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CNN Sunday Morning
Public Response by Arafat to Critics
Aired February 03, 2002 - 11:08 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the Middle East, and a public response today from Yasser Arafat to his critics. The Palestinian leader issued the statement from his confinement in Ramallah. Israeli tanks have Arafat's Headquarters surrounded. He hasn't been allowed to leave for weeks.
In a New York Times op ed piece, Arafat says: "There are those who claim that I am not a partner in peace. In response I say, Israel's peace partner is and always has been the Palestinian people." He goes on to say: "Peace is not a signed agreement between individuals. It is reconciliation between peoples."
The Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told CNN a short time ago that Arafat's article reaffirms what the Palestinians want, but what is needed he says are declarations about a possible middle ground.
The White House is weighing in on Arafat's article. CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us live from the White House with the reaction there. Hi there, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka. Well, the administration's reaction is really what Bush Administration officials have been saying for quite some time.
They say words are fine but what the White House is really looking for is action, and that was the message from Condoleezza Rice, the President's National Security Adviser, appearing in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Dr. Rice saying that the Palestinian leader knows exactly what he needs to do to bring an end to the violence and get the peace process back on track.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It is a good thing to condemn terrorism. It's an even more important thing to do something about it. And our concern with Chairman Arafat has been that he has not made a 100 percent effort to root out the terrorist groups around him, to disable Hamas and Hezbollah, operating in the Palestinian territories. He has tens of thousands of forces that are capable of doing this.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And Fredricka, the belief is that the Palestinian leader has this op ed in the New York Times in part to frame the debate before this week's meeting between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The two men will be meeting at the White House on Thursday.
At the same time, it comes as U.S. officials have indicated privately, there is an assessment underway about what the U.S. should do when it comes to the Palestinian Authority. Discussions of possible options include severing ties with the Palestinian Authority.
But the message from Mr. Bush on Friday, his advisers certainly today, that this administration continuing to recognize the Palestinian leader continuing to have ties with the Palestinian Authority, but also continuing to say that Chairman Arafat must do much more. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Kelly, there continues to be a lot of fallout from President Bush's remarks last week, calling North Korea, Iran and Iraq the axis of evil. What, if any, is being said from the White House this morning as we begin a new workweek?
WALLACE: Absolutely lots of criticism, as you know Fredricka, even from some U.S. allies concerned that the President using those words, a reference to the fight against Naziism during World War II, in essence maybe the U.S. as a super power kind of taking its mission around the world.
The President's advisers out on the Sunday talk shows today. Secretary of State Colin Powell saying, look President Bush didn't declare war on anyone on Tuesday night, and instead of focusing really on the President's words, the U.S. allies and even critics around the world should focus on countries like Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, and focus on what those countries are doing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I didn't hear the President announce any new policies in the State of the Union Address, and I didn't hear him declare war on anybody.
What he said, in a very straightforward, direct manner, was that as we go forward in this campaign of terrorism and after we go after terrorists, we have to go after and identify those nations that are assisting terrorists, or are developing weapons of mass destruction that can get into the hands of terrorists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: So Fredricka, a bit of a defense from the President's top advisers of his words on Tuesday night, but also the message that the administration considers all options on the table. Talk still possible with countries like Iran and North Korea, but also that this administration will use every ounce of its power, including possibly military action to prevent countries from threatening the U.S. and its allies with weapons of mass destruction. Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Kelly Wallace.
WALLACE: Sure.
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