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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bush Asks Sharon To Ease Restrictions on Palestinians

Aired February 08, 2002 - 06:33   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On another topic now, Israeli forces entered Palestinian areas in the West Bank today to arrest suspected militants. An Israeli leaders doubted they could comply with the U.S. request to ease restrictions on Palestinians. President Bush made that request yesterday during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

CNN's Kelly Wallace reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm so glad you're here ...

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: After meeting for nearly an hour, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made no secret he wants President Bush to sever ties with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

ARIEL SHARON, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Personally, myself and my government regard Arafat as an obstacle to peace.

WALLACE: Mr. Sharon won't get his wish, at least for now. But what he did get was Mr. Bush putting more public pressure on the Palestinian leader.

BUSH: Well Mr. Arafat's heard from us. I can't be any more clear in my position, and that is that he must do everything in his power to fight terror.

WALLACE: But some pressure also being placed on the Israeli prime minister, especially as some Arab allies voice concern about a U.S. tilt towards Israel. The president called on Mr. Sharon to ease economic and travel restrictions placed on the Palestinians due to the violence.

BUSH: I'm deeply concerned about the plight of the average Palestinian, the moms and dads who are trying to raise their children, to educate their children.

WALLACE: The Israeli prime minister seemed to get that message and sent an additional one to the Palestinian people that he remains committed to Palestinian statehood.

SHARON: The end of the process, I believe that Palestinian state, of course, will be - will see a Palestinian state.

WALLACE: But only, Mr. Sharon says, if the violence comes to an end, and so analysts come back to this, that the ball remains solidly in Mr. Arafat's court.

DAVID MAKOVSKY, WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: He needs to restore his credibility, I think with the Bush administration, with the Israeli government, that he's serious, and if he does, he will - that will be reciprocated.

WALLACE: And what if Mr. Arafat chooses not to do what the president is calling for? No one here is willing to say what the U.S. will do. For now, the administration's line is it is too important not to remain engaged and the U.S. intends to.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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