Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Israeli Tanks, Troops Still on Move

Aired March 30, 2002 - 22:03   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: But first, to the uncertain and explosive Middle East. Again today, tanks and troops were on the move. Israel expanding its crackdown on Palestinians. But the military operation which some officials say could last weeks, has done little to stop the bloodshed. A group affiliated with Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement has struck again.

So let's go now to Rula Amin, where dawn is just breaking on Easter Sunday on Jerusalem.

Rula?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the bells from the old city are just ringing. They were just ringing minutes ago. This is Easter Sunday here in Jerusalem and at the Holy Sepulchre Church. There are very few pilgrims who came here, because of the security situation. Also for Palestinian Christians, it's very difficult to get to the city. The bells from the old city have just been ringing. And it's a very tense day and was a tense night.

We're hearing reports now that two Palestinians were killed in a village in the north of the West Bank during an Israeli raid on that village. Earlier on in the night, on Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in Tel Aviv, injuring about 29 Israelis, one of them in a very critical condition. This happened -- this despite Israel's very, heavy security measures, trying to prevent anymore attacks.

Yasser Arafat is still confined in Ramallah, surrounded by Israeli tanks and Israeli soldiers. Just half an hour ago, we heard reports from Ramallah that there have been very heavy gunfire heard. Also, we are hearing that the Israeli army is carrying out raids of going from house to house, searching, arresting people. This still, the day is breaking with this background.

Carol?

LIN: Rula Amin, as you've mentioned, it is dawn breaking now on Easter Sunday. What are or are there any security risks, any security alerts going out to worshipers, tourists today, to avoid the old city?

AMIN: Well, there aren't many tourists here in Israel or in the Palestinian territories. The tourists have stayed away this year from coming here. The few tourists who are here will be going around the old city. It's still a little bit further away from the main points of clashes. It's not in the West Bank, where there is a confrontation that's been going on daily.

But still, the atmosphere is a very sad atmosphere. A lot of the shops are empty. The streets are empty. Palestinian Christians also have a very difficult time getting to the city. So it's a very sad Easter Sunday.

LIN: Certainly. All right, thank you very much. Rula Amin, reporting very early there in Jerusalem.

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