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Your World Today

Sharon-Abbas Summit; Beirut Bombing; Iraq Reconstruction; Edgar Ray Killen Found Guilty

Aired June 21, 2005 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Talks on the Gaza pullout as militants weigh in with violence. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Jerusalem.

JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Baghdad's leaders' crisis. Searing summer days without water. The fallout and dry-up from another insurgent attack.

VERJEE: And spoofing a political scene in Germany that many say is ridiculous enough as it is.

CLANCY: It is 6:00 p.m. in Berlin, 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad right now. I'm Jim Clancy.

VERJEE: And I'm Zain Verjee. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

CLANCY: Your window on the world on CNN International.

We're going to have those stories in just a moment, but we're going to begin with a developing story that we're watching out of Israel right now. A train reportedly collided with a truck in the city of Ashkelon in Israel. Some deaths now have been reported. Five, according to some of the wire services.

A local rescue service is saying now that at least 100 people have been injured. These are some of the first pictures that we have gotten. You can see the twisted wreckage there of the cars. Too early, really, to get any kind of an accurate count of the casualties that may have been caused in this.

As we understand, it was just at a crossing, where a truck collided with this passenger train outside of Tel Aviv in Ashkelon, in Israel. You can see the emergency workers there on the scene and the ambulances.

Helicopters were there earlier trying to evacuate some of the most critically injured. One of the cars that was involved in this not visible -- well, you can see parts of it there -- apparently overturned when the train derailed. You can see one of the helicopters, military helicopters being used there by medical and security officers as they try to treat some of the injured.

The train was on its way from Haifa to Beersheba. Ambulances, of course, raced there. You can see the tracks here. There is no sign of the truck, at least I don't believe I have seen it so far.

These pictures just coming in. This is the first time that we have seen them from a train crash in Israel outside Tel Aviv in Ashkelon. Wire reports saying five people have been killed, emergency services saying at least 100 have been injured, and that there have been some fatalities.

We're going to continue to watch the story. As more details or more videotape become available, we're going to bring that to you as soon as we see it.

VERJEE: Now to the first Israeli-Palestinian summit in months as both sides prepare for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at his home in Jerusalem. The meeting ended with little fanfare and no big announcement, although we are awaiting separate remarks from each size.

Let's bring in Guy Raz, who joins us now from Jerusalem.

Guy, how much did the recent violence going into these talks sour the atmosphere?

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zain, there's no question that the recent spate of violence over the past several days and weeks certainly cast a shadows over these talks. Now, these two leaders met for about two hours today, longer than it was expected. The key issue today was logistics over Gaza.

Now, Prime Minister -- the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, left the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon without saying anything. We are awaiting word from him, but joining us now for more details on that meeting is Raanan Gissin. He's a senior adviser to the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

RAANAN GISSIN, SENIOR SHARON ADVISER: Good evening.

RAZ: Good evening. Tell us what specifically came out of the meeting today.

GISSIN: Well, first of all, I think like a silver linen throughout the whole meeting, I think, was the statement that the prime minister made right at the outset. He said we're willing to move forward, we're willing to make gestures, and he offered a whole list of gestures that were decided in the meetings before between Saeb Erekat and Do Weisclaz (ph), the political adviser. And all these are available for you to have, but...

RAZ: But what specifically?

GISSIN: But, two more cities, Bethlehem and Kalkilya, in two weeks transferred to the Palestinians. Twenty-six thousand more workers to work in Israel, 13,000 merchants which will be able to move forward. The passages, Rafah and Ares (ph), to facilitate the movement and transfer of goods and people in a much easier way.

But that cannot be accomplished -- all these measures that we are willing to accomplish are subject to the security situation. And as long as terrorism continues to run rampant, as long as the Palestinian Authority does not take the real steps necessary to stop terrorism and to dismantle the terrorist organization, there's no way we can move forward towards the roadmap to peace.

RAZ: Dr. Gissin, as you know, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has talked about the issue of prisoners. There are thousands of Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails. Will we see any further prisoner...

GISSIN: Even on that issue we were very clear. And we said we're willing to consider releasing more prisoners from the category that the Palestinians offered us.

They are talking about prisoners who have served before Oslo. You know, their term before Oslo, served over 20 years, and other people who are sick. We're willing to consider that. But there's no way that this thing could pass in the Knesset or in the government or in the Israeli public when terrorism continues.

I think the prime minister made it very clear. One point that, you know -- it's not only Abu Mazen that has problems. The prime minister has problems. And if he fails, in other words, if the public does not support the plan, and if the Knesset does not support the plan, then this whole process will come to a halt.

RAZ: Dr. Gissin, let's talk about Gaza for a moment. What specifically was decided on Gaza?

Of course, in 55 days, the Israeli government plans to evacuate soldiers and settlers from Gaza, a small part of the northern West Bank. That will require a significant amount of cooperation, coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on issues like the seaport, border crossings, and the airport, for example. Have any of these issues been resolved today?

GISSIN: They have not been resolved, but they've been raised, and we offered things, as I said, that were decided in advance in the preliminary meetings already. And they were, of course, discussed.

For example, the houses, that's a done deal. The houses will be destroyed. They will remove the rubble.

On the question of the Haniya (ph)...

RAZ: The airport.

GISSIN: The airport, we did not give -- we did not give any approval to start building because of the security situation. But they can start the planning of that. It will take time to plan. OK? If in the meantime we'll see a change in the security situation, we'll be willing to change it. The (INAUDIBLE) port was approved. More passengers that will be transferred to (INAUDIBLE) also. But all these are dependent on the willingness of the Palestinian Authority to go beyond what they have done now.

What they have done now is a step in the right direction, but it's insufficient if we are to move forward. And, at any rate, the disengagement plan will go according to plan and schedule under two possible scenarios, either coordinated with the Palestinians if they take the necessary steps, or unilaterally. And we will take all the necessary steps that this engagement will go through and terrorism will stop.

RAZ: OK. Dr. Gissin, thank you very much.

Raanan Gissin, a senior adviser for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Hearing that the Israeli government plans to transfer security control to Palestinian security forces in two key West Bank towns, Bethlehem and Kalkilya. No timetable as of yet.

Ultimately, these talks were focused on Gaza and logistics. There later, we will be hearing from Palestinian officials to get their perspective on those talks -- Zain.

VERJEE: Guy Raz in Jerusalem -- Jim.

CLANCY: Well, to political violence very nearby in neighboring Lebanon, in fact, where a car bomb blast killed a Lebanese politician. He had been a harsh critic of the Syrian influence. He was in his own vehicle.

Brent Sadler reports from Beirut.

This the second killing of an anti-Syrian figure this month alone.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A deadly attack in a climate of rising fear, as another Lebanese opponent of Syria is killed in a car bomb blast. It follows hard on the heels of a triumph in national elections by those opposed to Syria's long-time domination over Lebanon's government, killing a communist party leader, George Hawi. He was a harsh critic of Syria and a key player in mobilizing leftist support for an opposition agenda aimed at breaking Syrian control over its weaker neighbor.

The car bomb detonated in a predominantly Sunni Muslim district of Beirut, triggering scenes of anger and sorrow on the ground and official condemnation from senior Lebanese officials. Many here are convinced more than ever that a political remolding of Lebanon now under way will lead to more assassinations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It won't be the last one. It seems that it's realists (ph) targeting all those who have secular thinking who want the change. SADLER: It was a carbon copy of a blast that kind prominent journalist and Arab intellectual Samir Kassir nearly three weeks ago, giving rise to opposition claims Syria had a hit list of opposition figures, an unproven allegation denied by Syria that top U.S. administration officials drew attention to.

(on camera): Bomb attacks have plagued Lebanon before, during and after the parliamentary elections, targeting Christian, as well as Muslim, politicians and activists.

(voice-over): Even as security forces rounded up suspects for questioning, the victim's family and supporters blamed Syrian allies within Lebanon's own security services for the murder.

RAFY MADAYAN, VICTIM'S STEPSON: The security state that ruled the country is still killing democrats.

SADLER: Lebanon's president and prime minister condemned the attack as a plot to undermine stability and unity.

As Lebanese security services worked this crime scene, a United Nations probe into the February assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri took a new turn. International investigators, convinced a massive truck bomb killed Hariri, searched an office in the presidential office of Emile Lahoud, gathering information from the head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan (ph), the only highest-ranking Lebanese security official who kept his job after mass demonstrations in March demanding security heads roll for the Hariri bombing.

Main opposition leaders, including Saad Hariri, the son of the murdered prime minister, expressed fears they, too, could be targets of what they claim is a ruthless campaign to destroy freedom and democracy in Lebanon.

Brent Sadler, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: More violence reported in Iraq as the new U.S. ambassador reports for duty. A suicide car bombing in the northern Kurdish town of Halabja killed the town's security chief and two of his guards. This as Washington's new envoy arrives in Baghdad to assume his new post.

Zalmay Khalilzad replaces John Negroponte, who is now the U.S. director of national intelligence. Khalilzad was the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan before taking up his post in Baghdad.

CLANCY: The ongoing violence and the increasing number of U.S. military casualties in Iraq apparently having an impact on U.S. public opinion. In a recent poll, 59 percent of those questioned said they now oppose the war in Iraq, 39 percent said they were in favor. This the highest level of discontent or dissatisfaction with the conflict since the war began. VERJEE: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has a more hopeful view of what's happening in Iraq. In an opinion piece published in "The Washington Post," Annan wrote, "We recognize how much progress has been made in the face of daunting challenges. As the process moves forward, there will be no doubt frustrating delays and difficult setbacks. But let us not lose sight of the fact that all over Iraq today Iraqis are debating nearly every aspect of their political future."

CLANCY: Well, next to security. The Iraqi people desperately need basic services, service like water and electricity. They need to have them all the time. Insurgents are making it more difficult for them to have it by targeting key installations and trying to slow down any reconstruction progress.

Jennifer Eccleston reports on the daily struggle just to make it through a very hot summer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just when Nader Mansour (ph) thought things couldn't get much worse, they did. There hasn't been a drop of water in her faucet for three days. She relies on the kindness of a neighbor whose water tanks are still full, hauling dozens of teeming bottles several hundred yards to her home under the blazing summer sun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): It's embarrassing for me, for a woman who is carrying water in the streets with people watching. This is not acceptable, but what can I do? I have no choice.

ECCLESTON: The water crisis follows Sunday's rocket attack on Baghdad's largest water treatment plant, insurgents attempting to undermine public faith in its new government by crippling basic supply lines: electricity, fuel and water. Sunday's act of sabotage, the second against this plant since the beginning of the year, shut down the flow of over a billion liters of water, according to the mayor. The stoppage is devastating.

Two million people in the city are scrambling to find any means possible to quench their collective thirst. Businesses reliant on water, like Mohammed Ali Nasr's (ph) laundry mat, are stagnant. It's provoking anger and frustration that two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein and five months after an election, Baghdad authorities are incapable of providing order and good governance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The Baghdad mayor should be dismissed, and appoint another one who can do his job properly. We need someone who can work for the people's interest.

ECCLESTON: Mayor Alaa al-Tamimi, a structural engineer by trade, says he is working for the people's interest, so much so that he promising the water will return in just days.

ALAA AL-TAMIMI, BAGHDAD MAYOR: We are working 24 hours (INAUDIBLE), and my information from my staff, I was there this morning. I think tomorrow the people will have more water, maybe not in such amounts as they used to have, but within 48 hours everything will come back.

ECCLESTON: So much in Baghdad today is waiting, waiting for the water and electricity to return, waiting for fuel lines to decrease, waiting for an end to bombs and mortars. For some, the hardship is too much to bear.

Back at the home of Nader Mansour (ph), the 46-year-old mother of four says she can't cook, wash, or even bathe, and echoes the sentiments of millions of others. Water is like peace, you never really know just how valuable it is until someone takes it away.

Jennifer Eccleston, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: We're going to take a short break.

CLANCY: When we come back, we're going to update you on that train crash that's caused casualties in Israel.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: A notorious case, abuse of civil rights. A jury now giving a verdict 40 years later.

Let's go to Ed Lavandera outside the courtroom in Philadelphia, Mississippi. You're looking at a live picture now from that courtroom. Let's listen.

This is the suspect, Edgar Ray Killen. He was a sawmill operator and part-time preacher. He's charged in the deaths of three civil rights workers. He had previously been tried and acquitted of any guilt. The jurors are in right now. We are waiting to hear the verdict in this case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you agree to the verdict that was written here regarding count 1?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you agreed to the verdict that was handed to me regarding count 1?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you agree to this verdict regarding count 1? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you, lady?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Agreed to -- regarding count 1?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The record will show that all 12 jurors all polled have stated that they agreed to the verdict that was handed to me regarding count 1.

Now, with reference to count 2, the verdict that was handed me, did you agree to that verdict?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With reference to count 2, all 12 jurors have stated that they agreed to the verdict that was handed me.

Now, with reference to count 3, did you agree to the verdict that was handed me regarding count 3?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you, ma'am? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The record will show that all 12 jurors have stated that they agreed to the verdict that was handed me regarding count 3.

Do not file the verdict, but read the verdict.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In count 1, we, the jury, find the defendant, Edgar Ray Killen, as to count 1, guilty of manslaughter.

Count 2, we, the jury, find the defendant, Edgar Ray Killen, as to count 2, guilty of manslaughter.

Count 3, we, the jury, find the defendant, Edgar Ray Killen, as to count 3, guilty of manslaughter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May I see the verdict?

The verdict that Mrs. Lee (ph) read regarding count 1, did you agree to the verdict that was read?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you agree to the verdict that was read?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am, did you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let the record show that all 12 jurors stated that they agreed to the verdict that was read by the clerk.

Now, with reference to count 2, did you agree to the verdict that was read by Ms. Lee (ph)? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The record will show that all 12 jurors stated they agree to the verdict that was read with count 2.

Now, with reference to count 3, Ms. Smith (ph), did you agree to the verdict that was read?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The record again will show that all 12 jurors stated they agree to the verdict that was read by the clerk with reference to count 3.

Now, if you would, Ms. Lee (ph), would you come around and collect the notebooks of the jury?

Mr. Hood (ph), Mr. Mark Duncan (ph), are you two gentlemen in agreement that we have a unanimous verdict with reference to the three counts of this indictment?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Moran (ph), Mr. McIntyre, are you in agreement that we have a unanimous verdict with reference to all three counts of the indictment?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the defendant wants to poll the jury himself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think that would be a problem. That would be a problem.

I'm going to let this jury be retired to the jury room, please.

Just a minute. Before you are dispersed, I know it's been a trying several days for you. The court appreciates your attention and your services. File the verdict.

Sheriff, could you come in?

All persons will remain in the courtroom. No persons will be permitted to leave until I make that announcement.

CLANCY: All right. You have just watched what is a case of historic significance in the United States, really a challenge, too, for justice in the U.S. state of Mississippi.

You're looking there at Edgar Ray Killen being comforted there. He has just been found guilty on three counts of manslaughter. With those counts, up to 20 years of prison on each one of them. He is already 80 years of age.

He is a former leader in the Ku Klux Klan who is charged with organizing the deaths of three civil rights workers who had come to Mississippi to investigate the burning of a black church.

Ed Lavandera has been covering this trial.

Ed, I think it's hard to put into perspective for our international viewers just how important this case is to the United States, the state of Mississippi, and especially the civil rights movement.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's no question that the murders that took place here in 1964 became a huge story at the time, and it marked one of the most notorious and one of the most gruesome murders of the civil rights era. In fact, it led to the passage of civil rights legislation here in the United States in the year or so after those murders.

And it was a summer here in 1964 where many young people from around the country in the United States had come to the South to help register black voters. And two of the victims -- two of the three victims were white, the third being an African-American man who was involved in the registration of black voters and setting up what they called Freedom Schools to help mobilize the black voice in the South, if you will. Michael Schwerner and -- I'm sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For any matter that you would care to present after lunch, I'll discuss those matters with you at that time. You may remove the defendant. All others persons will remain seated.

LAVANDERA: I want to set up a little bit of what has happened here so the viewers have a clear understanding. There were two options that the jury had they could have done in this case.

One was to convict Edgar Ray Killen of murder, which was the most serious charge, life in prison. But what you heard was Edgar Ray Killen convicted of manslaughter.

This is something that the prosecution in this case requested toward the very end of the trial. They wanted -- they felt that one of the things in this trial was that they didn't have enough evidence to show that Edgar Ray Killen was at the scene at the very movement that the three civil rights workers were murdered.

They were worried perhaps that the jury might acquit him because of that technicality, so they thought that since they felt they had enough evidence to prove that Edgar Ray Killen was best hind the masterminding and setting up of the murders, that that would help them in a manslaughter charge. And that is why you've seen perhaps the conviction. And if the jury chooses to speak out publicly, perhaps we'll get a better indication of what their thinking was.

But it appears that this lesser charge kind of goes back to the whole idea of the conspiracy theory that Edgar Ray Killen was involved in masterminding these murders. But as you were talking about just a second ago, Jim, this is a case that has haunted not only the city for 41 years, in fact this is the first time in 41 years that a state murder charge has been brought against anyone. Some 18 people involved in the murders of these three civil rights workers.

CLANCY: Ed, as we looked -- as we look back across that town square, Philadelphia, a lot of people looked at this trial -- and we should note, it is 41 years to the day since the commission of this crime. It draws it into perspective for people, and a lot of people, Ed, were asking the question, is Mississippi ready? Are the people of Mississippi ready to turn their back on that entire era of civil rights abuses of blacks in the South of the United States? How much have things changed?

Does this jury's verdict really give us an indicator?

LAVANDERA: You know, I've spoken with a lot of people here over the last week and a half, and many people will tell you that, regardless of the outcome of the case, they didn't really think that it would -- it's going to ultimately have much impact on what is going on in the South still to this day in the United States. And, of course, that opinion tends to change depending on which group you're talking to.

But this is a process and something we've seen happen over the last 10 years, where many of these cases where people were never convicted back in the 1960s, that they have come back to revisit these cases over the last 40 years. And there have been convictions in other trials. So this is a process that has been going on in the South, revisiting, and some people have said, righting the wrongs of the past, if you will -- Jim.

CLANCY: Ed Lavandera, Philadelphia, Mississippi. An important verdict. A former Ku Klux Klan member convicted on three counts of manslaughter. Ed, thank you very much.

VERJEE: An important international story we have also been following, the first summit between Israeli and Palestinian leaders for four months. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei is speaking.

Let's listen. AHMED QOREI, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): ... and concerns the Palestinian people and the question of Palestine. And as we told them, these issues are represented in two issues, land and whatever is happening on land, and the men and all the suffering the people face.

And we have expressed clearly the question of the Palestinian president, especially those who have spent long years in jail, the prisoners, the leaders. We spoke of -- we spoke about (INAUDIBLE), a member of the PLO executive committee. We spoke of Marwan Barguti (ph), Asem Hadir (ph), Rakad Salem (ph) and every other Palestinian fighters (INAUDIBLE) to the Israeli jails.

We also spoke frankly about Marwan Barghouti, who is being punished. We spoke about his son as well who is being punished. And we spoke about Hamid Sadit (ph) and (INAUDIBLE) and about the need of setting them all free.

We also discussed the three main topics that are of deep interest for the Palestinians, and those are the settlements, the wall, and the question of Jerusalem and the institutions in Jerusalem, and the need for reopening these institutions that were shut in Jerusalem. These were the issues in addition to the understandings of Sharm El-Sheikh, and everything that was agreed upon and everything that hasn't been implemented since then.

We have also discussed the issue of the disengagement, the unilateral disengagement, in Gaza and the northern part of the West Bank. And we spoke of the topics that we thought -- some of which had already been finished, but we still find there is still a need for further discussion and negotiations about those issues.

We spoke about the airport and the need to reactivate the airport. We spoke clearly there is a withdrawal in the area, and that there is an airport in the area that the Israelis would abdicate. So what is the excuse for not allowing us to reactivate the airport and prepare it? We spoke with the seaport, and we spoke about the crossing points, and of course about every other issue related to the withdrawal issue, topic of the withdrawal.

We spoke again on the city of Jenin, where a number of Jewish settlements will be dismantled, and we demanded that this area becomes a part of areas A (ph).

We also reiterated our commitment to the peace process, our commitment to peace with Israel, with them, and our commitment to honor our commitments, the agreements and our commitment to the truce, and to sustain this cease-fire, and also to improve the understanding with the other side.

I would like to say we spoke of house demolitions, especially in Silvan (ph), in Jerusalem, and in Subahil (ph), as well as in Beithanina (ph) and in other areas.

In addition to this, we discussed many other human topics, but out of interest to even to persons and individuals, and we think that these were the most important issues we discussed. For them, they presented to us the issues of security and the other issues, and the meeting was over. And the meeting was over, as we agreed that we should contact each other again.

We can say that this could be seen as a preliminary meeting for further steps, but we said that there is a need for further steps, and as we said, we will continue our contacts with all Arab and international parties, and I say Arab and international parties, as well as with the Israeli parties as well, of course.

Our contacts with the Israeli party will be to explore the latest stance they have on all the issues, on all topics that we discussed in the meeting, if peace is to be achieved between us.

We also spoke of the destruction that has befallen our institutions, our security institutions, and the necessity to rehabilitate all these institutions and compensate this damage.

We -- none of the issues have improved or progress up to the level of expectations of the people, and what was presented to us was not equally genuine or seen as to the level of the issues that we raised.

QUESTION (through translator): Since there are issues of difference with the Israelis, can you tell us if there was an agreement on certain topics such as crossing points?

QOREI (through translator): I don't want to enter into details. I spoke of a list, a long list, of issues and topics we discussed, and I do not want to speak of a certain issue and ignore the others. Overall, what was presented to us was not convincing, was not satisfying to us at all.

QUESTION (through translator): But prior to the meeting, Israel has said there would not be any concessions to the Palestinians; it would not release more prisoners. How was this issue discussed in the meeting? And what was exactly achieved in this meeting?

QOREI (through translator): I said it was a difficult meeting. It was not up to the level of our expectations, or the level of the expectations of many Arab and international parties that helped in organizing this meeting with the Israelis.

QUESTION (through translator): You spoke you presented some issues, and the Israelis presented their issues. Does that mean there were negotiations between you and Israelis on those topics?

QOREI (through translator): In fact, what we discussed was not only to take note of our points or their points, but we were trying to reach certain results, and our intention to present the issues in order to reach results and achievements that would restore calm in the area.

QUESTION (through translator): Mr. Abu Ala, you a listed a topic, listed topics that you discussed, but can you say that you agreed, at least on one issue? QOREI (through translator): I cannot speak of a specific issue, because all of the fundamental topics we expected some kind of a breakthrough, some kind of positive response to them. There hasn't been any positive response to those. In any case, we will continue these meetings with the Israelis, and our contacts with the Arab and international parties. And as I told you, our brother, Abu Mazen, has already started his contacts as of tonight.

Thank you all.

VERJEE: "It was not up to the level of our expectations," the Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei speaking to reporters there in Ramallah, commenting on a very important meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders that lasted a little bit over two hours today. He said that he emphasized that Palestinians are committed to peace with Israel, that they're committed to a cease-fire.

On the points he raised and the Palestinian delegation raised at the meeting, they requested a release of prisoners. They talked about the cease-fire agreement that had been made, and what had not been implemented as of yet. Critically, in 55 days, Israel is to disengage from Gaza. They discussed that.

He didn't give a lot more detail even when pressed by a journalist to give more detail. He emphasized that Palestinians asked for the need to reopen the airport in Gaza and have that put under Palestinian control.

The prime minister added that this was just a preliminary meeting, and there will be further steps that will be taken. He said also that what was presented to us was not genuine, not serious, not satisfying to us at all -- Jim.

CLANCY: We want to get more now on the Israeli-Palestinian summit in Jerusalem.

Let's bring in Martin Indyk. He's a Middle East analyst for the Brookings Institution, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel. He was a former peace negotiator under the Clinton administration. He's joining us now from Washington.

Mr. Indyk, you listened to all that. We got a chance to listen to what was said from the Israeli side now and also on the Palestinian side, and it would seem that these two sides want something very different. The Israelis looking for some cooperation to make it safer for their withdrawal from Gaza, the Palestinians trying to open this up and open up the road map, making it full-blown.

MARTIN S. INDYK, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think that they're really talking past each other, and the sourness with which Abu Ala, the prime minister of the Palestinians, closed that press conference, I think really underscores the way in which they are not able to find common ground here.

As you said, Israelis are very concerned about the uptick in terrorist attacks. Two Israelis were killed yesterday. One woman suicide bomber was intercepted trying to get out of Gaza. And there's a real concern that Palestine Islamic Jihad in particular has given up on the whole term of quiet and gone back to terrorism.

And so the Israelis have started to respond. I think Sharon's message to Abu Mazen was you've got to start taking some action on that, and until you do, I'm not ready to talk about anything else.

On the other hand, Abu Mazen's approach is to say, well, in order for me to be able to take action, I have to show the people that I can deliver on the things that they care about, which means roadblocks and prisoner releases and all the other things that the Palestinian prime minister was talking about in that press conference. And so you've got a kind of a roadblock here in the communication at the moment.

CLANCY: Well, it's not only the communication, because it seems to have communicated rather clearly there on the Palestinian side, certainly, and on the Israeli side, as well. The Palestinians are saying this government doesn't want to negotiate, and it's putting up the same old issue. That is, bring all the militants under control while you remain under occupation, which we couldn't do, and then we'll go ahead and start to negotiate with you about those things that you need. Isn't Secretary Rice telling the Israeli side the same thing. You've got to show some signs here, you've got to support the Palestinian leadership.

INDYK: Yes, she's telling Sharon that, but she's also telling Abu Mazen, you've got to do more on the security front. And there is deja vu about all of this, Jim...

CLANCY: It is a repeat, isn't it?

INDYK: And, again, unfortunately in these circumstances, the goodwill that we saw after the death of Arafat and the election of Abu Mazen and the meeting at Sharm el Sheik between Sharon and Abu Mazen is quickly dissipating. And I think that the role of the United States again becomes very important. I'm sorry that the secretary of state didn't actually bring these two leaders together and kind of give the lecture to them, each of them, in her presence.

CLANCY: Well, she made it public, didn't she? And specifically on the issue of settlements, she said no means no, no more settlements. The Sharon government and Abu Mazen complains this is what undermines him. The Sharon government instantly announced that they were offering tenders for 700 new homes in the West Bank.

INDYK: It's certainly one of the problems. And you know, it's the same old story. The Palestinians are concerned what's happening with the terrorism. And until both issues get dealt with, it's very hard to move forward. On the other hand, we shouldn't move past the fact that the Israelis will be withdrawing from Gaza and evacuating some 19 settlements. That's coming up in the next eight weeks.

CLANCY: Are the Palestinian militants trying to undermine the whole deal? With their uptick in attacks here, are they trying to undermine not only Abu Mazen, but the possibility of going to negotiations, the U.S. effort? INDYK: Well, I think it's important to have a look at who's doing this. Hamas is not engaged in terrorism attacks at the moment. It's all coming from Palestinian-Islamic jihad. We've seen this many times before, that when things are quiet, when Hamas decides not to do things against the Israelis, Palestine-Islamic jihad comes in and disrupts the whole process. And that is an outside directed operation.

Palestine-Islam jihad is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iranians, the Iranian intelligence service. They operate through Damascus, the headquarters there. And I think you've got a situation where both the Iranians and the Syrians would like to see this process come unstuck as a way of getting back at the United States for the pressure that we're putting on them.

CLANCY: Martin Indyk, as always, we want to thank you for being with us and lending your experience and analysis to the situation at hand in the Middle East.

INDYK: Thanks for having me.

CLANCY: Thank you again.

All right. We're going to take a short break here. When we come back, we'll have an update on the train crash near Ashkelon in Israel. We'll also have the latest -- we'll bring it to you live, Ariel Sharon scheduled to make some comments here in a matter of minutes. Stay with us.

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VERJEE: There are reports that at least five people were killed in a crash between a train and a truck in southern Israel. The train was headed from Haifa to Beersheba. According to a local ambulance service, some 100 people were injured, 15 of them seriously. The crash derailed some of the carriages, which overturned.

I'm Zain Verjee. Let's take a look now at some of the stories making news in the United States.

U.S. Democrats have again blocked John Bolton's nomination for ambassador to the United Nations. They say they'll block President Bush's choice until they get access to records they say could prove Bolton sought to spy on administration rivals. The White House has refused to release the documents. It can temporary appoint Bolton during congressional recess.

The search for the missing boy will continue on Tuesday morning in the mountains of Utah. Search and rescue teams are looking for an 11-year-old boy reported missing on Friday from a Boy Scout camp, 80 miles or 128 kilometers from Salt Lake City. The search is focusing on a nearby river, swollen by heavy mountain snow melt.

The cremated remains of Terri Schiavo have been buried in a Florida cemetery. The brain-damaged woman died in March. Her feeding tube was removed after a long-running court battle between her husband and parents, who fought to keep her alive. Michael Schiavo's attorney says her parents did not attend the funeral.

(WEATHER REPORT)

VERJEE: After a short break, political satire, German-style.

CLANCY: Does it foreshadow a knockdown, drag-out re-election campaign for Gerhard Schroeder? That's the question. We'll look for the answer next.

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CLANCY: With three months to go before early national elections, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says he now has hopes for a more American-style, personality-driven campaign than Germans are really used to seeing.

VERJEE: And right on cue, a new music video has Mr. Schroeder and his conservative challenger as puppets, battling and insulting each other.

Chris Burns reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An embattled Gerhard Schroeder outside his chancellory, trailing miserably in the polls. It's a political death match with his conservative challenger and former East German Angela Merkel. The music video, called "The Girl From the East," is a riotous Punch-and-Judy preview of the knock- down-drag-out campaign expected this summer. The video is shot right outside the chancellory, the adversaries pacing off with guns. Schroeder the gladiator wielding a grenade. Though fake, police are still concerned enough to keep watch.

Elmart Brandt is the voice of Mr. Schroeder. He insists there's no political agenda behind the video.

ELMART BRANDT, SCHROEDER IMPRESSIONIST: It's just to make the political debate a little more funny.

BURNS: It is some comic relief. Amid double-digit unemployment, support for Schroeder's Social Democrats is eroding, so Schroeder's planning for elections in September, a year earlier than originally scheduled. The smooth-talking so-called media chancellor is betting he can out-campaign what many see as a charisma-challenged, no- nonsense politician like Merkel.

BRANDT: He depends a lot on the media, and we try to beat him with his own weapons.

BURNS: Brandt scored big with "The Tax Song" in 2002, selling more than 1.2 million copies, lampooning the chancellor for tax hikes. Could the new video be a boost for Angela Merkel? As her imitator.

ANNE ONKEN, MERKEL IMPRESSIONIST: Well, it's neutral, I think, for her. BURNS (on camera): And are you neutral? Or how are you going to vote?

ONKEN: I'm neutral. I'm neutral. I'm going to vote for the beer drinkers, or something like that.

BURNS (voice-over): We got no comment from the chancellory, so we tried another way.

(no camera): So, Mr. Chancellor, do you think this is going to help or hurt your re-election changes.

BRANDT: Well, Chris, let me say it's not over until the fat lady sings, you know?

BURNS: Thank you, Mr. Chancellor.

(voice-over): Chris Burns, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: That is good.

CLANCY: All right.

VERJEE: Well, we're going to bring you more news straight ahead here on CNN. We'll bring you more on the Israeli-Palestinian summit.

CLANCY: And also for our viewers in the United States, there will be more reporting on what happened this day in Philadelphia Mississippi, 41 years to the day after three civil rights workers disappeared. They hear justice at the hands of a jury.

I'm Jim Clancy.

ZAIN: And I'm Zain Verjee. This is CNN.

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