A rchive Date
[ 23-02-2005 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Palestine ]
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[http://canoe.ca/CNEWSTopNews/arafat_apr1-ap.html
Arafat's failure puts pressure on Bush administration
By SALLY BUZBEE - Associated Press
Monday April 1, 2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat should order his people to halt suicide bombings, U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday. Arafat should arrest extremists and keep them in custody, he said.
The United States is pressing that message without success, so far. Arafat either won't - or can't - do what Bush demands, leaving the administration increasingly frustrated as it struggles to find a way to end the violence searing the Mideast.
"I'd like to see Chairman Arafat denounce the terrorist activities that are taking place," Bush said, reiterating his strong call over the weekend that Arafat make such a statement in Arabic to his people.
Bush called suicide bombings in the name of religion nothing but terror.
Arafat has been trapped in his offices in Ramallah, surrounded by Israeli soldiers, since Israel on Friday launched a major offensive in reprisal for a deadly and relentless string of suicide attacks.
Arafat's aides say he has no way to call a ceasefire while confined, and say the Palestinians can't be expected to put down their weapons until it is clear that serious political negotiations will begin.
U.S. officials dispute that.
"He has the ability to talk to his people in the field, he has the ability to reach out and tell people that they need to stop the violence," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, noting the many television interviews Arafat has given in recent days.
Bush still regards Arafat as central to any peace hopes, because Palestinians listen to him and because he has signed on to past peace agreements, the White House spokesman said.
At the same time, he said: "This type of terror is undermining Yasser Arafat's ability to lead, and that's why the president has called on Chairman Arafat to do more."
Just a few weeks ago, Bush was criticizing Israel for its military reprisals against Palestinians, calling them unhelpful.
But the president has grown increasingly frustrated by the Palestinian leader, saying over the weekend that he was "disappointed" in Arafat.
Bush on Saturday urged Arafat to use his security forces to prevent suicide bombers from reaching Israel, and to speak out clearly in Arabic against such attacks.
U.S. officials say Arafat routinely omits strong calls for an end to the violence when he speaks to his people in Arabic - saving any strong denunciation for when he speaks in English to western audiences.
Yet some say the United States has few good options besides pressuring him. The Palestinians, America's Arab allies and even many Europeans support Arafat. Other potential Palestinian leaders are considered worse or ineffectual.
"The real question is, 'Is Arafat unable or unwilling to stop the violence?' It's probably a little of both," said James Lindsay of the Brookings Institution.
Some analysts say Bush still has other options and should pursue them aggressively.
Bush could, for example, give Arafat a deadline for halting terrorist strikes against Israel and threaten to cut ties with him if he doesn't.
The U.S. president also could press forward with a peace proposal from the Saudis and hope that pressure from Arab nations on Arafat will work.
Or, the United States could pressure the Israelis to stop military reprisals to give Arafat a chance to try to crack down on terror attacks. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker on Monday reiterated the U.S. position that Israel should pull its army back from Ramallah and "carefully consider the consequences" of its military assault on the peace efforts.
"It's equally difficult for the Palestinians to move forward with peace when they're under siege," said Warren Haffar, director of a conflict resolution program at Arcadia University in Philadelphia.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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