Washington Watch

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Sidestep On Iran

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1.

Jewish groups are puzzled by the Clinton
administration's mixed signals toward Teheran.

only to corporations that provide
a living wage.
That appeals to Jewish liberals
and labor supporters, but local
Washington
Jewish federations and commu-
he Clinton adminis-
nity social service providers —
tration's Iran policy,
which
often provide services on a
never a model of
contract
basis for local govern-
clarity or consisten-
ments
—
see nothing but sky-
cy, had many Jewish leaders
rocketing labor costs.
scratching their heads last week.
That was the dynamic in
Despite dogged U.S. efforts
Montgomery County. Reform and
to encourage Iranian moder-
Reconstructionist activists, along
ates, new information suggests
with
groups such as the Jewish
the Teheran government has
Labor
Committee, actively pushed
increased its support for terror-
the
living-wage
proposal, while a
ists opposed to the Mideast
coalition of Jewish service providers
peace talks. And a recent U.S.
were vigorous opponents.
decision on spare parts for air-
"From our perspective, the
planes may make it easier for
State Department spokesman James Rubin addresses a •
proposal had very serious impli-
Iranian suppliers to get materi- press conference earlier this year.
cations for Jewish social service
al to them.
agencies," said Murray
that they can be nudged down the
According to reports that
Tenenbaum,
executive director of the
path of moderation."
first surfaced in the Washington Post
Jewish
Community
Council of
Jewish
leaders
scoff
at
that
argument.
and largely confirmed by administra-
Greater Washington, who said that the
"None of us have seen any evidence
tion insiders, Teheran is providing
proposal — a $10.44 per hour wage
there's a new Iran,'" said Malcolm
more explosives to Hamas and
— could force Jewish social service
Hoenlein, executive vice chair of the
Katyusha rockets to Hezbollah. That
agencies to come up with an extra $1
Conference of Presidents of Major
assessment is in synch with Israeli intel-
million per year, cut services, or both.
American Jewish Organizations. "It's
ligence estimates.
He said his group might have felt dif-
hard to tell where the administration
The news provided a disturbing
ferently
if the proposed wage was lower.
is
right
now
on
Iran,
but
the
Boeing
backdrop for Secretary of State
At the same time, he said, a coali-
sale suggests a naive approach; the sale
Madeleine Albright's Mideast trip.
tion of nonprofit groups that fought
is not warranted by the facts."
Even more troubling: the news that
the proposal rejected offers of an
Washington will now allow Boeing to
exemption for such groups.
sell spare parts for Iran's aging fleet of
Of Living ...
But Reform and Reconstructionist
commercial 747 airliners, planes that
It may be the next big divisive issue in
groups
were active in the county,
Jewish leaders say are used to deliver
the Jewish community In cities across
pressing
the issue as a matter of eco-
arms to terrorist groups.
the country, labor unions are agitating
nomic
justice.
Publicly, State Department
for something called the living wage
The issue will go national this week
spokesman James Rubin said that
— and some Jewish groups find them-
when the Union of American Hebrew
Iran's "support for terrorism to oppose
selves torn by conflicting interests in
Congregations takes up a proposal
the peace process is profoundly trou-
the debate.
supporting the living-wage concept at
bling to us."
A defeated living wage proposal in
the Reform group's meetings in
Privately, administration officials
Montgomery County, Md. — an
Florida.
argue that it is still not clear if the
affluent Washington, D.C., suburb
And the Jewish Council for Public
increased trafficking with terrorists
with a big Jewish population — could
Affairs
is expected to take up a similar
represents a long-term trend, or just
be a harbinger of what's in store for
resolution next year.
another phase in the jousting between
other communities.
The Montgomery County Council
moderates and the Islamic extremists
Living wage plans require compa-
eventually rejected the proposal, but
who have run the country since the
nies and agencies that contract with
local officials say it is bound to come
1979 revolution.
local governments to provide a kind of back. And Jewish organizations
And they defend the decision to let
enhanced minimum wage — enough
around the country are starting to
Iran have the spare parts, despite the
to keep a full-time worker above the
wrestle
with similar propositions in
U.S. economic boycott.
official poverty line.
their own communities.
"If we denied them the parts, we
Some living-wage plans have
"Both sides make important points,"
might be giving them an important
included additional features such as
said an official with one major group
card to play, if one of the planes went
the requirement that special tax breaks
that is currently studying the issue. 111
down," said one administration offi-
or economic development funds go
cial. "And nobody has given up hope

JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent