1988 Yasser Arafat speech to the United Nations General Assembly

In mid December 1988, Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman Yasser Arafat gave a significant speech to the United Nations General Assembly elaborating on the Palestinian Declaration of Independence that had been proclaimed in mid November 1988. As a result of Arafat's speech, the government of the United States of America began direct negotiations with the PLO for the first time. History Prelude In mid November 1988, the Palestinian National Council formally proclaimed the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. United States visa controversy Before the end of November, the American government announced that it would refuse Arafat a visa, effectively preventing him from being able to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York.30 November 1988 Shultz Vigorous in Defending Decision Denying Arafat Visit https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/30/world/shultz-vigorous-in-defending-decision-denying-arafat-visit.html Pear Robert 18 August 2025 The New York Times1 July 1989 The Arafat Visa Affair: Exceeding the Bounds of Host State Discretion https://www.jstor.org/stable/2203310 Reisman W. Michael 8 September 2025 The American Journal of International Law In its official statement explaining the decision, the Department of State said that the American Congress had agreed to the 1947 agreement hosting the UN in New York City (and the subsequent duty to allow rights of transit for people invited to the UN) on the condition that the American government would retain the power to bar people thought to pose a danger to American security. The Department of State said that, while it had routinely issued visas to PLO representatives following the UN's decision to grant observer status to the PLO, there was "convincing evidence that P.L.O. elements have engaged in terrorism against Americans and others" in recent years, including by Fatah organisations like the Fatah Special Operations Group and Force 17, as well as noting the participation of the Palestinian Liberation Front (responsible for the Achille Lauro hijacking) in the PNC, meaning that Arafat "condones and lends support to such acts; he therefore is an accessory to such terrorism."27 November 1988 Statement Denying Visa For Arafat https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/27/world/statement-denying-visa-for-arafat.html 8 September 2025 The New York Times The Department of State continued by saying that "the United States firmly believes that Palestinian political rights must be recognized and addressed," saying that the Palestinian Declaration of Independence contained "encouraging" signs, but that "no participant in a peace process can wave the flag of justice in one hand and brandish the weapons of terrorism in the other." The decision attracted international controversy.28 November 1988 Arabs decry US rejection of visa for PLO's Arafat. DENIED A U.N. AUDIENCE https://www.csmonitor.com/1988/1128/aplo.html Wayne E. A. 8 September 2025 The Christian Science Monitor3 December 1988 Terrorism Analysts Dispute Veto of Arafat Visa : U.S. and Israeli Experts Say International Violence by PLO Is Down Sharply https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-03-mn-950-story.html Wright Robin 8 September 2025 The Los Angeles Times29 November 1988 European Nations Angry at U.S. for Denying Arafat an Entry Visa https://www.jta.org/archive/european-nations-angry-at-u-s-for-denying-arafat-an-entry-visa 8 September 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs argued that the United States was obliged to grant Arafat a visa as the American government had no evidence that Arafat was planning to engage in any terrorist-related activities during his trip to the United States, saying that the precedent established by Dag Hammarskjöld in the 1950s was that the American government's power to refuse a visa could only be based on "clear and convincing evidence that a person intended in bad faith to use his or her trip as a cover for activities against that country's security."29 November 1988 Statement concerning the determination by the Secretary of State of the United States of America on the visa application of Yasser Arafat, made at the 136th meeting of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, on 28 November 1988 https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/52581 8 September 2025 United Nations Office of Legal Affairs The decision received domestic support in the United States.28 November 1988 Jewish Groups Welcome Decision to Deny Arafat Entry to U.S. https://www.jta.org/archive/jewish-groups-welcome-decision-to-deny-arafat-entry-to-u-s 8 September 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency The majority of senators signed an open letter authored by Republican Chuck Grassley and Democrat Dennis DeConcini applauded Shultz "for the courage you showed in articulating this issue."1 December 1988 More Than Half the Senate Thanks Shultz for Move to Bar Arafat https://www.jta.org/archive/more-than-half-the-senate-thanks-shultz-for-move-to-bar-arafat 18 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Stockholm meeting and speech On 6 December 1988, before addressing the UNGA, Arafat and several other senior PLO leaders arrived in Sweden on an official visit. According to Ed Magnuson of Time Magazine, "Swedish diplomats have a tradition of mediating between Arabs and Jews that goes back to Count Folke Bernadotte and U.N. Special Representative Gunnar Jarring. Last September was the 40th anniversary of Bernadotte’s assassination in Jerusalem, and many Swedes were enraged when two former members of the ultra-Zionist Stern Gang went on Israeli television and boasted about their part in the killing. The incident may have helped intensify Swedish efforts to get the U.S. and the P.L.O. talking."26 December 1988 A Dance of Many Veils: Shultz and Arafat https://time.com/archive/6701431/a-dance-of-many-veils-shultz-and-arafat/ Magnuson Ed 28 August 2025 Time Magazine In Sweden, Arafat and the PLO delegation met with Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Sten Andersson at the Haga Palace in Stockholm. Five Jewish Americans would join the meeting: lawyer and peace activist Rita Hauser, human rights activist and head of the Labor Zionist Alliance Menachem Z. Rosensaft, peace activist Stanley Sheinbaum, Abraham Udovitch of Princeton University, and peace activist Drora Kass.7 December 1988 ARAFAT IN SWEDEN MEETS 5 U.S. JEWS https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/07/world/arafat-in-sweden-meets-5-us-jews.html Lohr Steve 28 August 2025 The New York Times29 December 1988 RITA HAUSER SPEAKING HER PEACE https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/12/30/rita-hauser-speaking-her-peace/c2bdfcae-b8af-4044-a4e5-542772fe4022/ 28 August 2025 The Washington Post Following the meeting, Arafat gave a speech in which he claimed to clarify the PLO's position on the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, stating that "We accept two states, the Palestine state and the Jewish state of Israel."8 December 1988 ARAFAT SAYS P.L.O. ACCEPTED ISRAEL https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/08/world/arafat-says-plo-accepted-israel.html 18 August 2025 The New York Times United States Secretary of State George Shultz responded to the Stockholm speech by saying that it was welcomed, but still fell short of the United States conditions for opening diplomacy with the PLO and would require further clarification.9 December 1988 U.S. Still Waiting for Unambiguous Statement on Israel from the PLO https://www.jta.org/archive/u-s-still-waiting-for-unambiguous-statement-on-israel-from-the-plo 18 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency The meeting was widely criticised by Jewish American groups.8 December 1988 Arafat scores a 'diplomatic coup in Sweden https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102036525 28 August 2025 The Canberra Times Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman stated that the five "does not represent the mainstream of Jewish opinion in the United States," while the Zionist Organization of America accused the five of being "actors in Yasir Arafat’s public relations melodrama."7 December 1988 Meeting with Arafat Yields ‘progress’ Says One of the American Participants https://www.jta.org/archive/meeting-with-arafat-yields-progress-says-one-of-the-american-participants 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations chair Morris B. Abram accused the five of being "willing dupes." Rabbinical Council of America vice-president Binyamin Walfish described the meeting as "totally irresponsible."8 December 1988 JEWISH SPOKESMEN DIVIDED ON ARAFAT https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/08/world/jewish-spokesmen-divided-on-arafat.html Steinfels Peter 28 August 2025 The New York Times Union of American Hebrew Congregations president Alexander M. Schindler stated that it "appears to be a step in the right direction," but warned that "ultimately, if Yasir Arafat wants peace, he will have to make that peace not with the Prime Minister of Sweden, nor with the United States Government, nor with American Jews - however well-intentioned - but with Israel itself." Rosensaft would submit a formal apology to the Labor Zionist Alliance later in December for not consulting with the rest of the organisation's leadership before participating in the meeting.20 December 1988 Labor Zionists Decide Not to Oust Rosensaft for Meeting with Arafat https://www.jta.org/archive/labor-zionists-decide-not-to-oust-rosensaft-for-meeting-with-arafat 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Arafat's Stockholm speech was met with scepticism from the Israeli government. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir stated that the PLO "can declare anything when their intention and ambition and philosophy — the destruction of the state of Israel — remains unchanged," adding that "I don't see any, I don't think I will ever see any meaningful change because they formed to destroy the state of Israel. The day they will agree this is not possible and not desirable they will have to break up."9 December 1988 Arafat speech a 'publicity stunt' https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102036823 28 August 2025 The Canberra Times Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres stated that Arafat's speech "does nothing to upgrade the ambiguity and double-talk the PLO has used in Algiers."6 December 1988 Arafat Statement in Stockholm on Israel Draws Mixed Reaction https://www.jta.org/archive/arafat-statement-in-stockholm-on-israel-draws-mixed-reaction 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency The Stockholm was also met with criticism from some factions of the PLO, with the DFLP calling it "a capitulatory reading which deformed the agreements reached at the P.N.C.," and PFLP leader George Habash saying that it "did not reflect the reality of the decisions adopted by the P.N.C. in Algiers."10 December 1988 2 Palestinian Leaders Assail Arafat's Stockholm Remarks https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/10/world/2-palestinian-leaders-assail-arafat-s-stockholm-remarks.html 28 August 2025 The New York Times Before leaving Sweden, Arafat would meet with Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson, who cut short a visit to France, would stop by the grave of former Prime Minister Olof Palme to lay a wreath, and would join a formal lunch at Riksdagen.6 December 1988 Arafat Meets 5 U.S. Jewish Leaders in Sweden; Israel Irate https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-06-mn-1015-story.html 28 August 2025 The Los Angeles Times United Nations General Assembly speech As the American government had denied Arafat a visa to the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United Nations General Assembly chose to hold a special session in Geneva, Switzerland.3 December 1988 Arafat U.N. Talk Shifted to Geneva : Only U.S., Israel Vote No; Move Held Slap at Washington https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-03-mn-929-story.html Shannon Don 31 October 2025 The Los Angeles Times Arafat's UNGA speech was met with scepticism from the Israeli government.20 December 1988 Arafat Maintains ‘satanic’ Plan, Shamir Tells Children of Survivors https://www.jta.org/archive/arafat-maintains-satanic-plan-shamir-tells-children-of-survivors 31 October 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir described it as "an act of monumental deception," and pledged that his government "shall not recognize the PLO under any conditions."14 December 1988 Shamir Blasts Arafat Speech As a ‘monumental Deception’ https://www.jta.org/archive/shamir-blasts-arafat-speech-as-a-monumental-deception 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres described it as "a rhetorical success and a political disappointment," while stating Israel would be willing to negotiate with Palestinians, but "It is not enough to declare that shooting will be stopped. There must be an immediate end to phenomena such as the stone and gasoline bomb attacks."15 December 1988 Peres Disappointed in Arafat, but Open to Future Dialogue https://www.jta.org/archive/peres-disappointed-in-arafat-but-open-to-future-dialogue 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Yohanan Bein stated that Israel was "ready to conduct negotiations" based on UNSC resolutions 242 and 338, but would not negotiate with the PLO as "the PLO has not abandoned terrorism. The killing of women and children in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is clearly condoned," saying that "violent disturbances must cease, tranquility and normal daily life must be restored in the territories."15 December 1988 Arafat Has Not Abandoned Terrorism, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Declares https://www.jta.org/archive/arafat-has-not-abandoned-terrorism-israels-u-n-ambassador-declares 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency At the end of the special session in Geneva, the UNGA adopted United Nations General Assembly Resolution 43/177.https://genevemonde.ch/documents/01k817zxzddqpcm374qjrda1hg Aftermath and opening of United States-PLO diplomacy In the days following Arafat's speech to the UNGA, the American government announced that it believed that the PLO had met its conditions for opening diplomacy. United States Ambassador to Tunisia Robert Pelletreau would be charged with leading direct talks between the PLO and the US for the first time.15 December 1988 U.S. AGREES TO TALKS WITH P.L.O., SAYING ARAFAT ACCEPTS ISRAEL AND RENOUNCES ALL TERRORISM https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/15/world/us-agrees-talks-with-plo-saying-arafat-accepts-israel-renounces-all-terrorism.html Pear Robert 18 August 2025 The New York Times At the end of December 1988, the American government temporarily froze negotiations with the PLO as the Reagan administration prepared for the transition to the George H. W. Bush administration in January 1989.29 December 1988 No More U.S. Talks with PLO Until George Bush Takes Office https://www.jta.org/archive/no-more-u-s-talks-with-plo-until-george-bush-takes-office 28 August 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Following Arafat's speech to the UNGA, the European Parliament voted 60-52 in favour of a resolution calling for European governments to recognise the PLO as a Palestinian government in exile.19 December 1988 European Parliament Urges PLO Be Recognized As Government https://www.jta.org/archive/european-parliament-urges-plo-be-recognized-as-government 31 October 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Later in December 1988, the European Economic Community announced that it would embark on a diplomatic initiative to encourage direct negotiations between the PLO and Israel.20 December 1988 Europeans to Try Bringing Israel and PLO Together https://www.jta.org/archive/europeans-to-try-bringing-israel-and-plo-together 31 October 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency In late December, a rally would be organised by Peace Now calling for the Israeli government to begin negotiating with the PLO as well. A late December Dahaf Institute poll found that 54% of Israelis supported opening negotiations with the PLO.27 December 1987 Thousands Rally in Favor of Israeli Talks with PLO https://www.jta.org/archive/thousands-rally-in-favor-of-israeli-talks-with-plo 31 October 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Assessments Debates over Arafat's diplomacy In 2003, Israeli author Barry Rubin argued that "rather than see the dialogue as a chance to prove his readiness for serious negotiation and compromise, Arafat portrayed it as a triumph which had showed that the Intifada was forcing the United States to accept the PLO on its own terms."Rubin, Barry M. & Judith Colp Rubin. Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography. Oxford University Press, 2003. Pages 114-118. In 2014, commenting on the 2013–2014 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks, Alan Baker of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs argued that "Arafat’s 1988 statement does not come close to meeting the requirement for the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish People," arguing that he "only summarized the language of UN General Assembly Resolution 181."17 March 2014 Arafat and the Jewish State: Setting the Record Straight https://jcpa.org/article/arafat-jewish-state-setting-record-straight/ Baker Alan 28 August 2025 Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs Role of the Swedish government The role of the Swedish government in facilitating the diplomatic events has been remarked upon.16 December 1988 Sweden Worked Behind the Scenes to Get Arafat to Meet U.S. Demands https://www.jta.org/archive/sweden-worked-behind-the-scenes-to-get-arafat-to-meet-u-s-demands Eytan Edwin 31 October 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency According to Fatah politician Ahmed Qurei, Swedish efforts to bring about international Palestinian diplomacy began with a 1974 meeting between then Prime Minister Olof Palme and Arafat, with the country playing a significant role in the PLO gaining observer status in the UN and then in the late 1988 events.Qurei, Ahmed. Beyond Oslo, the Struggle for Palestine: Inside the Middle East Peace Process from Rabin's Death to Camp David. I.B.Tauris, 2008. Chapter 4. Scholar Barry Rubin has noted on Arafat's UNGA speech that "he initially tried to keep his statement on the borderline, short of the minimum needed to qualify for a dialogue. Swedish officials had to revise his text, writing changes in the margins." According to Timo Behr and Teija Tiilikainen, "Andersson had long been engaged in the Middle East issue and is reported to have used his good personal relations with Arafat to lean on him to recognise Israel on behalf of the PLO as a precondition for the peace negotiations to begin."Behr, Timo & Teija Tiilikainen. Northern Europe and the Making of the EU's Mediterranean and Middle East Policies: Normative Leaders Or Passive Bystanders? Taylor & Francis, 2016. Pages 134-136. Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Pierre Schori described the events as "a triumph for diplomacy and reconciliation," while highlighting the role the Swedish government had played, declaring that "it is a great accomplishment for our foreign minister, Sten Andersson, and for Swedish diplomacy."15 December 1988 Swedes Played Key Role in PLO Diplomacy https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-15-mn-525-story.html 28 August 2025 The Los Angeles Times Following the 1991 Swedish general election, in which the Social Democrats lost its ability to form a majority in Riksdagen and a centre-right government was formed under Moderate Party Carl Bildt, the Social Democratic government in neighbouring Norway would take on an increased role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, overseeing the 1993 Oslo Accords.2012 Fostering peace through dialogue: The international social democratic movement and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict https://www.jstor.org/stable/26452235 Väänänen Pentti 31 October 2025 Regions & Cohesion The Swedish government would still play a significant role in the Oslo Accords negotiations, however.7 July 2025 Stockholm, not Oslo: the dramatic night that made the peace deal between Israel and the PLO https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-07-07/ty-article-magazine/.premium/stockholm-not-oslo-the-night-that-made-the-peace-deal-between-israel-and-the-plo/00000197-cac9-d0a5-a3ff-eefd3adc0000 Singer Joel 31 October 2025 Haaretz See also List of international trips made by Yasser Arafat 1988 Shultz Initiative 10 agorot controversy References Category:First Intifada Category:Yasser Arafat Category:United Nations General Assembly Yasser Arafat speech