Posted on 10/24/2005 7:15:28 PM PDT by SJackson
Ten years ago this week, the UN was marking its fiftieth anniversary with a series of events around New York City, including an Oct. 23 invitation-only Lincoln Center concert performed by the New York Philharmonic for a glittering list of dignitaries and diplomats. When Rudy Giuliani spotted Yasir Arafat and his entourage making their way to a private box seat near the stage that evening, the mayor immediately ordered the Palestinian leader off the premises.
The man in the street cheered the mayor’s gutsy move, but the city’s liberal elite was appalled. “The proper role of New York, as the UN’s home city,” sniffed The New York Times, “is to play gracious host to all of the 140 or so world leaders present for the organization’s gala 50th birthday celebrations.”
A spokesman for the Clinton administration, which had done so much to build up Arafat’s reputation as a statesman, termed Giuliani’s action “an embarrassment to everyone associated with diplomacy.”
Former mayors David Dinkins and Ed Koch held a joint press conference to denounce Giuliani. “Mayor Giuliani has behavioral problems dealing with other people,” Koch told reporters.
Two days after the concert an unrepentant Giuliani said, “I would not invite Yasir Arafat to anything, anywhere, anytime, anyplace. I don’t forget.”
While a good percentage of the city’s Jewish population applauded Giuliani’s stance, there was a noticeable divide between Orthodox Jews – a rally outside City Hall in support of the mayor drew “dozens of mostly Orthodox Jewish leaders and elected officials,” the Times reported on Oct. 26 – and their secular counterparts.
Just what Giuliani was up against is clear from some of the remarks made that week by Jewish bigwigs such as Dr. Lawrence Rubin, executive vice chairman of the National Jewish Community Relations Council, who sought to portray Giuliani’s action as one motivated purely by politics.
“We think it’s important to demonstrate that the normalization of relations between Israel and the Palestinians can go forward,” said Rubin. “But clearly Mayor Giuliani has domestic political considerations.”
Let’s recall where things stood in October 1995. In the two years since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Arafat had time and again spoken to Arab audiences about his dreams of jihad for Jerusalem and about how Oslo was simply the implementation of the PLO’s long stated goal of destroying Israel in stages. The year 1995 brought with it the advent of the suicide bomber, and buses were exploding in Jerusalem. Support among Israelis for Oslo had fallen precipitously, and polls showed Prime Minister Rabin losing to Benjamin Netanyahu, an outspoken critic of Oslo, in hypothetical matchups.
But Jewish leaders just couldn’t help themselves. Hours before getting the heave-ho from the Lincoln Center event, Arafat had met in Manhattan with about 100 prominent American Jews. A jolly time was had by all, and Arafat apparently made a very nice impression.
“He’s got a very good sense of humor, by the way,” said Israel Levine – described by the Times as “a spokesman for many Jewish organizations” – of the man responsible for the murder of more Jews than anyone since Hitler and Stalin.
Speaking at a UJA-Federation fundraising breakfast shortly after the Lincoln Center controversy, Giuliani said he was “proud of that decision [booting Arafat]. I’d make it again, and the day I’d stop making it is the day I’d resign as mayor....When I write my memoirs, this is one of the things that I probably will be proudest of.”
According to news reports, Giuliani’s comments were applauded by roughly a quarter of his audience. This at an ostensibly Jewish event! Such was the mesmerized state of organized Jewry during that remarkable time, just ten years ago, when a mass killer of Jews was feted and honored around the world, and invited countless times to the White House by an admiring Bill Clinton.
The aforementioned Israel Levine may have loved Arafat’s sense of humor, but Rudy Giuliani found nothing amusing about the Palestinian terror chief. And that’s the difference between real leadership and Jewish leadership.
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My guess he'd toss Abu Mazen too, terrorists are terrorists, Rudy got that pre 9/11.
I love Guiliani.....he's got my vote anytime.....
I wonder if Koch has ever apologized to Guiliani for his comments?
Hell yeah to Rudy! Ive had the honor of meeting Rudy and he is a great man to talk to. Even though i disagree with him on some social issues, he is a great man. Rudy did a lot of good for NYC. The city is slowly starting to slip back into the 80's BS. If you have ever lived here, you will know what im talking aboit (squeegie men, excessive panhandlers, ect...). Rudy was great for NYC, however, I wont vote for him if he ever runs for any high office.
Rudy,Rudy,Rudy,Rudy (as Goober Pyle in Mayberry would say)
If you would come on board with the 2nd amendment and become pro-life, I could vote for you.
I am sick and tired of the hand-holding and molly-coddling of Saudi Oil princes.
I would rather ride my bike to work or work by the internet...than hold hands with the enemy.
Bump
Power and integrity. It's a beautiful thing.
I think we need to talk 2nd Amendment with Rudy.
that action with Arafat was the moment i decided i would follow Rudy anywhere, despite some disagreements with his positions.
Giuliani explained at the time that what he did had nothing to do with Israel.
He said that having been in the third highest position in Reagan's Justice Dept he had knowledge that Arafat was directly responsible for the murder of Americans- including the American Ambassador to the Sudan Cleo Noel.
Giuliani act was pure American patriotism. Contrast to this Administrations failure to seek justice for the Americans murdered in the Gaza convoy.
I have to make a gravesite pilgrimage. I gotta take a piss.
For those who do not remember or may not have heard about this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/1/newsid_4209000/4209239.stm and: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10855
Here's a man I wouldn't mind being in charge of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S. military.
Yeah but he doesn't hate gays, he will come to Montana to personally pick up everyone's guns and he eats aborted fetuses.
Let us not forget Mr. Giuliani also refused to take money from a Saudi prince after 9/11.
Rudy is perfect, except for his positions on the social issues...... (sigh)
Rudy and Dubya both showed the proper respect toward Arafat -- exactly none.
And it still makes me cringe for Chelsea Clinton that her parents had her photographed (repeatedly) sitting or standing next to the filthy Arafat -- in the White House. Parents can stoop no lower than that.
I'll vote for him. Let me first say, I hate abortion and yes, I share the same concerns over Giuliani's abortion stance as many of you but lets be realistic, can any president stop abortion? No. The U.S. Supreme Court can't stop abortion. If Roe v. Wade were overturned tomorrow it would not outlaw abortion, it would just give the issue back to the states, where it was pre-Roe. And lets face it, while many of the red states, particularly those in the south, would outlaw abortion, the blue states wouldn't. Abortions would still be continue to occur. Now I believe Roe should be overturned. Its terrible consitituional law and with the right justices I believe it will be overturned. I believe and hope that with Harriet Miers we will have 4 justices that will vote to overturn Roe and I believe there's a decent chance Bush will be able replace Stevens with a conservative to hopefully give us 5 strong conservatives. Giuliani has said he agrees that the president is right to choose strict constructionist without a litmus test so I believe he would do the same if elected. So therefore, Giuliani might be helpful in getting Roe overturned. Of course we don't know if Bush will be helpful with his appointments because nobody ever knows how a Supreme Court justice will vote until they are on the court. As far as the gay issue, Rudy is AGAINST gay marriage. He is however for equal opportunity for gays without discrimination, which is fair. I truly hope you don't hate gays. Remember, hate the sin not the sinner. President Bush has the same position. As far as the gun issue, I don't believe Rudy will push for gun control. He knows better. Besides, a Republican Congress isn't going to pass any gun control legislation anyways. Giuliani has been extremely supportive of Bush in foreign policy and I believe he would continue those policies. He has been very supportive of Bush's economic polices and tax cuts so I have no problems there. Finally, I believe that Giuliani has leadership ability beyond equal and that's exactly what we will continue to need beyond 2008. He would make an excellent Commander in Chief. He will be as strong as Bush in foreign policy and on the WOT and that's the most important, overriding issue. Plus, who else realistically has a better shot at beating Hillary? Those who say they would vote third party and give the election to Hillary are losing it. Nobody can honestly say Hillary would be better or equal to Rudy as president. Reagan's big tent anyone? Or how about Reagan negoiating with Congressional Democrats over legislation, saying getting 75% is better than nothing. With Rudy you get 75%, with Hillary you get nothing. With all of this in mind, I will enthusatically support Giuliani for president. Giuliani/Jeb Bush 2008!
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