Security fears for Clinton’s arrival

The Scotsman ^ | 11/19/2001 | Tracey Lawson

[CommiesOut]

Security fears for Clinton’s arrival

Tracey Lawson
(tlawson@scotsman.com)

BILL CLINTON’s visit to Scotland is at the centre of a security scare amid fears the Arab community is planning to stage a protest against his dealings with Israel.

The former US president is due to visit Glasgow next month, where he will be guest speaker at a dinner hosted by the Jewish National Fund. The dinner is being held to help raise £1 million towards a reservoir in Israel which will be named after Mr Clinton.

Security for his trip has already been tightened following the 11 September terrorist attacks, after which his wife, Hillary, cancelled a planned visit to the Scottish Parliament.

But fears for his safety will be further fuelled by reports that Strathclyde Police have been told by Palestinians that hundreds of Arabs will stage a protest at the Hilton Hotel, where the dinner is to be held.

Nobody from Strathclyde Police was available to comment on the reports last night. However, it is understood that secret-service officers from the US and Israel are liaising with UK Special Branch officers, with a £250,000 security operation swinging into place as Mr Clinton attends further JNF functions in Manchester and London as part of the three-day fundraising visit to the UK.

Last night, a spokesman for the JNF said it would be "surprised and disappointed" if Palestinians staged the protest.

Stanley Lovatt, the national vice-president of the JNF, said he had received no information from police to suggest such a protest would go ahead.

He added: "I would be very surprised if this happened. I have heard nothing about this.

"I would be disappointed. We are a non-political organisation and Mr Clinton has been invited for non-political reasons.

"We are raising money for a reservoir in Israel, and have invited Mr Clinton because he is a former president of the United States, a great speaker and we knew he would sell tickets.

"But nothing could overshadow Mr Clinton’s visit to the JNF dinner, which is something we are very proud of."

Tickets for the Glasgow event, which cost £125 a head, sold out within five weeks of going on sale.

Mr Lovatt, who has masterminded the coup of attracting Mr Clinton to the UK, said: " Mr Clinton will speak for an hour and answer questions for half an hour.

Mr Clinton is believed to charge around £100,000 for making speeches, however Mr Lovatt confirmed the President would be speaking to the JNF for a "nominal fee" which he was did not disclose.

JNF raises money for public projects such as irrigation schemes in Israel, but is also active in promoting Zionism in education, boasting a JNF-funded teacher in almost every Israeli school.

[American Preservative]

here's my 2 cents that I am saving for my JNF box. : ) Good one.

I was thinking of Jackie Mason! LOL

O.K., let's see....I'm thinking.....hmm...uh, can I get back to you on this? : )

[Fraulein]

News From Ireland:

DONNYBROOK OVER CLINTON: Bill's Looking Bronzed and Sculpted

[2sheep]

>>>Why invite Clinton? The nation has moved on and more and more Jews should soon be seeing that GWBush is doing well by American Jews and Israel.

Dennis, you are being sarcastic, right?  We were expecting to see a hand writing MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN  on the wall during the Muslim dinner at the White House.

[onyx]

Re: your post #76 --- how about Daniel Pipes?

[MississippiMan]

I never got this either - I think it may be part of their general disassociation and lack of understanding of our culture and language - Clinton was indeed their best ally, the same way that CNN and the NY Times etc are as well. Yet almost all rabid muslims rage against these and other liberal groups as if they were Kahanists!

maybe we shouldn't tell them - let them keep annoying the crap out of the very idiots who support them...

They obviously just lump us all together and pay attention to visible icons as if they represent all of us. What a joke for anyone to think they're getting to me by bashing Bill Clinton. Perhaps we should just leave 'em alone, as you suggest. :-)

MM

[Frohickey]

Arabs protesting Bubba Clinton...what are they trying to do? Get on our good side? ;)