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CNN Live Today

High Level Meetings Held Between Palestinians, Israelis

Aired August 06, 2002 - 12:25   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Crack down on security and restrictions will be eased. That is the gist of a new proposal Israel has laid down, and the Palestinian Authority has accepted. The plan could lead to the Israeli withdrawal from some West Bank towns and Gaza. The talks were held against the backdrop of more violence in the region, though.

CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The streets of Palestinian Hebron, a preemptive action of its forces, Israel says, part of a battleground of many battles now on many front lines.

These two Palestinian women, Palestinian sources say, are from a nearby refugee camp. They were reportedly picked up after a two-hour search by Israeli troops in a crowded market area. Media reports saying Israel suspects them of planning suicide bombing operations in Hebron or Jerusalem. The Army won't comment for now.

Here in northern Israel, the Israeli authorities say a case of one bomber whose mission went wrong. His explosives blowing up prematurely as he was travelling to an intended target: a nearby Israeli town. The would-be bomber was killed. The Israeli driver, whom he forced to give a lift, say police, seriously injured.

Another battleground: a metal workshop in Gaza, rocketed by Israeli helicopters. A weapons factory, Israel says. In the attack, four Palestinians, including a 14-year-old, were hurt, none seriously.

Also from the air, Israeli helicopters killed two men on the West Bank as they were reportedly returning to a cave where they had been hiding out. At least one is said to have been on Israel's wanted list of terror suspects. Israel is also keeping up the pressure by serious restrictions on Palestinian travel inside the West Bank and from one Palestinian town to another.

But even amidst the upsurge in violence and tension, perhaps a positive shift: the highest level security meeting between top officials of the two sides in months.

NABIL ABU-RUDEINEH, ARAFAT ADVISER: The meeting yesterday was a new start, and the coming days will be the test of whether the Israeli government is serious enough to start withdrawing from the Palestinian cities in order to give a push to all the efforts in order to find a solution.

Israel's defense minister, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who had earlier visited an army recruitment center, said also of these talks with the new Palestinian interior minister, General Abdel Razzak al-Yahya, that if the Palestinian Authority meets expectations and helps curb the latest terror campaign, Israel will alleviate the pressure on the Palestinian people.

"Go well, come home in peace," Ben-Eliezer tells one of the new Israeli army recruits.

(on camera): Push Israel back to the peace table now is what a top-flight Palestinian delegation will be exhorting U.S. officials when they arrive in Washington. Talks are scheduled between the Palestinian team and Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday, and with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on Friday.

Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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