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CNN Live Today

Palestinians Brace for Retaliation After Passover Massacre

Aired March 28, 2002 - 11:06   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Palestinians are bracing for possible retaliation from Israel after a suicide bomb attack that's being called the Passover Massacre. The Islamic Militant group Hamas says that one of its members carried out the attack that killed 20 Passover celebrants and wounded more than 170 others. The attacker blew himself up in a hotel in Netanya just as guests were sitting down for the traditional Passover Seder meal.

CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna has been covering the story. HE checks in now live with the very latest.

Hello -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Leon, the Israeli Cabinet is going to hold a meeting within the next few hours, during which, government sources tell CNN, significant decisions will be made, in the wake of the suicide bombing in Netanya. Residents of Gaza and the West Bank are bracing themselves for possible Israeli military action.

Earlier on this month, Israel reoccupied large amounts of Palestinian territory putting tanks and troops into cities such as Janin, Tulkarem, and, of course, the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Yasser Arafat has his headquarters.

Buildings are being evacuated in various West Bank and Gaza areas, buildings, that is, that are connected to the Palestinian security services, which, in the wake of previous terror attacks against Israel, have been targeted by Israeli military.

So the situation is tense in the wake of that bombing in Netanya. Twenty Israelis killed in that bombing. A man detonated an explosive device in a seaside hotel at the beginning at the Passover Seder dinner. The Hamas militant group claimed has claimed responsibility for that attack, but Israel says the Palestinian Authority must be held accountable because it has not taken sufficient steps to clamp down on militants.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned the suicide attack. It is insisting it will do whatever it can to find and hunt down those who helped to plan that particular attack.

But Israel is likely to be in a belligerent mood. In recent weeks, the Israeli government has said that it has been practicing, in its words, restraint, because it wants to see the Zinni cease-fire process given the greatest opportunity. But it said, in past days, this restraint has been exercised with difficulty. There will be immense pressure on Ariel Sharon from members of his Cabinet, some members, to take very strong steps in the wake of the Netanya attack, and the decision taken by the Israeli Cabinet likely to determine what happens in coming days and likely to have impact too on the cease-fire process that has been stumbling along under the mediation of U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni -- Leon.

HARRIS: Speaking of Anthony Zinni, what is known right now about his peace, or at least cease-fire, talk effort at this particular point? Considering the fact that this attack did happen in such a high holy season for Jerusalem and for Jews, what's the thinking about whether or not this mission of Gen. Zinni can actually continue? And is there any sign that perhaps he or the United States here to show some more restraint?

HANNA: Certainly, pressuring may be the wrong word. But the word has gone from the U.S. administration and from Zinni for Israel to continue to practice and exercise restraint. Anthony Zinni reportedly quietly optimistic about the process of the cease-fire talks.

Now, these talks have been on hold because of the holiday season, today a serious holiday in Israel. But there are further talks scheduled between Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs. These talks were scheduled, though, before that Netanya bombing.

Not clear yet whether Israel is going to be prepared to continue with those face-to-face talks between its security elements, although Israel has been very clear even after the Netanya bombing that the Zinni process is, says Israel, the only game in town. So clearly, Israel is going to want to keep that process alive. It still is going to want to keep some opportunity for Zinni to exercise his influence on the Palestinians. But whether the Israeli Cabinet can decide whether not to take strong action in the wake of Netanya, that is something we will find out in coming hours -- Leon.

HARRIS: We will be watching to see what happens. Mike Hanna reporting live for us from Jerusalem. Take care, Mike, be careful.

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