From: wmuhanna@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Waleed A Muhanna)
Subject: ADC Condemns Bigotry and Bias Displayed at Israeli Benefit
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 20:00:18 GMT


The following is from an ADC News Release issued August 4, 1992.

                ADC CONDEMNS CBS BIAS
             DISPLAYED AT ISRAELI BENEFIT

     A June 3 benefit, which solicited funds for the absorption of
Jewish immigrants into Jerusalem, featured a panel discussion with CBS
anchor Dan Rather, CBS Middle East consultant Fouad Ajami, and former
Secretary of State and CBS boardmember Henry Kissinger.   Their
participation constitutes a partisan act which favors one side in a
highly controversial issue that is frequently reported on in the
press.

  * Henry Kissinger, CBS Boardmember stated that "you can't really
     believe anything an Arab says."  During the panel discussion led by
     Rather, neither Rather nor anyone else on the program objected to
     the comment.
  
  * Fouad Ajami, CBS Middle East Consultant, was introduced by Dan
     Rather as "one of our in-house wise men."  Recounting a reluctant
     trip to a Bedouin encampment, Ajami commented, "I insisted on only
     one thing - that I be spared the ceremony of eating with a Bedouin."
     Ajami repeatly insisted that Arabs were not capable of practicing
     democracy, "I've never really wanted elections in any Arab or
     Muslim country," he declared.

  * Dan Rather, CBS Anchor opened the event by saying that "many of us
     celebrate 25 years after the city [Jerusalem] was united under
     Israeli rule."   The CBS anchor warned that Israeli control of
     Jerusalem was at risk from an Arab "population explosion."

     The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's (ADC) President
Albert Mokhiber stated, "ADC finds that the remarks of Kissinger, Ajami
and Rather are repugnant form of anti-Arab racism which should not be
condoned, especially by persons with such high visibility and in
positions of prominence with CBS.  Certainly if the word "Arab" or
"Bedouin" were replaced with "Jew," "Black" or "Hispanic," such
statements would have been condemned, and rightfully so."

     A press release issued yesterday by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
(FAIR) exposed the disparaging anti-Arab opinions made by top CBS
personnel at this Jerusalem Foundation benefit.  Their attendance raises
questions about the impartiality and balance of that network in news
coverage of Israel and the Arab world.

     Mokhiber said, "We sent letter to CBS demanding a public apology
from each of these individuals and an investigation as to whether their
respective positions should be terminated.   We urge CBS to publicly
clarify its understanding of the status of East Jerusalem, which is an
occupied territory under international law, as affirmed by U.N.  resolutions 
and U.S. policy for the last 40 years.  Kissinger, Ajami, and Rather's
celebration of 25 years of the "unification" of Jerusalem amounts to
commending the illegal Israeli occupation, legitimizes annexation of
East Jerusalem, and compromises CBS's standing as a reliable news
organization."

     ADC is also requesting that CBS expands its pool of Middle East
consultants in order to counter their well-documented reporting bias
towards Israel.   A full transcript of the event is available by calling
FAIR at (212) 633-6700.


    (Note to Editor: ADC is the largest Arab-American grassroots
    organization in the country.  It is a non-sectarian, non-partisan
    service organization dedicated to the promotion of the civil
    and legal rights of people of Arab descent, including resistance
    to racism, discrimination, and stereotyping of Arab-Americans.)
    TEL: (202) 244-2990