The World
Get Tied
Up With
Being
All Eyes Are On Clinton
To Set Tone Of Bibi's Visit
.
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
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"Serving the community for over 40 years"
ill President Clinton
lower the boom when
Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu comes to
town next week?
Or will the administration cut the
besieged Israeli leader more slack,
despite the striking failure of last week's
911 mission by special envoy Dennis
Ross and indications that Israeli settle-
ments activity is increasing once more?
Those questions were the subjects of
intense debate within the administra-
tion this week as officials prepared for
the scheduled Jan. 20 meetings with
the Israeli leader.
Officials here are angry and frustrat-
ed by what they see as growing resis-
New West Bank housing units will
tance by Netanyahu's government to
heighten confrontation.
the "credible" West Bank withdrawal
the administration has demanded, and
mistake, especially since Netanyahu is
they are miffed that the government
unlikely to budge.
announced new settlement construc-
"Albright wants to press, but she has
tion even as Ross was trying to pave the
no mandate to do that," said Judith
way for a successful Washington sum-
Kipper, co-director of the Mideast pro-
mit.
gram at the Center for Strategic and
The administration remains con-
International Studies in Washington.
vinced that a settlements "time-out" is
"So they'll continue talking, but there
vital to preserve the faltering talks.
probably won't be a big confrontation.
Sources here say that resistance to that
People don't care anymore; they're not
idea in Israel — last week, the Housing
watching how this plays out because
Ministry revealed that up to 30,000
they know the administration isn't seri-
new housing units in the West Bank
ous.
and Gaza are in the works — has nar-
Pro-Israel groups led by the
rowed the administration's options for
Conference of Presidents of Major
the upcoming meeting.
American Jewish Organizations are
Early this week, administrative offi-
preparing for the visit by circulating
cials were playing their cards close to
lists of Palestinian violations of the
the vest as they prepared for the con-
Oslo accords, echoing Mr. Netanyahu's
frontation.
own strategy.
"The only real question this week is
what Clinton is thinking after the Ross
Bracing For Tough Talks
trip," said David Harris, executive
Expecting a difficult visit for their
director of the American Jewish
beleaguered leader, Israeli officials have
Committee. "So far, the president has
been busy setting up meetings in -
been the most forceful brake on those
Washington intended to provide a
in the administration who want to go
more favorable backdrop for
after Israel with a sledgehammer. The
Netanyahu.
question now is what tone he wants to
Shortly after his arrival on Monday,
set for the meeting. The stakes are so
Netanyahu will meet with House
high, politically and diplomatically,
Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., who
that it has to be the president's call."
has urged the administration not to
Secretary of State Madeleine
pressure Netanyahu, and Voices United
Albright, according to Washington
for Israel, a mostly evangelical group
sources, continues to push for more
that gave Netanyahu a rollicking recep
aggressive American intervention that
tion during his visit last spring.
will include strong pressure on both the
Those meetings, several Israeli offi-
Israelis and the Palestinians — stronger
cials agreed, are intended to take the
on the Israelis in the wake of the failed
edge off the White House sessions, at
Ross mission.
which
Clinton and Albright are certain
But the political people at the White
to
express
their strong disappointment
House continue to insist that stirring
at the worsening Israeli-Palestinian
up the Jewish community would be a
"