Study of Arab Propaganda Here Lists Role of Anti-Zionist Jews

By Milton Friedman, Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Transcribed from the clipping

WASHINGTON — An evaluation of the Arab propaganda campaign in the United States published in Beirut gives anti-Zionist Jews more credit for effective anti-Israel pressure than it allocates to Americans of Arab descent. The propaganda research project is entitled: “Who Speaks for the Arabs?”

It was prepared by Malcolm Kerr, specialist on Middle East Affairs at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. First published in Beirut by “Middle East Forum — Al Kulliyah,” it is now being distributed by the Egyptian propaganda apparatus.

The Kerr study credits the anti-Zionist “American Council for Judaism” as a group which “speaks for the Arabs.” A major share of credit for anti-Israel activities is given the ACJ, which Mr. Kerr in the material which Egypt is now distributing to its agents. WORK OF THE ARAB INFORMATION CENTER in New York, Mr.

Kerr said, “is buttressed by the normal information services of the Arab Embassies, of which the Egyptian is the most active. More is probably accomplished, however, by several American organizations, notably the American Friends of the Middle East.

Describing itself as a non-partisan, non-political group concerned with religious, cultural and social relations, AFME is in fact ... steadfastly pro-Arab.” Kerr reported that AFME “includes among its members the well-respected names of former diplomats and numerous churchmen, businessmen, and educators. The national council chairman is Dr. Edward L. R.

Elson, President Eisenhower’s pastor in Washington.” Turning to what it considers another cog in the Arab propaganda machine, the Kerr study described how the American Council for Judaism “has an extensive public relations program of its own, in which, it is felt, it has some advantages over both AFME and the Arab Information Center.”

Elmer Berger, ACJ executive director, is quoted as pointing out that “precisely because we are Jews” the ACJ could take steps against fellow Jews. THE ANTI-ISRAEL propaganda evaluation reports on agitator Alfred M. Lilienthal, identifying him as “an anti-Zionist Jew.” Mr.

Lilienthal’s book — “What Price Israel?” — has become the Arabs’ standard text in the anti-Zionist fight. A new Arab front group sparked by Mr. Lilienthal, the so-called “Committee for Security and Justice in the Middle East” will “presumably furnish valuable reinforcements,” Mr. Kerr said.

Context added by this archive

This is the clipping that shows what the category is actually sorting for.

Everyone listed inside the Arab propaganda machine here is an American, and the ones given the most credit are Jews — a council, a president’s pastor, an author, an executive director quoted saying precisely because we are Jews. Americans of Arab descent come further down the list. The test is not who is speaking. It is what they said.

Cite this item

"Study of Arab Propaganda Here Lists Role of Anti-Zionist Jews," The Buffalo Jewish Review, 9 August 1957. Covering Palestine archive, CP-1957-022. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-1957-022