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CNN Live At Daybreak

Thousands Rally in D.C. to Show Support for Israel in Mideast Crisis

Aired April 16, 2002 - 05:20   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: They came from everywhere in 1,200 charter buses and cars, by train, literally thousands of people rallied in D.C. to show their support for Israel in the Middle East crisis, with speaker after speaker talking about the need to back Israel.

Our Jonathan Karl was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Billed as the largest pro-Israel rally ever, the event featured a parade of high profile U.S. political leaders declaring solidarity with Israel's battle against terrorism.

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: We're not afraid. We're not going to cower. We are not going to back down. We are going to stand up for who we are and what we are.

KARL: Representing the Bush administration, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz also expressed support for Israel. But he drew scattered boos when he expressed sympathy for the Palestinians.

PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: Israelis are not the only victims of the violence in the Middle East. The innocent Palestinians are suffering and dying in great numbers as well. It is critical that we recognize and acknowledge that fact.

KARL: Wolfowitz, who is among Israel's strongest supporters in the Bush administration, was also booed when he said both sides would have to make concessions to achieve peace.

WOLFOWITZ: The United States recognizes, as do the people of Israel, that hard decisions must be made by both sides to achieve a lasting peace.

KARL: The administration's policy of urging Israel to reverse its recent military incursions also came under attack.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: How, then, can we or anyone reasonably ask Israel to allow terrorists responsible for murdering innocent Israelis to remain free and continue to plan more attack? We can't. KARL: And even as Colin Powell prepares for another meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, speaker after speaker portrayed Arafat as a terrorist. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Americans know that Yasser Arafat is nothing more than Osama bin Laden with good P.R.

KARL (on camera): Although there is strong support in Congress for the pro-Israel and anti-Arafat views expressed at this rally, there is an equally strong feeling that Congress should take no significant action on this issue until Colin Powell has completed his mission to the Middle East.

Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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