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CNN Live Sunday

What Do Israelis Think of Powell-Arafat Meeting?

Aired April 14, 2002 - 16:07   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Israel had thought all along a meeting with Yasser Arafat in that bombed out compound in Ramallah would be a mistake. In fact, Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, made no bones about his feelings. He felt simply it would be a tragic mistake. He delivered that message just about a week ago.

Earlier today, CNN's Jerrold Kessel took the pulse of Israelis about what they feel right now after the meeting today in Ramallah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a picture most Israelis didn't want to see, the U.S. secretary of state sitting down with Yasser Arafat. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called Colin Powell's decision a tragic mistake fearing it might serve to rehabilitate the Palestinian leader as a peace partner. Still, one of his allies in the Knesset is hopeful the United States will come to its senses.

NATHAN SHARANSKY, ISRAELI CABINET MINISTER: We here are in this unique situation where terrorists are all over the world, but the only place in the world where terrorists have their autonomy, built by one man, Yasser Arafat, I don't think that at this stage (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

KESSEL: Yasser Arafat used to be identified for many Israelis with a promise of peace. At the beginning when peace was going well, over two-thirds believed he was their partner. Support remain relatively high, over 50 percent as the two sides, despite difficulties, continued working for a permanent end to their conflict.

During the past 18 months of struggle, Arafat has been increasingly identified as not only not a partner but as the enemy, a terrorist, with two-thirds now saying in the latest Israeli poll, they want him expelled from the region.

One sign of the Israeli publics distaste for the Powell/Arafat meeting, the harsh language used by some in the media. One editorial calls the meeting Powell's suicide mission saying it looks as if Yasser Arafat isn't alone these days in wanting to be a martyr to his cause.

Ariel Sharon's tactics, seeking to isolate Yasser Arafat are broadly endorsed, even if it is at a cost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since the outbreak of this cycle of violence 18 months ago, it is Arafat's finger on the trigger of the Israel gun. It's Chairman Arafat who decides what Israel does. The deal is forcing Israel, including Prime Minister Sharon, to take actions which are probably against the best Israel interests. It was not our interests to reoccupy Palestinian cities. It may not be our best interest to expel Mr. Arafat from the territories. There may be a situation in which you don't have any other way.

KESSEL: Within Mr. Sharon's national unity government, what to do with Arafat is becoming strategically divisive. Israel needs to be realistic argues Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, the man who helped conclude the original Oslo peace deal.

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: We cannot force the Palestinians to change their leaders but to have to press upon the Palestinians to change our policies.

KESSEL: But if the argument for the United States over Arafat isn't going exactly his way for now, Ariel Sharon is still trying to keep the initiate in another respect. In practice, he's abandoned his long assistants that there should be no negotiating under fire. Now he's the one who's pressing for negotiating a cease-fire under fire. Under his fire.

Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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