ARCHIVE LETTERS FEEDBACK WEATHER E-MAIL EDITION ADVERTISING PERSONALS CD-ROM LINKS ABOUT US   Israel Time:
Design/Consulting: Coding: Cortex David Cavenor Powered by: Silicon Graphics

US Jewish leaders hail accord By MARILYN HENRY NEW YORK (October 25) - Congratulations and celebration of the "extraordinary milestone" were tempered with caution about compliance in the initial American Jewish responses to the Wye Accord. The American Jewish Congress hailed the agreement as "an extraordinary milestone," while the Anti-Defamation League said it was a "breakthrough," and then both fretted about implementation in statements released shortly after the accord was signed in Washington on Friday evening. "We expect the Palestinian Authority to live up to its long-standing commitment to eradicate anti-Israel and antisemitic incitement among Palestinians," said ADL's leaders, Howard P. Berkowitz and Abraham Foxman. "We hope the Palestinian Authority will begin to seriously educate its populace - both children and adults - on the benefits of peace, tolerance and non-violence." The ADL also urged the Palestinians to avoid "any threats or steps regarding a unilateral declaration of statehood." The "real celebration" will have to wait until the agreement faces "the stress of daily life," the AJC said in a statement. "It is one thing to offer pronouncements in the congenial environment of the Wye Plantation, quite another thing to face up to one's critics and opponents in Ramallah and Jerusalem." All commended, with greater and lesser degrees of enthusiasm, President Bill Clinton for the American role in the negotiations. Americans for Peace Now added that it is "imperative for American engagement in the peace process to remain high." "We are mindful that the May 4, 1999, expiration date for the Oslo Accords is rapidly approaching and a great deal of work remains to be done," Patricia Barr, chair of Americans for Peace Now, said in a statement. "Both Israelis and Palestinians must strictly adhere to the commitments they have made," and must refrain from unilateral acts that could undermine the process. The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which neglected to mention the role of Jordan's King Hussein, called on other states in the region to reinstitute committees on regional cooperation and to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. It also asked European states to isolate rogue nations that support terrorism and to ensure Israel's full participation in the UN by having it join the "western European" regional bloc at the international organization. Finally, the Presidents Conference said the American Jewish community has a responsibility to "help create conditions that will foster the implementation of the agreement," but it did not specify what those should be. Headlines Redeployment could alter US role IDF wraps up Wye's first stage today First Wye pullout to end by tomorrow Settlers scurry to limit pullout threat IDF poised to implement first Wye transfer Wye redeployment begins today PM confident he can sell Wye Netanyahu flies to capital to avoid protesters Right outraged at Wye signing, Left skeptical PA officials pleased, extremists reject accord Settler leaders weigh next steps US Jewish leaders hail accord Commentary What's in the accord? The Document Text of The Wye Memorandum Speeches Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's speech Analysis A patchy deal can easily unravel Strained relations Clinton deserves praise for job well done Wye deal to launch final talks Netanyahu turns centrist, but still faces Right Now for the tough part REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Reflections on Wye Opinion EDITORIAL: A tardy first step The next stage The Pollard Issue Sources: There was a tacit deal to release Pollard A Pollard chronology Pollard's father disappointed that Israel 'caved in' over release Supplement Front Page

© 1995-1998, The Jerusalem Post - All rights reserved	Try our MIRROR SITE for faster connections
Front Page | News | Business | Real Estate | Columns | Features | Opinion Sports | Tourism | Archive | Weather | Letters | Links | Feedback Advertising | Store | Subscribe | Email Edition | Classifieds | CD-ROM | Funds | EZ-Post