Yasser Arafat's dramatic hesitation and eventual signing of the Cairo Agreement on Gaza and Jericho on May 4, 1994, is a matter of historical record, though reports of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's exact insulting words remain an unverified anecdote rather than documented fact.

The May 4, 1994 Signing in Cairo

The Delay: Arafat shocked the audience at the presidential palace by initially refusing to sign the operational maps attached to the self-rule agreement.

The Reason: Arafat objected to specific boundary details, particularly the size of the Jericho enclave, and wanted last-minute adjustments.

The Resolution: After pressure from U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher and other mediators, Arafat signed the documents while appending handwritten notes in Arabic to clarify his reservations.

The Mubarak Anecdote ("Sign, You Dog")

The Legend: Observers and journalists long repeated a rumor that a frustrated Hosni Mubarak yelled "Sign, you dog!" (or a variation) in Arabic to compel Arafat to step up to the table.

The Reality: Historians note there is no official or definitive proof that Mubarak used this exact phrase publicly or privately during the ceremony. It reflects the tense, paternalistic, and often abrasive dynamic between the two leaders.

Analyzing Arafat’s Intent

Tactical Defiance: Arafat frequently used brinkmanship at signing ceremonies to signal to his domestic constituency that he was not capitulating entirely to Israeli terms.

Bad Faith vs. Competing Pressures: Critics argue this behavior proves he never wanted a genuine compromise. Supporters argue he was trapped between international pressure to sign flawed agreements and the reality that the offered terms fell short of full Palestinian independence.