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CNN Sunday Morning

Arab Nations Outraged by Israeli Attacks on Palestinians

Aired May 20, 2001 - 10:01   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story this hour is the Middle East. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says a proposal by the Arab League to sever all ties with Israel is an encouraging sign of support for the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Israel, however, dismisses the threat as rhetoric, and warns further acts of terrorism will be met with force.

CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna joins us with the latest.

Hello, Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Miles, the nature of Israeli reaction to Palestinian attack is a matter of huge debate in the Israeli media. Without exception, the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, had been deeply criticized for his decision to deploy F-16 fighter jets against Palestinian targets.

Now the media has universally condemned the terror attack Friday that saw five Israelis killed in a suicide bombing. However, it questions the methods used in retaliation, some of the media saying that it is excessive, that it is a public relations disaster.

Ariel Sharon himself has held a cabinet meeting in the course of the day. This was proceeded by a meeting by his security cabinet, that is his closer advisers who discuss security matters. Now, this cabinet itself was not consulted on the use of F-16 fighter aircraft, a matter that was reportedly debated in the cabinet meeting proper.

Ariel Sharon, however, remains unrepentant and he says he will take whatever measures necessary to protect Israeli lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Thank you, very much, to the civilians who are keeping their eyes open for possible attacks. We are talking today about a prolonged conflict that has been forced upon us. The ability to stand up against it depends, first of all, on the group of people who sit here at this table, and I want to say the people of Israel understand the danger and they do have the staying power and the ability to stand up against us. More so than we imagine.

But first of all, what happens depends on the people here, that were elected to lead this nation at this very difficult time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: Nearly 20 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli retaliatory strikes, and those strikes came the day before a meeting of Arab league foreign ministers in Cairo. At the end of that meeting, a statement was released suggesting that relations with Israel be put on hold. This, a call to all the members of the Arab league, including those that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

Now, this is not enforceable among all the leagues members, however it is a deep sign of Arab anger with the Israeli action, and it has been welcomed by the Palestinian authority leader, Yasser Arafat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY (through translator): We thank the members of the Arab league who came to the meeting and decided many important things about Israeli aggression, including their use of war planes and missiles. All the other Arab nations and leaders are behind us in the great struggle against Israeli aggression. The Israelis are trying to destroy us, but we, the Arab people, will never be destroyed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: Difficult to see where the situation goes from here. The report of the Mitchell committee will be released in the course of the next few days. This report has recommendations on ways to break this ongoing cycle of violence, but whether, given the events of the past few days, whether these recommendations will be accepted by the parties is doubtful to see.

Although the Palestinians have accepted the report in its entirely, Israel says it sees the report in a favorable light, but has several reservations about a number of the recommendations, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Mike, some of those Arab leaders were calling on the U.S. and the European union to take a more active role now to try and quell the violence, try and get in the middle of these two parties. What is the feeling there in Israel about that?

HANNA: Well, the Israeli government has rejected continued Palestinian calls for some kind of international monitoring force to be deployed in the region and the Mitchell committee report, as well, can reveal -- does not suggest that an international monitoring force be deployed. It says that such a force would need the support of both parties.

Now, Israeli patently rejects this. However, both parties have not ruled out some kind of third agency. George Mitchell's name itself has been mentioned by a number of people, both in Israel and among the Palestinians, in terms of somebody who could be an honest broker in a bid to bring the parties together to talk about ending the violence.

O'BRIEN: Alright. That's CNN's Mike Hanna, live from Jerusalem this morning. Thanks very much.

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