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New York Observer
This column ran on page 4 in the 4/2/01 edition of The New York Observer.

Arafat and the Clintons Go Shopping

It’s no longer any secret that Bill and Hillary Clinton, whatever ideals they may have held in their younger days, now feel entitled to any extra money, jewelry or furniture that comes their way, no matter how tainted the source. And they are quite willing to exchange favors in return: witness the pardoning of Marc Rich, whose ex-wife Denise knew how to come up with the big money at the right moment. Now it turns out that Yasir Arafat may be added to the disturbingly long list of those who realized that the Clintons are “rentable” politicians. Government documents filed in the Federal Register show that last year, the Palestinian leader and terrorism supporter gave President Clinton and his wife gifts valued at more than $12,000, including gold and diamond necklaces, bracelets and earrings worth $7,400.

One would like to assume that Mr. and Mrs. Clinton did not keep every piece of jewelry: Federal employees are forbidden to keep gifts worth more than $960. But given the fact that the former First Couple fled the White House with more than a few questionable items—which they were forced to return—would anyone be surprised if Mrs. Clinton was wearing some of Mr. Arafat’s baubles in the Senate? The Palestinian leader is apparently quite the shopper: He also gave jewelry worth $17,400 to Mr. Clinton’s Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. Mr. Arafat’s Israeli counterparts chose not to deluge the First Family with trinkets: Last year, Israeli Knesset member (and now Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon gave the Clintons two antique maps worth a modest $500.

No one can know what influence, if any, Mr. Arafat’s gifts had on Mr. Clinton’s Middle East policy. But the pardons have shown that Mr. and Mrs. Clinton are chillingly good at rewarding those who reward them. The Clintons’ relationship with Mr. Arafat has always been cozy: He was a frequent White House guest, and his wife, Suha Arafat, received a hearty kiss and embrace from Mrs. Clinton moments after Mrs. Arafat finished a speech in which she accused the Israelis of gassing Palestinian children.

One has to hand it to the Clintons: They believe in equal-opportunity greed. They will take money and luxury goods from anyone, regardless of ideology and morality.