Clinton Recalls Tale of Pistol-Packing Arafat
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Speaking at an Abington synagogue, former President Clinton told the group that Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat wanted to wear a gun at a 1993 White House ceremony announcing the Middle East peace agreement.
“I said, ‘This is a peace agreement. This isn’t a remake of “Rio Bravo,” ’ “ Clinton said, referring to the classic John Wayne movie.
During decades in exile, Arafat regularly wore a pistol, and sparked a controversy when he wore it during a speech to the U.N. General Assembly in 1974.
About 850 people paid as much as $600 each to hear Clinton speak.
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