Campaign 2000

By DOUGLAS WALLER/WASHINGTON

While Israel was gleeful over the veep selection of Senator JOSEPH LIEBERMAN--"a very Jewish Jew," as one Israeli diplomat noted--the Senator and the Israeli government don't always walk in lockstep. Lieberman opposes the U.S. release of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, and he signed a letter to Barak protesting Israel's plans to sell China a sophisticated early-warning aircraft. He also visits Arab countries on Middle East trips. In 1991 he spent a week in Riyadh, where the Saudi royal family fixed kosher meals for him.

Jim Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute, told Lieberman in 1992 that aides were refusing to let Arab Americans work in the Clinton presidential campaign. Lieberman phoned George Stephanopoulos. "This is an Orthodox Jewish Senator calling a Greek-American communications director and saying I want these Arab Americans in this campaign to elect a Southern Baptist President, and I want it done now!" Zogby says Lieberman declared. After that they were in.

--By Douglas Waller/Washington