WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (AFP) - It was the signing of an historic peace accord at the White House. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin reluctantly agreed to shake hands with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but he was adamant: "no kissing."
Former US president Bill Clinton tells the story of the tense encounter on September 13, 1999, in his memoir.
Clinton had a tough time trying to break the ice between the two Middle East rivals. The president later criticised Arafat for holding up another peace intiative.
Arafat and Rabin had come together at the White House to sign the first Oslo peace accord, put together after months of tough negotiations in the Norwegian capital. Rabin was assassinated in November 1995 by an Israeli extremist angered by the accords.
"I told Yitzhak that if he was really committed to peace, he'd have to shake Arafat's hand to prove it," Clinton wrote in his best-selling book, "My Life".
"The whole world will be watching, and the handshake is what they will be looking for," the president added.
"Rabin sighed, and in his deep, world-weary voice, said, 'I suppose one does not make peace with one's friends'. 'Then you'll do it?' I asked. He almost snapped at me, 'All right, all right. But no kissing'."
Clinton had to practice manoeuvres with his aides to prevent Arafat from making a traditional Arab kiss on the cheek when he appeared with Rabin on the South Lawn of the White House.
The only way was for Clinton to squeeze Arafat's right arm with his left hand as he came in for the kiss, he wrote.
"I knew Arafat was a great showman and might try to kiss Rabin after the handshake. We had decided that I would shake hands with each of them first, then sort of motion them together," Clinton explained.
"I was sure that if Arafat didn't kiss me, he wouldn't try kissing Rabin. I knew avoiding the kiss was deadly serious for Rabin."
Arafat and Rabin met first inside the White House.
"Arafat said 'hello' to Rabin and held out his hand. Yitzhak's hand were firmly grasped behind his back. He said tersely, 'Outside'. Arafat just smiled and nodded his understanding.
"Then Rabin said, 'You know, we are going to have to work very hard to make this work'. Arafat replied, 'I know, and I am prepared to do my part'."
After initialling the accords, the display on a sunny day on the South Lawn turned out to be a triumph for Arafat, Rabin and Clinton, though all looked nervous.
Clinton first turned to Rabin on his right to take his hand. Arafat was on the left wearing a broad grin. It was the Palestinian leader who took the initiative to offer his hand to the Israeli prime minister who was clearly reluctant.
But Rabin made the effort and an appreciative Clinton slapped him on the shoulder.
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation had formally recognised each other and signed a declaration of principles that would lead to Palestinian autonomy over the next five years starting in territory in Gaza and Jericho.
Rabin gave a speech in which he quoted from the Bible: "We, the soldiers who have returned from battles stained with blood ... say to you today with a loud and clear voice: Enough of blood and tears. Enough."
"It was a magnificent speech, he had used it to reach out to his adversaries," said Clinton.
On the other side, Arafat chose "generous gestures to speak to the Israelis and tough words to reassure the doubters back home."
Clinton said that "all the while Arafat was speaking, he looked uncomfortable and sceptical, so ill at ease that he gave the impression of someone who was dying to excuse himself."
11/11/2004 05:47 GMT - AFP