At Feinstein’s urging, Netanyahu may halt Uzi sale to U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reconsidering his decision to allow an Israeli government-owned company to export thousands of semiautomatic guns to the United States.

After Sen. Dianne Feinstein read the riot act at a meeting last week to Israel's ambassador to the United States, Netanyahu agreed to review his position, said congressional and Israeli sources.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Eliahu Ben-Elissar, first handed Feinstein a two-page letter from the premier that defended Israel Military Industries' plan to export modified versions of the Uzi and Galil weapons to the United States for commercial sale.

After the California senator labeled the response "disingenuous and unsatisfactory," Ben-Elissar asked for a few more days to consider her response.

This week, Israeli officials told Feinstein that the government is reviewing its position.

The proposed sale has drawn the fire of two-thirds of the Senate's Democrats, who are urging President Clinton to step in to stop the sale.

Feinstein, a Democrat from San Francisco, and other five Jewish senators signed a letter to Clinton.

"Mr. President, we do not need more assault weapons on the streets of America. We urge you to use your executive authority as President to prevent this transfer of arms to American streets on behalf of public safety," the 30 senators wrote in the recent letter.

A similar letter from Rep. Walter Capps (D-San Luis Obispo) has attracted 22 House members, including six Jewish lawmakers.

Clinton has not yet responded to the request.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms recently approved modified versions of the Uzi and Galil for import. Israel Military Industries modified the guns to avoid the 1994 assault weapons ban that included other versions of these guns.

At least a dozen other countries have received similar permits to export their guns. Feinstein has said that any state-owned companies will face similar congressional pressure.

"It is my hope that the Israeli government will lead the way and set an example that others will follow," she said.

Last month Feinstein, along with 29 of her colleagues, also sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requesting that he stop the export.

In an effort to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government, Feinstein sent the letter to 18 Jewish groups that she listed at the bottom of her letter to Netanyahu.