Shaking Up
Diaspora Donors

Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin's blunt
comments about "charity" for Israel has fundraisers
all upset.

LARRY DERFNER ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT

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tlers; we shouldn't delude
ossi Beilin was doing
them," he has maintained.
what he does so often —
Some of the Golan settlements
walking a thin line, "clar-
will end up under Syrian rule,
ifying" his latest contro-
he says — and the Golan set-
versial remarks, trying to
tlers demanded his firing.
remain candid without blowing
It may not be possible to hold
too many people's minds.
onto the Jordan Valley settle-
Sitting in his Knesset office,
ments, he says — and the Jor-
speaking to reporters from the
dan Valley
American
settlers de-
Jewish media,
mand his fir-
the deputy for-
ing.
eign minister
He has stat-
said his state-
ed that most of
ments about
the land where
Diaspora Jew-
West Bank and
ish charity to
Gaza settle-
Israel had
ments lie will
been "distort-
one day come
ed."
under Arab
"I did not
rule, and sug-
speak of abol-
gested that
ishing the
part of east
UJA — it was
Jerusalem
the other way
eventually be
around," he
run by Pales-
said. "I don't
tinians.
feel the age of Yossi Beilin:
The right-
philanthropy Straight talk from an Israeli yuppie.
wing opposi-
is over. If (Di-
tion pounces on his every
aspora Jews) are ready to give
utterance as proof that the gov-
money to (Israeli) universities,
ernment is ready to sell out Is-
for a chair or whatever, why
rael.
not?" Beyond this, Mr. Beilin
A number of leaders of his
said he fully supported U.S. aid
own party have called on Mr.
to Israel, all $3-billion-a-year of
Rabin or Foreign Minister Shi-
it.
mon Peres to rein him in. A few
He repeated all the Ameri-
of the most hawkish Laborites,
can Jewish buzzwords approv-
like Economics Minister Shi-
ingly: "Jewish continuity,"
mon Shetreet, have also pub-
"partnership," "dialogue," even
licly and repeatedly asked Mr.
"We are one."
Rabin to sack him.
He sounded dumbfounded at
Mr. Beilin often claims that
the reaction over his recent
the press misquotes him, and
statements to the WIZO con-
that his enemies distort his
vention here, where he report-
words. He finds himself "clari-
edly said Israel was financially
fying" his statements again and
well-off enough not to need
again. By now, however, he has
charity from the Diaspora any-
caused so many storms that he
more.
has a fixed public image, one
Prime Minister Yitzhak Ra-
that is anathema to a large seg-
bin called his remarks "brain-
ment of Jewry, in Israel and
less," saying that if Israel could
abroad.
not ask Diaspora Jewry for
Here Mr. Beilin is seen as the
money, how could it ask the
consummate dovish yuppie
American taxpayer? The Jew-
(even at 46), an Israeli on paper
ish Agency accused Mr. Beilin
but a Westerner at heart. He is
of trying to undermine the
a Tel Aviv intellectual, with a
whole Israeli-Diaspora rela-
doctorate in political science. He
tionship. Some American Jew-
spends much of his time abroad,
ish fund-raisers for Israel said
speaks good English, wears a
Mr. Beilin had made their work
jacket and tie, doesn't wear a
a lot harder.
yarmulke.
Mr. Beilin is used to catching
He talks about free markets,
flak. He says things a lot of peo-
open borders, territorial com-
ple don't want to hear.
promise, a normal, liberal Israel
"We shouldn't lie to the set-

y

