News U.S. Frustration, criticism dog Mubarak during U.S. tour Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By J. Correspondent | March 14, 1997 Sign up for Weekday J and get the latest on what's happening in the Jewish Bay Area. WASHINGTON — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak found that his U.S. trip wasn't all he hoped this week. First, he was frustrated in his hopes to focus on U.S.-Egyptian ties with President Clinton this week, as the latest peace crisis between the Palestinians and Israelis got much of their attention. Later, Mubarak faced some harsh criticism by U.S. Jews for Egypt's stance on the peace process. During three hours of White House meetings, Mubarak and Clinton discussed mounting Palestinian criticism that too little of the West Bank — 9 percent — was being transferred to Palestinian self-rule. Mubarak himself expressed anger over Israel's redeployment plans as well as over the Israeli government's decision to build Jewish housing in eastern Jerusalem and to close four Palestinian offices in Jerusalem. Standing next to Clinton at a White House East Room press conference, Mubarak blamed Israel for making the peace process "a fragile and vulnerable one." Hinting at a possibly violent Palestinian response to the latest developments, Mubarak said, "Our purpose here is to eliminate all potential sources of tension and violence." Clinton joined Mubarak in stepping up the criticism of Israel. In an apparent swipe at Israel for making decisions without consulting first with the Palestinians, Clinton decried those who "attempt to preclude the process of negotiations or pre-empt it or are insensitive to the needs and the feelings of people in the negotiating process." Clinton's statements upset Israeli representatives in Washington who have listened for weeks as administration officials have intensified their criticism of Netanyahu's policies. Clinton expressed similar sentiments last week during his meetings with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. In the most recent indication of official U.S. reaction to the latest developments, the State Department has begun to call the site of the new housing project exclusively by its Arabic name, Jamal Abu Ghenaim, rather than by its Hebrew name, Har Homa. Clinton himself appeared to lend credibility to the notion that the site is disputed, saying, "It's obvious that who owns the land is disputed." While Clinton gave Mubarak a White House platform from which to criticize Israel, members of Congress related to the Egyptian leader their growing frustration with Egypt's peace policies. "Egypt has turned up the heat in the Arab world against Israel and President Mubarak will be told that that's not acceptable," said an aide to a member of Congress who met with Mubarak on Tuesday. Jewish groups planned to address the matter with Mubarak in a Wednesday meeting. "Many in our community, and frankly many in the Congress, have concerns about an erosion of Egyptian leadership for peace," said Jason Isaacson, director of international and governmental affairs at the American Jewish Committee. "We have grave concerns about the posture Egypt has struck in recent months regarding Hebron and further redeployment," added Isaacson, one of the Jewish officials scheduled to meet with Mubarak. At the same time, representatives of the Anti-Defamation League planned to discuss anti-Semitism in the Egyptian media at the meeting with Mubarak. The ADL released a report on anti-Semitism in the Egyptian media and ran a full-page ad in the New York Times to coincide with Mubarak's visit. "Egypt led the Arab world in reconciling with Israel, and was expected to lead its population and the rest of the Arab world in changing public attitudes towards Jews and Israel," said Abraham Foxman, ADL's national director. "That expectation has net yet been realized." J. Correspondent Also On J. Bay Area Celebs help push Manny’s fundraiser to $58K after hate graffiti Local Voice Fleet Week vs. Yom Kippur: The call of the shofar, the roar of fighters Religion Where to celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah around the Bay Area Art Film and exhibit introduce Art Deco icon with complex Jewish identity Subscribe to our Newsletter I would like to receive the following newsletters: Weekday J From Our Sponsors (helps fund our journalism) Your Sunday J Holiday Bytes