Bush's bill rejects America's tradition of generous diverse legal immigration, contorting it to create an ethnically homogeneous underclass. It rewards lawbreakers and rule-benders. The anger it evokes in ordinary Americans reflects neither xenophobia nor bigotry, despite supporters' stereotyping opponents as right-wing Know-Nothings.

Americans across the spectrum view immigration as sacred in the history of their families and country; they are appalled to see it profaned by lawbreakers, unscrupulous businessmen and myopic politicians. As sociologist Alan Wolfe has noted, differentiating legal immigration from illegal immigration "is one of the most tenaciously held distinctions in middle-class America... people overwhelmingly support legal immigration and express disgust with the illegal variety." Contrary to what some are trying to argue, the fight over the bill does not pit liberals against conservatives. Its strongest boosters are the Chamber of Commerce, Wall Street Journal and Bush - none standard bearers for progressive causes

Focusing narrowly on illegal immigration, however, misses the main point: Bush's bill trebles legal immigration. Population explosion is the legislation's largest impact, but in a breathtaking abdication of public trust the Senate simply did not get it. Not until the Heritage Foundation's John Rector published a paper showing it would increase America's population by one-third did the Senate quickly pass an amendment reducing the guest-worker program. The amendment amnesties 12 million illegal aliens, an act that simply ignores history - the amnesty offered by the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act increased illegal immigration five-fold.

Yet even 12 million amnestied illegal aliens is a drop in the bucket. Rector's cautious estimates predict more than 66 million in 20 years - and the total will likely be larger, given that increasing individual legal immigration primes the pump.

The reason is what is called "chain immigration." It begins with one immigrant legally bringing a spouse and minor children - keep in mind that Mexicans average four children per family - and, within a few years, after they've been naturalized, parents and siblings; the same process is then repeated by their relatives, ad infinitum.

Mexico's work force is roughly 43 million. The 12 million illegal aliens granted amnesty by Bush's bill, supplemented by only 15% of 43 million, forges a chain with 18.45 million links. Add 200,000 guest-worker families a year and an annual influx of 800,000 to 900,000 illegal aliens, and America's population will expand by more than a third in fewer than 20 years.

The Senate also ignored the impact on the welfare system of the millions of immigrants who will rely on it but will not earn enough to pay taxes to support it. Mexican immigrant income is extremely low compared to that of American workers, and it takes decades to achieve parity.

Once a solid majority of the 12 million to be amnestied by Bush's bill are naturalized, public entitlements to some 3.8 million households will total $19 billion annually. Chain-immigrating parents and siblings eligible for federal welfare will cost $30 billion a year - if only 10% of parents of those naturalized become residents.

The bill traduces Jewish values, sacrificing Judaism's central tenet: pursuing justice. Citing Leviticus 19 in defense of the legislation, as some of the bill's Jewish supporters have, is sacrilegious. This magisterial text commands us to "love the stranger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Note that it says love, not exploit for economic or political gain.

The bill also rejects Jeremiah's injunction to "seek the welfare of the city where I have exiled you... in its prosperity you will find peace" (29:4-7). Massive immigration will eviscerate the social safety net - betraying America's working poor and unemployed by exploiting immigrants is not tikkum olam.

Despite official mantras, immigrants are not only taking jobs Americans are unwilling to do. There is no labor shortage. Immigrants willingly accept low wages, thereby increasing unemployment - which is already astronomical among black men and seasonal rural workers - and depressing wages for our poorest workers.

Where is the historical Jewish concern for African Americans? Racism's bitter legacies survive: widespread poverty, residential apartheid, unequal opportunity, generations of black men lost to the criminal justice system, implosion of the poor black family. Justice for millions of Americans who have made gigantic contributions to America's wealth as slaves and been oppressed for centuries is unfinished business. Before importing massive poverty, let's complete it.

Closer to home, massive immigration will obliterate Jewish power by shrinking our percentage of the population - to a fraction of 1% in 20 years. Jews possess political clout despite tiny numbers because we are concentrated in large electoral vote states, have legendary voting rates, donate significantly to both parties and dominant culture. We will retain residual influence due to campaign contributions, membership in institutional establishments and the endurance of our alliances, but the Latino vote will eventually overwhelm us.

Moreover, Jewish-Latino political interests clash. We have fought over both refugee and asylum slots: we wanted them for Soviet Jewry, Latinos for Central Americans fleeing the dirty wars in Central America. We won, but at a cost. And except for the evangelical part of the community, Latinos do not share any particularly strong bond to Israel.

We are divided by socioeconomic chasms that will not be easier to bridge than those that bedeviled black-Jewish relations. With huge numbers on their side, they will have little need for allies, compromise or concern for others' agendas. Most troubling, survey research, including by the Anti-Defamation League, shows Latinos to be more antisemitic than any group except Muslims.

With Israel facing an existential threat from Iran, Israeli-Palestinian relations having reached bottom and global Islamism targeting Jews, hastening disempowerment is indefensible. Latino population growth is inevitable, but exponential growth is not. If we can keep the numbers within reasonable bounds - which would hasten immigrant acculturation and reduce traditional cultural bigotry - we will likely maintain our position.

Substituting knowledge for Jewish sentimentality regarding immigration means debunking myths reflecting ignorance of Jewish immigration's uniqueness. Unlike many other newcomers to America, Jews were refugees and asylum seekers escaping religious persecution, tyranny and pogroms. Most immigrants, by contrast, are not refugees: They come to make money.

Unlike many others, Jews migrated one way. Jews did not remain loyal to antisemitic countries of origin; most learned English immediately and embraced Americanism. Millions today immigrate for economic gain while despising America and maintaining loyalty to home countries.

We can best honor our immigrant experience by advocating for more generous policies for real refugees and asylum seekers - not by pushing for legislation that betrays America's workers, devastates America's poor, exploits Mexicans, threatens America's social cohesion and endangers Jewish interests.

Stephen Steinlight, senior policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies, is former director of national affairs at the American Jewish Committee and co-author of "Fractious Nation: Unity and Disunity in Contemporary American Life" (University of California Press-Berkeley, 2004).

"It's a horrific edifice, this thing," Waters told reporters as he stood beside a section of the barrier in Bethlehem.

"I've seen pictures of it, I've heard a lot about it but without being here you can't imagine how extraordinarily oppressive it is and how sad it is to see these people coming through these little holes," he added. "It's craziness."

Waters added to graffiti with red spray paint and a marker pen.

Waters was lyricist, songwriter and singer for Pink Floyd, the former British rock group famous for "The Wall" and "The Dark Side of the Moon."

Israel has built almost half the fence, which has the stated aim of keeping suicide bombers out of its cities.

Condemned by Palestinians as a land grab, the fence has been branded illegal by the World Court because it cuts through occupied territory. Israel is rerouting some sections after a Supreme Court order to lessen Palestinian hardship.

From Tel Aviv to Neve Shalom

Waters is due to perform a concert at the Arab-Jewish coexistence village of Neve Shalom on Thursday as part of his world tour.

The concert was originally planned for a Tel Aviv sports stadium but, following criticism by fans in Britain, Waters changed the location to the peace village, where Israeli Jews and Arabs live in a joint community.

In 1990, Waters performed "The Wall" along the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Germany to celebrate reunification.

He told reporters he hoped Israel's fence would also be brought down one day.

"It may be a lot harder to get this one down, but eventually it must happen," Waters said.

A mild westerly wind blows in from the Mediterranean onto the harbor of Tartus, where cube-shaped and weathered brownish houses sit atop Phoenician era ruins. A small mosque's minaret and a fish restaurant dominate the scene.

But this idyllic image quickly disappears just a few minutes outside the town, where Russian soldiers have set up camp. Surrounded by olive groves and long greenhouses, and guarded by Syrian marines, Moscow's last remaining naval base outside of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) lurks behind a tall metal fence.

At the Tartus naval base, covering an area of almost a hundred acres, about 300 men serve under the command of sea captain Vladimir Gudkov, a former officer in Russia's North Sea fleet. When Gudkov was transferred to Syria from Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula, Russia's outpost in Mediterranean was still plagued by a reputation for being a run-down place in the sun.

Founded by the Phoenicians, conquered by the Crusaders in 1102 and subsequently attacked by legendary Arab hero Saladin, the port city just 160 kilometers northwest of Damascus has always been considered strategically important. During the Cold War it served as a supply hub for the Soviets' Mediterranean fleet. But after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, the Soviet fleet disappeared from Mediterranean waters and the Tartus base became dilapidated.

But this quickly changed when Gudkov brought in repair teams from Sevastopol to upgrade the facility. A team of technicians is currently replacing hatches and antennas on the base's floating dock, where incoming ships are refueled and loaded with provisions. More and more Russian landing vessels like the "Jamal," and modernized warships like the "Smetlivy" and the "Pytlivy," are dropping anchor in the ancient Crusader port. The missile cruiser "Moskva," the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, with a crew of 850 and Vice Admiral Vassily Kondakov on board, paid a visit to the Latakia naval base in February. As in the old days, Kondakov met with the head of Syria's navy to assure his Syrian counterpart that Russian-Syrian relations are about to experience "an upswing."

This, at least, is what Russian President Vladimir Putin intends. In a speech to military commanders, the Kremlin chief said that a newly "modern and mobile" Russian fleet will once again be flying its colors on the world's oceans. The president had nothing but praise for Russia's navy, which he said has become "significantly more active" in the Mediterranean, clearly a reflection of Putin's efforts to boost his country's profile in the Middle East.

Important ties

Syria is Russia's most important partner in the region. Thirty-five thousand Syrians hold degrees from Russian universities. At a Kremlin reception for Syrian President Bashar Assad, Putin, referring to the Soviet era, praised the two countries' "special and sincere relations" -- and promptly forgave about $10 billion in Syrian debt accumulated over the years, principally as a result of arms purchases. Over three decades, the current president's father, Hafiz Assad, received military equipment valued at about $25 billion from the Russians. To this day, the 308,000 troops in the country's armed forces are equipped almost exclusively with Soviet gear, including 4,600 tanks, primarily T-72 and T-62 models, about 600 MIG and Sukhoi fighter jets, 170 helicopters and at least two diesel-powered submarines.

Putin guaranteed the delivery of Russian Streletz anti-aircraft missiles (referred to as SA-18s in NATO parlance). The carriage-mounted missiles with a range of six kilometers (about four miles) could make "low altitude flights over the residence of the Syrian president" more difficult in the future, Putin said in an interview with Israeli television. Indeed, Israel deeply humiliated the Syrians last year when it sent a squadron of F-16 fighter jets on a low-altitude mission encircling Assad's summer residence near the Russian base.

An office of Russia's state-owned arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, in Damascus is supplying the Russians' dependable customers with new guidance systems and spare parts for tanks, modern electronics systems for MIG-21 fighter jets and ammunition. Sergei Chemesov, a Putin associate from the two men's days working for the KGB in East Germany, runs the company's Moscow headquarters. In the last seven years alone, Syria's Baathist regime has ordered Russian weapons valued at more than $1 billion, including Su-27 pursuit planes, MIG-29 fighter jets and T-80 tanks. But in a departure from Soviet days, Moscow now demands cash payment.

Russian friend, US foe

Moscow's military assistance is going to a country US President George W. Bush has called an "extraordinary threat to US national security," a country the US State Department classifies as a sponsor of terrorism because of its support for terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. But what most concerns American military experts is the Syrian army's acquisition of about 1,000 Russian Kornet-E anti-tank guided missiles. The weapon also has the Pentagon concerned, because of its ability to turn even the most state-of-the-art Bradley armored personnel carrier into burning scrap metal from distances of up to 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) within seconds. About 10,000 Syrian officers have received top-rate training at both Soviet and Russian military academies, with a fresh crop of pilots and air defense specialists currently attending Russia's air force academy.

Western experts estimate that up to 2,000 Russian military advisors, under the command of Lieutenant General Vassily Jakushev, 60, the former commander-in-chief of the country's Far East military district, are currently serving in the Syrian military. Russian officers hold teaching positions at Syria's military officer training academy.

Serving on the Mediterranean is popular. With even low-ranking officers earnings at least $1,000 a month, military pay on the Syrian frontier is about triple what it is at home. But a Syrian tour of duty, which usually lasts three years, does have its price: isolation. In an effort to avoid being conspicuous, the Russian guests wear Syrian uniforms and are required to spend their free time with their families in isolated compounds, with a small vacation on Latakia's sandy, palm-lined beaches a rare and precious respite from the monotony of life on base.

Translated from German by Christopher Sultan

It was reported that suspicions about the role of Tadiran, Motorola, Magal and other firms believed to have been involved in providing equipment through intermediaries to Kodo and Michaels are also being investigated, though no company officials have yet been called by the police for interviews.

Citing police sources, the report said that the matter was being investigated, but at this time there was no further information for release.

Since 2004, Israeli firms operating in northern Iraq, including Michaels and Kodo, have been ordered to cease their activities because of threats of terrorism.

The Likud leader was speaking one day after a botched Israel Air Force missile killed two Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza. Two days ago, three children were killed in an IAF strike in Gaza City that targeted members of Fatah's military wing.

The Wednesday strike marked the fourth time in one month that IAF strikes in Gaza have resulted in civilian fatalities, and brings the total of Palestinian civilian deaths to 14.

"We still haven't done enough to prevent Qassam rocket fire. When I was prime minister there were no Qassams or missiles because when Katyushas were fired at the north [from Lebanon], we shut off the lights in Beirut," the Likud MK said.

He said "the difference between democratic states struggling against terrorism and the terrorists who strike out at them is the attempt [by the former] to reduce harm to innocent civilians."

Netanyahu also warned the entire State of Israel could come under Qassam rocket attacks should a withdrawal from the West Bank take place.

Speaking at an economic conference in Jerusalem, Olmert apologized for civilian deaths in recent Israeli air raids in Gaza, but he added, "Israel will continue to carry out targeted attacks against terrorists and those who try to harm Israeli citizens."

The Israeli army launched two air raids on the Gaza Strip during the past two days, leaving five Palestinian civilians dead and more than 20 others injured. The Israeli media described the air strikes targeting Palestinian militants as "botched."

The head of the army ordered Wednesday a thorough investigation into the string of recent Gaza air strikes in which Palestinian civilians were killed.

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday that the army has clear instructions to call off an attack if there is a chance that innocent people would be endangered.

"Given the recent turn of events, we have decided to become further engaged in this race," Dr. Ben Chouake said. Chouake is president of Norpac, a nonpartisan, New Jersey-based political action committee that supports pro-Israel candidates. "We're going to contact our membership in the area, see if they can organize some voting drives on the ground, as well as do additional fund raising for his campaign."

Dr. Mandell Ganchrow, the head of the pro-Israel New York-based Hudson Valley Political Action Committee, told the Forward that "people are taking this race very seriously." A former president and chairman of the Orthodox Union, Ganchrow added that he thinks Lieberman "understands that he's in for a very tough race."

A defeat in the primary could mean the end of a stellar, albeit up-and-down, political career that saw Lieberman, in 2000, become the first Jewish vice presidential candidate of a major party, only to be humbled four years later when his presidential bid flopped early in the primaries. Lieberman's hawkish views, as well as his willingness to criticize then-President Clinton over his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, helped the Connecticut senator develop his trademark reputation as a political centrist who has a fierce independent streak. In recent months, however, his reputation as a hawk who will work with Republicans has increasingly appeared like a significant handicap heading into the August primary.

Lamont, 52, founder of a cable company, who has donated $1.5 million to his own Democratic bid, has chipped away at Lieberman's sizable lead in recent weeks. He now trails the senator 57%-32% among Democrats, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released June 8. In contrast, an identical poll conducted by Quinnipiac on May 2 showed Lieberman leading 65% to 19%.

The Lamont-Lieberman race has emerged as one of the most closely watched primaries in the country, in large part because unseating Lieberman, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, has emerged as a priority among activists on the left. MoveOn.org - the Web-based liberal organization whose fund-raising efforts gave wings to Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004 - decided to support the Lamont campaign after it held a mock primary on the Internet last month.

In recent weeks, as the Lamont-Lieberman race has heated up, politicos have considered the possibility that Lieberman may run for Senate as an independent, either in order to forgo the primary entirely or to keep a general election race alive in the event of a primary loss.

Even if he runs as an independent in the general election, Lieberman - who commands support from GOP voters - is projected to win easily, with 56% of the vote, compared with 18% for Lamont and 8% for Republican Alan Schlesinger, according to Quinnipiac University's June 8 poll.

In order to run as an independent, the senator would have to collect 7,500 signatures from registered voters by 4 p.m. August 9, the day after the Democratic primary. Lieberman is not prohibited from running in the Democratic primary and then petitioning as an independent candidate. He recently told reporters that he is "not going to close out any options."

Some political observers and supporters warn that keeping the Democratic and independent options open simultaneously makes Lieberman appear weak.

"He's a man of great principle, and I think he made one tactical political error in this campaign, in that he said, or implied, that he would run as independent... if he didn't win the primary," said Ganchrow, head of New York-based Huvpac. Ganchrow added, "He's a pro, and he just should have said nothing."

Ganchrow said that Huvpac had not yet made a contribution to the Lieberman campaign because until recently, its leaders didn't think that Lieberman was in any trouble. After recent polls showed Lamont gaining in popularity, its members have decided to make a donation.

Norpac's director, Chouake, said that his political action committee also had decided to step up its support after the recent poll numbers were released.

In the event that Lieberman runs as an independent in the general election, Ganchrow and Chouake both said that they personally would still support him.

Morris Amitay, founder of the pro-Israel Washington Political Action Committee said his committee already had donated the legal limit to the Lieberman campaign and would support him in the event of an independent candidacy.

üenator Charles Schumer of New York  ññ who has signaled his support for Lieberman ññdid not respond to the Forward's questions about whether he would support the Connecticut lawmaker if he runs in the general election as an independent. Schumer, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has upset liberal bloggers by failing to state unequivocally that the party will back Lamont if he wins the primary and Lieberman runs as an independent.

Although Lieberman still has the overwhelming support of Connecticut's Democratic establishment, Lamont recently won the endorsement of George Jepsen, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party. Former independent governor Lowell Weicker, who was a Republican when he lost his Senate seat to Lieberman in 1988, also has endorsed Lamont. Weicker co-chaired a fund-raiser for Lamont last week.

In what some observers describe as a sign that Lieberman is feeling the heat from Lamont's candidacy, the senator's campaign launched a Web-based advertisement last week that used a cartoon to depict Lamont as a bear cub out to do Weicker's bidding. It was a play on an advertisement that Lieberman used 18 years ago, during his first Senate run, which accused Weicker of being in "hibernation" because he missed a series of Senate votes.