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Sharon Trumps Netanyahu in Israeli Primaries
Aired November 29, 2002 - 13:34 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the most recent terrorist attacks in Kenya, which took place on the same day Israelis went to the polls. Results of that primary election put Prime Minister Ariel Sharon solidly in control of his Likud Party against rival Benjamin Netanyahu.
For more on what this could mean, here is CNN's Jerrold Kessel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was, perhaps, the shortest ever political victory campaign meeting, less than a quarter hour, enveloped in a minutes silence for the people killed in the trio of attacks abroad and at home.
Ariel Sharon, the reinstalled Likud leader vowing to track down those responsible, seeking to position himself as national leader in adversity.
Amid the traditional ups and downs of politics, it seems to be only one-way traffic for Ariel Sharon. Despite the prevailing sense of down among Israelis, the Likud leader appears to be headed against for the top, likely still to remain Israel's prime minister after the January 28 general election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sharon surprised me very much. I was very much against him in the past. But I think -- I think nowadays, he is maybe -- he's the best.
KESSEL: From a cross-section of Israelis, a potpourri of what people here seem to want from their prime minister.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ability to deal with Arab terrorism, to protect the people of Israel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Manifest our power and people like identify with it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want unification.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The only aim in our life is peace, but not to give everything to Arabs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All my life I've been in the left, but I think today things have changed, so I'd like to see somebody who is strong on one hand -- because we have no choice -- and on the other hand, maybe because of his strength, he will lead us to peace. KESSEL: But Ariel Sharon has already been in power for two years, and not only his critics say he's been distinctly unsuccessful in bringing Israelis what he promised them, security, peace and unity.
Yet, for all the failure to stop the Palestinian bombers, despite the powerless state of the Israeli economy, despite the lack of hope many Israelis feel, Sharon continues to ride high in the polls.
Most Israelis seem to believe that, though he is the man in the hot seat, he can't be held responsible, not even indirectly responsible for Israel's plight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if anyone can do any better because it doesn't only depend on the prime minister, it also depends on other things like the Palestinians, the Americans, the rest of the world.
KESSEL: Perhaps this is the ingredient that assures Israelis most about having Sharon at the helm, the perception that he is lined up right alongside U.S. President George W. Bush and that the U.S. leader is right there alongside him, especially critical at a time Israelis feel they could face an even more serious threat, from Iraq, should the U.S. go to war with Saddam Hussein. And now following the double-barreled attack in Kenya, that Israel could be involved in the global war on terror.
Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(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 November 29, 2002 - 13:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the most recent terrorist attacks in Kenya, which took place on the same day Israelis went to the polls. Results of that primary election put Prime Minister Ariel Sharon solidly in control of his Likud Party against rival Benjamin Netanyahu.
For more on what this could mean, here is CNN's Jerrold Kessel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was, perhaps, the shortest ever political victory campaign meeting, less than a quarter hour, enveloped in a minutes silence for the people killed in the trio of attacks abroad and at home.
Ariel Sharon, the reinstalled Likud leader vowing to track down those responsible, seeking to position himself as national leader in adversity.
Amid the traditional ups and downs of politics, it seems to be only one-way traffic for Ariel Sharon. Despite the prevailing sense of down among Israelis, the Likud leader appears to be headed against for the top, likely still to remain Israel's prime minister after the January 28 general election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sharon surprised me very much. I was very much against him in the past. But I think -- I think nowadays, he is maybe -- he's the best.
KESSEL: From a cross-section of Israelis, a potpourri of what people here seem to want from their prime minister.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ability to deal with Arab terrorism, to protect the people of Israel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Manifest our power and people like identify with it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want unification.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The only aim in our life is peace, but not to give everything to Arabs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All my life I've been in the left, but I think today things have changed, so I'd like to see somebody who is strong on one hand -- because we have no choice -- and on the other hand, maybe because of his strength, he will lead us to peace. KESSEL: But Ariel Sharon has already been in power for two years, and not only his critics say he's been distinctly unsuccessful in bringing Israelis what he promised them, security, peace and unity.
Yet, for all the failure to stop the Palestinian bombers, despite the powerless state of the Israeli economy, despite the lack of hope many Israelis feel, Sharon continues to ride high in the polls.
Most Israelis seem to believe that, though he is the man in the hot seat, he can't be held responsible, not even indirectly responsible for Israel's plight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if anyone can do any better because it doesn't only depend on the prime minister, it also depends on other things like the Palestinians, the Americans, the rest of the world.
KESSEL: Perhaps this is the ingredient that assures Israelis most about having Sharon at the helm, the perception that he is lined up right alongside U.S. President George W. Bush and that the U.S. leader is right there alongside him, especially critical at a time Israelis feel they could face an even more serious threat, from Iraq, should the U.S. go to war with Saddam Hussein. And now following the double-barreled attack in Kenya, that Israel could be involved in the global war on terror.
Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(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
