I CAPITOL REPORT I Scratchproof titanium carbide links, interspersed with 18 kt. gold, form the band of the new Rado® Anatom. The anatomically- designed case top and crystal are scratchproof, too. The result: a watch that won't show the passing of time. But will, of course, measure each second with the precision of watersealed Swiss quartz technology. Available for men and women. Bush Aides Seek Distance From Israel WOLF BLITZER Capitol Correspondent I n the aftermath of the latest U.S. hostage crisis in Lebanon, a growing split has developed between the White House and the State Department over U.S. policy toward Israel. Well-informed U.S. officials said that President George Bush and his senior White House aides are becoming in- creasingly more inclined to distance the United States from Israel than Secretary of State James Baker and his advisers. In part, the officials said, this stems from what is seen as Bush's chilly relationship with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir as opposed to Baker's recently-improved relation- ship with Foreign Minister Moshe Arens. The prevailing thinking in the White House is that Israel, by capturing Hez- bollah Sheik Obeid without any advance consultation with Washington, is not behaving as a reliable strategic partner. Israel, according to White House officials, is not taking into consideration how such unilateral military opera- tions can negatively affect the United States. Joining Bush in this critical view of Israel is White House Chief of Staff John Sununu, National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and others. Vice President Dan Quayle is described as a dissenting voice, usually expressing a greater understanding of Israel. What has deeply angered Israeli officials and their sup- porters in Washington has been the continued refusal by Bush and other White House officials to acknowledge that Higgins was almost certainly killed long before Obeid's cap- ture and that the videotape showing his purported hang- ing was a hoax. At the State Department, in contrast, Baker and his top aides — Deputy Secretary Lawrence Eagleburger, Under Secretary Robert Kim- mett, Policy Planning Direc- tor Dennis Ross and Assis- tant Secretary for Near Eastern and South Asian Af- fairs John Kelly — are generally inclined to support Israel's position on Obeid. They are described as frustrated by the White House's apparently continu- ing anger toward Israel and . 32940 Middlebelt Road • Farmin •ton Hills, MI • 855-1730 i/Sti/ c rnalt.t&S, Boutique EVENING AND CASUAL DESIGNER APPAREL MYSTERY BALLOON SAVINGS 20060% OFF PICK A BALLOON AND CHOOSE YOUR DISCOUNT! • • • • EVENINGWEAR COCKTAIL DRESSES SPORTSWEAR EXOTIC CAR BRIDAL-BRIDESMAID'S DRESSES COMPLETE LINE OF FASHION AND WEDDING ACCESSORIES • EVENING DRESS RENTALS • CUSTOM DESIGNED, MADE TO ORDER UNIQUE DRESSES AND SPORTSWEAR • MICHIGAN DESIGNER LISA MARIE SERENBERG 358-4085 M-F 10-4 • n Knit ecici SP seP cir 'a es • that take you anywhere, anytime 29107 NORTHWESTERN 2ND DOOR FROM 12 MILE RD. • REAR ENTRANCE NEXT TO CAPITOL DRUGS 32 FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1989 Canterbury Square 2916 E. Long Lake Troy 689-'2337 its desire to distance the two countries in the hostage crisis. White House officials believe that they have a bet- ter chance of winning the release of the eight remaining American hostages by show- ing that U.S.-Israeli relations are somewhat strained — a position rejected by the State Department. Israeli officials are deeply worried that Bush is among those U.S. policymakers critical of Israel. Bush is suspected of having personal- ly directed much of the high- level U.S. anger toward Israel. On August 17, the New York Times published a lengthy article on its front page entitled "Hostage Situa- tion Straining Washington's Ties to Israel." The article, by chief diplomatic correspondent Thomas L. Friedman, quoted Israeli- officials are deeply worried that Bush is among those U.S. policymakers critical of Israel. U.S. administration and Israeli officials as saying that while on the surface the two sides have been maintaining a cordial relationship, behind the diplomatic facade they have been jousting, sending each other a variety of un- diplomatic direct and indirect messages regarding each other's behavior in the hostage affair. "This has continued up to the present," Friedman wrote. "Although , no one in Washington or Jerusalem says relations are in a 'crisis: there is tension and a recogni- tion by both sides that the hostage affair is full of land mines, and that so long as it is the main focus of United States-Israeli relations an ex- plosion is possible at any mo- ment." - Department State spokesman Richard Boucher, asked about the Friedman ar- ticle, said: "You all know that we consult closely and fre- quently with Israel. And naturally, we have many con- tacts in the wake of recent events iri the Middle East. Regarding reports alleging strains in our relationship with Israel, let me make clear — there has been no shift in our relations with Israel and