WAR'S E N D Israel's Backers Seek Clues To Bush's Mood r i . . • .7,1,,,,, • e.) ,.., .•,„.;: ! ,,,, • • rf '- :4'7 , J ;. • • ...1 - , /<,- ... X -1'''. 4 ',i, ry; :' ". • 3i .:z .is •-V.-(''' ' . With attention focused on settling the Israeli-Arab conflict, concern mounts over what route Washington will take. JAMES D. BESSER Washington Correspondent Does War's End Mean Mideast PEACE? Special Report For Israel, the next front is diplomatic, as pressure mounts to deal with the Arabs. 28 FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1991 W ill Saddam Hus- sein's crushing defeat give rise to a new cooperative era in U.S.-Israel relations? Or will it just lead to another — and even more dangerous —round of bickering bet- ween Washington and Jerusalem? With the Persian Gulf war over, American pro-Israel forces appear caught bet- ween the conflicting emo- tions — jubilation and dread — that accompany those vastly different possibilities. The pro-Israel camp rejoic- ed over Saddam's defeat and the abrupt end of the military threat to Israel pos- ed by Iraq's once-immense and well-armed army. But those who read polit- ical tea leaves also discern signs that the Bush ad- ministration, having flexed its muscle with such success in the recent military con- flict, is ready to do the same in the diplomatic arena — a prospect that Israel's Likud government and the Jewish state's American supporters find chilling. The dizzying succession of conflicting administration signals about its plans for the future of the Middle East has only added to the uncer- tainty. "Everyone is just flapping around trying to think about what peace really means," said Warren Eisenberg, di- rector of B'nai B'rith's International Council. "We all know it's going to be a very complex process, and there are a lot of unknowns. So it's a very unsettling period." But even the optimists see abundant portents of trou- ble. "I am fairly optimistic," said Rep. Ben Cardin (D-Md). "But let me throw in some reality. This is the same administration that led the United Nations in adopting an outrageous resolution condemning Israel for the Temple Mount incident. "It is the same administra- tion that mentioned East Jerusalem as being negotiable. It's the same administration that, against the advice of Israel, provided arms to Arab states," said Mr. Cardin. "So I don't want to get too optimistic about the U.S. role in any negotia- tions we're likely to see." "The indications are bad," added Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). "With Congress and the people, there is a renewed feeling of sympathy for what the Israelis have gone through. But it's clear that this does not exist in the State Department or the Na- tional Security Council. "The question is, where does the President stand? Things like the Baker- Bessmertnykh statement (suggesting linkage between Kuwait and the occupied territories) and the criticism of Ambassador Shoval do not encourage me." Pro-Israel activists celebrated the decision to in- clude Israel in Secretary of State James Baker's current Middle East swing — and,