Arafat and the Holocaust Museum
Thursday, October 19, 2006; Page A28
In his commentary on Arab attitudes toward the Holocaust [Outlook, Oct. 8], Robert Satloff stated that "only one Arab leader at or near the highest level of government -- a young prince from a Persian Gulf state -- has ever made an official visit" to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Mr. Satloff may be unaware that on an official visit to Washington in 1998, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat expressed a strong desire to visit the Holocaust museum, but his request was rejected by the museum. Though that decision was later reversed, the effort to blacklist Arafat was strongly endorsed by Israel's ambassador to Washington at the time, numerous American Jewish leaders and many members of Congress.
It is a shame that instead of welcoming Arafat's desire to pay his respects to the millions who died, American Jewish leaders and the Holocaust museum chose to demonize him as unfit to visit the museum. Because of their prejudice, a rare opportunity to increase mutual empathy and understanding was missed.
AFIF SAFIEH
Head of the PLO Mission to the United States
Washington
