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CNN Live At Daybreak

Residents of Bomb-Shattered Tel Aviv Neighborhood Trying to Put Lives Back Together

Aired January 07, 2003 - 06:22   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.


JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the Middle East today, residents of a bomb shattered Tel Aviv neighborhood are trying to put their lives back together. It's a grim task and our Kelly Wallace says it triggers the same old question -- when will it end?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They tried picking up the pieces in this Tel Aviv community, a neighborhood known as a home and gathering place for Israel's many foreign workers. But it was not easy. William Apianti (ph) lost his friend Stephen (ph) in the back to back suicide bombings. The two men from Ghana made a living cleaning buildings. They were like brothers.

WILLIAM APIANTI: I can't easily find the friends. But I don't think I have a friend, best friend like this man. I've really lost a friend.

WALLACE: Through makeshift memorials along the pedestrian mall, the neighborhood mourns the more than 20 killed. Some were Israeli, like 20-year-old Masal Orkobi (ph), a soldier in the army on her way home. Her family and friends unable to control their grief. Some were foreign workers only in Israel for a few years.

The Bulgarian ambassador here remembered a 32-year-old fellow countryman who was killed. He told the family the tragic news.

TSANKO YABLANSKI, BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: It was remorseful for me when I informed the parents this morning of this worker. He has a six years old daughter and you see what happened here.

WALLACE: And these people told me about a Russian woman who sold cigarettes every day on the sidewalk. They did not know her name and now she is gone.

(on camera): This is not the first time this area has been hit by suicide bombings. There were two last year, one just a few feet from the site of Sunday night's explosion. And so now some residents say they're too afraid to stay.

(voice-over): Like Augie Jalachio (ph), who survived two bombings right outside his door. He and his family, from the Philippines, will stay in Israel, but not in this neighborhood.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And because every, now they want, they didn't care where they are targeting of. They just keeps on bombing foreigners, everybody. That's why we are so afraid. We have to find another place that are safer, I think. I hope so.

WALLACE: A hope for safety in a dangerous place.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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




to Put Lives Back Together>


Aired January 7, 2003 - 06:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the Middle East today, residents of a bomb shattered Tel Aviv neighborhood are trying to put their lives back together. It's a grim task and our Kelly Wallace says it triggers the same old question -- when will it end?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They tried picking up the pieces in this Tel Aviv community, a neighborhood known as a home and gathering place for Israel's many foreign workers. But it was not easy. William Apianti (ph) lost his friend Stephen (ph) in the back to back suicide bombings. The two men from Ghana made a living cleaning buildings. They were like brothers.

WILLIAM APIANTI: I can't easily find the friends. But I don't think I have a friend, best friend like this man. I've really lost a friend.

WALLACE: Through makeshift memorials along the pedestrian mall, the neighborhood mourns the more than 20 killed. Some were Israeli, like 20-year-old Masal Orkobi (ph), a soldier in the army on her way home. Her family and friends unable to control their grief. Some were foreign workers only in Israel for a few years.

The Bulgarian ambassador here remembered a 32-year-old fellow countryman who was killed. He told the family the tragic news.

TSANKO YABLANSKI, BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: It was remorseful for me when I informed the parents this morning of this worker. He has a six years old daughter and you see what happened here.

WALLACE: And these people told me about a Russian woman who sold cigarettes every day on the sidewalk. They did not know her name and now she is gone.

(on camera): This is not the first time this area has been hit by suicide bombings. There were two last year, one just a few feet from the site of Sunday night's explosion. And so now some residents say they're too afraid to stay.

(voice-over): Like Augie Jalachio (ph), who survived two bombings right outside his door. He and his family, from the Philippines, will stay in Israel, but not in this neighborhood.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And because every, now they want, they didn't care where they are targeting of. They just keeps on bombing foreigners, everybody. That's why we are so afraid. We have to find another place that are safer, I think. I hope so.

WALLACE: A hope for safety in a dangerous place.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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




to Put Lives Back Together>