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CNN Live Today

Palestinian Protest in Ramallah Turns Violent

Aired April 26, 2002 - 11:04   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well let's find out now what's happening in the Middle East. We've been keeping our eye on that for quite sometime now. Today's Palestinian protest in Ramallah is in the news. Hundreds there marched through the West Bank town until they were met by Israeli troops and they got quite a greeting.

CNN's Matthew Chance is live in Ramallah. He's got the very latest for us.

Hello, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon, let me bring you up to date on that situation in Ramallah where, as you say, I'm speaking to you from right now.

That's right, it's the city, the Palestinian city in the West Bank where Yasser Arafat, of course, is still holed up with some 400 of his comrades and supporters inside the presidential compound here in Ramallah. It's also a scene of great bitterness and great frustration amongst the Palestinian population, an illustration of that witnessed just a few hours earlier. It started off as a relatively peaceful demonstration, we were told by one supporter, to show continued defiance to the Israeli military, but stones were eventually thrown.

And as you mentioned, the Israelis responded quite sharply, exploding stun grenades, flash bangs in the air over the protesters, also firing live rounds. We saw at least one person carried off injured. It's not been confirmed to us, though, exactly what injuries he sustained. We also saw a tank fire a shell into what we believe to be an abandoned, an empty building very close though to the vantage point where we were standing.

You can see there's gas in the air there. That was tear gas, and I can tell you, Leon, that the tear gas -- the effects of that is still smarting in my eyes now. A very frightening experience to see just how quickly the tension here can turn into violence so rapidly here in Ramallah.

There's also a lot of developments elsewhere in the West Bank. Let me just bring you up to date on the situation in Bethlehem where there is, of course, another siege underway, this time around the Church of the Nativity, one of the holier shrines in Christianity. Inside there, of course, as many as 200 people holed up inside. Many monks, priests, nuns, civilians but also, of course, at least 30 Palestinian militants wanted by the Israeli authorities. Negotiations have been put on hold to get those militants out. But we are told by Palestinian sources that four people have been released into the custody of the Israelis outside. Palestinian sources also tell us there are at least two people inside the Church of the Nativity have been seriously injured by Israeli sniper fire.

That's the latest situation that we have from these two places. Back to you, Leon.

HARRIS: Matthew, let me ask you quickly about one incident (ph) or one news item I've heard about or read about this morning that may actually link those two places, Bethlehem and Ramallah. There were reports that perhaps that the Israelis were going to be allowing someone from inside that Bethlehem Church of the Nativity to go and leave and meet with Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. Do we know whether or not that's happened?

CHANCE: Yes, there has been a process of negotiation been underway between the Palestinians inside the Church of the Nativity and the Israeli forces holding siege to the church outside of it. They're, of course, negotiating essentially for the release of the 30 militants. At least that's what the Palestinians want. The Israelis, of course, want those Palestinian militants to be handed over into their custody.

The Palestinian negotiators say they're not equipped, they're not -- they don't have enough authority to make any decisions regarding this until they've had a meeting with Yasser Arafat. Of course Yasser Arafat is here. The Israelis, we're told, have given the permission for one of those Palestinian negotiators in Bethlehem to travel here to Ramallah to meet and to consult with Yasser Arafat. That meeting has not happened yet though, Leon.

HARRIS: All right, very good. Matthew Chance in Ramallah. Matthew, thank you very much, and please be careful. We hope to be able to talk with you later on today, OK, take care.

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