Omaha, Neb., Fri., July 30,1982
Q O
Federation president urges act*
tine of the )f Omaha Jewish CO ta to lake action regarding the crisis in Lebanon. He urged more than 100 leaders erf the community to
oco en o
Bulletin The next movie in the Miller Film Festival will not be shown at the JCC. The new location Is the Emmy Gifford Theatre. ^See story on Page 5.
convey their feelings of confidence and faith In Israel to their friends and neighbors BO that a flow of communication would be directed toward members of Congress and the president of the United States. Mr. Cohen directed his comments Tuesday night at the Jewish Community Center during an emergency community leadership meeting. He told the group that he and Allan Greene, executive director of the Federation, would be in Israel next week as part of the Prime Minister's Mission and that
he would report to the community upon their return. The meeting, arranged by the Federation and the ADLCRC committee, featured as speakers Charney V. Bromberg and Bracha Oshratt. Mr. Dromberg is assistant director of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, the national umbrella organization of all Jewish community relations agencies. Ms. Oshratt. who had served as member of the Israeli delegation to the
United Nations in 1979, currently serves as Consul for Information of Israel to the Midwest. Mr. Bromberg said that the American Jewish community and the American public in general have been "victims of misinformation" regarding Operation Peace for Galilee. He said the casualty figures announced by Yassir Arafat's brother and the daily television footage of destruction were readily presented by the media as both factual and the essence of the conflict. In fact, he sold, the Israel
Defense Force has demonstrated to the world that the PLO does not have to be accepted as a fact of life. "Israel has challenged the belief that terrorism is something that the world has to live with." He pointed out that the PLO has been dealt a "body blow"; that the Soviets have suffered a severe setback In influence in the Middle East and that the United States now has an opportunity to expand the Camp David Pence Process. Mr. Bromberg also stated that the truth about the conflict is beginning to
emerge in the media. "The Lebanese themselves are speaking out, (Continued on Page 2)
Circulation expanded The circulation of the Jewish Press has temporarily been expanded so that Israel's point of view on the Lebanon situation can reach as wide a readership as possible. When you are finished with your copy of the Jewish Press please pass it on to a frjend.
Real story of Lebanon told to Congress By Joseph Polakoff WASHINGTON - The New Republic magazine's blistering attack by its publisher, Martin Perctz, on much d the American media for hostility towards Israel's incursion in Lebanon is receiving attention beyond the normal limits of the liberal weekly's relatively small—circulation of slightly more than 100,000. (A comparative example is that Time Magazine's weekly circulation is a fihado under four and one-half million with "a pass-along" distribution of 20 million.) Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D NY) presented The New Republic's text of approximately 8.000 words to the Senate and caused its publication in the Congressional Record of July 19. "When war comes the first casualty Is truth." Moynihan reminded the Senate. "One searches for reliable, firsthand accounts," he said, adding that the Peretz account "is of the greatest importance to the Senate." Speaking in the House of Representatives of "the real story about Lebanon," Hep. Stephen Solar/ (D NY) said PcrcU "explodes many of the my ths that have risen about Israel's military operation in Lebanon." Perctz, Solan said, first "argues persuasively, based on his own firsthand .observations, that initial media reports of staggeringly high civilian casualties have been grossly exonerated. Second, he presents detailed evidence that, far from (wing unconcerned about civilian casualties, the
Israelis did everything possible to avoid or to minimize them. Third, he documents what he calls the 'great untold story of the last six years' — the brutal nature of the PLO occupation of southern Lebanon." Presenting, like Moynihan, the text of the article in the Congressional Record of July 21, Solans said It " s i required reading for any policymaker concerned about the complex Lebanese problem." In addition, all members of Congress received copies of the magazine from the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee which is bringing it to the attention of numerous other Americans. At the State Department, the Episcopalian priest turned journalist Lester Kinsolving asked for official comment on the Peretz article. "Is Peretz wrong or right," Kinsolving asked Dean Fischer, the Department's chief spokesman, in the presence of a hundred media personnel, both domcstlc.and foreign. Fischer wouldn't become involved. "It is not a question I'm going to address," he said. With Perctz having accused writers at the Washington Post that Kinsolving named in his question, Fischersaid"! can't see a useful purpose in commenting on The Washington Post and The New Republic." Perctz, whose titles ore president of the magazine's company and its editor-in-chief, is a former Harvard professor with liberal views whose leanings are away from the political philosophy of Israeli Prime MiniBter Menachcm Begin and towards the positions of the Labor
Party. Among his closest Israeli friends was the late Prime Minister Golda Meir. In his account, Peretz asserts the Begin Government "too, must face reality" and he wonders "whether the present Israeli government can move to create preconditions for peace." But the burden of the Peretz report is that major media —particularly The Washington Post — have distorted the actualities of Israel's military incursion Into Lebanon and most certainly in the extent of casualties. He also emphasized "the orders of war" from Begin and Defense' Minister Ariel Sharon on "tohar haneshek" ("morality of arms") "from the bottom to the top" and the Israeli military did its utmost to preserve the life to the army of civilians. On its cover The New Republic repeated in large type the first paragraph of the Peretz account. "Much of what you have read in the newspapers and news magazines about the war In Lebanon — and even more of what you have seen and heard on television — is simply not true," Perctz began. He added: "at best, the routine rcportoriol fare, to say nothing of editorial or columnists' commentary, has been wrenched out of context, detached from history, exaggerated, distorted. Then there are the deliberate and systematic falsifications. Remarkably little of what has been alleged in various published protest statements against the Israeli action in Lebanon is fact." (Continued on Page 2)
Omaha Hadassah adds four founders The Omaha Chapter of Iladossab hss announced four new founders. Pictured from left are: Mr. and Mm. Henry Appel, Mr. and Mrs. Sol Crandell, Mr. and Mrs, 8am Katiman and Cantor and Mr*. Aaron Edgar. These were announced at at special bigger gifts luncheon held at the borne of Mrs. Donald Sturm and at an evening party for Hadassah Life members and HadastBh Associates held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Abncr Rubin. To be a Hadassah founder a gift of $10,000 Is given to the lladaisab Building and Development fund to be used at Eln Karen, Mount Scopus orShareU. Recognition goes on a founders wall at Kin Karen, Mr. Scopus, or Sburclt or on a plaque In a small area of the hospital. The names of founders Henry and Sally Appel an) 8am and Anne Katiman will be Incised on the wall of the lladasiah Hospital sit Eln Karen. The names of founders Moda tod S«t Crandell and Ethel and Aaroe
Edgar will be Incised on the wall of the Hadassab Hospital on Mount Scopus. The Appel's gift was given In memory of Rachel and lly man Mortfleld and Morris Appel; the Kattman's gift was given to the cardiac center In honor of the recovery of Sam Katiman; the Crandell's gift was given In honor of their children Beth Crandell, Janle and Alan Schneider, and grandchild Robyn Leah Schneider; the Edgar's gift was given In honor of their children Judith and Paul Ruslon, Doris and Marty llaykln, Jeanne and Jack Dultch, Raphael Edgar, Laya and Henry Frlicher. Founders will have their names Inscribed on a magnlficlent certificate featuring a Marc Chagall window from the synagogue at the Hadassah Hospital In Eln Karen. These, certificates will be presented to these Hadassah Founders at a special affair In the fall.