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CNN Live Sunday

Sharon Says Arafat Responsible for Deadly Suicide Bombings

Aired May 18, 2003 - 16:00   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: After a rash of deadly suicide attacks this weekend by bombers dressed as religious Jews, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is canceling a meeting with President Bush in Washington. Sharon is launching a renewed campaign against the man his government says is responsible for the latest violence, Yasser Arafat.
CNN's Kelly Wallace has details now from Jerusalem. Hello to you, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. Well, Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, huddled with his top advisers this evening, convening an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss possible steps Israel might take after four terror attacks this weekend including three suicide bombings. Some decisions were made, including a total closure now, restricting all Palestinian access into Israel from the West Bank as well as from the Gaza Strip.

Also, the prime minister and his advisers discussing Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian president, and deciding on a new policy. From now on, according to senior Israeli officials, any foreign dignitary who plans a meeting with the Palestinian president in Ramallah will not get a meeting with any other Israeli officials. This is part of the Israeli government's move to try to isolate Yasser Arafat. Israeli officials believe any meetings that diplomats have with Yasser Arafat only undermine the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas.

There was also some discussion, we are told, some cabinet ministers who are calling for the expulsion of Yasser Arafat from the area, but we're told Prime Minister Sharon is not going to pursue such a move right now, believing it is better to keep Yasser Arafat in Ramallah on the West Bank as opposed to allowing him to travel all around the world. Now, the Israeli position is that Yasser Arafat is encouraging such attacks as the ones we saw over the weekend, including the deadliest early Sunday morning when that bus bomber got on a bus dressed as an Orthodox Jew, according to Israeli police, and blew himself up, killing seven people, six Israelis as well as one Arab, a Palestinian man living in a refugee camp not too far from the neighborhood.

Now, the Palestinian position is that the Israelis actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the military incursion, the closures, all of these things are contributing to lots of anger in the Palestinian territories and are also not allowing Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, to really have the standing and the political power to stand up to these radical Palestinian groups, such as Hamas, to try to encourage them to stop these attacks against the Israeli people.

Right now, unclear where the two sides go from here. The Israeli officials say that Prime Minister Sharon would still like to meet yet again with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, who he met with Saturday night. And again, also unclear exactly when Prime Minister Sharon will make that trip to Washington, although, Heidi, Israeli officials say they're hoping to reschedule the meeting as soon as possible -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Kelly, if it is indeed true that Yasser Arafat is undermining Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, is there anything that Abbas can actually do now to try to further the peace process himself?

WALLACE: One thing he really needs to do, Heidi, is deliver a little bit to the Palestinian people. He doesn't have a very strong standing when it comes to the Palestinian community. He's not very popular. He doesn't have a strong political base. One thing he really needs is to show the Palestinian people he is delivering for them, and that is why Palestinians say they were very frustrated in the meeting Saturday night, because they believe until Israel accepts and starts implementing this so-called Middle east road map, the Palestinians really don't have sort of that political power again to stand up to these groups and try to get things done. So Mahmoud Abbas will be hoping to get something from the Israelis down the road. Right now, what the Israelis are saying is that they hope to talk and meet again, but not clear when that will be -- Heidi.

COLLINS: CNN's Kelly Wallace live from Jerusalem, thanks so much, Kelly.

President Bush condemns the attacks. Senior White House correspondent John King is at the White House now for more on that. Hello to you, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Heidi. And as Kelly just said, the White House, like the Israeli government, trying to rearrange the schedule and try to see when Prime Minister Sharon can come to Washington for the meeting. No definitive word yet.

The president came back to the White House this afternoon from Camp David, aides are insisting that this will be a delay and they're insisting the president will not let it become a major set back for his efforts to get the Israelis and the Palestinians back on the Path to Peace. The White House, as you noted, condemning the bombing and offering condolences to the victims and their loved ones.

Now, here in Washington in recent weeks, there has been great praise for Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister. President Bush, key members of Congress saying, finally, Mr. Bush has a partner he can work with in trying to get the peace negotiations back on track. One key member of Congress, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, saying now this new partner the United States has long wanted faces a serious challenge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R), NEBRASKA: Yes, we must stop these terrorist acts, and Mahmoud Abbas has that responsibility. He has to show -- demonstrate clearly -- that he is getting some control of this, and it must be displayed in some tangible way, but to blame Mahmoud Abbas in any way or to say this is just another indication that he has no control over anything is, I think, inaccurate and unfair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Blame, once again, here in Washington as well as Israel, being put on Yasser Arafat, the long-time Palestinian leader. President Bush made no secret ever of his disdain for Mr. Arafat. He refused repeatedly to meet with him. He would not release the new peace road map until Arafat was pushed to the sidelines and a new Palestinian prime minister in place. Now some White House officials privately, and some members of Congress publicly, including Congresswoman Jane Harman of California, suggesting that it is Yasser Arafat trying to undermine the new Palestinian prime minister.

(VIDEO CLIP BEGIN)

REP. JANE HARMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: And if we could get Arafat out of the way and that would -- I would make that a project of the Arab neighbors of Palestine. I think then we'd have a chance for that government to get Hamas under control. Then we would reduce the violence against Israel. Then, I would hope, Israel would be a full partner for peace in negotiations toward a two-state solution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Many at the White House have privately predicted there would come a test like this, an immediate terrorist strike, to challenge the efforts to get the peace process back on track. In the hours ahead, Heidi, White House officials say two things are critical; that Israel, yes, takes steps to improve its security, but hopefully the White House says not over react to this latest attack. And they say here at the White House, despite all the confidence they might have in Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, he must quickly show that he has control. He must quickly show that he can improve the security situation -- Heidi.

COLLINS: John, taking that just one step farther, do you think there will be any chance for some sort of relationship now at this point between the White House and Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas?

KING: Well, this White House wants to do everything it can to help Prime Minister Abbas. One of the problems is every time that Prime Minister Abbas is praised by the Bush White House, he comes under criticism back home. As Kelly Wallace noted, this is a man who has just prime minister. Yasser Arafat remains a more popular figure, at least with key members of the Palestinian community, so if the White House is praising Mahmoud Abbas, it might do him more damage at home than it will do help. What President Bush is hoping to do, and was hoping to do at the meeting with Prime Minister Sharon, is to get the prime minister to give some of those concessions, economic concessions and other concessions so that Prime Minister Abbas could go home to the Palestinian people and say, see, if we commit to the Path to Peace, we will benefit economically as well as from a security standpoint.

COLLINS: CNN White House senior correspondent, John King, thanks so much for your insight tonight on that, John.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Bombings>


Aired May 18, 2003 - 16:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: After a rash of deadly suicide attacks this weekend by bombers dressed as religious Jews, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is canceling a meeting with President Bush in Washington. Sharon is launching a renewed campaign against the man his government says is responsible for the latest violence, Yasser Arafat.
CNN's Kelly Wallace has details now from Jerusalem. Hello to you, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. Well, Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, huddled with his top advisers this evening, convening an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss possible steps Israel might take after four terror attacks this weekend including three suicide bombings. Some decisions were made, including a total closure now, restricting all Palestinian access into Israel from the West Bank as well as from the Gaza Strip.

Also, the prime minister and his advisers discussing Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian president, and deciding on a new policy. From now on, according to senior Israeli officials, any foreign dignitary who plans a meeting with the Palestinian president in Ramallah will not get a meeting with any other Israeli officials. This is part of the Israeli government's move to try to isolate Yasser Arafat. Israeli officials believe any meetings that diplomats have with Yasser Arafat only undermine the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas.

There was also some discussion, we are told, some cabinet ministers who are calling for the expulsion of Yasser Arafat from the area, but we're told Prime Minister Sharon is not going to pursue such a move right now, believing it is better to keep Yasser Arafat in Ramallah on the West Bank as opposed to allowing him to travel all around the world. Now, the Israeli position is that Yasser Arafat is encouraging such attacks as the ones we saw over the weekend, including the deadliest early Sunday morning when that bus bomber got on a bus dressed as an Orthodox Jew, according to Israeli police, and blew himself up, killing seven people, six Israelis as well as one Arab, a Palestinian man living in a refugee camp not too far from the neighborhood.

Now, the Palestinian position is that the Israelis actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the military incursion, the closures, all of these things are contributing to lots of anger in the Palestinian territories and are also not allowing Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, to really have the standing and the political power to stand up to these radical Palestinian groups, such as Hamas, to try to encourage them to stop these attacks against the Israeli people.

Right now, unclear where the two sides go from here. The Israeli officials say that Prime Minister Sharon would still like to meet yet again with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, who he met with Saturday night. And again, also unclear exactly when Prime Minister Sharon will make that trip to Washington, although, Heidi, Israeli officials say they're hoping to reschedule the meeting as soon as possible -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Kelly, if it is indeed true that Yasser Arafat is undermining Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, is there anything that Abbas can actually do now to try to further the peace process himself?

WALLACE: One thing he really needs to do, Heidi, is deliver a little bit to the Palestinian people. He doesn't have a very strong standing when it comes to the Palestinian community. He's not very popular. He doesn't have a strong political base. One thing he really needs is to show the Palestinian people he is delivering for them, and that is why Palestinians say they were very frustrated in the meeting Saturday night, because they believe until Israel accepts and starts implementing this so-called Middle east road map, the Palestinians really don't have sort of that political power again to stand up to these groups and try to get things done. So Mahmoud Abbas will be hoping to get something from the Israelis down the road. Right now, what the Israelis are saying is that they hope to talk and meet again, but not clear when that will be -- Heidi.

COLLINS: CNN's Kelly Wallace live from Jerusalem, thanks so much, Kelly.

President Bush condemns the attacks. Senior White House correspondent John King is at the White House now for more on that. Hello to you, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Heidi. And as Kelly just said, the White House, like the Israeli government, trying to rearrange the schedule and try to see when Prime Minister Sharon can come to Washington for the meeting. No definitive word yet.

The president came back to the White House this afternoon from Camp David, aides are insisting that this will be a delay and they're insisting the president will not let it become a major set back for his efforts to get the Israelis and the Palestinians back on the Path to Peace. The White House, as you noted, condemning the bombing and offering condolences to the victims and their loved ones.

Now, here in Washington in recent weeks, there has been great praise for Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister. President Bush, key members of Congress saying, finally, Mr. Bush has a partner he can work with in trying to get the peace negotiations back on track. One key member of Congress, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, saying now this new partner the United States has long wanted faces a serious challenge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R), NEBRASKA: Yes, we must stop these terrorist acts, and Mahmoud Abbas has that responsibility. He has to show -- demonstrate clearly -- that he is getting some control of this, and it must be displayed in some tangible way, but to blame Mahmoud Abbas in any way or to say this is just another indication that he has no control over anything is, I think, inaccurate and unfair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Blame, once again, here in Washington as well as Israel, being put on Yasser Arafat, the long-time Palestinian leader. President Bush made no secret ever of his disdain for Mr. Arafat. He refused repeatedly to meet with him. He would not release the new peace road map until Arafat was pushed to the sidelines and a new Palestinian prime minister in place. Now some White House officials privately, and some members of Congress publicly, including Congresswoman Jane Harman of California, suggesting that it is Yasser Arafat trying to undermine the new Palestinian prime minister.

(VIDEO CLIP BEGIN)

REP. JANE HARMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: And if we could get Arafat out of the way and that would -- I would make that a project of the Arab neighbors of Palestine. I think then we'd have a chance for that government to get Hamas under control. Then we would reduce the violence against Israel. Then, I would hope, Israel would be a full partner for peace in negotiations toward a two-state solution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Many at the White House have privately predicted there would come a test like this, an immediate terrorist strike, to challenge the efforts to get the peace process back on track. In the hours ahead, Heidi, White House officials say two things are critical; that Israel, yes, takes steps to improve its security, but hopefully the White House says not over react to this latest attack. And they say here at the White House, despite all the confidence they might have in Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, he must quickly show that he has control. He must quickly show that he can improve the security situation -- Heidi.

COLLINS: John, taking that just one step farther, do you think there will be any chance for some sort of relationship now at this point between the White House and Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas?

KING: Well, this White House wants to do everything it can to help Prime Minister Abbas. One of the problems is every time that Prime Minister Abbas is praised by the Bush White House, he comes under criticism back home. As Kelly Wallace noted, this is a man who has just prime minister. Yasser Arafat remains a more popular figure, at least with key members of the Palestinian community, so if the White House is praising Mahmoud Abbas, it might do him more damage at home than it will do help. What President Bush is hoping to do, and was hoping to do at the meeting with Prime Minister Sharon, is to get the prime minister to give some of those concessions, economic concessions and other concessions so that Prime Minister Abbas could go home to the Palestinian people and say, see, if we commit to the Path to Peace, we will benefit economically as well as from a security standpoint.

COLLINS: CNN White House senior correspondent, John King, thanks so much for your insight tonight on that, John.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Bombings>