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CNN Live Today
Challenges to Peace
Aired June 09, 2003 - 10:08 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well now, the latest challenges to peace in the Middle East. The Islamic militant group Hamas is saying today it will not take part in cease-fire talks with the Palestinian prime minister. On Sunday, Hamas and two other militant groups launched a rare joint attack that left four Israeli soldiers dead.
Let's get the latest now from Jerusalem, and our bureau chief there is Mike Hanna -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, both the Israeli and the Palestinian leaders have recommitted themselves to the implementation of the U.S.-backed road map, and insisted that they will meet the obligations and terms of that road map.
The Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, addressed a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah in the course of the day. He insisted that the militant groups must negotiate with him. He said that the only alternative to dialogue is more dialogue. He was responding to fierce criticism in Palestinian circles about the speech he made in the summit meeting with President George W. Bush in Jordan last week, in which he committed himself to ending what he called the armed intifada.
Palestinian militant groups have sharply criticized him. Hamas, the militant organization, saying it will sever all negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
But Mahmoud Abbas insists that he will continue efforts to negotiate with the militant groups, and he will continue to do what he can to end the violence. He sharply criticized the attack on Sunday. In two separate attacks, five Israeli soldiers were killed by Palestinian gunmen. And Mahmoud Abbas sharply critical of that, condemning this, and he says, all acts of violence.
The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, also facing problems among his constituents at a convention of his ruling Likud Party Sunday. There were jeers and cat calls came from the crowd, but Sharon insisted that he'd press ahead in terms of implementing that road map, one of which is to dismantle outlawed or illegal settlements as a first phase.
And within the last hour, there has been news that one of these settlements has been dismantled by Israeli forces. This particular area uninhabited at present. A couple of caravans marking the spot which settlers have taken over. So both leaders, Israeli and Palestinian, despite opposition from their constituencies, insisted they're pressing ahead for the plan for peace -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Mike, It's been reported that Sharon has impressed upon Abbas to use military force against these militant groups to try to get some sort of response or some sort of action. How is Abbas responding to that?
HANNA: Well, on two levels. First of all, the Palestinian prime minister says it's simply not possible to use force at this stage, simply because the Palestinian Authority has no forces at its disposal. Many Palestinians, police officers, have been killed, imprisoned. There are not, says Mahmoud Abbas, sufficient security forces available.
Secondly, Abbas insists, that he wants to get an end to the violence through negotiation. He does not want to provoke what he calls a civil war by using armed action against the militant groups. This is contrary to what Israel wants, Israel saying that he's got to forcibly crack down on these groups if violence is to end. Israel also threatening that if the Palestinian prime minister doesn't crack down on these militant groups, that it is going to -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mike Hanna, from Jerusalem, thanks very much.
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 June 9, 2003 - 10:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well now, the latest challenges to peace in the Middle East. The Islamic militant group Hamas is saying today it will not take part in cease-fire talks with the Palestinian prime minister. On Sunday, Hamas and two other militant groups launched a rare joint attack that left four Israeli soldiers dead.
Let's get the latest now from Jerusalem, and our bureau chief there is Mike Hanna -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, both the Israeli and the Palestinian leaders have recommitted themselves to the implementation of the U.S.-backed road map, and insisted that they will meet the obligations and terms of that road map.
The Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, addressed a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah in the course of the day. He insisted that the militant groups must negotiate with him. He said that the only alternative to dialogue is more dialogue. He was responding to fierce criticism in Palestinian circles about the speech he made in the summit meeting with President George W. Bush in Jordan last week, in which he committed himself to ending what he called the armed intifada.
Palestinian militant groups have sharply criticized him. Hamas, the militant organization, saying it will sever all negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
But Mahmoud Abbas insists that he will continue efforts to negotiate with the militant groups, and he will continue to do what he can to end the violence. He sharply criticized the attack on Sunday. In two separate attacks, five Israeli soldiers were killed by Palestinian gunmen. And Mahmoud Abbas sharply critical of that, condemning this, and he says, all acts of violence.
The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, also facing problems among his constituents at a convention of his ruling Likud Party Sunday. There were jeers and cat calls came from the crowd, but Sharon insisted that he'd press ahead in terms of implementing that road map, one of which is to dismantle outlawed or illegal settlements as a first phase.
And within the last hour, there has been news that one of these settlements has been dismantled by Israeli forces. This particular area uninhabited at present. A couple of caravans marking the spot which settlers have taken over. So both leaders, Israeli and Palestinian, despite opposition from their constituencies, insisted they're pressing ahead for the plan for peace -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Mike, It's been reported that Sharon has impressed upon Abbas to use military force against these militant groups to try to get some sort of response or some sort of action. How is Abbas responding to that?
HANNA: Well, on two levels. First of all, the Palestinian prime minister says it's simply not possible to use force at this stage, simply because the Palestinian Authority has no forces at its disposal. Many Palestinians, police officers, have been killed, imprisoned. There are not, says Mahmoud Abbas, sufficient security forces available.
Secondly, Abbas insists, that he wants to get an end to the violence through negotiation. He does not want to provoke what he calls a civil war by using armed action against the militant groups. This is contrary to what Israel wants, Israel saying that he's got to forcibly crack down on these groups if violence is to end. Israel also threatening that if the Palestinian prime minister doesn't crack down on these militant groups, that it is going to -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mike Hanna, from Jerusalem, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
