WASHINGTON — Pro-Israel activists are hailing President Clinton’s newly named national security adviser, Samuel “Sandy” Berger, as a key asset in helping push the Middle East peace process forward.
“He has been fully supportive of a set of values, principles and priorities that the pro-Israel community has a deep interest in,” said Steve Grossman, chairman of the board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Berger, a 51-year-old Jew who has served as deputy national security adviser the last four years, is a member of a synagogue in Washington where his children became b’nai mitzvah.
In 1991, Berger gave a contribution to the left-wing Americans for Peace Now — a donation that Gail Pressberg, the group’s Washington director, characterized as “small.”
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, welcomed Berger’s appointment. He “understands Israel’s security needs,” he said.
Pressberg said there is enthusiasm among Peace Now members about Clinton’s entire new foreign policy team, but stressed that her organization does not take positions on specific appointments.
She did not think that any personal views Berger holds toward the Middle East would be relevant in his new post.
“His views about foreign policy issues have been complicated by the fact that he’s been in the White House,” Pressberg said. “He’s looking out for American interests first and foremost.
“He’s always been a middle-of-the-road Democrat, not out on the left on Israel or anything else.”
For his part, Grossman said, “Sandy has been a key architect of policies that were designed to create a comfort level on the part of the Israeli people and its leadership at a time when they were taking meaningful and dramatic risks for peace.”
Tom Neumann, executive director of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, a conservative pro-Israel think tank, said his group would “wait and see” how Berger approaches the new position.
For now, Neumann said, “We have good feelings. We think he’ll be fine.”
Berger, a friend of Clinton’s from college, is known in particular for his ability to straddle the intersection of politics and foreign affairs.
“It is obvious that the president trusts Sandy fully and unequivocally — not only his judgment on policy, but his thoughtful political judgment as well,” Grossman said.
Clinton’s trust was evident last week when questions arose about a possible conflict of interest in some of Berger’s stock holdings.
The Washington Post reported that Berger was advised by White House lawyers in 1994 to sell a longtime family stock in the Amoco oil company. After initially questioning the advice, Berger agreed to sell the stock, but forgot to do so until reminded by White House lawyers to do so more than one year later, the Post said.
Still, then-White House counsel Abner Mikva said he had no choice but to refer the case to the Justice Department’s public integrity division.
But White House counsel Jack Quinn said that Clinton was aware of the Justice Department probe of Berger, and believed Berger had committed a harmless oversight that should not interfere with his promotion, the Post said.
Berger’s appointment did not require Senate confirmation.