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American Morning

Is There Anything New in Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat's Latest Peace Offer?

Aired February 04, 2002 - 09:08   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: "The Big Question" this hour, is there anything new in Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's latest peace offer? Shimon Peres describes Arafat's comments yesterday in a "New York Times" op-ed piece as a "ray of hope" for peace. Arafat condemned Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israelis and said he is determined to put an end to their activities. The Bush administration says now is the time for Arafat to put his words into action.

For the latest on the situation in the Middle East this morning, CNN's Mike Hanna joins us from Jerusalem.

Good morning, Mike. What's the latest from there?

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, Arafat's participation in the Middle East negotiations or attempt to do limited to writing op-ed articles in "The New York Times." Arafat himself remains under virtual house arrest in the West Bank city of Ramallah, encircled by Israeli tanks, while Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, is preparing to come to Washington to visit President Bush.

In the course of the day, more violence, a fifth person has died in the wake of blast in Southern Gaza. Five men were traveling in a car, which exploded near the Gaza town of Raffa. Palestinian security sources insist the explosion was called by Israeli forces, that the killings were assassination. The five men identified as members of the armed wing of the faction of Palestine Liberation Organization. The Israeli Defense Force made no comment about the explosion.

Israeli forces struck at a building in the Gaza Strip which they said was manufacturing mortar bombs. This denied by the Palestinians, who say, in fact, that building used to manufacturer jewelry. No serious casualties reported in that Israeli attack. But all this comes after a flurry of diplomatic activity. Ariel Sharon meeting Palestinian leaders, a meeting that was so secret it only become public three days after it took place.

And Sharon says as well is that he will have another meeting with the Palestinian leaders, not including Arafat, although he did approve the meeting, after the Israeli prime minister has met with George Bush in Washington on Thursday -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right. Mike Hanna, thanks for that update. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com