Bush charges Clinton interfered in Israeli elections

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential contender George W. Bush charged that the Clinton administration interfered in Israel's elections last year.

Addressing the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee, Bush won a round of applause when he said Clinton threw his weight to help elect Ehud Barak as Israel's prime minister, Middle East Newsline reports.

"A clear and bad example was the administration's attempt to take sides in the most recent Israeli election," Bush said. "America should not interfere in Israel's democratic process. And America will not interfere in Israeli elections when I am the president."

It was the first time a prominent American politician has asserted that Clinton was involved in the election of Barak. The charge was raised by supporters of Binyamin Netanyahu, who lost to Barak in elections nearly one year ago.

The State Department refused to comment on Bush's assertion.

Bush said he is certain that Israel and the United States will occasionally disagree regardless of who is in the White House. But he pledged to respect Israel's position and its supporters in Washington. As president, Bush's father, criticized Israeli lobbyists in Congress.

"My advice is, keep speaking, keep working, keep fighting for your principles," the junior Bush said. "This nation, the land of Israel, the Middle East and the world are better for it."

Bush told AIPAC that he will transfer the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. "As soon as I take office, I will begin the process of moving the United States ambassador to the city Israel has chosen as its capital," Bush said.