•

Juggli ng
Act

The Clinton administration
faces tricky challenges in
Israel's election.

of Baltimore Hebrew
University and a leading
Mideast analyst, defend-
ed the invitation. "In
Washington
the past the administra-
linton administration offi-
tion has been criticized
cials want to avoid any
for dealing only with
appearance of meddling in
Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, right, and Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma
those in power and not
the upcoming Israeli election
lay a wreath on a monument to all victims o f the Second World War in Babi Yar, Kiev, Ukraine,
knowing the competi-
on Sunday. Netanyahu arrived in Ukraine or a one-day visit to discuss peace efforts in the
even as they signal a preference that
tors. Inviting Mordechai
can be summed up this way: almost
Middle East, and economic and trade issues with Kuchma.
was smart; we've learned
anybody but Bibi.
from our mistakes in the
The result is a risky political high-
Middle East."
wire act as officials here try to keep
and said the administration was again
But others to the
upcoming May 4 deadline, when the
the Oslo peace process warm without
meddling in internal Israeli politics;
right
said
it
was
one
more
example
of
interim Oslo period is due to expire.
stirring the already bubbling political
an
administration
that
can't
get
doves said State Department spokes-
"They have a legitimate interest in
pot in Israel.
men were simply restating longstand-
beyond its deep animosity for
The issue got hotter last week with
continuing to try to facilitate the
Netanyahu.
ing U.S. policy.
peace process," Raffel said. "That
the White House appearance by for-
"These sorts of actions have made
"If the administration doesn't speak
should not end simply because there is
mer Defense Minister Yitzhak
out
on this, they will lose total credi-
it
clear
that
the
president
does
not
Mordechai, now the candidate of the
an Israeli election going on."
respect
the
will
of
the
democratically
bility
throughout the Arab world —
But almost any U.S. action can be
new Centrist Party in the race to
elected
government
of
Israel,"
said
and
among
the majority of Israelis
represented by Israeli spinmeisters as
depose Binyamin Netanyahu.
Morton
Klein,
president
of
the
Zionist
who
support
the peace process," said
Mordechai, who won favor with
interference.
Organization
of
America
and
a
fierce
Dr.
Freedman.
The election doesn't
Increasingly, officials here believe, and
Washington during the Wye talks in
administration
critic.
"The
idea
is
to
change
that.
October, enjoyed President Clinton's
are willing to say publicly, that
Other Jewish leaders were less com-
get Israel to elect a leader who will
Palestinian Authority head Yasser Arafat,
hospitality even as the arm's-length
succumb to Clinton's policies."
fortable with the tone of the State
despite fits and starts, has done more to
treatment for Netanyahu continues —
Department's blasts, but indicated that
This is surprising as the administral
comply with his part of the Wye and
a clear signal of the administration's
tion
learned
tough
lessons
about
the
the effort to keep the peace process
Oslo agreements than Netanyahu.
hopes for a change in leadership in
alive should continue, even if it sets
costs
of
meddling
in
1996,
when
Hawks in the Jewish community
Jerusalem.
off political aftershocks in Israel.
President
Clinton
all
but
endorsed
deplored recent State Department sug-
It all came close to outright med-
So the administration probably will
then-Prime
Minister
Shimon
Peres.
gestions that expanding settlements
dling. Special Mideast Envoy Dennis
continue
the pattern of avoiding overt
"There
is
a
strong
residue
from
was
a
provocative
unilateral
action,
Ross invited the Centrist Party candi-
endorsements, but using every oppor-,
what was perceived as undue interven-
date to a White House ceremony
tunity to quietly signal its preference
tion then," said Martin
marking the opening of a fund-raising
zo
ationstar
for Netanyahu's centrist rivals, profess-
Raffel, director of the Israel
campaign for the Yitzhak Rabin
• am:mu:Er'
ing neutrality but continuing low-level
Task
Force
of
the
Jewish
us E
Center for Israel Studies in Tel Aviv.
t
A
efforts to keep the peace process on
Council
for
Public
Affairs.
There were persistent stories last
N
EN:aaa
life support. All of it will inevitably
"The
administration
has
year that the administration favored
a
rd rj
become part of the churning political
acknowledged
they
don't
then-Defense Minister Mordechai,
want to repeat that sce-
mix in Israel.
who has been more supportive of the
While Clinton may prefer Mordechai
And the administration leaders will
nario."
Oslo process than Netanyahu. The
continue
running the risk that their
But avoiding the appear-
White House invitation — at a time
or Barak, saying that publicly could
efforts
will
produce a backlash that
ance
of
meddling
is
a
chal-
when Netanyahu is persona non grata
help Netanyahu. So the White House
will
boost
the
man they want to see
lenge,
especially
because
of
here — provoked an angry outburst in
ride
off
into
the
Mideast sunset. P1
anxiety
about
the
deterio-
stays diplomatically mum.
the Israeli press.
rating
peace
process
and
the
Dr. Robert 0. Freedman, president

JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent

i

',

3/26
1999

20 Detroit Jewish News