U.S. President Bush said Sunday that Yasser Arafat's leadership is coming under intense scrutiny in the Middle East, citing doubts among Palestinians about his ability to stem “terrorism” and bring peace to the region.
"He hasn't delivered. He had a chance to secure the peace as a result of the hard work of President Clinton, and he didn't," Bush said. "He had a chance to fight terrorism and he hasn't."
Speaking to reporters as he wrapped up his three-day visit in Russia, Bush said, "Evidently, there is a new attitude emerging among the new leadership of the Palestinian Authority" about Arafat's capabilities. "And the answer is, we'll see. We'll see if he can deliver," Bush said.
Bush said he has taken note of concerns about Arafat that are rising from inside the Palestinian Authority as well as among Arab leaders and the Palestinian people. "You're beginning to see talk of reform," Bush said. "People are beginning to question out loud why there hasn't been some success."
But they said the president hopes to encourage Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab nations — as well as those inside Arafat's circle — to either push Arafat harder or force changes around him. "I'm beginning to hear — publicly, I'm beginning to hear, I might add — discussion about, `Well maybe we ought to reassess how to make the Palestinian Authority more accountable," Bush said.
Bush said he still planned to send CIA director George Tenet to the region to help rebuild the Palestinian security force after Israeli attacks decimated it. White House officials said Tenet was going next week. (Albawaba.com)
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