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CNN Live Today

Palestinian Perspective

Aired January 20, 2003 - 11:28   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Times are tense in another spot in the Middle East. Here now, a rare and exclusive interview now with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He sat down and discussed the postponed Palestinian elections as well, as well as the future of his political party with our Michael Holmes.
And Michael joins us now live from Ramallah with that remarkable story.

Hello, Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi to you, Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, we're right at the front of Yasser Arafat's office in this largely destroyed compound, of course, after the incursions of the last year or so, I suppose.

We did discuss the elections. They were meant to be held today. By now, now here in the West Bank, they'd be counting the votes. Of course, they were not. The presence of Israeli troops throughout much of the West Bank makes it logistically impossible to organize, let alone hold the elections. They are themselves on hold now. When they'll be held, no one knows.

Israel, of course, saying those troops are here in order to prevent suicide bombers from leaving this part of the world and finding their targets within Israel. Yasser Arafat hasn't given a one-on-one interview for more than two months now. He's not talked to many people at length, and so it was an extraordinary opportunity to sit with him for some 40, 45 minutes and discuss many different areas. He rejected criticism, allegations of corruption, that he has hundreds of millions of dollars, in fact, a couple of billion dollars is one allegation stashed in bank accounts around the world. He says that's not true. He literally laughed at it.

He also said that the Palestinian Authority is trying to stop suicide bombers, but he said it's very difficult because the security infrastructure here has, of course, been largely damaged, dismantled or destroyed.

One thing that did come up is something that's being talked about in Israel for many months now, and that is, should Yasser Arafat be expelled from the Palestinian territory altogether. They talk about it in public and they talk about it in political circles. Here's what Yasser Arafat had to say about that idea:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Are you concerned that any war with Iraq may be an excuse for Israel to expel you? Because this is being said.

YASSER ARAFAT, PALESTINIAN LEADER: Expel me only (ph). They are seeking the route of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Palestinian openly, openly. Can you visit (ph)?

HOLMES: Do you think it would happen, or could happen?

ARAFAT: I would hope not, but we have to put it in our consideration, and I am sending this message to the quartet (ph), and especially to President Bush.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Of course Yasser Arafat there mentioning the potential war with Iraq, and let's go back to the Gulf War. Palestinians were supporters of Saddam Hussein back then, and on this occasion, I asked him about what's happening now with Iraq, and here's what he had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARAFAT: There must be very important stressing in this delicate situation. Even some of the European countries, they have the same opinion that they have to work hard through the United Nations to arrive to a peace agreement, and I hope, and I'm sure that President Bush will fill (ph) up this time, I'm sure of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: despite the extraordinary tensions, of course, that still exist between the Palestinians, the Palestinian leader and the Israelis and their leader, Yasser Arafat said he was still willing to extend the hand of peace to a partner. He said a partner in Israel, referring at one point to Yitzhak Rabin, the former Israeli prime minister, with whom he signed the historic Oslo Peace Accords.

But, of course, Israelis will say that Yasser Arafat does say many words, and they prefer to see actions on his part -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Michael, I know you've talked with him before in the past. I want to know what you think about what you see when you sat down with him. How has he changed? Does he seem like he really is a man who is willing to step away from power to assure peace there?

HOLMES: No, you're right. I've spoken to him probably three times in the last year, three or four times, and he was actually in a very feisty mood last evening. He was very forceful in his delivery. He seemed very much confident that he have very much in control of the leadership issue.

I asked him about the fact that the U.S. and Israel wants him to step aside, to leave the political equation altogether, and he said to me, of course, I'm Australian, he said would you want another country telling you and Australia who should be your political leaders? He is still very defiant on that point. He says, Leon, he's not going anywhere. However, he did make the point were elections to have been held here, he was embracing the notion of having political opposition, having candidates stand against him. Of course, it's difficult to tell whether that would have been the reality. The elections haven't happened, Leon.

HARRIS: Good point there, Michael, thanks. Michael Holmes reporting for us live from Ramallah. Nice job, Michael. Take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 20, 2003 - 11:28   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Times are tense in another spot in the Middle East. Here now, a rare and exclusive interview now with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He sat down and discussed the postponed Palestinian elections as well, as well as the future of his political party with our Michael Holmes.
And Michael joins us now live from Ramallah with that remarkable story.

Hello, Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi to you, Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, we're right at the front of Yasser Arafat's office in this largely destroyed compound, of course, after the incursions of the last year or so, I suppose.

We did discuss the elections. They were meant to be held today. By now, now here in the West Bank, they'd be counting the votes. Of course, they were not. The presence of Israeli troops throughout much of the West Bank makes it logistically impossible to organize, let alone hold the elections. They are themselves on hold now. When they'll be held, no one knows.

Israel, of course, saying those troops are here in order to prevent suicide bombers from leaving this part of the world and finding their targets within Israel. Yasser Arafat hasn't given a one-on-one interview for more than two months now. He's not talked to many people at length, and so it was an extraordinary opportunity to sit with him for some 40, 45 minutes and discuss many different areas. He rejected criticism, allegations of corruption, that he has hundreds of millions of dollars, in fact, a couple of billion dollars is one allegation stashed in bank accounts around the world. He says that's not true. He literally laughed at it.

He also said that the Palestinian Authority is trying to stop suicide bombers, but he said it's very difficult because the security infrastructure here has, of course, been largely damaged, dismantled or destroyed.

One thing that did come up is something that's being talked about in Israel for many months now, and that is, should Yasser Arafat be expelled from the Palestinian territory altogether. They talk about it in public and they talk about it in political circles. Here's what Yasser Arafat had to say about that idea:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Are you concerned that any war with Iraq may be an excuse for Israel to expel you? Because this is being said.

YASSER ARAFAT, PALESTINIAN LEADER: Expel me only (ph). They are seeking the route of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Palestinian openly, openly. Can you visit (ph)?

HOLMES: Do you think it would happen, or could happen?

ARAFAT: I would hope not, but we have to put it in our consideration, and I am sending this message to the quartet (ph), and especially to President Bush.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Of course Yasser Arafat there mentioning the potential war with Iraq, and let's go back to the Gulf War. Palestinians were supporters of Saddam Hussein back then, and on this occasion, I asked him about what's happening now with Iraq, and here's what he had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARAFAT: There must be very important stressing in this delicate situation. Even some of the European countries, they have the same opinion that they have to work hard through the United Nations to arrive to a peace agreement, and I hope, and I'm sure that President Bush will fill (ph) up this time, I'm sure of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: despite the extraordinary tensions, of course, that still exist between the Palestinians, the Palestinian leader and the Israelis and their leader, Yasser Arafat said he was still willing to extend the hand of peace to a partner. He said a partner in Israel, referring at one point to Yitzhak Rabin, the former Israeli prime minister, with whom he signed the historic Oslo Peace Accords.

But, of course, Israelis will say that Yasser Arafat does say many words, and they prefer to see actions on his part -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Michael, I know you've talked with him before in the past. I want to know what you think about what you see when you sat down with him. How has he changed? Does he seem like he really is a man who is willing to step away from power to assure peace there?

HOLMES: No, you're right. I've spoken to him probably three times in the last year, three or four times, and he was actually in a very feisty mood last evening. He was very forceful in his delivery. He seemed very much confident that he have very much in control of the leadership issue.

I asked him about the fact that the U.S. and Israel wants him to step aside, to leave the political equation altogether, and he said to me, of course, I'm Australian, he said would you want another country telling you and Australia who should be your political leaders? He is still very defiant on that point. He says, Leon, he's not going anywhere. However, he did make the point were elections to have been held here, he was embracing the notion of having political opposition, having candidates stand against him. Of course, it's difficult to tell whether that would have been the reality. The elections haven't happened, Leon.

HARRIS: Good point there, Michael, thanks. Michael Holmes reporting for us live from Ramallah. Nice job, Michael. Take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com