Washington Wa Jews Under A Cloud From Disloyalty Links JAMES BESSER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT L ast week's revelations about a Defense Department memo warning contractors that Jewish employees might spy for Israel produced in- dignant outbursts from Jewish leaders and reinforced the per- ception that the Pentagon is still a hotbed of anti-Semitism. Much of that reaction wasjus- tified. The offensive memo, which was only halfheartedly rescinded by officials in Washington, crossed a dangerous line by drawing a di- rect link between Jewish identity and disloyalty. But the memo also reflected a harsh reality for thousands of Jews in sensitive government po- sitions: The repercussions of the Jonathan Pollard affair continue to reinforce old canards about Jewish "dual loyalty." Condemning the rescinded De- fense Department memo is im- portant. But so is recognizing the damage that activism on behalf of Mr. Pollard — whether moti- vated by admirable compassion or by a less admirable apprecia- tion for his deed — inflicts on a Jewish community that some- times gives the appearance of being torn between its responsi- bilities to Israel and to the nation where we choose to live. The government's savage re- sponse to Mr. Pollard's actions was shaped by a variety of factors, including Resentment toward Is- rael and the traditional anti- Semitism cited by Mr. Pollard's supporters. At the Pentagon, in particular, there has always been a simmer- ing animosity about the special privileges enjoyed by Israel as part of the "strategic relationship" with Washington. Israel's deci- sion to run a spy operation in this country was proof to many of the unsoundness of this policy. Another factor was the code of behavior that characterizes the shadow world of intelligence and defense, which demands that trai- tors be punished within an inch of their lives as a warning to others. The punishment must be even harsher if violators try to jus- tify their actions. Jews have a hard time under- standing why the government cares so much about one pitiable guy stealing secrets for an ally, and they find it easy to attribute that reaction to rampant anti- Semitism. But the truth is that part of the reason for Mr. Pollard's harsh treatment is the argument by some supporters — direct or im- plied — that his actions were jus- tified by this country's refusal to provide Israel with intelligence vital to her defense. So Mr. Pollard is suffering not only for his actions as a spy, but because of those who suggest that what he did was justified, fully or partially. But thousands of Jews work- ing in sensitive positions also pay a price because of the shadow that's been cast over their careers by the reinforcement of the dual loyalty indictment. Every time Jewish groups put out materials that attempt to ex- plain Mr. Pollard's actions and give them at least a degree of legitimacy, Jews working at the Pentagon, at the CIA headquar- ters in Langley, at defense in- stallations around the world, feel a renewed chill of suspicion. Every time an Israel Prime Min- ister pleads for clemency, a re- sponse to political pressures in Israel, loyal Jewish employees wonder anew if their careers are being imperiled by suspicions of dual loyalty. The recent Israeli decision granting citizenship to Mr. Pol- lard may have been justified by the debt owed a man who was se- duced by the Israeli spy masters and then abandoned to a terrible fate. But for thousands of govern- ment workers and for a commu- nity that has repeatedly proven its commitment to this nation, it was resurrected once more the idea that Jews do have conflict- ing loyalties — the root idea in the recently uncovered Defense De- partment memo. Recently, I posed this question to several high-level government employees, all Jews, all commit- ted Zionists: If you were running a top secret division dealing with Middle East intelligence, and you were choosing between hiring a non-Jew and a Jew with a strong record of commitment to Israel, would you think twice about the Jewish candidate's loyalty? They all said the same thing: They would think a little more carefully about the Jewish can- didate. And the reason, they said with evident sadness, was the Jonathan Pollard case, and the Jewish community's ambivalent response. That doesn't mean that Jews cannot attain high positions in the national security realm. At the CIA, to cite just one example, there are more Jews than ever. But it does mean that many rank-and-file Jews in sensitive positions face additional chal- lenges in their careers. El ors Last Chance for $50 a Month and No Initiation Fee Monthly Dues Increase For New Members March 1 1 1998 The Sports Club of West Bloomfield 826-9880 Above monthly rate is for a three-year fitness membership. Monthly dues and initiation fee vary for shorter term memberships.