U.S. Jewish leader hit over letter

JERUSALEM — Some American Jewish leaders are calling for the resignation of Edgar Bronfman Jr. as president of the World Jewish Congress over a letter he wrote to President Bush opposing Israel’s construction of a security fence in the West Bank.

The dispute has drawn in prominent politicians in both countries, including former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, a close friend of Mr. Bronfman’s who cosigned the letter.

In the missive, the two men described the security fence as a “separation wall” and said its continuing construction is “complicated and potentially problematic.”

They urged Mr. Bush to exert pressure on Israel and apply “the same straightforwardness” with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the president had shown with the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.

A copy of the letter was obtained by an intermediary and passed along to Isi Liebler, who as senior vice president of the WJC is deputy to Mr. Bronfman, the billionaire scion of the Seagrams fortune.

At the end of last week, he went on the offensive, accusing Mr. Bronfman of “perfidy” in a letter to the Jerusalem Post and calling on him to resign unless he retracts his comments.

“It would be obscene at any time for the president of the World Jewish Congress to lobby the president of the United States to resist policies being promoted by the government of Israel,” he wrote.

“But on a security issue such as the security fence, one that impacts on the life and death of Israelis, your intervention — irrespective of whether you formally used your presidential title or not — can only be described as an act of perfidy, which will not be swept under the carpet.”

Jewish leaders in the United States were already divided over the U.S.-backed “road map” plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

While those aligned to the peace camp in Israel have thrown their weight behind the road map, many Jewish leaders have been vocal in their opposition, suggesting that support for the plan is a betrayal of Israel.

Some conservative Jewish leaders have tried to exert pressure on Washington to back away from those parts of the peace plan that focus on Israel’s obligations, including an end to settlements once Palestinian militant activity has subsided.

The pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and its congressional backers also say they want Mr. Bush to focus on “real performance” by the Palestinians.

The road map, which is also backed by the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, calls for a halt to Israeli settlements and the deployment of international monitors to enforce its provisions leading to the creation of a Palestinian state in 2005.

News reports last week said the State Department was considering a plan to reduce some of its $9 billion in loan guarantees to Israel if work on the fence continues.

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