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CNN Live At Daybreak

Arafat Offered 'One-way ticket'

Aired April 02, 2002 - 06:31   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: We want to get more details now on the situation in the Middle East at this hour. CNN's Jerusalem bureau chief, Mike Hanna, is following the turmoil, and he joins us live now -- good morning.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Carol. Well, the Israeli force is continuing their massive military operations in various parts of the West Bank. Israel says this is part of its war on terror. Palestinians describe it as a means to destroy the Palestinian Authority, and in particular, depose its leader, Yasser Arafat.

Well, on Yasser Arafat, the Israeli prime minister has outlined conditions under which Arafat will be allowed to leave that compound in Ramallah, where he is at present pinned down into one room surrounded by Israeli forces. Ariel Sharon was responding to requests from European representatives that they be allowed to visit Yasser Arafat, while Sharon said that they would be allowed to visit only if they took the Palestinian leader away with them. This is what Sharon had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I suggested and I told them that if they would like that we will bring him somewhere, or they will come with helicopter and will take him from here. But first of all, I will say that -- three things. One, I have first to bring it to the cabinet. It should be approved. Second, he cannot take anyone with him, because there are wanted and murderers around him there. And the third thing is going to be one-way ticket. He will not be able to return. I said it to them, and I can repeat it today again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: Important to repeat those conditions there laid out by Ariel Sharon. Firstly, there has to be a cabinet meeting to approve these conditions. Secondly, that Yasser Arafat leave alone, that nobody in the compound depart with him. And thirdly, that Yasser Arafat depart on what Sharon calls a "one-way ticket." Well, there has been immediate reaction from Palestinians, who say that the Palestinian leader will not go into exile under any circumstances.

But ongoing violence, too, in various parts of the West Bank, in particular in Bethlehem, and there are reports being received that a priest has been killed in the ongoing conflict there, the priest of the Santa Maria Church. A number of nuns reported to be wounded in the fighting. The Israeli defense force says it cannot comment on the reports at this stage, as the operation is continuing and what is happening on the ground still unclear.

So major escalations still under way, and from the Israeli prime minister, conditions outlined under which the Palestinian leader will be allowed to leave the compound in which he has been pinned -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, leave on a one-way ticket. Thank you -- Mike Hanna reporting live for us from Jerusalem this morning.

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