THE JEWISH NEWS SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS Guarantee Battle Widens Rift Between Israel, U.S. CLOSE-UP ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM Assistant Editor B S Ho WHERE THERE'S THERID E'S ernard Epel had never seen anything like it. A Knesset member stood up last week in Israel's Parliament and delivered these words: "Let's do without the loan guar- antees." The speaker's comments are representative of many Israelis angered by what they consider President George Bush's jockeying for power and his decision to make a political issue out of humanitarian needs, said Dr. Epel, a former Detroiter who now lives in Herzliya. Faced with the option of giv- ing in to U.S. pressure or do- ing without American loan support, Israelis will opt for the latter, he said. "There was a survey in the paper today (Tuesday) ask- ing whether people would be willing to take a reduction in salaries to make up for the loss of the $10 billion," he said. "More than 50 percent are ready for salary cuts. "But we're not ready to give in to Bush's demands, and everyone knows that's what this is all about. If need be, we'll make do without." Earlier this month, Presi- dent Bush asked Congress to delay for 120 days the vote on a $10 billion U.S. loan guarantee to Israel. Israel is requesting the funds, to be provided by American banks, for resettling new immigrants. The President said that approving the loan guarantee at this time might hinder Middle East peace talks planned for next mon- th. President Bush has been adamant about delaying the vote, saying in a press con- ference last week, "For the first time in history, the vi- Continued on Page 18 Volunteers Tread Warily In Loan Guarantee Fight E Area Jews sell plastic bowls, makeup, shampoo, vitamins, detergents and almost anything else part time and from home. Page 24 ALSO INSIDE American investors are enjoying sweet returns from Israel stocks. Page 57 SEPTEMBER 20, 1991 / 12 TISHREI 5752 NOAM M.M. NEUSNER Staff Writer L ocal activists, stung by President Bush's angry press conference last week, said they are not fazed by the rebuff but will tread more carefully in their future efforts. "We understand we have to defuse an explosive situa- tion," said George Mann. Fourteen Detroiters trav- eled to Washington, D.C., last week, hoping to in- fluence Congress to support a $10 billion loan guarantee for Israel's Soviet absorption programs. President Bush preempted debate on the guarantees by charging that the loan guarantee would jeopardize the Mideast peace process. In addition, he claimed "powerful political forces" were descending on Wash- ington to oppose his position. He was referring to vol- unteers from around the country who gathered on behalf of the National Con- ference on Soviet Jewry, Na- tional Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council and AIPAC, among other organizations. The loan guarantees, said Mr. George Mann, board member of ZOA and the American Jewish Com- mittee, "are too moral to be Jeannie Weiner George Mann boxed into a narrow political viewpoint like that. It was a mistake for Bush to take that perspective." By receiving the loan guarantees, Israel would be able to borrow money from private banks at advan- tageous interest rates, and the United States guar- antees that the loans will be repaid. The money, the Israeli government says, will be used to resettle Soviet Jews in Israel. Mr. Bush objects to the loan guarantee because he feels Israel will use the money to build more settlements in the disputed territories of the West Bank, Golan Heights and Gaza Strip. "We are simply talking about the need for Israel to resettle Soviet Jews," said Jeannie Weiner, president of the Detroit Jewish Com- munity Council. The lobbyists met with most of the Michigan con- gressional delegation, with varying results. Perhaps the most important member of that delegation, Rep. David Bonior, who is the House majority whip, was non- commital. "Clearly, he had not made up his mind," said Mr. Mann, who met with Rep. Bonior. "He was sympathet- ic to the president's view that Israel has to be brought . to heel and this was the way to do it." Yet, Rep. Bonior Continued on Page 22