® 0 reetings of the Season... and best wishes for the New Year! 1_1E0 IENICIVIT Report On PLO Sparks Controversy MASTER OF From THE STAFF Leo • • • • 26571 W. 12 MILE ROAD SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 Sue David Karen Niki Mark Kay Alice Ruth Alicia Ire 352-7030 JVS College Students: Looking for a summer internship that pays? TH E DETRO Apply now for an eight-week summer internship and earn $1,500. As part of the Jeanette & Oscar Cook Jewish Occupational Intern (JOIN) program, you'll gain valuable on the job experience in business administration, communication, public affairs, research and planning, human services and recreation. 28 You must be a tri-county area resident and a full-time undergraduate or graduate student ready to learn about and work in metro Detroit's Jewish community. Written applications must be received by December 19, 1994. Personal interviews are being held through January 31, 1995. For an application and more information, call Elaine Goldman at Jewish Vocational Service, (810) 559-5000. Washington (JTA) — A second State Department report certify- ing Palestine liberation Organi- zation compliance with its peace agreements with Israel has drawn sharp criticism from mem- bers.of Congress and some pro- Israel activists. While citing PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat's failure to root out terrorism, confiscate weapons, prosecute Palestinian terrorists and amend the PLO covenant calling for the destruction of Is- rael, the report rules that the PLO's "good faith" effort warrants the determination. The report, mandated every six months according to legislation passed by Congress, paves the way for President Clinton to au- thorize financial assistance to the Palestinians. White House officials say Pres- ident Clinton plans to adopt the reports recommendation and ask Congress for an allocation of up to $150 million for the Pales- tinian Authority, which governs the autonomous areas of Gaza and the West Bank town of Jeri- cho. The administration has pledged a total of $500 million over five years to the Palestini- ans. At the same time, however, the report — and the reaction it has elicited — is expected to become a weapon in the ongoing battle on Capitol Hill over continuing U.S. aid to the Palestinians. The 13-page State Department report details dozens of incidents of PLO actions that contradict its peace accord signed with Israel last year. But it also seeks to ex- plain some of the PLO actions. For example, the report cites PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat's Nov. 15 comments at a Gaza ral- ly, during which he called Israel "the Zionist enemy." "While this remark is remi-, niscent of an earlier era before the PLO acknowledged Israel's right to exist, the broader pattern of Arafat's actions and statements demonstrates his acceptance of Israel and commitment to the ne- gotiations," the report states. The report also praised Mr. Arafat for turning over to Israeli forces a murder suspect hiding in Gaza. The report's mild language and conciliatory approach toward the Palestinians prompted a flurry of criticism, with some activists ac- cusing the State Department of adhering to a low standard and a minimalist definition of com- pliance. Expressing "disappointment" with the findings, Steve Gross- man, president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said, "The time has come for Arafat to ratchet up his compliance with his commit- ments." "If the Israeli people, the Amer- ican people and Congress are go- ing to have full faith in Arafat, then he needs to be more assidu- ous and steadfast in his efforts," Mr. Grossman said. Although critical of the report and of some of Mr. Arafat's ac- tions, Mr. Grossman said that AIPAC continues to support American aid to the Palestinian Authority. In contrast, the Zionist Orga- nization of America was not only The Zionist Organization of America was sharply critical of the report. sharply critical of the report, but also plans to challenge continued aid to the Palestinians. `The State Department has ig- nored, minimized and white- washed the PLO's numerous and serious violations," said ZOA President Morton Klein. "The report is simply a farce that refuses to look truth in the eye," Mr. Klein said. State Department officials have defended the report's find- ings and its purpose. "We need to weigh the need for aid to the Palestinians against a higher standard of compliance," a State Department official said, referring to the report in a recent interview. "Any cutoff of American aid or a perceived weakening of Amer- ican support for the Palestinian Authority could have catastrophic effects for the Palestinians, Is- raelis and the entire peace process," the official said. Israeli officials, from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on down, have expressed similar views, strongly lobbying in favor of U.S. aid to the Palestinians, despite reservations about compliance. During a recent interview here, Israeli Deputy Foreign Min- ister Yossi Beilin said, "The peace process would surely fail without American aid to the Palestinian Authority." Because of this concern about