Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Part of Israel's Security Barrier Being Dismantled

Aired February 23, 2004 - 06:08   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: Israelis say Sunday's suicide bombing that killed eight people demonstrates the need for that security barrier. Nonetheless, a five-mile section of that fence is being torn down because it cuts into the West Bank, isolating thousands of Palestinians.
Here to explain that, Ben Wedeman. He is near this controversial barrier.

Good morning -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, good morning, Carol.

The Palestinians have declared today a day of rage. At noon, there was five minutes of silence in which all traffic stopped. The Palestinians argue that the security barrier is essentially a land grab by Israel. They say that it simply does not make a Palestinian state viable.

Now, here where we are in Israel, in the Israel-Arab town of Baka Valbia (ph), you see how difficult, what the kind of difficulties this barrier creates. We see this town has essentially been cut in half, even though on the one side it is Palestinian-Arab. This is the town of Neslad Asan (ph). The other side of the wall used to be a very active market town, but that is no longer the case.

We've been told that the local economy has essentially died, but for Israelis, as they watch as the Palestinians are having their day of rage for Israelis, it's a day of mourning in the aftermath of yesterday's suicide bombing on the No. 14 bus in Jerusalem that left eight people dead. Israelis look at that sort of incident, and, they say, this is why there must be a wall.

Israeli army officials insisting that where the wall has been built -- and at this point it stretches well over 100 miles -- they say it has successfully prevented more suicide bombers from reaching Israeli towns and cities -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, something that's kind of confusing. As parts of this barrier go up, parts are coming down. How are those decisions being made?

WEDEMAN: Well, the Israelis have made it clear that really they're in a learning process as they build this wall, that as they go along they're learning the kind of impact it has on the local people. And they have tried to make it clear that they are going to try to minimize that impact. So, not far from here, in fact, they took down about five miles of the barrier, which had essentially cut off or restricted the access of 7,000 people.

So, they say as they go along building the wall, changes will be made to try to minimize, as I said, the impact it has on people -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live for us this morning. Thank you.

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 February 23, 2004 - 06:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Israelis say Sunday's suicide bombing that killed eight people demonstrates the need for that security barrier. Nonetheless, a five-mile section of that fence is being torn down because it cuts into the West Bank, isolating thousands of Palestinians.
Here to explain that, Ben Wedeman. He is near this controversial barrier.

Good morning -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, good morning, Carol.

The Palestinians have declared today a day of rage. At noon, there was five minutes of silence in which all traffic stopped. The Palestinians argue that the security barrier is essentially a land grab by Israel. They say that it simply does not make a Palestinian state viable.

Now, here where we are in Israel, in the Israel-Arab town of Baka Valbia (ph), you see how difficult, what the kind of difficulties this barrier creates. We see this town has essentially been cut in half, even though on the one side it is Palestinian-Arab. This is the town of Neslad Asan (ph). The other side of the wall used to be a very active market town, but that is no longer the case.

We've been told that the local economy has essentially died, but for Israelis, as they watch as the Palestinians are having their day of rage for Israelis, it's a day of mourning in the aftermath of yesterday's suicide bombing on the No. 14 bus in Jerusalem that left eight people dead. Israelis look at that sort of incident, and, they say, this is why there must be a wall.

Israeli army officials insisting that where the wall has been built -- and at this point it stretches well over 100 miles -- they say it has successfully prevented more suicide bombers from reaching Israeli towns and cities -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, something that's kind of confusing. As parts of this barrier go up, parts are coming down. How are those decisions being made?

WEDEMAN: Well, the Israelis have made it clear that really they're in a learning process as they build this wall, that as they go along they're learning the kind of impact it has on the local people. And they have tried to make it clear that they are going to try to minimize that impact. So, not far from here, in fact, they took down about five miles of the barrier, which had essentially cut off or restricted the access of 7,000 people.

So, they say as they go along building the wall, changes will be made to try to minimize, as I said, the impact it has on people -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live for us this morning. Thank you.

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