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CNN Live At Daybreak

Yet More Violence In The West Bank, Death Toll At 48 For The Week

Aired February 22, 2002 - 05:32   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: There was more violence in the West Bank today. A Palestinian, who set off a bomb at a supermarket, was shot and killed by a security guard at the crowded store. Police say an Israeli woman was slightly injured in that blast. This comes one day after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed the nation about the escalating conflict with the Palestinians.

CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Minutes before Sharon began his address to the Israeli people, further strikes against Palestinian targets, the Israeli military continuing massive and unrelenting operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The message from the Israeli prime minister that Israel will not let up until, in his words, the infrastructure of terrorism is dismantled.

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We shall continue to fight terror. We shall continue to fight the terrorists will all of our strength.

HANNA: Much criticism of Sharon in recent weeks from the right. The argument that not enough was being done to protect Israelis, particularly those living in settlements in the West Bank or Gaza. Sharon did announce that buffer zones would be created, but no details as to where or what form they would take. Not enough, says a settler.

EVE HAROW, EFRAT SETTLEMENT RESIDENT: I was disappointed. I felt that I would have liked a stronger declaration of the fact that we are at war, and where Israel is going in that direction.

HANNA: Recent criticism too of Sharon from those on the left. Their contention that negotiations should replace force as a means of addressing the conflict. No satisfaction for this segment of society either in the Sharon speech.

TZALI RESHEF, PEACE NOW: I think that he is offering the Israeli public nothing, that he is offering the Palestinians nothing. That what he is really proposing is the continuation of the war between the two people.

HANNA: But these divisions in Israeli society, says Sharon, are a sign of strength, not weakness.

SHARON (through translator): Unfortunately, our neighbors have misunderstood us striving for peace and our way of life. Also, they have misinterpreted our internal debates, which are the very essence of democracy.

HANNA: After the speech, some vigorous questioning, but ultimately no new ideas of any stature advance by the prime minister.

(on camera): Sharon's primary intention, it would appear, to reassure Israeli society that he is in control, that there is no need for panic. His message to Palestinians: "I will talk on my terms."

Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And the Israeli defense ministry says top Israeli and Palestinian security officials met overnight at an undisclosed location.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in the meantime, has been talking to CNN's Walter Rodgers about the plight of the Palestinian people and the failed peace process. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YASSER ARAFAT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN: Is he now insisting to carry on the peace process or not. This is the most important thing. Or he is insisting to continue this escalation -- military escalation against our people who are under their occupation. And we are the only people now all over the world who are under occupation.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So you don't think there is going to be an end to the bloodshed?

ARAFAT: He is saying there's some -- not me. I am offering my hand to make the peace of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and to continue with this strategy, not only for the Palestinians, for the Palestinians, for the Israelis, for the whole Middle East.

RODGERS: What did you think earlier this week when you heard Prime Minister Sharon say, "Israel is at war with the Palestinians?"

ARAFAT: This week only? Not to forget, it had started with Barak, since the last 17 months. His military plan, which they call the field of the foreigners. Then 100 days. Then the Yuroname plan, which is a Hebrew name, which means a hell plan, and then hell -- the rolling hell plan.

You see, that even (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they imagine this can be accepted internationally, that is the bombing my headquarters here for the second times. And they are in Nablus, including my house -- and , sorry, in Gaza.

RODGERS: The Israelis still have you under confinement. Do you feel like a prisoner?

ARAFAT: Do you think so? For me, it is not the first time. But the most important thing, is not myself -- the most important thing for me is my people.

RODGERS: You called for a cease-fire. Can you guarantee that there will be no more shooting on the Palestinian side, no more suicide bombings?

ARAFAT: You remember he was asking seven days, although America, they didn't ask for seven hours when they were negotiating with the Vietnamese, in five years negotiations in Paris. And peace, and not to forget instead of 7 days, we give him 24 days and what has happened? They ended this 24 days by assassination -- by assassinating Palestinian targets (ph). Who can accept these assassinations? Is this acceptable according to their international laws?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: 48 people have been killed this week alone in the Middle East conflict. For more on the crisis in the Middle East, all you have to do is go to our Web site. We have in depth coverage at CNN.com. Remember AOL users, that keyword is CNN.

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