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The National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC)
reaffirms its strong support of the Israeli government's peace
initiatives and wishes it continued success in building upon the
dramatic achievements of this past year. Principal among these
achievements was the historic signing of a treaty and establishment
of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Jordan. The immediate
initiatives undertaken by these two neighbors to effect a " warm
peace, involving joint development projects, trade, tourism and
cultural exchanges, are most heartening
Official diplomatic and economic relationships are beginning
to develop between Israel and other Arab states as well, including
Morocco, Tunisia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Djibouti. We urge these
nations to complete expeditiously the process of normalization
with Israel, and to join Egypt and Jordan in establishing full
diplomatic relations with Israel. There also has been welcome
progress toward ending the Arab boycott, particularly the decision
of the Gulf Cooperation Council to discontinue implementation
of the secondary boycott. We believe, however, that the objectives
of peace and regional economic development require nothing less
than an official termination of all boycott activity by states
committed to the success of this process.
During this past year, there have been significant advances in
the Israel-Palestinian negotiating track, including the transfer
of additional administrative responsibilities from Israel to the
Palestinian Authority. Nevertheless, the peace process has continued
to be burdened with periodic crises and has been challenged by
an escalation of terrorism from Islamic extremist groups opposed
to reconciliation with Israel. The statement issued following
the historic summit in Cairo, in which Egyptian President Mubarak,
Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, King Hussein of Jordan and Palestinian
Authority Chairman Arafat jointly condemned violence in the region
and pledged to seek an end to terrorist acts, is a welcome development.
However, words alone are not enough. Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian
Authority now must follow through immediately on their commitments
by taking more assertive measures against terrorism, including
the confiscation of weapons in the hands of Islamic extremist
groups, and the arrest and prosecution of those who have committed
acts of violence. We also urge the Palestinians to implement their
commitment to repeal the PLO covenant which calls for Israel's
elimination. At the same time, in understanding the importance
to the peace process of strengthening the Palestinian Authority,
we call upon it and the international community to fulfill earlier
pledges so that necessary economic support to improve the standard
of living in the Gaza Strip and West Bank can be forthcoming.
While recent negotiations between Israel and Syria apparently
resulted in some forward movement, the principal obstacle remains
President Assad's reluctance to clearly and publicly assert his
intention to achieve a genuine peace with Israel, and to delineate
the nature of that peace. President Assad also must demonstrate
the seriousness of his commitment to peace by ending the unfettered
operation of Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups in Damascus
and areas under Syrian control in Lebanon.
Recognizing the importance of a stable Middle East to
U.S. national interests, the Clinton Administration has been playing
an important role in facilitating the peace negotiations, especially
in regard to the Israel-Syrian track. The parties reportedly have
begun preliminary discussions regarding a possible stationing
of an international monitoring contingent on the Golan Heights
which might be one element of a comprehensive agreement. A premature
attempt to formulate U.S. policy on this issue may complicate
the already sensitive and complex negotiations between Israel
and Syria. Implications of U.S. involvement in this or any other
kind of international effort should be examined carefully when
a specific proposal is presented. We are confident that the Administration
and the Congress will continue to assist the parties in their
efforts to reach and then implement an agreement.
These peacemaking initiatives continue to be opposed by radical
groups and states in the region, some of which, most notably Iran,
possess growing conventional and non-conventional military capabilities.
We urge the United States to lead the international community
in a concerted and effective campaign against these threats to
regional and global stability.
We are confident that the new leadership of the 104th Congress
will continue the longstanding tradition of bipartisan support
for Israel. The NJCRAC looks forward to cooperating both with
the Congress and the Administration in strengthening U.S.-Israel
relations and fostering peace and security throughout the Middle
East.
Dissent
While the Jewish War Veterans of the USA supports the peace
process, we dissent expressly from that portion of the resolution
dealing with the Golan, since it prejudges the issue subsisting
between the parties. JWV specifically objects to the employment
and deployment of United States troops on the Golan without there
being an American national security purpose and a defined withdrawal
date.
-end-
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