Military

DATE=3/31/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= BUSH/MIDEAST (L)

NUMBER=2-288195

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush has condemned the bloody Easter Sunday terrorist bombings in the northern Israeli city of Haifa and in the West Bank. But as V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports, the White House says U-S peace efforts will go on.

TEXT: A White House spokesman says the president will not let these latest attacks deter him from the pursuit of peace.

Spokesman Gordon Johndroe says Mr. Bush's Middle East envoy, Anthony Zinni, will stay in the region. Mr. Johndroe says General Zinni remains in touch with both sides.

The comments came as President Bush observed the Easter holiday with his family at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The president did not speak in public about the latest incidents of bloodshed, but on Saturday, he told a hastily arranged news conference that Yasser Arafat has not done enough to stop the violence.

Mr. Bush did not call at that time for an Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian leader's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. During a series of interviews on American television Sunday morning, top aides to Mr. Arafat said he is being held "hostage" in the compound. In remarks to reporters in Ramallah, Yasser Arafat said he is not the issue.

/// ARAFAT ACT ///

What I am facing (is not important) the most important is what our people are facing, day by night.

/// END ACT ///

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said the Palestinian Authority must keep its word and live up to its obligations. During an appearance on the C-B-S television program, "Face the Nation," Mr. Peres said, even with Israeli tanks surrounding his headquarters, Yasser Arafat can take action to stop terrorism.

///PERES ACT///

Well, even now, he can do many things that he doesn't do. General Zinni has demanded that he stand up and say with a lone voice "stop the terror, stop the violence." He can do it every moment from every place.

///END ACT///

Mr. Peres said he does not expect an all-out war with the Palestinians. However, a few hours later, in an address to the Israeli people, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the country must wage war against terror. He described Yasser Arafat as an obstacle to peace.

His broadcast remarks came after suicide bombings in the port city of Haifa and the Jewish settlement of Efrat in the West Bank. /// OPT /// The incident at a restaurant in Haifa left at least 14 people dead and dozens injured. The explosion in Efrat killed the bomber and injured four others. /// END OPT /// (signed)

NEB/PW/TW