August/September 1991, Page 68a

Jews and Israel

By Andrea Barron

Citizens Rights Movement Reaches Out to Soviet Immigrants

Israel's Civil Rights and Peace Movement (CRM)—known in Hebrew as "Ratz"—has embarked on a campaign to assist new Soviet immigrants in their difficult process of adjustment to Israel. CRM is a leftist Zionist party headed by Shulamit Aloni which supports Palestinian self-determination, separation of religion and politics, and an Israeli bill of rights. It is represented in the Knesset by Aloni, Yossi Sarid, Dedi Zucker, Ran Cohen and Mordechai Virshubsky.

A recent American Friends of CRM newsletter noted that Soviet immigrants will "have the power to determine the political direction of the country by swaying the balance between the parties on the left and those on the right. Now it is time for the progressive forces in Israel to reach out to these immigrants, to aid them in their absorption and to gain their support."

CRM already has hired three Soviet activists to work with immigrants in Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv and a fourth to work with students and youth. Among other things, the activists have helped establish old-age homes in the community, started a Russian newspaper and begun to set up a CRM branch inside the Soviet Union.

Housing is not the only issue for the newcomers—unemployment is said to be as high as 30 percent and includes many professionals who have never before been without a job. Non-Jewish spouses of immigrants are encountering difficulties with the religious authorities. And many immigrants have become part of an "underground health network" because of the Health Ministry's extremely rigid medical licensing requirements.

The ministry refuses to license doctors unless they have 20 years of experience or pass an exam in general medicine. Many Soviet doctors are young and others are specialists who would have problems passing the general exam. The immigrants are opting out of the country's national health system because it will not permit them to see Soviet doctors. CRM has come out strongly in support of the doctors and called on the Ministry of Health to revise its regulations.

Recent polls demonstrate that support for CRM in Israel has grown from 4.5 percent in 1988 to 7.5 percent in 1991. The Russian newspaper Nova Stilidili attributes this rise in popularity to CRM's outreach among Soviet immigrants. In any case, CRM still has a lot of work to do; there are increasing signs that the Soviet population is moving to the right, despite its disdain for the Likud bloc's pro-religious policies. A survey carried out last September demonstrated that about 70 percent of the Soviet immigrants favor the right-wing parties.

Congressional Profile: Representative John Bryant

John Bryant, a liberal Texas Democrat, shocked many members of Congress on June 19 when he offered an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act that would withhold a portion of US aid to Israel unless Israel ceases the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Bryant knew his amendment would be defeated—it was voted down 378 to 43—but he thought this was the time to raise the settlement issue in Congress.

The amendment called for placing $82.5 million of US economic aid for Israel in an escrow account, to be restored once the president certified to Congress that Israel is not building or expanding settlements in the occupied territories. Israel currently receives $1.8 billion in military aid and $1.2 billion in economic aid, all in grant form.

Bryant, who has strong ties with the Jewish community of his native Dallas, insisted that his proposal was not anti-Israel. "I'm against arms sales to Arab countries and I think the United States should give Israel a clear guarantee that we'll stand behind her in time of war," he said. "But something has to be done about the expansionist policies of the Likud coalition now governing Israel."

Israel's settlement policy is wrong, Bryant declared, because it has no right to take Palestinian land and because "it is clearly, undeniably and irrefutably an obstacle to peace. " He pointed out that from mid-April until June 19, the Likud seized more land from West Bank Palestinians than in the previous two years. There are currently more than 170 settlements and nearly 100,000 settlers in the West Bank and Gaza, excluding Jerusalem.

Bryant made clear that he does not consider settlements the only obstacle to peace. He cited even "greater" obstacles such as refusal by most Arab states to recognize or to negotiate with Israel, and the Arab boycott of companies that do business with the Jewish state. "But we have already spoken out against the obstacles caused by the Arabs," he said. "Now we have to hear about the other side."

Why did Bryant, who says he is no expert on the Middle East and does not sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee, propose such a controversial amendment? "It's very simple," according to the 44-year-old congressman. "I always thought of Israel as being on the right side in a sea of enemies, espousing the same values as do we Americans. Now we see a bunch of extremists, refusing to compromise, even talking about expelling Arabs from the country. This is not the Israel I grew up with."

Bryant explained that many members of Congress agree with him. "But they won't speak up because they are afraid about being labeled 'anti-Israel,' and that they'll be put on the hit list of a variety of pro-Israel PACs [political action committees]. Incumbents are also worried that criticizing Likud policy could make it very difficult for them to move up in Congress. " (His comment was made before the election to majority whip of David Bonior (D-MI). Bonior voted for the Bryant amendment and also sponsored a bill this year supporting the creation of a Palestinian homeland.)

Is Bryant, a five-term member who has focused much of his energy in Congress on trade, environmental and education issues, concerned that AIPAC or pro-Israel PACs will target him for defeat? "I hope not, " he said. "I proposed this amendment because as long as [Israeli Prime Minister] Shamir keeps receiving $3 billion every year, why should he give up any land at all? People who care about Israel understand this. I told AIPAC legislative director Esther Kurz she should be the one pushing this amendment."

Arnold Sweet, a 58-year-old Jewish attorney who knows Bryant well, says he does not expect Dallas Jews to organize against the congressman. "John Bryant is sincere and considers himself a friend of Israel, even though he's been misguided in getting out his message. In his mind, he's doing what's best for Israel. " Sweet is the past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas and past president of the Dallas Jewish Community Relations Council. He and Steve Gutow, now head of the National Jewish Democratic Council in Washington, organized the first fundraiser for John Bryant when he decided to run for Congress in 1981.

Gutow tried hard to convince Bryant not to sponsor his amendment, but said the congressman is an "extremely idealistic, high principled man. We're not talking about someone who is hostile to or apathetic about Israel, but someone who deeply loves the country. Bryant, in a way, is almost like a non-Jewish counterpart to Israeli doves.

And what kind of Mideast peace agreement would this pro-Israel maverick from Texas like to see? "I don't have a clear position, " he said, "although I certainly don't think West Bank Palestinians should have an army. What I do know is that the more settlements that are built, the harder it will be to negotiate. Someone had to start the ball rolling on settlements or we'll never see any progress toward peace."

Andrea Barron is a member of the Jewish Committee for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.