Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
New Group to Join Ceasefire Agreement Between Israel, Palestinians
Aired June 30, 2003 - 11:14 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A militant off-shoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization says it will join other Palestinian groups in the temporary ceasefire. The announcement comes hour after the shooting in a West Bank and it comes amid signs of progress on the Mideast road map. Our Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna joins us with the latest.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Daryn, signs of progress indeed in terms of getting a calm in place, a calm which is essential if that U.S.-backed road map is to be successfully implemented.
In Gaza, there has been a massive redeployment of Israeli forces over the past 24 hours. And in particular the opening up of the major north/south highway that runs through Gaza. There Israeli forces have dismantled their checkpoints that were at significant points along that road and have moved away allowing for free movement of Palestinian traffic up and down that road.
This has been a major problem for Palestinians for a long period of time with the Israeli checkpoints permanently in place along that road. Now there is a semblance of free movement as Palestinian police take control of those areas.
Also, a redeployment in the north of Gaza. Israeli forces pulling out of an area called Bathhumun (ph), back across into Israel. Once again Palestinian police taking up positions there.
Now, this is the beginning of a series of steps that observers hope will lead to that calm on the ground. Israeli and Palestinian security officials met in the course of the day. And they have agreed that in Wednesday in the West Bank, similar steps will be taken in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. There, Israeli soldiers have been manning checkpoints within the city itself, have been exercising total control over that city. But within the next few days, those troops will withdraw out of Bethlehem for the first time in a long period of time and the policing role will be taken over by Palestinian police.
There has been an intense training of Palestinian police in recent weeks to take over the functions. The Palestinian security apparatus severely affected by the ongoing conflict and by the ongoing fighting with Israeli forces.
But now these steps are falling into place. Despite all of this, though, still the incidence of violence. One construction worker shot and killed by Palestinian gunmen. But at this stage, the truce, the ceasefire is still holding as is Israel's redeployment on the ground -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Mike Hanna in Jerusalem, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Palestinians>
Aired June 30, 2003 - 11:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A militant off-shoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization says it will join other Palestinian groups in the temporary ceasefire. The announcement comes hour after the shooting in a West Bank and it comes amid signs of progress on the Mideast road map. Our Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna joins us with the latest.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Daryn, signs of progress indeed in terms of getting a calm in place, a calm which is essential if that U.S.-backed road map is to be successfully implemented.
In Gaza, there has been a massive redeployment of Israeli forces over the past 24 hours. And in particular the opening up of the major north/south highway that runs through Gaza. There Israeli forces have dismantled their checkpoints that were at significant points along that road and have moved away allowing for free movement of Palestinian traffic up and down that road.
This has been a major problem for Palestinians for a long period of time with the Israeli checkpoints permanently in place along that road. Now there is a semblance of free movement as Palestinian police take control of those areas.
Also, a redeployment in the north of Gaza. Israeli forces pulling out of an area called Bathhumun (ph), back across into Israel. Once again Palestinian police taking up positions there.
Now, this is the beginning of a series of steps that observers hope will lead to that calm on the ground. Israeli and Palestinian security officials met in the course of the day. And they have agreed that in Wednesday in the West Bank, similar steps will be taken in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. There, Israeli soldiers have been manning checkpoints within the city itself, have been exercising total control over that city. But within the next few days, those troops will withdraw out of Bethlehem for the first time in a long period of time and the policing role will be taken over by Palestinian police.
There has been an intense training of Palestinian police in recent weeks to take over the functions. The Palestinian security apparatus severely affected by the ongoing conflict and by the ongoing fighting with Israeli forces.
But now these steps are falling into place. Despite all of this, though, still the incidence of violence. One construction worker shot and killed by Palestinian gunmen. But at this stage, the truce, the ceasefire is still holding as is Israel's redeployment on the ground -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Mike Hanna in Jerusalem, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Palestinians>
