ARAFAT'S MOVES FOLLOWING VISA DENIAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380032-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2013
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: December 1, 1988
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for
Release 2013/10/28 : ip
CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380032-1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380032-1
Talking Points for the DDI
Luncheon at State
Arafat's Moves Following Visa Denial
01 December 1988
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PLO Chairman Arafat wants to address a United Nations General Assembly
session in Geneva--perhaps as early as mid-December--to build on growing
international support for PLO moderation, keep PLO hardliners in check, and
pressure the US to respond to PLO diplomatic moves.
--The denial of a US visa to Arafat has given PLO hardliners their
first boost since Arafat's dominance of the moderate proceedings of
last month's Palestine National Council in Algiers and made a
diplomatic success for Arafat at the UN even more important if he is
to contain internal critics of his moderate policy.
--Widespread European criticism of the US decision and aggressive Arab
lobbying among UN members give Arafat a strong chance of winning
support for a General Assembly session in Geneva.
Arafat's Strategy and Risks
PLO moderation--begun at last June's Arab League summit with the
release of a conciliatory-sounding statement on policy toward Israel--is
designed to earn Arafat a place at an international peace conference and
produce tangible political gains from the year-old Palestinian uprising.
--Arafat almost certainly believes the US rejection of his visa
application will strengthen support even among US allies in Europe
for a direct PLO role in future peace talks.
--Arafat, however, will probably be reluctant to give an explicit
recognition of Israel or unqualified acceptance of resolutions 242
and 338 at a Geneva session to avoid fueling hardline opposition and
to preserve bargaining leverage with the US.
Implications for the US
Arafat almost certainly will continue to restrain his criticisms of the
visa denial to avoid foreclosing a possible dialogue with the incoming US
administration.
--He hopes such a dialogue will strengthen his position over PLO
hardliners and assure his standing among Palestinians in the
occupied territories.
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--Arab moderates with a major stake in a successful international
peace conference--such as Egypt and Jordan--are likely to redouble
their efforts to persuade Arafat to ignore pressure from PLO
hardliners to backslide from the PNC's positions.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380032-1
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