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Peres tells Arafat to act quickly against terrorists
New suicide bomber strikes in Jerusalem
December 5, 2001 Posted: 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT)
Police and forensic experts investigate the scene of a suicide bombing outside a Jerusalem hotel on Wednesday.
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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat received Israeli assurances Wednesday that his forces will be able to move as needed to arrest terrorists and prevent further terror attack.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told CNN that the assurances came after an exchange of phone calls he had with Arafat, in which he told the Palestinian leader he had to take quick action against terrorists.
The two men spoke by telephone after a suicide bomber set off a blast outside a Jerusalem hotel. The bomber was killed and six people suffered minor injuries.
Wednesday's explosion followed weekend terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and the port city of Haifa that killed 25 Israelis and three suicide bombers. That violence led to major Israeli military strikes against Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza.
Peres told Arafat "you have no time, you have to act now."
Peres told Arafat the Palestinians have a list of 36 heads of terrorist organizations that need to be arrested.
Arafat complained to Peres he didn't have the ability to move his forces to make the arrests. Peres said he consulted with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and then told Arafat his forces would be allowed to move as needed.
Peres described to CNN the exchange this way: "Yasser Arafat phoned me and he said he wants to take matters into his own hands but we're not enabling him to. I told him 'the matter is up to you, entirely up to you. In the next 12 hours you can determine the attitude toward the Palestinian Authority.'
"'You have the permission. You have a list of 36 people to our knowledge that are the head of the terror. I really, really recommend to you that you put them in jail.'
"I told him that the problem today is the Palestinian Authority has a very low credibility level, also in America, in Europe and in Israel," Peres added. "As to the moving of forces I told him I'd look into and get back to him. I spoke to the prime minister and the forces can move and that's the answer I gave Arafat."
Earlier Wednesday, Sharon said Arafat must meet five demands before a political agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would be possible. The demands included the arrest of leaders of militant organizations, dismantling those organizations, destroying all illegal weapons, imposing real preventive actions to stop those who plan terror attacks and halting incitement.
The suicide bombing on Wednesday occured at 7:40 a.m. (12:40 a.m. EST) on the street in front of the David Citadel Hotel in west Jerusalem, near the Old City.
In a statement faxed to news agencies, Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attack and said the bomber was targeting Israeli government officials. Islamic Jihad is a militant group dedicated to the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel.
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, Minister of Internal Security Uzi Landau, and Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ohana were at the hotel at the time of the attack, Israel Radio reported.
It was unclear whether the bomber set off the blast or the explosives detonated prematurely, police said. The bomber carried nails in addition to the explosives to increase the effect of the blast, Israeli police said.
On Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush urged Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat to "respond forcefully" to the weekend bombings by apprehending those responsible.
In Tuesday's retaliatory strikes, two Israeli Cobra helicopters fired rockets at a building in Ramallah adjacent to Arafat's headquarters. Palestinian officials said Arafat was in his office, but was not hurt. An Israeli military official said Arafat was not a target of the attacks.
IN-DEPTH
VIDEO/AUDIO
• Bomb cited in Jerusalem explosion
• Israeli strikes press Palestinians
MORE STORIES
• Arafat appeal over Israeli attacks
• Bush administration 'fed up'
with Arafat, senior official says
EXTRA INFORMATION
• Maps: Occupied lands
• Gallery: Ramallah strikes
RESOURCES
• On the Scene: Matthew Chance
• Message board | Chat
Other developments
• The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations sent a letter to the president of the Security Council pushing for action in response to the Israeli attacks. The Palestinians huddled with Arab nations and their supporters to discuss what kind of action should be urged on the 15-member Security Council. Whatever they decide, the United States and others are likely to block any Security Council consideration at this delicate time. Earlier this year, the United States vetoed a resolution that would have condemned Israel and dispatched observers to the Middle East.
• Following more than five hours of closed-door talks, the Israeli Cabinet early Tuesday called Arafat's Palestinian Authority a "terrorist-supporting entity" that must be dealt with as such. (Full story) | (Full statement)
• Following Tuesday's Israeli strikes, Arafat called on the international community to act. "Before this aggression started, we had succeeded ... many had been arrested," Arafat told CNN Correspondent Rula Amin, adding that his most important question was: "Where [is] the international reaction?" (Full story)
• The Bush administration Tuesday froze the assets of a Texas-based Islamic foundation that bills itself as a charity, charging that it raises millions of dollars for Palestinian Hamas -- branded an "extremist" terrorist group by the United States -- which uses the funds to train and support suicide bombers. The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development disputed the charges as a "smear campaign" against Muslims. (Full story)
• New York Gov. George Pataki and New York Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday announced plans to visit Israel this weekend in a symbolic show of support following last weekend's terrorist bombings there. Current Mayor Rudy Giuliani may join them if his schedule allows.
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