CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE

further by this week's escalation of
violence in southern Lebanon and
indications that Syria is allowing
Hezbollah attacks as a way of putting
pressure on Israel to concede the
entire Golan Heights as a precondi-
tion for the resumption of talks.
Early in the week, three Israeli sol-
diers were killed in the southern
Lebanon security zone; the killings
triggered retaliatory raids by Israeli
aircraft and stern warnings from
Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, Albright urged Syria
to use its "capability" in Lebanon to
hold back Hezbollah.
Holocaust-denying comments in a
state newspaper in Damascus added
to the crisis atmosphere.

No Dutch Treat

The House Banking Committee and
its chair, Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa),
will once again review the issue of
Holocaust assets in hearings sched-
uled for next week.
And that could be bad news for the
government of Holland, which is
expected to be a primary target of the
lawmakers and Jewish officials.
In particular, the World Jewish
Congress is angry about what it says
is poor cooperation in the effort to
track down unpaid insurance claims
owed by major Dutch companies —
including Aegon NV.
Last year, the huge Dutch insur-
ance company took over
Transamerica, a San Francisco-based
insurance outfit.
Dutch insurers have offered $21
million to settle claims, but Elan
Steinberg, the WJC director, said the
total does not represent a fair settle-
ment. The WJC has threatened a boy-
cott against Aegon because of the
huge company's refusal to join the
International Commission on
Holocaust-era Claims.
Only the commission can deter-
mine the full extent of Holland's lia-
bility, Steinberg said.
The hearings could prove embar-
rassing for the Dutch, who have
"been unable to come to grips with
their past," Steinberg said.
The Dutch won support from the
Central Jewish Board of the
Netherlands (CJO); Steinberg accused
the Dutch government of "using the
old divide-and-conquer tactic against
Jewish groups."
Also on tap for lawmakers at next
week's House hearings: updates on the
controversial Swiss gold settlement
and the intensifying effort to win
restitution for looted artworks. El

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