Arafat Speaks Out
Yasser Arafat: "I see George W. Bush's peace plan as a basis for further talks on a Middle East settlement"
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When asked for his reaction to Bush's remark that the Palestinian people should elect new leaders, Arafat responded by saying, "only the Palestinians themselves are in a position to decide who their leaders should be. So, let's wait and see what the people's verdict will be.
In connection with the recent terrorist acts committed by Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel, Arafat remarked, "we have repeatedly said we condemn such acts - they only harm the peace process. Our position on the issue remains unchanged."
Responding to rumors claiming that he intends to move to a neighboring country, Arafat said the following: "I will remain in Palestine. As long as the Israeli occupation and blockade continue, all of us will stay put. The Israelis are pressuring us to leave our homeland. Don't believe the rumors. I will never surrender."
The paper notes in connection with the Arafat interview that only a short while ago, it seemed he would not accept the Bush initiative. The American president had issued a very tough statement aimed against the Palestinian leadership, a statement amounting to a demand that the Palestinian people elect new leaders who had not tarnished their image with support for terrorism. Although he did not mention Arafat by name, it was clear whom he had in mind.
That gave Arafat an excellent excuse to turn down the Bush plan offhand and accuse Washington of a biased pro-Israeli position. Speaking in the Izvestiya interview, however, he did not respond to Bush's attack, nor did he dispute what Bush had said. On the contrary, he welcomed the Bush initiative and singled out the provisions that could benefit the Palestinians - the demand that Israeli troops be withdrawn from the Palestinian Autonomy and that no new Jewish settlements should be built there.
Arafat said he was ready to discuss and detail the U.S. President's ideas. To start with, he would meet with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell in Ramallah in the coming days.
In his interview, Arafat indicates that there is still hope for peace with Israel, that it is possible to break the deadlock, and that the Palestinians are ready to act on American recommendations without giving vent to emotions or resentment.
This means that a military scenario does not seem as inevitable as it looked only a couple of days ago when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered his troops to reoccupy key towns in the Palestinian Autonomy.
