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CNN Live Saturday
Israelis Begin Military Operations in Gaza Strip
Aired January 25, 2003 - 18:36 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: We've got some major military action going on right now in the Middle East in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip. CNN's Kelly Wallace is actually in Tel Aviv in Israel covering the Israeli elections coming up on Tuesday, but Kelly, what do you know about the military strike going on in Gaza?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we can tell you this is really one of the biggest Israeli military operations we have seen in recent days. Palestinian sources telling CNN that more than 100 Israeli armored vehicles are now in Gaza City. Tanks, bulldozers backed up by helicopter gunships. Palestinian sources saying that at least four Palestinians have been killed and at least 25 injured as well. Sources also telling us that at least 15 Palestinian workshops have been fired on by the Israelis. Palestinians saying at least two buildings have been destroyed.
Now this is the second major Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip in just two days. Israeli military forces were in Gaza on Friday. This after Palestinians fired Kassam rockets on an Israeli neighborhood and the Israeli forces moving in. This all coming just a few days before Israelis go to the polls. They go to the polls on Tuesday to vote for a new Parliament and a new prime minister and Palestinians now are condemning this operation and really accusing Prime Minister Sharon of playing politics.
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erakat condemning the operation, calling on the international community to pressure the Israelis to stop. Saeb Erakat telling CNN -- quote -- "It's obvious that Prime Minister wants to end his election campaign with more Palestinian bloodshed and destruction." So he is condemning this action and this operation, Carol, going on as we speak -- Carol.
LIN: Kelly, you bring up an interesting point here and how it may be related to the election, maybe not, but it certainly, the military action draws very careful distinction between the differences between Ariel Sharon and his labor opposition, which is willing to negotiate with the Palestinians.
WALLACE: It certainly does. Amram Mitzna, the head of the Labor Party, is calling for first immediate withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He's also calling for immediate negotiations with the Palestinians. If no agreement is reached, he says there should be unilateral withdrawal and separation. That is a very controversial position right now. Many Israelis are very concerned about the violence and very concerned about resuming any negotiations with the Palestinians while the violence continues. So most analysts believe as the violence continues, this all benefits Prime Minister Sharon. Some people believe -- you could hear Palestinian leader Saeb Erakat believing the prime minister is using this in some way to kind of bolster his case. He said today, Carol, that security will be a big issue when voters go to the polls on Tuesday -- Carol.
LIN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) already is. Thank you very much. Kelly Wallace reporting live from Tel Aviv.
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 January 25, 2003 - 18:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We've got some major military action going on right now in the Middle East in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip. CNN's Kelly Wallace is actually in Tel Aviv in Israel covering the Israeli elections coming up on Tuesday, but Kelly, what do you know about the military strike going on in Gaza?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we can tell you this is really one of the biggest Israeli military operations we have seen in recent days. Palestinian sources telling CNN that more than 100 Israeli armored vehicles are now in Gaza City. Tanks, bulldozers backed up by helicopter gunships. Palestinian sources saying that at least four Palestinians have been killed and at least 25 injured as well. Sources also telling us that at least 15 Palestinian workshops have been fired on by the Israelis. Palestinians saying at least two buildings have been destroyed.
Now this is the second major Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip in just two days. Israeli military forces were in Gaza on Friday. This after Palestinians fired Kassam rockets on an Israeli neighborhood and the Israeli forces moving in. This all coming just a few days before Israelis go to the polls. They go to the polls on Tuesday to vote for a new Parliament and a new prime minister and Palestinians now are condemning this operation and really accusing Prime Minister Sharon of playing politics.
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erakat condemning the operation, calling on the international community to pressure the Israelis to stop. Saeb Erakat telling CNN -- quote -- "It's obvious that Prime Minister wants to end his election campaign with more Palestinian bloodshed and destruction." So he is condemning this action and this operation, Carol, going on as we speak -- Carol.
LIN: Kelly, you bring up an interesting point here and how it may be related to the election, maybe not, but it certainly, the military action draws very careful distinction between the differences between Ariel Sharon and his labor opposition, which is willing to negotiate with the Palestinians.
WALLACE: It certainly does. Amram Mitzna, the head of the Labor Party, is calling for first immediate withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He's also calling for immediate negotiations with the Palestinians. If no agreement is reached, he says there should be unilateral withdrawal and separation. That is a very controversial position right now. Many Israelis are very concerned about the violence and very concerned about resuming any negotiations with the Palestinians while the violence continues. So most analysts believe as the violence continues, this all benefits Prime Minister Sharon. Some people believe -- you could hear Palestinian leader Saeb Erakat believing the prime minister is using this in some way to kind of bolster his case. He said today, Carol, that security will be a big issue when voters go to the polls on Tuesday -- Carol.
LIN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) already is. Thank you very much. Kelly Wallace reporting live from Tel Aviv.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
