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CNN Live Today

United States Envoy Arrives in Middle East

Aired March 14, 2002 - 13:11   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is a significant day once again in the Middle East. Diplomacy in the work there. U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni in the region now to try and forge a foundation for peace. But with his arrival, the deadly violence does continue, no let up on either side. Ben Wedeman now live from one of the major and significant hot spot, the town of Ramallah, located there in the West Bank. It is evening there. Ben, what's happened thus far today?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bill, well, as usual, more dead and wounded here in the Middle East; 10 Palestinians, three Israelis killed since the beginning of the day. Now, there have been reports that the Israelis are going to stage what they're calling a staged withdrawal from Ramallah. At this point, it's very difficult to determine at what stage that withdrawal stands. We have been seeing a lot of Israeli armor moving about the streets of Ramallah. But you cannot see it now, I'm sure, but there's a Israeli tank that just up the street behind us, we heard armor rumbling around the city.

Now, earlier today, we did speak to a senior Palestinian security source who, reacting to the news that there would be withdrawals, said if there is a withdrawal, as far as they're concerned, it is theoretical rather than practical. Now today, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, Anthony Zinni, arrived in the region. Apparently, one of the important points that Mr. Zinni wants to make sure happens before anything else is some sort of Israeli withdrawal from Ramallah. But as I said, that hasn't happened yet. The Palestinians say they will continue to resist the Israeli presence as long as these tanks and troops remain within this city. And as I said, they don't really seem to be pulling out as fast as some would like to see them -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ben, in this country, there is a lot of news surrounding Anthony Zinni. Certainly, it is headlines in many quarters. I'm wondering how that is felt there in the Middle East. Are people talking about it? Has it even measured a blip there?

WEDEMAN: It's definitely more than a blip. People are talking about it. And certainly from what I've been hearing in Ramallah, they do have a lot of hope that he might succeed. But at the same time, I can tell you there have been over the last couple of months, and even years, dozens and dozens of peace envoys coming to this part of the world from the United States, from the European Union, from Russia, from wherever and none of them seem to have had much success and the situation has really just got much worse. So, yes, people are talking about Mr. Zinni's visit and Palestinian officials are saying that they are hopeful that Mr. Zinni will be able to achieve something. But he's come here twice before and things have really only gotten worse and worse and worse.

HEMMER: Perhaps a third time is a charm. We shall see. Ben Wedeman nightfall there in Ramallah, reporting live for us. Ben, thanks to you.

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