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American Morning

Is the Middle East Crisis Beyond a Solution?

Aired December 03, 2001 - 07:18   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush and leaders all over the world are calling on Yasser Arafat to crack down on extremists following this weekend's attacks in Israel. Secretary of State Colin Powell says the U.S. understands the anger and frustration of the Palestinian people, but we can't let it destroy the chance for peace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: And the United States has made it clear that the occupation is a problem, settlements are a problem. But we're not going to get to a solution by just trading charges and giving justifications for anger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: So the big question this morning, is the Middle East crisis beyond a solution?

Joining me now is former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Good to have you back.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.

ZAHN: Unfortunately under these circumstances.

There are a number of reports suggesting that at least seven members of Mr. Sharon's cabinet are considering a plan by which Yasser Arafat would be toppled. How would they do that? What, would that mean? Assassination?

NETANYAHU: Oh, I don't know. I don't think they're talking about the personal safety of Mr. Arafat, but his regime, I suppose. But let me tell you my view. I can't speak for them.

ZAHN: But what does that mean? Because even Jerrold Kessel says that that is an idea that certainly has some resonance in Israel at the moment.

NETANYAHU: Well, the idea, I suppose, is the same idea that was put forth by Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush, I think, Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking on behalf of President Bush, to the terrorist regime in Afghanistan. He said to the Taliban, surrender terrorism or surrender power. That is, unless you deliver the terrorists, crush the terrorist infrastructure, then you will be thrown out of power.

And effectively that's what the U.S. is doing in Afghanistan. You had been targeted here in this city in an awful savagery. You said to these people you cannot continue to harbor terrorists and dispatch them against us and we America, America and its allies, will take action against you if you don't do what you're supposed to do.

And I suppose people in Israel -- and, by the way, I don't think it's, I think this is a reflection of a growing public sentiment -- are saying to Arafat, look, you have to choose. It's either peace with Israel or peace with terrorism, but you can't have both. And if you don't act against terrorism, then, you know, we will take action against you so that the next regime that comes in will know that it will be punished if it does not...

ZAHN: What does that mean, take action against you? Does that mean assassinating him or somehow toppling the structure underneath him so he can't maintain power?

NETANYAHU: Well, so far it's important to understand that Israel has not done what America is doing in the Taliban, to the Taliban. Israel has been effectively, if I had to try to compare what Israel is doing to what the U.S. is doing in Afghanistan, Israel is actually trying to find the al Qaeda fighters. So it is precision targeting al Qaeda fighters, but it is not going after the Taliban military forces.

For example, we have never taken on Arafat's military forces, what he calls his police, but effectively it's a small army. We have not taken on Arafat's regime per se, as you are doing to the Taliban.

You actually have gone in a different strategy. You have said we're going to first take care of the regime that harbors the terrorists and al Qaeda and bin Laden will fall in our laps anyway. That's not what Israel has done so far, I think, in part, because of concern of international response and so on.

The people are now saying...

ZAHN: But doest this constitute the flash point that might change all that?

NETANYAHU: It may very well do that and I think Arafat has a very short time, very, very short, indeed, to show that he is actually taking action against these terrorists that are not there just by accident. I mean he's sponsoring suicide kindergarten camps, for god's sake, to prepare the next generation of suicide bombers. He's not using one of the 50,000 rifles that he received to fight terrorists to do anything to these terrorists. Their offices are all over the place.

His own forces that report directly to him also participate in 50 percent of the terrorist attacks. So he's got to choose. And I think it's important that...

ZAHN: How do you think he'll choose? Which way will he go?

NETANYAHU: Well, so far he's chosen battling and battling not only for us, but I think battling for the Palestinians.

ZAHN: Are you confident that he can deliver the leaders of jihad and -- Islamic Jihad and Hamas?

NETANYAHU: Oh, yes. Yes. Yes.

ZAHN: You think he is capable?

NETANYAHU: He's got...

ZAHN: Do you think he has control of those people?

NETANYAHU: He has the power, Paula. He's got more police, more armed men per square inch than any other country, I would say including North Korea. I haven't checked North Korea. That's the one possible exception.

He's got arms through his ears. He's got so much power. But the reason he's not doing that is not because he doesn't have the physical power. It's because he doesn't have the political will. Because he thinks he can get away with it. You see, he thinks he can let these killers kill Israelis and then, you know, his apologists on the international scene will say oh, but, you know, his regime is weak. He's not taking action.

If he can't, it's one of two ways. He either doesn't have the power or he doesn't have the will. In either case, he's absolutely useless as a peace power -- partner. I think he has to show right now to us, to his own people, to the world that he can fight terrorism and he must choose -- terrorism or Israel. Terrorism or peace. Choose now.

ZAHN: We've got to leave it there this morning.

Benjamin Netanyahu, thank you for your time and your insights.

NETANYAHU: Thank you.

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