March 1991, Page 67

Jews And Israel

By Andrea Barron

AIPAC Not Taking Improved US Israel Relations For Granted

Like other pro-Israel organizations, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the principal pro-Israel lobby, is elated about the dramatic improvement in US-Israeli relations since the start of the Gulf war. The Bush administration has thanked Israel repeatedly for staying out of the conflict even after Iraqi Scud missiles hit Israeli cities several times. And since the US sent Israel Patriot missile batteries to intercept the Scuds, there has been an outpouring of pro-American sentiment in that country.

But AIPAC isn't taking any chances. The war was barely two weeks old and it already was worrying about what would happen after the Gulf crisis was over. In late January, the organization sent a fund-raising letter to supporters outlining the four goals of an emergency campaign.

First, counting on the American public's newfound understanding of Israel's vulnerability, AIPAC will press for a new package of security aid for Israel far larger than any previous package. Second, the lobby will encourage the US to strengthen its friendship with Israel and avoid "pandering toward Arab states hostile to the West and Israel. " Third, it will request millions of dollars more in housing loan guarantees to settle Soviet Jews. And finally, it will work to ensure that any diplomatic efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict will be based on "close cooperation and trust between the US an Israel."

AIPAC has good reason to be concern about post-Gulf Mideast diplomacy. The Bush administration has made it clear that after Iraq is defeated, it intends to make a resolution of the Palestinian question an integral part of its Middle East regional security plan. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir expects to be rewarded for not retaliating against Iraq and possibly breaking up the international coalition. New weapons and more money to absorb Soviet immigrants would be the lesser prizes. What Shamir wants most of all is for the US to let him keep the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Soviet Immigration to Israel Continues Non-Stop

Hundreds of Soviet Jews continue arriving in Israel daily, despite the fear of Scud missiles that has overtaken the country since the onset of the Gulf war. According to the United Israel Appeal, 1,719 immigrants landed in Israel in the four days immediately following the first Scud attacks in January. More than twice that number arrived in a typical four-day period in December. But a United Israel Appeal spokesman said he was not sure the lower numbers were due to the war, since fewer immigrants tend to arrive in January anyway. More than 700 Ethiopian Jews also landed in Israel in January.

Upon arrival, the immigrants are given anti-nerve gas kits and fitted with gas masks to protect them from chemical weapons that Saddam Hussain may use against Israel. The government has also built bomb shelters in the absorption centers where many of the newcomers will settle.

At least 400,000 Soviet Jews are expected to immigrate to Israel in 1991, more than double the 184,493 who came last year. About 17,000 other immigrants also arrived in 1990-4,000 from Ethiopia, 6,400 from other "countries of distress," and 6,600 from Western countries. Israeli Finance Minister Yitzhak Modai has already announced that Israel will ask the US for an additional $ 10 billion in housing loan guarantees to help settle these new immigrants.

Jewish Members of Congress Split on Vote to Authorize War

Last month, after Congress approved resolutions authorizing President Bush to use military force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait before the Jan. 15 deadline, AIPAC, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the state of Israel were all very pleased. One might have expected that Jewish members of Congress would support the war resolutions, too. But Jewish members ended up splitting their votes-opposing going to war by 17-16 in the House and by 5-3 in the Senate.

The vote split generally along partisan lines. Jewish Republican legislators were more likely to support the president, while Democrats favored using economic sanctions and diplomacy to force Iraq out of Kuwait. In the Senate, Democrats Carl Levin (MI), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Howard Metzenbaurn (OH), Herbert Kohl (WI) and Paul Wellstone (MN) all voted to maintain sanctions and against the war resolution. Connecticut Democrat Joseph Lieberman and Republicans Arlen Specter (PA) and Warren Rudman (NH) approved the war resolution.

In the House, New York Democrat Stephen Solarz, who is Jewish, joined House Minority leader Robert Michel, who is not Jewish, in drafting the resolution granting Bush the authority to make war. Nine other Jewish Democrats supported Solarz, including pro-Israel representatives Mel Levine (CA), Howard Berman (NY), Gary Ackerman (NY), and Tom Lantos (CA). On the other side were Barney Frank (MA) and, surprisingly, Larry Smith from Florida, one of the most pro-Israel House members.

Larry Cohler from the Washington Jewish Week reminded his readers of the controversy conservative columnist Pat Buchanan caused last fall when he accused Israel and its "Amen Corner" in the US of trying to push this country into war. Some critics of Buchanan said the split Jewish vote proved Buchanan dead wrong. His defenders suggested, however, that since there were more than enough votes, particularly in the House, to authorize military force, some Jewish members could afford the luxury of voting against itjust to keep what followed from being considered Israel's war.

Some Jewish congress members who supported the sanctions policy were worried a war would lead to an increase in Islamic fundamentalism and would be dangerous for both the US and Israel. But Barney Frank may have been thinking of Buchanan when he said it was a mistake for anyone to think Israel is the issue driving the Jewish vote in Congress.

Jewish Vote in Congress Authorizing War in the Persian Gulf

House of Representatives

Yes: Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Howard Berman (D-CA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ben Erdreich (D-AL), Martin Frost (D-TX), Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), Dan Glickman (D-KS), Willis Gradison (R-OH), Bill Green (R-NY), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Mel Levine (D-CA), John Miller (R-WA), Steve Schiff (R-NM), Norman Sisisky (D-VA), Stephen Solarz (DNY), and Dick Zimmer (R-NJ).

No: Anthony Beilenson (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barney Frank (D-MA), Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Bill Lehman (D-FL), Sander Levin (D-MI), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), James Scheuer (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Larry Smith (D-FL), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Ted Weiss (D-NY), Howard Wolpe (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sidney Yates (D-IL).

Senate

Yes: Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Warren Rudman (R-NH) -

No: Herbert Kohl (D-WI), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH), and Paul Wellstone (D-MN).

Andrea Barron is a Ph.D. candidate in international relations at the American University in Washington, DC, and is a member of the Jewish Committee for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.