Cheers
And Fear's
JAMES B. BESSER
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
President
resident Clinton's new
national security and
foreign policy team, an-
nounced with consider-
able fanfare last month,
won high marks from
Jewish leaders across
the spectrum.
Top Jewish activists
expect the new team —
U.N. Ambassador Madeleine
Albright as Secretary of State,
retiring Sen. William Cohen,
R-Maine, as Defense Secre-
tary and Samuel "Sandy"
Berger as National Security Ad-
viser — to pursue a steady course
through the treacherous Middle
East after the Jan. 20 inaugura-
tion.
Clinton's new
foreign policy
team wins
approval in
Washington
and concern
BR IAN REND
in Mideast.
`These are people with proven
records, not just regarding Israel,
but regarding their outlook about
the need for strong American
leadership in the world," said
Howard Kohr, executive director
of the American Israel Public Af-
fairs Committee, the pro-Israel
lobby. But that very consistency
could be a time bomb for Israeli
Prime Minister Binyamin Ne-
tanyahu if his evolving policies
are seen as jeopardizing a peace
process that remains the center-
piece of American policy in the
region.
Most Jewish activists were
pleased with the nomination of
Ms. Albright, the first woman se-
lected as Secretary of State.
"She's bright, fair and very of the discussion, so I think con-
much of an activist," said Mark tinuity will be the rule."
But Dr. Freedman and others
Talisman, a Washington politi-
cal consultant who has worked pointed out that American poli-
with Ms. Albright — a Czech cy will still center on the peace
refugee — for years on issues in- process; the tone of the special re-
volving that country. "She lationship between the two coun-
brought a studied, hands-on ap- tries will depend heavily on
proach to her work as U.N. am- whether Mr. Netanyahu is able
bassador; she will be much more to find a formula for keeping the
of an activist than many of her talks alive while fulfilling his
campaign pledge to enhance Is-
predecessors."
Mr. Talisman also pointed to rael's security.
"It was easy when [the late
Ms. Albright's extensive network
of contacts within the Jewish Yitzhak] Rabin and [Shimon]
Peres were in power, with poli-
community. Ms. Albright has ad-
dressed a number of Jewish cies that were consistent with our
own policies," said William
groups during her four-year U.N.
tenure; most recently, she ad- Quandt, a longtime peace process
dressed a group of top AIPAC analyst who worked with Ms. Al-
donors and offered an analysis of bright at the National Security
the Mideast peace process that Council during the Carter ad-
one attendee described as "very ministration. "It's much harder
knowledgeable and very sup- with Netanyahu and his much
more ambivalent attitude toward
portive of Israel."
But her forceful personality the peace process. What do you
could alter the tone of U.S. diplo- do when you really come to the
conclusion that Netanyahu is do-
macy in the region.
"[Outgoing Secretary of State ing things to undermine the poli-
cies of the past four years?
Warren] Christopher was
Do you draw the line — or
infinitely patient and low-
Mad eline
simply say that it's too
key — sometimes a posi-
tive trait in negotiations, Albrig htwith controversial? It takes a
but also a trait that con- Yitzha k Rabin certain kind of tough-
tributed to the Israeli- in Jeru salem. mindedness."
The challenge for Ms.
Palestinian stalemate,"
according to a source close to the Albright, he said, is to find the
peace process. "My hunch is that proper balance between support
Albright will focus less energy on for Israel and the administra-
the region than Christopher, but tion's rock-solid belief that the
probably push harder and more current peace process is a matter
creatively when she does en- of vital national interest for this
country.
gage."
Groups opposed to the peace
"She has an acerbic tongue,
and she is a tough negotiator," process fear Ms. Albright will
said Robert 0. Freedman, acting steer the administration toward
president of Baltimore Hebrew a confrontation with Israel.
Frank Gaffney, director of the
University and a top Mideast an-
alyst. "If Netanyahu continues Center for Security Policy in
expanding settlements at a rapid Washington, said that Ms. Al-
rate, and if this hurts the peace bright's appointment "lends itself
process, it's not impossible he'll to a policy of coercion and pres-
get a diplomatic or not-so-diplo- sure. That will increase as con-
matic tongue-lashing from her." cern in the administration grows
Overall, he said, American over what is seen as the unrav-
Mideast policy will not change in eling of the peace process. They
the second Clinton administra- will pressure the only people they
can pressure — the Israeli gov-
tion.
"She's been sitting in on Cab- ernment."
But he also said that other
inet meetings for four years," Dr.
Freedman said. "She's been part
CHEERS page 56