Flesh
And
Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat
is aging fast;
his will remains
strong.
Pho to by AP/Greg Gi bson
•
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
during Arafat, wearing
military garb and his
trademark headdress
during his visit to
Washington last week, still
evokes images of the stub-
ble-bearded terrorist mas-
termind who caused so
much misery and fear for Jews
worldwide.
But after spending 90 minutes
in a small room with him, it's also
easier to see why Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Barak wants to
quickly strike a comprehensive deal
with a man who in his late 60s is
nearing the end of his lifelong
quest for Palestinian statehood and
almost desperate to succeed before
he departs the scene.
At a small gathering sponsored
by the Center for Strategic and
International Studies last week,
Arafat was cautious and restrained,
offering nothing to break new
ground. But in personal nuance he
seemed to reveal much about a
steely determination to win state-
hood in the limited time he has
left — and, not incidentally, to
keep his new status as a statesman
rather than pariah.
As most everyone agrees, he is
ailing. People who know him say
Arafat looked better on this trip
than in recent months — a telling
assessment since he-looked frail
and unhealthy. Two aides gingerly
led him into a small conference
room. After a turn around the
room for handshakes — his hands
are unusually white and bloodless
looking — he was eased into his
seat at the head of the table.
Once there, the facial tremor
that has led to speculation about
Parkinson's disease or worse was
continually evident. His lower jaw
moved spasmodically; he gripped
the table in front of him, as if to
keep his hands from trembling as
well.
For much of the session he
stared impassively and unblinking-
ly. But certain questions or people
animated him, producing a sudden
and striking change.
When old friends addressed him
— such as former Assistant
Secretary of State Edward
Djerejian, who conducted the first
official U.S. dialogue with the
PLO in 1988 — Arafat's face came
alive. Suddenly the glassy look was
gone; his pleasure in the encounter
was almost embarrassing to watch,
as if it was somehow too private.
issues — Jerusalem, refugees,
water, all of which he spoke about
with an intensity that broke
through his apparent detachment
— he will be an enormously tough
negotiator. Israel would be mistak-
en to assume his determination to
win statehood during his lifetime
or his obvious frailty will lead him
to make big, surprising compro-
mises on issues as emotionally
powerful for the Palestinians as for
Israelis.
Another aspect of the inner
Arafat was on display at a Sept. 24
meeting: the enormous pleasure he
takes in the status and respect he is
accorded in Washington.
Once an international outcast,
now he is a welcome friend,
accorded all the perks — the blar-
And he became engaged when cer-
ing motorcades, the nice hotels,
tain issues were raised, most
the fawning attention of State
notably Jerusalem and Palestinian
Department functionaries —
refugees.
shown to kings and presidents.
But then he lapsed back into
He clearly relishes the change in
impassive detachment,
status and the personal
offering short, not partic- President Clinton
relations he has forged;
ularly focused answers,
extends a handshake
he seems to take it
while his chief negotiator to Palestinian leader
much more personally
— the brilliant, tough
Yasser Arafat before a than other world leaders
Saeb Erekat — took
meeting at the White who do the VIP rounds
license with his transla-
House on Sept. 23.
in Washington.
tor's role.
In print, his frequent
Arafat seems to be holding him-
references to his "partner" Yitzhak
self together by sheer force of will,
Rabin sound trite; in person, he
fending off disease, exhaustion and
seems genuinely affected by the
age. That iron self control — and
relationships that are pillars of his
the sense of urgency to get the job
new standing in the world. And he
done — is evident in words and
refers to Barak as his new part-
manner, and in how he seems to
ner."
conserve energy until the conversa-
Last week the feeble, resolute,
tion turns to what he views as a
proud Arafat did nothing to sug-
core issue.
gest Barak's strategy is mistaken. Fl
At the same time, Arafat gives
the impression that on certain
10/1
1999
Detroit Jewish News
17