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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Haim R. Branisteanu who wrote (1152)	12/8/2001 10:19:59 PM
From: Scoobah	Respond to of 32591

Diplomatic source: Television interview exposes real Arafat By Yossi Verter, Ha'aretz Correspondent, Ha'aretz Service and agencies Yasser Arafat points to a map of Jerusalem during his interview to Channel One. (Photo: AP) A state source in Jerusalem said Saturday evening that following an interview with Arafat that was broadcast on Channel One on Friday, the entire Israeli public knew exactly who the true Arafat was. "Everyone saw how the person off to the side reminded him to extend his hand to peace," the source said. According to the source, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon achieved a political victory when he succeeded posing the question of replacing Arafat in the international consciousness. "Capitals in the west are now thinking about a post-Arafat era," the source said. The source went on to say that whoever believed that Arafat was part of the solution now understood that he is part of the problem. "Sharon said this a long time ago and was disregarding, but now, with the unfolding of events, others have realized this too. Foreign ministries around the world are silent. They understand the severity of the situation, they know that Israel will respond to every attack and will not allow a battle of terror to be waged against it." Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice committee, MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor), slammed the Prime Minister's Office for its condemnation of the interview with Arafat, Army Radio reported Saturday. The Prime Minister's Office condemned the state run channel for giving a stage to what they termed "a man responsible for the killing of innocents." Pines-Paz said the interview was an important piece of journalism worthy of commendation. "The attempt to prevent the Israeli public from hearing Arafat is suspicious and raises serious questions...it indicates a lack of self confidence," said the MK. Pines-Paz said that it was important for the media to show the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not only from the Israeli perspective. He stated that it was also important to know what was happening on the Palestinian side. In response, Likud MK Ze'ev Boim said Saturday that the interview was inapproptiate to show on television at a time "when the flowers on the graves [of those killed in last week's suicide bombings] have not yet dried." Arafat: PA in complete control over situation Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat said Friday that the PA had complete control over the situation in the territories and that he had given explicit orders for upholding a cease-fire. "Not only did we declare a cease-fire, we stood by it and declared a state of emergency," he said in an interview to Channel One Television. Arafat said that Palestinian security forces had arrested 17 of the 33 wanted terrorists on the list presented to him Wednesday by U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni. He added that efforts to arrest the remaining activists were continuing. The Palestinian leader criticized the U.S., saying that it was the U.S. that provided Israel with weapons used to attack the Palestinians. "Good God! Don't talk to me about the Americans," he told interviewer Oded Granot. "The Americans stand by your side and give you everything. Who gives you planes? The Americans! Who gives you tanks? The Americans! Who gives you money? The Americans!" Arafat said angrily. When asked why he did not declare an end to the intifada, Arafat responded "You are doing me a great injustice. How many times have I made arrests, declared an end to the killing, and declared a cease-fire? How many times have I done this? The last time I did so was after we condemned the crimes [the suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa]. We condemned those crimes and those that came before them. Did we not arrest many Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine activists? Among those arrested were political and military leaders." According to Arafat, Hamas and Islamic Jihad were funded by Iran. In response to the claim that PA members said that they received no clear military order for a cease-fire, Arafat said: "Bring me whoever told you that, and I will imprison him." The Palestinian leader noted that he had cooperated with Israel in stopping the suicide bombing, not because these actions are detrimental to Israel, but rather to the Palestinian nation. "We determined that the suicide bombings are dangerous and are illegal," he said. He claimed that the PA banned activities of factories that produce mortars and that PA security forces closed such factories in the Gaza Strip. "I invite you to visit the factory. If there is an additional factory - I'm on my way to it," Arafat said. The PA chairman also criticized Israeli attacks on Palestinian targets. "Yesterday [Thursday] you bombed the police jail at 3 A.M. I was not asleep. You attacked at 3 A.M. Did you know that? F-16 jets attacked." In regard to the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi, Arafat said, "First of all, those that killed Ze'ev Schiff [a Ha'aretz correspondent]... Ze'evi, yes, Rehavam Ze'evi. I did not publicize evidence because two members of the Cra'an family and one member of the Alasmar family escaped from you... You caught two and two escaped. We didn't find them, although we found two of their brothers. Do you want to go see them in prison so that they tell you who they cooperated with?" Arafat asked. Arafat accused Israeli leaders and the Israeli media of incitement against the Palestinian nation. According to him, this caused the Israeli public loss of faith in him and in the PA. "They said that I am [Osama] bin Laden and the PA is the Taliban. Am I bin Laden?" he asked. Arafat dismissed alleged claims by the Tanzim, including by its leader Marwan Barghouti, that it would not uphold agreements signed with Israel. "Who is Barghouti?" he asked. At the conclusion of the interview, Arafat said that he was "reaching out my hand to the Israeli people in the name of their children and our children," saying that he was obligated to international agreements signed with Israeli leaders.