Middle East Straight Talk from the U.S.

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In the semantics of Arab-Israeli diplomacy, where "evenhanded" and "honest broker" have often meant quite the opposite, last week's curtain- raising U.S. initiative promised an overdue turn to reality. Secretary of State James Baker, in presenting the Bush Administration's first blueprint for the peace process, did not announce a shift in American policy. But he did offer no-frills clarity and a finely balanced call for concessions from both sides. In a sharp and wise departure from Reagan-era practice, his speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, the most influential pro-Israel lobby, eliminated the sugarcoated reassurances that traditionally soften American urgings to Israel.

The pragmatic Secretary first won ovations from his audience by urging Arabs to take concrete steps toward accommodation with Israel, including transforming the violence of the intifadeh into political dialogue. "End the economic boycott. Stop the challenges to Israel's standing in international organizations," Baker implored. "Repudiate the odious line that Zionism is racism." Calling for serious political dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, Baker asked both sides to consider every idea as "a dealmaker, not a deal breaker."

But the raucous applause from the audience of 1,200 at a Washington hotel turned to stony silence seconds later when, with precise evenhandedness, the Secretary specified what the Bush Administration wanted from Israel. "Now is the time to lay aside, once and for all, the unrealistic vision of a greater Israel," Baker urged. Security interests could be satisfied, he said, by a settlement based on U.N. Resolution 242, which requires secure and recognized borders for Israel. For a change, Baker presented Israel with a U.S. wish ^ list: "Forswear annexation. Stop settlement activity. Allow ((Palestinian)) schools to reopen. Reach out to the Palestinians as neighbors who deserve political rights."

Baker arrived and departed to standing ovations, and his 27-minute address was interrupted 22 times by applause, but in no time, the White House and State Department switchboards were flooded with calls complaining about the stark tone, specificity and "excessive balance" of the proposals.

Not everyone was dismayed. Palestine Liberation Organization spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman called the comments "a big step forward." More significantly, key American-Jewish community leaders also praised Baker's directness. "It was a fair speech that touched every base," said Thomas A. Dine, executive director of AIPAC, even as some of his members branded the initiative "hostile." Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler, former president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said the Secretary "deserves to be commended, not criticized." Pointing out that the tougher demands had been made on the Arabs, Schindler asked, "Is it better to hear sweet nothings or honest talk about what has to be done on both sides?"