July 1989, Page 49

AET—A Column From the Publishers

Pro-Israel PACs—We're Writing the Book!

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs keeps tabs on pro-Israel PACs and the candidates they favor. This issue contains a complete record of direct contributions to candidates by 70 active pro-Israel PACs in 1988. In the computer however, are complete records of donations to every candidate by a total of 121 pro-Israel PACs in every election since 1978. AET will issue this complete record, with explanatory narrative chapters, in book form in September. List price is $10. It will be available through the AET Book Club for $7.95 or, for Washington Report subscribers only, two for the list price of $10. There is no postage charge for paid orders received by Sept. 1. Use the postage paid envelope in this issue of the Washington Report, or order by telephoning (toll free) 1-800-368-5788 or, in the Washington, DC, area, 939-6050.

Yes, We Have Speakers Again

It was just six years ago that AET reluctantly closed its speakers' bureau for lack of funding. This year a family foundation established in memory of Sgt. David Campbell Mossner, who was killed in action in Vietnam, offered a matching grant toward reviving that service. Thanks to three new donors who each provided $10,000, the grant has been matched and the AET speakers service will reopen in September.

To raise its sights beyond the national capital area, it will be directed by Janet McMahon, presently of Portland, OR, and Uzra Zeya of Tampa, FL. Both have studied in Middle Eastern as well as US universities. Ms. Zeya, a Muslim, will seek out Islamic groups seeking to work effectively within the American political system, and non-Muslim groups looking for authoritative speakers on Islam. Ms. McMahon will be with us August 1; Ms. Zeya is already on board.

In fact, we didn't wait for their arrival. The grants made it possible for the AET Foreign Policy Committee to invite sitting and retired members of Congress to a luncheon in the Rayburn House Office Building with Dr. Israel Shahak, chairman of the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights, and an articulate critic of Israeli handling of the Palestinian intifada. AET's media committee programmed Dr. Shahak at the National Press Club, and AET's Clergy Committee cosponsored a luncheon for Dr. Shahak at the National Cathedral and a talk by him at a Presbyterian church in Washington, DC.

The main purpose of the speakers' bureau, however, is not to provide speakers for AET committees, but to help student groups, educators, corporations and civic, religious, and political action groups looking for authoritative speakers on Middle East-related subjects. If your group has a date and budget, we'll help find the right speaker. If you have more members than money and can be flexible on dates, we'll look for a speaker traveling in your area at someone else's expense. Or, if you know exactly whom you want, we'll help determine whether your resources match your expectations.

Make a Difference—This Month

We're seeking supporters willing to pay $60 for 12 donation subscriptions to named recipients among clergy, media, legislative, educational or other opinion-molding categories. You can include on your lists libraries as well. If possible, however, contact them first to ascertain procedures for getting the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs on their periodical shelves. Most librarians want it when they see it, but may not accept a short-term donation. If they want a three-year subscription, just use $15 of your $60 donation for that and send us only 9 other names. The point is to get as many Americans as possible reading about the Middle East this year, when courageous members of Congress or courageous administration actions are going to need public support.

We have a similar challenge for donations of Paul Findley's book, They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby. For $5, donate a copy to any named recipient in the US, and AET will pay the postage.

Also, consider the AET Library Donation Package. It varies from issue to issue and the books must go directly to the library you designate. At $2.50 per book it's an effective way to broaden the holdings in libraries of your choice.

Make A Difference This Month