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CNN Live Today
Israeli Campaign Against Alleged Palestinian Terrorists Grows
Aired April 02, 2002 - 14:01 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: Now back to the Middle East, where the Israeli campaign against alleged Palestinian terrorists is growing. And now two Palestinian compounds in Ramallah are crumbling. Bill Hemmer has all the latest developments now, live from Jerusalem -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN, JERUSALEM: Hey, Carol. Good evening once again. Two bits of information I want to pass along right now to our viewers, just coming across, essentially in the past 90 minutes. One has to do with the fear that people have been talking about, the possibility for a widening conflict here in the Middle East.
So many people want to avoid this, but apparently there has been some cross-border clashes in the past couple of days. More again today in the northern part of Israel, right along the Golan Heights area, the southern border of Lebanon. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel, indicating to Syrian and Lebanese guerrillas that they are -- quote -- "not immune" from Israeli retaliation.
And talking with a number of sources here in the Middle East, they say that this could be a growing concern. Again, I want to caution my words, here. They only say right now it is something that is a major concern to them right now, in terms of the possibility for a widening conflict. But again, this happening throughout the day today.
Also the United States State Department issuing a warning out of Washington for people working in Jerusalem. Americans, families of U.S. diplomats and government employees in Jerusalem are being told that if they want to leave the government will pay for it. They cite a -- quote -- "deteriorating security situation." And if you look at the past six days, six bombings here in Israel, quite clearly and obviously, you can tell why that warning came out.
Now the news of the day today from Ramallah. That security compound, the Palestinian security compound, 400 Palestinians holed up inside there. Israeli troops had surrounded that area earlier today. And the major concern on the Israeli part was that they felt there were suspected terrorists inside, as many as 50 that they talked about.
The Palestinians say that's not the case, and the people the Israelis wanted left days ago. We'll get more on the situation now in Ramallah. We do know a number -- a couple hundred more detained, again, in addition to the 700 number that we talked about yesterday.
In Bethlehem, again, another town in the West Bank, a handful of towns throughout the area where the military activity on Tuesday, today, did continue -- tanks and helicopter gunships. A report of a Roman-Catholic priest shot and killed there. We're told, though, that apparently that priest is still alive.
Back to Ariel Sharon right now. He's offering Yasser Arafat a way out, he says. A way out of the current siege in Ramallah. He says under certain conditions, Yasser Arafat could leave and end that standoff. Here's Ariel Sharon's proposal and the three conditions he applied to it earlier today.
(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 they 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 to be approved. Second, he cannot take anyone with him, because there are wanted murderers surrounding him there. And the third thing is going to be: one-way ticket. He'll not be able to return.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Again, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, earlier today. The Palestinians throw that out the window. They say forget about it. Yasser Arafat is going nowhere right now.
In fact, they counter and say the current military operation essentially is pushing them into a corner. They say the Israelis are asking us to go ahead and secure the area. But then they say how can we do that, when our security forces right now are under siege?
Saeb Erekat, earlier today with Christiane Amanpour, talking about that very scenario.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEB EREKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: Sharon saying we're irrelevant, making sure we're irrelevant, in terms of destroying every ability we have. And then we have someone come and say the Palestinians must do more.
OK, I want to do more. Give me a chance to do more. That's why we want to see Tenet work plan implemented. And all obligations are specified there. But to come, as I said, tie my hands, tie my legs, blindfold me and throw me to the sea, and then stand and say, "oh, you're not swimming. They're not good partners, or they're drowning (UNINTELLIGIBLE)." That's what Sharon is doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: A lot more from Saeb Erekat later tonight, "LIVE FROM JERUSALEM" with Christiane Amanpour. That complete interview will come your way later tonight in prime time.
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