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CNN Live Today

Arab League Secretary General on Escalating Middle East Conflict

Aired April 03, 2002 - 14:13   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, Carol, we want to go live to Cairo, Egypt right now. The secretary-general of the Arab League is our guest. Amre Moussa is with us live tonight.

And, sir, first up, on the Egyptian move today to severe some sort of contact with Israel and their people working here, not on the diplomatic level, but below that, how significant is that and why did Egypt feel now is the time to carry out such a decision?

AMRE MOUSSA, ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL: Well, it is a message, and a very serious message. And after all, all contacts with Israel, or the current Israeli government, has proved to be useless. We haven't seen any result out of contacts coming from Washington, for example, or from any other capital, friendly or otherwise.

It seems that the Israeli policy will continue attacking, destroying, killing the people in the occupied territories, without any fear of retaliation or action by the Security Council, or action by international legitimacy. Therefore, any contact with them is useless. And I don't think anybody is going to use it anymore.

HEMMER: You use the word "useless." I want to try and find some glimmer of hope in your comment. And this is where I'll direct the next question. I was told yesterday there has been absolutely no contact between the two sides that matter the most, the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Given that your in Cairo, member of the Arab League, Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president. Is there any possibility of any mediation coming from Cairo that might be able to put these two sides together to forge some sort of cease-fire at this point?

MOUSSA: Well, I know and I heard President Mubarak speaking publicly, stating that he tried to advise Mr. Sharon, talk to him -- or talk him out of this policy, but to no avail. So many promises were made, but he didn't carry out any of his promises.

And, therefore, the -- we are all convinced that Mr. Sharon is bound to do what he wants to do, because he believes he's above the law and he is protected by other powers. The Security Council cannot act against them, whatever he does. And therefore, they feel the current Israeli actions are being done under immunity. This is the problem. This is how we see things. And then, those actions were called acts of self-defense. We fail to understand what kind of self-defense, carried by an Israeli military occupation, an army of occupation against Palestinians? Instead of that, there should have been cooperation between the two parties. Had there been confidence-building measures.

But we dragged our feet, dragged our feet, because some thought that -- leave it to Mr. Sharon, he will finish them off. I don't think he will do that. Because the amount of anger and frustration resulting from his policy will add to the seriousness of the situation and will not decrease them at all.

HEMMER: Tell me this. You know, you're secretary general of 22 Arab countries. Why is it when the Israelis say they've got a significant problem in dealing with the amount of suicide bombers that come into Israel proper, why is it not that the Arab League, collectively as a voice, does not stand up and say this is not the way violence should be carried out? You should not target civilians in Haifa, in Netanya, in Tel Aviv, in Jerusalem.

MOUSSA: You know, I believe you have a point. But I want you to consider the following point. Why don't you also tell the Israelis that what they're doing is not only wrong, but it is destructive. And if, for us to be helped to tell the Palestinians, that OK, there's a glimmer of hope, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

So you should help us. Show the Palestinians that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This would help us do exactly what you are asking us to do. But for the Palestinians to be subjected to such attacks by planes, by helicopters, by tanks, by troops, and against apartment buildings against normal people, the guys on the streets. And then you think they are in a position to -- they are psychologically ready to listen? While they are being attacked, their families and houses and fields. This is the serious thing. Very, very serious situation.

And I want you to know that we are not, in fact, very, very happy about the situation, where civilians on both sides fall victim to such attacks. But I say on both sides. This situation is the dire result of the original sin, which is the foreign military occupation of the Palestinian territories.

HEMMER: Our satellite window is about to close. I apologize for that. Amre Moussa, the secretary general of the Arab League, joining us live tonight from Cairo, Egypt. Thank you, sir. Much appreciate your time tonight.

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