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CNN Live Sunday

Bush White House Does Not Issue Reaction to Arafat's Reforms

Aired June 09, 2002 - 17:05   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: On to the White House now, where there is still no formal reaction to Yasser Arafat's announcement of a Cabinet shuffle. The Palestinian leader revealed his plans on the eve of a White House meeting between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. And CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has details. Hi there, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. Well, this significance here that the White House is not commenting about Yasser Arafat's Cabinet shake-up is that this administration seems to be questioning whether this shake-up will really mean meaningful reform. President Bush continues to call for reforms of Palestinian institutions, and at the same time, he's preparing for a very, very big challenge -- trying to convince Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, to return to the negotiating table with the Palestinians some time soon.

Now, Mr. Sharon arrived in the Washington area early Sunday, preparing for his Monday meeting with President Bush. It will be their sixth face to face session, but even before that meeting is getting under way, Mr. Sharon is making it very clear, saying that the Israelis will not have political negotiations with the Palestinians until there is a cease-fire.

To get that message out, he took to the opinion pages of "The New York Times." Mr. Sharon writing, quote: "Israel must defeat terrorism. It cannot negotiate under fire. Israel has made painful concessions for peace before, and will demonstrate diplomatic flexibility to make peace again, but it requires first and foremost a reliable partner for peace." The Israeli leader going on to say that Israel wants to have an incremental approach, setting aside for the future thorny issues such as borders.

Well, President Bush heard an entirely different point of view yesterday, meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Mr. Mubarak was pressing Mr. Bush to set a timetable for the creation of a Palestinian state, but the word from the president's advisers is that the goal will be trying to have political and security discussions going on simultaneously, but his advisers repeating what the president said yesterday, this administration not ready to commit to any timetable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: So there are a lot that have to happen. We think they can all happen at the same time. In other words, there can be parallel lines of responsibility that are met, but it would be a mistake to have an arbitrary deadline if there were not a commitment to work toward a solution that would be meaningful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And aides are not expecting any breakthrough to come out of tomorrow's meeting between Mr. Bush and the Israeli leader. And Fredricka, we do know that Prime Minister Sharon asked for this session with Mr. Bush. It appears the Israeli leader wanted to meet with Mr. Bush following Mr. Bush's meetings with Arab leaders, including President Mubarak -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Kelly, back to Arafat's planned reshuffling. Is it likely that the White House won't formally issue a response because they want to hear directly from Sharon tomorrow first about Arafat's reshuffling plan before the White House actually articulates what they think about his idea?

WALLACE: Well, potentially. But it does appear, again, reading between the lines, the nuance here, Fredricka, is that the administration doesn't appear to be entirely impressed with what Yasser Arafat is doing, and also President Bush made it very clear Saturday, he repeatedly has said that Yasser Arafat has not done enough, has let his people down, and that this administration is reaching out to other leaders within the Palestinian Authority. So I think it has less do with tomorrow's meeting than this administration does not appear to be all that impressed with what Mr. Arafat announced on this day -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly, thanks very much.

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