Clinton’s Request for Wye Funding Meeting Congressional Resistance

By Shirl McArthur

President Bill Clinton’s FY-2000 budget request included a “supplemental” request totaling $1.9 billion over three years to support the Wye River Memorandum signed in October 1998. The request includes $1.2 billion for Israel, $400 million for the Palestine Authority, and $300 million for Jordan.

By year, the amounts are $900 million this year ($600 million for Israel, $200 million for the Palestinians, $100 million for Jordan), and $500 million in each of FY-00 and FY-01 ($300 million for Israel, $100 million for the Palestinians, $100 million for Jordan).

These amounts are in addition to the total of $5.2 billion requested in FY-00 for aid “to support the Middle East peace process.” (Note that this is $200 million less than the $5.4 billion cap on aid to the Middle East included in the FY-98 and FY-99 appropriations.)

However, it appears increasingly unlikely that this will happen, at least not in this form and not until there is more progress in the peace process. Congressional staff sources say that the consensus opinion is that, since the money was intended to help finance the implementation of the Wye agreement, and since the agreement’s implementation has been frozen, for whatever reason and regardless of whose fault it was, then there is no reason to reward the parties.

On the other hand, Jordan is not directly involved in implementing the agreement, so there is increasing sentiment to separate out the money for Jordan and approve it immediately. This feeling was, of course, reinforced by the death of Jordan’s King Hussein and the desire by the administration and many members of Congress to give his son and successor, King Abdullah, a tangible gesture of support. (Although Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urged approval of the entire Wye package during her annual budget presentations to the Senate and House foreign affairs committees, the administration quietly supported approving the money for Jordan separately.) So $100 million for Jordan—$50 million for economic support and $50 million for military support—was included in the $1.8 billion emergency supplemental bill for this year that Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced in the Senate.)

Interestingly, although a number of Israel’s reliable senators and representatives have continued to rant and rail against alleged Palestinian transgressions, most congressional resentment over the freezing of the Wye agreement seems to be aimed at Israel. Most congressmen will not admit as much in public, however, for fear of incurring the wrath of The Lobby. There is even a report—unconfirmed, so we will not name names—that a senior Republican representative said, “Over my dead body will Israel get one more dime from us.”

In an effort to counter the increasing resistance to funding the Wye aid package, Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Rick Lazio (R-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Amo Houghton (R-NY) urged their colleagues to co-sign a letter to President Clinton expressing their support for the full package. Although Clinton has already proposed the aid package, the unstated purpose of the letter was to raise congressional awareness of and sympathy for the package.

The letter is balanced, giving equal emphasis to the importance of the aid to Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians. One sentence reads, “It is important that both parties implement their responsibilities and agreements and that they refrain from unilateral actions that would undermine the climate of the peace talks.” The letter was sent March 2, with 44 co-signatures.

Lebanon Funding Confirmed

In response to his Dec. 1 letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urging her to maintain the $12 million assistance level to Lebanon (see “Congress Watch” in the last issue of the Washington Report), Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI) received a response on Feb. 9 confirming that the State Department will provide the full $12 million in bilateral assistance in FY-99 and has requested the same amount in its budget request for FY-00.

Arafat Honored at Congressional Luncheon

Although President Yasser Arafat’s attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 4 drew the greatest publicity and press comment, probably far more important was the reception he received at the Feb. 3 congressional luncheon in his honor hosted by Ranking Minority Member of the House International Relations Committee Sam Gejdenson (D-CT) and co-hosted by Representative Houghton, whose family donated the Wye conference center for the negotiations last October.

The luncheon was attended by 35 representatives and one senator and was characterized by a Gejdenson staff member who attended as being bipartisan and broadly representative of the whole Congress, including those committed to Israel and those who are even-handed on Middle East affairs. He called it “the best reception Capitol Hill has ever given to Arafat.”

Different reasons have been given for the quality of the reception given Arafat, ranging from the general resentment over the Netanyahu government’s handling of the peace process (see above) to the increased stature of the Palestinians in general, and Arafat in particular.

The only negative question came from Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), who asked about alleged releases of Palestinian prisoners charged with attacks on Israeli-Americans. More typical were the comments of Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), who said that the group was very pleased to see Arafat come to Capitol Hill. Ney said he thought Arafat’s comments were very good, leaving the definite impression that he is genuinely trying to achieve peace.

A partial list of those attending (some members arrived after the list was compiled) included Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Barrett (D-WI), Eva Clayton (D-NC), Pat Danner (D-MO), Danny Davis (D-IL), John Dingell (D-MI), Eni Faleomavaega (D-Am. Samoa), Gejdenson, Houghton, Peter King (R-NY), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Bill Luther (D-MN), Matthew Martinez (D-CA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Jim Moran (D-VA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Ney, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Rothman, Mark Sanford (R-SC), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Joe Skeen (R-NM), John Spratt (D-SC), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bart Stupak (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), Tom Udall (D-NM), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Anti-Palestinian Resolution Passes Congress

Meanwhile, although members of Congress were privately expressing irritation at the Netanyahu government, both houses of Congress passed the anti-Palestinian statehood resolution described in the last issue of the Washington Report. The identical resolutions were formally introduced on Feb. 4 in the House by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-NV) and in the Senate by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS).

(Brownback is rapidly becoming a jewel in the corona of Israel’s members of Congress. In addition to sponsoring this anti-Palestinian resolution, he joined with Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) on Feb. 24 to “present evidence of continued anti-Israeli incitement by Palestinian authorities” at a press conference sponsored by something called “The National Unity Coalition for Israel.”)

The anti-Palestinian statehood resolution, which is non-binding on the president, resolves that (1) the “final political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority [our emphasis] can only be determined through negotiations” between the parties; (2) any attempt to establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process will invoke congressional opposition; and (3) the president “should unequivocally assert U.S. opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.”

In the Senate, the anti-Palestinian resolution gained 95 co-sponsors, and was brought to the floor on March 11 and passed on a roll-call vote of 98-1 (Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) was absent with a family emergency).

Only Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) voted against the measure, pointing out that the resolution does not address the responsibilities of the Israelis, and saying that “the Congress should not take up what amounts to little more than a self-serving resolution that may do more harm than good.”

Although eventually voting for the measure, Sens. Spencer Abraham (R-MI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) all emphasized on the floor of the Senate the need for both the Israelis and the Palestinians to refrain from taking unilateral actions outside the context of negotiations. The five not co-sponsoring the resolution were Sens. Byrd, John Chafee (R-RI), James Jeffords (R-VT), Leahy, and Strom Thurmond (R-SC).

However, in the House International Relations committee, the resolution ran into an unexpected roadblock in the person of Gejdenson, who pointed out that the resolution was one-sided and didn't recognize that Clinton has already said he opposes unilateral actions. Gejdenson was supported by rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA), who also argued that the resolution might be seen as an attempt to interfere in Israel’s May 17 elections. After much heated debate, the committee adjourned without agreement. But never mind—on March 15 the House leadership pulled the resolution out of committee and brought it to the floor of the House on March 16 under "suspension of the rules.” After considerable debate, during which many representatives questioned the one-sidedness of the resolution, Salmon called for a roll call vote, and the resolution, which by this time had 273 cosponsors, easily passed, 380-24, with 30 abstentions or absences.)

Death of King Hussein Brings Congressional Condolences

The death on Feb. 7 of Jordan’s King Hussein bin Talal al-Hashem prompted a bipartisan outpouring of sympathy for his family and expressions of appreciation for his friendship to the U.S. and his support for peace in the Middle East. Numerous senators and representatives, including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), issued statements praising Hussein.

On Feb. 8 Lott introduced, and the Senate immediately passed, a concurrent resolution, co-sponsored by all 100 senators, extending Congress’s deepest sympathy to King Hussein’s family; expressing admiration for his enlightened leadership and support for peace; expressing support for the new government of Jordan under King Abdullah; and reaffirming the U.S. commitment to strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Jordan. The House took up and passed the resolution on Feb. 10, on a roll-call vote of 420-0.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate in support of the resolution and in praise of King Hussein were Lott, Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms (R-NC), Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Joseph Biden (D-DE), and Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI). Praising Hussein on the floor of the House were, in addition to Gilman and Gejdenson, Representatives David Bonior (D-MI), Tom Campbell (R-CA), Gil Gutnecht (R-MN), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Tom Moran (D-VA), and Nick Rahall (D-WV).

Senate Near East Subcommittee Gets Three New Members

As reported in the last issue of the Washington Report, Senators Charles Robb (D-VA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) left the Foreign Relations Committee, being replaced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Torricelli (D-NJ). Both Robb and Feinstein were on the Near East subcommittee, and Robb was ranking minority member. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) has moved up to become ranking minority member, and Torricelli has been named to the Near East subcommittee, in effect replacing Feinstein. In addition, Senators Craig Thomas (R-WY) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) have been added to the subcommittee. Wellstone’s record on Middle East issues is generally balanced, although he was one of the co-sponsors of the May 1997 resolution asserting that Jerusalem must remain the “undivided capital of Israel.”

Rep. Eshoo: Not Interested!

In a letter to the editor in the last issue of this magazine, a professor at the American University of Beirut took us to task for not including Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), who is of Assyrian descent, in our election coverage of Arab-American candidates. Our editor apologized, saying we would contact her office to do a profile article on her.

To date our efforts toward this end have been to no avail. Eshoo considers herself an Assyrian-American, but not an Arab-American, and her office has not responded to repeated requests for information, even when it was pointed out that the magazine covers the entire Middle East and South Asia, not just the Arab world. However, although informal inquiries among California Democratic sources indicate that she is not particularly concerned with Middle East issues, Eshoo’s record is generally balanced. She was a co-sponsor of the 1997 “Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel” resolution, but has otherwise managed to avoid voting the straight AIPAC party line. Nor did she receive pro-Israel politial action committee (PAC) contributions in the 1998 election cycle (see p. 51).

Shirl McArthur, a retired foreign service officer, is a senior consultant with Bruce Morgan Associates, an international research and consulting firm in the Washington, DC area.

SIDEBAR

24 Representatives Vote Against Anti-Palestinian Statehood Resolution

The 24 members of the House who bucked AIPAC and voted against H. Concurrent Resolution 24, which urged the President to "unequivocally assert U.S. opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State," were Reps. David Bonior (D-MI), Tom Campbell (R-CA), Bill Clay (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), John Dingell (D-MI), Amo Houghton (R-NY), Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Chris John (D-LA), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), George Miller (D-CA), Jim Moran (D-VA), John Murtha (D-PA), Bob Ney (R-OH), Ron Paul (R-TX), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Sununu (R-NH), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Melvin Watt (D-NC).