JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1995, Page 65

Jews and Israel

Jewish Groups Split on Impact of 1994 Elections

By Sheldon Richman

How do American Jewish organizations see their role now that the Republicans have taken control of the U.S. Congress? "We are likely to spend much of the next two years playing defense," says Mark Pelavin, Washington representative of the American Jewish Congress. Added Jerome Chanes, co-director for domestic concerns at the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, "The entire domestic agenda clearly is in trouble."

The election brought the political demise of several supporters of Israel and nine Jewish members of Congress. Seventy-eight percent of Jewish voters voted for Democrats, according to The New York Times. Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the liberal Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, predicted, "There will be efforts to undo much of the social legislation the Jewish community has been key on in the past 40 years. Clearly, we will have to fight defensive battles to stop bad legislation." Steve Gutow, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, put the blame on the White House and all Democratic organizations.

An early fight could center on a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in public schools. The American Jewish Congress and Anti-Defamation League have been gearing for opposition since immediately after the election. AJC executive director Phil Baum wrote to Republican congressional leader Newt Gingrich vowing to fight the prayer amendment, arguing that it will not cure what ails the schools.

According to Washington Jewish Week, Jewish opposition is ready to counter Republican attempts to cut social welfare spending and aid to immigrants. In fact, Jewish groups plan to oppose the Republican House members' Contract With America, which promises a vote on, among other things, a balanced budget amendment. Jewish groups are said to be worried that balancing the budget could lead to cuts in foreign aid and relief for the poor.

But other Jewish activists were more optimistic. Steven Grossman, president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), sees no threat to Israel. "I'm very upbeat about the prospects for the pro-Israel cause and the American-Israeli relationship," he said. "From the past bipartisan support, it's clear that the pro-Israel community has the support of the Republican leadership."

There has been some speculation about the effectiveness of AIPAC in a Republican-controlled Congress. The leading pro-Israel lobby has close ties to the Democratic leadership, and Grossman himself is a prominent Democrat. Grossman dismisses the concern. He told Forward, a New York Jewish weekly, "Let us not forget that AIPAC has been and continues to be a centrist, mainstream and, above all, bipartisan organization for all seasons." Regarding his own position, he added, "Rather than looking at Steve Grossman, who is known as a Democrat but has built strong, warm relationships with the Republican leadership, you have to look at the national officers and look at the political balance we have tried to display."

But Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, told Forward that AIPAC's and Grossman's history will exact some price. "I feel it is important to AIPAC to reach out in any way it can to show it is bipartisan, despite the fact that its president is so closely aligned to the Democratic Party." Within AIPAC, suggests Forward, the man who stands to gain the most is executive director Neal Sher. As Sher puts it, "I worked under four presidents, two Democrats and two Republicans: Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. This organization is extremely well-prepared to deal with the changes that occurred." In an editorial, Forward argued that Grossman should remain at the AIPAC helm. "The fact is that Mr. Grossman enjoys and deserves a fine working relationship with the Republican leadership," Forward opined.

Conservative Jews have been experiencing the opposite emotions from those felt by liberal Jews. Klein, with obvious ecstasy, said, "We are definitely in--in a bigger way that I ever believed posible." The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) also stands to gain clout, as does the Republican-affiliated National Jewish Coalition. Its executive director Matthew Brooks predicted that "the Jewish community will lose influence if it does not start to support the Republican Party. There's a choice--to get on board or be left outside."

What about foreign aid to Israel? The consensus seems to be that, at least in the short run, Israel's more than $3 billion in military and economic aid is safe. Sen. Jesse Helms, who will chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a staunch supporter of Israel. On the House side, Rep. Benjamin Gilman is Jewish and a long-time supporter of Israel. Toby Dershowitz, AIPAC director of media relations, told Washington Jewish Week that AIPAC's officers are not concerned about Congress's new members or leadership. Nonetheless, there is some concern that budget considerations could influence foreign-aid policy. As Dershowitz put it, because of economic pressures, "we most definitely have our work cut out for us."

Arafat Invitation Opposed

The Anti-Defamation League and Zionist Organization of America were among the groups that opposed an invitation to Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat by the Polish government to attend the observance of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The groups had threatened to boycott the commemorative ceremonies if Arafat attended. Arafat had been invited along with all other recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Nevertheless, the invitation was subsequently withdrawn.

Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, said in a press release that "in view of the fact that Arafat is responsible for the murders of more Jewish civilians than anyone since Hitler, [Polish President Lech] Walesa should also insist that Arafat publicly express regret for the PLO's long record of murdering Jewish civilians." But Klein added, "If Arafat would be willing to come to Auschwitz and condemn the killing of Jews and his own killings of Jews, that would be something." Joining in the criticism of Walesa's invitation were the World Jewish Congress and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Poland's chief rabbi, Pinhas Menahem Yoskowitz, supported the Polish government's decision.