- Title: ISRAEL: ISRAEL'S LEADING IMPERSONATOR CARICATURES YASSER ARAFAT
- Date: 6th June 1995
- Summary: TEL AVIV, RECENT (REUTERS) TSAFIR SAYING ARAFAT TALKS WITH HIS TONGUE OUT (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 21st June 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Entertainment,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6MF7WQH0CVPIAGA06EJR0Y2TN
- Story Text: Now that Israel's leaders have shaken Yasser Arafat's hand, Israelis can embrace him in their humour.
Israel's leading impersonator, Tuvia Tsafir (PRON: TOOVIA t-SA-FEER) , says peace means that for the first time he can gently poke fun at the leader of the PLO.
Tsafir jokes that if he had tried to do that before the peace accord, he probably would have stoned by his countrymen.
Things have changed. Now Arafat has joined Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in the cast of Tuvia's characters. A hit television series and regular appearances in commercials have made them a favourite with Israeli audiences.
Tsafir characterises Arafat speaking with his tongue hanging out. To imitate Rabin, he speaks slowly and deeply.
Even during the Gulf War, when Israelis donned gas masks under daily attack, Tsafir found a way to help them laugh off the danger.
He appeared as Saddam Hussein and General Norman Schwarzkopf.
Now the entertainer is convinced Arafat will one day contact him about his latest creation - the PLO dancer who just can't say no.
In a country where so much of the news is bad, Tuvia Tsafir believes laughing at leaders may give Israelis the lift they need on the difficult road to peace. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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