Bush Heightens Pressure on Leaders

CRAWFORD, Texas —  President Bush broke his silence on the Middle East crisis Saturday, telling Israel to follow “a path to peace” and demanding that Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat make clear his opposition to terrorism.

Bush said that Arafat’s security force must “do a much better job of preventing people from coming into Israel to blow up innocent people” and that the Palestinian leader must “stand up and condemn, in Arabic, these attacks.”

“These aren’t just isolated incidents,” Bush said. “I mean, there’s a pattern, a routine, and a constancy. . . . Mr. Arafat could have done more three weeks ago and could do more today. I have been disappointed in his unwillingness to go 100% toward fighting terror.”

In the 36 hours since Israeli forces laid siege to Arafat’s compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Bush had avoided public comment. His newfound visibility heightened pressure on Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to step back from a conflict that has escalated drastically in the last few days.

As Bush spoke, television video showed the aftermath of the latest explosion in Israel, a suicide bombing at a Tel Aviv cafe Saturday night.

Iran, Syria Asked to Rein In Terrorists

The president spent an hour in the morning making a series of telephone calls to foreign leaders--Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

In his public remarks, Bush called on Iran and Syria to use their influence to restrain the terrorist attacks.

And he said his Middle East envoy, Anthony C. Zinni, will remain in the region.

In recent statements, U.S. officials, particularly Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, had seemed to lean more heavily on Arafat. But Bush’s focus was on Arafat and Sharon.

Although he repeatedly said that Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism, Bush noted: “I urge that their government, the Israeli government, make sure that there is a path to peace as she secures her homeland. . . . They’ve got to keep in mind the need that there’s got to be a peaceful solution at some point.”

The president linked the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories to his broader campaign against terrorism, saying that violence is the result of lack of resolve to fight terrorism.

“All the leaders in the world must stand up against terror, must do everything in their power to cut off the funding to terrorist organizations, to prevent terrorist organizations from finding safe haven,” he said. “And that especially applies to Chairman Arafat.

“I believe he can do a lot more to prevent attacks, such as the one that just occurred in Tel Aviv. He’s got a lot of forces. He’s got a lot of people that listen to him still.”

Bush, on vacation at his ranch in Texas, spoke in a two-room trailer that he uses for secure videoconferences with officials in Washington. Seated on a small rotating chair, he rocked back and forth, projecting a relaxed appearance.

The decision to increase Bush’s visibility in the search for a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians reflected a sudden change in the White House approach. Barely an hour before the president spoke, an aide told reporters in Crawford that there was “only a very, very, very small chance of seeing him” Saturday.

Pressure Mounted for President to Speak

A day earlier, Bush had shunned any public statement, turning that role over to Powell. Aides had considered the possibility that he would make a statement today after attending an Easter service at sunrise.

But pressure was growing for him to interject the prestige of his office in the so-far futile efforts to restrain the suicide bombers and the Israeli response.

“The president just felt it was important to make a statement today so everyone could hear the president of the United States reiterate the U.S. position,” said Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman.

Casting a broadened call for others in the region to take an active role in seeking peace, Bush said: “The Iranians must step up and stop sponsoring terrorism. The Syrians must participate.”

In response to a question, he said he had no evidence connecting either to the recent string of bombings in Israel.

Bush appeared to be going out of his way to be evenhanded.

“I can understand why the Israeli government takes the actions they take. Their country is under attack,” he said. “Every day there has been a suicide bombing, and every day the government sees the loss of innocent life.”

“On the other hand, I understand why some Palestinians feel so hopeless. The loss of innocent life on the Palestinian side is too much.”

The president defended the United States’ handling of the situation, saying its role has been “very visible and . . . very active.”

On Friday, aides described Bush as monitoring the developments in the Middle East by telephone, getting frequent updates from Powell and Condoleezza Rice, his national security advisor. There was a reluctance to place him visibly in the midst of efforts to bring calm while conditions were murky and fluid.

But by Saturday, the president was more involved.

He was briefed by Steve Biegun, executive secretary of the National Security Council, the No. 3 NSC official and his chief foreign policy aide here, Johndroe said.

Bush made calls to the world leaders. With each expression of concern about the growing violence, he reiterated that Zinni would remain in the region and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to restoring the peace process, Johndroe said.

Bush spoke to neither Sharon nor Arafat. The president has met several times with Sharon, but he has had no personal contact with Arafat.

“Mr. Arafat, he doesn’t need a phone call from me. All he’s got to do is watch what I just said. And that message will be delivered to him,” the president said.

He said Powell planned to contact Sharon.

“He was supposed to have made a call, like, right now,” the president said.

Bush’s words did not go as far as a United Nations Security Council resolution passed earlier in the day that called on Israel to pull back its forces.

But Johndroe said that didn’t reflect any lack of support for the resolution.

“The president made the points he wanted to make,” Johndroe said. “The United States had a hand in crafting that resolution.”

The president’s announcement, and responses to reporters’ questions, was relayed live over an audio line from his ranch. But video was delayed until a tape could be brought from the ranch to the Crawford elementary school, about seven miles away, where it was distributed to television networks.

After he spoke, Bush climbed behind the wheel of his white Ford pickup truck, telling reporters before he drove off: “Clear out. I don’t get much practice.”