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—Voices from the Sensible Center— Interpreting the Middle
East for North Americans— Current Affairs 3 Syria's Middle East Role—The Reagan Administration is preparing to send a new ambassador to Syria. It's doubtful the nominee could read a better "briefing paper" than what you'll find on page 3, written by someone who's recently been an ambassador there himself. 4 Trade and Finance—U.S. exporters surely don't need to be told the extent to which Arab states have been cutting back on domestic spending. Just look at some new statistics on 1983 and you'll see what they know. 5 Mideast Bills: The Finale—Several important pieces of legislation affecting the Middle East will be dealt with by Congress in the next couple of weeks. What they are and what is expected to happen is the subject of our new "Update on Congress" column on page 5. 8 West Bank: Learning Denied—Every so often Israel closes down a West Bank university, as it did last July at Al Najah. According to a group of educators and diplomats who protested to the State Department, the closings are intended to stifle Palestinian higher education on the West Bank. This story is our first on "Education." Regular Features 2 Editorial—What do Israel's past victories on the battlefield have in common with the political victories won by its supporters every election year in the U.S.? Each contains the potential of disaster for Israel. 6 Lobby Activities—Two Arab American organizations are waiting to hear publicly what they've already been told privately: Rep. Nick Rahall has been chosen to represent them in the Mondale campaign. For its part, AIPAC has published a series of reports, one of which is intended to help Israel win a free trade area. 7 Personality—Why does "a nice Jewish girl from Baltimore" risk losing friendships—not to mention her life—to help Palestinians and to educate other Jews about them? For Ellen Siegel, it's a matter of principles. 8 Facts For Your Files—A Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations. 10 Book Review—For those who don't fully understand why Israelis increasingly are voting for right-wing candidates, try reading Lenni Brenner's The Iron Wall. You're sure to learn from it. |