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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Troops, Tanks Move into West Bank

Aired August 21, 2003 - 05:38   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: In the wake of that suicide bombing in Jerusalem, Israeli troops and tanks moved into the West Bank early today. They were searching for Palestinian militants.
Let's go live to Jerusalem and Jerrold Kessel for an update -- good morning, Jerrold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We've had, in the last several hours, some forceful Israeli actions and some forceful Palestinian statements. Predictable Israeli actions along some which were not entirely expected, predictable in the town of Hebron, where Israeli forces went in and, as they customarily do after a terror attack, blew up the home of the suicide bomber aboard, who bombed the bus in Jerusalem night before last, killing 20 people.

The family, his family had previously evacuated the home. The Israeli forces blew up the floor, that floor of that building, where the suicide bomber's home was.

While this was happening, there were two important meetings under way, one in Ramallah on the West Bank, where the Palestinian leadership was convened at Yasser Arafat's beleaguered headquarters to endorse what the decision previously taken by the Palestinian cabinet under Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to adopt a forceful stand against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the militant groups which took responsibility for the suicide bombing attack.

And a very forceful statement from the Palestinian leadership, saying they will not tolerate the Hamas and other groups striking an independent position, which, they say, has undermined Mr. Abbas' strategy to try to move down the peace road while a cease-fire remains in place.

And in Jerusalem, the Israeli security cabinet met and there was other action endorsed. The Israelis taking, deciding to take action irrespective of what the Palestinians do, and not even giving them time to act, but saying they're taking action against militants because, Israel says, the Palestinians are not taking action.

Well, that sent tanks and ground troops into Nablus, where there have been a number of arrests made during the night and early this morning. The Israeli forces are still in the heart of the town of Nablus. They also operated in other Palestinian towns, although they're out of those towns, we understand from the Israeli military. And possibly this is only the start of more forceful Israeli actions while they wait and perhaps the United States waits to see whether the Palestinians will act, as well, against the militants or only declare that they intend to act against the militants -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Jerrold, we'll get back to you in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

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 August 21, 2003 - 05:38   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the wake of that suicide bombing in Jerusalem, Israeli troops and tanks moved into the West Bank early today. They were searching for Palestinian militants.
Let's go live to Jerusalem and Jerrold Kessel for an update -- good morning, Jerrold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We've had, in the last several hours, some forceful Israeli actions and some forceful Palestinian statements. Predictable Israeli actions along some which were not entirely expected, predictable in the town of Hebron, where Israeli forces went in and, as they customarily do after a terror attack, blew up the home of the suicide bomber aboard, who bombed the bus in Jerusalem night before last, killing 20 people.

The family, his family had previously evacuated the home. The Israeli forces blew up the floor, that floor of that building, where the suicide bomber's home was.

While this was happening, there were two important meetings under way, one in Ramallah on the West Bank, where the Palestinian leadership was convened at Yasser Arafat's beleaguered headquarters to endorse what the decision previously taken by the Palestinian cabinet under Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to adopt a forceful stand against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the militant groups which took responsibility for the suicide bombing attack.

And a very forceful statement from the Palestinian leadership, saying they will not tolerate the Hamas and other groups striking an independent position, which, they say, has undermined Mr. Abbas' strategy to try to move down the peace road while a cease-fire remains in place.

And in Jerusalem, the Israeli security cabinet met and there was other action endorsed. The Israelis taking, deciding to take action irrespective of what the Palestinians do, and not even giving them time to act, but saying they're taking action against militants because, Israel says, the Palestinians are not taking action.

Well, that sent tanks and ground troops into Nablus, where there have been a number of arrests made during the night and early this morning. The Israeli forces are still in the heart of the town of Nablus. They also operated in other Palestinian towns, although they're out of those towns, we understand from the Israeli military. And possibly this is only the start of more forceful Israeli actions while they wait and perhaps the United States waits to see whether the Palestinians will act, as well, against the militants or only declare that they intend to act against the militants -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Jerrold, we'll get back to you in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

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