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CNN Live Today
Egyptian Intel Chief to Try for Cease Fire
Aired June 11, 2003 - 10:02 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: Up first on CNN this hour, the deepening crisis in the Middle East and the international efforts underway to salvage the dwindling hopes of an Israeli/Palestinian peace initiative. We spin the globe and begin our coverage in Jerusalem with our bureau chief there, Mike Hanna -- good morning, Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, good morning Leon. Much criticism inside and outside Israel of Israel's attempt to assassinate a leading Hamas militant. This happened in the course of the day in Gaza City. The man, Abdel Rantissi, managed to escape, but there have been great eruptions (ph) arising out of that, particularly with its impact on attempts to implement a peace process on the ground.
But Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, unrepentant. He told a cabinet meeting in the course of the morning that when it comes to terror, as he put it, there can be no concessions. He said all parties were well aware that Israel will take action against anybody seeking to plan or carry out terror acts against Israeli citizens. The Palestinian Authority described this action as criminal and an act of terrorism. But still, there are attempts to get a cease fire in place on the ground. A truce in place between the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian militant groups, and Egyptian intelligence officer arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah to hold talks.
Both the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Omar Suleiman attempting to negotiate a cease fire between the Palestinian Authority and the militant groups in order that they might observe a cease fire for a period of time to allow the implementation of that U.S.-backed road map that all parties want to get in place. All parties statedly so, being the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. But Palestinian militants do not appear in any mood to talk either.
Demonstrations continued throughout the day and indeed into the night in Gaza City. Demonstrations against the Israeli attempted -- assassination attempt, but also demonstrations against that U.S.- backed road map, a road map which both parties, Israeli and Palestinians agreed to exactly a week ago, but which is still to be implemented on the ground. Violence continues, hard to see how this can be achieved -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thanks, Mike. Mike Hanna, staying on top of this for us from his post in 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 June 11, 2003 - 10:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Up first on CNN this hour, the deepening crisis in the Middle East and the international efforts underway to salvage the dwindling hopes of an Israeli/Palestinian peace initiative. We spin the globe and begin our coverage in Jerusalem with our bureau chief there, Mike Hanna -- good morning, Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, good morning Leon. Much criticism inside and outside Israel of Israel's attempt to assassinate a leading Hamas militant. This happened in the course of the day in Gaza City. The man, Abdel Rantissi, managed to escape, but there have been great eruptions (ph) arising out of that, particularly with its impact on attempts to implement a peace process on the ground.
But Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, unrepentant. He told a cabinet meeting in the course of the morning that when it comes to terror, as he put it, there can be no concessions. He said all parties were well aware that Israel will take action against anybody seeking to plan or carry out terror acts against Israeli citizens. The Palestinian Authority described this action as criminal and an act of terrorism. But still, there are attempts to get a cease fire in place on the ground. A truce in place between the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian militant groups, and Egyptian intelligence officer arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah to hold talks.
Both the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Omar Suleiman attempting to negotiate a cease fire between the Palestinian Authority and the militant groups in order that they might observe a cease fire for a period of time to allow the implementation of that U.S.-backed road map that all parties want to get in place. All parties statedly so, being the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. But Palestinian militants do not appear in any mood to talk either.
Demonstrations continued throughout the day and indeed into the night in Gaza City. Demonstrations against the Israeli attempted -- assassination attempt, but also demonstrations against that U.S.- backed road map, a road map which both parties, Israeli and Palestinians agreed to exactly a week ago, but which is still to be implemented on the ground. Violence continues, hard to see how this can be achieved -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thanks, Mike. Mike Hanna, staying on top of this for us from his post in 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
