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In Search
Of Solidarity
U.S. Jews urging Israel toward
national unity government.
AVI MACHLIS
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
merican Jewish leaders are considering
issuing an appeal to all Israeli political
parties to come together in a national
unity government.
The idea, floated quietly behind the scenes this
week as the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations began its annual
mission to Israel, reflects a growing perception
among American Jews that Israel sorely needs a
unity government as the violent crisis with the
Palestinians rages on.
Such an appeal could mark a significant shift from
the umbrella organization's traditional policy of
avoiding involvement in internal Israeli politics, and
some delegates already are opposing the idea.
The suggestion comes just a month after the
group's chairman, Ronald Lauder, spoke at a
Jerusalem rally opposed to the division of the city, as
contemplated by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud
Barak in peace talks with the Palestinians.
Although he claimed to be speaking as an individ-
ual, Lauder was criticized for allegedly injecting the
Conference of Presidents into Israeli political debate
— especially on an issue on which the group lacks
consensus.
This week's mission began as Prime Minister-elect
Ariel Sharon's Likud Party held talks aimed at bring-
ing the Labor Party into a national unity govern-
ment.
Some Labor leaders are rejecting the idea of join-
ing a government headed by Sharon.
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the
Conference of Presidents, confirmed that the idea to
issue an appeal for Israeli unity had been floated.
"There are people who have raised the idea for an
open declaration in support of a national unity gov-
ernment," Hoenlein told JTA.
But there are concerns, he added, that even if a
broad consensus on the issue emerges among the
A
littL
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, left, and Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon,
shake hands during a meeting in Tel Aviv on Feb. 15. Their hopes to work together
were dashed Tuesday when Barak rejected a role in a unity goverment.
American Jewish community."
Clayman also said the formation of a national
unity government would help the American Jewish
community push Israel's case in the United States.
"If you have a very narrow extremist-oriented gov-
ernment, that becomes a very difficult task,"
Clayman said.
But some delegates — from both right and left —
objected to the idea.
Morton Klein, president of the Zionist
Organization of America, said bringing Labor into a
national unity government would amount to reject-
ing the will of the voters, after Barak and his policies
received a "clear trouncing" in Israel's Feb. 6 election
for prime minister.
"I don't think the Conference should be involved
in a political issue like this," Klein said. "We should
stay out of politics."
On the left, Mark RoSenblum, founder of
Nonpartisan Issue
Americans for Peace Now, said he did not object in
Conference members who support the call for a
principle to a call for a unity government, but said it
national unity government say the organization can
was still unc;ear what such a government would
afford to take a stand because the issue is no longer
stand for.
politically divisive.
"Some of us would first like to see what the
"This is a critical time and this is not a partisan
national unity government is and what its guidelines
effort," said Kenneth Bialkin, chairman of the
are," Rosenblum said.
American-Israel Friendship League and a former
"A unity government must be united around
chairman of the Conference of Presidents.
something," he added.
"Given the critical nature and the uncertainty of
"My instinct would be that unity without content
the future direction of relations with the Palestinian
sets the stage for a divorce that could be even more
Authority, the Jewish people should put aside their
divisive for the American Jewish community."
immediate political' differences and recognize that
The alternative to a unity government — a narrow
everybody's interests are best served by coming
government contingent on the support of far-right
together," he added.
and fervently Orthodox parties — also presents
Other members who have pushed for a declaration
potential drawbacks for American Jewry.
say such an appeal could be a unifying force both in
The fervently Orthodox parties in such a coalition
Israel and among Diaspora communities, whose
might try to push through a variety of religious leg-
fracture lines parallel the partisan debate in Israeli
islation, driving a wedge between Israel and
politics.
Diaspora Jewry at a particularly sensitive time.
"There is a broad consensus in American Jewry to
"The last thing Israel needs now is to get embroiled
come out for a national unity government," said
in these religious issues," said one delegate to the
David Clayman, director of the Israel office for the
Conference, speaking on condition of anonymity. ❑
American Jewish Congress. "This can unite the
Conference of Presidents' member organizations, it
might create a precedent for more overt political
involvement in the future on more controversial issues.
Lauder, for his part, would not comment on the
possibility that the Conference of Presidents might
openly support a unity government.
At a media briefing launching this year's mission,
Lauder said he was "encouraged" that Sharon was
determined to keep Jerusalem united. He also said
he would continue to speak out on Jerusalem, even
if it meant resigning as chairman of the Conference
of Presidents, which is made up of 54 groups from
across the political spectrum.
Hoenlein said that Diaspora Jews have a right to
take a stand on the future of Jerusalem — unlike
other, internal Israeli political issues - because "this is
our common inheritance."
2/23
2001
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