of formulation recognizing Palestinian aspirations without promising official recognition is possible as a way of averting a May 4 explosion. At the very least, officials here hope to clarify the contradictory statements coming from Gaza about Arafat's statehood plans. Invitations for the "nondenomina- tional" event include lines such as this: "As a natural outgrowth of such gather- ings, many people throughout the world are finding through the spirit of Jesus a Wheaties for Arafat; a lecture in Moscow; restraining immigration; wrestling with the issues. JAMES D. BESSER Washington Correspondent on Soviet Jewry. NCSJ and the Anti- Defamation League presented her with a "white paper" documenting the recent rise of political anti-Semitism in Russia and laying out recommenda- tions for ,t.he government in Moscow including -the enactmentof new hate crime and hate speech laws and better implementation of existing laws against incitement. "We were impressed with the depth of her understanding of the issue and how it plays into the overall U.S.- ing growing U.S.-Russia tensions over Kosovo, Iraq and the administration plan to develop new anti-ballistic mis- siles — could limit the ability of offi- cials here to effectively weigh in on the anti-Semitism issue. Refugee Holdeflown According to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the U.S. refugee ceiling has declined 41 percent since President Bill Clinton took office in 1993. In part, the decline is a matter of funding, said HIAS executive vice-president Leonard Glickman. But, he added, "we're also alarmed over indications that the administration may be getting signals from Capitol Hill that they want to see the numbers decline — especially in the larg- ), er programs. The two biggest programs serve refugees from Indochina and the former Soviet Union. In the Senate, some key law- makers, led by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich), have pushed for higher numbers. But the situation in the House is less certain; key Republican law- makers do not favor reversing Above: Steve Largent is host for a Congressional the downward trend. prayer breakfast...and Yassir Arafitt is invited; Overall, Glickman said, the refugee quotas may be adequate Below: Madeleine Albright in Washington last week. for the former Soviet Union for now, but a dramatic rise in anti- Semitism in that country could change that. ext week's 47th annual con- gressional prayer breakfast in Washington is expected to attract upwards of 3,600 participants — and more than its usual share of controversy. One reason: the apparent inclusion of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the guest list. Congressional planners of the event refuse to disclose foreign digni- taries who were invited — a list that reportedly includes Arafat, Syrian President Hafez Assad and the foreign minister of Sudan — but administra- tion officials say Arafat will attend. Israeli officials won't; none were V invited, Israeli officials said on Tuesday,. The Arafat invitation sparked protests from right-of-center pro- Israel groups and from Stephen M. Flatow, whose daughter, Alisa, was killed by terrorists in territory con- trolled by Arafat's Palestinian Authority. fellowship that is helping to "An invitation to a prestigious event build true community in such as the National Prayer Breakfast the family of nations." will bestow on Mr. Arafat a degree of legitimacy and credibility he has not Lecturing Primakov earned," Flatow wrote in a letter to This week's Moscow visit Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla), the offi- by Secretary of State cial host of the event. Madeleine Albright result- But early this week the gathering ed in some tough talk on took on considerable diplomatic signifi- two issues that preoccupy cance when it appeared likely President Jewish leaders here — Bill Clinton, who will also attend, will surging anti-Semitism and use the breakfast for a private meeting that nation's alleged aid to with the Palestinian leader. Iranian weapons builders. Administration sources confirm Albright raised both that a meeting is likely — probably at issues in meetings with the Washington Hilton, where the Prime Minister Yevgeny prayer breakfast is taking place, not Primakov and Foreign the White House. Minister Igor Ivanov on A top item on the agenda: continu- Monday. ing U.S. pleas to Arafat to defer plans "I have come to pursue to declare statehood on May 4, and cooperation where I can, and to Arafat's demand for some kind of U.S. understand better the disagreements recognition of statehood if he agrees. we do have," she said at a Monday Administration officials insist that gathering of human rights advocates. recognition before statehood arrange- Before her departure from ments are worked out between Israel Washington, Albright met with a and the Palestinians would constitute group of Jewish officials under the intrusion in the "final status" negotia- leadership of the National Conference tions. But officials here say some kind Inside Tv!ea( § - ) . ' /29 999 212 Detroit Jewish News Talk About Muscle! Israel relationship," said NCSJ's Mark Levin. "She acknowledged that the U.S.-Russia relationship is going through hard times for many different reasons; what's happening with anti- Semitism doesn't help matters." But the Jewish activists also conceded that a host of other disputes — includ- First Gov. Jesse Ventura put Minnesota in a political ham- mer lock, and now Bill Goldberg — the Jewish com- munity's representative in the pro-wrestling world — may body slam members of Congress if they don't listen to his pleas. Goldberg, a World Championship Wrestling star and a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States, will square off with assorted legislators as he lobbies Congress and the press next week for tough new federal laws against cock fighting and similar pastimes. "When I step into the ring, it's my choice," the bruiser said in a state- ment. "If animals are forced to fight, they have no choice. Animal fighting is not a sport; its a crime."