Signs of the Times – Part unknown

Arafat’s PLO Rebellion

Yam Arafat who has led the faction ridden Palestine Liberation Organization for over 14 years has apparently survived an attempt by the radical element in the organization to oust him Arafat whom many Israelis consider their terrorist enemy number one is considered to be too moderate by the Syrian backed rebels in his organization The dissidents reject Arafat s willingness to accept negotiation as an alternative to their all but hopeless holy war against Israel

Although the rebels are in the minority in the PLO they have the backing of Syria s President Hafez Assad the arch rival of Arafat for control of the PLO Assad who sees leadership of the PLO as a step toward increasing Syrian influence in the Arab world is backing rebel leader Abu Musa who was deputy chief of operation in the PLO before the revolt and now wants to resume attack on Israeli forces in the south of Lebanon

In Israel the hard liners are said to be jubilant at the turn of events which removes the need to negotiate about the West Bank and Gaza Other Israelis, however, look with apprehension at the stepped up terrorist attacks that would result from a win by the rebels

Arafat meanwhile still wields a great deal of influence among the financial leaders of the Arab states and some observers think that without his leadership support for the PLO would dwindle Arafat is very popular among the Palestinian people themselves especially on the West Bank Pro-Arafat demonstrators in Jerusalem recently clashed with Israeli riot police when their flag waving and chanting demonstration got out of control

The Soviet Union has been supportive of Arafat in the past and has invited him to Moscow in response to his appeal for support in the present conflict Some observers feel the pressure from Syria may cause Arafat to move closer to Jordan’s King Hussein and join him in negotiation with Israel over the future of the West Bank. Another view is that Syrians may gain control of the PLO but leave Arafat nominally in control but with much less power than he formerly had. In any case a solution to the Palestinian problem is not likely to be reached soon since neither Israel nor the Arab states really want the solution that would be imposed on them.

A New Title for Andropov

Just seven months after Yuri Andropov assumed leadership of the Communist Party on the death of Leonid Brezhnev he has been elevated to chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. The post, although largely ceremonial, is con­sidered an indication that Andropov is firmly in control of his party.

But even as this endorsement of his leadership is conferred upon him there are ominous indications that the state of Andropov’s health is not good. When he expressed his thanks to the Supreme So­viet he did so not from the rostrum but from microphones placed at his chair. During West German Chancellor Hel­mut Kohl’s recent visit to Moscow meetings had to be postponed and at a reception for a Finnish delegation the guests were requested not to shake hands with Andropov. Just turned 69, Andropov has had major health problems for years and these now seem to be worsening but his mental powers remain as keen as ever.

Given the state of Andropov’s health and the age of other members of the Politburo, western observers have been speculating as to which of the younger Politburo members might become future leaders. Two relatively young men by Politburo standards have been moving up the political ladder recently, 60 year old Gregory Romanov and 52 year old Mikhail Gorbachev. Romanov, a politburo member since 1976, came up from the ranks as a tough, hard-driving industrial manager from Leningrad who always met his quotas. He was recently transferred to Moscow and made a Central Committee secretary. His foreign policy views strictly follow the party line and he holds the United States to be the cause of all the trouble in the world. Gorbachev on the other hand, the sophisticated and urbane law school graduate, presently holds the post of agriculture secretary. He has grown in prominence since Andropov came to power and his reputation does not seem to have been hurt by the dismal harvests the Soviets have been having.

If Andropov’s health should force him to move from the scene either of these men will be in a position to move toward top political leadership. Both men hold positions on both the Politburo and the Communist Central Committee Secretariat, a power base from which all So­viet rulers since Lennin have risen. Will either of these men be the one who makes the decision for the fateful southward march into the land of unwalled villages ?

An Impasse in Lebanon

The security that Israel hoped to gain from the Lebanon war has so far not materialized. Although a U.S. sponsored agreement has been signed by Israel and the Lebanese government under which Israel would withdraw from Lebanon, the withdrawal is contingent on a Syrian withdrawal. The Syrians have remained adamant in refusing to withdraw their forces from the Bekaa region. Israel and Syria face each other along a 60 mile front with the armies only 600 yards apart in some places. Several tense incidents have taken place such as exchanges of small arms fire on the ground and a Syrian attack on an Israeli reconnaissance plane. Shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz has so far failed to persuade Syrian to withdraw from Lebanon and the hope of the U.S. administration that other Arab states such as Saudi Arabia would be able to influence Syria has been disappointed.

In Lebanon the agreement between Israel and the government of President Amin Gemayel was denounced by the leader of the Druse community as the start of partition with Israel in the south and the Syrians in the Bekaa valley. The well armed Druse who inhabit the northern mountain region plan to resist the peace agreement with the hope of working out a deal for more power in the government.

Most observers hold little hope for a peaceful united Lebanon free from foreign domination and see instead a more less permanent partitioning of the country unless a major breakthrough in negotiations takes place. Israeli defense minister Moshe Arens has been quoted a being of the opinion that the Soviets will eventually persuade Syria to pull back. He is said to feel that the Soviets are reluctant to risk the loss of the more than $1 billion in new equipment they recently installed there. Whether this view has any validity only time will tell, but the present trend of events seems to be moving in accordance with the interpretation of Bible prophecy that calls for Israel to occupy much of present Lebanon when the Kingdom age is ushered in.

A Change in Jewish Tradition

According to Jewish tradition the children of Jewish fathers and gentile mothers are not accepted as Jews unless they go through a process of conversion but children of Jewish mothers are presumed Jewish whether the father is Jewish or not. A recent conference of American Reformed Rabbis passed a resolution by a three to one margin recognizing as Jews, children with one Jewish parent of either sex if they have been reared as Jews and identify formally and publically with the Jewish faith

The controversial change was a response to the growing number of mixed marriages among American Jews, estimated to be as high as 40 percent Since most of these marriages are between Jewish men and gentile women the children are often lost to the faith unless the wife converts

The decision by the Reform rabbinate has widened the gap between the Reform and Orthodox branches of Judaism The move has been roundly condemned by the conservatives who disagree with this means of dealing with the threat to the Jewish community

Jewish scholars agree that the tradition of matrilineal descent is not derived from divine command but began during the Roman occupation of Palestine so that the children of Jewish women whose fathers were Roman soldiers would be kept in the Jewish Community Thus the principle that the child follows the mother’s religion was adopted into the tradition

Both Reformed and Orthodox branches of Judaism are motivated by the fear that if the present high rate of intermarriage continues an identifiable Jewish community in the United States will soon cease to exist For the Reformed Rabbis the action was consistent with their view that the traditions should be followed where they are useful but should be flexible enough to adjust to modern reality. The ruling is also in conflict with Israeli law for the Knesset in 1970 passed a law confirming the matrilineal principle.

Whatever the fate of Judaism in the United States, believers in biblical prophesy recognize the prophetic role of natural Israel in the millennial age. The prophecy of Ezekiel in chapters 47 and 48 refers to possessions in the land according to tribes, leading to the conclusion that in that day descendants of Jacob will be identified not only as to nation but also by tribal affiliation.

A Vulnerable Link in U.S. Defense Chain

In this age when defeat or victory in a nuclear war may be determined in a matter of minutes, military communications are of vital importance. The military communications system of the United States is a gigantic system involving satellites, telephone lines and computers. The equipment is located in both underground and airborne command centers. Sophisticated as the system is, defense expert say it is the most vulnerable link in U.S defenses. Over 70 percent of U.S. military long-distance messages go by satellite as do a lot of navigation and surveillance data.

The Soviet Union is known to be developing killer satellites and is though to be in the forefront of research on laser beam devices to disable communications satellites. A one-megaton bomb exploded over Omaha would disrupt the nation’s telephone network and affect 90 percent of military communications.

The Soviet Union on the other hand is reported to have developed a system that is able to survive the initial stages of a limited nuclear war. Thousands of Soviet command facilities such as bunkers trucks and tanks have been hardened to withstand the effects of a nuclear blast and the resultant electromagnetic disturbances.

America’s system by comparison is considered by some defense experts to be so vulnerable that the Soviets might be tempted to launch a pre-emptive strike To remedy the situation the Reagan administration has budgeted 31.5 billion dollars for upgrading the system and providing the redundancy on which surviv­ability is based. The improvements proposed include: the upgrading of the early warning radar system across Alaska and Canada and closing gaps in U.S. missile surveillance; a new system of communications satellites called Milstar to provide jam-proof world wide communication; an extremely low frequency communication system, ELF, for submarines; and a new “flying White House” with jam-proof upgraded communications gear.

Defense experts consider these systems vital to the U.S. defenses in any nuclear showdown and since almost everyone can agree on their desirability they probably will be approved by congress. However, during the years it will take to get the system into operation a “window of vulnerability” will exist.

An Outpost of the Soviet Empire

In the months since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the humiliating defeat of Syrian forces the Soivet Union has been rebuilding the military power of Syria. To counter the accusation that Moscow let down the Palestinians in the siege of Beirut last year Soviet leader Yuri Andropov has established a close working relationship with Syria’s President Hafez Assad who has made two secret visits to Moscow recently.

The Soviets have not only replaced the planes, tanks and guns lost in last summer’s fighting but in an attempt to regain lost prestige in the Middle East have dramatically raised the level of sophistication of the weapons. The long range SAM-5 antiaircraft missiles with their 500 man Soviet crews have been deployed for the first time outside the So­viet Union. The Syrians are now believed to have as many as 800 T-72 tanks along with self-propelled howitzers, BM-21 Katyusha rockets and SAM-6 and SAM-9 antiaircraft missiles. As many as 5000 So­viet military advisers are estimated to be in Syria trying to improve the fighting ability of the Syrian armed forces. The arms buildup has drawn sharp warnings from both the U.S. and Israel and U.S. Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger has referred to Syria as “another outpost of Soviet empire.”

Although Israel still enjoys military superiority in the region the presence of so many Soviet military advisers and crewmen increases the risk of a confrontation with the Soviets. This is one of the reasons American diplomats are working so hard on an agreement to get both Israeli and Syrian forces out of Lebanon. With their increasing strength the Syrians are becoming less inclined to cooperate in the peace efforts.

Although Israel appears truly desirous of leaving Lebanon the intractability of the Syrians and the PLO make conditions for an early withdrawal unlikely since Israel insists on security arrangements that will guarantee the safety of the nor­thern settlements. In southern Lebanon Israeli forces seem to be preparing for a long stay as the troops are said to be moving from tents to prefab housing and many military supply facilities are being built.

Although the terms are said to be very favorable, the arms the Soviets are supplying are not free and the Saudis, Syria’s financial backers are expected to pay the bill. For this reason the U.S. mediators have appealed to the Saudis to try to influence Syria. The Soviets feel the longer peace efforts are stalled the more the advantage in the region will shift to their side. The significance of all this from the prophetic viewpoint is the buildup of Soviet forces on Israel’s northern border from which the final invasion of the land is to be expected.

Politics and the Church

Pope John Paul II has repeatedly urged the Catholic clergy to avoid political action. Political action here obviously means :he holding of political office but does not preclude the taking of sides on economic and social issues. The Roman Catholic hierarchy has been getting more and more involved, not only in the revolutionary politics of third world countries but is also becoming increasingly critical of economic and social policies of the more advanced nations of the world.

Last fall a conference of American bishops formulated a statement condemning the Reagan administration’s policy on nuclear weapons. In East Germany churchmen both Catholic and Protestant have been denouncing what they perceive to be growing militarism and have been active in supporting young men in their refusal to accept military service.

In France the Catholic hierarchy published a letter applauding the social programs of the Mitterrand government. But one of the boldest and hotly debated pronouncements to date is an article by the Canadian Catholic hierarchy’s Commission for Social Affairs which issued it as a New Year’s message condemning the inflation fighting austerity policy of the Canadian government. It accuses the government of encouraging unemployment and aiding the rich at the expense of the poor. The article entitled “Ethical Reflections on the Economic Crisis” attacks capitalism as ‘social Darwinism” and urges a shift in national values and priorities to the goal of serving human needs and a recognition that the recession is part of a “structural crisis in the international system of capitalism.” The feature that caught the attention of the press and was the subject of controversy for days afterward was its criticism of capitalism in terms bordering on Marxist rhetoric.

Although as some bishops were quick to point out, the article does not represent the unanimous opinion of all bishops, it does indicate a growing trend toward humanism and an acceptance of Marxist doctrines by the hierarchy of the Catholic church throughout the world. In the United States a committee of bishops is said to be preparing a lengthy document on capitalism which will be debated at the American bishop’s national meeting in the fall of this year.

During the pope’s recent visit to Central America he denounced the holding of government positions by priests. In Nicaragua five priests have refused to give up their government positions at the request of the church, but what action if any will be taken against their stand has not yet been made clear. This trend of the church to seek roles far afield from the one of spiritual leadership may be leading up to the prophetic alliance with the northern confederacy in opposition to the returned Christ.

Little Progress in Lebanon Negotiations

The alliance that Israel had hoped to form with a strong Lebanese government under Christian Phalangist leader Amin Gemayel has proved to be illusory. Ge­mayel’s government has been so weak that the Israelis are reluctant to remove their troops from the country for fear that the hostile elements present would soon have the country in the divided condition it was in before last year’s Israeli invasion. The Christian Phalanges Party is able to control little more than the capital Beirut. Syria occupies the Bekaa Valley, and remnants of the PLO still occupy some northern areas. In the South a private army led by Maj. Saad Haddad under Israeli auspices is in control as far as the Bekaa Valley and the city of Sidon.

Instead of an alliance with an independent Lebanon governed by Lebanese, Israel appears to be preparing to settle for the 28 mile security zone in the south. The task of the new defense minister Moshe Arens is the building up of a strong defense there in case the Syrian arms buildup leads to war. Meanwhile Israeli troops remain in Lebanon despite U.S. efforts to negotiate the withdrawal of all foreign forces.

The point worth watching in this situation is whether disunity among Israel’s enemies sets the stage for another expansion of the territory under Israeli occupation.

A New Syrian Buildup

When Israel, during last summer’s invasion of Lebanon, knocked out 19 Soviet SAM missile sites without the loss of a single plane, the Soivet Union was understandably embarrassed. Not only was the quality of Soviet weaponry called in question but the very ability of the Soviets to support their client states was criticized. Since the Lebanese war, massive amounts of new equipment have been sent to Syria and new SAM-5 missiles operated by Russian crews have been installed.

East German and Cuban advisers are said to be training the Syrians in the use of the new weapons according to U.S. intelligence reports. Israeli military leaders believe it is only a matter of time before a new war with Syria will have to be fought. As many as 1,200 Soviet advisers are thought to be in Syria and any direct confrontation at this time would be almost certain to involve them.

In view of this delicate situation the Israelis have refrained from making the preemptive strike against the missile sites that former defense minister Ariel Sharon had proposed. Newsweek magazine in its March 7 issue credits Soviet cautiousness for Israel’s decision not to attack. The magazine says that the Soviets refrained from installing missiles in locations that could target low-flying Israeli jets on combat missions over Lebanon. This reduction in the threat is said to have induced Israel to refrain from attacking the other installations.

German Vote Seen as Victory for West

The victory of German Chancellor Hel­mut Kohl in recent elections is being taken as a mandate to deploy new NATO nuclear missiles if Moscow does not negotiate a disarmament pact with the U.S. in the Geneva talks. The victory is also seen as an indication that the German electorate favors participation in a strong NATO alliance.

The arms talks with the Soviet Union are about to get down to serious negotiations in which the U.S. is calling for the “zero option,” a plan whereby NATO would cancel its plans to deploy the Pershing II and cruise missiles in Europe if the Soviets remove the SS-20 missiles from Eastern Europe. So far negotiations are deadlocked, and it remains to be seen if the show of political strength that the election produced will be enough to bring about the compromises necessary for a meaningful arms reduction agreement.

A Reluctant Guest

A key element of President Reagan s Middle East peace plan is the recognition of Israel by the Kingdom of Jordan and the start of the negotiations for a Palestinian state in the West Bank territory The plan envisions Jordan s King Hussein taking a step similar to that taken by the late President Amwar Sadat of Egypt Hussein came to Washington last December to meet with President Reagan who hoped to persuade the king to abandon his policy of political caution and like Sadat gamble for peace

In the beginning of his two day visit Hussein admitted the urgency of peace talks but in his final meeting he is re ported to have told the President that it is still too soon for him to lead a joint Jordanian Palestinian delegation into ne­gotiations He also said that before he could lead such a delegation the U S must restrain Israel from its policy of building settlements in occupied Arab territory

Miraculous Survival

The reluctance on the part of Hussein is understandable in view of the many attempts that have been made to assassinate him In the thirty years he has been king he has survived at least 16 such attempts His first brush with death came when as a teenage prince an assassin s bullet was deflected by a medal on his chest He was standing beside his Grandfather, King Abdullah in an East Jerusa­lem mosque when gunmen opened fire killing the grandfather A year later he took the throne when mental illness forced his father to abdicate

Since taking the throne Hussein has demonstrated great political skill in his struggle w remain in control of his coun­try He has survived rebellion in his army and successfully dealt with the anarchy that followed the flooding of his country with Palestinian guerrillas from the West B ink after the 1967 war In 1970 he forced the PLO to leave Jordan and has kept it out even though Palestinians are a majority of the four million population.

The radical terrorist faction of the PLO with the aid of Libya and Syria have sought the overthrow of Hussein either by revolution or assassination. Yassir Ara­fat now considered a moderate Palestinian and seeking Hussein’s cooperation was until recently one of his bitterest enemies. Through all of this Hussein’s protectors were his loyal Bedonin guards several of whom gave their lives to protect him from harm.

A Little Bit of Luck

A popular newspaper columnist attributes the survival of Hussein to “a combination of political skill, personal courage and a little bit of luck.” The political skill and personal courage of Hussein have been amply demonstrated but what the columnist attributes to luck the prophet Daniel calls divine power ruling in the kingdoms of men. After Daniel had been given a vision of the future that outlined with amazing clarity 2500 years of world history, he said, “– he (God) changes times and seasons: he removes kings and sets up kings.” (Dan. 2:21) ‘Whether or not Hussein recognizes the providential aspect of his presence on the world political scene we are not informed, but as Amwar Sadat said about his own part in the history of the Middle East, he will be there as long as God has a use for him.

Real Estate Boom on the West Bank

Even if the U.S. administration were to pressure Israel into stopping West Bank settlement some observers think a point of no return may already have been reached. A veritable land rush is reported to be going on near Tel Aviv and Jerusa­lem. Soaring land values have tempted Arab landowners to sell their land to developers who are building $80,000 to $100,000 homes for Israeli families anxious to get out of cramped city apartments to a more pleasant suburban life.

With their own schools and supermarkets, the settlements are linked by roads that bypass Arab towns and villages some of which are said to be becoming isolated by the new Israeli settlements. The government is said to already control 60 percent of the land in the Judea-Samaria region and private builders are thought to own enough West Bank land to build housing for 250,000 Jews.

As fast as Israeli settlers are moving in Palestinians are moving out. Young college educated West Bank Palestinians are moving to the Persian Gulf, Europe and the United States where their education in engineering, science and business is in demand. Despite the high Arab birth rate their population is increasing at only half the rate of the Israeli population.

Many observers feel that if it were not for intimidation by the radical element of the PLO most Palestinians would favor immediate recognition of Israel and the start of negotiations on the basis of the Reagan peace plan for they realize that time is no longer on their side. Militant Israelis on the other hand are overjoyed at what they see happening for they realize that the process has become nearly irreversible. Arab confusion and intransigence are now working in favor of Israel and the Begin administration is in no hurry to negotiate with the Arabs. Israel denounced the Reagan plan from the start and Prime Minister Begin has pledged that his government will give up no more of the occupied territories. The Reagan administration has so far avoided any threats which might cause the Israelis to harden their position even more. At present the chances for Reagan’s plan to produce results are thought by most observers to be rather slim. To Bible students this view fits in with the long looked for return of Jews to all of their ancient land.

International Plot on the Pope

When Mehmet Ali Agca was arrested on May 13, 1981 for shooting Pope John on May 13, 1981 for shooting Pope John Paul II he gave the impression that he was an Islamic fundamentalist zealot working alone. Agca was tried, found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment but in a continuing investigation the Italian Justice department has gathered evidence implicating the Bulgarian secret police. Since the Bulgarian secret police is controlled closely by the Soviet KGB evidence points to the possible implication of then KGB head Uri Andropov who is now the top Soviet leader.

Following leads furnished by Agca over the past year investigators have found evidence that the Bulgarians were the source of finance for the plot and have been involved in many other Italian terrorist cases including the kidnapping of U.S. Brig. Gen. James Dozier. The investigation is expected to last for possibly another year and although the Italian investigator is confident the case can be proved some observers are doubtful and think that proof of Andropov’s involvement might do more harm than good since it would certainly be detrimental to relations between the west and the Kremlin.

The motive for the plot is said to be the Pope’s identification with Solidarity in Poland. Polish nationalism and spirit of independence was greatly enhanced when a Pole was elected Pope and it was this spirit that the instigators of the plot sought to crush. The intrigue reported reads more like the work of fiction than real life happenings but unlike fiction there will probably not be a neat ending with all the unknowns solved. Terrorism and assassination seem to be occurring with increasing frequency and serve to emphasize the perilous state of the world in these last days.

Soviet Leaders Continue Plowshares to Swords Policy

A few weeks before his death, Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev called together 500 top military leaders to deliver an address in which he accused the United States of pursuing a course that threatens “to push the world into the flames of nuclear war.” He warned that Washington had launched “an unprecedented arms race and a political, ideological and economic offensive against socialism.”

With Yuri Andropov the man who was to succeed him at his side, Brezhnev called for greater Soviet combat readiness and a rapid buildup of the best weapons that military science could provide. He assured the generals that the Kremlin leaders would meet their needs for weapons. Some observers feel the ailing Brezhnev wanted to impress on the generals that he and his aging associates were still very much in command. Brezhnev was even then very ill and unable to work more than two hours a day and the battle to choose a successor was well under way.

The Soviet military holds considerable political power and Brezhnev’s Politburo colleagues were anxious to strengthen their hand. The military had been critical of a lack of strong leadership in internal and foreign affairs. Brezhnev admitted agricultural deficiencies and industrial bottlenecks but said that he would welcome eased tensions on the border with China so that the expense of keeping a half million soldiers stationed there could be used to correct deficiencies in high technology for the military.

No major changes in Soviet policy are expected as the 68 year old Yuri Andropov former head of the KGB secret police takes over as the head of the Communist Party. During Brezhnev’s 18 years in power his most notable achievement was detente with the west. But the massive nuclear arms buildup during his reign has alarmed many western leaders and given rise to huge increases in the U.S. arms spending. The continuation of this arms race has even non-religious leaders fearful that it will only end in an Armageddon.

Colleges Again Favor ROTC

The student anti-war demonstrations of the sixties and early seventies brought many colleges to discontinue Reserve Officer Training programs. The pendulum now appears to have swung in the opposite direction as at least two thirds of the nations colleges are applying for ROTC programs. There are reported to be six applicants for each available ROTC scholarship, one reason the administration is not pressing for a draft to bolster the armed forces at this time.

A Socialist Election Victory in Spain

An overwhelming socialist election victory in Spain is seen with apprehension by those who see a strong NATO organization as a necessary bulwark against Soviet aggression in Europe. One of the campaign promises of the socialist party was a national referendum over the issue of withdrawing from NATO which Spain had joined only last May. The newly elected party says it will stick with this promise. Agreements with the United States over military bases are also in jeopardy unless all references to NATO are dropped in connection with the bases.

A little over a year ago a similar socialist government was elected in Greece with similar leanings regarding to NATO and American bases. This trend would seem to be further evidence of the non-cohesiveness of descendant nations of the Roman Empire typified by the iron and clay mixture in the feet and toes of the prophetic image of Daniel 2:41-44.

New Israeli West Bank Settlements Planned

When the Israeli government in early November announced plans to establish five new West Bank settlements, the United States state department strongly criticized the move. Later it was learned that these were to be only the first of 20 to be built in the coming year. Plans also call for 37 more by 1985 to house 80,000 new settlers. These plans are in direct defiance of American and world-wide opposition to further Jewish expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Israeli administration strongly claims the right of Jews to live anywhere in their homeland and are confident the U.S. will come in time to accept this principle. The peace plan of the U.S. administration calls for an immediate halt to settlements and closer ties between West Bank Arabs and neighboring Jordan. The opinion was expressed by a U.S. administration spokesman that the Israeli pattern of activity “erodes the confidence of all and most particularly the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza in the possibilities for a just and fairly negotiated outcome to the peace process.” It will be interesting to observe the resolution of this conflict in view of God’s promise of this land to the descendants of Israel (Jacob) for an everlasting possession. (Gen. 28:13-15).

Antisemitism on the Increase

Even before the invasion of Lebanon and the Beirut massacre, anti-Semitism has been on the increase throughout the world and particularly in Western Europe. Recently, however, negative comments on Israeli policy by the European press has set off a rash of incidents that a prominent Rabbi of the Rome synagogue has characterized “an explosion of Antisemitism, suppressed for many years, is now coming out in a political climate where governments are critical of Israeli policy and openly back the Palestinians. Economic recession and unemployment are also factors as the Jews have traditionally been the irrational object of peoples frustrations when conditions are bad.

The effect of the growing anti-Semi­tism has caused some European Jews to be more supportive of the hard line Israeli government but others are critical. Many in Europe, Britain and America have openly criticized the Lebanon invasion and tried to disassociate themselves from Begin’s policies which they find embarrassing. Opinion is divided as to whether this attitude is useful to the Jewish cause or whether it only invites further anti-Semitism.

The United Nations general assembly which has long been opposed to Israel nearly brought a resolution for the expulsion of Israel to a vote recently. Only the threat of the U.S. to walk out and to withdraw funding prevented its passage. One surprise connected with this episode was the stand taken by PLO leader Yasir Arafat against the expulsion of Israel.

Arafat’s strategy appears to be to pre­sent the appearance of moderation and reasonableness to further isolate Israel, and paint Prime Minister Begin as the main obstacle to peace. Arafat has made vague hints of a possible recognition of Israel but has fallen far short of full PLO recognition of Israel’s right to exist. With Israel’s prestige in the world at a low ebb the Arabs have the most favorable opportunity for a peace settlement they have had for many years but they seem too divided and unwilling to compromise to take advantage of it: