Palestine : Interview de Yasser Arafat de retour à Gaza

July 4, 1994 Exclusive interview with Yasser Arafat, back in Gaza, by Gerard Sebag. The PLO leader discusses his intentions and emotions three days after his return. - G. Sebag: "Do you realize that you are in Palestine?" - Arafat (English translation off-screen), wearing a khaki jacket and a black and white checkered keffiyeh: "I feel it deeply in my heart, in my conscience, in my mind. The last time I was here was clandestinely in 1968, during the occupation, here and on the west bank of the Jordan River." - Sebag: "What was your first reaction?" - Arafat: "I prayed, I kissed the ground. This is the Holy Land, this is Palestine." - Sebag: "Did you ever think you would come back?" - Arafat: I'll tell you a story. After leaving Beirut, I went to Moscow; it was during Andropov's time. He asked me what I was going to do. I told him I intended to return home to Palestine. He was astonished. Then came the Intifada. Seven years later, here we are. Rabin and I have made a peace of the brave. It's not just a signature; it's much deeper. It's a historic agreement." - SEBAG: "Have you ever had a more difficult time in your life?" - ARAFAT: "My whole life has been difficult." Then ARAFAT spoke about the future: "This is a first step. We will have to work hard to develop our country. All the infrastructure was destroyed by the occupation. We are starting from scratch. So we need the help of our brothers and friends. We are certain we will get it." I am permanently settled in Gaza, Jericho, and in three months, in the rest of the west bank of the Jordan River. - Sebag asks him if he will go to Jerusalem. - Arafat: "I have the right to go there to pray. No one can stop me. But let's not forget that, according to the agreement, there are five points that must be discussed as soon as possible, and Jerusalem is one of them. When I decide to go, I will. I haven't decided yet." INA archive footage National Audiovisual Institute http://www.ina.fr National Audiovisual Institute http://www.ina.fr Subscribe http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... #INA #History