Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Bush Condemns 'Horrific Acts of Murder'

Aired December 02, 2001 - 15:07   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The meeting is over now between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mr. Sharon is on his way home, in fact, now. And CNN's Major Garrett has more from the White House to see if we've learned any more about that meeting -- Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Donna.

President Bush, upon arriving on the South Lawn of the White House this morning in advance of his meeting with the Israeli prime minister, condemned what he called "horrific acts of murder." But he also told reporters, again, before that meeting with the Israeli prime minister that he and his administration would not allow this recent spate of carnage and violence to undermine the peace process they're so aggressively seeking between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Clearly, there are some in the world who do not want us to achieve peace in the Middle East. Clearly, there are some that every chance they have, they will use violence and terror to disrupt any progress that's being made. We must not allow them to succeed. We must not allow terror to destroy the chance of peace in the Middle East.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: The meeting between President Bush and the Israeli prime minister lasted about an hour in the Oval Office, and at that meeting, not only did the president offer the condolences of the United States government to the Israeli leader, but he also said the United States would intensify, in the words of a senior administration official, cooperation with Israel in targeting those terrorist forces that have brought harm to Israeli citizens.

Also, there is no indication that the United States government, in any way, urged restraint upon the Israeli government. Earlier today, on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" Secretary of State Colin Powell said that, in fact, the Israeli government, it's up to them to decide how to proceed on this matter. Previously at times when violence has erupted between both sides, the United States government has urged both the Palestinians and the Israelis to use restraint. No such words from the administration on this point now, Donna, a clear indication that this violence is so provocative, so profound, the carnage so intense, the United States finds no reason at all to urge restraint from the Israelis -- Donna.

KELLEY: Yes. No, mood to let any action like this go at all. No word at all that they would encourage them -- no matter how Israel reacts, no word that they would encourage them to get back to the negotiating table?

GARRETT: Well, the administration has said, throughout this entire process and it repeated it again today, that the essential first step for both sides is to rebuild confidence among their security forces -- the Israeli security forces and the Palestinian security forces. Without that sense of cooperation, cooperation the administration believe is the essential first step to minimizing violence.

There can be no political dialogue. That is why you see this very concentrated emphasis from President Bush and the secretary of state, Colin Powell, telling the Palestinian chairman, Yasser Arafat, you must do things right now. Take concrete steps to arrest those responsible for these suicide attacks, and go after the terrorist infrastructure that supports such atrocities.

If the chairman -- Chairman Arafat does not do that, the United States will, in no uncertain terms, conclude he is unable to control the situation in the region. That will make any type of cooperation between the Israelis and the Palestinians on security that much more difficult to achieve, putting off even more any possibility for a negotiated settlement -- Donna.

KELLEY: Thank you, Major -- Major Garrett at the White House.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com