By Binyamin L. Jolkovsky
New York (JWR) --- Is Al Gore attempting to shore up his Jewish support
for a 2000 presidential run by daring to stand up to Hillary over the
issue of the Middle East peace process? Or should the administration add an
additional moniker -- "the gang that can't spin straight" -- to the slew
that it already has been given?
During a May 6 televised public appearance, First Lady Hillary Clinton
declared the "importance" of a future Palestinian state, repeatedly using
the word "state," a position never previously declared by any Administration
official or White House resident. The White House afterwards characterized
her comments as "off-the-cuff" and not representative of United States
policy, but some analysts regard the incident as an unofficial signal to
Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to demonstrate greater
flexibility or risk losing American support.
"I think it will be in the long-term interests of the Middle East for Palestine to be a state,'' Mrs. Clinton said.
But speaking here last night (Sunday) at the annual dinner of the
fervently Orthodox Jewish group, Agudath Israel of America, Mr. Gore
received a standing ovation when he seemed to take direct aim at the Clinton
administration's recent strong-arming of Israel and the co-president's
recent remark about the need for a Palestinian state.
"Israel alone must decide the steps needed to implement its security,"
the veep declared in his trademark monotone. "The U.S. will not
pre-judge Israel on any decision."
The United States government has made an Israeli pledge to withdraw from
13.1 percent of Gaza and the West Bank a precondition for inviting Mr.
Netanyahu to Washington to sign an agreement with Yasser Arafat of the
Palestinian Authority. The agreement would require Mr. Arafat to institute
new security measures in the areas he controls. Mr. Arafat has already
agreed to the American proposal, but Mr. Netanyahu has stated that a
withdrawal from 9 percent is the most that Israel's security requirements
will allow. Some reports state that he has privately discussed up to an 11
percent withdrawal, and further negotiation of the withdrawal proposal is
now underway between representatives of the United States and Israel.
Some observers have criticized the United States for failing to honor a
"note to the record" written by then-U.S. Secretary of State Warren
Christopher, which stated that Israel would be able to determine the scope
of three "further redeployments" unilaterally. The Israeli government, by
continuing to negotiate the withdrawal, has not insisted that this pledge be
honored.
Mr. Gore, whose voting record makes him one of Israel's closest friends
on Capitol Hill, and whose father, Albert Gore, Sr., used his political
muscle to fight for Israel's independence, was one of the most vocal
supporters of the Gulf War, having broken rank with many of his fellow
Democrats.
"The United States has an absolute, uncompromising commitment to
Israel's security," Mr. Gore assured the 3,000 members of the Orthodox
Jewish civil and religious rights group. "If you believe there is any
disagreement on the sacred bond between Israel and America... that
there has been a weakening of that bond, let me say those bonds are firm
and will always be firm. You should have no fear."
Israelis, Mr. Gore continued, "have a right to feel safe on their own
streets and in their own
homes."
