Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 19, 1998 Page: 4 of 24
twenty four pages : ill. ; page 16 x 12 in. Scanned from physical pages.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Opinion 4 TEXAS JEWISH post. Thursday, march 19.1998 - in our s2nd yeari
Washington Watch
By James David Besser
TJH Washington Correspondent
on a two-year-old law permit- how the politics of this will work
bolster ef-
forts by
mainstream Jew-
ish organizations to
prevent any new pressure
by the administration
on the government of
yahu’s ratings declined, but it’s
Speed Bump on Road to Nor-
malization
Last week’s ruling by a Wash-
ington court slapping a S247 mil-
lion fine on Iran for its role in
the death of American student
Alisa Flatow in 1995 was an im-
portant first step in fighting Ira-
nian-sponsored terrorism, said
the lawyer who fought the case.
It could also turn into a major
headache for the Clinton admin-
istration, which is considering
how to respond to recent over-
tures from Teheran.
“This judgment will create a
legal signpost that will make it
much harder for the administra-
tion to overlook Iran's role in
sponsoring terrorism if they do
decide to move toward normal-
ization,** said an analyst for a
major pro-Israel group this week.
"It’s a major speed bump."
The decision, the largest judg-
ment against any nation for its
culpability in supporting terror-
ists, “sends a very important
signal to countries that arc en-
gaged in terrorism or supporting
terrorists,** said Jess Hordes,
Washington director for the
Anti-Defamation League.
■Whether or not any claims can
be collected, this decision DOES
focus important attention on
rogue countries like Iran.”
But Steven R. Ferles. the law-
yer for Flatow's family, said he
is confident at least some of the
money will eventually be
claimed. He said that the Flatow
family may go after Iranian as-
sets that were frozen after the
1979 takeover of the U S. em-
bassy in Teheran.
“But the amount of frozen as-
sets here is unclear,” Perlessaid
“Depending on who you talk to,
it ranges from $20 million to
$12 billion. We need to do a
detailed study of what’s avail-
able.**
He promised to “take a pretty
aggressive posture on attempts
to seize Iranian assets here or
abroad It won't be easy, but I’d
be stunned if I couldn't collect.”
Flatow, a 20-year-old student
from West Orange, N.J., was
killed when a Palestinian sui-
cide bomber attacked a bus in
the Gaza Strip. An Iranian-
backed Islamic Jihad faction
claimed responsibility.
U S. District Judge Royce C.
Lambcrth’s decision was based
ting U S. citizens hurt by terror-
ist groups to sue the foreign gov-
ernments that support them. The
case hinged on testimony from
U S. and Israeli authorities link-
ing Iran to the terrorist group.
The judge ruled that Iran must
pay $22.5 million in compensa-
tory damages and $225 million
in punitive damages.
“Steve Flatow made the deci-
sion while Alissa was still on
life support to make positive
things result from what would
otherwise be a senseless death,"
Perles said. “The purpose of
this litigation is to use the finan-
cial distress that comes with pu-
nitive damages as a vehicle for
deterring future Iranian sponsor-
ship of terrorist actions.”
Sponsors of the law making
the legal action possible ex-
pressed satisfaction.
“This massive and unprece-
dented verdict is...a slap in the
face of terrorism around the
world," said Sen Frank Lautcn-
berg (D-NJ).
Lebanon: The View from
Washington
Administration officials are
watching with interest as lead-
ers in Jerusalem debate a flurry
of proposals for an Israeli with-
drawal from southern Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Net-
anyahu has suggested a with-
drawal based on guarantees from
the Lebanese government that it
would prevent attacks across Is-
rael’s northern border. Infra-
structure Minister Ariel Sharon,
who as defense minister planned
the invasion of Lebanon in 1982,
has proposed an incremental
withdrawal, with the promise to
strike back hard if terrorist at-
tacks resume.
An agreement on Lebanon, ad-
ministration sources say, would
defuse much of the anger and
frustration in Washington over
the stalled Israeli-Palestinian
talks. But the administration
doesn't regard (he new talk about
a Lebanon withdrawal as strict-
ly a diversion by the Netanyahu
government.
“It’s being taken seriously,"
said a source close to the Mid-
east peace talks. “But a lot of
things have to fall info place.
It’s unclear what Syria’s re-
sponse will be, and it's unclear
out in Israel.”
The administration is seeking
more information about the
plans, which it expects to get
when a series of top Israeli offi-
cials parade through town, end-
ing with Defense Minister
Yitzhak Mordechai on March 25.
Withdrawal is “a doable idea,"
said Judith Kipper, co-director
of the Mideast program at the
Center for Strategic and Inter-
national Studies in Washington.
“It would be wildly popular in
Israel, and it would change the
dynamics of the region, since
for the first time it would com-
mit Israel to leaving territory on
the basis of a U N. resolution."
But any serious plan would
require active American help in
working out the details, she said.
And so far, it’s not clear whether
the Clinton White House—un-
der siege in the continuing sex
scandals—is ready to jump in
with both feet.
Latest Shot in Battle of the
Polls
The battle of the polls contin-
ued this week with a new survey
by the American Jewish Com-
mittee on Jewish altitudes to-
ward Israel and the peace pro-
cess.
The AJC data, which is being
distributed to congressional and
administration offices, should
anyahu.
The AJC data showed that a
slim—and shrinking— majority
of Jews here support Netan-
yahu’s peace policies.
About 56 percent said they
supported the Netanyahu gov-
ernment’s current handling of
the negotiations, down from 61
percent in 1997. 94 percent said
that the Palestinian Authority is
not doing enough to control Ha-
mas and other Palestinian ex-
tremist groups; that was up from
82 percent in 1997.
69 percent said that Washing-
ton should “apply pressure on
PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to
advance the peace process," but
only 45 percent said that the Net-
anyahu government should be
squeezed.
Two years ago, 62 percent said
that Arafat “strongly" or "some-
what” supported peace with Is-
rael; this year, it was down to 40
percent.
"The data clearly shows a lin-
ear decline in confidence in the
Palestinians," said David Har-
ris, the AJC’s executive direc-
tor. “Prime Minister Netan-
striking that a clear majority still
support his handling of the peace
process, and by a slimmer ma-
jority, oppose the oft-discussed
question of U.S. pressure on Is-
rael."
Sagging confidence in Arafat
was also reflected in questions
about a Palestinian state. In this
year’s poll, 42 percent favor and
49 oppose the creation of a Pal-
estinian state; in 1995, the last
time that question was asked, a
small plurality favored the cre-
ation of such a state.
Harris said that one of the most
surprising findings was that Jews
here see little difference between
Jordan’s King Hussein and
Egyptian president Hosm
Mubarak, who has presided over
an increasingly “cold peace"
with Israel.
UJA Young Leadership On the
March
New York Mayor Rudolph
Guiliani and Vice President Al
Gore will headline next week’s
United Jewish Appeal Young
Leadership Conference in Wash-
ington, along with a supporting
see WASH WATCH p. 21
Texas Jewish Post
Editor aid Publish* *_
Managing Edtor I Co-Pubiishsr
Assistant E
Consultant...
Social Editor
Computer Product
-JJL Wisch
__Rena Wisch
Sharon Wisch-Ray
_Stev# Wisch
- Linda Davidsohn
-Elian Richsy
Since 1947
Food/Home
Susan Wisch
Adv. Representatives-Judy Wisch, Wytma Hooker,
Linda Davidsohn, Robert Brimm, Sharon Wisch-Ray
Layout-------Angie Englert
Photography_Sharon Wisch-Ray, Judy Wisch
Circulation Director___Elian Richey
FORT WORTH 3120 S. Freeway, Fori Worth, TX 76110 FAX (817) 429-0840
DALLAS Suite 213,11333 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75243-6793 FAX (214) 692-7285
(817) 927-2831 Metro: (817) 429-0840 or (972) 219-4755 (214) 692-7283
Subscription Rates:
Texas, $35 per year, Other States in U.S., $45 per year, Foreign, $70 Der vear.
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE PAYABLE IN ADVANCE
Unless notified otherwise it is understood that all subscriptions are renewed
automatically upon expiration.
Views and opinions of columnists and contributors are their
necessarily those of this newspaper.
*
bf tea TEXAS JEWISH POST
In (hair
Tha TEXAS JEWISH PCS MSS N004043SX
Tm> Panm No VAOilO POSTMASTER Sa
76110
■ Fort Worth
78110
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Wisch, J. A. & Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 19, 1998, newspaper, March 19, 1998; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth753869/m1/4/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .