Troubles of a Jewish Conscience
Pachter, Henry
June 12, 1967 I have talked to a number of citizens of Jewish descent —some of whom have relatives in Israel or have lived there—who, like me, have been troubled by the ruthless...
...I am frankly dismayed by the inclusion in the cabinet of Menachem Begin, a terrorist, fascist, and expansionist...
...By proclaiming the Army's determination to keep the Old City of Jerusalem, he contradicted the words of his Foreign Minister who—almost at the same time—promised the United Nations Security Council that Israel would annex no territory...
...We further note with regret the wave of mistaken chauvinism among American Jews and their friends...
...Security Council orders and the welshing and hemming on the given word of the Foreign Minister or his representative in the United Nations...
...The killing of 11 UNEF members in the Gaza Strip...
...make constructive proposals for a fair solution of the refugee problem...
...But we continue to uphold the ideals of humanity and of obedience to international law against our own and any other government, and we hope that the peace will be fair to all...
...Generosity behooves the victor and we hope that Israel, while insisting on a peace which would give it as much security as can be expected within a rather imperfect system of states, will moderate its demands in such a way as to avoid additional humiliations, which might only give the Arabs and their allies new cause for revenge...
...If they are wrong, we feel compelled to tell them so...
...this should also be the rule for the support of our friends...
...By pursuing the Egyptians until his troops had reached the Suez Canal, he defied the U.N...
...by continuing the war in Syria long after the deadline of the ceasefire had expired, he defied world opinion...
...The brutal expulsion of Arab refugees from conquered territory west of the Jordan River...
...June 12, 1967 I have talked to a number of citizens of Jewish descent —some of whom have relatives in Israel or have lived there—who, like me, have been troubled by the ruthless actions of the Tel Aviv government in the recent conflict...
...It was particularly surprising to find among the signers some persons who previously had associated themselves with protests against the American conduct in the Vietnam War...
...Security Council's cease-fire order...
...We certainly condemn the aggressive policies of the Arab dictators and of the Soviet government which abetted their provocations...
...Is it too much to ask for consistency...
...In addition, we note with regret a number of incidents which require a thorough investigation by impartial authorities: The refusal, at the beginning of the crisis, to accept the UNEF on Israeli territory...
...We therefore had to take exception, regretfully but firmly, to a statement of blind support, published in The New York Times by a number of writers usually associated with the Left and presuming to speak in the name of "the intellectuals...
...The occupation of U.N...
...In a democracy we are taught to support our government not blindly but critically...
...Truce Supervision Commission Headquarters in Jerusalem...
...We further hope that the United Nations' authority will be restored in the area, especially that an independent peace guard will be constituted and that it will be given sovereignty in disputed strategic areas such as the Gaza Strip and the hills overlooking the Israeli-Syrian border, as well as the City of Jerusalem with the holy places of many nations...
...While we hold no brief for Arab provocations and fully understand Israel's right to self-defense, we are deeply disturbed by General Dayan's independence in the execution of his assignment...
...The United States has been proud to support the only democratic government in the Near East...
...It would be sad if that government were to be replaced by a military dictatorship or if it were swayed by militaristicchauvinistic passions which might prevent a just and fair peace...
...The repeated disregard of U.N...
Vol. 14 • July 1967 • No. 4
