This Week

Insight

Profile

Saying Farewell

After two terms as Israel's ambassador to the U.S.,
Zalman Shoval reports some progress.

"That has been true in all fields —
even when there has been an apparent
lack of chemistry with certain lead-
ers. "
n the eve of dramatic new
Shoval, who suggested a voluntary
negotiations with Syria,
cut in non-military foreign aid during
Israel's ambassador to the
his first term here, said the economic
United States, Zalman
relationship between the two coun-
Shoval, rejects right-wing charges that
tries is changing as Israel turns into a
his country is busy being pressured
regional powerhouse.
into dangerous agreements by
But with a Syrian deal possible in
Washington.
the next few months, "we will need
In an interview, the veteran envoy
an increase in military aid — which
and partisan Likudnik said he is more
also serves American interests," he
confident than ever Israel is moving
said.
toward a secure peace with longtime
He rejected charges by right-wing
foes. But he also warned that the jury
Jewish groups that the Clinton
is out on whether Syria and the
administration is pressuring Jerusalem
Palestinians "want the kind of peace
into dangerous land-for-peace negoti-
we in Israel have been hoping for —
ations. The original Madrid talks, he
namely, a warm, real peace, where the
pointed out, began under the Bush
option of war doesn't exist."
administration.
Shoval's personal charm,
"And the Oslo process,
media savvy and ability to
which one can have qualifica-
adapt to the roller-coaster
tions about — and I do —
peace process set a high
was not made under American
standard for his successor,
pressure. On the contrary, it
David Ivri, a longtime
was made with the Americans
defense official known more
not in the picture. But if the
for insider status at the
advance in the peace process
Pentagon than his public
addresses American interests
relations skills.
at the same time it addresses
Shoval certainly has a
Israeli concerns, there's noth-
knack for timing.
ing wrong with that."
In 1990, when he first
Shoval noted changes in this
came to Washington as
country's pro-Israel movement.
ambassador, U.S.-Israel ten-
In 1990, the American Jewish
Zalman Shoval
sions were at full boil over
community was united to help
Jerusalem's response to the
Israel absorb a tidal wave of
intifada and stalled housing
Soviet refugees; later, Iraqi missile
range
of
understandings
with
the
loan guarantees to resettle Soviet
attacks galvanized pro-Israel forces.
Palestinians, which will hopefully lead
Jews. And then President George
"These issues do not exist today, at
to
real
peace
agreements
in
the
future.
Bush and Prime Minister Yitzhak
least
to the same extent," he said.
Now, finally, we have a chance for
Shamir were barely speaking.
"Whether
it is justified or not, the
agreement with Syria."
Soon after his arrival, Washington
activism
of
Jewish organizations have
But his optimism is qualified;
began assembling the Gulf War coali-
abated
as
the
feeling grows that we're
peace treaties with non-democratic
tion, a delicate time for U.S.-Israel
approaching something approximat-
governments,
he
warned,
have
to
be
diplomacy. As Iraqi Scud missiles
ing comprehensive peace."
watched closely, and Israel will have
started falling on Tel Aviv, and with
He is returning to a varied business
to
maintain
its
strength
—
"econom-
Washington pressing Israel not to
career, with interests in banking,
ic,
social,
but
also
military."
retaliate, Shoval handled the diplo-
industry and real state, but he might
Despite several crises, he said,
matic high-wire act with a sophistica-
not be gone from the political arena
U.S.-Israel relations have also
tion that won praise from across the
for long. Fl
improved steadily over the years.
Jewish political spectrum.

JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent

0

12/31

1999

412

He returned to Israel in 1993 with
the election of Yitzhak Rabin, but was
sent back to Washington in 1998 by
Binyamin Netanyahu — another
prime minister disliked by
Washington. This time, he stayed" for
six months after last June's election of
Ehud Barak.
Despite reservations about the
original Oslo agreement, Shoval said
he believes the peace process is still
moving forward in a way that serves
Israel's long-term interests.
"It's important to see the peace
process as a continuum," he said. "If
we start with Camp David, there have
been more ups than downs over the
past 21 years. We have an agreement
with Egypt, although not as warm as
we'd like. We have an agreement with
Jordan, which is fine. And we have a

Remember
When • • •

From the pages of The Jewish News

for this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.

The final link of the 1-696 highway
finally opened after 34 years of
twists and turns.
Dave Baseman, a computer pro-
grammer from Farmington Hills,
bowled his first 300 game in the
Suburban Athletic Club League at
West Bloomfield Lanes.
Jewish Community Council
board member Susan Moiseev was
named co-chair of the City of
Southfield Martin Luther King Jr.
Day Peace Walk set for January.

,

m

Israel opened its first year-round
solar energy plant on the Dead Sea.
Bill Greig was elected president of
the Metro Buick Dealers Association.

Seymour Kaplan, youth director of
Congregation B'nai Moshe, accom-
panied the Detroit delegation to
the United Synagogue Youth
national convention in Buffalo.
Washington's oldest synagogue,
Adas Israel Congregation, was
moved to a new site and a new role
as a museum operated by the
Jewish Historical Society of Greater
Washington.
Ben Goldberg was honored as
Man of the Year by Louis Marshall
Lodge and Chapter, B'nai B'rith.

klzuzai:`,VMPART),Nisr4t
tM;;AsW1WW

Joseph Lee was elected president
of the Detroit Business Men's
Chapter of the City of Hope.

‘ rr
0 0 ',*

\Wa.*MaM ,

Albert Einstein, after 30 years of
work, made a discovery that may
explain gravitation; he calls it a new
generalized theory of relativity."
Benjamin Wilk, engineer and
industrialist, assumed the presiden-
cy of the Detroit Chapter of the
American Technion Society.
The first large consignment of
Israeli manufactured cloth was
exported from Israel; $100,000
worth of flannel was sent to Finland.

CC

—Compiled by Sy Manello,
Editorial Assistant