In the Bill Clinton years, the foreign leader who visited the White House most often was Yasser Arafat - 13 times.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
In September 1993, President Clinton presided over a handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn - the climax of a 'day of awe,' as the press described it.
I've been to the White House a number of times.
I spent a weekend in the White House with President Clinton, back in '99, I guess. We played golf and just hung out and talked on many subjects. I saw him several times subsequently in L.A. He's the smartest man I ever met, a great politician. Everybody was star struck around him.
In Democratic administrations, I visit the White House.
I've had some wonderful times at the White House. I've been with Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush.
George W. Bush was good as his word. He visited the Gulf states 17 times; went 13 times to New Orleans. Laura Bush made 24 trips. Bush saw that $126 billion in aid was sent to the Gulf's residents, as some members of his own party in Congress balked.
President Clinton is one of the dominant figures on the global stage. He has lived an extraordinary life, and he has a great story to tell.
Arafat is hosting, training, supporting, sponsoring terrorist organizations.
Ask Bill Clinton about Yasir Arafat. Clinton and Barak did everything they could in 2000 at Camp David. Arafat walked away from it.
I am the Israeli leader who met most with Arafat.