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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israelis, Palestinians Talking Progress

Aired May 30, 2003 - 05:07   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: On to the Middle East now. Nothing concrete yet, but both Israelis and Palestinians are talking progress after a late night top level meeting.
CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna is in Jerusalem standing by with more on this story -- good morning, Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.

Well, the meeting between the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Israeli counterpart, Ariel Sharon, went well into the night and both sides declared themselves satisfied with the progress in the talks. Words such as "candid," "positive" were thrown around. Certainly huge areas of agreement reached, although nothing concrete yet being implemented on the ground.

Let's first of all hear what the Israelis had to say about the meeting.

Here's Ra'Anan Gissin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RA'ANAN GISSIN, ADVISER TO ARIEL SHARON: The prime minister has reiterated his proposal in greater detail about the possibility of relinquishing control of some of the areas, removing our troops, redeploying them, allowing the Palestinians to go in. That is one element that was suggested. That, of course, depends on the willingness of the Palestinian Authority and capability to take real steps to stop terrorist activity, to dismantle the terrorist organization, to confiscate the illegal weapons, to stop incitement, the five requirements or steps that have been reiterated time and again. And that, clearly, is a proposal that is on the table for them to decide where they want to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: Now, this meeting a prelude to a summit that will take place with U.S. President George W. Bush in Jordan next week. And at that meeting, the two sides are expected to make the commitment that they've got to do in terms of the U.S.-backed road map and that is to recognize the right of the other to statehood and to security.

That summit critically important in terms of implementing that road map.

And this is what the Palestinians have to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YASSER ABED RABBO, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: I hope that this summit will not repeat what happened in the past. And we are more confident now than any time before. We think that the involvement of the American administration in this process is stronger than before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: A very important situation coming up next week when the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers will attempt to build on the momentum that is beginning to be established to implement the provisions of that road map aimed at ending the conflict in the region and bringing about a Palestinian state -- back to you.

COSTELLO: Mike Hanna live in Jerusalem this morning.

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 30, 2003 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to the Middle East now. Nothing concrete yet, but both Israelis and Palestinians are talking progress after a late night top level meeting.
CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna is in Jerusalem standing by with more on this story -- good morning, Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.

Well, the meeting between the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Israeli counterpart, Ariel Sharon, went well into the night and both sides declared themselves satisfied with the progress in the talks. Words such as "candid," "positive" were thrown around. Certainly huge areas of agreement reached, although nothing concrete yet being implemented on the ground.

Let's first of all hear what the Israelis had to say about the meeting.

Here's Ra'Anan Gissin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RA'ANAN GISSIN, ADVISER TO ARIEL SHARON: The prime minister has reiterated his proposal in greater detail about the possibility of relinquishing control of some of the areas, removing our troops, redeploying them, allowing the Palestinians to go in. That is one element that was suggested. That, of course, depends on the willingness of the Palestinian Authority and capability to take real steps to stop terrorist activity, to dismantle the terrorist organization, to confiscate the illegal weapons, to stop incitement, the five requirements or steps that have been reiterated time and again. And that, clearly, is a proposal that is on the table for them to decide where they want to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: Now, this meeting a prelude to a summit that will take place with U.S. President George W. Bush in Jordan next week. And at that meeting, the two sides are expected to make the commitment that they've got to do in terms of the U.S.-backed road map and that is to recognize the right of the other to statehood and to security.

That summit critically important in terms of implementing that road map.

And this is what the Palestinians have to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YASSER ABED RABBO, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: I hope that this summit will not repeat what happened in the past. And we are more confident now than any time before. We think that the involvement of the American administration in this process is stronger than before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: A very important situation coming up next week when the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers will attempt to build on the momentum that is beginning to be established to implement the provisions of that road map aimed at ending the conflict in the region and bringing about a Palestinian state -- back to you.

COSTELLO: Mike Hanna live in Jerusalem this morning.

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