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CNN Live Today

Support High for Palestinians in Beirut

Aired March 25, 2002 - 14:30   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: Now to the Middle East, where Arab leaders gathering in Lebanon this week to talk about the Middle East conflict. CNN's Rula Amin went to the streets of Beirut, where support there for the Palestinian cause is high.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Across the Arab world, and in the days leading up to the Arab leaders' summit, thousands wanted to have their voices heard. A message to the Arab leaders...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Any communique that does not mention supporting the intifada and supporting the resistance is a statement written by Arab hands with American ink.

AMIN: In Jordan, a call to cancel the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, and to close the Israeli embassy in Amman. Just 100 meters away from where the summit will be held, these young men say they want a courageous decision from Arab leaders, to open their borders for those who want to fight Israel.

"Now, right now, I'm ready to go and explode myself," says this hairdresser. "Every day, I meet with my friends and discuss how we can carry out suicide attacks against Israel. And no, that wouldn't be terrorism," he says. "It's Israel who is occupying the land. That is terrorism."

Enthusiasm among some, apathy among others. These men wouldn't talk to us. "It's a waste of time to discuss the Arab summit," they told us. They would rather enjoy the Mediterranean and finish their game. Ambitions are high, expectations are low.

"They will condemn, condemn, and condemn, but no action will follow the condemnation," this man says.

"Arab leaders are not free to make their own decisions, I tell you," says this 66-year-old.

"It's the United States who controls them, " says another, "and it won't allow them to do anything."

(on camera): Support for the Palestinians is not the only issue on the minds of Arab citizens. There are other prime concerns as well, and some are trying to push them on the agenda.

(voice-over): Just a few miles away from where the leaders will meet -- the first of it's kind, a parallel gathering -- Arab human rights activists meet at the grass-roots level to push for an alternative agenda.

Democracy and defense of human rights in the Arab region, and in all the Arab countries, because we are completely convinced that in order to be able to face the challenges that the Arab countries are facing, we have to mobilize the civil society and be more democratic, to enable the civil society to participate in the decision making.

But some have given up on words, altogether. In one of Beirut's trendiest neighborhoods, Lebanese, young and old, Christians and Muslims, gathered in a silent protest, to mirror, they say, the silence of the Arab world in the face of Palestinian suffering -- another way to send a message. Rula Amin, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Certainly CNN will have continuous and complete coverage of the Arab summit. It begins Wednesday in Beirut. We should know tomorrow whether Yasser Arafat will attend.

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