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March 29, 2002, 4:23 PM EST
CHICAGO -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday urged President Bush to protect Yasser Arafat, saying he feared the Middle East will erupt in war if Israelis kill the Palestinian leader.
"It would be unthinkable foreign policy if we were to use less than our full efforts to stop this escalation, this aim at killing him," Jackson said.
He made his plea hours after Israeli troops stormed Arafat's headquarters in response to deadly anti-Israeli attacks this week.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Friday that Israel's "endgame is to kill Arafat," however Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Sharon aide Ranaan Gissin dismissed the allegation as "nonsense."
Jackson said the United States and the United Nations "have the burden and capacity to move in" to keep Arafat from being killed. He said he had not been able to get through to the White House.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that Israel has promised not to harm Arafat during the assault on his compound. But Jackson said the United States "cannot be passive third parties" to the attack.
"It would be unthinkable foreign policy if we were to use less than our full efforts to stop this escalation, this aim at killing him," Jackson said.
He made his plea hours after Israeli troops stormed Arafat's headquarters in response to deadly anti-Israeli attacks this week.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Friday that Israel's "endgame is to kill Arafat," however Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Sharon aide Ranaan Gissin dismissed the allegation as "nonsense."
Jackson said the United States and the United Nations "have the burden and capacity to move in" to keep Arafat from being killed. He said he had not been able to get through to the White House.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that Israel has promised not to harm Arafat during the assault on his compound. But Jackson said the United States "cannot be passive third parties" to the attack.
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press
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