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CNN Live At Daybreak
Arafat Calls Terrorism Wrong, Violence Continues
Aired February 04, 2002 - 06:05 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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to the Middle East now. A day after Yasser Arafat called terrorism against Israeli citizens wrong, there was more violence in the Middle East.
CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna joins us live with details. Mike, what happened?
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well Carol, violence continues on the ground, although there is some movement on the diplomatic front. In the latest incident of violence, four Palestinians have been killed when the car in which they were traveling exploded in Gaza. Circumstances of the explosion unclear at present, some Palestinians insistent that it was an Israeli assassination. No comment on the explosion from the Israeli defense force at this point.
The four were all members of a popular resistance committee, known Palestinian activists. Investigations continuing into exactly what cause that explosion. Also in Gaza, Israeli forces struck at a building in the Jabalia refugee camp overnight. They struck at what they said was a mortar factory, a building in which mortar shells were being produced. This attack followed the firing of mortar shells on Israeli targets within the Gaza Strip, but there were no serious injuries reported in the Israeli attack. Palestinian security sources denied that mortars were being produced in the building, saying it was in fact a jewelry manufacturing company.
So while that violence continues, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, has received the backing of the majority of his Cabinet. Four talks he held last with senior Palestinian leaders - now these talks were held in secret. News of them only emerged three days after they took place. But Mr. Sharon has indicated that he will have a further round of talk with these senior Palestinian leaders after his meeting with U.S. President George Bush, which takes place in Washington later this week -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Thank you. Mike Hanna reporting live for us from Jerusalem this morning. And this morning's bombing follows an appeal for peace by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. What does the Bush administration think of Mr. Arafat's message? That part of the story from Kelly Wallace at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tries to send a message to the Bush administration condemning attacks by terrorist groups against Israeli civilians in this "New York Times" opinion piece saying - quote - "these groups do not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for freedom. They are terrorist organizations, and I am determined to put an end to their activities".
President Bush's top advisers welcomed Arafat's condemnation of terror, but repeat the administration's mantra that actions not words are needed.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: And our concern with Chairman Arafat has been that he has not made a 100 percent effort to root out the terrorist groups around him.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm not claiming that he has 100 percent control over every potential bomber or shooter in the region, but I think he could do a lot more.
WALLACE: And that includes, Powell says, explaining the Palestinian authority's role in this shipment of 50 tons of weapons and explosives from Iran intercepted by Israel last month. Still Secretary Powell sounds a somewhat hopeful note stressing how Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with Palestinian officials last week and how he himself will meet with Palestinians in the days ahead signaling the administration is not severing ties with the Palestinian authority any time soon.
POWELL: We can't walk away from the current crisis in the Middle East. We've got to get back on a track that provides a cease- fire.
WALLACE: But Sharon, who meets Thursday with President Bush, told an Israeli news program Arafat's article did not persuade him, and called the Palestinian leader - quote - "irrelevant".
In his op-ed, Arafat said, there are those who claim that I am not a partner in peace. In response I say Israel's peace partner is and always has been the Palestinian people.
(on camera): Bush advisers say those words don't change what they believe Arafat must do in order to get back to the peace table. Said one aide, Arafat still needs to show he is a leader and that means sometimes making difficult decisions that are not popular at home.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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