Israel Revives Total Separation Plan by GIL SEDAN • • JERUSALEM (JTA)-Israel marked the 34th anniversary of its stunning victory in the 1967 SixDay War last week, but the nation is still plagued •with, its consequences. Dan Meridor, chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, recalled how neither end of the political spectrum was able to deal with the war's outcome. The right wanted to annex the territories; the left wanted to withdraw. Neither side was able to follow through on its wish. As a result, Meridor said last week, Israel deferred the issue of drawing a border with Palestinian lands. The interim agreements forged with the Palestinian Authority during t h e Oslo peace process purposely deferred the issue until the two sides had created enough mutual trust to tackle the most difficult questions—including borders. But any trust that had been established between the two sides since the Oslo process began in 1993 was dissolved with t h e eruption of IsraeliPalestinian violence last September. And now, following a suicide bombing t h a t claimed the lives of 20 Israelis, there are growing calls within the Jewish state for Israel to fence off the West Bank. The suicide bomber had traveled to Tel Aviv after evading military checkpoints separating Israel from the West Bank. The idea of fencing off the West Bank was raised during former Prime Minister Ehud Barak's term. He advocated total separation from the Palestinians if peace negotiations, which became deadlocked before the violence began last fall, remained frozen. Some had argued at the time against the idea, because a fence could be seen as an acceptance of the border that existed before the 1967 war. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refrained from embracing his predecessor's separation plan, which
Demonstrators picketed outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem over the •worsening security situation. Photo by ISRANET. included a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank. His spokesman, Ra'anan Gissin, dismissed the fence idea. "You can't cut off the territories with a fence and hope it will work. It's a very long and winding border. You would have to build about" 600 miles offences, he said. Instead, Sharon is currently eyeing an Israel Defense Force plan for creating a security zone -- as wide as five miles in some areas—that would have the 1967 line between Israel and the West Bank as its western border. Many of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank would fall within the planned zone, whose eastern border would fall near Palestinian-controlled areas. Located within the zone would be physical obstacles such as trenches, as well as lookout posts and electronic and thermal detection devices. The estimated cost, according to the army: $250 million. Critics like Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh, a former deputy defense minister, argue that the cost will be much higher.
B'nai B'rith Honors Eel Rosen in End of Year Wrap-up • by JEWISH PRESS News Service
It was the First Annual goal. Awards Luncheon and "We had an extremely capped the conclusion of successful year," said the first year of office for Javitch, who gave an inforGary Javitch as President r -;, mal "State of the Lodge" of the Henry Monsky -v address at the weekly Lodge. The occasion had Breadbreakers. It could two main purposes, and the only have been accomfirst was to honor Ed Rosen plished with your help," he on his 90th birthday. added, lauding the participants as he handed out cerOver the years, Rosen tificates of appreciation. has taken a leadership role in the Henry Monsky Javitch called his first Lodge of B'nai B'rith. term the year of the "MilDuring his most active lennium Renaissance." The years, the annual fund- B'nai B'rith President Gary Javitch and lodge, like many organizaraising dinner became the honoree Ed Rosen celebrated recently. tions here, has seen thenpremier banquet in Oma-ha, and BBYO nurtured membership decline over the years. During the year, young Jewish teens coming of age in Omaha. B'nai B'rith launched a plan to renew, reconnect and In a unanimously adopted motion that praised revitalize the lodge. his insights, efforts and hard work in promoting "We've halted the loss of membership, but the Henry Monsky Lodge nationally and locally, increasing the rolls remains the biggest single chalmembers voted to officially call his birthday, May lenge of the organization," he lamented. "Our Lodge 31, "Ed Rosen Day." is, however, one of the strongest and most active Although using a walker, Rosen demonstrated units in the United States." Program highlights, that turning 90 was no impediment. It did not keep Javitch cited, included an extremely successful Mm from voicing his opinion. Nor did it stop him lunch speakers program, open to the public, Bible from offering his well-received advice regarding Quiz for teens and Appreciation Reception for issues before the lodge. Besides honoring Ed, the police and firemen. lodge recognized more than 50 individuals for their For membership information, call Lois Epstein at efforts in promoting lodge activities, the second 334-6443.
IDF officials hope that by using aerial reconaaissance and increased ground patrols t i e zone would greafly enhance security. "Hie idea is not new. A similar plan was proposed by former Internal Security Minister Moshe Saaaal following a series of terror attacks in early 1996. Under his plan, Palestinians would sot be allowed to work inside Israel—a move.thai ©mild now prove devastating to the fettering Palestinian economy. Even as the Idea of separation is reviving, opponents are raising Uieir voices loud asd clear. Likud legislator Gideon Ezra charged that a separation plan, no matter how carefully planned, will prove ineffective. **What will you do here if you have 10 simultaneous penetrations?" he asked. **WiM you fight the infiltrators within Israeli cities?" Ezra said the billions of shekels that would be invested in- the plan would be a total waste of money. "I will do everything possible to prevent investing money under stress, an investment which will not bring about the desired results," he said. Sneh said the main obstacle to the plan would be the settlers, who would be caught within the newly created security zone. He said the zonereminiscent of-the one Israel maintained in southern Lebanon until May of last year—would be an area in which settlers and soldiers would be the target of Palestinian militants. But supporters of the idea, like Likud legislator Michael Eitan, argue that it is better than having suicide bombers strike in Tel Aviv. Columnist Dan Margaiit wrote last week in the Israeli daily Ha'areiz that the fence could serve as a valuable tool in future negotiations with the Palestinians. The fence will send a message to the Palestinians, he wrote: "If the two sides negotiate and come to an "agreement, the fence can be removed. As long as you do not negotiate, the fence will remain in place."
Solidarity Gives Way to Caution as Diaspora Jews Cancel Israel Trips by GIL SEDAN
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JERUSALEM(JTA)~The Maecabiah Games, the quadrennial tournament of Jewish athletes from around the -world, is poised to become the latest casualty of the eight-month-old Palestinian uprising. Barring any last-minute change, organizers of the 16th Maecabiah were expected to announce Friday that the Games, slated for July, will be postponed until next summer. If so, it would mark the first time the Maecabiah Games have been canceled since World War II. It also would follow the recent announcement by the U.S. Reform movement that it is canceling its summer youth camps this year in Israel. Both developments have drawn the ire of Israeli officials, who feel that especially now—when Israelis feel they are under siege from Palestinian terror attacks and international criticism—world Jewry should make good on its frequent protesta(Continued on page 11)
1NSS0E: Commencement Speeches.....^.
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2001 High School Graduates
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Rabbi Rllenson to Head UAHC.page 11 A Jewish Traveler in Paris
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