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CNN Live Today

Reaction to Car Bombing in Jerusalem

Aired April 01, 2002 - 14:07   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, as you know, we've had breaking news, a car bombing in Jerusalem. I want to go to CNN's Bill Hemmer right now, who is on top of the King David Hotel, overlooking the old city, and see what developments there are there -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN, JERUSALEM: Yes, Carol, hello, again. And boy, what a day it has been here for the past 12 hours. Absolutely non- stop activity, and reports coming from just about everywhere across the region.

The latest one, Carol, as you mentioned, happened just a few blocks from our location right here. In fact, it took place over my right shoulder here, about four blocks from our location right here. Israel police do indicate that a car did blow up. But as to why right now, they're not quite sure. They say it was the intent, possibly, of a suicide bomber, possibly going on a mission.

But they describe that scenario to us the following way. There was a checkpoint set up in Jerusalem. They say the car looked suspicious, and as the police approached that car, the explosion took place. One person inside, we are told, is dead. A police officer in serious condition right now as well.

To date right now, Carol, no claim of responsibility. But just about 30 minutes ago we interviewed a spokesperson for the group Hamas in Gaza, and he says at this time that -- this, frankly, is not the way his group goes about hitting targets within Israel. Here's what he said to us, 30 minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAHMOUD AL-ZAHAR, HAMAS SPOKESMAN: Nobody can speak that, because the military section will declare its responsibility. But it is not our style, actually. I believe you have to wait for a few hours, then the people who are behind this operation will declare it frontly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And that spokesperson for Hamas, representing the political wing of that group, live on air again, about 30 minutes ago. As for Operation Protective Wall, this is essentially day one. About 24 hours old, if you think about this operation beginning last night, when Ariel Sharon announced it to the Israeli people here on national television. Again, taking place in several parts throughout the West Bank.

There is concern, serious concern from the Palestinians, that the Israeli military is coming back to completely occupy the West Bank and possibly also the Gaza Strip as well. Shimon Peres, though, the foreign minister here for Israel, talked to us on CNN, saying that is not the case. He says right now they're trying to root out the infrastructure, as he calls it, of the terrorist network operating in the West Bank. Shimon Peres, on what the future plans are right now for that operation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: We don't intend -- I want to make it clear. We don't intend to remain in the territories. We are not there to reoccupy them. We are not there to kill Arafat. We are not there to dismantle the Palestinian Authority. We are there with a clear demand: Do what you promised. Do what you have to do, for the sake of your own people. Don't do it for Israeli.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Many people wondering how long this operation may last. And from early indications, this could take some time. Is that days, is that weeks, is that months? There's really no clear-cut answer right now. The mayor of Jerusalem told us he sees the operation lasting as long as two months. And if that's the case, this is going to be an extremely bloody area for a long time, even if you just consider today, on day one, shooting and clashes in Ramallah.

Demonstrations -- demonstrators, rather, took fire in Beit Jala, about 6 miles south of here. An Israeli was shot and killed in a Jewish settlement not far from here in Jerusalem. At least 100 tanks have rolled into a town known as Qalqilia in the West Bank. So much activity happening.

And again, as I mentioned, only 24 hours old at this time. Early Saturday morning the U.N. Security Council tried to get the Israelis to pull the tanks and troops away from that compound with Yasser Arafat. To date though, that has not been the case.

What is the move now for the U.N.? Let's go to New York and Richard Roth here, who's following that for us. Good afternoon to you, Richard, there in New York.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. Fast- moving developments here at the Security Council. The Council had met until 6:00 a.m. New York local time Saturday morning. Some thought there wouldn't be any action. But the Arab group, including the Palestinians, are angry that the resolution, approved in the wee hours, calling on Israeli to withdraw, has not occurred. They are ready to push another resolution. Nothing formally introduced yet.

The U.S. says it's time for action, not words. We don't need another resolution. Tensions over there. Tensions here, inside the Council today. Syria, angrily inside the Security Council's closed- door consultation, saying Israel was responsible for everything that's going wrong in the Middle East. The U.S. delegate, Tom Lee, responding that both sides have to act. But things here are getting a little bit edgy.

The delegates here say -- those who favor the Palestinians say it's time for Israel to get out. The resolution, 72 hours old. People like the British and U.S. representatives are saying the ink is barely dry on these resolutions. One Arab delegate saying the Security Council has to act to back up what it said on Saturday, or else the credibility of the Security Council is in question -- Bill.

LIN: All right. Thank very much. Richard Roth, reporting live from New York, recording on U.N. action there.

In the meantime, Major Garrett standing by at the White House. Major, you've heard about the developments today. Yet another suicide, or car bombing attack, this time on the border between East Jerusalem and West Jerusalem. What sort of reaction is the president having to this?

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good afternoon. CNN has obtained fresh reaction from the Bush White House, from Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary. He told CNN just a few moments ago in a phone conversation we had that the administration condemns this latest act of violence.

And Ari Fleischer describes it as yet another reason why peace has to be everyone's goal in the region. And as the administration tries to pursue peace, it isn't changing its policy, Carol, but it is clearly changing the tone and emphasis of what needs to happen and who or who is not to blame for the spiral of violence in the Middle East.

Over the weekend the president, very strong words against the Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat, in very specific ways. Saying his security forces could do more, had to do more, to stop people from slipping into Israel and conducting these suicide bombing attacks.

Today, not sympathetic words to the Palestinian leaders, but much more nuanced words. In fact, at one point in the White House briefing, earlier today, Ari Fleischer said that Yasser Arafat was the central figure toward achieving peace. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president does believe the path to peace goes through Chairman Arafat. He believes, as I indicated just moments ago, Chairman Arafat continues to speak with the authority of the Palestinian people. The Chairman Arafat has the means and the ability to reduce the violence. And Chairman Arafat also had the ability to enter into productive, fruitful peace talks with Israel. We were very close last Wednesday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: The key nuance here, Carol, is that the Israeli government branded Yasser Arafat an enemy of the state. Say he is as much a terrorist as those suicide bombers who are conducting the violent and deadly raids within Israel's borders. This is a clear indication the Bush administration doesn't hold that view.

The Chairman Arafat had been a constructive partner in talks to achieve a cease-fire, talks that Ari Fleischer was referring to just a moment ago, almost achieved a breakthrough last Wednesday before this latest cycle of violence continued.

And President Bush, for himself, had some words today about what the Israeli government should consider, as it continues its current military incursion into Ramallah and contemplates military activity in other parts of the occupied territories. Here's what the president had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's very important for the prime minister to keep a pathway to peace open. To understand, on the one hand Israel should protect herself, and on the other hand, there ought to be a pathway, the capacity to achieve a peaceful resolution to this issue. It's important for Israel to understand that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: Now, there are no specific recommendations from the Bush administration, as to the duration or focus of any military activities by the Israeli government in the occupied territories. The important thing to point out, Carol -- two things, actually.

The Bush administration making it very clear today that the Bush doctrine against terrorism -- that is, if you harbor a terrorist, you are as bad as a terrorist -- simply doesn't apply in the Middle East. They're going to continue negotiations with Chairman Arafat. And No. 2, the White House is not going to step up its involvement, as far as sending someone of a higher rank than the president's personal envoy, Anthony Zinni, to the region. He remains the president's personal representative. He will stay on the ground to talk to the Israelis and the Palestinians.

No active consideration as of this date, as of this moment, Carol, of sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region, which many in the Arab world have requested, and some on Capitol Hill have seconded that notion -- Carol.

LIN: Major, though, you look at the situation that's unfolding right this very second in the Middle East. You've got troops and tanks spreading out throughout the Palestinian territories, firefight in Ramallah. More continued car bombings. The Israeli military absolutely being recalcitrant about what is going on there. Is there anything, according to the White House, that the Israeli army could do that goes beyond the justification of self-defense? Is there a line there that they've drawn with the Israelis?

GARRETT: If there is a line, Carol, the White House is not disclosing it publicly. Several of us at the briefing today asked Ari Fleischer -- for example, the president two weeks ago, said, much smaller and less intrusive military activities on the part of the Israeli government were not -- quote -- "helpful" to the peace process. I asked Ari Fleischer if what's going on now in the occupied territories sponsored by the Israeli military was helpful. He wouldn't take that question.

He was also asked your specific question, is there a line at which the United States government will tell Israel, what you're doing doesn't constitute self-defense? Ari Fleischer wouldn't even take the question. He sort of brushed it aside.

The administration doesn't want to put any limits, specifically, on the Israeli government because it doesn't want to undercut what it considers to be a legitimate act of self-defense. Clearly, we are seeing a reshaping of the administration's message, far more nuanced about what the Palestinian leader can and cannot do.

At one point today, Ari Fleischer said the suicide bombing attacks have undermined Yasser Arafat. Well, that's certainly not the contention of the Israeli government. Quite the opposite. They believe this is part and parcel of an overall effort by the Palestinian movement to terrorize and ultimately jeopardize the whole future of the Israeli government.

That's not the position of the Bush administration, so we're seeing a lot of nuance. Not a strong structural change in policy. But much more nuance about the message about who's to blame -- the Palestinians or the Israeli government.

LIN: Right. And perhaps nuance is the only way for the administration to keep up with the fast-changing situation there on the ground, as the Bush administration perhaps tries to consider some of its options. Thank you very much. Major Garrett reporting live from the White House.

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