August/September 1991, Page 19

Is Putting Immediate Strings on Aid to Israel The Best Hope for Peace?—Three Views

It's the Only Way to Make Shamir Step Aside

By George Thompson

The dilemma facing Washington's seekers of a Middle East peace is graphically illustrated in the following joke currently making the rounds in Israel:

Secretary of State James Baker asks Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, "How do you do?"

Shamir replies, "I do not do.

Baker asks opposition Labor Party chief Shimon Peres, "How do you do?"

Peres replies, "I would like to do, but I can't do."

The truth is there is little chance of any Israeli politician being able "to do" anything about bringing peace to that troubled part of the world—that is, unless and until Shamir leaves the stage.

One small glimmer of hope emerged recently from the pages of the French publication Le Monde when Shamir, citing his 76 years, reportedly said, " . . I would not want to enter national memory as someone who sold part of Israel cheaply ... whoever follows me can accept territorial concessions for peace."

There may not be much chance of that happening anytime soon, certainly not before the '92 US elections.

But, paradoxically, this may now be the best time ever to bring Israel to the bargaining table. Here's why:

• Thousands of Jewish refugees pouring into Israel need food, clothing, jobs and housing. All of which costs money, and the only place Israelis can turn to for cash is the US.
  
  
• Now that Operation Desert Storm is finally beginning to move off the front pages, Shamir's intransigence is not going unnoticed.
  
  
• Neither is the growing realization everywhere that Israel must be brought—kicking and screaming if need be—to an international conference to settle the problem once and for all.
  
  
• Europe's political leaders are becoming ever more vocal in their criticism of the Jewish state. Reuters reports, "the European Community will deny Israel preferred trade status after 1992 unless it makes peace with its Arab neighbors and the Palestinians, " a visiting EC official said in Jerusalem early in July.
  
  
• Here at home, Baker's well publicized comments about Israel's settlements being "unhelpful" to peace at long last have made audible criticism of Israel more socially acceptable.
  
  
• Couple that with America's horrendous national deficit, S&L and bank crises, crumbling civil infrastructures, mounting numbers of jobless, homeless who cannot afford decent medical care, and the number of us who question shoveling shekels to Israel grows in leaps and bounds.
  
  
• Individuals and organizations who support an even-handed solution are redoubling efforts to take advantage of the change. Many prominent Israelis and American Jews are among them.

Which brings us to the bottom line: isn't it time to phone, write or visit every legislator you know and tell him or her that the US must cut aid to Israel immediately unless it agrees "to do" everything it can to create a national homeland for the Palestinians?

It "can do" that best by agreeing to attend—before this year ends—an internationally sponsored peace conference to hammer out the ways and means "to do" it.

The time for jokes is over.

George Thompson is a nationally syndicated columnist and television talk show host.