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Palestinians Calling for Release of Abu Abbas
Aired April 16, 2003 - 15:09 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: Palestinian leaders are responding very differently to the capture of Abu Abbas. They are calling for Abbas' release.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us from Jerusalem now to tell us why. Kelly, let me ask, what are the Israelis saying about the Palestinians' claim that the U.S. has no right to deal with Abbas?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Israelis are saying, Kyra, that they believe Abu Abbas never fully complied with this 1995 interim agreement that Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Arakat has been citing throughout the day.
The Israelis say that agreement also calls for individuals to renounce terrorism and to fully put their efforts behind Middle East peace. Israeli officials say Abu Abbas never did that and he continued to be involved in terrorist activity.
As we've been reporting throughout the day, the Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Arakat sees it differently. He believes that there was an amnesty agreement agreed upon by the Israelis and the Palestinians and signed also by the United States and other countries. And he says Abu Abbas should not have been arrested. He said he was on the phone with American officials earlier today calling for his release -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly, do Israelis believe that he has current ties to terrorism?
WALLACE: Well that is still a bit of an open question, Kyra. Israeli officials suspect that Iraq may have funneled money through Abu Abbas' organization, the Palestinian Liberation Front to possibly carry out attacks against Israelis in Israel and in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
There is also the suspicion that Abbas' group helped channel money from Saddam Hussein to families of Palestinian suicide bombers. It is a well-known fact that Saddam Hussein would give as much as $25,000 to families of Palestinians suicide bombers.
So that's something Israeli officials say they believe is taking place. U.S. officials are not so certain -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Kelly, I've to ask you about the Middle East peace process and, of course, this probably plays a big role in affecting that.
WALLACE: Well, it depends on whom you talk to, Kyra. Saeb Arakat thinks that there could be very big implications, legal consequences and implications for the Middle East peace process, the arrest of Abu Abbas. And he says he hopes this arrest won't, quote, "victimize the peace process."
Israelis, though, are not expressing such reservations. Where things stand right now, once the newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen confirms and puts together a cabinet, U.S. officials say that road map for Middle East peace will be given to both sides.
In an interesting side note, Kyra, though, Abu Mazen, that newly appointed prime minister, has been silent on this issue about the arrest of Abu Abbas. Calls to his office for comments have not been returned -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace live from Jerusalem, thank you.
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 April 16, 2003 - 15:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Palestinian leaders are responding very differently to the capture of Abu Abbas. They are calling for Abbas' release.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us from Jerusalem now to tell us why. Kelly, let me ask, what are the Israelis saying about the Palestinians' claim that the U.S. has no right to deal with Abbas?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Israelis are saying, Kyra, that they believe Abu Abbas never fully complied with this 1995 interim agreement that Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Arakat has been citing throughout the day.
The Israelis say that agreement also calls for individuals to renounce terrorism and to fully put their efforts behind Middle East peace. Israeli officials say Abu Abbas never did that and he continued to be involved in terrorist activity.
As we've been reporting throughout the day, the Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Arakat sees it differently. He believes that there was an amnesty agreement agreed upon by the Israelis and the Palestinians and signed also by the United States and other countries. And he says Abu Abbas should not have been arrested. He said he was on the phone with American officials earlier today calling for his release -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly, do Israelis believe that he has current ties to terrorism?
WALLACE: Well that is still a bit of an open question, Kyra. Israeli officials suspect that Iraq may have funneled money through Abu Abbas' organization, the Palestinian Liberation Front to possibly carry out attacks against Israelis in Israel and in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
There is also the suspicion that Abbas' group helped channel money from Saddam Hussein to families of Palestinian suicide bombers. It is a well-known fact that Saddam Hussein would give as much as $25,000 to families of Palestinians suicide bombers.
So that's something Israeli officials say they believe is taking place. U.S. officials are not so certain -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Kelly, I've to ask you about the Middle East peace process and, of course, this probably plays a big role in affecting that.
WALLACE: Well, it depends on whom you talk to, Kyra. Saeb Arakat thinks that there could be very big implications, legal consequences and implications for the Middle East peace process, the arrest of Abu Abbas. And he says he hopes this arrest won't, quote, "victimize the peace process."
Israelis, though, are not expressing such reservations. Where things stand right now, once the newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen confirms and puts together a cabinet, U.S. officials say that road map for Middle East peace will be given to both sides.
In an interesting side note, Kyra, though, Abu Mazen, that newly appointed prime minister, has been silent on this issue about the arrest of Abu Abbas. Calls to his office for comments have not been returned -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace live from Jerusalem, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
