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CNN Live Saturday

Israelis Say Arafat Is Not Convincing

Aired December 08, 2001 - 20:43   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there are serious questions about Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's power and how much influence he still retains over his people. Yesterday, he put himself on the frontline, confronting tough questions during a sit down interview with Israeli TV. But almost as quickly as Arafat could sound off, the Israeli people began to tune out.

CNN's Rula Amin explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat was on Israeli national television to extend a hand for peace. Most Israelis at this Tel Aviv beach were skeptical, even hostile.

Did you believe him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yasser Arafat? No, no. He didn't convince me for 1 percent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think it's all baloney what he said.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he's out of excuses, that's it.

AMIN: On television, Israeli reporter charged that Mr. Arafat is not doing enough to implement the cease-fire.

YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: You are being unfair to me.

AMIN: The reporter angered Arafat by saying the Americans think the arrests you made are just a show.

ARAFAT: Who is standing by you? The Americans. Who sent you the planes? The Americans. Who sends you the money? The Americans. Don't mention the Americans to me.

AMIN: The reporter asked if he can assure Israelis there will be no more suicide bombings.

ARAFAT: We have to cooperate together. The suicide bombers are not against the Israelis only, but also against the Palestinian people. AMIN (on camera): Some in the Palestinian Authority were hoping if Yasser Arafat commits to a cease-fire and succeeds in implementing it, that would help restart the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. So there seems to be another problem.

(voice-over): Israelis appear to have lost confidence in Mr. Arafat.

He's the leader of the Palestinian people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There always can be another.

AMIN: The Israeli government even issued an official statement, saying it's a shame for Israeli television to allow Yasser Arafat to go on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During the war, you have your -- the one who supports a terrorist activity, the one who aids and abets, the one who allows to it happen appear on Israeli television. I haven't seen Osama bin Laden appear on American television, for example, while the war is going on there.

ARAFAT: Your leader's incitement against me just doesn't stop. They call me bin Laden, the authority, the Taliban. Am I bin Laden? Am I bin Laden?

AMIN: On this beach, we found one person willing to believe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to, yes, I want to believe him. At least give him a try or something.

AMIN: The Israeli government has also said it's willing to give Yasser Arafat another try if his actions match his words.

Rula Amin, CNN, Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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