Kenneth Bialkin, chairman of the Anti-Defamation League, dismissed critics of the so-called Jewish lobby, asserting that there was nothing “un-American in Jewish citizens exercising their rights as other Americans do to influence public affairs and policies by every lawful means.”
Giving his annual report as chairman to the ADL National Commission meeting here, Bialkin, who was elected to a second two-year term as chairman, also said last week that what the American society needs “are more not less interested citizens to exercise those rights.”
He also discussed anti-Semitism, the Democratic Presidential primary campaign and developments in Israel. He said “the failure of important people and communities to seize on the signs of bigotry and show they reject them unmistakably” was the real issue in the anti-Jewish comments by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, one of the Democratic candidates. Bialkin told the 400 Jewish community leaders that the “spectre of anti-Semitism” which has been raised “should have been met with prompt and clear response and rejection.”
He said that anti-Semitism, “despite a reduction in the incidence of violent episodes in recent years, remains perhaps the greatest concern of Jews in America.” He called it “anomalous” that “despite the progress we have made, there persists a deep concern that things could get worse, either for our local Jewish communities in the United States, or for our brothers and sisters in Israel.”
SADDENED BY ISRAELI ‘VIGILANTES’
He said Jews were “saddened” by “vigilante tactics of misguided Israelis,” 27 of whom have been arrested in connection with attacks on Arab civilians. “We observe with pride, however, that the rule of law in Israel and the ethics and morality of Israeli society reject those acts.” He said “the fundamental values of the Israeli people and the legal process that distinguishes a civilized and enlightened society, are intact.”
He said the Reagan plan of September, 1982 showed no signs of advancing Israeli-Arab peace and asked: “When will our planners learn that only time and the willingness of the Arabs to negotiate directly with Israel offers a prospect for progress on that front?” but he added that there were signs that those government planners “are finally beginning to realize the constructive role our relationship with Israel can play in that area.”
He said the ADL continued “to oppose the proposal to send large amounts of lethal weapons to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt — where a credible risk exists that they can be diverted to use against Israel.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
