November 1991, Page 59

Arab-American Activism

By Catherine M. Willford

Opposition to Loan Guarantees Continues

Arab-American organizations successfully displayed a variety of techniques to dramatize their opposition to Israel's request for $10 billion in US government-guaranteed loans. They sought to refute the Shamir government's claim that the loan guarantees are a "humanitarian" issue separate from the question of Jewish West Bank settlements and Israeli willingness to trade land for peace at a US-Soviet sponsored Middle East Peace Conference.

ADC: Ads and Nose Plugs

In September the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) ran an advertisement in The Washington Post headed, "Another $10 Billion for Israel...But Not for Americans. " The advertisement stated, "If you think this $10 billion could be better used to guarantee loans to save American cities from bankruptcy and family farms from foreclosure, create job training, and help provide affordable housing here in the United States, contact your members of Congress today. "

After a pro-Israeli lobbyist was quoted in the media as confident that the loan guarantees would be rammed through Congress "even if we have to hand out nose plugs," ADC staffers, agreeing that the Israeli request "stinks, " hand delivered a letter and nose plugs to members of Congress, asking them to choose between voting for an offensive request or acting on behalf of their constituents' needs at home.

AAI: New Hampshire and Iowa Polls

In October the Arab American Institute (AAI) released the findings of public-opinion polls of New Hampshire and Iowa voters which revealed that citizens of these kickoff states for presidential politics have a heightened concern about US Middle East policy. The telephone survey polls, conducted by the Gordon S. Black Corporation for AAI between August 30 and September 2, indicate that voters in both states are growing increasingly intolerant of presidential candidates who opt for political expediency over sound foreign policy.

By a 2-to-1 margin, the polls show that Iowa and New Hampshire voters support the "land-for-peace" policy advocated by the Bush administration. On the question of Palestinian statehood, the voters favor creation of a Palestinian state by a margin of more than 4-to-1.

On the loan guarantee issue, about 84 percent of the voters from both states believe that the US either should not provide the loan guarantees or should provide them on condition that Israel first stop building Jewish settlements in the occupied territories (margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percent).

Over 60 percent of Iowa voters responded that Iowa Senator Tom Harkin should vote against the loan guarantees. A 5-4 margin of his constituents thought Harkin should excuse himself from voting on the Israeli request because of a perceived conflict of interest stemming from his acceptance of more than $350,000 from pro-Israel political action committees (PACs) since 1984. When asked how important the Arab-Israeli dispute and attempts to settle it would be in the 1992 presidential election, about 85 percent of the New Hampshire voters and 75 percent of those from Iowa replied that it would be "very important" or "somewhat important."

AAI concludes that American public support for Israel's policies is eroding, as is support for more aid to Israel, and that voters in these key states expect the presidential candidates to address the issues of US foreign policy in the Middle East in the months leading up to the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

According to AAI Executive Director James Zogby, "Democrats will pay a price at the polls if they come out on the other side of these issues. " For more information contact AAI at (202) 429-9210.

NAAA: Land Expropriation within the Green Line

The National Association of Arab-Americans (NAAA) has contacted Congress regarding an often forgotten effect of Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel: the price paid by Israeli Arabs within the Green Line, or pre-1967 borders of Israel. NAAA called the issue "critical in light of the national debate over Israel's request for $10 billion in loan guarantees.”

In a recent letter to Congress, NAAA Executive Director Khalil Jahshan cited specific examples of Israeli actions which have provoked the "dire circumstances confronting Israel's Arab population. " In order to accommodate the influx of Soviet immigrants Israeli authorities have dramatically escalated the confiscation of land belonging to Arab citizens of Israel. Four villages in the Galilee have experienced the confiscation of a total of nearly 30,000 acres of land. Israeli authorities are empowered to expropriate up to 40 percent of land within their jurisdiction for "public purposes" without paying compensation to the owners.

While the Arab education sector still needs 5,580 new teachers and 1,231 classrooms, laboratories and libraries, Israel has authorized the construction of more than 1,000 classrooms for arriving Soviet immigrants.

Incentives offered to businesses which employ Soviet immigrants have resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs previously held by Palestinians.

Jahshan, urging congressional members to consider these factors in making any decision regarding the loan guarantees, stated, " continued immigration and loan guarantees will guarantee Israel's ultimate expropriation of land and the disenfranchisement of its Arab population."

American Task Force for Lebanon Holds Houston Award Dinner

The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) will hold its 1991 Fall Award Dinner on Nov. 22 at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston, TX. The ATFL will present the Joseph J. Jacobs Distinguished Achievement Award to Dr. Michael DeBakey and the Joseph Haggar Foundation. For information contact the office of Dinner Chairman Jamal Daniel at (713) 222-6868.

NAAA Addressing Kuwaiti Airlift Visas with INS

Shortly after the invasion of Kuwait, thousands of US citizens were airlifted out of the country under the presidential executive orders of George Bush. Many Palestinian families residing in Kuwait, whose children were born in the US and are US citizens, found that they were eligible to participate in that airlift. Now, although the children have the right of US citizens to remain permanently, the visas of the family members are set to expire on Dec. 31.

NAAA has been working with key members of Congress and the Executive Branch to inaugurate an executive order so that the Immigration and Naturalization Service would extend the families' visas for four years.

In the meantime, the family members are unable to work in the US until their visa status is resolved, and many are without any source of income, as their funds and assets are frozen in Kuwait.

For further information contact NAAA at 2033 M Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036-3399 or call (202) 467-4800.

AAI Executive Director Proposes Peace Plan

As plans to convene an Arab-Israeli peace conference continue, James Zogby, executive director of the Arab American Institute, has been circulating his own proposal to foster peace in the Middle East. Zogby's plan has been endorsed by a number of Middle East groups and has received a hearing in the national press and in the State Department.

The Nation magazine called Zogby's effort one that "could transform the political environment in Israel" and Paul Findley, a former Republican congressman from Illinois and chairman of the Council for the National Interest, called the plan "refreshing and exciting. " Zogby also discussed his ideas on NBC's "Today Show" and "Firing Line, " a public affairs program hosted by conservative columnist William F. Buckley, Jr.

In the proposal, Zogby calls on the United States and the United Nations to focus on the separate concerns of the Palestinians and the Israelis. Israel would receive security and aid guarantees to make a dialogue with Palestinians and Arabs less threatening. Palestinians could be reassured about their rights of self-determination and eventual statehood, which would make them more amenable to talks with Israel.

"The plan is…an effort to change the conceptual understanding of the conflict," Zogby said. "There are two wounded peoples, each of which has concerns that must be addressed."

Catherine M. Willford is the circulation director for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.