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CNN Live Sunday

Bush Reacts to Today's Violence in Middle East

Aired August 04, 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: Reacting to the violence in the Middle East, President Bush says a few killers cannot be allowed to stop the peace process. CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us from Kennebunkport, Maine, where the president is on vacation. Hi, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Well, as President Bush speaks out and condemns the latest violence, some U.S. Senators are speaking out questioning whether the Bush administration is doing enough to make progress on peace. First to President Bush early this morning before a round of golf, he said he was distressed to learn about the latest bus bombing, but then he called on all the parties in the Middle East and throughout the Arab world to do more to stop these terrorist attacks.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are a few killers who want to stop the peace process that we have started and we must not let them for the sake of humanity, for the sake of the Palestinians who suffer, for the sake of the Israelis who are under attack.

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WALLACE: The president also spending some time with his family here in Kennebunkport, going to church a little bit later Sunday morning, but he is facing some criticism for his handling of the Middle East.

The militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for today's bus bombing and also for the bombing Wednesday at Hebrew University, which left five Americans and two Israelis dead. That has prompted some U.S. Senators, including Republican Arlen Specter to say that the Bush administration needs to put more pressure on Arab allies, such as Saudi Arabia, to stop the flow of funds to Hamas.

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SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), VETERANS AFFAIRS CMTE.: And I believe that the Saudis continue to support Hamas. Others do as well but we ought to get the Saudis to stop that kind of financial aid.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Now to that, U.S. officials say the facts will show this administration has been at the forefront of the financial fight against terror and that it continues to work with countries like Saudi Arabia to make sure that money is not being funneled to terrorist groups. One final note, the diplomacy continues.

This week, Palestinian officials are expected to head to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Colin Powell. It will be the highest level meeting between the Bush administration and Palestinian officials ever since President Bush made clear he believes Yasser Arafat must go before there can be a Palestinian state. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Kelly Wallace traveling with the president from Kennebunkport.

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