THE JEWISH NEWS SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY MAY 17, 1991 / 4 SIVAN 5751 Was Baker Initiative Worth The Effort? ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM Assistant Editor D espite Secretary of State James Baker's failure this week to convince either Jordan or Syria to participate in a peace conference, Arab and Israeli spokesmen refused to label the initiative a failure, saying peace talks are still possible —with stipulations. "It ain't over 'til it's over," said Moshe Fox, a spokes- man for the Israeli Counsel General for the Midwest. He said Israel remains eager to meet with its Arab neighbors, so long as negotiations do not include the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinians living in east Jerusalem, or the United Nations. "We still consider this a serious initiative," added Timoor Daghistani, a spokes- man for the Jordanian em- bassy. "There were some set- backs, but there will always be setbacks." He said Jordan "welcomes any negotiations," but only if "all other parties are in- volved." That means Pales- tinian representatives chosen by the Palestinians as well as Syria, he said. After Mr. Baker's initial trip last month to the Middle East, Syria's Foreign Min- ister Farouk al-Sharaa called the secretary's peace plan a breakthrough and Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh with James Baker. said the Arab nations were ready to be flexible. But following a meeting Monday with Mr. Baker, Syrian President Hafez al- Assad said his country would not participate in peace talks. Syria's stipula- tions for attending any negotiations include U.N. participation and Israel's withdrawal from all ad- ministered territories. The Syrians also have in- sisted that a peace con- ference be ongoing. Israel said it will meet only once for a conference, to be followed by direct talks bet- ween Israel and the Arab nations. Syria's decision not to join negotiations is said to be the reason King Hussein, after meeting Tuesday with Mr. Baker, appeared less than eager to sit down at the peace table. Though it has so far failed to bring peace talks, the Baker initiative taught Americans a valuable lesson: not everyone will return a favor, said Univer- sity of Michigan political science professor Zvi Gitelman. Just because the Bush administration jumped in to save Kuwait during the Gulf war does not mean the Arab states will express ROLEX•BMW HI Continued on Page 18 Dan Quayle Is Abused, But Very Strong On Israel KIMBERLY LIFTON Staff Writer V ice President Dan Quayle —whose qualifications are con- tinually scrutinized by the American public —is gain- ing a more favorable reputa- tion among members of the American Jewish commun- ity as Israel's best friend in the Bush administration. With much recent atten- tion focused upon Mr. Quayle because of President George Bush's health prob- lems, pro-Israel lobbyists on Capitol Hill and Jewish Republican leaders in Detroit are slowly getting out the new word on Israel and the vice president: he was good in the U.S. Senate; he is better as Mr. Bush's No. 2 man. "He has been extremely positive and pro-Israel his entire political career," said Mark Talisman, director for the Washington Action Of- fice of the Council of Jewish Federations. Despite a New York Times/CBX Poll which showed that 62 percent of those surveyed worried about Mr. Quayle's ability to lead the nation if he were to become president, some Jew- ish leaders are saying the community should stop join- ing in on the rhetoric and learn more about its friend in the administration. "Obviously, he gets a very bad rap," said Jim Alex- ander, Oakland County Republican chairman. "No. 1, he is a very strong sup- porter of Israel and he wears it on his sleeve. There is no question about the strength of his sincerity toward Israel. His is a voice on for- eign policy and national Continued on Page 18 Professionals seek a spiritual satisfaction their money can't buy. Page 22 INSIDE: Everything you need to know for that special occasion.