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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Nabil Abu Rudeineh

Aired September 21, 2002 - 18:07   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the West Bank, threats (ph) of the Israeli Defense Forces calling for the evacuation of three still standing buildings at the Ramallah compound. Inside at least one of those buildings Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and perhaps 20 militants who are wanted by Israel.
On the telephone with us to give us an update on the goings on at this hour, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Arafat's senior adviser.

Can you hear me OK, on the telephone, there?

NABIL ABU RUDEINEH, ARAFAT ADVISER: Yes, I can hear you.

WHITFIELD: All right. What is going on there now?

RUDEINEH: The Israelis are still bulldozing the remains of federal buildings adjacent to the office of the president himself. And they are still threatening to blow up the building opposite to the main office, as well as storming the office President Arafat, himself.

This escalation, which is coming from the Israeli government tonight, is a new development, which was responded immediately by the Palestinian people. You should watch what happening now in the Palestinian streets. Ramallah, though it is 1:00 o'clock after midnight here, thousands of young people are in the streets right now demonstrating, challenging the Israeli army, challenging the curfew hours of the Israeli terror army. That is happening right now in Ramallah and in all of the Palestinian cities and in the Gaza Strip.

This is the Israeli challenge to the Palestinian leadership...

WHITFIELD: Now, Mr. Rudeineh, let me ask you, the IDF says that there are 20 militants inside, that they want apprehended. Are there 20 militants, that you're aware of, inside that building?

RUDEINEH: First of all, there are no wanted people here in the buildings. Secondly, the Israelis have not right to talk of us (ph), like this way. The most important thing is that they are now besieging the compound and they are terrorizing the whole population. They should withdraw immediately.

WHITFIELD: So are you seeing that as an excuse? Instead, that perhaps its retaliation for the at least two other bombings that took place or the explosions that took place -- deadly explosions that took place earlier this week? RUDEINEH: This is a pretext to continue their occupation and their terror and their aggression against the Palestinian people. They should withdraw immediately, they should stop this aggression and they're generals should be sent to the ICB (ph).

WHITFIELD: Now, Mr. Rudeineh, we have seen, at least at those -- at least on one of the structures that there have been spotlights on it, but just within moments of your talking the lights went out. Are you able to describe what's taking place, right now?

RUDEINEH: Right now, the Israeli bulldozers are continuing their bulldozing for the many of the walls adjacent to the office of the president himself. They are threatening to storm the building and to blow up the opposite building, which is in front of us, immediately.

WHITFIELD: And where is Mr. Arafat in all of this?

RUDEINEH: President Arafat is in his office, conducting his duties as usual following and contacting his Arab leaders and the European leaders, consulting with them how to contain the situation.

WHITFIELD: OK.

RUDEINEH: And as I said, you should be aware of what's going on in the Palestinian streets right now.

WHITFIELD: All right. Mr. Rudeineh, Arafat's senior adviser, thank you very much for joining. And we'll continue to stay in touch with you as we continue to watch the developments there, in Ramallah. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com








Aired September 21, 2002 - 18:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the West Bank, threats (ph) of the Israeli Defense Forces calling for the evacuation of three still standing buildings at the Ramallah compound. Inside at least one of those buildings Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and perhaps 20 militants who are wanted by Israel.
On the telephone with us to give us an update on the goings on at this hour, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Arafat's senior adviser.

Can you hear me OK, on the telephone, there?

NABIL ABU RUDEINEH, ARAFAT ADVISER: Yes, I can hear you.

WHITFIELD: All right. What is going on there now?

RUDEINEH: The Israelis are still bulldozing the remains of federal buildings adjacent to the office of the president himself. And they are still threatening to blow up the building opposite to the main office, as well as storming the office President Arafat, himself.

This escalation, which is coming from the Israeli government tonight, is a new development, which was responded immediately by the Palestinian people. You should watch what happening now in the Palestinian streets. Ramallah, though it is 1:00 o'clock after midnight here, thousands of young people are in the streets right now demonstrating, challenging the Israeli army, challenging the curfew hours of the Israeli terror army. That is happening right now in Ramallah and in all of the Palestinian cities and in the Gaza Strip.

This is the Israeli challenge to the Palestinian leadership...

WHITFIELD: Now, Mr. Rudeineh, let me ask you, the IDF says that there are 20 militants inside, that they want apprehended. Are there 20 militants, that you're aware of, inside that building?

RUDEINEH: First of all, there are no wanted people here in the buildings. Secondly, the Israelis have not right to talk of us (ph), like this way. The most important thing is that they are now besieging the compound and they are terrorizing the whole population. They should withdraw immediately.

WHITFIELD: So are you seeing that as an excuse? Instead, that perhaps its retaliation for the at least two other bombings that took place or the explosions that took place -- deadly explosions that took place earlier this week? RUDEINEH: This is a pretext to continue their occupation and their terror and their aggression against the Palestinian people. They should withdraw immediately, they should stop this aggression and they're generals should be sent to the ICB (ph).

WHITFIELD: Now, Mr. Rudeineh, we have seen, at least at those -- at least on one of the structures that there have been spotlights on it, but just within moments of your talking the lights went out. Are you able to describe what's taking place, right now?

RUDEINEH: Right now, the Israeli bulldozers are continuing their bulldozing for the many of the walls adjacent to the office of the president himself. They are threatening to storm the building and to blow up the opposite building, which is in front of us, immediately.

WHITFIELD: And where is Mr. Arafat in all of this?

RUDEINEH: President Arafat is in his office, conducting his duties as usual following and contacting his Arab leaders and the European leaders, consulting with them how to contain the situation.

WHITFIELD: OK.

RUDEINEH: And as I said, you should be aware of what's going on in the Palestinian streets right now.

WHITFIELD: All right. Mr. Rudeineh, Arafat's senior adviser, thank you very much for joining. And we'll continue to stay in touch with you as we continue to watch the developments there, in Ramallah. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com