Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Crisis in Middle East: Trail of Terror
Aired May 20, 2003 - 06:32 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: To the Middle East now: a trail of terror. The road map to peace seems to be leading to anything but. Israel is now calling five suicide bombings in 48 hours a declaration of war against the new Palestinian prime minister. So, what's next?
We take you live to Jerusalem and Jerrold Kessel.
Good morning -- Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And what's next? The Israeli police and military are hoping for not another bombing, but they are bracing for that possibility as 13 people still try to recover, many fighting for their lives in hospitals after that devastating attack in the northern Israeli town of Afula yesterday. Three people were killed by the woman bomber, who came from the West Bank, a 19-year-old Palestinian student.
The Palestinians have condemned roundly the concerted wave of attacks -- the Palestinian leadership, that is, of Mahmoud Abbas -- condemning this wave of attacks by Hamas and other militant groups who have claimed responsibility for the series for suicide bombings.
But, really, the most interesting aspect of the reaction perhaps has been that from the Israeli side. Israel has not condemned Abu Mazan, Mahmoud Abbas, the new prime minister, although calling on him to stand by his pledge to go after the militants to curb their activities, blaming Yasser Arafat, yes, but not Abu Mazen. And pointedly, Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, saying he wants to go on talking to Abu Mazen to try to get down that political road and to begin implementing this new peace initiative.
And perhaps even more significant, Israel is not undertaking any forceful military measures in the wake of these series of attacks. And quite the contrary indeed, even though it is a small move, the Israeli forces have moved out of a town in the northern part of Gaza, which might be the place some have suggested where the road map could first be implemented in practice on the ground with Palestinian forces taking over control and preventing militants from shooting at Israeli targets.
But is all that enough from the Israeli side? Is that enough of a helping hand to the new Palestinian prime minister to undertake his commitments? No so, says a leading Israeli opposition politician.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) EPHRAIM SNEH, ISRAELI LABOR PARTY: This wave can be stopped only if there is a daring political move, something which would change the atmosphere and would change the reality and would give the Palestinians and actually the government of Abu Mazen a very clear incentive to crack on terror. Abu Mazen needs broad popular support for acting against terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KESSEL: Bottom line: Does this peace initiative have a chance of succeeding in the face of the ongoing wave of terror? That's the most important statement, came not from the region, but it was watched very closely in the region, and that was President Bush's renewed commitment to keep pursuing a peace policy -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure enough. Jerrold Kessel live from Jerusalem.
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 May 20, 2003 - 06:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: To the Middle East now: a trail of terror. The road map to peace seems to be leading to anything but. Israel is now calling five suicide bombings in 48 hours a declaration of war against the new Palestinian prime minister. So, what's next?
We take you live to Jerusalem and Jerrold Kessel.
Good morning -- Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And what's next? The Israeli police and military are hoping for not another bombing, but they are bracing for that possibility as 13 people still try to recover, many fighting for their lives in hospitals after that devastating attack in the northern Israeli town of Afula yesterday. Three people were killed by the woman bomber, who came from the West Bank, a 19-year-old Palestinian student.
The Palestinians have condemned roundly the concerted wave of attacks -- the Palestinian leadership, that is, of Mahmoud Abbas -- condemning this wave of attacks by Hamas and other militant groups who have claimed responsibility for the series for suicide bombings.
But, really, the most interesting aspect of the reaction perhaps has been that from the Israeli side. Israel has not condemned Abu Mazan, Mahmoud Abbas, the new prime minister, although calling on him to stand by his pledge to go after the militants to curb their activities, blaming Yasser Arafat, yes, but not Abu Mazen. And pointedly, Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, saying he wants to go on talking to Abu Mazen to try to get down that political road and to begin implementing this new peace initiative.
And perhaps even more significant, Israel is not undertaking any forceful military measures in the wake of these series of attacks. And quite the contrary indeed, even though it is a small move, the Israeli forces have moved out of a town in the northern part of Gaza, which might be the place some have suggested where the road map could first be implemented in practice on the ground with Palestinian forces taking over control and preventing militants from shooting at Israeli targets.
But is all that enough from the Israeli side? Is that enough of a helping hand to the new Palestinian prime minister to undertake his commitments? No so, says a leading Israeli opposition politician.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) EPHRAIM SNEH, ISRAELI LABOR PARTY: This wave can be stopped only if there is a daring political move, something which would change the atmosphere and would change the reality and would give the Palestinians and actually the government of Abu Mazen a very clear incentive to crack on terror. Abu Mazen needs broad popular support for acting against terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KESSEL: Bottom line: Does this peace initiative have a chance of succeeding in the face of the ongoing wave of terror? That's the most important statement, came not from the region, but it was watched very closely in the region, and that was President Bush's renewed commitment to keep pursuing a peace policy -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure enough. Jerrold Kessel live from Jerusalem.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
