TEMPLE 511I8 SHALOM
BROTHERHOOD

and the JeW1511 NEWS

Present

Flogging Statehood

Clinton and Congress have messages for Arafat.

agreeing to a date when such a declara-
tion would be acceptable.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Instead, most observers predict that
Clinton
will reiterate U.S. policy that
Washington
a
Palestinian
state can only emerge
assir Arafat is scheduled to
through
negotiations
with Israel.
meet with President Clinton
At
the
same
time,
Clinton
is also
on Tuesday, the latest and
promising to work toward accelerated
most visible stop in his
final-status talks with a precise schedule
world tour aimed at securing pledges
to begin after the Israeli election, which
of support for a unilateral declaration
is scheduled for May 17. Such a plan has
of Palestinian statehood.
been supported by Israel's three major
Although White House officials say
candidates
for prime minister.
the chairman of the Palestinian
As
he
tours
the world, Arafat appears
Authority won't get U.S. support for a
willing
to
compromise
on the May 4
unilateral declaration, the meeting —
date
—
even
considering
a new
his third in three months
Dec. 31 deadline — but only in
with Clinton — is likely to
exchange for pledges of support
boost his prominence among
for a recognition at that time.
other world leaders and his
These bargaining tactics
own people.
have
enraged Israel and her
"The visit itself is a
American
supporters and have
reward — the fact that he's
generated
much concern on
getting treated as he is with
Capitol
Hill.
official recognition equiva-
In an effort to ensure that
lent as a head of state," said
Clinton unequivocally opposes
Malcolm Hoenlein, execu-
tive vice chairman of the
Malcolm Hoenlein any unilateral declaration —
regardless of the date — the
Conference of Presidents of
American
Israel Public Affairs
Major American Jewish Organizations.
Committee,
the
pro-Israel
lobby, turned
As the Clinton administration grap-
to
Congress
to
deliver
a
blunt
message.
ples with its exact response to Arafat,
"We
strongly
believe
that
if
Congress has overwhelmingly rejected
Chairman
Arafat
is
going
to
threaten
such a unilateral Palestinian move and
to breach, both in letter and spirit, the
is calling on the administration not to
most fundamental element of the
recognize such a state.
peace
process, then one cannot claim
Arafat has threatened to unilaterally
that
the
Palestinians are acting in
declare a state in the territory under
good
faith,"
said Howard Kohr,
his control on May 4, which marks
AIPAC's
executive
director.
the end of the interim peace period
Both
the
House
and Senate deliv-
established by the Oslo accords. But
ered,
overwhelmingly
passing resolu-
peace talks have repeatedly been
tions opposing any declaration of
stalled since that date was set.
statehood that does not emerge
Issues of borders and statehood were
through negotiations with Israel.
supposed to be addressed in final-sta-
"United States opposition to any uni-
tus talks, which have barely gotten off
lateral Palestinian declaration of state-
the ground. As a result, Israel and
hood
should be made clear and unam-
many of its supporters view any such
biguous,"
said the Senate resolution,
declaration a violation of the accords.
which passed 98-1 on March 11. An
The issue by and large is not the
identical House measure passed on
establishment of a Palestinian state —
Tuesday by a huge margin of 379-24,
even most Israelis believe that such a
with two members opting not take a
state is inevitable.
position and voting present.
For its part, the administration, while
During debate on the Senate floor,
clear in its opposition to any unilateral
Sen.
Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), one of
declaration, has on several occasions
the
key
sponsors of the resolution,
come close to endorsing the more general
summed
up the view of many of his
principle of Palestinian statehood.
colleagues when he said, "We should
Senior U.S. officials have told Israelis
not pay Mr. Arafat for not doing
that Clinton will not undercut final-sta-
something which he should not have
tus negotiations by promising Arafat
threatened to do in the first place." ❑
future U.S. recognition for a state or by

MATTHEW DORF

-

up close and personal

Elmore Leonard

"Writing and Books Made
into Movies"

Sunday, March 28th

Elmore Leonard
is the author of
thirty-five novels.
Among them are
the bestsellers:
Out of Sight, Rum
Punch and Get
_Shorty, that were
adapted into block-
buster films. In
February, this
Bloomfield hills
resident published
his most recent
work, Be Cool.

L
M
O

L

Sunday, March 28

Breakfast
Program

9:00am
10:00am

Temple 5hir Shalom Members — $10.00
$15.00
Non-members —

Call to order your tickets today!
Orders must be received by March 22.
Tickets will be mailed.

O

Purchase tickets through the
office at 248-737-8700
Or contact: Merryl Schwartz,
Ticket Coordinator 248-932-5199

Elmore Leonard's books El Libre, Out of Sight,
Get _Shorty and his latest, Be Cool, will be
available for purchase and autographs.

A

TEMPLE

SHIR
SHALOM

3999 WALNUT LAKE ROAD
WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323

D

3/19
1999

Detroit Jewish News

7

