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CNN Live At Daybreak

Arafat in Good Spirits

Aired April 01, 2002 - 06:02   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to the global hot spot right now, of course, the Middle East. CNN's Michael Holmes was in the offices of Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, yesterday. Those offices in Ramallah have been under siege by Israeli troops and tanks since Friday, and Michael joins us again from Ramallah on the phone with more on this siege -- good morning, Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Carol. Yes, as Israel moves to further isolate Yasser Arafat, much happening in this troubled region. Israeli military movement and incursions, as you said, in several West Bank areas, also in Gaza. I can tell you nine APCs, armored personnel carriers, drove past our position here just half an hour ago; lots of movements of tanks as well. And those who were listening to us speak an hour ago will remember also tank firing here very close to our position.

There have been arrests and detentions too; also deaths. A local hospital here tells us they have received a total 19 dead Palestinians since this incursion began several days ago.

Now, here in Ramallah where we are, at least four Palestinians were killed last night, two or three killed today; 25 arrested according to Palestinian security sources. They say they were Palestinian policemen. The Israeli military says they are suspected terrorists. No comment on the actual operation though from Israeli defense sources.

Now, we have also been told in the last half an hour by Palestinian security sources that eight collaborators, suspected collaborators have been shot dead by masked Palestinian gunmen today in the West Bank town of Tulkarem. They were being kept in a safe house, according to these sources, and Palestinian gunmen went in, they apparently said that this is no time for collaborators, and we are told by these sources that these eight men were killed.

Now, meanwhile inside Yasser Arafat's compound, a quiet night we are told. Some shootings but not much; 32 of those foreign activists, who we accompanied into Yasser Arafat's office yesterday, are still there. Nine, we are told, tried to leave the compound last night well after we had left, and we are told they were detained by Israeli forces.

Meanwhile inside the compound, we did speak to one of these people, managed to get a rare cell phone call to them. They tell us the food is scarce. There is some, however, water is desperately short. And an aide to Yasser Arafat tells us too that the Palestinian leader is short of medicines that he needs. However, he is still in good spirits -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But you say he is in good spirits. Has this isolation by Israeli forces perhaps broadened his stature?

HOLMES: Oh, I think undoubtedly among ordinary Palestinians he has. He is held in high regard by most ordinary Palestinians. They see him as their leader. And, yes, I think it's fair to say that what is happening to him now will only enhance his stature among ordinary Palestinians.

His attitude, his mood to me yesterday seemed to be fairly buoyant, probably just by the sight of these 40 or 45 activists, and Palestinian doctors walking into his office to greet him. He seemed healthy. He seemed alert, and he seemed defiant as well. And when I asked him if he feared for his life, despite Israeli assurances that he is not a physical target, he said essentially that his death is not important or more important than the lives of ordinary Palestinians -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Michael Holmes reporting for us live from Ramallah -- you be careful over there.

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