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New Palestinian Leadership Clashes With Old
Aired April 23, 2003 - 15:15 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Palestine leader, Yasser Arafat, today accepted a last-minute deal to allow Abu Mazen to assume the role of Palestinian prime minister. The deal allows a so-called roadmap for peace in the region to move forward.
CNN's Bill Schneider has more on the agreement and what it means to the overall peace process.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity -- the late Israeli diplomat, Aba Iban, once said.
Today was their last opportunity to demonstrate that the Palestinian authority is committed to reform. That looks like the only way Palestinians can get what they want.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions, and new security arrangements with their neighbors, The United States of America will support the creation of a Palestinian state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Last month, the Palestinian legislative counsel gave Yasser Arafat's deputy, Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, sweeping authority to form a New palestinian government.
Abu Mazen is someone both Ariel Sheron and George W. Bush feel they can do business with. They refuse to do business with Arafat.
Palestinians were perfectly aware that without a new government led by Abu Mazen, the U.S. would not go forward on what they are calling the roadmap to peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: The bigger picture is the introduction of the roadmap, and this means that Abu Mazen must succeed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: At the last minute, a power struggle broke out between Yasser Arafat and Abu Mazen. The issues -- personnel. Abu Mazen insisted on choosing his own cabinet, including critics of Arafat -- like Mohamed Dalan (ph) for security minister. Israel and the U.S. see Dalan as a young reformer. Arafat and his old guard see him as a threat.
Policy -- the key issue, according to Israeli newspaper reports, was whether the new prime minister would have the power to disarm Palestinian militias responsible for terrorist acts against Israel.
Authority -- Abu Mazen threatens Yasser Arafat's authority because reform means making Arafat irrelevant. Today, Palestinian leaders showed they were willing to take that fateful step.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: The United States is determined to do all we can to help such a government move rapidly toward a two-state vision outlined by President Bush, and Palestinians can't afford to miss this opportunity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Now, a new roadmap to peace can be published, which may not make some Americans and Israelis too happy because they are not sure they want to go where the roadmap will take them, and that is to a new Palestinian state -- Judy?
WOODRUFF: Puts a lot of people on the spot, doesn't it?
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely.
WOODRUFF: All right, Bill Schneider. Thanks very much.
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 23, 2003 - 15:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Palestine leader, Yasser Arafat, today accepted a last-minute deal to allow Abu Mazen to assume the role of Palestinian prime minister. The deal allows a so-called roadmap for peace in the region to move forward.
CNN's Bill Schneider has more on the agreement and what it means to the overall peace process.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity -- the late Israeli diplomat, Aba Iban, once said.
Today was their last opportunity to demonstrate that the Palestinian authority is committed to reform. That looks like the only way Palestinians can get what they want.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions, and new security arrangements with their neighbors, The United States of America will support the creation of a Palestinian state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Last month, the Palestinian legislative counsel gave Yasser Arafat's deputy, Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, sweeping authority to form a New palestinian government.
Abu Mazen is someone both Ariel Sheron and George W. Bush feel they can do business with. They refuse to do business with Arafat.
Palestinians were perfectly aware that without a new government led by Abu Mazen, the U.S. would not go forward on what they are calling the roadmap to peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: The bigger picture is the introduction of the roadmap, and this means that Abu Mazen must succeed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: At the last minute, a power struggle broke out between Yasser Arafat and Abu Mazen. The issues -- personnel. Abu Mazen insisted on choosing his own cabinet, including critics of Arafat -- like Mohamed Dalan (ph) for security minister. Israel and the U.S. see Dalan as a young reformer. Arafat and his old guard see him as a threat.
Policy -- the key issue, according to Israeli newspaper reports, was whether the new prime minister would have the power to disarm Palestinian militias responsible for terrorist acts against Israel.
Authority -- Abu Mazen threatens Yasser Arafat's authority because reform means making Arafat irrelevant. Today, Palestinian leaders showed they were willing to take that fateful step.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: The United States is determined to do all we can to help such a government move rapidly toward a two-state vision outlined by President Bush, and Palestinians can't afford to miss this opportunity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Now, a new roadmap to peace can be published, which may not make some Americans and Israelis too happy because they are not sure they want to go where the roadmap will take them, and that is to a new Palestinian state -- Judy?
WOODRUFF: Puts a lot of people on the spot, doesn't it?
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely.
WOODRUFF: All right, Bill Schneider. Thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
