Use facts, not propaganda

Letters

Editor: The recent issues of the Jewish Bulletin have proven, once more, two equally disturbing trends in the paper.

First, the continuous tendency of the only Jewish publication in our area to become a kind of a loudspeaker for the tiny, extremist, anti-Israel minority among us, who, while representing probably less than one per cent of the Jewish population here, are being given the widest possible exposure.

Second, the fact that, while the peaceniks who have written or talked to the Bulletin - Heller, Aberle, Rosenberg and company - very often quote the United Nations, its organizations and its binding resolutions, in support of their wild claims, they have failed, so far, to present even a scintilla of precise proof that would justify their position.

The Jan. 25 issue of the Bulletin was a perfect example of my first concern. Under the title "Could this be the beginning of the end?" the paper was allegedly trying to have an even-handed review of the so-called "Palestinian refugees" problem. Notwithstanding the fact that even some prominent Arab leaders consider it a "deal-breaker," the Bulletin chose to offer the top two-thirds of the feature to the "one per cent minority" of our Jewish population, while pushing to the bottom the views held by the overwhelming majority. Even the outrageous statements by a man called Naftali Lavie, who denied the need for Israel to exist, and compared the Jewish state to Nazi Germany, were given twice the space offered to a community leader, such as Dr. Sally Rogow.

Was it fair reporting or manipulation? The readers, the subscribers and the sponsors of the Bulletin should decide.

But even stranger is the failure of the so-called Jewish peace-seekers to explain where in the United Nations binding resolutions, usually not Israel-friendly, or in the criteria of its agencies, one can find any justification for the claim that millions of alleged Arab refugees have the right to return to Israel.

The left-wing Jerusalem Report, often a harsh critic of the government there, has finally addressed the issue, with some clarifying facts known for years to well-informed people around the world, but avoided and hidden by the Just Peace activists.

To start with, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, established over 50 years ago, is the main body in charge with determining the criteria for refugee status and it defines a refugee as a person who, "owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion or nationality ... is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."

According to the UNHCR criteria, there are today only about 40,000 survivors of the initial refugees. As the criteria also exclude those people who have another citizenship, were combatants or war criminals, the number could be even lower. If one wants to be extremely inclusive, by also counting all of their heirs, second, third and fourth generation, many of whom have married non-Palestinian Arab partners, the UNHCR criteria still amount to much fewer than one million.

Moreover, even the most partisan UN officials admit that the figures of "refugees" are grossly inflated, because the aid they receive is based on the number of people living in one household. As quoted by the Jerusalem Report, one official said, "When granny dies ... they don't have her taken off the rolls." Oddly enough, even Yasser Arafat considers himself a "Palestinian refugee," though he was born in Cairo in the late 1920s, and was still studying there during the War of Independence!

As well, the often-recited Resolution 242 of the UN Security Council does not even mention any "repatriation," but vaguely talks about a "fair settlement."

Finally, in the same Jerusalem Report feature, Carol Batchlor, the senior legal advisor for the UNHCR's International Protection Department, clearly stated that "when we consider repatriation, we consider the impact that it would have on the security and stability of the country of origin."

Nonetheless, nothing would prevent any Arab refugee from seeking compensation for their proven lost properties and valuables, as determined by the UNHCR and its regulations. So far, however, not one single refugee, among the more than 100 millions who were forced from their countries since the end of the Second World War, including more than 700,000 Jews from Muslim states, has received any compensation whatsoever.

Wouldn't, therefore, it be fair and helpful to expect from those writing or talking to the Bulletin to use real facts and figures rather than fabrications and old-style propaganda?

Jack Chivo
West Vancouver

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