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CNN Live Saturday
Colin Powell Travels to Middle East
Aired May 10, 2003 - 18:28 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: Hope of ending the violence in the Middle East has Secretary of State Colin Powell on the road this weekend. He's in the region to put the U.S. supported road map for peace in motion. Here's CNN's Jerusalem correspondent Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. secretary of state's main message on this, his first visit in a year, was unmistakable and direct: The Israelis and the Palestinians need to take steps now.
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: There is a need to end violence now. There is a need to end terror now. There is a need to take some steps that will make life a little better for the Palestinian people. So, I think we should get started now.
WALLACE: Powell did not get any firm commitment from the Israeli foreign minister, but a senior Israeli official told CNN a possible announcement of humanitarian gestures by Israel could come Sunday. Gestures, such as easing travel restrictions and issuing more work permits for the Palestinians.
Israel won't take other steps, such as pulling forces out of Palestinian towns, until Israeli officials say they see the new Palestinian prime minister visibly cracking down on terrorism.
SILVAN SHALOM, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: This is the time that the Palestinians have to decide if they want to remain on the same track of violence or they want to move to the second track that might bring us a glimmer of hope.
WALLACE: A senior U.S. official says that Powell in his meeting with the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, will focus on how the Palestinians plan to, quote, "take on" radical Palestinian groups like Hamas, groups who have rejected Abbas' call to stop terror attack against Israel.
But the Palestinian say they want the secretary of state to put pressure on Israel to accept the Mideast road map now without changes.
SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: We hope Mr. Powell will bring Abbas the Israeli response so we can begin the immediate implementation of the road map, immediately and without any further delay. WALLACE: The Israelis have said they want to see at least a dozen changes made, and an end to attacks on Israel before implementing the three-year, three-phase plan, which calls for a Palestinian state and a secure Israel by 2005.
(on camera): Powell said both sides should view the road map in a, quote, "broad context," and not get bogged down on the details right now. The secretary will take that message to the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers Sunday, and also that he is armed with President Bush's determination in a post-Iraq Middle East to try and move the two sides from fighting to negotiation.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 10, 2003 - 18:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hope of ending the violence in the Middle East has Secretary of State Colin Powell on the road this weekend. He's in the region to put the U.S. supported road map for peace in motion. Here's CNN's Jerusalem correspondent Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. secretary of state's main message on this, his first visit in a year, was unmistakable and direct: The Israelis and the Palestinians need to take steps now.
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: There is a need to end violence now. There is a need to end terror now. There is a need to take some steps that will make life a little better for the Palestinian people. So, I think we should get started now.
WALLACE: Powell did not get any firm commitment from the Israeli foreign minister, but a senior Israeli official told CNN a possible announcement of humanitarian gestures by Israel could come Sunday. Gestures, such as easing travel restrictions and issuing more work permits for the Palestinians.
Israel won't take other steps, such as pulling forces out of Palestinian towns, until Israeli officials say they see the new Palestinian prime minister visibly cracking down on terrorism.
SILVAN SHALOM, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: This is the time that the Palestinians have to decide if they want to remain on the same track of violence or they want to move to the second track that might bring us a glimmer of hope.
WALLACE: A senior U.S. official says that Powell in his meeting with the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, will focus on how the Palestinians plan to, quote, "take on" radical Palestinian groups like Hamas, groups who have rejected Abbas' call to stop terror attack against Israel.
But the Palestinian say they want the secretary of state to put pressure on Israel to accept the Mideast road map now without changes.
SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: We hope Mr. Powell will bring Abbas the Israeli response so we can begin the immediate implementation of the road map, immediately and without any further delay. WALLACE: The Israelis have said they want to see at least a dozen changes made, and an end to attacks on Israel before implementing the three-year, three-phase plan, which calls for a Palestinian state and a secure Israel by 2005.
(on camera): Powell said both sides should view the road map in a, quote, "broad context," and not get bogged down on the details right now. The secretary will take that message to the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers Sunday, and also that he is armed with President Bush's determination in a post-Iraq Middle East to try and move the two sides from fighting to negotiation.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
