March 1992, Page 40

Candidates Respond to the $10 Billion Question

Taking advantage of the relative accessibility of presidential aspirants in New Hampshire, I made it my business to ask their views on Israel's request for $10 billion in loan guarantees.

The view of President Bush that providing the guarantees without securing from Israel a freeze on further settlements would disrupt the peace process is well known.

The other Republican candidate, Patrick Buchanan, told me, "I don't believe that we have to help Israel build its infrastructure for the Soviet Jews, when we here in the United States are in deep trouble and need infrastructure ourselves." And Buchanan would also end other aid to Israel. "I will start cutting the aid, but I won't cut aid to Israel immediately. I won't leave them with cold turkey," he said.

Turning to the Democrats, when we caught up with Sen. Tom Harkin, he did not brush aside, nor even attempt to evade our questions. He ignored me and a colleague when we repeated the same question a total of six times, acting as if we were invisible and inaudible, as we walked on either side of him for 20 yards to his car.

Former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas told us he supports unconditional payment of the guarantees because "We put pressure on the Soviets to let the Jews emigrate" and so "there is no obligation to help." He was hustled away by his aides, however, before I could get further details.

Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton said, "I oppose public criticism of Israel. On the deportations of the four alleged Palestinian terrorists, we condemned Iraq at the United Nations. We're hitting on Israel in public all of the time, thus undermining efforts of even Shamir's government to deliver the peace process." He added, "I oppose linkage of the settlement issue because that takes the settlement issue out of the peace process."

Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey said, "I don't want them to be conditional-not at all." Did this mean he agreed with Israeli policy on settlements? "No, I disagree with their policy on settlements, and I've said so both publicly and to Prime Minister Shamir, but I do not believe that connecting them to the peace process does anything more than to make the peace process more difficult."

Ex-Governor Jerry Brown of California said, "I do support the loan guarantees, and I hope Mr. Peres wins, so this business of the settlements is stopped very quickly. I believe that this is something that has to be dealt with. I am supportive of helping the Russian immigrants, but what I do believe is that peace will be impossible unless there is profound respect for the rights of Arab people living in the West Bank and Gaza."

-Ian Williams

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