
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 28, 1990                   TAG: 9005290209
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

JERUSALEM DISPUTE DISTORTED BY CARTOON

REGRETTABLE as the move of Jewish settlers into the Christian quarter during Holy Week may have been, there is no justification for the distortion of the episode represented by your Editorial Page cartoon of May 13. The drawing of the Holy Family being turned away from the inn by Yitzhak Shamir falsely insinuates that Israel bears responsibility for violating Christian freedom of worship.

However insensitive, the settlers' action in no way infringed upon free worship. They moved into a residential building, not a holy site or a place of worship, and there was no interference with Christian access to the Sepulcher or with any religious rite. Despite no religious infringement and the Israeli Supreme Court's eviction of all but 20 settlers, the cartoon distorts the facts and inflames religious sensibilities.

As recently as 1948-67, Jordan attempted to de-Christianize the quarter by imposing numerous restrictions on Christian freedom of worship. Where was your Editorial Page cartoon then?

Under Israeli sovereignty, the Old City of Jerusalem has flourished as a mosaic of religious and ethnic diversity and freedom. The current episode represents a single transgression in Israel's long record of preserving religious harmony in Jerusalem. Criticism is warranted, but it should be responsible.

\ IRA GISSEN\ Regional Director Anti-Defamation League\ NORFOLK

by CNB