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CNN Live Saturday

Zinni Continues Shuttle Diplomacy

Aired March 16, 2002 - 12:02   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the Middle East, where shuttle diplomacy is under way. Special U.S. Envoy Anthony Zinni is trying to broker peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

More now from CNN's Michael Holmes in Jerusalem -- good morning, Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. Yes. Well, after a quiet day here in the region, calm being a relative thing here, Anthony Zinni is continuing, as you point out, his shuttle diplomacy. That's effectively what it is. And as we speak, he is shuttling his way, we are told, by helicopter from Jerusalem to the home or the farm, the ranch of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister.

It will be the second meeting with Ariel Sharon. He did, of course, meet with him soon after arriving in Israel, and after that meeting, he said that he was confident that both sides wanted to get out of the mire in which they find themselves after this horrendous few weeks of violence here, just so far this month, 192 Palestinians dead and more than 60 Israelis dead in the violence.

Now, earlier today Anthony Zinni met with Palestinian -- senior Palestinian negotiators and officials. He did that in Ramallah, and they had a lunch afterwards at which Yasser Arafat popped by. Apparently no substantive talks between him and Yasser Arafat on this occasion, but fairly substantive talks with those representatives, including the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat.

We poke with Saeb Erakat after that meeting. He pointed out that the Zinni visit now is really going to be going along a two-pronged effort, as he put it. That is not just discussing security issues or a cease-fire alone, but also discussing political issues. And it was hoped that the talks, if they eventually happen between the Israelis and Palestinians, will be on substantive issues of policy and politics, not just on a cease-fire. However, cease-fire is the first step.

And the Palestinians made it clear to Mr. Zinni that while Israeli troops are still in Palestinian-controlled areas -- they are called areas A -- that it's impossible to sit down and talk with the Israelis. IDF or Israeli defense troops do remain in some Palestinian-controlled areas, and there was some shooting last night, both in Bethlehem and also in the West Bank town of Hebron. But also I've got to tell you that two Palestinians reported by Palestinian security sources to have died in two separate incidents in the West Bank, and the fighting that you see going on there from Hebron, exchanges of gunfire continuing.

It is the end of the Sabbath here in Israel. The last two Saturday evenings here have seen violent attacks in the cities. There was a suicide bombing last week and also the shooting in the town of Netanya just north of Tel-Aviv. So far, as I said however, what passes for a calm day in this region -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much -- Michael Holmes from Jerusalem.

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