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CNN Live Sunday

White House Does Not Comment on Reforms of Palestinian Authority

Aired June 09, 2002 - 18:04   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The White House isn't saying much about Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's plans to shake up his Cabinet. President Bush is more focused on his meeting with Israel's Prime Minister tomorrow. CNN's Kelly Wallace has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush, no fan of Yasser Arafat, choosing not to comment on Arafat's Cabinet shake-up. Aides say the president continues to look for, quote, "meaningful reform." At the same time, Mr. Bush is trying to convince the Israelis to eventually return to the negotiating table.

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: There's a lot of things that have to happen. We think they can all happen at the same time.

WALLACE: But Israeli Prime Minister Sharon in Washington preparing for his Monday meeting with Mr. Bush says Israel won't engage in political discussions until the violence stops.

In an op-ed Sunday's "New York Times" Mr. Sharon wrote: "Israel must defeat terrorism. It cannot negotiate under fire." And he said, "a diplomatic solution requires first and foremost a reliable partner for peace."

The president repeatedly says Arafat has let his people down, but Arab leaders are urging Mr. Bush to give him a chance.

PRES. HOSNI MUBARAK, EGYPT: If he's given the authority and given the tools, I think it would work very well. If not, the people who elected him will not accept him afterward. We should give him a chance anyway.

WALLACE: During their weekend summit at Camp David, the Egyptian leader urged President Bush to commit to a timetable for Palestinian statehood, arguing that is the only way to end the violence. But Mr. Bush said he was not ready to do that, and Democratic lawmakers agree.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: I think it's more important to come through with an outline, a horizon of how this state is going to come in being. But I don't think to set firm timetables in that region of the world. WALLACE (on camera): The president is expected sometime soon to outline his ideas about how to move forward. The daunting challenge for Mr. Bush is finding a game plan all parties can live with, with Israel arguing for an incremental approach, setting aside issues such as borders for the future, and the Arab world and Palestinians calling for major political discussions now.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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