Arab Americans Present Lifetime Achievement Award to Alfred Lilienthal

By Pat and Samir Twair

Politically conscious Arab Americans revere Dr. Alfred M. Lilienthal as a pioneering Jewish American who revealed in his four books and many articles the true dimensions of Zionist persecution of the Palestinian people. And so when the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Arab Americans learned he was in California as a visiting scholar at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, it decided to honor him with a lifetime achievement award.

Broadcaster Casey Kasem was master of ceremonies and read many congratulatory telegrams from such distinguished Arab Americans as Rep. Mary Rose Oakar (DOH), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), NAAA Executive Director Khalil Jahshan and Mayor James Maloof of Peoria, Illinois.

Speaking on "What Price Middle East Peace?" a reminder of the title of his first book, What Price Israel? Dr. Lilienthal said Americans must understand that criticism of the state of Israel is not anti-Semitism. "Zionism isn't Judaism. Judaism isn't Zionism. Zionism is a political movement," he stated.

"Judaism is the relationship between man and God and is not related to any piece of land," he continued. "In fact, for the Zionists, Judaism is a myth."

Asserting that the U.S. media will stoop to anything to revive memories of Jewish persecution, the author of The Zionist Connection said journalists rarely discuss Mideast events without bringing up the Holocaust, although it occurred in Europe.

"There is no reason why we must constantly look over our shoulders at that tragedy of a half century ago," he said. "Instead we must look forward. The bones of [Nazi] Mengele are exhumed to inject Holocaustomania so that no one makes a logical decision about establishing peace in the Middle East."

Warning that the Holocaust saga should not become the third Holy Book, Dr. Lilienthal emphasized there is a fundamental difference between falsely saying the Holocaust did not occur 50 years ago and correctly saying Israel is not doing the right thing now. He said the new religion of many American Jews has become centered on the Holocaust and worship of the state of Israel.

An anti-Semite now is anyone Jews don't like, he said, citing the case of Cincinnati Reds baseball team owner Marge Shott, whose remarks have engendered a storm of media criticism.

"Am I a self-hating Jew because I seek justice for the Palestinians?" he asked rhetorically. "The tenets of Judaism call for principled behavior." He said it is his opinion that Jerusalem should be internationalized and that the two Semitic peoples, Arabs and Jews, could once more live side-by-side if the United States withheld aid until Israel complied with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

There was scarcely a dry eye among the more than 200 NAAA members in the audience when singer Nick Maloof sang happy birthday to "Al Farid" (the Unique), a name Palestinian admirers conferred on Dr. Lilienthal many decades ago.

American Druze Society Opens Southern California Library

The Southern California Chapter of the American Druze Society has acquired a large two-story building in the Los Angeles suburb of Eagle Rock as its community center. Thanks to a donation from member Aristo Hatoum, it also was able to open a library in the building on Dec. 19. Funds for 500 books in English and 100 in Arabic about the Middle East made possible the library, which will be open to the entire Arab-American community.

Chapter President Dr. Hayal Said said the American Druze Society's Community Center not only will house the first Arab library in Southern California, it also serves as an Arabic language school for more than 80 students. Inquiries about the society and its services in Southern California should be directed to (213) 255-SADS. Inquiries about national activities of the American Druze Society may be directed to (212) 764-0546.

Expulsion Protests

Less than two days after the Israeli government expelled 415 Palestinian Muslims from the land of their birth on Dec. 17, Arab Americans assembled in front of the Israeli Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles to protest this possible forerunner of illegal "transfer" of Palestinians living under military occupation.

Among the two dozen demonstrators was Casey Kasem, who was interviewed by television and print media representatives.

Los Angeles members of Women in Black also gathered on Christmas Eve in front of the Israeli Consulate to protest the mass expulsions. They demonstrated again on Dec. 30, and attempted at that time to deliver a statement of protest to the Israeli consul general. When Sarah Jacobus and Suzy Mordechai, representing the Jewish women's peace group, attempted to enter the lobby of the high-rise structure that houses many Israeli agencies, a guard threatened to call the police if they did not leave immediately.

The two protectors asked the guard to call the Israeli Consulate to ask for permission for them to deliver their statement, but they were turned down. Nevertheless the demonstrators, whose activities are inspired by weekly Women in Black peace vigils in Israel, were in front of the Israeli Consulate again on Jan. 6.

Pat and Samir Twair are free-lance writers based in Southern California.