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February 23, 2001/Shevet 30, 5761, Vol. 53, No.21
Clinton scapegoats Rich affair
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - Former President Clinton's claim that Jewish pressure contributed to his highly controversial decision to pardon Marc Rich has left some Jewish leaders feeling scapegoated.
In an Op-Ed in the New York Times, Feb. 18, Clinton defended the pardon of Rich and his associate Pincus Green, saying that "Israeli officials of both major political parties and leaders of Jewish communities in America and Europe urged the pardon of Mr. Rich."
He made similar comments in an off-camera interview with Geraldo Rivera for CNBC's "Rivera Live." Rivera said Clinton told him that "Israel did influence me profoundly."
Jewish leaders in America and Israel are mixed on whether Clinton is setting up the Jewish community or whether they indeed influenced the pardon decision.
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said it "seems inappropriate" for Clinton to cite Israeli lobbying as an important factor in his decision to pardon Rich after first citing legal grounds for the pardon.
Phil Baum, executive director of the American Jewish Congress, said Clinton must take responsibility for his decision.
"To refer to the fact that he got character references from Jews is distasteful and gives the wrong impression," Baum said.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Reform movement's Union of American Hebrew Congregations, has been critical of Jewish lobbying on Rich's behalf, charging in an Op-Ed last week that the Jewish community was "bought" and that leaders failed an "important moral test." On Feb. 20, Yoffie said Jewish leaders should not be reacting harshly to Clinton's comments, but instead should do some introspection.
"Under other circumstan-ces, the fact that the president of the United States was listening to the pleas of the Jewish leaders is something we'd take pride in," he said.
Rich received his pardon during the waning hours of the Clinton presidency. He had been indicted on 51 counts of tax evasion, racketeering and violating trade sanctions with Iran, but fled to Switzerland in 1983 before standing trial.
After fleeing the United States, Rich became a major benefactor of Jewish charitable organizations and Israeli universities and hospitals.
Jewish officials in the United States, Israel and Europe lobbied the White House in a mostly underground campaign on Rich's behalf. Many of those advocating the pardon had benefited from Rich's largesse.
JTA correspondent Avi Machlis in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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