International News

Palestinian State Of Mind

12/18/1998 | James D. Besser | Washington Correspondent

by James D. Besser
Washington Correspondent
Air Force One hadn’t even touched town at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, but Jewish activists on Tuesday already were fighting over the symbolism of President Bill Clinton’s groundbreaking and controversial trip to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
Jewish leaders representing all points on the ideological spectrum did agree on one thing: the symbol-laden trip could be a turning point in U.S.-Israel and U.S.-Palestinian relations.

Hot Welcome For Clinton In Gaza

12/11/1998 | James D. Besser and Michele Chabin | Staff Writer

In U.S.:Washington — Will the Middle East firmament tremble when President Bill Clinton’s helicopter sets down next week at the Gaza International Airport?
Will a troubling new era in U.S.-Palestinian relations begin with Clinton’s precedent-shattering address to 1,500 Palestinian officials, including many former terrorists, assembled to “confirm” an earlier decision striking out offensive portions of the PLO charter?

Vatican To U.S.: No Archives

12/11/1998 | by Eric J. Greenberg | Staff Writer

In a defiant statement, the Vatican has rejected U.S. government appeals to open its secret World War II archives, The Jewish Week has learned. The development is expected to heighten tensions between the Holy See and world Jewish community leaders, experts said.
“It’s disgraceful,” declared Elan Steinberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress of the Vatican’s position, contained in a bold three-page declaration selectively distributed at a Holocaust conference in Washington last week.

Polish Gov’t: Auschwitz Crosses To Be Removed

12/04/1998 | James Besser | Washington Correspondent

Washington — In a unexpected development, the bitter confrontation between Jewish groups and the Polish government over Christian symbols at the Auschwitz death camp moved a few steps closer to resolution this week with a letter from Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek outlining the steps his government is prepared to take to end the conflict.
In the letter, Buzek pledged that his government will “remove all new crosses” as soon as possible.

European Gov’ts Said To Relent On Archives

12/04/1998 | by Stewart Ain | Staff Writer

In the last week, the governments of Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic have assured Israel that they are committed to opening Holocaust-era archives, according to Bobby Brown, Israel’s diaspora affairs adviser.

Drumbeat Grows Louder For Lebanon Withdrawal

12/04/1998 | by Michele Chabin | Israel Correspondent

Jerusalem — The sun is beginning to set, and Efrat Spiegel, who has traveled to the capital from her home near Tel Aviv, feels a chill.

“It was warm in Tel Aviv and it didn’t occur to me to bring a sweater,” says the 65-year-old telephone operator, shivering outside the Prime Minister’s Office.