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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli, Palestinian Security Officials Meet Quietly

Aired February 22, 2002 - 06:13   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: Welcome back to DAYBREAK. Now to the latest events in the Middle East. A Palestinian bomber has been killed, and Israeli and Palestinian security officials have been talking. This all comes after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed the nation about the escalating conflict with the Palestinians.

Our Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna is following the developments. He joins us live with the latest -- good morning.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.

Well, there's been a relative lull in extensive Israeli military operations that have been conducted in recent days in the West Bank and the Gaza strip. There has been a meeting -- a rare meeting between Israeli and Palestinian security officials, after which there was a withdraw of Israeli forces from some of the Palestinian- controlled positions they had occupied in Gaza in recent days.

Also, reportedly, some checkpoints have been lifted on the road traveling -- moving through Gaza. A road that has been virtually a non-travel zone for Palestinians over the past week. This in the wake of a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon -- an eagerly awaited speech in which he was expected to outline his vision for the future in terms of how to address the conflict.

Well, Israelis on all sides of the political spectrum apparently disappointed. The right saying that he has not given enough signs of taking stronger action Palestinians. The left saying that no signs that he is adopting negotiation as a means of addressing the conflict. From the Palestinian side, too, great disappointment in the Sharon speech. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat spoke exclusively to CNN's Walt Rodgers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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

(END VIDEOTAPE) HANNA: The one new element perhaps in the Sharon speech, the question of buffer zones, as he describes them, saying that these are security areas, but he was vague about what they are, where they will be, what form they will take. This is what the prime minister had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): In order to increase the security of Israeli subjects, we have decided to set up buffer zones in order to achieve security separation. At a discussion, however, the security cabinet a few years -- a few days ago, we decided to establish buffer zones and to set up obstacles along the -- those border zones. We all want peace. We all are committed to peace. It is my aim to achieve peace -- a total peace -- between ourselves and the Palestinians that will make it possible to live a calm and secure life for us and for them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANNA: Much debate among Israelis as to exactly what the prime minister means. We'll wait and see in terms of its implementation of this policy on the ground, should that happen. But a reminder, too, of the ever-present danger of attack in the West Bank settlement of Efrat. An alleged Palestinian suicide bomber was foiled in his attack. The man apparently entering a supermarket in the settlement, shot dead by a bystander. Police say an explosive belt was found strapped to his body -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Mike Hanna, joining us live from Jerusalem this morning. Thank you.

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