Month: May 2008

FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE 24.9 MILLION EURO CREDIT FOR IMPROVEMENT
OF WATER SUPPLY IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The French government will provide a
credit of 24.9 mln euros for improvement of water supply in Yerevan.
The protocol on provision of this credit was signed by the Armenian
minister of finance Tigran Davtian and the French ambassador to Armenia
Serge Smessov on May 27.

The indicated sum will be spent on implementation of the program on
drinking water system’s improvement and cleaning program in Yerevan.
The program includes work on restoration of Aeratsia water treatment
station, partial restoration of the drinking water ntework and
improvement of water supply through the use of electromechanical and
hydraulic equipment. This part of the program envisages laying of new
tubes, extending the network and connection of new water pipes. 500
thousand euros of the envisaged sum is allocated as a grant for
technical assistance to be provided the French company – the manager of
Yerevan Water company. The credit is given at 1.75% annual interest
rate and to be repaid in 20 years, with a 5-year grace period.

According to T. Davtian, the program will be implemented with fixed
financing. In addition to the indicated sum, 2.4 mln euros will be
allocated by the Armenian government.

Ambassador Smessov said that they will appoint a French advisor to
follow the program’s implementation. "We are glad to take an efficient
part in the process of improving the drinking water supply in Armenia,"
S. Smessov stated.

HOVHANNES HAROUTIUNIAN’S CHARGE KEPT UNCHANGED

35

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 26, the Appeal Criminal Court kept
unchanged the March 28 judgement of general jurisdiction court of
Yerevan’s Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities, by which Hovhannes
Haroutiunian was found guilty by part 1, Article 235, RA Criminal
Court, Purchasing, Selling, Keeping, Transporting or Bearing Ilegal
Arms, Ammunition, Explosives or Explosive Devices and was sentenced to
imprisonment of one year and six months.

The general jurisdiction court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities, presided over by judge Armen Danielian, sentenced Soghomon
Yeritsian accused of using not dangerous violence to a power
representative on March 1 to one year’s suspended imprisonment with a
probation term of a year and a half. The case examination proceeded by
the order of speeded-up judicial procedure.

"AT LEAST ONE-YEAR HARD LOBBYIST WORK IS NECESSARY FOR REACHING
RECOGNITION OF INDEPENDENCE OF NKR BY SLOVAKIA," HEAD OF ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY OF SLOVAKIA DECLARES

6

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged that official delegations
of Slovakia will visit the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh at the
beginning of July and in September 2008. According to the information
provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Ashot Grigorian, the Head of
the Armenian community of Slovakia and the Chairman of the Forum of the
Armenian Unions of Europe, the organization of those visits is attached
importance to as a step directed at the solution of the recognition of
the independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh by Slovakia.
According to Ashot Grigorian, that process wil need at least one-year
hard lobbyist work. In this respect, special importance was attached to
the conference to be held by the Forum of the Armenian Unions of Europe
in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, on May 29-30, where a call will
be made to the Armenian communities of different countries to be after
the recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh with the same
activeness, which is used with regard to the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. In case of the absence of that activeness, in the
estimation of the Chairman of the Forum of the Armenian Unions of
Europe, it will be impossible to confront the Azerbaijani lobbying with
respect to the Karabakh issue. According to him, the volume of the
military expenses of Azerbaijan surpasses the budget of Armenia and the
Armenian communities should find ways for compensating that inequality.
In addition to this, the Armenian communities can reach equality in the
arms of armies of Azerbaijan and Armenia with smaller expenses than
those, which have provided the current advantage of Azerbaijan.

"During the conference the problem of supporting the process of the
recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh abroad will be set in
front of the whole Diasporan Armenians as a compulsory problem equal to
the support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We will also
speak to Stefan Harabin, the Minister of Justice of Slovakia, within
the frameworks of the visit to Yerevan on May 26-28 on that subject in
order to make his knowledge in the Karabakh issue deeper," Ashot
Grigorian mentioned. According to him, Stefan Harabin has declared in
the Slovakian press that he was categorically against disposing air
space for the planes of the United States of America for bombarding
Serbia. That was a meanness committed by Slavonic country Slovakia
towards another Slavonic country: Serbia. At the same time, the
Slovakian Minister was categorically against the creation of another
moslem state, in the face of Kosovo in Europe, which he considered to
be a criminal crime by the countries and the political figures, who
have contributed to it. During the conversations with Ashot Grigorian
he also spoke for adding another Christian state in Europe as the
Nagorno Karabakh country has a three-thousand-year history, in
difference to Kosovo, the history of which is not basis for proclaiming
it independent.

The Head of the Armenian community of Slovakia added that during the
meetings held in Yerevan on January 19, 2008 by the delegation headed
by Georgi Petrosian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh, and Yan Charnogurski, the former Minister of Justice
of Slovakia, the latter referred to a number of interviews published in
the Slovakian press. The results of the meeting have been introduced to
the government and the Prime Minister of Slovakia. According to Ashot
Grigorian, the circumstance of the meeting with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh has received great response
in Bratislava, in connection with which corresponding explanations were
given.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Times of Oman, Oman
May 28 2008

HM greets Azerbaijan, Armenia and Ethiopia

ONA
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 12:25:14 AM Oman Time

MUSCAT – His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of
greetings to President Ilham Heydar Aliyev of the Republic of
Azerbaijan on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

His Majesty the Sultan expressed his greetings and best wishes of good
health and happiness to President Aliyev, and his country’s friendly
people further progress and prosperity.

His Majesty the Sultan also sent a cable of greetings to President
Serge Sarkisian of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of his
country’s National Day.

His Majesty expressed his greetings and best wishes to the president
and the friendly Armenian people.

His Majesty the Sultan also sent a cable of greetings to President
Girma Woldegoirgis of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on
his country’s National Day.

His Majesty expressed his greetings and best wishes to President
Woldegoirgis and wished his country’s friendly people further progress
and prosperity.

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V. KAZIMIROV: EXCLUDING POSSIBILITY OF WAR RESUMPTION IS MOST IMPORTANT
IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Excluding the possibility of resumption
of hostilities is most important in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, deputy
chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats Vladimir Kazimirov
stated at the May 27 press conference. In his words, as long as the
Azerbaijani party hopes to gain revenge, while the Armenian parties try
to keep the most advantageous military positions for fear of military
operations’ resumption, any progress in the political settlement
process is impossible. V. Kazimirov expressed an opinion that it is
more important to reach an agreement on the conflict’s settlement in an
exclusively peaceful way than by raising the issues related to return
of territories or refugees. "I do not quite understand the Armenian
parties that agree to discuss the issue of Karabakh’s status 10-15
years later. The positions here are so definite that 5 years would be
enough," he said.

As for the agreement about a cease-fire on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
contact line, which was reached 14 years ago, V. Kazimirov stated that
in addition the protocol signed in Bishkek on May 5, which is much
spoken about now, there are another 2 documents to have created a basis
for this: the statement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which was adopted
by the heads of CIS member states in April 1994, and the document on
maintaining the cease-fire, which was signed by the heads of the
military departments of the three conflict parties. V. Kazimirov
underlined that no date is given in the document on maintaining the
cease-fire, which was signed in Baku on May 9, 1994, in Yerevan – on
May 10 and in Stepanakert on May 11.

The former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group noted that he is critical
of not as much the Minsk Group which has become an advisory body as of
its co-chairs. According to him, the matter of the parties’ coming to
an agreement on the conflict settlement ideas – which are now being
discussed – is still in question and requires a long time at the best.
Its implementation is in question even in case of signing the
respective agreement. Whereas, along with discussing the common ideas
about the settlement, the parties may reach an agreement on small
issues and solve some problems of autonomous importance: preservation
of monuments, water supply, and environmental issues.

EurasiaNet, NY
May 27 2008

THE KURDISH ISSUE AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Stephen Blank 5/27/08
A EurasiaNet Commentary

The Kurdish issue, specifically the matter of establishing a homeland
for Kurds, has complicated efforts to stabilize Iraq. Now, there is
growing concern among international experts that the Kurdish question
could become a source of tension, and possibly conflict in the South
Caucasus.

Media outlets in Turkey and Azerbaijan have reported that militant
Kurds, in particular fighters affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers
Party, have been settling in Nagorno-Karabakh and in portions of
Armenian-occupied Azerbaijan, with the tacit support of the Armenian
government in Yerevan. Many of the Kurds are reputed to have resettled
in the strategically important Lachin Corridor, a strip of territory
now occupied by Armenia that was formerly part of Azerbaijan
proper. Control of Lachin is one of the main obstacles in the search
for a Karabakh settlement. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

Before the outbreak of the Karabakh conflict, Lachin had a high number
of Kurdish residents, and during the 1920s, it was part of a Kurdish
Autonomous Area within the Soviet Union. Much of the Kurdish
population fled the region during the Karabakh war. But the fact
remains that there is a historical precedent for a Kurdish presence in
Lachin. Even so, their resettlement today — especially if reports
about PKK militants being among the migrants are accurate — is
fraught with peril for regional security.

Some recent Turkish and Azerbaijani reports have seemed downright
hyperbolic in sounding the alarm about the Kurdish threat, as well as
about Armenia’s supposed role in promoting resettlement. The reports
alleged that Kurdish militants have established training camps in and
around Karabakh, and that Armenian authorities have given Kurds access
to state broadcasting facilities. They likewise claimed that political
organizations in Armenia, such as the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnakstoutiun), are actively assisting the Kurds, seeing
them as a means to strengthen Armenians’ hold on Karabakh. In
addition, Turkish and Azerbaijani media have stressed that both Ankara
and Baku consider the PKK a terrorist organization.

On May 14, a commentary in the Istanbul newspaper Yeni Safak, a
staunch supporter of Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party,
claimed that the PKK’s leadership, perhaps feeling insecure in
northern Iraq, was mulling a move to Nagorno-Karabakh. The report
could not be independently confirmed.

Armenia officials have vigorously denied a PKK presence in either
Armenia proper or in Karabakh. "The unsubstantiated rumors about the
intentions on the side of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to move
to Nagorno-Karabakh and controlled territories cannot be called
anything less than another provocation," stated Foreign Ministry press
spokesman Vladimir Karapetian.

It might be tempting to downplay the news reports as Turkish and
Azerbaijani propaganda aimed at their longtime enemy — Armenia. But
dismissing Turkish and Azerbaijani assertions and concerns could prove
dangerous. They require further investigation.

There is a danger that Turkey and Azerbaijan could take matters into
their own hands, using the reported Kurdish threat as a pretext for
military operations in Karabakh. In a February commentary published by
the Ekho newspaper in Baku, political analyst Mubariz Ahmadoglu stated
that that the country’s political leadership might feel compelled to
use force in an attempt to address the Kurdish issue. "If Armenia
continues moving in this direction, resistance on the part Azerbaijan
will be increasing. And not only at a diplomatic level," the newspaper
quoted Ahmadoglu as saying. "I cannot rule out that Azerbaijan can
start real actions of a military character. I know officials who made
remarks lately and I formed such an impression." For example,
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has stated publicly
that Baku would consider military operations to root out Kurdish
militants.

In addition, Turkish military leaders — who in recent months have
ordered military operations in northern Iraq designed to smash PKK
strongholds — have hinted that they would consider attacking Kurdish
militants wherever they were found. This has fueled speculation that
Turkey too might consider a raid against Karabakh, or even Armenia
proper.

The mere fact that Turkish and Azerbaijani media outlets are
complaining about a Kurdish militant presence in Karabakh should spur
the international community to action, in particular the co-chairs of
the Minsk Group — the United States, Russia and France. There is a
clear need for redoubled efforts to get Karabakh negotiations back on
track, so as to eliminate, or at least greatly diminish the chances of
developments taking a calamitous turn.

Editor’s Note: Stephen Blank is a professor at the US Army War
College. The views expressed this article do not in any way represent
the views of the US Army, Defense Department or the US Government.

ACCORDING TO BAKO SAHAKIAN, COMING MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI
PRESIDENTS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS PROGRESS

7

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. NKR President Bako Sahakian considers
that the meeting between Armenian and Azeri Presidents envisaged on
June 7 in Saint Petersburg can be considered as progress. The NKR
President said in his interview to journalists. As he evaluated, the
situation on the contact-line of NKR and Azeri armed forces is the
following: "there have always been shots, we do our best to reduce
these shots."

In response to a journalist’s question he said that he has received a
letter from freedom-fighter Zhirayr Sefilian and is going to answer it:
he means Sefilian’s request to give him a political asylum. B. Sahakian
considers inadmissible to artificially politicize the issue of Z.
Sefilian’s being granted citizenship or not. According to him, doing a
military service to Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia cannot be a
justification for anti-legal actions.

ARF TO FOLLOW AND CONTROL FULFILMEMT OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF POLITICAL
COALITION AGREEMENT

25

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The general meeting of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun on May 21-26 stressed the problem of existence of fair
Armenia and national unity, the ARF Bureau member Hrant Margarian said
at the May 27 press coneference. According to him, the general meeting
of the ARF reasserted that the party remains faithful to national
ideology, revolutionary principles and its program objectives.

The party’s statement reads that by running in the latest parliamentary
and presidential elections by its list and its own candidate, the ARF
ascertained that it is an independent party guided by its own
decisions. "It is especially after the presidential election that the
ARF can naturally adopt an attitude of healthy parliamentary
opposition. However, the domestic and external dangers threatening the
independent statehood as a result of the postelection developments have
put the party before the responsibility and priority to maintain the
stability and sovereignty of the country," is said in the statement. By
the same source, bewing aware of this responsibility, the ARF accepted
the coalition’s invitation, taking the view that the implementation of
the political priorities of the agreement signed creates an opportunity
to raise the country’s development to a new qualitative level.

The general meeting believes that Armenia is at the difficult stage of
its establishment and democratization. It was stated that the party
with its domectic and Diasporan members will follow and control the
fulfilment of the major provisions of the agreement of the political
coalition.

The statement also calls on Diasporan Armenians to receive Armenian
citizenship, noting that in this way they will strengthen their
national identity and emphasize their commitment, especially to
contribute the development of homeland.

Market Wire (press release)
May 27 2008

Canada Post’s Art Canada series to focus on Yousuf Karsh

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – May 27, 2008) – As of May 21st, three
new stamps featuring photographs taken by Yousuf Karsh began a new
journey. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Karsh’s birth and
May 21st marked the anniversary of publication of his famous portrait
of Sir Winston Churchill featured on the cover of LIFE Magazine in
1941.

Yousuf Karsh traveled the world to take some of these now
world-renowned photographs, so it is no surprise that these stamps too
should travel the world in his honour. The domestic rate stamp will
feature Yousuf Karsh, a Self-Portrait, (52-cents), the U.S. stamp will
feature his photograph of Audrey Hepburn (96-cents) and the
international rate stamp will be his portrait of Sir Winston Churchill
($1.60).

Of his first day in Canada as a 16-year old Armenian refugee, Yousuf
Karsh said, "Everybody looked happy, and I was intoxicated by their
joy. For me, it was a new kind of dream experience, with dizzying
dimensions." His recollection hints at the relentless optimism that
would eventually frame this internationally-acclaimed photographer’s
six decade-long career.

In addition to the three beautiful stamps issued as part of the
series, the Souvenir Sheet will also include 24 other famous
photographs taken by Karsh (names listed below).

"The simple, asymmetrical frames, white to evoke a framing mat, are
integral to the series’ design", said stamp designer Helene
L’Heureux. "Several shades of black were used to achieve a sense of
depth and contrast. The simple look was not simple to execute."

The domestic rate stamps found on the pane of 16 measure 32 mm x 40 mm
(vertical) with 13+ perforations, with P.V.A. gum. The U.S. rate and
international rate stamps are available in booklets of 8 stamps,
measuring 32.25 x 39.75 (vertical) and are self-adhesive. The stamps
on the Souvenir Sheet measure 150 mm x 97 mm (horizontal) and have 13+
perforations with P.V.A. gum. Lowe-Martin printed 1.750 million
domestic rate stamps, 1.6 million of each of the U.S. and
international rate stamps and 325,000 souvenir sheets. All stamps were
printed using lithography in six colours plus varnish on Tullis Russel
paper. They are general tagged on all sides. The Official First Day
Cover will bear the cancel OTTAWA ON, in recognition of the many
photographs taken by Karsh that were stamped on the back with "Karsh
of Ottawa".

Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the
Newsroom section of Canada Post’s website, and photos of this new
stamp is in the Newsroom’s Photo Centre. Stamps and Official First Day
Covers will be available at participating post offices, or can be
ordered online by following the links at Canada Post’s website
or by mail order from the National Philatelic
Centre. From Canada and the USA, call toll-free: 1 800 565-4362, and
from other countries, call: 902 863-6550.

ART CANADA: YOUSUF KARSH

SOUVENIR SHEET DETAILS – DETAILS DU BLOC-FEUILLET

First row – premier rang1. 1957 Albert Camus (Nobel prize in
literature / Nobel de litterature)2. 1954 Pablo Picasso3. 1990 Dizzy
Gillepsie (jazz musician / musicien jazz)4. 1963 Pope John XXIII –
Pape Jean XXIII5. 1962 Martin Luther King6. 1991 Elie Wiesel (Nobel
Peace Prize / Prix Nobel de la paix)7. 1960 John F. Kennedy8. 1974
John D. Diefenbaker9. 1963 Nikita Kruschev10. 1956 Walt Disney11.
1956 Rainer and/et Grace of/de Monaco12. 1963 Yuri Gagarin
(astronaut/astronaute)
Second row – deuxieme rang13. 1970 Mohammed Ali14. 1943 Princess
Elizabeth – Princesse Elizabeth15. 1979 I.E. Pei (architecture)16.
1965 Lester B. Pearson (Nobel Peace Prize / Prix Nobel de la paix)17.
1949 Albert Einstein (Nobel Prize in Physics / Prix Nobel de
physique)18. 1956 Indira Gandhi19. 1957 Ernest Hemingway (Nobel
Prize in Literature / Prix Nobel de litterature)
Third row – troisieme rang20. 1946 Humphrey Bogart21. 1990 Jessye
Norman (opera/opera)
Left side – cote gauche22. 1946 Dwight D. Eisenhower23. 1988 Mother
Teresa / Mere Teresa (Nobel Peace Prize / Prix Nobel de la paix)24.
1981 Sophia Loren

Interesting Facts – ART CANADA:YOUSUF KARSH

– The first Yousuf Karsh photograph to appear on a Canadian stamp was
a photo of William Lyon Mackenzie King (4-cent stamp) as part of the
1951 Canadian Prime Ministers series.

– Mr. Karsh also provided photographs of Queen Elizabeth II for a
total of 16 definitive stamps. These include the 1953 1-cent,
2-cents, 3-cents, 4-cents and 5-cents; the 1953 Queen Elizabeth II,
Coronation (4-cent), the 1957 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
(5-cent); and a newly designed Queen stamp issued in 1987
(37-cents). The same image was then used in 1988 (38-cents), 1990
(39-cents & 40-cents), in 1991 (42-cents), in 1992 (43-cents); and
again in 1995 (45-cents), in 1998 (46-cents) and in 2000 (47-cents).

– This is not the first time the image of Sir Winston Churchill is
featured on Canadian stamp. In fact, the exact same image was issued
on August 12, 1965 (5-cents) making him one of the few persons who
was neither a member of the Royal Family nor a Canadian to be
commemorated by the issue of a Canadian postage stamp. It was the
first Canadian stamp to be printed by duo-tone lithography, a
printing process particularly suited to this type of reproduction.

– Other famous Yousuf Karsh "models" to be featured on a stamp
include:
Georges Philias Vanier (5-cents); issued in 1967

Stephen Leacock (6-cents); issued in 1969

Jeanne Sauve (43-cents); issued 1994

Portia White: Extraordinary Entertainers (46-cents); issued 1999

Moses Coady and the Cooperative Movement (46-cents); issued in 2000

Morley Callaghan (48-cents); issued in 2003

– Karsh’s photographs have also been reproduced by some 15 other postal administrations around the world; including Armenia.

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Reform Judaism, NY
May 27 2008

Book Reviews: Politics & Power

Ronald Florence recreates the Middle East in the First World
War… Ruth Wisse examines the Jewish ambivalence to power… by Bonny
V. Fetterman Lawrence and Aaronsohn:

T. E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
by Ronald Florence
(Viking, 512 pp., $27.95)

For anyone who thinks the Arab-Israeli conflict started with Israel’s
War of Independence in 1948, Ronald Florence’s history of the Middle
East during World War I is an important corrective. It takes us back
to a time when none of the borders we now recognize on the map
existed-only a vast region called `Arabia’ held by the Ottoman
Turks. Florence tells this story through the biographies of two men
who tried to help the British wrest this area from Turkey and win the
war.

T. E. Lawrence (later known as `Lawrence of Arabia’), an
Oxford-trained archaeologist, was a young second lieutenant attached
to the British intelligence desk in Cairo. In the spring of 1917 he
tried to organize the army of Bedouin irregulars (called the Army of
the Arab Revolt) under the Hashemite Emir Faisal for a raid against
Turkey at Aqaba. Faisal’s father, Sherif Hussein, the religious ruler
of the Hejaz (which included the holy cities of Mecca and Medina)
envisioned a new Arab caliphate on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire;
Faisal himself had eyes on an extensive kingdom based in
Damascus. Lawrence hoped that a successful raid on Aqaba would serve
their political aspirations, despite British colonial designs in the
region and wartime agreements with the French.

Meanwhile, Aaron Aaronsohn, a Palestinian Jew and an internationally
known agronomist (his parents were among the founders of Zichron
Ya’akov when they came from Romania in 1882), was convinced that the
Jews of Palestine would fare better under Britain than Turkey. Fearing
that Jews would suffer the same fate as the Armenians under the Turks,
he offered his considerable skills to the British. Giving up his
scientific career, he converted his research institute in Athlit, the
Jewish Agricultural Experiment Station, into a spy ring for the
British (called NILI). Aaronsohn knew every inch of Palestine, having
served Turkish commander Djemal Pasha as a scientific consultant
during the locust invasion (a crop-destroying insect infestation); he
recommended the plan of attack through Beersheva that General Allenby
ultimately used to take Jerusalem in December 1917. At the war’s end,
Aaronsohn drafted a map of Palestine-not based on arbitrary borders,
but on topographical features that would permit the development of a
viable state. He carried this map with him when his plane went down in
the English Channel on his way to the Paris Peace Conference.

This gripping narrative captures so many facets of this history that
suspense remains high even though we know the outcome. The victors of
the Great War shaped the Middle East even as their conflicting
promises shaped its political future. The stories of Lawrence and
Aaronsohn remind us of a time of flux between the waning of the
Otto – man Empire and the birth of the modern Middle East.

Jews and Power
by Ruth R. Wisse
(Nextbook/Schocken, 231 pp., $19.95)

Harvard professor Ruth Wisse is less concerned with `Jewish power’
(whatever that is) than the relationship of Jews to power. With the
State of Israel, Jews once more have sovereignty, but Wisse asks, do
we have what it takes to keep it? In a climate of Israel-bashing, are
we capable of rising to our own self-defense? Or are we still
uncomfortable with the notion of power itself?

`The loss of Jewish sovereignty [in 70 C.E.] was the defining
political event in the life of the Jewish people,’ she writes. Over
the next 2,000 years, Jews developed other strategies for a stateless
survival in the Diaspora while rabbinic theology eschewed political
power. In the post-Emancipation era, Jewish sovereignty was even
regarded by some Jewish philosophers, like Hermann Cohen, as a burden
transcended, freeing Judaism for loftier ethical and moral concerns.

But the political mentality that sometimes served Jews well in the
Diaspora, Wisse argues, is not an appropriate strategy for a people
facing an existential threat. `Political thinkers normally include
national defense as part of their planning,’ she writes. `The Jews of
Europe had no such provision or strategy for their common defense at
the point when Hitler singled them out for extermination. Jews had
concentrated on their moral improvement with no political structure in
place to defend Jewish civilization or the children who were expected
to perpetuate it.’

Wisse’s polemic is a direct response to those who would challenge the
need for Jewish sovereignty, those who would seek to undo it, and
those who unwittingly support them. This last category includes Jews
and non-Jews who indulge in what she calls `the politics of
blame’-blaming Israel for the Palestinians’ plight in an attempt to
delegitimate Israel’s existence. Addressing this issue, she reminds
readers of Arab responsibility for the creation and perpetuation of
the refugee problem: `In denying the partition of Palestine, Arab
governments also refused to allow the resettlement of the
Palestinians, so that they could create perpetual evidence of Jewish
iniquity,’ she writes. `Israel could be charged for the suffering of
Palestinians only as long as their suffering could be sustained.’

`The `Arab-Israel conflict’ did not turn out to be-as so many people
still pretend it is-a normal territorial dispute between two claimants
to the same land,’ she asserts. `Rather, the Arab war against Israel
is an asymmetrical attack by the Arab-Islamic world on the idea of a
Jewish homeland.’ Wisse goes on to discuss the obsessional hatred
fueling anti-Israel politics, evident in the president of Iran calling
for the destruction of Israel at the U.N.

This slender volume identifies and forces us to confront a problem
larger and more insidious than a question of boundaries. It also gives
us pause to appreciate what Israel’s statehood means to us.

Bonny V. Fetterman is literary editor of Reform Judaism magazine.

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