Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Israel Votes

Aired January 28, 2003 - 13:20   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: In smaller than usual numbers, Israel's voters are expected to give hardline Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party more seats in a new Knesset.
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider is in Tel Aviv.

Hi, Bill.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We're having a number of technical problems. Bill, let's start with you and talk about -- go ahead and give us an overview of where the election stands so far.

SCHNEIDER: Where the elections stand is that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is likely to be the leader of the largest party coming out of today's election, and that means he will remain as prime minister, but the big question is, what kind of government will he have? The nature of his coalition, whether it's a narrow coalition or a broad coalition, is very important, because that will determine the prospects for peace. If he has a narrow coalition that depends on a lot of right-wing parties for support, he will have much less flexibility to ultimately make a peace deal, and that's why this election is crucially important, even though it is very likely to result in Sharon remaining as prime minister.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Bill Schneider, live from Tel Aviv, thank you. We'll check in with you as the polls continue.

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 January 28, 2003 - 13:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In smaller than usual numbers, Israel's voters are expected to give hardline Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party more seats in a new Knesset.
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider is in Tel Aviv.

Hi, Bill.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We're having a number of technical problems. Bill, let's start with you and talk about -- go ahead and give us an overview of where the election stands so far.

SCHNEIDER: Where the elections stand is that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is likely to be the leader of the largest party coming out of today's election, and that means he will remain as prime minister, but the big question is, what kind of government will he have? The nature of his coalition, whether it's a narrow coalition or a broad coalition, is very important, because that will determine the prospects for peace. If he has a narrow coalition that depends on a lot of right-wing parties for support, he will have much less flexibility to ultimately make a peace deal, and that's why this election is crucially important, even though it is very likely to result in Sharon remaining as prime minister.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Bill Schneider, live from Tel Aviv, thank you. We'll check in with you as the polls continue.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com