Israeli official urges alternatives to Arafat

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Israel's defense minister is telling U.S. officials that "more realistic" alternatives to the leadership of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat should be explored.

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer met with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday ahead of the visit by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the United States, and he was expected to meet with more top U.S. officials Wednesday.

Sharon left for the United States Wednesday and will meet with President Bush and other top U.S. officials to discuss how to end the violence in the Middle East and eventually return to peace negotiations.

"There's a need that the United States would continue to put pressure on Arafat and to open a line of talks with other leaders that are surrounding Arafat and opposing Arafat," Ben-Eliezer said.

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"If [Arafat] will talk business then he is legitimate. If he will be ready to sit and to talk about peace and to begin negotiations then he is in. But, if he is not, let's open a line of talks with other leaders," he added.

In an op-ed piece in Sunday's edition of The New York Times, Arafat said he condemned Palestinian groups who have carried out attacks "against Israeli civilians."

"These groups do not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for freedom. They are terrorist organizations, and I am determined to put an end to their activities," Arafat wrote.

U.S. officials welcomed Arafat's remarks in the column, but said that sustained action needed to follow his words.

The Israeli daily Ha'aretz said that when Ben-Eliezer was asked to name Palestinians he viewed as alternatives to Arafat, he was quoted as listing Abu Ala, the Palestinian legislative council speaker; Abu Mazen, a top Arafat aide who met with Sharon last week; Jibril al-Rajoub, head of preventive security on the West Bank; and Mohammed Dahlan, who holds a similar post in Gaza.

Relations between Israel and the Palestinians are severely strained, deteriorating since deadly Palestinian suicide bombings in Haifa and Jerusalem in early December, subsequent retaliatory attacks by Israel, and the January 14 killing of Raed al-Karmi, a top member of Arafat's Fatah party. That has been followed by a series of Palestinian suicide bombings, and more Israeli attacks.

Most recently, five members of a militant Palestinian group died Monday when their car exploded near Rafah in southern Gaza.

U.S. criticism of Arafat increased last month after Israel intercepted a ship carrying 50 tons of weapons, apparently en route from Iran to the Palestinian territories. Arafat denied any involvement in the incident, but fired a top Palestinian official and issued arrest warrants for two others.

The Bush administration has considered several options, including an outright break of ties with the Palestinian Authority.

Powell, who met Monday with Abu Ala, reiterated the U.S. message that Arafat "has the responsibility right now to reduce violence and terror," according to State Department deputy spokesman Phil Reeker. The meeting marked the first time Powell had met with any Palestinian officials since November.

After the meeting with Powell, Abu Ala said, "We talked about everything -- what's on the ground, what's for the future and how to overcome all the problems and obstacles in the way of negotiations and peace."