Behind the Headlines: Support for Israel on Capitol Hill Still Strong, Despite Recent Tension

Although there is growing concern in Congress over the direction Israel is taking in the peace process, this so far has not eroded the strong support for Israel on Capitol Hill, including the $3 billion in military and economic aid Jerusalem receives each year.

This is the assessment of Washington representatives of Jewish organizations, all of whom believe that many of the present uncertainties may be solved when Israel has a government in place.

“I continue to find strong support for Israel,” said Jess Hordes, Washington representative of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.

Hordes said that while some on Capitol Hill have expressed distress over Israel’s peace policy, they continue to support pro-Israel legislation. “Frankly, I have found that votes in support of foreign aid to Israel have increased,” he added.

But Mark Pelavin, Washington representative of the American Jewish Congress, said that while Israel will get its full aid for the 1991 fiscal year, he is not so sure about the future.

There is “increased discussion” and “increased unhappiness” about Israel in some quarters, he said, adding that “most of it comes from friends” of the Jewish state.

“Once we have a government in Israel that can govern, it will completely change the picture,” Pelavin predicted.

David Harris, Washington representative of the American Jewish Committee, also believes much depends on a government being assembled in Israel.

CONCERN OVER POSTURING BY SHAMIR

He indicated the present coolness between the Bush administration and the caretaker government in Jerusalem is due to the posturing by Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir, who is trying to form a government with the smaller right-wing and religious parties.

“If bilateral relations remain strong and intact, I see no reason to expect diminution of support for bread-and-butter issues, including foreign aid,” Harris said.

But he warned that if the relationship goes downhill, “it could negatively affect attitudes.”

Harris said that “questions are being asked, particularly about the nature of a new Israeli government and the course it will take.”

While neither Harris nor the others were specific, concern is being raised by some in Congress that Shamir will form a right-wing government that might reject all U.S. proposals on the peace process.

Shamir lent credence to these fears by saying in an Independence Day address Monday that he saw no reason to accept Secretary of State James Baker’s proposal for preliminary talks between Israel and a Palestinian delegation.

But Harris stressed the answer will only come in the next few weeks or months, “once the domestic politicking is over in Jerusalem.”

The representatives rejected the view of Senate Minority leader Robert Dole (R-Kan.) that foreign aid will become a major issue in this year’s congressional elections, either from those who want to use the money for domestic aid or, like Dole, those who would take funds from Israel and other major recipients for the fledgling democracies in Eastern Europe and Latin America.

NOT A CAMPAIGN ISSUE

“I don’t yet see foreign aid as a looming issue which will make or break a candidate,” Harris said. “Foreign aid is a minuscule percentage of the federal budget, by comparison with such issues as the savings-and-loan bailout or what the size of the defense budget ought to be.”

When Dole first made his proposal to cut aid to Israel and four other countries by 5 percent, Jewish organizations replied that instead of decreasing aid for some, the overall aid budget should be enlarged to meet the new needs.

“A cogent argument can be made that a nation that has spent trillions of dollars to promote democracy and anti-communism can spend a few billion to reap the success of its national security policies,” Harris said.

Pelavin of AJCongress said that foreign aid has never been an important issue in congressional elections, although it could be in a few races. He suggested that as the United States moves out of the Cold War and into a new relationship with the Soviet Union, there might be more emphasis on foreign aid rather than defense spending.

Hordes of ADL said foreign aid has never been a popular issue, but it also has never been a major campaign issue. “I don’t expect it will be a greater issue than it has been in the past,” he said.

But Hordes, like the others, suggested that “responsible leaders on the Hill will be looking for ways to reallocate money from defense to foreign aid.”