 In July 2005, Michael Fichter, reporting for the "Tampa Tribune", made a vague reference to a conversation Safi had in 1995 with Sami Al-Arian.Fichter contended that Safi asked Al-Arian whether an Executive Order issued in early 1995 by President Bill Clinton would affect the latter.According to Fichter, Al-Arian responded mockingly by calling the order "a war waged by the Zionists."