T HE DE TRO IT J EW IS H NEWS

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"There's always the danger that foreign
ing political quagmires for presidents," ob-
served Professor Ginsberg. "If Clinton be- policy will be dictated by politics," said his-
comes more involved in negotiating a torian Allan Lichtman. "That hasn't hap-
Syrian-Israeli peace, it could end up costing pened so far in the Middle East. Every step
him more than he gains. But his present pol- President Clinton has taken has been sup-
icy — of claiming credit and associating him- portable entirely on diplomatic grounds, and
self with successes that have already taken independent of politics. But it's still some-
thing that could happen."
place — is perfect."
Pro-Israel hard-liners worry that an in-
Any short-term political gains from this
new Mideast diplomacy could quickly dissi- creasingly desperate Clinton administration
may put pressure on Israel to
pate if the Syrian-Israeli talks
accept terms in their negotia-
continue to sputter, Said Allan
tions with Syria that ulti-
T op
Lichtman, a historian at Amer-
Assad an d Clinton
mately could compromise
ican University in Washington
in Dam ascus.
Israel's security.
and a top presidential prog-
"Israel wants a deal, but it
nosticator.
understands the stakes," said
"Every foreign policy initia-
Middle
a congressional staffer who
tive carries political risk for a
Frank Gaffney:
specializes in Mideast policy.
president," he said. "And the
Israeli and U.S.
"And
the administration needs
Middle East is a place where
politics "reinforce
a
deal
for political purposes,
nothing is what it seems. And
each nation's worst
but
it
doesn't
have the same
where success can quickly re-
instincts."
hands-on sense of what's ac-
verberate into failure."
ceptable, in terms of Israel's
Ironically, such political
Bottom Left
security."
risks may be lower in the Jew-
Robert 0. Freedman:
Frank Gaffney, a former as-
ish community, where the ad-
"Clinton recognizes
sistant secretary of defense in
ministration's unabashed
this might help
the Reagan administration
enthusiasm for Israel has
him politically."
and a leading activist in the ef-
played well with voters. Even
fort to forestall stationing any
the momentary controversy
American
troops on the Golan
over last week's decision to
Bottom Right
Heights,
argued
that political
scrap a tour of Jerusalem's Old
Henry Siegman:
considerations in Jerusalem
City is unlikely to cut into
The White House
and Washington could com-
expects political
Jews' overwhelming support
bine to endanger Israel.
"bounce" from the
for this administration.
president's role
"I'm quite concerned that
"That decision sent the
in the Mideast.
the effects of meeting the do-
wrong message to the Pales-
mestic political imperatives
tinians about Jerusalem," said
that Prime Minister Rabin
Mendy Ganchrow, incoming
president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish and President Clinton both feel is a pre-
Congregations of America and the former scription for a debacle," said Mr. Gaffney.
head of an influential pro-Israel political ac- "There is an interaction of political needs in
tion committee. "But whether you like Clin- both countries that reinforces each nation's
ton or not — and whether you like his health worst instincts."
Prime Minister Rabin repeatedly has in-
care policy or his other domestic programs
-- he's been a great president for the U.S.- dicated his desire that an American moni-
Israeli relationship. So he has a lot of polit- toring force on the Golan Heights be part
ical latitude with the Jewish community." of an agreement with Syria. The political
Only the most diehard Jewish Republi- backlash from such an arrangement, warned
cans expect that the controversies swirling Mr. Gaffney, could seriously damage U.S.-
around last week's trip — or even new hitch- Israeli relations.
"This political climate is encouraging a
es in the U.S.-mediated Israeli-Syrian talks
— will result in a significant number of Jew- push toward inserting the United States not
ish desertions to the Republican Party in just into the negotiations with Syria, but into
Israel's security after an agreement," he said.
1996.
"That kind of role does not enjoy the support
of the American people — and will not be
sustainable. It is not a basis for a durable
peace."
Others worry that the administration may
ut the game of politics also can have be promising more economic benefits than
diplomatic consequences. According to it can deliver. Arab and Israeli leaders alike
some observers, President Clinton's accel- expect rewards from Washington in the form
erated Mideast diplomacy could add new of economic assistance, debt forgiveness and
complexities and dangers to the region's military help. But in today's pinched politi-
cal climate, even current levels of assistance
volatile peace talks.

Inflated
Expectations?

B

