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American Morning

America's New War: Discussion with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres

Aired September 18, 2001 - 11:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The Israeli defense minister confirming today that Israel was canceling, or is canceling, all of its offensive operations against the Palestinians after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has reaffirmed his determination to honor a cease-fire.

Now, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres joining us as Jews all over the world celebrate Rosh Hashana.

Happy New Year, sir.

SHIMON PERES, FOREIGN MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Thank you very much.

ZAHN: I would like to read to you part of Mr. Arafat's statement. Earlier today, he said, quote, "This morning, I am securing a cease-fire on all fronts and in every town and every village. I also instructed them to exercise maximum self restraint in the face of Israeli aggression and attacks."

What does Mr. Arafat mean?

PERES: I think it's an important statement. I appreciate, in particular, that it was done in the Arabic language, so his own people and his own forces will be able to listen to it from his mouth, directly and understandably so.

May I say that we are beginning today a new year and our prayers are beginning. We hope that this will be the end of the curses and the beginning of the blessings, so I hope this is the end of the curse and the beginning of a blessing.

But anyway, it is an important development. We must understand that what took place in the United States is overriding all other considerations and conflicts and skirmishes. The world faces a serious danger, and we have to support the United States in our effort to confront this untold and unprecedented challenge.

ZAHN: But let's come back to these critical developments in the Middle East. Is it your understanding that Mr. Arafat will be able to control his security commanders in every town, in every village?

PERES: I think so. I think his voice is respected among his people. I regret that he didn't do it until now. But better later than never. And from the information I have already, is that really the orders were received by his commanders, and right now, there is for the first time an interruption in the shooting and the exchange of fire.

Needless to say that our defense minister, our prime minister gave orders to our armed forces to stop completely any pre-active initiatives and only for self defense, they will use their rifles, which I hope there wouldn't be any need for it.

We must understand that our skirmish, as important as it is, our conflict must come second to the major problem that all of us our facing.

I welcome very much all of this most (ph); we told Arafat by two envoys -- and they spoke with him over the phone -- that if he will stop shooting, in a moment's time, we shall announce a cease-fire as well. And that was done.

ZAHN: You've just mentioned your hope that Israeli forces will only use their arms in self defense. Does that mean, if Israeli were to fire back at Palestinians, you don't expect Palestinians to fire back at you?

PERES: I think that in fact there is already a cease-fire. A cease-fire means no bullets, no bombs, no more of those from either side.

And you know, I would be careful with my tongue, but right now, it seems like -- it looks like it is taking place in reality. And if it continued, a little bit more, the two countries, the two peoples would really enter a new age, and there we shall start to negotiate.

ZAHN: All right, you say the two peoples are entering a new age. Will you now agree to meet with Yasser Arafat?

PERES: I think so, yes. I mean, we said in advance that if fire will stop, we shall meet. And I think it may take place very shortly.

ZAHN: When you say very shortly, how soon do you think that meeting might happen?

PERES: Days, not weeks.

ZAHN: And where would those meetings take place?

PERES: I think here in the Middle East and the vicinity. You know, the nature of the meeting is that you have to consult, you have to be available, and to travel abroad is today very complicated that, maybe, either on the border or at a very close point to the two of us.

ZAHN: If you could, sir, give us a sense of what the reaction to this news is by the Israeli public? Do they find the cease-fire acceptable and do they believe it can hold?

PERES: Well, I have no means to charge (ph), because today is Holy Day. Now everybody is at home or the synagogues. But I can't imagine that the people, you say, "Let's have a look." If it's to become a reality, I think all Israelis, without exception, will welcome this change. This is a deliberate (ph) result of things that we are looking for. We understand profoundly that there is no solution to the present conflict, but around a negotiating table. We cannot settle our problems by guns and tanks. And a good neighbor is always better than a great gun.

ZAHN: All right. When you sit down with Mr. Arafat at the negotiating table, what in your estimation will be the greatest challenge?

PERES: Maybe the conditions (ph) and (inaudible) you know, I'm coming ready with the following things. I really want to, on behalf of my government, to tell Arafat that we are eager as he is to change the situation in (ph) territories. We don't like the idea that so many civilians are suffering economically or psychologically. That will be the first item on the agenda.

The second point is the end of incitement. You know, words are becoming as dangerous as the bomb. What I like today about the Arafat announcement is the change in the tone. It is extremely important to create a different psychological background, so people will begin again to trust each other. Then again, we shall discuss the details of the cease-fire, the redeployment of our army. You'd like to see the Palestinians feeling free and secure, exactly like our own people.

ZAHN: Sir, before I let you go, I wondered if you could make it any clearer to everybody who's watching you from here and all over the world, what part of the region -- can you better isolate for us what part of their region this meeting may take place between you and Mr. Arafat?

PERES: Basically, I believe, it will take on the border between the Palestinian Authority and ourselves. If not, it can be a close-by country, say, like Cyprus or Turkey, where we can fly over in an hour's time.

ZAHN: All right. And I have...

PERES: And also, if you wouldn't mind, we are becoming a little bit television shy, so we'd to travel to a place where we will be able to operate independently and we shall be able to negotiate independently.

ZAHN: All right. One last question for you, sir, because that's all I have time for. If the U.S. engages in some sort of retaliatory strike against whomever committed these terrorists attacks in the United States, what might Israel's role be?

PERES: Israel will look upon the United States as the leader in peace and the leader in war, and the strategic (ph) considerations of the United States will be our prime consideration in every movement.

ZAHN: Do you see a situation where Israeli troops would get involved in this conflict? PERES: Yes. If there will be a call for it, we shall mobilize ourselves like one man, because the danger is all over the world touching every person, and really, believe me, we bless the Lord (ph) that there is a United States of America, mighty in its forces, determine in its will and intellectually understanding the balance of the situation.

ZAHN: Foreign Minister Sharon Peres, thank you very much for your time. And again, Happy New Year on this day when Jews all over the world celebrate Rosh Hashana.

PERES: Thank you, and I shall say, (inaudible) Hebrew (ph).

ZAHN: Thank you.

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