WASHINGTON, 20 April — US President George W. Bush asked Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon if peace in the Middle East is really possible.

Hariri, well known for his candor, said he told Bush during their meeting at the White House this week, "Yes. But we must know what is the basis of peace. If you want it based on tanks and bombings, force and humiliation, it is impossible. If you want it based on UN resolutions and human rights, it is possible."

Speaking at a luncheon Thursday at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Hariri said he had just met with members of Congress, and one congressman said: "The question the Arabs always want to talk about is the occupied territories, this will not lead anywhere, and this is not a good start."

Hariri disagreed, saying, "…such an idea is a big mistake because (UN Resolutions) 242 and 338 are based on a principle that says no one has the right to take any land by force."

At the luncheon, jointly sponsored by the Middle East Institute, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the American Task Force for Lebanon, Hariri discussed the economic reconstruction in Lebanon, ongoing Arab-Israeli violence, and the bilateral US-Lebanese relationship.

In Washington for meetings with the Bush administration, Hariri was asked about his discussion with Secretary of State Colin Powell in Lebanon last week.

Hariri reflected a moment, then said: "I will tell you some of what I told him. I insisted that he should not give up, he should not give up, he should not give up. I told him we would stand beside him and his efforts for peace in the Middle East, because if the US gives up, we will see a lot of destruction and the interests of the US will be questioned. The US must play its role as leader in the world."

Hariri said he was not surprised that Prime Minister Sharon did not withdraw from the areas Israel has reoccupied.

"I saw President Bush on television when he said Sharon should withdraw from the occupied territories. We in the Middle East know that Sharon has his own agenda, and he does not want a peace process."

Hariri said the majority of Arabs want and believe in peace. But said the Israeli government does not believe in a genuine peace process. "They believe that by making the Palestinians life miserable that maybe they will leave. This is not the solution.

"Twenty years ago, Sharon invaded Lebanon," said Hariri. "He said he wanted to destroy the infrastructure of the PLO. He is saying the very same thing today.

"Force will not bring security; it will only create more violence. Desperate people will do desperate things."

Hariri said Sharon is trying to convince the Israeli people the Arabs want to destroy Israel. "This is absolutely not true. But some people are dreaming of Israel’s superiority above all of its neighbors.

"If Israel wants peace in the region, peace is possible. If Israel wants to dominate the region, no one will allow it, no matter what it costs, because dignity and freedom is a value above all else," said Hariri.

"We want peace in the Middle East. We don’t want an escalation, but we cannot accept the occupation of our land."

"The US must play a crucial and important role quickly to make people in the Middle East believe that, once again, peace is possible," said Hariri.