Binyamin Netanyahu, the Minister at the Israel Embassy in Washington, made a point here recently that hasn’t received much attention in the flood of words that have poured forth since Israel went into Lebanon in June, 1982.
Speaking to more than 50 Jewish college students, who are spending the summer as interns to members of the Senate and House, Netanyahu noted that after the Israeli move into Lebanon nothing was heard about the use of Arab oil as a weapon against the West as a means of pressuring Israel.
This is not just because many Arab countries “secretly cheered” Israel’s efforts to wipe out the Palestine Liberation Organization and its terrorist activities, Netanyahu explained. Instead, he argued, a “most dramatic development” has occurred in which the West is no longer as dependent on Arab oil as it was in the 1970’s.
Netanyahu explained that after the 1973 oil boycott, the West began economizing on oil, seeking greater energy efficiency, and turning to substitutes such as natural gas and coal. World oil production, which was at 55 million barrels a day, is now down to 45 million barrels.
The Arabs believe that with improvement in the world economic situation the need for oil will go up, Netanyahu said. But he stressed that it will be only “marginal” as most money will be invested in alternative forms of energy.
“The change in the world oil market is irreversible,” Netanyahu said. “The Arabs have had their decade,” he argued, and “the Arabs will never retrieve their position of dominance” which they had when the world was so dependent on their oil.
THE ROLE OF THE USD
Netanyahu spoke at a seminar sponsored by the University Service Department (USD) of the American Zionist Youth Foundation (AZYF), the student arm of the World Zionist Organization. Another seminar was scheduled with Israeli Ambassador Meir Rosenne.
Michael Jankelowitz, the emissary and director of student affairs for the AZYF, said this was the first program held for Congressional interns. The USD works with student Zionist groups on over 200 campuses across the country.
The USD is divided into regional centers across the country and works closely with aliya centers. Jankelowitz said he tries to let the students run things as much as possible for even if they make mistakes they gain the skills they will need to eventually become Jewish leaders either here or in Israel.
Jankelowitz was pleased with the turnout for Natanyahu, which was held in a Senate office building. He said invitations were sent out to interns who had Jewish names.
The purpose is to provide them with more information about Israel and to create a personal link with the Jewish State, he noted. The hope is that some will eventually make aliya. But even if they do not, they are the future leaders of American Jewry and it is hoped that such programs will create a greater awareness of Zionism and Israel among them, Jankelowitz said.
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