DATE=4/10/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=NETANYAHU/ARAFAT (S)

NUMBER=2-288541

BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must continue its military actions against Palestinian terrorists. V-O-A's Dan Robinson reports, Mr. Netanyahu used an unusual speech to members of the Senate to call on the United States to support Israel's efforts to defend itself:

TEXT: Mr. Netanyahu made clear Israel intends to, in his words, win the war against Yasser Arafat. Doing that, he says, will require nothing less than the removal of Mr. Arafat from the scene:

/// NETANYAHU ACT ///

It must dismantle Arafat's terrorist regime and expel Arafat from the region. As long as the engineer of Palestinian terror remains in the territories, terrorism will not stop and the promise of peace will never be realized.

/// END ACT ///

Accusing Mr. Arafat of destroying the Oslo peace accords, Mr. Netanyahu says there is no hope for negotiations until Palestinian terror is eliminated:

/// NETANYAHU ACT ///

With such a regime, with such a failure of leadership, no political process is possible. In fact, the political process can only begin when the terrorist regime is dismantled.

/// END ACT ///

A Palestinian representative in the United States immediately condemned Mr. Netanyahu's remarks. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAR/RAE