Oy! 'Pork'-Hungry Rabbis Imperil Israeli Government

Pass the rabbis some (political) pork and Israel's political "crisis" would be resolved in a flash. But with Washington pushing hard for concessions from both sides to secure an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President Clinton leaves office, it may actually suit Ehud Barak to be seen as on the ropes for a while longer. Barak's government faces collapse on Thursday, when the resignations of four cabinet members from the ultra-religious Shas party take effect. But the religious party, which mainly represents orthodox Jews who emigrated to Israel from the Arab world, isn't balking at the peace process; it simply wants more money funneled into its school system, no government oversight of that system and broadcasting rights for five pirate radio stations run by its supporters.

Although disproportionate concessions to a vocal religious minority may stick in the craw of Barak and his secular supporters, the prime minister is unlikely ultimately to allow his government to fall rather than pay up. But as last-minute negotiations continue to avert a walkout of the second largest party in his coalition — which would ostensibly force him into a minority government, an alliance with the hawkish Likud party or a new election — Barak is playing the beleaguered dove. His finance minister, Avraham Shohat, insisted Tuesday that the issues Shas is raising have been resolved. "They did not resign over that, but for political motives of another kind: differences over the peace process." Israeli political analysts don't buy that, but the spin may be intended for Madeleine Albright ahead of her imminent arrival in the region to nudge Barak and Yasser Arafat into concessions that would allow a summit with President Clinton and the possibility of a valedictory foreign policy triumph. But with a final peace deal on Mr. Clinton's watch looking increasingly remote — Barak and Arafat remain unable to bridge the gulf on key issues such as land and Jerusalem — the White House won't want to see the Israeli side mired in a parochial domestic dispute. It must be tempting, at this stage, for Washington to simply offer to pick up the tab for the rabbis' school system.