A controversial statement that would have expressed American Jewish concern over settlement of Soviet Jews in Israel’s administered territories has been overwhelmingly rejected by the Israel Task Force of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council.
The original recommendation that the Israel Task Force take up the matter was the subject of heated debate during NJCRAC’s plenary session in February.
The proposal, which narrowly passed the plenum in a 216-207 vote, voiced concern that the construction of new housing for Soviet Jewish immigrants in the territories would “detract from the aliyah potential and our fund raising,” as well as “increase tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.”
At the time, the vote drew media attention in the United States and Israel, and provoked significant criticism. A heated editorial in the Jerusalem Post even claimed that NJCRAC, an umbrella organization of 13 national and 117 community member agencies, was not representative of the American Jewish community.
Members of the Israel Task Force said that recent events, particularly the force of the Arab campaign to curtail Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel, has convinced them they must now stand staunchly behind Israel, despite their personal opinions regarding settlement in the territories.
“We realize now that we are in a battle,” said Kenneth Jacobson, director of international affairs for the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith and a member of the Israel Task Force.
“This is not a time when the American Jewish community should be perceived as criticizing Israel,” he added.
‘NUMBER IS INSIGNIFICANT’
The task force noted that Israeli government statistics show that very few Soviet Jews are going to the territories.
“The number is insignificant, and addressing this diverts from the major issues,” said Maynard Wishner of Chicago, co-chairman of the panel.
One of the architects of the plenum proposals, Theodore Mann of Philadelphia, reacted to the Task Force decision “with disappointment.”
Mann, who represents the American Jewish Congress on NJCRAC’s executive committee, said he may continue to push for the statement’s inclusion in the Joint Program Plan, NJCRAC’s annual advisory guide for member agencies.
Rabbi David Saperstein, co-director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, a forceful proponent of the proposal during the plenum, said he does not consider the task force decision a defeat.
He said the vote in February sent a significant message to the Israeli government at a crucial time.
“The point was made through the action of the plenum regarding American Jewry’s concern about efforts to settle Soviet Jews on the West Bank,” Saperstein said.
“The dramatic impact of the voicing of the plenum’s concern helped put an end in Israel to any plans to increase such settlement activity.”
“Clearly, the political situation since the plenum has changed,” he said.
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