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American Morning

Talk With Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Aired March 26, 2002 - 07:20   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: For more now on the Arab summit and whether Arafat should be allowed to go, we are joined by Martin Indyk, the Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, who joins us from Tel Aviv this morning.

Welcome, sir, good to have you with us on AM.

MARTIN INDYK, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: Good morning.

So Mr. Indyk, there are a number of reports this morning suggesting that Prime Minister Sharon will ultimately allow Mr. Arafat to attend this Arab summit. Is that the feeling you're getting from there?

INDYK: Yes, certainly. I think given the way that President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Powell have all weighed in and made it clear that the United States wants this to happen, that Sharon in the end will agree. He has to posture in front of his own right wing to make sure it doesn't look as if he's buckling under to American pressure without some conditions attached. But in the end, the expectation here today is that he will allow Arafat to go.

ZAHN: And Mr. Indyk, would you acknowledge the U.S. is in a somewhat uncomfortable position in encouraging Mr. Sharon to allow Arafat to go, saying his behavior is good enough to get there, and yet at the same time, having the vice president not meet with Mr. Arafat?

INDYK: Yeah, it is an awkward position. I think that the administration is on the one hand trying to press Arafat to act against the terrorists and to stop the violence. But on the other hand, they want to encourage the Arab League summit to be forthcoming in terms of the Crown Prince Abdullah's initiative, offering full peace and normalization to Israel in return for full withdrawal. And they want to be seen to be actively engaged in trying to calm the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order to get the same Arab leaders on board for their real objective, which is Saddam Hussein.

ZAHN: Is there a certain hypocrisy in this viewpoint?

INDYK: No, I think it's the nature of diplomacy that you are placed in these kinds of situations where you have to balance the different interests. I think that the administration is doing the right thing by keeping Zinni here and getting General Zinni to work with the parties, to work on this cease-fire, while urging the Arabs to continue to come forward with their plan and pressing Israel to let Arafat go. It may not turn out the way that they want it, but at least the United States will get the credit for trying.

ZAHN: In Christiane Amanpour's latest update, she basically said the Arab leader she spoke to -- or their spokespeople suggested that it would be nice if Arafat would show up, but not absolutely necessarily, because they've already unanimously agreed to the Saudi Arabian plan. What difference will it make if Arafat is allowed to show up?

INDYK: Well I think that's a good question. I think that Arafat himself probably is deciding at the moment not to go. That he's better off sitting in Ramallah, speaking to the Arab League summit by satellite from his virtual prison, seen as the struggler and the martyr. And, therefore, not buckling under to American or Israeli conditions for his departure, not having to run the risk of not being allowed back in, especially if some terrorist act occurs while he's out. And, also, not being directly associated with any softening of language, particularly on the issue of the right of return for Palestinian refugees, which the Arab summit might just come up with.

It would give him some cover for that, but in the face of the kind of opposition in the Palestinian street, he may not want to be associated with that. So I think that the Arabs are making clear that they're going to go ahead anyway without him being there, and he may just benefit from showing that he's not going to buckle under.

ZAHN: All right. Martin Indyk, thank you very much for your insights this morning. Glad to have you with us.

INDYK: Thank you.

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