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CNN Live Sunday
Death Toll Continues to Climb in Middle East
Aired August 06, 2006 - 18:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It is 1:30 in the morning in the Middle East and this is what we know about this death toll. It continues to climb. Fifteen Israelis killed by Hezbollah rocket fire on Kfar Giladi. A dozen of the casualties were reserve soldiers just called up to fight. Three more people died in Haifa when a building was flattened by Hezbollah rockets. More than 100 people were injured. Israeli defense forces say they captured a Hezbollah militant suspected in the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers. That incident sparked the current hostilities. More now on that Hezbollah rocket attack on Haifa. Our Fionnuala Sweeney right there on the front line. She saw as the rocket fire was coming in, at least three people were killed. The rockets falling in a predominantly Arab section of Israel's third largest city. Fionnuala, what was it like when you heard the incoming? What did you see?
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if we can just roll back a little bit. Air raid sirens Carol often sound on and off during the day and sometimes there are rockets landing afterwards and sometimes there aren't and at about 7:00 this evening, the air raid sirens went off and we looked out the windows as we saw seven rockets land in open areas and because it was coming up to sunset here, we thought that that might be the end of the rocket attacks for the day because Hezbollah tends not to fire at night because the rockets can be detected much more easily by Israeli military drones than they can during the day.
But then about 50, 55 minutes or so later, the air raid sirens went off again and this time as we were making our way to the live shot position here, sudden everywhere around us began to reverberate to the sound of booms and explosions and we saw at least six impacts of rockets across this width of the city as we able to survey it from our standpoint. And because the city had gone very quiet, because people had taken cover as they do when the air raid sirens sound, there was almost a kind of surreal air about the place because smoke immediately rising from six different places across the bay of Haifa. And then suddenly the air punctuated with the sound of ambulances as the rescue services rushed to buildings where for a time, some people were trapped. But as you say, some three people killed and mainly in an Arab neighborhood. This city is quite mixed of Arabs and Jews and it is one of the largest attacks that this city has sustained since this conflict began three and a half weeks ago, Carol.
LIN: Fionnuala, in talking with one of our CNN military analysts, the prediction was that as the diplomatic solution is moving forward, potentially this U.N. resolution that the Security Council will be considering in a couple of days, that the fighting on the ground is going to be more intense. That Israel's point of view from the front lines is that they may have only days or hours to finish the job on Hezbollah, that the fighting was going to be more deadly. Is that what you're finding?
SWEENEY: Indeed. Yesterday, when we heard first word from New York that there was a draft resolution in the offing, the Israeli tourism minister (INAUDIBLE) who's also a member of the inner security cabinet said that this meant Israel had a limited amount of time to achieve its objectives. What it wants to try to do is to -- in its words, cripple Hezbollah as much as it can in the coming days before there is a cease-fire and before the arrival of a multinational force. Israeli officials also telling us that they want to define what they call a secure area in southern Lebanon. That means clear it as much as possible of Hezbollah. But I have to say that this conflict now is about to enter its fourth week and over the last three or four days, Carol, we have seen more rockets than ever being fired into northern Israel on a daily basis on average, 200 rockets a day. Three people were killed yesterday. Three people the day before and today, as you have just been telling us, the highest number of casualties in Israel so far from rockets on a daily barrage and Haifa, once again, being struck by this at sunset and the residents here literally picking up the pieces now and it will be interesting to see tomorrow whether or not the streets and shops of Haifa will be back open for business or whether or not more people will flee Haifa further towards the south in anticipation of these incoming rocket attacks.
LIN: Fionnuala, the Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped are still in captivity. Rocket fire continues into northern Israel. Little if any territory has been captured and held inside of Lebanon. So, what has Israel actually accomplished in the last four weeks?
SWEENEY: Well, I think that what the Israeli military would try to say that their objective was never to defeat Hezbollah completely because it is a guerrilla movement and not -- Israel isn't fighting an army of such. There is no defined front line, but we saw a couple of weeks ago when the Israeli ground forces tried to go into a couple of villages (INAUDIBLE) in southern Lebanon that they initially declared that they had control over them only to find themselves less than 48 hours later being forced to withdraw.
Then there was of course what took place in Qana last weekend when about 60 Lebanese civilians were killed when an Israeli air strike hit their apartment building and where they had been sleeping and there was then a relative lull, not a complete cease-fire for two days but definitely a lull in the fighting. But that really allowed just both sides to regroup and we now see some 10 to 12,000 Israeli troops at the border. All the reservists in this country have been called up. Be their 20 years of age or even 60 years of age and what they have achieved is that they're trying to slowly but surely clear the villages of Hezbollah fighters. This is very difficult, but it is being done. The Israeli military claims systematically. Ehud Olmert, the prime minister saying just three days ago that he believes the infrastructure of Hezbollah has been completely destroyed.
That Israeli officials trying to say is a distinction from the Israeli rocket launches destroyed saying as soon as a rocket launchers being destroyed. They say that as soon as the rocket launcher is destroyed, another one pops up somewhere else because they can be hidden in houses. They can be hidden in lorries and that is a real difficulty but the Israeli military saying they don't expect to completely destroy all the rocket launchers, but they want to do their best as they see it, in order to get to clear as much of southern Lebanon as they can before any cease-fire comes along. But it has to be said that whether or not a cease-fire will hold, because Hezbollah has been saying that as long as Israeli soldiers remain in southern Lebanon, they will not agree to any cease-fire.
LIN: Fionnuala Sweeney, thank you very much, on the front line in Haifa, Israel.
Now, Israel says it has captured a Hezbollah militant involved in the kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers we were just talking about. Those kidnappings sparked the current fighting. Now earlier today, CNN's Wolf Blitzer talked to the family members of one of those Israeli soldiers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We know that the Israeli government, the vice premier Shimon Peres confirming on "LATE EDITION" in the last hour that Israeli forces have captured at least one of the Hezbollah fighters they say kidnapped Ehud Goldwasser on July 12. I wonder if we can get your reaction, Karnit. Let me go to you first.
KARNIT GOLDWASSER, KIDNAPPED SOLDIER'S WIFE: When we heard it, we were very pleased because now perhaps we know something that -- what happened to Udi because -- I call him Udi, it's his nickname. Because until today, we didn't get any news and maybe now we can get some -- something new from Udi and Eldad.
BLITZER: Shlomo, you're the father of this kidnapped Israeli soldier, what is your reaction?
SHLOMO GOLDWASSER, KIDNAPPED SOLDIER'S FATHER: I would like to know what he says about the kidnapping, if Ehud was in good shape, if he was wounded, where he was last time that he saw him, things like this. I want -- the bottom line, I want a sign of life from him.
BLITZER: Have you received any indication that your son is alive?
S. GOLDWASSER: No. No, sir. It's already 25 days since he was kidnapped. And we didn't receive anything.
BLITZER: Shlomo, would you be willing -- this is a difficult question, I know, for you to answer. For your government, the government of Israel, to release Lebanese prisoners being held in Israel in order to win the freedom of your son?
S. GOLDWASSER: Well, I'll -- I'll answer you. We met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday last week. And Prime Minister Olmert promised us that he will do everything to bring back our sons. He went more than this. And he -- he mentioned that he realized to our sons like as they were his sons. I think that I cannot criticize or give advice to prime minister who is talking to me like this. BLITZER: We've been showing our viewers some photographs, some still photos including from your wedding Karnit. If you could say one final -- one final word to the captors, those who are holding these three Israeli soldiers, what would you say?
K. GOLDWASSER: I prefer to say to the wife of the captors, I prefer to ask them, as a wife to a wife, maybe she could help me. Maybe she could tell her husband to help me and to bring a sign, something that Udi and Eldad are OK and they're still alive. And then, I hope that the peace and the quiet to Israel and to Lebanon will start.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Also on "Late Edition," Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Perez signaled his country was open to talking about a prisoner exchange. That is something Israel had refused to discuss until now.
Now, Israel is repeatedly warning Lebanese civilians to evacuate their homes before the bombings starts. A town on the western coast of Lebanon, residents heard messages from the air and the air waves, but as CNN's Ben Wedeman reports, some aren't listening.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside the (INAUDIBLE) market, it is business as usual. Less than an hour's drive from the bombing and shelling in the south, this city, Lebanon's third largest, is peaceful at least for now. Saturday, Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets over Sidon, calling on residents to leave because Hezbollah targets in and around the city would be bombed. Down by the harbor, the usual group of pensioners gathers for a midday water pipe and a cup of tea. These old timers are philosophical about this war. It's not their first by a long shot. They aren't easily swayed by scraps of paper falling from the sky.
Israelis are trying to scare us all away says (INAUDIBLE), but even if they start bombing, we're not going anywhere. This is a predominantly Sunni Muslim city, its hero assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister and Sidon native (INAUDIBLE). Israel is trying to appeal in whatever way it can to those who aren't Hezbollah's hard core supporters. Normally, this frequency 92.2 F.M. is (INAUDIBLE) which is Hezbollah's radio station. But since the fighting began, the Israelis are bumping into this frequency with a message of their own. In Arabic, a voice claiming to speak in the name of the state of Israel calls upon the people of Lebanon not to allow Hezbollah to destroy their country. In Sidon's old quarter, refugees from the south squat in a building dating back to when Lebanon was a remote province of the Ottoman Empire. Leaflets, radio broadcasts, aren't enough to send them packing again.
We can't go any further says (INAUDIBLE) who fled here from Tyre. We have gone as far as we can go. We don't have the money. So they'll just stay put and hope the war will pass them by. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Sidon, Lebanon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: When we come back, an exclusive interview with secretary general of the Arab league. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: You are looking at the remains, the bodies of 12 Israeli reservists who were called up for duty in this conflict with Hezbollah and they were killed in battle today. Now, this is what we know on day 26 of the deadly conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. At least three people killed, dozens wounded in a Hezbollah rocket attack on the Israeli port city of Haifa and damage is considerable. Israel says it retaliated by destroying the launcher that fired the rockets from Lebanon. And Israel also says it captured a Hezbollah fighter involved in the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier last month. The military says the man admitted his role. And Israel has been hammering targets across central and southern Lebanon today. Lebanese security forces report at least 14 civilians killed.
And the casualties are escalating in Lebanon. So, does the anger and the solidarity among the many Arabs increase? CNN's Aneesh Raman just spoke with the Arab league secretary general and here is what Amr Moussa had to say about the ripple effect in the region from the current crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMR MOUSSA, ARAB LEAGUE SECY GENERAL: It's a bit too late because it has allowed destruction of the infrastructure of a member state without the Security Council intervening because of obvious reasons, of course.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One of the major demands of course within this crisis was a prisoner exchange. Do you think this resolution is strong enough in wording that it will mandate both the Israeli and Lebanese prisoners be brought back?
MOUSSA: It will not be accepted, because there cannot be this kind of discrimination. And expect that this discriminated against the other side would say, OK. It will not say OK. It will not work. It is an unworkable language because it suggests discrimination which is an awful thing, an awful impression.
RAMAN: You met this morning with the Syrian president. There have been claims and evidence put forth by Israel that Syria continues to arm Hezbollah.
MOUSSA: I don't have to agree with that. What Israel says is not necessarily the truth, so I'm not going to support what they say and not that because I don't want to support it, but we know because we know many of us that there is a lot of disinformation around in order to help serve certain purpose. Not all the information in the media is correct.
RAMAN: We saw at the start of this crisis some Arab leaders come out and condemn Hezbollah for its initial abduction of Israeli soldiers. Does the Arab league right now condemn Hezbollah for that?
MOUSSA: Why should we? Why? We condemn the destruction of Lebanon. As for the abduction, today, the Israeli army abducted the speaker of the Palestinian house. Why should we condemn an abduction and allow another abduction? This double standard is killing the people of this region and agitating them. Everybody and -- I want you to know that everybody angry and I'm not talking about the street. I'm talking about the heads of state and high officials and members of government and the educated class and the street. They are all agreeing. All agitated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: That was the Arab league Secretary General Amr Moussa on the current Middle East crisis.
As the death toll climbs and diplomatic efforts drag, Larry King has the latest from the front lines of the crisis. The program will begin at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, you have seen the stories of people fleeing the fighting at the Middle East. Up next, meet a family living in America that's moving to Israel. Find out why on this special edition of CNN LIVE SUNDAY. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Crisis in the Middle East. We are also monitoring the Arab networks including (INAUDIBLE) television, which is owned by Hezbollah and by doing this, we here at CNN can get the full picture often times pictures immediately of the strike damage on the ground as well as opinion, get a full idea of what's happening in the region there and this crisis in the Middle East. So imagine you have a decision to make. You're going to move to a war zone and you are going to take children with you. Right now, a DC suburb, a family in a DC suburb -- you know, that's what they're going to do. A Maryland rabbi and his family are actually going to move to Israel. And they spoke with Gary Nurenberg about their reasons for the move.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PESHA FISCHER, MOVING FAMILY TO ISRAEL: I love you dearly. But I have no idea where your pink pocketbook is.
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is barely controlled chaos.
FISCHER: OK. Come. Let's go get you juice.
NURENBERG: Getting a family of five ready for a move to Israel, a country where children can be in danger before they are born.
FISCHER: When I was pregnant with her, I was wearing a bullet- proof vest and helmet provided by my father.
NURENBERG: And now she is moving back with her three kids and husband.
RABBI ELLI FISCHER, MOVING FAMILY TO ISRAEL: Why am I moving to Israel? Because I don't feel complete outside of Israel. I just find that it's part of what I am. You know? Part of, you know, part of what it means for me to be a Jew.
NURENBERG: The University of Maryland rabbi knows the danger to his family. A predecessor at the school moved to Israel where his 13- year-old son Kobi Mandel (ph) was kidnapped and stoned to death by Palestinians.
E. FISCHER: There's a whole Talmudic statement, essentially says that the angel of death doesn't know international boundaries. If we were to live our lives constantly looking over our shoulders to see what kind of dangers might be lurking, then our lives wouldn't really be lives.
P. FISCHER: We have a sense of doing something bigger than who we are which is why we're doing it even though the world might think this is a really dangerous time. But I think in Israel, it is kind of always a dangerous time.
NURENBERG: They leave in several days. Gary Nurenberg, CNN, College Park, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Remarkable. That is a story we definitely should be following. Now we want you to know that we have reporters across the Middle East covering the latest on the fighting and the efforts to end it. Our special coverage continues with our sister network, CNN international. From Atlanta, I'm Carol Lin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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