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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Leadership Wants Yasser Arafat Out

Aired September 12, 2003 - 05:34   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: The Israeli leadership wants Yasser Arafat out, but he is vowing to stay right where he is. The Palestinian leader spoke last night from his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Thousands of Palestinians surrounded the building to show their support.
Here's what he told one reporter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: They are afraid that you will (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

YASSER ARAFAT: This is terra sancta. No one can kick me out.

QUESTION: They are even saying perhaps they'll come into Ramallah tonight and try to kill you.

ARAFAT: Maybe to kill me, or they can kill me by their bombs.

QUESTION: But you will not leave?

ARAFAT: Definitely.

QUESTION: Thanks, Mr. President.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Well, you heard it, he will not leave. So let's check on the scene.

Right now in Ramallah, Matthew Chance joining us live by phone -- what's going on there now, Matthew?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, thank you.

And it's Friday prayers here at the Basset (ph) Ramallah compound of Yasser Arafat. The events of the past 24 hours sparking real anger, real turmoil amongst ordinary Palestinians concerned at what Israel may do to the man they simply regard as a national symbol.

Israel, of course, threatening to move against Yasser Arafat, who they've branded the main obstacle to peace in this region.

I've just spoken to Nabil Shaath, one of the main Palestinian ministers. In fact, he's been the Palestinian prime minister under the latest Palestinian Authority government. He said that he believes Israel has provoked an international reaction to these threats against the Palestinian president. It's been a negative one, he said, and Israel has, to some extent, shot itself in the foot diplomatically.

Nevertheless, he said he's just walked out of a meeting with Yasser Arafat and with the national security council that has just been formed on this day and saying that there have been renewed discussions now on unifying the Palestinian security forces as a response to this latest Israeli pressure.

So, there is some great deal of speculation -- I mean what I'm trying to say is that there is a -- people inside the Palestinian Authority obviously taking this Israeli threat very seriously, indeed, Carol.

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

Matthew Chance reporting live by phone from Ramallah this morning.

You can read about this latest turmoil in the Middle East and get a special report on the region on our Web site. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.

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 September 12, 2003 - 05:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Israeli leadership wants Yasser Arafat out, but he is vowing to stay right where he is. The Palestinian leader spoke last night from his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Thousands of Palestinians surrounded the building to show their support.
Here's what he told one reporter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: They are afraid that you will (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

YASSER ARAFAT: This is terra sancta. No one can kick me out.

QUESTION: They are even saying perhaps they'll come into Ramallah tonight and try to kill you.

ARAFAT: Maybe to kill me, or they can kill me by their bombs.

QUESTION: But you will not leave?

ARAFAT: Definitely.

QUESTION: Thanks, Mr. President.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Well, you heard it, he will not leave. So let's check on the scene.

Right now in Ramallah, Matthew Chance joining us live by phone -- what's going on there now, Matthew?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, thank you.

And it's Friday prayers here at the Basset (ph) Ramallah compound of Yasser Arafat. The events of the past 24 hours sparking real anger, real turmoil amongst ordinary Palestinians concerned at what Israel may do to the man they simply regard as a national symbol.

Israel, of course, threatening to move against Yasser Arafat, who they've branded the main obstacle to peace in this region.

I've just spoken to Nabil Shaath, one of the main Palestinian ministers. In fact, he's been the Palestinian prime minister under the latest Palestinian Authority government. He said that he believes Israel has provoked an international reaction to these threats against the Palestinian president. It's been a negative one, he said, and Israel has, to some extent, shot itself in the foot diplomatically.

Nevertheless, he said he's just walked out of a meeting with Yasser Arafat and with the national security council that has just been formed on this day and saying that there have been renewed discussions now on unifying the Palestinian security forces as a response to this latest Israeli pressure.

So, there is some great deal of speculation -- I mean what I'm trying to say is that there is a -- people inside the Palestinian Authority obviously taking this Israeli threat very seriously, indeed, Carol.

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

Matthew Chance reporting live by phone from Ramallah this morning.

You can read about this latest turmoil in the Middle East and get a special report on the region on our Web site. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com