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CNN Sunday Morning
Car Bombs Shake Possible Mideast Peace Negotiations
Aired May 27, 2001 - 10:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, more about the Middle East. Newly appointed U.S. envoy William Burns has been discussing peace with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but hours earlier those two car bombs exploded in Jerusalem and Palestinian groups already have claimed responsibility.
More on the Middle East now from CNN's Ben Wedeman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Israeli police search for explosives in the remains of a car bomb in the heart of Jerusalem, the second such blast to rock this city Sunday.
The car was packed with explosives, including mortar shells and bullets, along with nails to maximize casualties.
The initial blast threw smaller explosive devices throughout the area.
Police closed off Jaffa Road, one of Jerusalem's main thoroughfares, as they tried to diffuse them.
Despite the blasts ferocity, no one was killed. More than 20 people were treated for shock and two were injured by flying glass.
The Islamic Jihad claims to have planted the bomb.
Just eight-and-a-half hours earlier, another car bomb exploded nearby in an area crowded with mostly young people. There were no casualties. The popular front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the bombing.
At the scene of the morning blast, anger and frustration boil over as pressure builds on the Israeli government to strike back at the Palestinians for what appears to be a concerted bombing campaign.
AVI PAZNER, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: The Palestinian authority, they have the responsibility for what is happening here, because nothing has been done in order to try and calm the grounds.
WEDEMAN: The authority denies any connection with the bombings.
ZIAD ABU ZAYYAD, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: The real reason behind all these tragic events is the fact that there is an occupation, a continued occupation. There is suffering by the Palestinian people
WEDEMAN: Last week, Israeli declared a unilateral cease fire, a cease fire the Palestinians say is a public relations gimmick.
(on camera): This series of bombings has put Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's self-declared policy of restraint to the test and Israeli officials say that restraint can't last much longer under these conditions.
(voice-over): Striving to change those conditions, U.S. undersecretary of state for the Middle East, William Burns, began a round of talks in the region.
WILLIAM BURNS, U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST: Sadly, today we witnessed further violence in Jerusalem. The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attacks which have taken place and in my discussions with Chairman Arafat, urged that he do everything possible to stop such attacks.
WEDEMAN: His is a task that has defeated many others who tried and failed to bring calm to a conflict that defies the best intentioned peacemakers.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And these meetings follow increased calls for the United States to get more involved in solving the Middle East conflict.
And, more on that. We go to Major Garrett. He's live at the White House. Good morning, Major.
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra. And to that question of U.S. administration involvement, a correction first, and a correction that explains some of the limitations of the Bush administration and it's involvement in the Middle East.
The White House official called me just a few moments ago to correct something that we've said repeatedly this morning. William Burns, this official said, is not the president's envoy to the Middle East.
He is, if he is confirmed by the Senate, the Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs. And, until then, he is simply a special assistant to Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Now, you might ask yourself, what difference does it make? A big difference, as far as this White House is concerned. It does not want to give the suggestion that Mr. Burns is what Dennis Ross was to Bill Clinton, a special envoy with only one diplomatic portfolio; that is, resolving the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. Mr. Burns, this official said, will have a much broader portfolio, dealing not only with this issue but many issues in the Middle East.
And, as far as the ongoing violence is concerned, the White House official condemned it and said both sides must work to reduce the violence and begin at least a dialogue that can move them toward, at some point in the future, some type of peace negotiations. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Major, something we will get right, definitely, the tax cut plan.
Lots of reaction to that this morning.
GARRETT: Lots of reaction to it, celebratory on the side of the Republicans; they know it was sort of their last big act before they switch power to the Democrats in an act they believe many men, many Americans, rather, will remember and credit them for quite readily.
You can see the backslapping, the high-five's, a little bit of Senatorial exuberance there yesterday as they wrapped up final negotiations on that tax cut, the largest since 1981; $1.35 trillion over ten years.
As for the future, well the new Senate Democratic Majority Leader, or soon to be Democratic Majority Leader, Tom Daschle, said this morning on "Meet the Press" that now, on the verge of that transformation of power in the Senate, is the perfect time for President Bush to stretch out his hand and talk in a bipartisan way with him and other Democratic leaders in the Senate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "MEET THE PRESS")
SENATOR TOM DASCHLE (D), MINORITY LEADER: I said, look, if there's ever been a time for us to begin working together, this is it. Now we've got to find a way with which to talk more effectively, work more -- in fact, I think it would be a great opportunity, Tim, for him to call a bipartisan meeting down to the White House right now. Let's all come down together. We haven't done that in awhile, and I think it'd be terrific.
TIM RUSSERT, HOST, "MEET THE PRESS": When, next week?
DASCHLE: Next week. I'm willing to come anytime. Next week, the week after.
But, we ought to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GARRETT: As far as the White House is concerned, yes, they are open to a meeting with Senator Daschle, possibly other Democratic leaders, but not right away. No official confirmation from the White House as to when President Bush will invite Senate Democratic leaders to come down here, just that eventually he will. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Major Garrett, live at the White House. Thanks so much.
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