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Mahmoud Abbas Trying to Salvage Tattered Road Map to Peace
Aired August 26, 2003 - 11:26 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: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is trying to salvage the tattered road map to peace. He is pleading with members of Palestinian factions about the latest spiral of violence.
Our Michael Holmes joins us now by videophone once again from Gaza City.
Michael, what is the latest there today?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon.
Well, the very latest here is that Abu Mazen, the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, as he's also known, has arrived in Gaza City. He arrived just a short time ago to attend this meeting, a critical meeting for him, as you said. All political factions also were led to believe Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives and will be there. It's critical in more ways than one, not just to try to stem the tide of violence that has erupted here in recent weeks, but also it's important for his very future as prime minister. His credibility has taken a bit of a nosedive. If he can resuscitate the now dead cease-fire or abandoned cease-fire by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, he will help to not only reduce the violence, but perhaps boost his own credibility on the ground.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas representatives, as I said, Leon, are expected to be attending this meeting, which was due to get under way a half hour ago. It's running late. It has not started. We had a brief conversation with a Hamas spokesman, No. 2 man here in Gaza actually, Abdul Aziz Rantissi, and he told us that he expected some of his people to be there, but he did say this, and I'll quote you, he said, "A national dialogue," meaning this meeting, "is useful, but there will not be talk of a cease-fire." Well, you can bet that Mahmoud Abbas will be talking cease-fire.
Interestingly, though, Leon, since that telephone call a few hours ago, all Hamas senior people and Islamic Jihad have turned off their cell phones and have seemingly gone under ground. We can't locate people we normally can fairly easily. It's fair to say there is much nervousness among them that perhaps the next Israeli missile might be for them -- Leon.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Thank you very much Michael. Michael Holmes reporting live for us there as the evening begins to fall there in Gaza City. Thank you very much, Michael. Be careful.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Peace>
Aired August 26, 2003 - 11:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is trying to salvage the tattered road map to peace. He is pleading with members of Palestinian factions about the latest spiral of violence.
Our Michael Holmes joins us now by videophone once again from Gaza City.
Michael, what is the latest there today?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon.
Well, the very latest here is that Abu Mazen, the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, as he's also known, has arrived in Gaza City. He arrived just a short time ago to attend this meeting, a critical meeting for him, as you said. All political factions also were led to believe Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives and will be there. It's critical in more ways than one, not just to try to stem the tide of violence that has erupted here in recent weeks, but also it's important for his very future as prime minister. His credibility has taken a bit of a nosedive. If he can resuscitate the now dead cease-fire or abandoned cease-fire by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, he will help to not only reduce the violence, but perhaps boost his own credibility on the ground.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas representatives, as I said, Leon, are expected to be attending this meeting, which was due to get under way a half hour ago. It's running late. It has not started. We had a brief conversation with a Hamas spokesman, No. 2 man here in Gaza actually, Abdul Aziz Rantissi, and he told us that he expected some of his people to be there, but he did say this, and I'll quote you, he said, "A national dialogue," meaning this meeting, "is useful, but there will not be talk of a cease-fire." Well, you can bet that Mahmoud Abbas will be talking cease-fire.
Interestingly, though, Leon, since that telephone call a few hours ago, all Hamas senior people and Islamic Jihad have turned off their cell phones and have seemingly gone under ground. We can't locate people we normally can fairly easily. It's fair to say there is much nervousness among them that perhaps the next Israeli missile might be for them -- Leon.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Thank you very much Michael. Michael Holmes reporting live for us there as the evening begins to fall there in Gaza City. Thank you very much, Michael. Be careful.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Peace>
