1994 MODEL CLOSEOUT . SUBSTANTIAL PRICE INCREASE COMING ACT Now AND SAVE ON REMAINING 1994 MODELS! SAVE ON GS, ES, LS AND COUPES Back From The Brink Jewish groups were relieved that diplomacy prevailed in Haiti. JAMES D. BESSER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT \ • .. . "". " • IllovE OUR '94's '95's COMING IN WE MUST LEXUS OF LANSING The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection For a personal showing: Call 1-800-539-8748 OR 1-800-LEXUS-4-U Exit 104 off 1-96 • 5709 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing • 517/394-8000 (CALL COLLECT) A CUSTOM MULTI ROOM TO BLEND WITH YOUR LIFE STYLE From concept to reality, our custom designs, expert craftsmanship and quality installation suit your specific needs. Whether your needs are comfort, fun and maximum use of space, the goal of our designers is to enhance (810) 624-7300 your lifestyle. Showroom Hours: Monday-Friday 1 1-5, Saturday 1 1-3 or by appointment 3160 Haggerty Rd. • West Bloomfield • 48323 Advertising in The Jewish News Gets Results Place Your Ad Today. Call 354-6060 Mark Pelavin: Clinton is effective when forceful. R Like many Jewish activists in Washington, Mr. Pelavin hoped that the administration's appar- ent success in Haiti might rein- force President Clinton's resolve to find solutions to other human rights crises, such as the war in Bosnia. "We hope that one of the lessons the president will take from this is that he can be much more effective when he's deter- mined and forceful," he said. Haiti also was a priority issue for B'nai B'rith. "Our people in the area are relieved because there is a real concern about invasions in that part of the world," said War- ren Eisenberg, director of B'nai B'rith's Lath American Network. "At the same time, they under- stand the dangers of ignoring the issues of democratization and hu- man rights. What happens in Haiti is seen as having an impact on Jews and other minorities throughout the region." ecent dramatic events in Haiti, and the fact that American troops came to that country peaceably in- stead of by force, came as a big re- lief to Jewish groups that had found themselves in something of a quandary over the possibili- ty of a U.S.-led invasion of the is- land nation. Jewish groups had been in the forefront of earlier efforts to force As the Haitian crisis became the restoration of deposed Hait- ian president Jean-Bertrand the capital's overwhelming focus Aristide. But as an American in- last week, Israeli officials in vasion seemed imminent, most Washington noted with pride — Jewish organizations kept a low and maybe some trepidation — profile because of fears that the that their ambassador, Itamar administration's plans might lead Rabinovich, had been included at to an open-ended, politically ex- a White House briefing for rep- plosive military involvement in resentatives of nations that have the troubled Caribbean nation. joined the Clinton administration The last-minute agreement in the effort to restore a measure averting military conflict was of democracy to Haiti. Mr. Rabi- widely praised by Jewish leaders. novich's presence at the White Rabbi David Saperstein, di- House triggered a flurry of ru- rector of the Religious Action mors that the administration was Center of Reform Judaism, said preparing to announce a break- it was a "major foreign policy tri- through in the Syrian-Israeli ne- umph for the administration. gotiations. But the only issue on We've been deeply committed to the agenda was the situation in restoring democracy in Haiti and Haiti. An Israeli official expressed to alleviating human rights abus- es there. We're delighted that this satisfaction about Israel's inclu- agreement was worked out with- sion. "It's the first time Israel has out placing American soldiers at been part of an international ef- fort of this kind," he said, "and risk in an invasion." `This is the outcome everybody it is a clear indication that with had hoped for," said Mark Pelavin, the successes of the peace process, Washington representative for the Israel is taking her rightful place American Jewish Congress, the in the family of responsible na- only Jewish group to formally en- tions." Israeli officials in Washington dorse the military option. The AJ- Congress' statement had come were privately expressing satis- after Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., faction that the apparent success a leading member of the Con- of the diplomacy will provide gressional Black Caucus, made an greater safety to Israeli police impassioned pitch championing who will enter Haiti as part of an intervention to the group's execu- international force to facilitate its return to democracy. ❑ tive committee. Jewish groups had been in a quandary over the invasion.