When did George W Bush first refuse to talk with Yasser Arafat ?

[kentuck]

As I recall, Clinton was working with Arafat right up to his last day in office and Arafat had declined the best offer ever negotiated for a settlement in that longtime struggle? But, did Bush talk with Arafat when h came into office or did he make any public pronouncements about no talking with Arafat? Just curious. Seems that I recall a lot of situations where the US should have interceded but were ignored? Is my memory incorrect?

[buddy22600]

1. bush calls arafat a terrorist and we do not negotiate with

terrorists we bomb their cities for awhile then we go bomb something else for a while

[rockymountaindem]

2. This is really a catch-22

Arafat isn't the best guy to talk with. He's pretty shifty. He says he wants to be remembered as a general and not a peacemaker. Arafat constantly contradicts himself by saying one thing to the West and another to his own people.

While I don't think Arafat is a man of peace, he is the only Palestinian negotiating partner right now. Trying to reach a settlement with him is kind of a waste of time, but there is nobody else to negotiate with.

However, Bush's complete disengagement during his first 18 months in office didn't help things. Even if they went around in circles for months during negotiations that may have at least quelled some of the tension.

[Francis]

3. I think Arafat ignored him

Prior to Bush becoming President I seem to remember a story that he visited Israel and was given a tour by Sharon including a flight over Gaza and the West Bank.
Arafat said he was too busy to meet him

[Auntie Bush]

5. Good for Arafat! I didn't know that. he snubbed Bush ..seems

like he knew something we didn't. (Like Bush being an arrogant a**hole)

I remember as soon as he took office he wouldn't negotiate with Afafat...because Clinton did and he wouldn't do anything like Clinton.

[kentuck]

7. That's how I remembered it....

Perhaps someone can enlighten us????

[PATRICK]

4. Cheney greenlighted Arafat early on

About the time Sharon put Arafat under siege, Cheney publicly gave permission for him to be killed(at least an irritated "wish" or "understanding"). It seems clear that chaos or new hardline leaders would have been AOK for the opportunities they wished to see in Middle East instability. Peace and the interests of the citizens had nothing to do with WH Mideast policy. The war agenda and "remaking" by force of the region was the goal. The more dead wood that stoked the fires the better.

Negotiation was NOT a priority, only the big stick. The less sympathetic the victims the better to justify the broom.

[spanone]

6. bush* ignored the Israli - Palestinian "problem" for Eight Months

we were too busy fucking with the Chinese if you remember correctly.