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	San Diego Jewish World 'There's a Jewish story everywhere'

In today's issue...

Shoshana Bryen in Washington DC: "Bad Month for Syria, Iran and North Korea good for the rest of us."

Garry Fabian, in Melbourne, Australia: "Australian parliament offers bipartisan support for captives;" "Labor hits back over boundary changes," and "Hooligans mar first Shabbat of the year."

Donald H. Harrison, in San Diego: "Our changing Jewish World"

Joel A. Moskowitz, MD, in Del Mar, California: "Notwithstanding its troubles Israel has a vibrant economy, officials agree.

Ira Sharkansky, in Jerusalem: "The nexus between peace and security in the Palestinian areas."

____________________

The Jewish Citizen
by Donald H. Harrison

Our changing Jewish World

SAN DIEGO—I would like to invite all of our readers who are interested in the Jewish world, and who have a hankering to write about it, to do so. Please submit your news stories, features, or commentaries to us (at sdheritage@cox.net) for possible use on this website. We also are interested in your poems and fictional short stories if they are on Jewish topics.

All our writers are volunteers, so don’t send your article in if you are looking for payment. On the other hand, there is the substantial reward of being put in touch with our far-reaching readership. Who knows but there may be someone out there who will be moved after reading your article, to write back, either to agree or to disagree. You may form a trans-global friendship. Our intent is to develop on these pages a community of Jewish-interest writers, people who stimulate not only non-writing readers with their thoughts, but each other as well. We hope this site can engender a free flow of thought, and be a forum for Jews the world over (but in San Diego County in particular) to share their ideas.

To transform San Diego Jewish World into a showcase for writers, and to give myself more time to do some of that writing, I have decided to scrap some other features of this online newspaper. From here in out, we won’t be processing and printing press releases any more. Nor will we be running a calendar of events. You can easily find such features elsewhere on the web. In fact, we have links on our home page to the Community Calendar of the United Jewish Federation, and to the Makor listing of educational offerings provided by the Agency for Jewish Education. They’re wonderful resources for learning about upcoming events in the greater San Diego area. There is no need for us to duplicate them.

What you will find on our site, which you will find on no other, is our own unique mixture of writers, all interested in examining different aspects of the Jewish experience. In addition to the very talented people who’ve you met on these pages already (you can find their names in the left column), we expect to be introducing you to new columnists over the next few weeks who will be writing about diverse topics.

Possibly, you might become one of our columnists if you send in your materials. All submissions will be given attentive consideration.

Happy reading!

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Letter from Jerusalem
By Ira Sharkansky

The nexus between peace and security in the Palestinian areas

JERUSALEM—An Israeli soldier died in an exchange of fire with Palestinians in Shechem (Nablus). The incident was the lead story for several hourly news bulletins. Once the army released his name, we heard the time and place of his funeral, and interviews with army and civilian friends and family members. The next day's newspapers put his picture on the front page, and his life story inside.

The death occurred in the midst of an operation to seize stores of weapons and explosives, and bad guys said to be preparing for attacks against Israelis. This is a nightly event guided by intelligence, often obtained from Palestinians seized earlier, throughout the West Bank.

Reports are that Hamas and its allies are increasing their efforts out of a concern to do something big that will scuttle preparations for George W. Bush's Israeli-Arab conference in Washington.

So far the statistics about Palestinians accomplishments suggest that the intifada is declining. Six Israeli civilians have died as the result of Palestinian violence, and the most recent death of a soldier is only the second so far in 2007.

Some say that the figures indicate that Palestinians have given up the struggle. However, daily firings of mortars and rockets out of Gaza suggest something else, as do seizures of suicide-belted Palestinians trying to get through Israeli roadblocks in the West Bank, as well as numerous other indications of unceasing efforts at mayhem.

Those who admire the IDF call it a world class SWAT operation (Special Weapons and Tactics). Critics who are sympathetic to the Israeli cause conclude that some of the shortfalls in last year's war in Lebanon was due to the military's emphasis of training for small unit fighting in Palestinian cities, as opposed to the kind of conditions encountered in Lebanon.

Nightly incursions into Palestinian cities account for some of the success in reducing our exposure to Palestinian violence. Other credit is due to the barrier between much of the West Bank and Israel, the road blocks throughout the West Bank, and the fence around Gaza. None of these win applause among international or local humanitarians, but other Israelis are not inclined to argue with success. Those inclined to forget the hellish months of 2002 and 2003 encounter reminders from organized families of the victims.

We continue to argue. Does the reduction in casualties mean we can take more chances for peace? Or does the reduction in casualties mean that we have been doing things right and should continue?

More than 500 roadblocks throughout the West Bank, plus the major barrier, do a lot to cripple Palestinian transportation and its economy. And the West Bank is prosperous compared to Gaza.

Such conditions do not promote Palestinian sympathy for Israelis. Indications are that Prime Minister Olmert is inclined to relax controls in the West Bank, but a number of his ministers, as well as military advisers urge caution. And the Palestinian side of the conversation is not forthcoming in compromising its own extensive demands, or working diligently to control those who prefer violence.

The military buried its soldier several hours after he died. We will hear news of his life and his death for at least another day. Yom Kippur will bring forth memories of many more who died in 1973. Some will try to go beyond the stories of death in order to move forward discussions about peace, but it will be a difficult task.

Sharkansky is a professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University

Notwithstanding its troubles, Israel has a vibrant economy, officials agree

By Joel A. Moskowitz, M.D.

DEL MAR, California--Only once did Yarum Arlav, director general of Israel’s Ministry of Finance, use the word ‘religiously.’ It preceded his explanation of the increasing economic success of a country surrounded by enemies, with no natural resources, no oil, a dirth of water and where one of the their two lakes is dead! The secret: a religiously-adhered to balanced budget.

John Chiang, State Comptroller of California, appeared with Arlav at an event sponsored Sept. 18 by the intellectual property law firm of Mintz Levin at the Del Mar Hilton. He noted that Israel, though much smaller, is second only to California in the number of start-up companies in the high tech arena.

The economic futures of both California and Israel depend on innovation, Chiang said. California, with the eighth largest economy of the world, is heavily dependent on the intellectual growth in biotechnology and tech green companies. Israel, a tiny young country, has demonstrated its leadership in these spheres of innovation. Warren Buffet has invested $4 billion of the $24 billion dollars entrusted to the brainy little country by investors from abroad. Intel and Google have offices in Israel. You can blame or praise Israel for Blue Tooth, Firewall, Instant Messaging, and voice mail.

Illustrative of this trend is a news brief from “Shekel” published by the Government of Israel Economic Mission Ministry of Finance (June 2007). It reported that an Indian company, Sun Pharmaceutical’s Ltd, purchased Israel’s Taro Pharmaceuticals Ltd to expand on the Israeli firm’s dermatology, pediatric, over-the-counter and generic products.

The same publication also described is Reuters’ purchase of an Israeli company, ClearForest, which analyzes text from web sites and news sources. The World’s Competitiveness Yearbook, published by Switzerland’s International Institute of Management Development, ranks Israel as 21st of 55 countries in economic competitiveness.

Ariav was asked about the impact that negative publicity about Israel—such as various Christian churches charging Israel with Apartheid-like behavior and various European calls for boycotts of Israel products—has on Israel’s economy.

He acknowledged that such behavior was troublesome but expressed hope that it will be dwarfed by the growing positive interaction with the Palestinian Authority (not Gaza of course). Cooperations already in place relating to infrastructure improvements may prove mutually beneficial, he said.

Chiang also gave a positive assessement about Israel’s economy. Among the 87 (approximately) Boards on which he sits, he has an influential role in determining the designation of the assets of California’s employees retirement plans.

Israel’s “Green and Clean Technologies” are especially appealing. What with the decreasing marketable products and/or services from the U.S., it is prudent, Chiang said, to increase global investments. The world population of 6.3 billion, will, in the next four decades, grow to as high as 9 billion.

He suggested that all of these people will demand increasing amounts of commodities. Societies, such as Israel, that are devoting their intellectual resources to maximizing productivity might have the necessary key to alleviating the greatly heightened demand.

Moskowitz, a retired pediatric psychiatrist, resides in Del Mar

Bad month for Syria, Iran and North Korea good for rest of us

By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, DC —It has been a bad month for Syria, Iran and North Korea; consequently a good month for everyone else.

Syria is not a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty or the Missile Technology Control Regime. The name on the paper is hardly proof that a country is not pursuing clandestine programs in non-conventional weapons; many countries cheat. Terrorism-supporting dictatorships with close ties to other terrorism-supporting dictatorships and rogue countries are probably most likely to cheat. So it may be an odd burst of honor on the part of Syria not to sign and therefore not to cheat, but rather to pursue parts of its non-conventional arsenal mostly in the open. Syria has had chemical capabilities since before the Yom Kippur War, and has been working on ballistic missiles since it lost 82 aircraft to Israel over Lebanon in 1982. Iranian-Syrian and Syrian-North Korean cooperation in these developments is well known.

With no confirmation from Israel, and no evidence shown by Syria, consensus is growing that what Israel hit last week might have been a nuclear-related facility, possibly after receipt of a shipment of something interesting from North Korea. This would account for the strident complaint by North Korea about a violation of Syrian airspace, and the remarkably sanguine comments by American officials.

[The timing of French Foreign Minister Kouchner's warning about a military response to the development of nuclear capability by Iran might have been a coincidence, if one believes in them. The change in French attitude is warmly welcomed, but it should be noted that Dr. Kouchner was actually threatening Iran with someone else's military capability, not France's own. That is akin to "let's you and him fight, and I'll root for you." Better for sure, but not quite as good as having France agree to meaningful sanctions in the energy area - something they have avoided.]

In another development, the Jerusalem Post cited Israel's Channel 10 citing a report in Jane's Defence Review that "dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria... [A] joint Syrian-Iranian team was attempting to mount a chemical warhead on a Scud missile when the explosion occurred, spreading lethal chemical agents, including Sarin nerve gas. Reports of the accident were circulated at the time; however, no details were released by the Syrian government, and there were no hints of an Iranian connection." The New York Post added that Jane's said the facility was part of an Iranian-Syrian cooperation agreement signed in 2005, and noted that Russian intelligence has "claimed that Syria has a stockpile of hundreds of chemical aerial bombs."

The news wasn't entirely bad for Syria, however. The IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, elected Syria deputy chairman of its General Conference on Monday, proving that the world can ill-afford to wait for pro-active Israeli arms control or a fortuitous accident to ensure that Syria doesn't threaten the region with non-conventional capabilities that were developed with and can be shared with Iran and North Korea.

Bryen is director of special projects for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs

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The Jews 'Down Under'
By Garry Fabian

Australian Parliament offers Bi-partisan support for captives

CANBERRA—Both the Howard Government and the Labor
Opposition have called on parliament to demand the unconditional and immediate release of three Israeli soldiers kidnapped in 2006.

The Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella, put a motion to the House of Representatives on Monday afternoon calling for the release of Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas, and Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, who were taken by
Hezbollah prior to last year's Second Lebanon War.

Mirabella's motion was heard by Shlomo Goldwasser, the father of Ehud, who sat in the gallery during the session. Goldwasser is visiting Australia to garner support for his son,
who has not been heard from for 15 months, and the other two hostages. He used his visit to Canberra to meet with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, shadow foreign affairs spokesman Robert McLelland and was expected to talk to Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.

In her motion, Mirabella, a Liberal MP, called the abduction of Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev a "violation of Israel's sovereignty".

Mirabella's motion received strong bipartisan support and members of both parties were forceful in their condemnation of the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah.

McLelland told parliament how the abduction violated international law, in particular the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a cessation of violence between Hezbollah and Israel.

Member for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby said Australia was following in the footsteps of legislators in Russia, the United Kingdom, France and the United States in condemning the kidnappers and calling for Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev to be released.

The chair of the Australia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, Moncrieff Liberal MP Steven Ciobo, supported the motion, as did Member for Oxley Bernie Ripoll.

Last Wednesday, as most Jews were sitting down to a Rosh Hashanah meal, the Senate also heard about the plight of the three hostages.

Victorian Liberal senator Judith Troeth told the Upper House that a recording released by Shalit's Hamas captors on the one-year anniversary of his kidnapping was insufficient proof that the soldier is alive and in good health.

"That recording is an important development but it cannot be seen as a substitute for what Hamas must do - namely, allow the International Red Cross to immediately visit the soldier and allow him to receive proper medical attention. These
captive soldiers are being denied the most basic of human rights."

She told the house that the Jewish community of Australia, particularly in the electorate of Melbourne Ports was concerned for the welfare of the soldiers and has called for their immediate return.

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● Labor hits back over boundary changes

SYDNEY—THE Labor Party has accused several NSW Jewish
community organisations of making submissions that favoured the Liberal Party's position in relation to last year's redistribution of Wentworth.

Following recent allegations that Jewish community submissions to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) were leaked to the Liberal Party, it has been learned that Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull's office engaged several Jewish organisations, including JewishCare and the
Emanuel School, in a bid to keep them in Wentworth.

Anthony Orkin, spokesman for Turnbull, confirmed this week that his office had encouraged various organisations to outline to the AEC why they believed they should remain in Wentworth.

Both the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Jewish Communal Appeal (JCA) filed submissions to the AEC in July 2006. The submissions were made available to the public after the closing deadline, but the Liberal Party had access to the
documents in time to include them in its own submission.

The Board of Deputies and the JCA said they forwarded copies to both parties in the "interest of neutrality".

But the ALP's redistribution specialist, Shane Easson, said that he did not see any submissions from Jewish organisations.

"No-one who made submissions concerning Wentworth
on behalf of Jewish community organisations ever
contacted either myself or anyone else in the ALP," Easson said.

Orkin, who put together the Liberal Party's redistribution submission, said that the motivation behind the Liberal's application was to look for the best outcome for the Jewish community.

Following an inquiry by the AEC, all the Jewish organisations referred to in the Liberal Party's submission remained within Wentworth. It did highlight questions about the manner in which Jewish organisations work with the major political parties.

Meanwhile, the Jewish community is awaiting an amendment to the Tax Assessment Act 1997 for security donations. The motion is expected to go before Federal Parliament by the end of next week.

● Hooligans mar first Shabbat of year

MEBOURNE —A CARLOAD of hooligans who drove through St Kilda East ( strongly Jewish populated area) shouting
antisemitic comments through a megaphone has marred the first Shabbat of the new Jewish year, according to security personnel.

The Community Security Group (CSG) said the car passed the Yeshivah Centre and Chabad House Caulfield 770 on Saturday around 6.45pm, with the men shouting "F***ing Jews" and other insults through a megaphone.

While several congregants from Yeshivah pursued the car, they were unable to obtain sufficient information to identity the offenders.

The car later returned to the area and its passengers reportedly pelted eggs at Jews who were walking the streets.

CSG's head of security, Gavin Queit said the incidents tarnished what was otherwise a "very quiet" Rosh Hashanah and police have been notified.

Queit appealed for any witnesses to contact CSG or their local police station.

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