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CNN Sunday Morning

Israelis, Palestinians Expected to Blame Each Other If Meetings Don't Work

Aired April 14, 2002 - 11:12   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: Once again, Secretary Powell heading to Beirut tomorrow. But before he does that, he's in Jerusalem today having a second meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, this after his three-hour meeting with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat. Our own Chris Burns is in Jerusalem, and Chris give us an idea just how the meeting today is being received in Jerusalem.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well that is a good question. From either side, it does appear that the Palestinians and the Israelis are trying to put the burden and perhaps even the blame on each other if these talks, if these meetings by Secretary of State Colin Powell don't pan out to any concrete results.

On the Palestinian side, Saeb Erakat, the Chief Palestinian Negotiator, saying that the Israelis must pull out before the Palestinians show full willingness to comply with some kind of advance in assuring security on the Israeli side. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: I think the discussions were constructive and that we dealt with all the individuals and we fully committed to implementation of Resolution 1402, that calls for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: On the Israeli side, some officials had been saying that any kind of meeting between Powell and Arafat would be a tragic mistake, in their words. However, the dovish foreign minister, Shimon Peres that really there's nobody else than Arafat to speak with, but that Arafat also, he must follow through to insure Israeli security. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: When it comes to Arafat, I'm really trying to see or think who should in the eyes of the other people replace him? And then maybe there are other candidates to succeed him, but I don't think they will be better or more promising. We can not force the Palestinians to change their leaders, but we have to press upon the Palestinians to change their policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: Meanwhile, the Israeli operation Defensive Shield continues, more than two weeks old. They continue to move in some of the major cities inside the West Bank, including Nablus, the biggest city and Jenin. Ambulances were allowed to go through some areas to pick up some of the bodies, the Palestinians claiming that some 500 people were killed, some of them massacred in Jenin alone.

In Bethlehem, the siege continues as well, where Israeli forces have ringed the Church of the Nativity, where some 200 people are inside, many of them believed to be Palestinians holding guns. The sirens have been sounded off by the Israeli forces trying to drive them out, at least, trying to make life uncomfortable enough for them to leave. So far, that's not working.

Also, an offer by the Israeli government to either allow the Palestinians to leave, to choose exile for life or to give up and undergo a trial by the Israelis; so far no takers on that side.

The cabinet, the Israeli Cabinet met today, among other decisions, including the offer to the Palestinians inside of the Church of the Nativity. They also said that they would be willing to go ahead with some kind of an international peace conference, something modeled along the lines of the Madrid Conference way back that led to the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords.

But it does appear that some of the members of the cabinet are split over whether Arafat should be part of that conference. Obviously from what we just heard from Shimon Peres, is Arafat is the man that they should be speaking with. So, it doesn't appear that there is a united decision on that kind of negotiations. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much. Chris Burns, appreciate it, from Jerusalem.

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