Clinton, in L.A., Assures Jews on Israel’s Security

President Clinton on Sunday sought to reassure anxious American Jews that his Administration will not sacrifice the security of Israeli citizens in its desire to promote the Middle East peace process.

Speaking to a Jewish fund-raising luncheon in Los Angeles hours after terrorist attacks left at least six Israelis dead and 47 injured in the Gaza Strip--including three Americans, according to White House officials--Clinton said that the bombings demonstrated the risks of peace.

“Once more the enemies of peace have sought to abuse the opportunity peace presents to kill it, to kill hope, to kill all possibility of a normal life” for Israelis and Palestinians, Clinton said.

“Let us stiffen our resolve to say to those who seek to abuse human life . . . ‘You will not succeed. You must not succeed,’ ” Clinton said to the applause of the 1,000 donors to the Jewish National Fund who met Sunday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Clinton was warmly received by the group, the charitable fund-raising arm of the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles. He was greeted with a lengthy ovation when he arrived, and his 20-minute remarks on his foreign and domestic policies drew loud, rhythmic applause at their conclusion.

The appearance concluded a three-day presidential visit to California, which included political and fund-raising events in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

The American Jewish community has been particularly supportive of the Middle East peace process, and any sign of wavering by its members could affect the assertive role the United States has taken as well as the momentum for further agreements.

A senior Administration official traveling with the President said Sunday that the support has remained strong despite the numerous terrorist incidents that have killed more than 100 Israelis since Israel entered into peace agreements with the Palestinians in September, 1993, and subsequently with Jordan.

The official said that American Jews, like Israelis, are growing increasingly concerned about whether a peace accord with Syria would intensify Arab opposition and anti-Israel terrorist assaults. But “we still perceive a great deal of support for pressing ahead for a comprehensive peace in the region,” the official said.

Clinton spoke to the Jewish group after attending Palm Sunday Mass at St. Vibiana’s Cathedral in Downtown Los Angeles. Before the Mass, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony presented Clinton with a copy of Pope John Paul II’s latest encyclical, “The Gospel of Life.”

The document, the Roman Catholic pontiff’s strongest statement on the sanctity of human life and the church’s unswerving opposition to birth control, abortion and euthanasia, was a pointed reminder of Clinton’s differences with the leadership of the church on fundamental social issues.

It was the first visit by a President to St. Vibiana’s. Clinton’s party included Education Secretary Richard W. Riley and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry G. Cisneros.

Clinton’s day began with a jog along the Santa Monica beach with actress Kate Capshaw, the wife of producer Steven Spielberg, with whom Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton spent Saturday night.

At a $50,000-a-couple Democratic National Committee fund-raising dinner at Spielberg’s Pacific Palisades home Saturday night, the Clintons were feted by about 100 Hollywood luminaries, including Barbra Streisand and Sharon Stone.

After a dinner of grilled corn chowder, fried chicken and peach cobbler, singer k.d. lang entertained the crowd with several songs, including Clinton favorites “Right to Love” and “Constant Craving.”