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CNN Live Saturday

Palestinian Leaders Meet With Sharon

Aired February 02, 2002 - 18:22   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Palestinian authorities today confirmed that leaders inside their community met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and that meeting took place earlier this week in Jerusalem. CNN's Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The familiar aftermath of an Israeli strike against a Palestinian target, this a naval Base in Dir El Balach in Gaza, the damage caused by missiles fired from Apache helicopters. No casualties were reported. Israel says the attack in response to the firing of mortars at the nearby Jewish settlement of Karbat-Erom (ph). An Israeli soldier was injured in that attack.

But even as the violence continues, news emerges of an unprecedented meeting between Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leaders.

(on camera): Palestinian sources say the meeting took place Wednesday, a senior three-man Palestinian delegation meeting Sharon in Jerusalem. This, the first such high-level contact between Israeli and Palestinians since Sharon became prime minister.

In confirming the meeting, Palestinian sources say it took place with Yasser Arafat's full approval. A spokesman for Sharon has declined to confirm the meeting, adding "whatever contacts take place are not on a political level, but are aimed only at achieving an end to the violence."

(voice-over): The violence has been unrelenting over the past month. Israel has intensified military action within Palestinian control territory killing or arresting a number of people it identified as militants. And there have been a series of Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians including a number of suicide bombings in Israeli cities.

Throughout this period, there have been no contacts between security chiefs from the two sides, the last such meeting taking place at the beginning of January.

But as news of the meeting between political leaders emerged, confirmation too for the resumption of security contacts. The meeting, at a secret venue, attended by senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials, along with unidentified U.S. representatives. Too soon to draw any conclusions, but tangible sides emerging that the two sides are still willing to talk.

Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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