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Some Hope in Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
Aired April 18, 2003 - 13:18 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: Easter weekend begins today. As many Christians around the world observe Good Friday, in the holy city of Jerusalem, several hundred pilgrims lined the path described in the Bible as the one Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion. Security was tight, and celebrations somewhat muted due to the months of Arab/Israeli violence, but on that front, hints of optimism.
CNN's Kelly Wallace standing by, live in Jerusalem to tell us more -- hi, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. Well, this definitely one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, but definitely smaller crowds. It appears many Christians who normally would come here to Jerusalem on this day, and for Easter on Sunday stayed away. Either, as you said, because of the violence, or because of the war in Iraq.
Still, hundreds did turn out. We did see -- it's an annual procession, hundreds walking along the 14 stations of the cross, in the Via Dolorosa. That is in the Old City in Jerusalem. You could see people were singing and reading prayers. Some people kissing the cross. Security was very tight. Israeli police officers lined the entire procession. Security has been tight in fact, throughout Jerusalem for the past few days, ever since the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began Wednesday evening.
And that is because Israeli officials say they have received several intelligence warnings that Palestinian militants could be planning to carry out suicide attacks against Israelis during Passover. In fact, four members of an Islamic Jihad cell, according to Israeli military officials, were arrested Thursday night, charged with possibly planning a suicide attack. And it was last Passover when a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 29 Israelis who were sitting down for Passover Seder dinner.
But even with the tight security, and even with the smaller crowds, there is, Kyra, the sense of possibility, the sense that there could be, soon, a resumption in peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians soon after the newly appointed Palestinian prime minister, Abu Mazen, has a cabinet, a cabinet that is approved by the parliament, and sworn into office -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So Kelly, you feel confident about that, once Mazen has his cabinet set, there could be a road map to peace pretty much laid out?
WALLACE: Well, what is most likely to happen, a resumption in negotiations. Already, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said as soon as Abu Mazen's cabinet is sworn in and approved, he will invite Abu Mazen here to Jerusalem to talk with him directly, to get peace negotiations going. We know the American administration has said as soon as Abu Mazen has a cabinet, that road map for Middle East peace, paving the way for this Palestinian state by 2005, will be presented to both sides.
But, Kyra, major challenges ahead. Just exactly how that road map will be implemented, the Palestinians want it to be implemented as it is written. Israelis say they want to make major changes. So lots of challenges ahead, but some sense that, at least, the two sides might start talking again in an in depth way very soon -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Our 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 18, 2003 - 13:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Easter weekend begins today. As many Christians around the world observe Good Friday, in the holy city of Jerusalem, several hundred pilgrims lined the path described in the Bible as the one Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion. Security was tight, and celebrations somewhat muted due to the months of Arab/Israeli violence, but on that front, hints of optimism.
CNN's Kelly Wallace standing by, live in Jerusalem to tell us more -- hi, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. Well, this definitely one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, but definitely smaller crowds. It appears many Christians who normally would come here to Jerusalem on this day, and for Easter on Sunday stayed away. Either, as you said, because of the violence, or because of the war in Iraq.
Still, hundreds did turn out. We did see -- it's an annual procession, hundreds walking along the 14 stations of the cross, in the Via Dolorosa. That is in the Old City in Jerusalem. You could see people were singing and reading prayers. Some people kissing the cross. Security was very tight. Israeli police officers lined the entire procession. Security has been tight in fact, throughout Jerusalem for the past few days, ever since the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began Wednesday evening.
And that is because Israeli officials say they have received several intelligence warnings that Palestinian militants could be planning to carry out suicide attacks against Israelis during Passover. In fact, four members of an Islamic Jihad cell, according to Israeli military officials, were arrested Thursday night, charged with possibly planning a suicide attack. And it was last Passover when a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 29 Israelis who were sitting down for Passover Seder dinner.
But even with the tight security, and even with the smaller crowds, there is, Kyra, the sense of possibility, the sense that there could be, soon, a resumption in peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians soon after the newly appointed Palestinian prime minister, Abu Mazen, has a cabinet, a cabinet that is approved by the parliament, and sworn into office -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So Kelly, you feel confident about that, once Mazen has his cabinet set, there could be a road map to peace pretty much laid out?
WALLACE: Well, what is most likely to happen, a resumption in negotiations. Already, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said as soon as Abu Mazen's cabinet is sworn in and approved, he will invite Abu Mazen here to Jerusalem to talk with him directly, to get peace negotiations going. We know the American administration has said as soon as Abu Mazen has a cabinet, that road map for Middle East peace, paving the way for this Palestinian state by 2005, will be presented to both sides.
But, Kyra, major challenges ahead. Just exactly how that road map will be implemented, the Palestinians want it to be implemented as it is written. Israelis say they want to make major changes. So lots of challenges ahead, but some sense that, at least, the two sides might start talking again in an in depth way very soon -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Our 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
