Military

DATE=11-9-2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-269062

TITLE=Clinton-Arafat (L)

BYLINE=David Gollust

DATELINE=White House

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Clinton returning to Middle East diplomacy after the U-S election held talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Thursday and will meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday. The President is seeking a restoration of calm in the region and a resumption of political dialogue between the parties.VOA's David Gollust reports from the White House.

TEXT: Mr. Arafat met for more that two hours with the President and then emerged to angrily blame Israel for the violence that has swept Palestinian areas the last six weeks ,and all but ended hope for a final-status peace agreement during Mr. Clinton's term.

Mr. Arafat branded Israel the "aggressor" in the ongoing crisis, and --interrupting his own interpreter to make sure his words were correctly related - he rejected the idea that he should make a public call on Palestinians to stop violence:

///Arafat actuality w/ interpreter///

I'm not the one who initiated the violence, I'm not the one who's attacking Israelis now. My tanks are not besieging Israeli towns. I did not order my tanks, my air force, my artillery, my heavy weapons.

///end act///

U-S officials said Mr. Arafat raised with the President his proposal for a two-thousand member international force to be deployed in trouble areas to protect Palestinian civilians from Israeli troops.

The Palestinian leader will discuss the idea with U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan and Security Council members Friday - -- though Clinton national security adviser Sandy Berger told reporters the plan is unfeasible given Israel's strong opposition:

///Berger actuality///

Something like this can only be done with the consent of both the parties, in this case the Palestinians and the Israelis. At this point the Israelis are not prepared to entertain the idea. So in our judgement, to spend too much time on it right now simply diverts us then from bringing the violence under control and resuming a political process.

///end act///

The U-S officials said the Palestinian leader also raised with the President Thursday's Israeli helicopter attack that killed a militia leader of Mr. Arafat's Fatah movement. They said while the United States is still looking into the incident, it raises serious issues and both sides should avoid any escalation.

White House National Security Council spokesman P-J Crowley said the administration is "frustrated" by the continuing violence, which he termed a "dead-end street." He said the President pressed Mr. Arafat to fulfill the truce commitments made to him at last month's emergency summit in Egypt and will do the same with Prime Minister Barak on Sunday. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/PT