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CNN Live Today
Palestinian Crossroads
Aired April 29, 2003 - 10:32 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: Earlier today, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat backed Abu Mazen as prime minister, a first step, he says, toward peace with Israel. Now the Palestinian leaders must vote on whether to accept the 24-member cabinet that Mazen is presenting.
CNN's Kelly Wallace is standing by in Ramallah.
Hello, Kelly. What's the latest from there?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The latest, Leon, Makmud Abas (ph), who's widely known as Abu Mazen, needs the support of 43 members of the 83 members who are gathering in this parliament building behind me, and it could be a very long night, and there is a possibility there won't be a vote until Wednesday. That is because any member who wants to speak is allowed to do so, and gets at least three minutes to make a statement.
Already some 10 parliament members have spoken out, and some have expressed concern, saying that Abu Mazen has filled his cabinet up with old ministers, with loyalists to President Yasser Arafat.
Now, something else that the Israelis and the Americans will be watching closely is just how much power is Yasser Arafat wielding behind the scenes? We did see him speak out earlier on this day, calling for the council to go ahead and support Abu Mazen's cabinet. This after the two men settled a fierce power struggle last week. This endorsement leading many to believe that, ultimately, this council will go ahead and approve Abu Mazen's cabinet.
On this day, we also heard for the first time in weeks from Abu Mazen himself. In his speech, he said there could only be a political solution, not a military solution to the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. He also said his big focus will be on security, making sure the only people that carry weapons in the Palestinian territories are the Palestinians security forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABU MAZEN, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE (through translator): Ending the disorder and chaos of arms with the threats that are imposed on the country will be one of our main tasks, and we will not be lenient at all. There only legitimate arms will be used to protect security and public order and the life of people and their property.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And Israelis are taking a wait-and-see approach. A spokesman with the prime minister's office, Ariel Sharon, saying that the Israelis have heard declarations for years. What they want to see is what Abu Mazen and his team do on the ground before the Israelis take any action, and of course, Leon, if this cabinet is approved, very soon after, that so-called road map for Middle East peace is expected to be published -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thanks, Kelly. Kelly Wallace, reporting live for us from Ramallah.
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 29, 2003 - 10:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier today, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat backed Abu Mazen as prime minister, a first step, he says, toward peace with Israel. Now the Palestinian leaders must vote on whether to accept the 24-member cabinet that Mazen is presenting.
CNN's Kelly Wallace is standing by in Ramallah.
Hello, Kelly. What's the latest from there?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The latest, Leon, Makmud Abas (ph), who's widely known as Abu Mazen, needs the support of 43 members of the 83 members who are gathering in this parliament building behind me, and it could be a very long night, and there is a possibility there won't be a vote until Wednesday. That is because any member who wants to speak is allowed to do so, and gets at least three minutes to make a statement.
Already some 10 parliament members have spoken out, and some have expressed concern, saying that Abu Mazen has filled his cabinet up with old ministers, with loyalists to President Yasser Arafat.
Now, something else that the Israelis and the Americans will be watching closely is just how much power is Yasser Arafat wielding behind the scenes? We did see him speak out earlier on this day, calling for the council to go ahead and support Abu Mazen's cabinet. This after the two men settled a fierce power struggle last week. This endorsement leading many to believe that, ultimately, this council will go ahead and approve Abu Mazen's cabinet.
On this day, we also heard for the first time in weeks from Abu Mazen himself. In his speech, he said there could only be a political solution, not a military solution to the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. He also said his big focus will be on security, making sure the only people that carry weapons in the Palestinian territories are the Palestinians security forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABU MAZEN, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE (through translator): Ending the disorder and chaos of arms with the threats that are imposed on the country will be one of our main tasks, and we will not be lenient at all. There only legitimate arms will be used to protect security and public order and the life of people and their property.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And Israelis are taking a wait-and-see approach. A spokesman with the prime minister's office, Ariel Sharon, saying that the Israelis have heard declarations for years. What they want to see is what Abu Mazen and his team do on the ground before the Israelis take any action, and of course, Leon, if this cabinet is approved, very soon after, that so-called road map for Middle East peace is expected to be published -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thanks, Kelly. Kelly Wallace, reporting live for us from Ramallah.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
