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July 25, 2003/Tamuz 25 5763, Vol. 55, No. 48
Jews to Bush: Focus on terror
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - As the White House prepares for visits by the prime ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, advocates for Israel are working to ensure that the Bush administration stays focused on the need to combat terrorism.
P.A. Prime Minister Mah-moud Abbas will arrive today (July 25) and is expected to receive a warm welcome. American Jewish leaders are hoping to schedule a meeting with him, as are members of Congress.
Abbas' visit - his first to the White House - is generating more buzz than that of Sharon, who is expected July 29. But both visits are focusing Wash-ington's attention on the need for further progress on the "road map" peace plan.
While there generally is much optimism about Abbas' early steps toward peace, some in the U.S. Jewish community express concern that the White House will pressure Israel to do more than its share in the early stages of the peace plan.
Jewish leaders are reminding the admini-stration that the first step toward peace must be the dismantling of terrorist groups in the Palestinian territories and throughout the Middle East.
Already, the Bush ad-ministration seems to be getting the message. On June 21, Bush blasted Syria and Iran for harboring and assisting terrorists, and said both Abbas and Sharon need more support from other leaders in the region.
Bush also called on all countries "interested in a peaceful solution in the Middle East" to support Abbas' efforts, a direct jab at European leaders who continue to deal with P.A. President Yasser Arafat.
Israel and the U.S. have cut off contact with Arafat, whom they consider irredeemably involved in terrorism.
In contrast, Abbas clearly has the support of many in Washington and the Jewish community.
"I look forward to Abu Mazen's visit," said Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives' Inter-national Relations Com-mittee, using Abbas' nom de guerre. "I believe the ad-ministration will have the same message for him that I have for him: We are happy and inclined to support him, but he has to perform."
Lawmakers are endorsing White House efforts to strengthen Abbas. Spec-ifically, 71 congressmen signed a letter to Bush supporting his recent decision to give $20 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority, the first direct U.S. aid to the Palestinian government. Because of fears of P.A. corruption, previous aid has been given to nongovern-mental organizations working in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Ten Jewish lawmakers joined the letter, including Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), ranking minority member of the International Relations Committee's Middle East panel; Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.); and Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.).
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