A harder line from Israel

President Bill Clinton tried, politely, to register concern on Hebron and the blockade, and on the question of planting new Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

But with a U.S. presidential campaign approaching, he clearly sought to minimize any appearance of public disagreement.

Netanyahu would make a mistake if he took his warm public reception from the president, from a joint session of Congress and from American Jewish leaders as approval for the confrontational approach toward the Palestinians advocated by some of the extremist members of his Cabinet.

Netanyahu suggested that Israel did not have to deliver on its promises for now because the Palestinians were also showing bad faith by failing to stamp out terrorism and by maintaining quasi- diplomatic offices in Jerusalem.

It is reasonable for him to pressure the Palestinians on both of these points, but not by withholding what Israel has already agreed to. That will only discredit the idea of negotiations and elevate the minority of Palestinians still preaching violence.

Meanwhile, the tight blockade that the previous Israeli government imposed on Palestinian communities after the February terror bombings is causing great suffering while serving no evident security purpose. Netanyahu says he wants open economic borders between Israelis and Palestinians, but defers lifting the blockade.

The visiting prime minister was also disturbingly vague on the issue of new Jewish settlements. He pointed out that the Labor government in power for the past four years had allowed the total settlement population to expand by 50 percent and suggested that he could be expected to do no less.

But he left the impression that he intended to step up the pace of expansion and plant new settlements in populated Arab areas of the West Bank.

-- The New York Times

;JP;HPR; ANPAk..r.. Other-Vietnam-Nation Vietnam needs younger leaders JP/4/OTHER2

Vietnam needs younger leaders

Sooner or later power in Vietnam will have to be handed over to a younger generation. Having successfully guided the country out of difficult times, the Vietnamese leaders should leave it to the younger generation to take the country on to a higher plane.

With the availability of the information superhighway and the fact that the world's borders are being brought down rapidly by globalization, change is unavoidable.

To be able to stay on top of the crest, however, Vietnam must prioritize the development of its human resources and the modernization of science and technology.

Both these were underlined during the just-concluded Eighth Party Congress. For this to be realized, Vietnam's leaders must remain open-minded and pragmatic.

After getting over a social and economic crisis, Vietnam's target is to prepare the country for the next century in order to achieve a basic industrialized status by 2020.

Nevertheless, the continued presence of Vietnam's top three leaders after this congress showed a reluctance for change. To be fair, Vietnam has many young candidates waiting in line for succession.

The sudden deaths of Deputy Foreign Minister Le Mai and nuclear physicist Nguyen Dinh Tu, who would have been promoted to the party's new ruling politburo, could serve as an indication that the time is ripe for new blood to be injected into the leadership.

Events in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe indicated that drastic reforms could lead to political chaos. However, this is not the situation in Vietnam. The Vietnamese leaders have learned the lessons of their European counterparts.

Some analysts based in Hanoi agree that the extended terms of Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, President Le Duc Anh and party secretary-general Do Muoi will ensure political stability and continued economic reforms.

They, however, pointed out that some of the measures introduced to ensure the party's leading role belies its assurance of maintaining a conducive environment for foreign investment and the promotion of private enterprise.

"The next stage of renewal will have a greater scope, and thus more difficulties, for it will encounter and solve numerous problems arising from a market economy and international integration," said Do Muoi during the congress.

Do Muoi, who is expected to step down after his new term, should see to it that his successor has the capability to do this aforementioned task. And whoever that person is does not necessarily have to come from his generation.

-- The Nation, Bangkok