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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Calls for All Nations to Help End Middle East Violence

Aired August 04, 2002 - 08:08   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.
LARRY SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush interrupted his golf game this morning and called for all nations to join an effort to end the violence in the Mideast. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is on the road with the president in Kennebunkport, Maine, and joins us now live from there.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Larry. President Bush speaking out bright and early this morning, before that golf game with his dad. He said he was distressed to learn about this latest bombing, and then he called on all parties who believe in peace in the Middle East, throughout the Arab world, throughout Europe to join together to fight terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are a few killers who want to stop the peace process that we have started, and we must not let them. For the sake of humanity, for the sake of the Palestinians who suffer, for the sake of the Israelis who are under attack, we must stop the terror. I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: The president then got on with his golf game. He's enjoying some down time here in Kennebunkport, Maine before heading to Crawford, Texas next week for a month-long getaway from Washington.

This, though, yet another blow to the already fragile Middle East peace process. It comes just days after the bombing at Hebrew University, in which two Israelis and five Americans were killed. Reacting to the killing of Americans, the president said late last week that he was furious and that the U.S. would work with the Israelis to find those responsible.

On the diplomatic front, we saw King Abdullah of Jordan at the White House last week. The king has expressed some frustration, wanting to see this administration move faster, in terms of creating a work plan, paving the way to a Palestinian state.

On the diplomatic front, we can tell you Palestinian officials are expected to be in Washington this coming week to meet with Secretary of State Colin Powell. It would be the highest-level meeting between the Bush administration and Palestinian officials since President Bush said at the end of June that he believed it was time for new leadership within the Palestinian community to one day create a Palestinian state -- Larry.

SMITH: OK, Kelly -- thanks so much. Kelly Wallace, CNN White House correspondent in Kennebunkport, Maine.

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