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CNN Live Sunday

Arafat Condemns Terrorism in Op-Ed Piece

Aired February 03, 2002 - 17:21   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: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says he condemns terrorism, and he is willing to negotiate with Israel as equals. Arafat's op-ed piece in today's "New York Times" comes days before a scheduled Washington meeting between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has the reaction to this latest overture from Arafat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tries to send a message to the Bush administration, condemning attack by terrorist groups against Israeli civilians in this "New York Times" opinion piece saying quote: "These groups do not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for freedom. They are terrorist organizations, and I am determined to put an end to their activities."

President Bush's top advisers welcome Arafat's condemnation of terror, but repeat the administration's mantra that actions, not words, are needed.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: And our concern with Chairman Arafat has been that he has not made 100 percent effort to route out the terrorist groups around him, to disable Hamas and Hezbollah operating in the Palestinian territories.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm not claiming that he has 100 percent control over every potential bombers or shooter in the region, but I think he could do a lot more.

WALLACE: And that includes, Powell says, explaining the Palestinian Authority's roll in this shipment of 50 tons of weapons and explosives from Iran intercepted by Israel last month.

Still, Secretary Powell sounds a somewhat hopeful note, stressing how Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with Palestinian officials last week, and how he himself will meet with Palestinians in the days ahead, signaling the administration is not severing ties with the Palestinian Authority any time soon.

POWELL: We can't walk away from the current crisis in the Middle East. We have got to get back on a track that provides a cease-fire. WALLACE: But Sharon, who meets Thursday with President Bush, told an Israeli news program Arafat's article did not persuade him, and called the Palestinian leader, quote, "irrelevant." In his op-ed, Arafat said: "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."

(on camera): Bush advisers say those words don't change what they believe Arafat must do in order to get back to the peace table. Said one aide, "Arafat still needs to show he is a leader, and that means sometimes making difficult decisions that are not popular at home."

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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