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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israel Has Stopped Destroying Arafat's Compound in Ramallah

Aired September 23, 2002 - 05:30   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Israel has stopped destroying Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah. Israel force has been replaced by food, though that siege is still in place.
And Ben Wedeman is joining us now from Ramallah with the very latest there -- Ben, what's the situation now?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, it's fairly quiet here in Ramallah. It does appear that the demolition work has been halted for the time being. For, last night for the first time in several nights, it was very quiet within the compound.

Now, Israeli officials have made it clear, however, that despite the fact they've stopped the demolition, they will continue to maintain this siege on the Palestinian leader's compound until further notice.

Now, as you mentioned, last night the Israeli Army delivered a fairly large supply of food to the compound. It's a rather interesting list, actually. I'm going to read briefly from it. They delivered 1,000 loaves of bread, 100 bottles of water, rice, tomato puree, green onions, salad, 15 gallons of yogurt, coffee, sugar, chickpeas, eggs, tea, milk, kidney beans, cooking gas, toilet paper, soap, plastic plates, three cartons of underwear, all sizes, bed sheets, brooms and dustpans.

Now, earlier Palestinian officials had complained that they were running out of supplies, food and whatnot. But it appears that's not the case anymore. At least they've been able to resolve that problem.

But the bigger problem is Israel's demand that 50 Palestinians they say are inside the building who are on their wanted list for people, of people involved in terrorist attacks against Israel must surrender. The Palestinians say, however, they say they will not surrender.

They say the only -- the Israelis say the purpose of this operation here in Ramallah is to win the surrender of those wanted men. They say they have no intention whatsoever to harm the Palestinian leader.

Interesting, however -- interestingly, however, there is a clear difference of opinion among Israelis as to what this operation is all about. Some Israeli leaders have said they would like to see the Palestinian leader banished altogether. Others say, however, that to do that would only further inflame an already very volatile situation. Some Israel writers are making the point that the army should be going after Islamic Jihad and Hamas, organizations that have been involved in these suicide bombings, not the Palestinian leader himself, who at the moment had been seen as calls, or hearing calls for reform, for him to devolve some of his power to other Palestinians.

Now, elsewhere in Ramallah, other Palestinians are defying the 24 hour curfew that is in place. We went around the city earlier this morning. We saw people going out, trying to buy supplies, vegetables and whatnot. It's worth noting that Ramallah has been under some form of curfew since the 24th of June.

Now, there were rumors today that the curfew would be lifted between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. However, Israeli soldiers were patrolling the streets this morning, calling on loudspeakers for people to stay inside their homes -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Ben, the question, what now? Is this going to be another wait and see? Does the Israeli, do the Israelis appear to be ready to stand this out as long as it takes?

WEDEMAN: Well, that is what they're saying. But we do know that there is intense pressure on them to lift the siege. We know that the United States has described this operation as unhelpful, that today the U.N. Security Council will be debating this siege and there is mounting pressure. Israel doesn't seem to have much diplomatic support and therefore it is hoped among diplomats here that somehow or other they will ease off, lift the siege and somehow they'll be able to get back to some sort of discussions on how to defuse a very, very difficult situation -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you very much.

Ben Wedeman joining us from Ramallah.

Thanks, Ben.

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




Ramallah>


Aired September 23, 2002 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Israel has stopped destroying Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah. Israel force has been replaced by food, though that siege is still in place.
And Ben Wedeman is joining us now from Ramallah with the very latest there -- Ben, what's the situation now?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, it's fairly quiet here in Ramallah. It does appear that the demolition work has been halted for the time being. For, last night for the first time in several nights, it was very quiet within the compound.

Now, Israeli officials have made it clear, however, that despite the fact they've stopped the demolition, they will continue to maintain this siege on the Palestinian leader's compound until further notice.

Now, as you mentioned, last night the Israeli Army delivered a fairly large supply of food to the compound. It's a rather interesting list, actually. I'm going to read briefly from it. They delivered 1,000 loaves of bread, 100 bottles of water, rice, tomato puree, green onions, salad, 15 gallons of yogurt, coffee, sugar, chickpeas, eggs, tea, milk, kidney beans, cooking gas, toilet paper, soap, plastic plates, three cartons of underwear, all sizes, bed sheets, brooms and dustpans.

Now, earlier Palestinian officials had complained that they were running out of supplies, food and whatnot. But it appears that's not the case anymore. At least they've been able to resolve that problem.

But the bigger problem is Israel's demand that 50 Palestinians they say are inside the building who are on their wanted list for people, of people involved in terrorist attacks against Israel must surrender. The Palestinians say, however, they say they will not surrender.

They say the only -- the Israelis say the purpose of this operation here in Ramallah is to win the surrender of those wanted men. They say they have no intention whatsoever to harm the Palestinian leader.

Interesting, however -- interestingly, however, there is a clear difference of opinion among Israelis as to what this operation is all about. Some Israeli leaders have said they would like to see the Palestinian leader banished altogether. Others say, however, that to do that would only further inflame an already very volatile situation. Some Israel writers are making the point that the army should be going after Islamic Jihad and Hamas, organizations that have been involved in these suicide bombings, not the Palestinian leader himself, who at the moment had been seen as calls, or hearing calls for reform, for him to devolve some of his power to other Palestinians.

Now, elsewhere in Ramallah, other Palestinians are defying the 24 hour curfew that is in place. We went around the city earlier this morning. We saw people going out, trying to buy supplies, vegetables and whatnot. It's worth noting that Ramallah has been under some form of curfew since the 24th of June.

Now, there were rumors today that the curfew would be lifted between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. However, Israeli soldiers were patrolling the streets this morning, calling on loudspeakers for people to stay inside their homes -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Ben, the question, what now? Is this going to be another wait and see? Does the Israeli, do the Israelis appear to be ready to stand this out as long as it takes?

WEDEMAN: Well, that is what they're saying. But we do know that there is intense pressure on them to lift the siege. We know that the United States has described this operation as unhelpful, that today the U.N. Security Council will be debating this siege and there is mounting pressure. Israel doesn't seem to have much diplomatic support and therefore it is hoped among diplomats here that somehow or other they will ease off, lift the siege and somehow they'll be able to get back to some sort of discussions on how to defuse a very, very difficult situation -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you very much.

Ben Wedeman joining us from Ramallah.

Thanks, Ben.

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




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