Lazio Defends Arafat Handshake

Sept. 10 -- Rep. Rick Lazio today defended shaking hands with Palentinian leader Yasser Arafat, as a photo has raised a new controversy in New York’s contentious Senate race.

The photo, taken in December 1998 and obtained by ABCNEWS from the White House today, shows Lazio shaking hands with Arafat and broadly grinning.

Campaigning today in upstate New York, Lazio said there was a “big difference” between his greeting of Arafat and President Clinton’s handshake with Cuban leader Fidel Castro at the United Nations Millennium Summit last week, an act that was ripped by Lazio and other politicians.

“I would not shake Fidel Castro’s hand,” said Lazio while campaigning in upstate Laningsburgh. “The difference is, this is a person who we’re involved in peace negotiations with.”

The picture was released one day after Lazio sharply criticized both Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, his opponent for New York’s open senate seat, for their own greetings of controversial foreign leaders.

“I think we send the wrong message when we embrace, whether it’s Mrs. Arafat or Fidel Castro,” Lazio said on Friday.

Last fall, Mrs. Clinton sparked a controversy by kissing Arafat’s wife, Suha Arafat, after a speech in the Middle East during which Mrs. Arafat claimed Israelis had used poison gas on Palestinian women and children.

In July, the first lady defended the embrace, saying “some of you may or not have ever been to the Middle East, but a kiss is a handshake” there.

Mrs. Clinton Holds Her Ground

When asked about the photo today, Mrs. Clinton said it was “just another example of Lazio saying one thing and doing another.”

Lazio today accused the White House of interfering in his campaign, saying “It sure sounds like taxpayer money was used once again to further the Clinton campaign.”

Lazio added, “It’s typical of this White House, they’re willing to say or do anything including potentially break the law in order to try and affect this campaign.”