Arafat Seeks to Counter ‘Big Lies’ About Summit

JERUSALEM — Stung by a rebuke from President Bill Clinton broadcast on Israeli television, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat embarked Saturday on a world tour to counter what he called “Israeli propaganda” and “big lies.”

Palestinian officials were furious after Clinton took the rare step of granting a 30-minute interview to Israeli television. Clinton used the venue to praise beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak for his “courage” during the Camp David summit in Maryland and to warn Arafat against his plans to declare independence unilaterally.

Speaking to reporters at the Gaza airport, Arafat accused Israel of spreading “big lies [about] what happened at Camp David” and said he would set the record straight as he travels to European and Arab capitals.

“What we are asking for is the accurate and honest implementation of what has been signed and agreed upon,” Arafat said, using English to make sure his message was heard in Washington.

He made the comments after receiving a message from Clinton, delivered by the acting American consul, that pledged to continue working for peace but also repeated the warning against unilateral actions, according to Palestinian officials who described the contents of the letter.

In the Israeli television interview broadcast Friday night, Clinton said he wanted to help beef up Israeli security and would consider moving the U.S. Embassy to West Jerusalem, in effect recognizing Israeli sovereignty over at least part of the disputed holy city. He also warned that he would reexamine all U.S. ties with the Palestinians, including financial aid, if Arafat declares an independent state unilaterally, as the Palestinian leader has said he might do as early as Sept. 13.

Most important, the television appearance was the second time in less than a week that Clinton has seemed to side publicly with Israel and praise Barak in a way that implicitly criticized Arafat.

The American cold shoulder is a blow to Arafat, who has worked tirelessly, and successfully, in recent years to cultivate international respect and favor. Especially during the 1996-99 government of right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not liked by the Clinton administration, Arafat became a frequent guest at the White House.

It apparently reflects just how perturbed Clinton was over what he saw as Arafat’s inflexibility during the Camp David talks, which ultimately broke down over rival claims to Jerusalem. At the same time, Clinton’s comments were also clearly meant to boost Barak, who faces domestic political revolt over his willingness to make concessions to reach a comprehensive peace settlement with the Palestinians. One Israeli newspaper reported that Barak telephoned Clinton and asked for a hand.

Clinton’s comments also angered much of the Arab and Islamic world, with newspapers Saturday blasting what was described as a pro-Israeli bias and questioning whether the president can still be regarded an honest broker in the pursuit of Middle East peace.

With that backdrop, a senior U.S. diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State Edward S. Walker, was leaving Washington on Saturday for the Middle East, where he planned to brief Arab allies on Camp David. An Egyptian newspaper reported that the trip is aimed at building consensus on a power-sharing arrangement for Jerusalem.

Arafat, who later Saturday met in Paris with French President Jacques Chirac, noted that he has already repeatedly delayed the statehood declaration in deference to Clinton, Barak and political circumstances, such as Israeli elections.

“I want to remind Clinton and the whole world that, in fact, we should already have declared a Palestinian state, according to the Oslo [peace] accords, on May 4, 1999,” Arafat was quoted as saying in Paris.

In Washington, U.S. officials who were asked about the negative reaction to Clinton’s comments chose to again urge “courage and creativity” from the Israelis and Palestinians in the quest for a historic treaty.

“We were unable to reach an agreement at Camp David, but we hope now [that there] is a period of reflection where they can see the progress that was made, fully understand the areas that remain unresolved and together can find the right formulation to reach an agreement,” said P.J. Crowley, a White House spokesman.

Senior negotiators for Israel and the Palestinians will meet today to resume contacts on ancillary issues.

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Times staff writer Paul Richter in Washington contributed to this report.