Foruth on the-Mid-E From one who has lived there By YAACOV MAMANE Graduate-meteorology For more than 3,500 years Jews have been living in Israel. Only from the second through the fifth century did the Jews become a minority in their own land. The Jewish people never accept permanent separation from their country. Almost every century sees waves of immigration to the land. Zionism as a political movement strove to establish an Arab-Jewish understanding. A great number of at iempts had been made before the 1919 VVeizmann-Faisal agreement, which welcomed the Jews to Palestine. These were followed by attempts in the 1930's and 40's. All had one aim: to reach' an agreement with the Arab neighbors. It should be made clear that Palestinian Arab nationalism was not a visible factor at that time. In 1921 Britain received a mandate over the land. Britain partitioned the mandate of Palestine into two territories in 1922 placing 75 per cent of it in Arab lands. Although the nationalist demands of the Arab people had been richly fulfilled between 1922 and 1947 (through more and more truncation of the territory originally alloted for the Jewish homeland), they refused to honor the equivalent legitimacy of Jewish rights.' Totalitarianism in Saudi Arabia By CAMINO PATTIL 1973 Penn State graduate I was on a three-month visit with Aramco, the oil company in Saudi Arabia. I took a tour of many parts of that vast, mostly desert country, and had many chances to get to know the people. I found them to be generous, and very hospitable. As one might know, the government there is a monarchy of an antique type. The king with his family total about 51000. It is a family of conservatives as well as playboys and gamblers. The freedom of speech, criticism" of the regime, and many other things are forbidden. Added to that is the presence of the so-called "Religious Association." Such a clique is very active all over the country. Their function is to enforce the govern mental religious laws. An example of some ruleS are the prayers in the mosques at five times a day, and cutting the long hair of young men by force! These rules amazingly do not apply to the king's family. Although some of the people—mostly illiterate support the totalitarian regime, the maj&ity do not approve of the way of the system. Rarely would people truthfully tell you their feelings for the police reprisals. I was told that in 1970 there were about 2,500 political prisoners. Many of them are still in custody. Most of the opposition to the government comes When it's going to be a two-car day with only one car... Look us up! - RENT-A-CAR Their position was that Arabs should be sovereign' everywhere; the Jews nowhere From 1947 to 1948 seven Arab states declared war against Israel resulting in the exodus of 600,000 Arabs—mainly to other parts of Palestine. It should be noted that the Arab refugee problem (today 600,000 of 2.8 million Palestinians) was the result of the 1948 war started by the Arab states. Israel has already solved the problem of over 700,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries. There are almost 20 Arab states with over $2O billion in world banks. What are these Arab governments prepared to do to solve their own refugee problem? At the same time a wave of anti- the territory of what was the British Jewish persecution started in most Arab Mandate. Palestine. it is not, in the countries. Riots cost the:lives of hun- main, a refUgee problem, since none of dreds of Jews in Egypt, Lybia, Syria, Iraq the rith Arab countries is willing to help and elsewhere. During World War 11, the Arab refugees. while Israel is. It is following the Nazis, some 150 Jews in not the problem of citizenless people, Iraq were massacred by Arab rioters. In 1 ' since most of the Palestinians enjoy 1941 and 1945 there were widespread citizenship of the countries in which riots in which hundreds of Jews were they lived. killed. 'Sirice then billions of dollars The problem of the Palestinians is worth of property was confiscated. In mainly political and is linked with the most places Jews were subjected to question of whether the Arab states are arbitrary arrest, degradation and loss of prepared to reconcile themselves to the civil and political rights. In 1948 more existence of an independent newish than 760,000 Jews lived in Arab coun- state in the Mid-East. el 3 Li , 1 , . • r A ; -... 1. I' l l -/. - It's easy to avoid problems on those days when one family car isn't enough . . . like when he's going otkof town on business and she's got to go into town on errands. You can rent a luxury Gran Torino, a sporty Mustang II or economical Maverick or Pinto. Our Rent-A-Car rates are low and insurance is included.lDon't be caught short a car. Call Miller McVeigh Ford. We're right in the neighborhood. , Miller-McVeigh Ford, Inc. N. Atherton at Aaron Dr. 238-5041 from the people of the Eastern province—home of the oil fields. Those people practice another Islamic sect, different from the official "Wahabi" sect acknowledged by the king. These people feel they are segregated against and.taken ad vantage of. There is not much happening in the Eastern province other than the oil business. Although there is no industry, there is a grnwing building construction in the capital, Riyand, which is in the middle province. The people of the middle province are of Bedouin background and mostly conservative. Such Bedouins make up the national guard, which is created by the king to oppose the "educated" army. On such occasions the national guard is used to crush any opposition. There are royal rivalries as how to run the country, and who succeeds the'ailing Kirtg Faisal. I was 'told that there were several trials to topple the whole aging regime, but none succeeded. An intellectual once said, "Our government is the wealthiest in the world, the most backward, most oppressed and exploitative." He continued to say that the oil money is divided between the oil companies, and the Saudi sheiks. The latter play with it, deposit it in Swiss banks or invest it outside., the counfry for themselves! 1~~ .~ 'r ~~ ~~.~ tries; today their total is about 50,000. Let me put it in the simplest terms. I was born in .Morocco. In 1956, when Morocco got its autonomy from the French, the Jewish- community was terrorized by physical attacks, arbitrary arrests and' other repressive measures. More than 200,000 Jews escaped Morocco, leaving all their 'property behind. Morocco was the most moderate Arab con try. The contemporary terrorism cannot be compared with what happened in the land of Israel before 1948. The Palestinian problem _is not what the stereotypes of Arab propaganda attempt to present. It is not the problem of a nation expelled' from its land, since most of the Palestinians still live within LiAil keP "DdfrYiri&d: Bibbed 5/art Nreen ret powalei Corduroy, ofl 11 oz lArdisb ed once denims 1, 6 j1 6 Beautiful clothes. 10 to :30 mon. thru Sat. CHEAP THRILLS 6:30 to 9:00 mon. thru fri. eveningS until Christmas 1.13 ast Since at this time most Palestinians are Jordanians and most Jordanians are Palestinians, the most logical solutn would be a negotiated settlement between the two existing states in e area—lsrael and Jordan—within the framework of which the Palestinians would find full scope for national self expression.' For me, a Jew who was born in an Arab country, who suffered from! Arab terrorism, who fled in 1956 from thereto Israel, there is no need for additional proof that the Arab states intend to annihilate Israel. Israel will not die or disappear, and it will be strong enough to protect itself. Too tired for the truth? By AARON M. SCHILLER Advanced Adjunct Student I suggest that the individual viti.o . wrote that he or she was "tired of hearing that Hebrews had a 2,000-year claim to Palestine," is indeed a tired individual. This individual was too tired to do his or her homework on an issue he or she felt , qualified to write on. For 'fear of becoming too repetitious with the words he or she and this individual allow me to refer to this person as "Claud." • ' Claud made reference to the SApvaks, the • Lithuanians, the Austro- Hungarihns, the Chinese and the American Indians. Claud seems to maintain that we (Americans) are over concerned with the Israeli cause, and we should be more selective as 'to where we place our priorities. Claud states that the Slovaks have always been ruled by others. Well Claud, if you're that con cerned, get the movement started, and if it be a just cause, I for one will jump on your bandwagon. Claud also complains, "Lithuania, Austro-Hungary and others no longer exist, and China is divided." We may be a powerful nation with a lot of economic and political pull, but nothing short of a world war is going to change those, situations. Claud is not, however, without a magnanimous spirit as he gives credit to the Jews "They have greatly improved the once worthless piece of land called Palestine." But you blew the ap peasement Claud, when you went on to say, "Why can't they realize the Sr i \,.//~ ~. .. ~ il~r '/.',_,,: ~` ~~1 t',~n j~~,~, k X , J ;✓, z 0 1 2-- / -4 ‘1, 7 1 f" 1 .1 , 'lll 1 , 1 i!1 41 h\„ Palestinians also have a claim to Palestine? They also have a religious reason for - wanting Jerusalem." Shame you! Not only did you Jail in your research, but you didn't even read the papers.. For if you had, you would have known that this is not a religious war. For your benefit Claud allow Fie to quote a few of the speeches matte im mediately preceding the 1967 lArab- Israeli War. Jordan, May 15, 1967: "There is , no doubt that our war with Israels Im minent. We shall therefore be prppared and mobilize all our resources...We will strengthen our forces and liquidate Israel completely so that she will disappear from the face of theearth." Egypt May 17, 1967: "Egypt, liith all its potential resources. t7uman economic, and scientific, is ready to plunge into a total war that will be the end of Israel." Also fbr your benefit Claud i have traced down a speech made by President Nassar bn May 26, 1967. You'll be happy to read that this particular speech is religious, for in it you'll notice the if/it vi, 1 , J?I ,h''' THE UN GiVETH ACID - THE UN COULD - TAKE - q4 AWAY dltz,Collegian DIANE M. NOTTLE Editor mention of God Nassar said. "The world is very much different today from what it was 10 days ago. Israel as well is dif ferent today from what was seen 10 days ago ..We looked forward to the day when we would be properly prepared. so that if we go into a campaign with Israel we Nall be able, with the help of God. to be victorious I could not say things like this five years ago or even three years ago. Today I say these things since I know what is at or disposal. I also know the positions of the other Arab states today. Today the Syrian army and the Egyptian army represent one front... Our basic goal will be the destruction of Israel..." Destruction, liquidate, disappear from the face of the earth this may sound reltgious to you. Claud. but I hope and pray that it does not. I am wishful that all you are suffering from is ignorance, and I write this letter not with contempt but rather with .the hope that it will.shed some light on this ignorance. Alas, Claud, I have'one more point to make. you were even too tired to sign your name. Call 238-8395 HANDCRAFTED CLOTHING SUNSHINE - 220 5 FRASER ate. oss cromii,e ?..sr 067,,e ROBERT MOFFETT Business Manager
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers