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CNN Sunday Morning

U.S. May Increase Mideast Involvement

Aired June 03, 2001 - 08:35   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.
LINDA STOUFFER, CNN ANCHOR: There are indications now that the U.S. may get more involved in the situation in the Middle East. We want to get the very latest on this, so we bring in Major Garrett, who is live at the White House this morning -- hello there, Major. What can you tell us?

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Linda.

You know, we always say here on the North Lawn that the White House is monitoring the situation in the Middle East. It's almost a cliche, but it's always true. But it's doubly, it might be even triply true this weekend because the White House is looking to see if, in fact, this first commitment from the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, to endorse completely and unconditionally a cease-fire and to make that work on the ground will, in fact, hold.

If it does, the White House believes there is some hope -- some hope that the Israelis and Palestinians can move beyond violence in the streets and get to some level of conversations between each other that might, might at some point in the future lead to real peace talks about resolving all of their very deep and underlying differences.

But the next 48 hours are crucial, the White House believes. That horrible attack in Tel Aviv leaving 17 dead at a nightclub then the Palestinian leader's first time saying he will try to impose an unconditional cease-fire, try to make sure that cease-fire holds, end the violence, which everyone believes, chief among them this administration, the first precondition to moving toward peace talks, that if that holds the next 48 hours and the Israelis don't respond, the administration believes there is some reason for some hope -- Linda?

STOUFFER: Well, what about that hope? Do they have confidence that Yasser Arafat will be able to implement this?

GARRETT: Well, this is the first test. This administration said from day one that the Palestinian leader, Mr. Arafat, has to end the violence, do everything he can to publicly denounce violence as a means of achieving his political goals and either arrest or at least discourage those who operate in the larger Palestinian cause from committing acts of violence. Mr. Arafat for the first time has now made that public commitment. The White House is going to be monitoring the situation very closely to see if, in fact, he delivers on that.

The secretary of state, Colin Powell, was supposed to leave for Costa Rica for a meeting of the Organization of American States. He's canceled that meeting to monitor the situation in the region ever more closely. Again, if the cease-fire holds and it appears that Mr. Arafat is doing things on the ground to discourage violence, maybe some hope for some talks that could lead to a breakthrough, although that, I must underscore, is a long time away.

STOUFFER: Absolutely. A very tense situation, Major Garrett. I know you will keep us up to date on what's happening from the White House. Thank you very much for that.

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