JEWISH PRESS Vol.LXXX
No. 10 Omaha, NE
4 KISLEV, 5761
December 1,2000
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 80 YEARS
The Mideast.. as President (?) Gore Sees it by TRUDE FELDMAN, White House Correspondent, Special to t i e Jewish Press.
(Editor's note: As of press time, neither Vicepresident Gore nor Governor Bush had been confirmed as the next President of the United States; however, we felt this story was an important one, regardless of who wins.)
Tel Aviv University Authority to Speak on Mideast Dilemma by DIANE AXLER BAUM
Prof. Aharon Klieman, holder of the Nahum Goldmann Chair in Diplomacy at Tel Aviv University, will provide a fresh look at the preblems in the Middle East on Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m^ at the Jewish Community Center. He will explore "Fallen Pillars: Assessing What Has Gone Wrong with the Oslo Peace Process." In accepting the invitation from Jewish Educational and library Services (JELS) to apeak in Omaha, EUeman said he will "focus on a number of assumptions (Israeli, Palestinian and American) that are being sorely tested by post1993 and more recent events* In the region. He expects Ms analysis, lasting approximately 45 minutes, to "definitely generate a lively quesfiofl-andanswer period." KHeman has been a member of the TAU Political Science Department since 1969. He serves as Deputy Director of the Peres Institute for Diplomacy and Regional Development and is a Senior Research Associate at the Jaffee Center for Strategfe Studies. He is currently a visiting professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Michigan. His newest book, Worldly Politics: Essays in Honor of Professor David Vital, prepared with Prof. Abraham Ben Zvi, is now in publicationHe is also the author of: Compromising Palestine: A Guide to the Final Status Negotiations; JP: What's your assessment of the situation today? Gore: Clearly, the situation is very grave. A Constructive Ambiguity in Middle East Peace great deal of damage has been done to the belief on Making; Security Concerns: Insights from the either side that a peace with the other is possible. Israeli Experience (which he edited with Pajaiel Moderate people who hoped that peace "was possi- Bar-Tel and Dan Jacobson); Democracy: The ble have been shaken by the violence. And yet, I Challenges Ahead (co-edited with Yossi Shaist); and believe that it is possible for the violence to be Israel and the World After 40 Years. KHeinan's lecture, free and open to the public, is brought to an end. the last in a series of sessions on the Middle East, JP: .What do you think of the proposed Israeli co-sponsored by JELS and the Omaha Center for plan to pause temporarily with all negotiations Torah Learning. For more information, call the with Mr. Arafat? JELS office, 334-8445, or the OCEL, 551-1584. (Continued on page 5) Gore: I'm convinced that no solution in the Mideast can be imposed. Negotiations and agreement are the only answers. Despite today's crisis, at no time have we been closer to a solution than we are now and that's why I believe the U.S. should continue to be a part of this process. JP: What would be your specific policy in the Mideast after Jan. 21? Gore; That policy, as Fve said, is to bring down the violence and move to the table. There, four key issues need to be addressed: 1) refugees, 2) borders, 3) security, and the most difficult of all, 4) Jerusalem. I believe fair and equitable formulas can be found for each of these issues, but it must be the parties themselves who reach these solutions with the help of the U.S. as an honest broker. We can do that precisely because of the closeness and solidiiy of our ties to Israel and of our dedication to her security.
Albert Gore, Jr., was born sis weeks before the modern State of Israel was established, in May, 1948. In 1998, when both he and Israel turned 50, Vicepresident Gore was in the Jewish State for its golden jubilee. And throughout his professional life, Al Gore has shown unwavering concern for Israel's welfare. Today, this possible "President-elect" said one of his highest priorities will be to help bring about the cessation of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. "I want peace with security," the Vice-president said. "The best interests of both Israelis and Palestinians are in the peace process, not in the escalation of conflict. The violence must stop so that the two sides can build confidence and restart solid negotiations." He also expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the dead and injured, both Palestinians and Israelis, who have suffered losses in the fighting. "My heart goes out to both peoples," he added. They must seek peace with justice and they themselves must decide on how to make that peace with justice a reality." In an interview shortly before the astonishingly close Presidential election on Nov. 7, Vice-president Gore gave his detailed views to me on the latest Middle East crisis. JP: What common goal is there in American foreign policy in the Mideast that both Arab and Jewish communities in the United States should be by BETH COHEN, Executive Director, Beth Israel — supporting? Beth Israel Synagogue announced that Rabbi Gore: The two communities know that there must be an immediate halt to the violence so that Yissocher Frand will come to Omaha for a Seholarnegotiations can restart. The goal remains the in-Residence weekend, D e c 15 and 16. Rabbi Frand began his association with the Ner same—a full and just peace with security for all. In the past, the parties have been close to some fundamental solutions. Now they must overcome the trauma of violence if they are to again build peace in the region. JP: How much and in what way were you involved in Mideast policy in the past eight years? And. as President after Jan. 21, 2001, what strategies would you use to bring about a comprehensive peace? Gore: Fve been close to all of the major foreign policy initiatives and have dealt with the crises around the world as well as in the Middle East as a genuine partner in the current administration. The U.S. role is to be a facilitator in this process and I believe this constructive role must continue.
Rabbi Yissocher Frand to Speak in Omaha
JP: Why should the U.S. continue to be a mediator? Is there a need now for a broader forum with other mediators like Russia or Europe to give assurances to aU parties that the U.S. is an honest broker?
Gore: Because both parties trust and accept the U.S. to play a constructive role, I believe the best hope we have for progress is to keep any negotiations simpler the parties themselves and a single country, trusted by both sides to work hard with them, but not to try to impose solutions of its own. JP:Why?
Israel Rabbinical Seminary in Baltimore as a student in 1963. He is now on the faculty of Ner Israel, and teaches a daily tahaud class to rabbinic students. The scholar-in-residence weekend is chaired by Mort and Janet Glass, Mike and Judy Feldman, and Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum. Over the years, Rabbi Frand has gained wide recognition for his popular weekly shiur (lecture) in. the Baltimore community, which has rapidly grown to be the largest of its kind anywhere in North America- Rabbi Frand is a world renowned inspirational speaker. He has been invited to speak all over the world from Amsterdam to Australia, Jerusalem to Johannesberg. He has been the keynote speaker at national conventions, including Agudath Israel of America and Torah U'mesorah. His lectures have drawn large crowds. Rabbi Frand will speak three times at Beth Israel during the course of this special Shabbat. Following the Friday night dinner, his evening topic will be "The Scariest Word in the English Language." He will give the sermon during Shabbat morning services, and, following lunch, will speak on "The Tip of the Iceberg: How We View Others." Cost for the meals is $10 adult/$6.50 child for dinner; and $7.50 adult/$4.5O child for.lunch. Make your reservations by calling the synagogue office at 556-6288, or by e-mailing Rabbi Yissocher Frand Betfalsrael@novia.net. Photo by: J. Wadro Photography