DATE= 10/7/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220950
TITLE=CLINTON / ISRAEL (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HELD TALKS TUESDAY WITH ISRAELI
PRESIDENT EZER WEIZMAN AND DELIVERED SOME VEILED CRITICISM OF
ISRAEL'S BOTCHED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST A SENIOR HAMAS
OFFICIAL IN JORDAN TWO WEEKS AGO. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS
DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMEN HAD BEEN CAUTIOUS IN THEIR
COMMENTS ON THE SEPTEMBER 25TH ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF HAMAS
POLITICAL CHIEF KHALED MASHAL. BUT IN A PHOTO SESSION AS HE BEGAN
HIS WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH THE ISRAELI PRESIDENT, MR. CLINTON
LEFT NO DOUBT ABOUT U-S IRRITATION OVER THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAS
SPAWNED A CRISIS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JORDAN -- ITS CLOSEST PARTNER
IN THE ARAB WORLD:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
I THINK THAT ISRAEL'S STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM IS
IMPORTANT. BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE
CONSEQUENCES ON PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUR ALLIES, WHATEVER
ACTIONS YOU'VE TAKEN. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING NOW
FOR ME IS TO TRY TO GET THIS PEACE PROCESS BACK ON
TRACK. THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO ULTIMATELY GET RID
OF THE TERRORIST PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
///END ACT///
THE PRESIDENT TOLD MR. WEIZMAN HE WAS WILLING TO GO ANYWHERE OR
DO ANYTHING TO ADVANCE REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS. AND HE CONFIRMED
AN ISRAELI ACCOUNT THAT HE HAD JOKINGLY SUGGESTED -- AT DINNER
WITH MR. WEIZMAN MONDAY NIGHT -- THAT HE WAS READY TO TAKE
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER
ARAFAT TO THE NORTH POLE, AND KEEP THEM THERE UNTIL THEY HAD
SETTLED THEIR DIFFERENCES. AT LEAST -- MR. CLINTON SAID -- IT
WOULD COOL THINGS DOWN.
THE ISRAELI PRESIDENT IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE REITERATED HIS
GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN OVER WHAT ISRAEL SAYS IS ACTIVE RUSSIAN
ASSISTANCE TO IRAN IN DEVELOPING LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID THE ADMINISTRATION SHARES
THAT CONCERN AND HAS RAISED THE ISSUE ... AS HE PUT IT ...
"FORTHRIGHTLY AND DIRECTLY" IN HIGH-LEVEL TALKS WITH MOSCOW.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RRM
07-Oct-97 2:02 PM EDT (1802 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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