Netanyahu, in U.S., Calls Criticism ‘Nonsense’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, preparing for what could be chilly talks today with President Clinton, told cheering supporters here Monday that critics who blame his government for the stalemated Mideast peace process “are talking nonsense.”

Only an hour after his plane touched down, Netanyahu addressed a cheering rally of several thousand Jews and evangelical Christians who jammed the ballroom of his hotel. Later, he conferred with members of the Council of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations to shore up his support in this country before his White House meeting.

At the hotel rally, he gave a sometimes emotional speech to a group called Voices United for Israel, which describes itself as a coalition of Jewish and Christian organizations. He defended his government’s refusal to yield to the Palestinian Authority more West Bank territory--as required under the 1995 Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement--until Israel is satisfied the Palestinians have met their obligations under the pact.

“Those who say this is a delaying tactic are talking nonsense,” Netanyahu said. “This is the minimum we can expect.” But, he complained, “We are being vilified” for blocking peace in the Mideast.

Beset by political problems at home that have reduced his majority in parliament to a paper-thin margin and dealing with a sometimes skeptical U.S. administration, Netanyahu appeared to be buoyed by his reception. “It was worth traveling here,” he told the audience, which included television evangelist Jerry Falwell.

At times, the audience seemed willing to embrace an even tougher stance toward the peace process than the Israeli government. For instance, when Dore Gold, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, said Netanyahu “could have said the peace process is flawed--let’s set it aside,” he was cheered. “I know you want to applaud, but he didn’t do it,” Gold said.

Meanwhile, Clinton worked Monday with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and other top aides to complete his plans for the meeting with Netanyahu, as well as a session Thursday with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.

The White House scheduled each meeting for only an hour and did not plan for the customary joint news conference afterward. Clinton also did not invite either man to dine with him, another courtesy often--but by no means always--extended. Officials said Clinton intends to keep Netanyahu and Arafat at arm’s length, at least until one or the other shows a willingness to compromise.

Still, the president told reporters at a Martin Luther King Day appearance that he had “high hopes” for the meetings. He added: “I’ve worked hard on [the Middle East peace process]. I’m committed to making it a success.”

Administration officials say Clinton hopes to persuade Netanyahu and Arafat to moderate their hard-line positions and to overcome the distrust and personal animosity that have made it all but impossible for the two leaders to negotiate.

Clinton, officials say, has no plans to issue ultimatums to either and intends instead to continue pressing points that Albright and U.S. peace envoy Dennis B. Ross have already made to them. These call for Israel to turn over to the Palestinians a “significant and credible” tract of West Bank land and to suspend building Jewish settlements in disputed territory and for the Palestinians to exert a “100% effort” to combat terrorism against Israelis.

Both Netanyahu and Arafat have spurned the U.S. position, but officials hope they will find it harder to say no to Clinton.

Clinton got a boost when dozens of Senate and House members, including outspoken supporters of Israel, sent him nearly identical letters backing the strategy of exerting mild but steady pressure on both sides. “The peace talks cannot succeed unless both sides refrain from actions that undermine their joint pledge to strengthen security and accept responsibility for creating a climate that is conducive to negotiations,” more than 30 House members wrote.