the Israel Policy Forum and a profes-
reflected political needs."
gsor of law at the Catholic University
ZOA, he said, plans to work with
of America, said that the looming
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala), chair of
American presence in the talks is a
the Select Committee on Intelligence.
necessary evil.
This week, Shelby said he was "trou-
Washington's role, he said, "will be to
bled" by the expanded role and
take the temperature in terms of compli-
promised congressional hearings; peace
ance and report the facts. The fact they
process critics are expected to press for
are doing that will add to the likelihood
strong congressional opposition, particu-
both sides will comply."
larly to the expanded CIA involvement.
That, he said, will "cause problems
Other Jewish leaders, while generally
only for people who do not support
supporting the Wye River
the peace process, because we can
Memorandum, expressed similar con-
assume that American civil servants,
cerns about what that expanded U.S.
be they CIA or others, will tell the
role would mean when the going in the
truth. So I think the peace process will negotiations gets tough.
be served."
"The problem is that the U.S., as a
But others argue that political and
third party arbitrator, will be caught in
diplomatic considerations, not evidence,
the crossfire every time there's a disagree-
s will govern the intelligence agency's rul-
ment," said Abraham Foxman, national
ings.
director of the Anti-Defamation League.
Whatever assessments U.S. officials
The ADL is proposing a 12-week limit
make about compliance, "the other side
to the expanded CIA role — coinciding
will be unhappy," said Shoshana Bryen,
with the 12-week implementation peri-
special projects director for the Jewish
od for the next Israeli redeployment.
Institute for National Security Affairs
"It will raise the level of disagreement
(JINSA), a group that has been critical
between the United States and Israel —
of the Oslo agreements.
and that will attract the involvement of
And that will lead to political and
Jewish groups. It's a troubling develop-
diplomatic pressure to intervene."
ment," he said.
Investigating Palestinian compliance
Foxman said American Jews will be
will inevitably be a subjective process,
increasingly polarized as the American
she said.
role expands — and as Israeli and
"Since it's impossible for anybody to
Palestinian negotiators start battling over
completely control
the most explosive
terrorism, the CIA
issues of all,
will find itself in
including the
the position of
future of Jerusalem
*udging effort. And
and the creation of
then the game is
a Palestinian state.
over; when you
"When that
judge effort, it
happens, the
becomes a political
Jewish community
judgment. That's
will have an even
something the CIA
greater role in
Arafat and Netanyahu
is not competent to
terms of advocat-
work on the details.
do."
ing, explaining
Jewish groups
and supporting,"
APP,
on both sides of the peace process
Foxman said.
debate, she said, will inevitably be urged
The growing use of the CIA to judge
to affect those judgments.
Palestinian compliance will inevitably
Other critics put it in harsher terms
increase the administration's willingness
— an assessment that hinted of bloody
to criticize Israeli actions, as well, said
internecine battles ahead in the Jewish
•Seymour Reich, a former chair of the
world.
Conference of Presidents of Major
Consider, for example, this from
American Jewish Organizations.
Morton Klein, president of the Zionist
"That's a bullet the Israelis will have
*Organization of America, a group that
to bite. The door has been opened, and
has been highly critical of U.S. policy
there's no going back."
toward the Palestinians.
Inevitably, the Israeli government —
"The CIA reports of Arafat's compli-
fighting for advantage in the difficult
ance .will likely reflect the political needs
talks — will seek to use the emotional
of Bill Clinton, not the realities of
reaction of American Jews to create a
Arafat's compliance, just as in the past
counter force in Washington to what
five years, the State Department reports
they will regard as excessive American
on compliance overlooked the truth and
pressure. ❑
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