"The only time Yasser Arafat didn't tell me the truth" — Clinton reflects on missed peace opportunity

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton expressed deep-seated emotions and insights into the failed peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Clinton recounted his experiences during the peace talks, revealing the complexities and missed opportunities that characterized the historic discussions.

“The only time Yasser Arafat didn’t tell me the truth,” Clinton began, “was when he promised me he was going to accept the peace deal that we had worked out.”

This deal, a significant diplomatic effort, aimed to establish a Palestinian state on “96% of the West Bank and 4% of Israel,” with the Palestinians having the authority to choose the specific areas in Israel, effectively ensuring a land equivalent to the entire West Bank. Central to the proposal was granting Palestinians a capital in East Jerusalem.

Clinton’s emotional recounting of this crucial juncture in history was palpable as he stated, “I can hardly talk about this,” highlighting the personal and historical weight of the failed agreement. The deal also promised Palestinians “equal access all day every day to the security towers that Israel maintained all through the West Bank up to the Golan Heights.”

The former president underscored the comprehensive nature of the offer, which included “a capital in East Jerusalem and 2 of the 4 quadrants of the old city of Jerusalem,” an agreement confirmed by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and his cabinet. Despite these substantial offers, Arafat and his negotiators rejected the deal, a decision Clinton believes was influenced by other factions within Palestinian society.

“Hamas did not care about a homeland for the Palestinians,” Clinton asserted, suggesting that their primary focus was “to kill Israelis and make Israel uninhabitable.” He poignantly added, “Well, I got news for them, they were there first before there was their faith existed,” referencing the historical presence of Jews in the region since “the time of King David, in the southernmost tribes, Hadjardia and Samaria.”

Clinton’s reflections provide a window into the complexities and deeply rooted historical narratives that continue to shape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, underscoring the challenges of achieving lasting peace in the region.