It's really no wonder Arafat gets into arguments with his cronies so much. I think we've all tried to talk to people like this before...
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Angry
And then we began.
I started off with what I'd ranked as my killer point - the fact that President George Bush had just released a statement blaming Mr Arafat for getting in the way of peace.
But it didn't seem to bother him at all.
"It's his point of view," he said.
So, I pressed him a bit further. And then he got angry.
"You are speaking for the Americans?" he asked me. "Do not forget," he said, leaning forward and pointing, "you are speaking with Yasser Arafat."
This proved to be the pattern for the next 20 minutes or so.
I would ask a question. He would dodge it, accuse me of forgetting a key point and then start into a mini-speech which I could never quite cut short.
At times he didn't even like the most innocuous of openings.
"You are the acknowledged leader of the Palestinians..." I began.
"This is a problem for you?" he interrupted. "You are against our constitution?"
And on we lurched. I asked him why he and his first Prime Minister Abu Mazen had argued so much.
"This is not accurate," he said.
"You have made another fatal mistake," he added, looking fairly pleased with himself.
I changed the subject: "What will you do if Israel comes to get you?"
"Welcome Israel," he said with a smile. It was obviously his standard reply - it certainly amused his entourage who were crowded all around me.
Silence
And then I ended by asking him about his health - since there'd been so many recent rumours of heart attacks, of stomach cancer, even of mysterious poisonings.
But he said nothing. Instead he kissed his hands and looked upwards. He seemed very pleased with this silent answer.
And we then moved onto what seemed to be Mr Arafat's favourite part - the photocall.
First, there was a group photo.
"And now, one by one," the leader called out happily. So we obediently queued up to have individual portraits taken with him. He very much enjoyed this.
Then we stood around talking. |
