Jonathan Pollard, “Irangate,” South Africa and Soviet Jews are mentioned in one breath with few exceptions by every Israeli official who addresses members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations here on a week-long mission.
The “affairs” or “unfortunate incidents,” as they are often called, have emerged as hot potatoes which few Israeli leaders want to touch for more than a moment or two.
The highly controversial issues were at the top of the Presidents’ agenda upon their arrival here Tuesday to a barrage of media attention. By now, the American Jewish leaders have been thoroughly saturated with the party line on all these affairs. They heave small sighs of exasperation when a fresh Minister or government official begins his speech with, “Before I start, let me say a word or two on the Pollard affair.”
As Foreign Minister Shimon Peres put it in his remarks Thursday to the Presidents, they are the burning issues of the day, but far from the most important issues in the larger picture of Israeli political life.
ANGRY EXCHANGE OF CRITICISMS
Upon the arrival of the Presidents, tensions were already at near zenith levels with an angry exchange of criticisms between Prof. Shlomo Avineri and Morris Abram, chairman of the Presidents Conference.
Abram was criticized for saying something interpreted as Pollard got what he deserved in his life sentence for espionage. Avineri accused American Jews of “galut mentality.” Not surprisingly, some conference members replied that they live in galut (Diaspora).
Upon arrival, Abram said, “What Mr. Pollard did was inexcusable. It offends all Americans.” But what really upset the Presidents, and likewise the American government, was the promotion of the two Israelis castigated for leading the so called “rogue operation” that recruited Pollard to spy.
Aviem Sella and Rafael Eitan are coming into their own as a separate affair in recent weeks. In no uncertain terms, Abram and the other Presidents let the Israelis know that they could not get away with this. Analogies to Oliver North’s fall from grace and Admiral John Poindexter’s voluntary resignation abound in the Presidents’ friendly advice to Israeli officials.
Abram said in a press conference which opened the mission Tuesday that he is confident the Rotenstreich Commission, Israel’s “Tower Commission” on the Pollard affair, and a separate Knesset committee will uncover mistakes and take corrective action.
HONEST TALK ABOUT DIFFICULT ISSUES
Premier Yitzhak Shamir has effectively avoided questions on the Pollard affair. Nevertheless, several of the Presidents said they felt Shamir had talked to them honestly about the various scandals. He didn’t miss the opportunity Wednesday to reiterate his stand on Soviet Jews’ refugee status in talking to the Presidents, although his remarks were met with consternation and concern.
Peres also acknowledged that mistakes were made. Shamir attempted to explain the Sella/Eitan affair with a quiet analogy.
“In America, there are thousands of talented people in the ranks of the bureaucracy. But in Israel, people with the experience and knowledge of men like Sella and Eitan are rare,” he said.
“Irangate” has lain in the shadows of the Pollard affair this week. The Israeli leadership is anxious to give the impression that the U.S. Tower Commission report all but exonerated Israel from any blame in causing the whole affair. Ironically, Pollard has done a good deal to help the Israelis put “Irangate” in the past.
But underlying all this controversy is the mutual respect, admiration and support of the Israeli and American leaders expressed at each session.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
