chasida Seperiod of crisis, According to the message of gal and Milton Wakschlag. ServDr, Schwartz "the Government ing as Master of Ceremonies for of Israel has appealed to us to the afternoon will be Mr. Arthur By Courtoiy of Christian Selonso Monitor (Continued on Page 6) hold the economic front, to in-
^not be interrupted,'so that tha drive to increase industrial expansion will not be 6lowed down,"
Hebrew Academy
Map of Israel ©n P®ges 4 and 5
Harry S, Allen