Like so many of his predeces-
sors, Mr. Clinton is turning to for-
eign policy for refuge from
political woes, and for the image
of competent leadership that is
so hard to develop in our tumul-
tuous domestic climate.
If the current deployment of
troops in Bosnia to enforce a U.S.-
brokered peace agreement is a
success, it will be a political plus
for Mr. Clinton.
And if he can hit the campaign
trail boasting of his role in medi-
ating a successful Syrian-Israeli
deal, Democratic strategists will
chant prayers of thanksgiving.
That political connection to the
expanding American role in the
peace talks is not necessarily a
bad thing; if it ultimately pro-
duces a peace treaty that pro-
motes Israel's security in a region
vital to American interests, Mr.
Clinton's Mideast activism will
be remembered as a great
achievement.
But that political imperative
also holds the possibility that
American negotiators, in their
haste for a deal, may pressure
Israel to take even bigger risks
in what is already a risky situa-
tion.
Washington may promise to
help Israel deal with those risks,
but leaders in Jerusalem would
be wise to regard such promises
with caution. The most important
political factor of all may be the
American public's headlong flight
from international responsibili-
ty, a trend that could leave a
dependent Israel high and
dry. 111
Man Confesses
To Bus Bombing
Jerusalem (JTA) — An Islamic
Jihad terrorist detained by Israel
has confessed to planning the sui-
cide bus bombing at Beit Lid a
year ago.
Some 21 people — most of
them soldiers waiting for buses
back to their bases —were killed
when two suicide bombers blew
themselves up at an intersection
near the Israeli coastal city of
Netanya.
Abed Al-Balbisi, who was be-
ing questioned by Israel's do-
mestic security service, the Shin
Bet, since Dec. 6, reportedly con-
fessed to the attack.
A third bomb was originally
supposed to have been used in
the attack, he said, but the sui-
cide bomber never showed up
and the bomb was hidden.
The Shin Bet retrieved the
bomb, which contained some 33
pounds of explosive, from the
place it was hidden not far from
where the attack took place.
Mr. Balbisi made headlines in
Zelda
for
Spring '96
late December when the High
Court ofJustice upheld his peti-
tion against the Shin Bet's use of
force in interrogating him.
The court ordered the state at-
torney to explain within seven
days why using physical force
against Mr. Balbisi was neces-
sary.
In response, the state attorney
told the court that Mr. Balbisi
had confessed to being the plan-
ner and organizer of the January
1995 Beit Lid attack.
"with dressing for
day into night"
Cornerstone Laid
For Highway
Jerusalem (JTA) — The corner-
stone was laid for the Cross-Is-
rael Highway project, which has
been hailed as the "road of peace"
as well as labeled an "environ-
mental disaster."
The highway, to run about 185
miles from the Galilee to the
Negev, has been promoted as an
answer to the country's dire traf-
fic problems.
The project's estimated cost is
$2 billion. Its completion date is
set for the year 2010.
Construction has begun on the
first phase of the project, a 55-
mile stretch of road from Hadera
to east of the Tel Aviv metropol-
itan area.
The road will be a toll road
and will be built and operated by
private contractors.
Prime Minister Shimon Peres,
Finance Minister Avraham
Shochat and Housing Minister
Benjamin Ben-Eliezer attended
the cornerstone-laying ceremo-
ny near Ben Shemen — between
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem —
where construction has also be-
Mr. Peres praised the project
as a major step toward easing
traffic congestion and nurturing
development in the south of the
country by drawing the popula-
tion away from the crowded
center.
He also expressed hope that
the road "would become part of
the road to peace in the entire
Middle East" as part of an over-.
land route linking Jordan, Egypt,
Israel, Syria and Lebanon.
However, the project has met
significant resistance since its
start in 1992 from groups con-
cerned about environmental
damage and the highway's ef-
fectiveness as a solution to Is-
rael's overcrowded roads.
In July, environmental groups
unsuccessfully petitioned the
High Court ofJustice to block the
construction.
Several dozen activists dem-
onstrated near the ceremony
site.
Mr. Ben-Eliezer said builders
would try to preserve the land-
scape and take environmental
factors into account as much as
possible.
Friday, Jan. 26th
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27th
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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