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Project Nishma Lobby Moves
To Promote Israel's Security

JAMES D. BESSER

Washington Correspondent

I

n the increasingly
crowded world of Jewish
organizations, Project
Nishma is attempting to
carve out a curious niche for
itself.
The group, which recently
opened its Washington office,
combines a somewhat dovish
view of Middle East politics
with a strong emphasis on
Israel's security needs.
"We were launched last fall,
but we haven't been very visi-
ble until now," said Tom
Smerling, the group's ex-
ecutive director. -"One major
impetus was the response to
the Council of Peace and
Security in Israel; this group
of retired Israeli generals
came together to present
their analysis of Israeli's
security requirements, and to
argue that, from a purely
military point of view,
political control of all the ter-
ritories is not necessary for
security. In fact, they argued
that security could be
enhanced by a properly
negotiated agreement."
Project Nishma's pivotal
figures — including Ted
Mann, former president of the
American Jewish Congress—
concluded that this new ap-
proach to the Middle East
dilemma was not receiving
serious attention by the
public in this country.
" `Nishma' means 'let us
listen,' " Smerling said. "We
feel this point of view
deserves a hearing."
The group is providing
speakers to explain the posi-
tions of the former military
officials and bringing
together the generals and
American Jewish leaders. It
is also studying public opi-
nion in the Jewish communi-
ty, especially on the issue of
territorial compromise.
The group emphasizes the
idea that a new Jewish
"center" is emerging in this
country. "Most American
Jews are security-minded
doves," Smerling said. "If
they are assured that securi-
ty can be fully met or enhanc-
ed, then they strongly support
the principles of negotiated
compromise?'
The generals, he said, bring
to the debate an unimpeach-
able credibility that has a
clear impact on American au-
diences. "There's a great in-
terest in what we're doing. If
we don't open up the range of
debate and discussion, we're

.

in danger of losing people; if
Jews here-don't find new ways
to relate to Israel, if they can't
find Israeli leaders they
respect, there is a real danger

Eisenberg is optimistic
about the outcome of his talks
with Swedish officials. "Cur-
rently, there is a moratorium
on enforcement of the regula-
tions until June 30, when the
minister of agriculture and
the rabbinate are supposed to
work out an exemption. But
we want it handled correctly;
it's important to avoid the im-
pression that the laws require
humane slaughter — except
for Jews."

AJCongress
Supports Family
Leave Bill

Ted Mann:
Nishma figure.

that they will just walk
away."
And the retired officers
have the credibility in Israel
needed to give their views a
hearing, Smerling said. "The
IDF will rescue Israel once
again. But this time they will
rescue Israel from a disas-
trous policy in the West Bank
and Gaza."

Jewish
groups
in
Washington are known for a
sometimes maddening .in-
dependence. But on one cur-
rent issue, there is very little
debate; almost every major
group is pressing hard for the
current Family Medical
Leave Act, a bill that would
allow unpaid, job-guaranteed
leave for workers with
newborns, newly adopted
children, or ill dependents.
But President George Bush
is not part of this consensus;
recently, there have been in-
dications that Bush will veto

Group Fights
Swedish Stand
On Slaughtering

Warren Eisenberg, director
of B'nai B'rith's International
Council, recently from
Sweden, where group is help-
ing to resolve a dispute over
the slaughter of animals.
The slaughter of beef was
virtually eliminated in
Sweden, a country of strong
humanitarian concerns,
when the country began en-
forcing a 30-year-old law.
"So observant Jews had to
import kosher beef from
Finland or Denmark, and pay
up to a 75 percent tariff. We
appealed to the government
at every level; as a result,
the tariff came down signifi-
cantly."
But the problem of kosher
chickens is proving harder to
resolve for Sweden's 25,000
Jews. "There is concern about
disease, about the problems of
importing them. And the
Jewish population doesn't
just want an exemption to the
laws; they want it defined in
law that kosher slaughter is
a humane. procedure."

George Bush:
Against medical leave bill.

the measure if it survives the
congressional obstacle course.
A number of Jewish groups
are working to bring the
measure to the House floor
before Mother's Day. But last
week there were hints that
the Democratic leadership
wants to wait until the cur-
rent flap over minimum wage
is settled — a process that
could drag on for months.
Over on the Senate side, one
of the key sponsors, Sen.
Chris Dodd, (D-Conn.), is hop-
ing to hold off on the measure