Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Apparent Deal on New Palestinian Cabinet
Aired April 23, 2003 - 11:00 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: Big news to report this morning from the Middle East. An apparent deal on a new Palestinian cabinet this morning, ending a classic power struggle that threatened to derail an entire new government.
CNN's Kelly Wallace checks in now from Ramallah in the West Bank. She is standing by there at Arafat's headquarters.
And tell us right now what's going on, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, it came down to just a little before seven hours, before that midnight deadline of Wednesday would expire, when word of a breakthrough came through. We understand there is an agreement between Abu Mazen, the prime minister designate, and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Palestinian sources saying lot of credit goes to Egyptian envoy Omar Suliman (ph) who was sent here by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and had been shuttling between the two men throughout the day. When late this afternoon, he brought Abu Mazen here to Yasser Arafat's Ramallah compound. The two men had not met face to face since a Saturday night session when Abu Mazen, sources say, stormed out of a meeting angry, feeling that Yasser Arafat was not giving up enough power. Then came word that there has been an agreement.
A key issue, key area of dispute centered around a man by the name of Muhammed Daklan (ph). Abu Mazen wanted to make him in charge of security in his new government. He is someone liked by the Israelis and the Americans, but not by Yasser Arafat. Yasser Arafat had been objecting. We are told, though, they reached some sort of compromise. Daklan (ph) will be in a new position, minister of state, still, though, in charge of security affairs.
As for next steps we understand the Palestinian parliament speaker has been notified and will convene a meeting of the Palestinian parliament in the beginning of next week. The parliament must now approve Abu Mazen's cabinet.
Then after that, the United States and Great Britain have signaled there will soon be the publication of the so-called road map for Middle East peace. Yasser Arafat, it seems, has faced tremendous international pressure, coming from the Egyptians, the United States, Europe, Britain, Russia, and eventually, it appears he did back down and settle this compromise.
We have some initial reaction from the Israelis. Ehud Olmert, he is a minister in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government. He says he's speaking on behalf of himself, not on behalf of Prime Minister Sharon. He says, though, one should judge the deeds, not the declaration. He said we have to see if Abu Mazen's cabinet is sworn in, he says, we'll see how it will act, taking into account Yasser Arafat's resistance to it and his capacity to undermine any process to reform. So it appears the Israelis will watch and wait. Next step, early next week for the Palestinian parliament to consider Abu Mazen's cabinet.
Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: All right, so the drama is not over quite yet. But, Kelly, let me ask you this, there was another report this morning in the press here about a part of the sticking point here being the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and Abu Mazen saying that that brigade should be disarmed. That is a unit that has really been supportive of Yasser Arafat, and it's also a group that has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings there in Israel. What do you know about that particular angle of the story, and will Al Aqsa be disarmed?
WALLACE: Well, Leon, some sources saying they believe this was possibly one area of dispute, that Abu Mazen wants to have the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade disarmed. Our viewers may not realize, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is really the military offshoot of Yasser' Arafat's Fatah movement. This group, as well as other Palestinian militant groups, Islamic Jihad and Hamas, responsible, believed to be responsible, for many acts of violence and terrorist attacks against Israelis over the past two and a half years.
Other sources, though, saying they did not believe this was really the key area of dispute. They believe a lot it had to do with Yasser Arafat's refusal to really give up control of the Palestinian Authority, knowing once he does this, once these next steps go forward and Abu Mazen has a cabinet together, and the Americans and the Israelis want to see him sidelined, he knows he could be really losing some power. So many believe that was really the ultimate issue, as well as who would be in charge of security, and who would really talk tough to these Palestinian militant groups. So lot of issues there.
And Again, Leon, as you noted, still some challenges ahead, getting approval of the Palestinian parliament, possibly by early next week -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thank, Kelly. Kelly Wallace, reporting live for us from Ramallah. Be well.
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 April 23, 2003 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Big news to report this morning from the Middle East. An apparent deal on a new Palestinian cabinet this morning, ending a classic power struggle that threatened to derail an entire new government.
CNN's Kelly Wallace checks in now from Ramallah in the West Bank. She is standing by there at Arafat's headquarters.
And tell us right now what's going on, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, it came down to just a little before seven hours, before that midnight deadline of Wednesday would expire, when word of a breakthrough came through. We understand there is an agreement between Abu Mazen, the prime minister designate, and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Palestinian sources saying lot of credit goes to Egyptian envoy Omar Suliman (ph) who was sent here by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and had been shuttling between the two men throughout the day. When late this afternoon, he brought Abu Mazen here to Yasser Arafat's Ramallah compound. The two men had not met face to face since a Saturday night session when Abu Mazen, sources say, stormed out of a meeting angry, feeling that Yasser Arafat was not giving up enough power. Then came word that there has been an agreement.
A key issue, key area of dispute centered around a man by the name of Muhammed Daklan (ph). Abu Mazen wanted to make him in charge of security in his new government. He is someone liked by the Israelis and the Americans, but not by Yasser Arafat. Yasser Arafat had been objecting. We are told, though, they reached some sort of compromise. Daklan (ph) will be in a new position, minister of state, still, though, in charge of security affairs.
As for next steps we understand the Palestinian parliament speaker has been notified and will convene a meeting of the Palestinian parliament in the beginning of next week. The parliament must now approve Abu Mazen's cabinet.
Then after that, the United States and Great Britain have signaled there will soon be the publication of the so-called road map for Middle East peace. Yasser Arafat, it seems, has faced tremendous international pressure, coming from the Egyptians, the United States, Europe, Britain, Russia, and eventually, it appears he did back down and settle this compromise.
We have some initial reaction from the Israelis. Ehud Olmert, he is a minister in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government. He says he's speaking on behalf of himself, not on behalf of Prime Minister Sharon. He says, though, one should judge the deeds, not the declaration. He said we have to see if Abu Mazen's cabinet is sworn in, he says, we'll see how it will act, taking into account Yasser Arafat's resistance to it and his capacity to undermine any process to reform. So it appears the Israelis will watch and wait. Next step, early next week for the Palestinian parliament to consider Abu Mazen's cabinet.
Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: All right, so the drama is not over quite yet. But, Kelly, let me ask you this, there was another report this morning in the press here about a part of the sticking point here being the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and Abu Mazen saying that that brigade should be disarmed. That is a unit that has really been supportive of Yasser Arafat, and it's also a group that has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings there in Israel. What do you know about that particular angle of the story, and will Al Aqsa be disarmed?
WALLACE: Well, Leon, some sources saying they believe this was possibly one area of dispute, that Abu Mazen wants to have the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade disarmed. Our viewers may not realize, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is really the military offshoot of Yasser' Arafat's Fatah movement. This group, as well as other Palestinian militant groups, Islamic Jihad and Hamas, responsible, believed to be responsible, for many acts of violence and terrorist attacks against Israelis over the past two and a half years.
Other sources, though, saying they did not believe this was really the key area of dispute. They believe a lot it had to do with Yasser Arafat's refusal to really give up control of the Palestinian Authority, knowing once he does this, once these next steps go forward and Abu Mazen has a cabinet together, and the Americans and the Israelis want to see him sidelined, he knows he could be really losing some power. So many believe that was really the ultimate issue, as well as who would be in charge of security, and who would really talk tough to these Palestinian militant groups. So lot of issues there.
And Again, Leon, as you noted, still some challenges ahead, getting approval of the Palestinian parliament, possibly by early next week -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thank, Kelly. Kelly Wallace, reporting live for us from Ramallah. Be well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
