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CNN Live Saturday
Interview With Aaron David Miller
Aired May 03, 2003 - 18:23 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell is reaffirming America's commitment to peace in the Middle East. He's also urging Syria and Lebanon to do their part as well. Powell says Syria is forcing terrorist groups out of Damascus, but he says more needs to be done if the region is to be stabilized. The so-called road map for Middle East peace is places obligations and responsibilities on all parties.
Next week, Powell has talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as well as the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. CNN's Kelly Wallace says the road map's foundation may be fresh but already potholes are emerging.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN INT'L CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Calls for revenge and rejection of the Mid East road map in Gaza City, Friday. As thousands attended funerals for some of the 13 Palestinians, including four teenagers, killed by Israeli forces in a raid the day before, targeting the radical Palestinian group, Hamas.
These operations, Palestinian analysts say, undermine the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, arguing his success hinges on whether he can convince Israel to take steps, such as pulling its troops out of Palestinian towns.
MAHOL ABDUL HADI, PALESTINIAN ANALYST: I have doubts. Very much doubts the Israelis are going to deliver the minimum expected from them, because they are still living in that ghetto of fear and they don't trust us.
WALLACE: Israelis say they don't know if they can trust Abbas just yet. Pointing to a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv just hours after his cabinet was confirmed in the Palestinian Parliament.
GIDION MEIR, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY: We are expecting their prime minister to take action, not declarations, to perform, not to give promises. We want to see action on the ground against terrorists.
WALLACE: And Israelis say if they see action, they will take steps immediately, such as, releasing Palestinian prisoners and dismantling illegal settlement outposts, even while Israeli officials and the public remain skeptical Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is truly giving up power to the new prime minister.
In an Israeli newspaper poll, released Friday, asked who they believe is in charge, 71 percent of Israelis said Arafat, only 7 percent said Abbas, with 22 percent saying they did not know.
WALLACE (on camera): Even if the two sides can find a way to start trusting each other again, there is the question of whether they would be willing to take painful steps required under the road map to bring about a democratic Palestinian state, alongside a secure Israel, by 2005.
(voice over): This Israeli columnist, who has covered the region for 35 years, says the answer is, no.
DANNY RUBINSTEIN, HA'ARETZ COLUMNIST: Is they will never freeze the settlement, or this government at least, will never freeze the settlement, the settlement movement. And the Palestinian will not stop terrorism.
WALLACE: The diplomats now will try to prove the skeptics wrong, hoping this latest peace effort will succeed, whereas so many others have failed before.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: So little trust, of course, on both sides. But supporters are saying the road map is really the first chance to bring both parties back to the negotiating table, in years. Of course, in that time the political landscape in the whole region has changed. Most notably, there is a new Iraq. But how is that going to affect the Middle East peace process?
For that, we turn to out guest, Aaron David Miller, a former State Department official and Mideast negotiator. He's now president of the Seeds of Peace Organization. He joins us this evening from Washington.
Mr. Miller, thank you so much for being with us.
AARON DAVID MILLER, PRESIDENT, SEEDS FOR PEACE: Anderson, thanks for having me.
COOPER: How does the war in Iraq and the resulting outcome of it affect facts on the ground for both Israelis and Palestinians?
MILLER: Well, first let me say, I've been doing this for almost 25 years. And no one ever lost money betting against the prospects for Arab/Israeli peace. That said, there is a real moment now.
Number one, you have a new empowered and legitimate Palestinian prime minister. Second, you have a road map, which creates a path way as well as laying out what the end game is. And third, you have an American victory in Iraq, which gives the United States renewed leverage, both to support its friends and to deter its enemies. So, there is a moment, but it has to be seized because it won't last. As Kelly Wallace just suggested, it won't last very long.
COOPER: Does the victory of the United States in Iraq have great impact on the Palestinians or on the Israelis? I ask this because Saddam Hussein, for one, funded the families of suicide bombers, the Palestinians had voiced support for his regime over the years. Who does it affect more?
MILLER: I think, frankly, it affects the United States most of all. The reality is now that Iraq is behind us, and it is still a complicated enterprise, but the United States emerged victorious. It accomplished its objectives. It is now free to turn itself and its attention to an extremely important national priority, which is the pursuit of Arab/Israeli peace.
And frankly, it is very difficult to do this if we're not focused. What we need is a sustained and credible effort, supplemented by a real Israeli/Palestinian decision-making channel, where they can support on another.
So the Americans, the Israelis and the Palestinians, as well as key Arab states are going to have to work together.
COOPER: Look, you probably just saw that poll in the last piece. Most Israelis say they don't even think Mahmoud Abbas is really in power in the Palestinian territories. They say the power still lies with Yasser Arafat. What do the Palestinians have to do in order to take that step?
Because I just talked to the Israeli ambassador to the United States yesterday. He said, look we're ready to move, but we've got to see some change in the security situation, some movement by Mahmoud Abbas.
MILLER: There is no doubt that the Palestinian Authority has to re-impose its monopoly over the forces and sources of violence within its own society. I don't care whether it's the District of Columbia or the state of Ohio, or the United States, no entity, or no authority can allow its monopoly over force to dissipate. It looses credibility with its own constituents.
COOPER: Do you see them try to do that at all?
MILLER: I think there is an effort, but I think it is an effort that is going to have to be reinforced, obviously by what the Israelis are prepared to do -- and what we are prepared to do. And that's why I think this will not move without a serious Israeli/Palestinian decision-making channel, so that the two sides can reinforce what it is each has to do.
COOPER: All right, obviously this is something we could talk about all night. We're out of time. But Aaron David Miller, appreciate you joining us tonight. Thanks very much. It was interesting.
MILLER: Thanks, Anderson.
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 May 3, 2003 - 18:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell is reaffirming America's commitment to peace in the Middle East. He's also urging Syria and Lebanon to do their part as well. Powell says Syria is forcing terrorist groups out of Damascus, but he says more needs to be done if the region is to be stabilized. The so-called road map for Middle East peace is places obligations and responsibilities on all parties.
Next week, Powell has talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as well as the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. CNN's Kelly Wallace says the road map's foundation may be fresh but already potholes are emerging.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN INT'L CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Calls for revenge and rejection of the Mid East road map in Gaza City, Friday. As thousands attended funerals for some of the 13 Palestinians, including four teenagers, killed by Israeli forces in a raid the day before, targeting the radical Palestinian group, Hamas.
These operations, Palestinian analysts say, undermine the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, arguing his success hinges on whether he can convince Israel to take steps, such as pulling its troops out of Palestinian towns.
MAHOL ABDUL HADI, PALESTINIAN ANALYST: I have doubts. Very much doubts the Israelis are going to deliver the minimum expected from them, because they are still living in that ghetto of fear and they don't trust us.
WALLACE: Israelis say they don't know if they can trust Abbas just yet. Pointing to a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv just hours after his cabinet was confirmed in the Palestinian Parliament.
GIDION MEIR, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY: We are expecting their prime minister to take action, not declarations, to perform, not to give promises. We want to see action on the ground against terrorists.
WALLACE: And Israelis say if they see action, they will take steps immediately, such as, releasing Palestinian prisoners and dismantling illegal settlement outposts, even while Israeli officials and the public remain skeptical Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is truly giving up power to the new prime minister.
In an Israeli newspaper poll, released Friday, asked who they believe is in charge, 71 percent of Israelis said Arafat, only 7 percent said Abbas, with 22 percent saying they did not know.
WALLACE (on camera): Even if the two sides can find a way to start trusting each other again, there is the question of whether they would be willing to take painful steps required under the road map to bring about a democratic Palestinian state, alongside a secure Israel, by 2005.
(voice over): This Israeli columnist, who has covered the region for 35 years, says the answer is, no.
DANNY RUBINSTEIN, HA'ARETZ COLUMNIST: Is they will never freeze the settlement, or this government at least, will never freeze the settlement, the settlement movement. And the Palestinian will not stop terrorism.
WALLACE: The diplomats now will try to prove the skeptics wrong, hoping this latest peace effort will succeed, whereas so many others have failed before.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: So little trust, of course, on both sides. But supporters are saying the road map is really the first chance to bring both parties back to the negotiating table, in years. Of course, in that time the political landscape in the whole region has changed. Most notably, there is a new Iraq. But how is that going to affect the Middle East peace process?
For that, we turn to out guest, Aaron David Miller, a former State Department official and Mideast negotiator. He's now president of the Seeds of Peace Organization. He joins us this evening from Washington.
Mr. Miller, thank you so much for being with us.
AARON DAVID MILLER, PRESIDENT, SEEDS FOR PEACE: Anderson, thanks for having me.
COOPER: How does the war in Iraq and the resulting outcome of it affect facts on the ground for both Israelis and Palestinians?
MILLER: Well, first let me say, I've been doing this for almost 25 years. And no one ever lost money betting against the prospects for Arab/Israeli peace. That said, there is a real moment now.
Number one, you have a new empowered and legitimate Palestinian prime minister. Second, you have a road map, which creates a path way as well as laying out what the end game is. And third, you have an American victory in Iraq, which gives the United States renewed leverage, both to support its friends and to deter its enemies. So, there is a moment, but it has to be seized because it won't last. As Kelly Wallace just suggested, it won't last very long.
COOPER: Does the victory of the United States in Iraq have great impact on the Palestinians or on the Israelis? I ask this because Saddam Hussein, for one, funded the families of suicide bombers, the Palestinians had voiced support for his regime over the years. Who does it affect more?
MILLER: I think, frankly, it affects the United States most of all. The reality is now that Iraq is behind us, and it is still a complicated enterprise, but the United States emerged victorious. It accomplished its objectives. It is now free to turn itself and its attention to an extremely important national priority, which is the pursuit of Arab/Israeli peace.
And frankly, it is very difficult to do this if we're not focused. What we need is a sustained and credible effort, supplemented by a real Israeli/Palestinian decision-making channel, where they can support on another.
So the Americans, the Israelis and the Palestinians, as well as key Arab states are going to have to work together.
COOPER: Look, you probably just saw that poll in the last piece. Most Israelis say they don't even think Mahmoud Abbas is really in power in the Palestinian territories. They say the power still lies with Yasser Arafat. What do the Palestinians have to do in order to take that step?
Because I just talked to the Israeli ambassador to the United States yesterday. He said, look we're ready to move, but we've got to see some change in the security situation, some movement by Mahmoud Abbas.
MILLER: There is no doubt that the Palestinian Authority has to re-impose its monopoly over the forces and sources of violence within its own society. I don't care whether it's the District of Columbia or the state of Ohio, or the United States, no entity, or no authority can allow its monopoly over force to dissipate. It looses credibility with its own constituents.
COOPER: Do you see them try to do that at all?
MILLER: I think there is an effort, but I think it is an effort that is going to have to be reinforced, obviously by what the Israelis are prepared to do -- and what we are prepared to do. And that's why I think this will not move without a serious Israeli/Palestinian decision-making channel, so that the two sides can reinforce what it is each has to do.
COOPER: All right, obviously this is something we could talk about all night. We're out of time. But Aaron David Miller, appreciate you joining us tonight. Thanks very much. It was interesting.
MILLER: Thanks, Anderson.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
