.. I RI Jewish Hist. Society 130 s e~·, s ions S t. I Providence, RI 02 9 06 l Support Jewish Read By More Than Agencies t·•·•,.•c····,·•,:·•,--°'.·•__··~ -,·-•·-:·._·_.·,·'..~-..·::•i•··': ..;·_.·1 •. ....•:.:,...,·;··.. ..·.• ...::.,·.• .... ,·,.·,·:.··.:··:· ..··· .... ...·•.. •· .. ·.,· ·.:W #~.:,··:•·.···'";·.:•,.. ;.·.j•,.f-,i·.!.•.li ..... 35,000 :~: -- ~::~ .. ··-•··:·-·.• ·-:_./"=. ·_.~:-.;_··_•.-;_·::_;_;.•:;_ .:·:•. ·.:.•·_.·.f __.··,_:.. -.;___·.:·:·.,_i: . .. :,'_.: .'_ .. With Your ' ~ ••::•.fP ,.<\·; ," &rn Membership !J! ,':;' ,,,A People THE ONLY ENGLISH-JEWISH WEEKLY IN R. I. AND SOUTHEAST MASS. VOLUME LXI, NUMBER 22 THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1978 25¢ PER COPY Bill Passes First Reading Coming Months Noted In Knesset As Critical For Mideast By Gil Sedan In the isolation of Leeds Castle, a necessarily a deadline. top U.S. official says. "If we fail, it's going JERUSALEM (JTA): The bitterly medieval fortress in the green countryside The coming months also will test the to be bad for us and for the Middle East." controversial "Who is a Jew" bill demand­ near London, Egyptians and Israelis shared Carter administration's Mideast strategy. A More Desperate Sadat? ed by Israel's Orthodox religious es­ tough talk and good humor. For months the White House has The immediate reason for heightened tablishment, unexpectedly passed its first But today, there is no humor in the con­ spotlighted Israeli Prime Minister concern is what U .S. officials see as the reading in the Knesset last week as a result tinuing Mideast peace impasse. The talks at Menachem Begin's inflexibility on the issue growing desperation of President Sadat. of parliamentary maneuvering by the Leeds Castle did not bring any progress, of withdrawal, hoping pressure would build During his recent talk with Israeli Defense religious bloc which caught the opponents and top American officials warn that the on him to bend or face the possibility of be­ Minister Ezer Weizman, Mr. Sadat off guard. The measure was referred to next few months are critical: unless Israel ing replaced. Now the U.S._ must try _to requested that Israel unilaterally withdraw committee and must pass three other remains inflexible in its refusal to withdraw move both sides beyond their broad, d1s­ from parts of the Sinai, including Mount readings in the Knesset before it becomes from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Sadat p a rate proposals to the detailed Sinai and the Mediterranean port town of law. It is expected, ultimately, to be may end his peace effort in October - a time negotiations that could lead to peace. El Arish, as a positive gesture of response to defeated. The bill is an amendment to he has named for a judging process, not "The moment of truth is fast arriving," a his peace initiative. And he vowed that Israel's Law of Return. It defines as a Jew whatever Israel does, he intends to go in anyone born to a Jewish mother or October to pray on Mount Sinai. converted to Judaism according to halacha, Sadat Bars Meeting This thrashing-around reveals much religious law. about Mr. Sadat's mood of urgency. And In practice, this means that only conver­ the Israeli response to the idea of any un­ sions performed by Orthodox rabbis would ilateral withdrawal is equally revealing of be recognized in Israel, a restriction regard­ With Israelis; Prime Minister Begin's unyielding mood. ed as an affront to Reform and Conser­ Some hard-line Egyptians had worried that vative Judaism abroad and one that would Mr. Begin might seize the opportunity to strengthen the Orthodox grip on personal Condemns Position make a good-will gesture on Sinai and matters in Israel to the exclusion of the relieve pressure for some flexibility on the other branches of Judaism. ALEXANDRIA, Egypt: President talks with Israel. West Bank and the Gaza Strip. But Mr. The "Who is a Jew" bill has been a Anwar el-Sadat called Israeli policy Mr. Sadat declared at the news Begin flatly turned down the Sadat request, source of deep conflict between the "negative and backward" and said he did conference here: "As I said before, the saying, "Nobody can get anything for Orthodox and non-Orthodox in Israel for not favor a renewal of face-to-face talks moves from the Israeli side are negative and nothing ..." years. It lay in abeyance until the Likud with Israel at this time. backward," alluding to Israel's latest offer A further reason for U.S. urgency is that .government headed by Premier Menachem His statements followed a two and one­ to discuss the sovereignty of the West Bank Mr. Sadat must decide in October whether Begin came to power in the May, 1977 elec­ half hour meeting with American special of the Jordan and the Gaza Strip after five to support renewal of a United N~ti~::­ tions. Article 8 of Begin's coalition envoy, Alfred L. Atherton, Jr., who years and to study an Arab proposal for emergency force stationed in the Sinai un­ agreement with the National Religious Par­ attempted to persuade Sadat to consider territorial compromise. der the 1975 Egyptian-Israeli dis­ ty and the ultra-Orthodox Aguda bloc another round of talks. Mr. Atherton, asked whether there engagement agreement. If Mr. Sadat promised that the Law of Return would be Appearing somber and il_l at ea.~e, Sad~t would be a meeting this month at an decides to abandon his peace effort, he amended according to halacha and that a said that he was ready to discuss peace m American-staffed electronic monitoring sta­ might also oppose the presence of the UN bill to that effect would be submitted by a all its aspects" but only if there was a prior tion between Egyptian and Israeli lines in force. That opposition would cause a coalition member and supported by the agreement excluding compromise on the Sinai, as reported from Israel, said merely political crisis in the area and might also government. issues of Arab land and sovereignty. that the subject was "under discussion." open the way for a new Soviet role in the It authorizes the Rabbinical Court, Egypt's firm line, reflected in Mr. Sadat's Mideast - something the U.S. strongly op­ meaning the Orthodox rabbinate, to "be Atherton Trying to Revive Talks declarations as well as in recent official ac­ poses. To block renewal of the UN troop the authorized body to determine the validi­ Mr. Atherton looked glum at the end of tions and press commentary, seems to have mandate, Mr. Sadat would need the veto of ty of a conversion certificate" and pledged the session. Foreign Minister Mohammed come as a surprise to some American of­ a major power, and only the Soviet Union that "the Premier shall make every effort to Ibrahim Kamel had indicated to him earlier ficials, who felt that a follow-up meeting to seems likely to oblige. gain a parliamentary majority for this bill." that Cairo saw no point now in new direct the discussions in Britain nearly two weeks The Peace-Seekers ago was certain. Consequently, the U.S. peace-seeking Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance has operation is going into high gear in the next Military Exemption For Women said publicly that he wants a date fixed for the next meeting with the Israeli and Egyp­ (Conlin ued on page I 0) tian foreign ministers. He is due in Israel Aug. 5 and in Egypt Israel Prepares Based On Religious Grounds two days later. The full meeting in Sinai was reportedly set for Aug. 9-10. For Vance Visit It seems now that Secretary Vance will Seen As Dodging Tactic have to come to Egypt first if he hopes to JERUSALEM: Secretary of State Yance get the Egyptians to agree to new direct will confer with Israeli leaders Sunday to peace talks. "Cy Vance is a friend and is help set up new Middle East peace talks THE ISRAELI girl soldier, envied, ad­ life never had any trouble winning exemp­ between Israel and Egypt, a Government mired and ogled, looks like becoming an in­ tion, but they had to appear before a board, always welcome," Mr. Sadat said to reporters when asked whether the Vance spokesman announced this week. creasingly rare bird. After a 12-hour debate, which questioned them on their knowledge Speaking to reporters after the regular the longest in its history, the Knesset ap­ of Jewish law and custom. visit was still scheduled. Nevertheless, the Egyptian leader stress­ weekly Cabinet meeting, Arye Naor, the proved new regulations last week that may Under the new system a girl may simply Cabinet secretary, said the Cabinet would double the number of 18-year-old females make a declaration before a secular or rab­ ed that Cairo has not agreed to new direct contacts, which Prime Minister Menachem meet a day after the talks with Mr. Vance to exempted on the grounds of religion or binical judge stating that she observes the enable new decisions to . be made, if "traditional way of life" even though that is dietary laws and does not travel on Satur­ Begin had announced would take place in two weeks. necessary. acknowledged often to be no more than an days - a rough-and-ready test of religious There was no immediate comment from excuse for draft dodging. observance. Girls who no longer practice "Really, I don't favor Sinai now," President Sadat said. Israeli officials on remarks in Alexandria The change, which was hotly disputed by their religion, but come from pious homes, by Question on U.S. today by President Sadat that he was the parties of the Left and centre and drew will also be exempt, though they will still Sadat Pained Mr.