Reform Jewry in U.S. Makes Clear Its Stand on Arab Refugee Issue

American Jews were called upon today by the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism to contribute moral and financial support in helping solve the problem of the Arab refugees. The Commission represents Reform rabbinate in this country as well as the 565 Reform temples of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

A report issued by the Commission charged that neither the Arab nations nor Israel have discharged their full moral responsibilities in settling the plight of the Arab refugees. It noted that Israel would require outside economic assistance from the world community for any compensation plan which will be finally agreed upon, since resources for such a fund are beyond the present financial structure of the tiny Middle Eastern state.

“We who are part of the world community, Jew and non-Jews alike, must support such a fund, if and when it is established,” stated the report. “Israel’s moral obligation will only be met when the refugees receive adequate and full financial compensation for the losses they have suffered.”

At the same time the report accused the Arab nations of refusing to settle the refugee problem because it would remove their most effective propaganda weapon against the State of Israel. “The Arabs owe their own kin the moral obligation of recognizing Israel’s existence as permanent and of expressing a willingness to settle the issue with Israel. To ignore that, to insist blindly on what is impossible and impracticable, is immoral,” it declared.

The report underscored that “it is immoral to use human lives as pawns in a gigantic chess game. Yet that seems to be what the leaders of the Arab Middle East are doing.” Documenting numerous instances where Arab states have hampered efforts to solve the refugee problem, the report cited instances where Arab nations blocked the work of UNRWA; incited refugees to hatred of Israel; and stifled the attempts of several Arab leaders such as Musa el Alami in their attempts to establish training and rehabilitation programs for the refugees.

The report points out that none of the major projects of UNRWA such as the Sinai irrigation project, the Syrian agricultural projects, the Yarmuk River development, the Jordan Valley plans, the Johnston Plan, have been implemented because of Arab refusal to acknowledge even the existence of Israel. Instead, states the report, “Arab intransigence is not diminishing. Arab countries are now trying to profiteer on relief and rehabilitation supplies.”

The 275 Social Action Committees in Reform congregations in this country were urged to immediately implement programs of education on this “grave issue of conscience.” It was recommended that discussions be held with church and community groups to clarify the issues and to help resolve this “agonizing moral problem.”