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CNN Saturday Morning News

Palestinians Condemn Killing of Palestinian, Israeli Civilians

Aired April 13, 2002 - 08:56   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 CORRESPONDENT: All right, just to recap quickly, the Palestinian leadership has issued a statement condemning the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians.

Chris Burns, I believe we have exorcised the gremlins in the audio transmission line. Let's try that once gain -- Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks for doing that, Miles.

Yes, exactly. In a statement released in the last few minutes by the Palestinian Authority leadership, saying that they condemn all acts of violence against Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

Now, the entourage of Secretary of State Colin Powell had been demanding that Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, condemn, make a clear statement of condemnation against terrorism before Powell would meet with Arafat. That meeting was initially scheduled for today but was put off because of the suicide bombing yesterday that killed a suicide bomber and six Israelis here in downtown Jerusalem, that having torpedoed, really, the meeting now.

There are, there is talk about a meeting being put off until tomorrow. It, perhaps that meeting could take place. It depends on what the Powell people say, whether they will go ahead with that. It does appear that this might be strong enough, indeed, for the Americans to meet with Arafat, very, very important not only to the Palestinians, but also to Arab leaders here in the region, including moderate Arab leaders in Egypt as well as Jordan and other countries who are demanding that Powell do meet with Arafat while he is here in the Middle East -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Just to clarify it in my mind, this statement was not issued or uttered by Yasser Arafat himself, correct?

BURNS: That's correct. It is a statement that is issued by the Palestinian Authority. Of course, the Authority is led by the Authority President Yasser Arafat, so this could be very much a statement by Arafat, but he did not read it. It is not explicitly said by him. But it is the Palestinian Authority. Will that be enough for Powell to meet with Arafat? That's anyone's guess at this point. No immediate reaction from the American entourage here.

Of course, this happens at the same time that the Israelis press on with incursions in the West Bank in a number of towns and villages, going ahead with their Operation Defensive Shield. That is also causing a lot of tension here as to whether the Palestinians will be willing to give any more on their side while the Israelis continue their incursions in the West Bank. Of course, those incursions aimed at ending and crushing what the Israelis call the terrorist infrastructure that had been launching terrorist attacks inside Israel that killed some 125 Israelis in March.

So this is a very, very difficult job for Powell to try to broker some kind of cease-fire or at least some kind of negotiations between both sides aimed at reaching a peace settlement and putting and end to this violence -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: So, Chris, is it possible that this statement, even though Yasser Arafat did not make it, would provide enough diplomatic cover for both sides to allow this meeting to occur? I know, I'm sort of asking the same question again, and we're getting into the area of speculation, but does it seem like sort of one of those win-win diplomatic situations that we're watching unfold here?

BURNS: Well, that's a very, very good question. It does appear that this is a very direct condemnation of terrorism, of terrorism, but not only against Israelis, but also against Palestinians, because the Palestinian Authority is saying that the Israelis are, according to some Palestinian leaders, massacring Palestinians in the West Bank as they press ahead with Operation Defensive Shield. So the Palestinians are demanding that there also be some kind of regret expressed.

We also saw today, however, Secretary Powell making some gestures in that direction, as well, saying he is very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Jenin in the refugee camp, especially where there are reports of hundreds of Palestinian casualties in the last few days. Also, urging the Israelis to show restraint and not to exercise excessive force.

So we're getting signals here from both sides that perhaps are indicating maybe coming halfway and perhaps even meeting tomorrow. Obviously, if Powell does not meet with Arafat, that would be seen, obviously, as a failure of his mission. So in some ways he really, some might see him having no choice but to meet with him eventually in the next few days, as long as the Palestinians make some kind of statement condemning terrorism.

So perhaps at this point at least it's looking positive.

O'BRIEN: You've hit on an important point here and that is the fact that the stakes are very high for the Bush administration in general, in particular for Secretary Powell. Give us a sense if this meeting doesn't occur, what else would be on the secretary's itinerary except for, you know, a trip back to Washington on that government jet?

BURNS: Well, that's a very good question because he obviously has to meet with the other side. If he's here, his mission is to be, is aimed at brokering some kind of -- or at least jump starting some kind of talks between both sides. If he is not talking with the Palestinians, that is obviously going to be a failure.

The Palestinians so far, other Palestinian leaders and officials like Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, has so far refused to meet with Powell unless Powell meets with Arafat. It does appear that the Palestinian leadership is closing ranks with Arafat and refusing to speak to the Americans unless, at least to speak with Powell, unless Powell meets with Arafat. So it does appear that the Palestinians are maintaining a tough line on that and obviously also, however, giving way a bit there by giving that statement today condemning terrorism against both Palestinians and Israelis -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Chris Burns in Jerusalem, thank you very much. Keep us posted as events unfold there. And as the reaction to that statement comes out we will, of course, be checking in with Chris.

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