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CNN Live At Daybreak
Richard Butler's Views on the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Aired November 09, 2001 - 07:33 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: We turn now to the international view of the war against terrorism. Many of the world leaders are heading here to New York for next week's United Nations General Assembly session, among them, Pakistan's President Musharraf.
For a look at that and other items of interest, particularly what's going on in the Middle East, once again we turn to our ambassador in residence, Ambassador Richard Butler, the former Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector now with the Council on Foreign Relations.
RICHARD BUTLER, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Good morning, Paula.
ZAHN: Good to have you with us this morning.
BUTLER: Good morning.
ZAHN: So, first of all, your reaction to some of what Palestinian Authority Leader Saeb Arakat had to say this morning.
BUTLER: I thought it was very unimpressive. Quite frankly, the restatement of all of the goodwill and the good efforts of the Palestinian side doesn't measure up to the reality that we see on the ground in Israel-Palestine each day. The reality of persons walking into a discotheque and bombing it, pizza parlors, buses and so on, the terrorism that we see taking place there. I was very disappointed in what Mr. Arakat had to say, quite frankly. It's much more serious than that.
ZAHN: I thought it was interesting that he elevated Yasser Arafat to president this morning. Did you hear that?
BUTLER: Yes, I did. He's talking up that situation in a way that, again, is not quite real. He's not president of a state. That's one of the things that is at issue, when will there be a Palestinian state. He's chairman of the Palestinian Authority.
But, Paula, look, there are two key problems in the Middle East right now. One of them is the continued existence of Saddam Hussein in Iraq...
ZAHN: Right.
BUTLER: ... and the other is the Israel-Palestine issue. Both are serious, both need to be solved. I think we all agree that linking them to what happened on September 11 is wrong. They are intrinsic problems that need to be addressed.
ZAHN: But the King of Jordan certainly has made that linkage. He did that right here with me in an interview.
BUTLER: Yes, I know, and I think everyone supported what Mayor Giuliani did in turning down the check from the Saudi -- this was another person -- the Saudi who offered a $10 million check in support of this idea of linkage. It's just wrong.
What needs to happen, I suggest, is that the U.S. does need to get involved again. And now whether that is best done by Colin Powell sitting down with Yasser Arafat,...
ZAHN: Which he will do.
BUTLER: ... which he will do, or at some stage the president, President Bush, coming into the situation. I don't think it's as germane or relevant as some are saying that if President Bush today won't shake hands with Chairman Arafat that somehow that's wrong. I don't think it's the central point. He isn't a president, whereas the president of the United States is and that's a distinction. So I don't think that's the point. The point is that progress needs to be made to solve this very serious problem and that I suggest does require a renewed engagement by the United States.
ZAHN: It's interesting that you should say that at a time when the Saudi Foreign Minister is essentially saying the same thing, and I think he has been critical of President Bush for not being more engaged and he's critical of...
BUTLER: Well,...
ZAHN: ... President Bush for not meeting with Arafat...
BUTLER: Yes.
ZAHN: ... on this upcoming trip.
BUTLER: He said both of those things. I think the time is approaching where the president of the United States should get engaged again as an honest broker in helping solve the Israel- Palestinian problem. It's such a tragedy that we were so close to it only a year ago. And I remind you, Paula, that it was Yasser Arafat who would not take yes for an answer and now we see a period of terrible violence.
ZAHN: Do you ever see the Mitchell accord being implemented?
BUTLER: I think it could be if the Palestinian leadership, in particular, would change its stance and that's why I was a bit disappointed in what Mr. Arakat was saying this morning. I'm not trying to...
ZAHN: Because he wouldn't acknowledge... BUTLER: No,...
ZAHN: ... what you thought...
BUTLER: ... that's right.
ZAHN: ... was the violence inflicted upon the Israeli population?
BUTLER: Exactly, and that was just not realistic. There are two sides to this argument, both of them have to get reengaged and see if we can find a solution.
But we were listening to the Palestinian representative just a few moments ago, and I have to tell you, I didn't find what he said convincing or realistic. We will need a Palestinian leadership in the future that is able to deliver, is able to take yes for an answer and is then able to put down and stop the activities of these radical terrorist groups that one finds within the Palestinian movement. Is that Mr. Arafat, I'm not sure, but that is certainly what we will need.
ZAHN: We appreciate your helping us wrap up the week here.
BUTLER: OK, have a good weekend, yes.
ZAHN: Have a good -- you, too, as well.
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