A SPECIAL REPORT

Strategic cooperation is insulated
from political and diplomatic dis-
putes, she said, because it serves the
military needs of both countries.
Israeli officials agree. The effective
military cooperation "shows that the
shared interests of the two countries
go far beyond the Israeli-Palestinian
talks," one Israeli official said this
week. "The strategic relationship is
rock-solid."
But the undiminished military ties
will not permanently end the U.S.
squeeze on the Netanyahu govern-
ment over the moribund peace
process.
"The Iraq crisis has provided
Netanyahu with a respite from pres-
sure — but it's unlikely to last
beyond the current situa-
tion," said Robert 0.
Freedman, president of
Baltimore Hebrew Univer-
sity and a top Middle East
expert. "It's a temporary
blip because the two sides
are in the same foxhole
against Saddam. After the
crisis passes, we're back to
where we were in the
Mideast talks."
A successful U.S. effort
in Iraq, Dr. Freedman said,
may encourage the admin-
istration to be even tougher in push-
ing both sides in the Israeli-Palestin-
ian talks.
At the same time, the Iraq crisis
could fundamentally change this
country's relationship with the Pales-
tinians, according to Abraham Fox-
man, national director of the Anti-

Powers Of
Darkness

Some local rabbis offer
Jewish perspectives on
confronting evil.

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

Just as in 1991, a potential war with
Iraq —.and threats of an Iraqi Scud
missile attack on Israel — coincides
with Purim, the holiday celebrating
Esther's success in stopping Haman
from convincing King Ahasuerus to
exterminate the Jews.

2/13
1998

42

Left: Iraqi soldiers double-time during a training
session next to the U.N. arms inspectors
headquarters on Feb. 3.

Above: Palestinian women shout their support
for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Defamation League in Washington.
"Will there be more stability or less
stability in the area? One crucial test
will be where the Palestinians stand,"
he said. "Should the Palestinians, after
being warned and sensitized not to
stand up for Iraq, do just that, I think
it will reinforce what Prime Minister
Netanyahu has been saying about the

need to repair other things before pro-
ceeding with new redeployments."
Seven years ago, there was wide-
spread Palestinian support for Saddam
Hussein. This time around, Palestinian
officials seemed to tone down that sup-
port, in part because of stern warnings
from Washington and Jerusalem.
But that wasn't enough to stop anti-

71.STRIF7TRM Pmgm%

It seems like a good time to
explore the Jewish approach to evil
and whether the conflict with Sad-
dam Hussein is a case of good versus
evil.

Rabbi Daniel Nevins
Adat Shalom
"Judaism has developed a typology for
confronting evil political leaders and
movements. Generally speak-
ing, we connect the current
crisis to earlier situations.
Thus, during the Gulf War,
people made groggers [Purim
noisemakers] with Saddam
Hussein as Haman, This
response helps us keep a
sense of perspective and ori-
entation during a chaotic
time, but sometimes it really

is better to look at the current sima-
tion as unique and not Itunp its issues
with others ...
"The current situation is a cat and
mouse game between Hussein and the
Western countries. Were not in the
same situation we were in when he
invaded Kuwait Hes a terrible leader
who created a lot of suffering, but I
wouldn't say the current crisis is a case

American, pro-Iraqi demonstrations
in several West Bank cities this week.
If demonstrations continue or intensi-
fy, most observers say, it will be hard-
er for Washington to maintain the
high-wire act required by the U.S.
role as a broker in the talks.
"The administration will continue
trying to push both sides," said an
analyst for a major pro-Israel group,
"but that doesn't mean they see both
sides the same way. The fact that
Israel is an ally is being highlighted by
the Iraqi situation, and that won't be
lost on the players in Jerusalem and
Gaza."

❑

of good vs. evil.
"I don't like the guy [Hussein]
any more than anyone else, but we
have lots of nasty weapons, too. If
possession of weapons is a sign of
evil, then we're in trouble ourselves!"

Rabbi Daniel Syme
Temple Beth El
"Judaism doesn't believe in pure evil
as an independent
entity, because
unlike many other
religions, that would

From left:
Rabbi Syme,
Rabbi Nevins,
and Rabbi Weil

