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CNN Live Today
Hamas Lays Claim to Four Attacks in Two Days
Aired May 19, 2003 - 10:00 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: We're going to begin this hour in the Middle East, where the Islamic militant group, Hamas, has claimed responsibility for four suicide attacks in two days. The strikes left nine civilians dead, dozens injured, and a U.S.-led peace initiative paralyzed.
Let's go now to Jerusalem, site of the deadliest attack, and our Jerusalem correspondent, Kelly Wallace, is there is with the latest this morning.
Good morning -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.
Well, this shows the tremendous challenges ahead for that U.S.- backed peace plan, widely known as the road map for Middle East peace, because this radical Palestinian group, Hamas, which, as you said, has claimed responsibility for these four suicide bombings, is saying it will continue these attacks until the Israeli occupation comes to an end.
The latest incident happened earlier on this day in the Gaza Strip, and the suicide bomber using an unconventional approach. The Israeli army said the young Palestinian was on a bicycle packed with explosives when he blew himself up near an Israeli military patrol. Three soldiers lightly wounded, only the bomber, though, killed in that attack.
This all coming after the first suicide bombing in Jerusalem in six months. A deadly attack early Sunday morning, a man dressed as an orthodox Jew, according to Israeli police, getting on a bus in the middle of a Jerusalem neighborhood, killing six Israelis and one Palestinian. All of his victims on their way to work, because it was early morning rush hour.
Now, Prime Minister Sharon, as we know, postponed his trip to Washington and huddled with his top advisers Sunday night and made two decisions. No. 1, to reinstate a total closure of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. What this means, Palestinians who have work permits or other permits to enter Israel will not be allowed inside the country until the closure is lifted. Palestinians had been facing very tight travel restrictions over the past year, and they consider such closures a form of -- quote -- "collective punishment."
Another decision made: From now on, any foreign dignitary who meets with the Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, will not get a meeting with Prime Minister Sharon or his foreign minister or possibly any other Israeli official. Israeli officials say they are making this move because they believe such meetings undermine the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his ability to rein in these radical Palestinian groups.
Yasser Arafat spoke out to reporters today, and he said that these accusations by the Israelis that is he encouraging or is connected to these recent attacks is a form of Israeli propaganda -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, Kelly, on another matter, what are you hearing there about the body of a suicide bomber that washed up on the shore in Tel Aviv this past week?
Aired May 19, 2003 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin this hour in the Middle East, where the Islamic militant group, Hamas, has claimed responsibility for four suicide attacks in two days. The strikes left nine civilians dead, dozens injured, and a U.S.-led peace initiative paralyzed.
Let's go now to Jerusalem, site of the deadliest attack, and our Jerusalem correspondent, Kelly Wallace, is there is with the latest this morning.
Good morning -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.
Well, this shows the tremendous challenges ahead for that U.S.- backed peace plan, widely known as the road map for Middle East peace, because this radical Palestinian group, Hamas, which, as you said, has claimed responsibility for these four suicide bombings, is saying it will continue these attacks until the Israeli occupation comes to an end.
The latest incident happened earlier on this day in the Gaza Strip, and the suicide bomber using an unconventional approach. The Israeli army said the young Palestinian was on a bicycle packed with explosives when he blew himself up near an Israeli military patrol. Three soldiers lightly wounded, only the bomber, though, killed in that attack.
This all coming after the first suicide bombing in Jerusalem in six months. A deadly attack early Sunday morning, a man dressed as an orthodox Jew, according to Israeli police, getting on a bus in the middle of a Jerusalem neighborhood, killing six Israelis and one Palestinian. All of his victims on their way to work, because it was early morning rush hour.
Now, Prime Minister Sharon, as we know, postponed his trip to Washington and huddled with his top advisers Sunday night and made two decisions. No. 1, to reinstate a total closure of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. What this means, Palestinians who have work permits or other permits to enter Israel will not be allowed inside the country until the closure is lifted. Palestinians had been facing very tight travel restrictions over the past year, and they consider such closures a form of -- quote -- "collective punishment."
Another decision made: From now on, any foreign dignitary who meets with the Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, will not get a meeting with Prime Minister Sharon or his foreign minister or possibly any other Israeli official. Israeli officials say they are making this move because they believe such meetings undermine the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his ability to rein in these radical Palestinian groups.
Yasser Arafat spoke out to reporters today, and he said that these accusations by the Israelis that is he encouraging or is connected to these recent attacks is a form of Israeli propaganda -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, Kelly, on another matter, what are you hearing there about the body of a suicide bomber that washed up on the shore in Tel Aviv this past week?
