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July 28, 2000/25 Tammuz 5760, Vol. 52, No.46
U.S. leaders fear Mideast violence
JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - Most American Jewish leaders say they fear the failure of the Camp David summit could lead to outbreaks of violence.
But those who opposed the talks in the first place are relieved to see them end without an agreement.
In an official statement, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee urged the Palestinians to "avoid unilateral actions that might lead to violence."
The AIPAC statement added that it was "gravely disappointed" and blamed the failure on Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations, said, "Arafat has once again failed to demonstrate that he is a true partner for peace. He escalated the demands in the face of far-reaching Israeli concessions."
But while disappointed, many leaders tried to put a positive spin on things.
Americans for Peace Now and the Israel Policy Forum, which have consistently backed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's peace policies, emphasized that the discussions may pave the way for future talks.
"The upside is that the taboos against even considering compromise are broken, and both sides have begun the difficult process of climbing down the rhetorical trees they have climbed up," said Tom Smerling, director of IPF's Washington Center.
He said Barak has disclosed his willingness to make certain concessions on Palestinian sovereignty in eastern Jerusalem, and Arafat has recognized that Israel will not go back to exact pre-1967 borders and that most Palestinian refugees will not be able to return.
Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Reform movement's Religious Action Center, which has also been a vocal advocate of Barak and closely monitored the summit at the site, described the peace talks' failure as a "tragedy," but did not expect it to be the end of the peace process.
"The question is will they come back before a renewal of tensions or will they allow tensions and violence to force them back?" he asked.
JTA staff writers Peter Ephross and Michael J. Jordan contributed to this report.
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