—Voices from the Sensible Center—

Interpreting the Middle East for North Americans—
Interpreting North America for the Middle East

Current Affairs

2 Meantime, on Both Banks ... —When you look on the ground in the West Bank and south Lebanon, you find that Israel's policies there are actually in conflict with what the U.S. says it wants. So what's new? Only that the U.S. and Israel are supposed to be embarking on a new and friendly "strategic relationship."

4 Congress Ups Aid to Israel—Israel will be getting more money than ever from the U.S. in 1984—along with a bundle of unprecedented fringe benefits. A lot of Congressmen were bothered, however, by the way Israel's supporters made an end run around the normal Congressional procedures in order to boost the aid.

5 Lobby Activities—If you had driven into Washington during the past several weeks you could have seen billboards and heard radio commercials protesting proposed U.S. aid levels for Israel. The campaign was sponsored by the National Association of Arab Americans. Meanwhile, a group formed by the Jewish Defense League ran a strongly-worded ad opposing presidential candidate Jesse Jackson and thereby sparked a controversy not only with blacks but within the Jewish community as well.

Regular Features

2 Editorial—We're not really sure if the Administration cares a whit about what Israel does on the West Bank. But we're willing to bet that efforts to get its cooperation there will be fruitless.

6 Facts For Your Files—A Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations

7 Book Review—Forty-five years ago, George Antonius wrote that the cure for the horrors undergone by Jews in Germany should not be sought in Palestine, because "no code of morals can justify the persecution of one people in an attempt to relieve the persecution of another." His plea went unheeded, but much of what is contained in his classic work, The Arab Awakening, is still very relevant.

8 Personality—Richard Arens is a professor of law and a crusader for civil and human rights who has been particularly active in the defense of blacks in the U.S., Indians in Latin America, and Palestinians in the Middle East. He also happens to be the brother of you-know-who.