Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) receives warm welcome from Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert during yesterday's visit to Sbarro pizzeria, scene of summer suicide attack.
Posted on 02/25/2002 5:11:34 AM PST by areafiftyone
Sen. Hillary Clinton swept through Israel on a charm offensive yesterday, embracing hawkish Israeli politicians who once denounced her and slamming Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at every turn.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) receives warm welcome from Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert during yesterday's visit to Sbarro pizzeria, scene of summer suicide attack.
Clinton's message appeared to sway even harsh critics like Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, who bitterly attacked her for backing a Palestinian state and endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani when he was thinking about running against her for the Senate.
"Your arrival at this time is a great statement of support," Olmert said after sipping cappuccinos with Clinton at a Jerusalem pizzeria. "You couldn't touch our hearts in a more sincere way."
Clinton (D-N.Y.) insisted she had always been pro-Israel and accused Arafat of fanning the 17-month Palestinian uprising.
Fury in '99
"I've never changed my mind," she said. "I always did what I could to protect and promote Israel's security. What has changed is that we don't have a partner for a lasting peace."
Clinton infuriated Israelis during a preelection visit in 1999 when she sat silently as Arafat's wife accused Israel of using poison gas against Palestinians. She later denounced Suha Arafat's remarks as inflammatory rhetoric.
This time, Clinton was welcomed with open arms by former critics as she wrapped up the last leg of her 36-hour solidarity trip to Israel.
Visit to a Pizzeria
"Israel is balancing between its duty to protect its citizens while continuing its openness to end violence," Clinton said after meetings with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
Later, Clinton visited the Sbarro pizzeria in downtown Jerusalem, where a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 15 Israelis on Aug. 9.
"Wherever terrorism strikes, that's Ground Zero," Clinton said. "Yasser Arafat bears the responsibility for the violence that has occurred. It rests on his shoulders."
Outside the pizzeria, visiting New Yorkers like Susan and Irving Young of Flushing, Queens, said they were thrilled to see Clinton in the Holy Land.
"We were worried when we saw the crowds and the police — we thought something bad had happened," Susan Young said. "But then when we saw it was Hillary visiting, we were very happy. It's great that she is showing her solidarity with Israel."
Uncertain Citizens
Average Israelis were not as welcoming.
"I'm not sure where she really stands," said Dr. Mano Andregacho, an Ethiopian immigrant to Israel.
Clinton also met with Israeli border guard Natan Sandaka, who was badly burned while trying to stop a suicide bomber.
"Like the New York firefighters and police in the World Trade Center, you ran toward danger, not away from it," Clinton said.
Before departing, Clinton placed a wreath at the grave of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was slain by a Jewish ultranationalist opposed to making peace with the Palestinians
I'm with the "average" Israeli citizens who are not quite sure where she stands.
This is so depressing.
You know, I'm going to Barf-a-rama, and buying them by the case....
I hope you had the perverbial barf bag handy.....otherwise it can get rather messy...I've been buying them by the case, for situations exactly like this one...LOL
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