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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hamas and Israel Criticize Arafat's Address to Palestinians

Aired December 17, 2001 - 06:18   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: We're going to take a closer look now at Yasser Arafat's influence. He is seeking grass roots support for his crackdown on Palestinian attacks against Israelis, but Hamas leaders are giving the cold shoulder to the PLO leader, and CNN's Rula Amin says that's not the only chilly reaction Arafat is receiving.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the first day of the Muslim feast ending Ramadan, Palestinians lined up to greet their leader, Yasser Arafat.

On Palestinian television and radio, Arafat asked the people to support him in his strongest call yet for cease-fire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY (through translator): All sorts of armed activities should be stopped, and there should be no more attacks, especially the suicide bombing attacks that we have always condemned. And we will arrest all of those who plan these attacks and arrest them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: The Palestinian Authority closed down more than 30 offices affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, a long time demand by the U.S. and Israel. More than 130 militant suspects have been arrested.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARAFAT (through translator): We will not allow anything but the one national authority on this land and in this homeland, one authority that runs -- it makes a decision. It has to be respected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Hamas leaders hedged their answer to Arafat.

"We understand the pressure on the Palestinian Authority, especially from the Americans," this Hamas leader says. "But as long as the occupation continues, and its crime continues, it's our right to defend ourselves."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RA'ANAN GISSIN, SHARON SPOKESMAN: This is not the time for words. It's the time for Yasser Arafat to make the critical decisions, to change from the strategy of terror he started 14 months ago to a strategy of peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Israel's reaction was chilly too. Most Palestinians don't have much faith that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon actually wants peace. They see no point to a cease-fire.

"We will give the president a chance," says this man, "but this will only prove to him that the Israelis don't want peace."

Arafat asked his people not to give Sharon any excuses to continue attacks against the Palestinians.

"We will give the Israelis a chance to reach peace," says Mohanas (ph), but if they don't respond, we will fight again."

The Palestinian leader had these words for Israelis:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARAFAT (through translator): We are not asking for the impossible, and we do not form -- oppose any threat to Israel's existence. What we aspire for is to liberate our land that was occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and international legitimacy is on our side in order to make possible the withdraw of the Israeli occupying forces, along with the Jewish settlements and international legitimacy is on our side.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Arafat tried to convince his people. His call for a cease-fire was not out of weakness, but because there may be an opportunity to reach a peace deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARAFAT: To return to the table of negotiations, which forms, and has to form, the only and the sole means for a settlement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: After half a century of tension and bloodshed here, that may be easier said that done.

Rula Amin, CNN, Ramallah, on the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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