European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 9, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a a a columns the stars and stripes Friday March 9, 1990anthony Lewis its time israeli leaders give peace a Chance Boston a the Hope of any movement toward peace Between Israel and the palestinians hangs in the balance now. The decision rests with the government of Israel and the attempt to come to grips with it is bringing sounds of discord and denunciation from Jerusalem. Prime minister Shamir and some of his colleagues in the liked party complain that the United Stales is trying to push them. They complain that Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii has confronted them with unpalatable proposals. The moment is so important to the Middle East and All of us. That we must understand exactly what the Issue is. What Are the israeli politicians debating what is Shamir being asked to do Shamir is not being asked to negotiate with the Palestine liberation organization. He is not being asked to attend an International peace conference. He is not being asked to commit Israel to withdraw from any part of the occupied territories. All those arc ideas that Shamir has rejected. They arc not on the table now. What Shamir is being asked to do is to carry out his own peace plan for palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to elect representatives who would negotiate with Israel. Shamir presented the plan to president Bush in the White House on april 6, 1989, just 11 months ago. Actually Shamir is not even being asked to implement his plan. He is Only being asked to have Israel talk with the palestinian delegation about How to implement it. That is Baker s proposal. He has developed it carefully patiently a and above All with concern for Shamire a Domestic political necessities. Thus there is no overt role for the Plo in the Baker approach. On that and other matters the Plo has swallowed its objections. The Baker proposal also has support in Israel from left Center to right Center. The labor party coalition partner of the liked is for it a including most significantly. The hawkish labor defense minister Yitzhak Rabin. So arc some of the moderate and younger liked figures close to Shamir. Why. Then is the prime minister in such Public distress about the Baker proposal the dilemma is that Baker has met All of Shamir s legitimate political needs. He has found a Way to implement the Shamir plan without offending any of Shamir s political positions. And so. For the first time. Shamir has to make up his mind. When he proposed the plan. Shamir probably never dreamt that it would get anywhere. The likelihood was that the Plo would dismiss it. Few diplomats imagined that Baker desired to meet israeli political sensibilities while keeping the Plo acquiescent. To understand the Issue now is to appreciate its profound importance. For what is really at stake is israelis willingness to talk to palestinians at All. If Shamir says no to talks about his own plan under the extremely limited conditions designed by Baker then he really wants no talks of any kind. And Israel has always held itself out As willing to talk. At this time there is a responsibility on supporters of Israel too. Not the least of which rests with the United states. Polls have consistently shown that american jews and their leaders favor talks Between Israel and the palestinians. They think that continued occupation without a diplomatic solution endangers israelis character and Security. Given those views there is a strange silence today in the american jewish Community. It should be giving Strong support to Baker. Its leaders know what is at stake but they do not say or they raise old fears about the Plo. A the possibilities for peace have never been better. Most palestinians arc prepared at last to come to terms with the reality of Israel. 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