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Israelis, Palestinians Prepare for Sharon, Abbas Meeting
Aired May 26, 2003 - 14:24 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: Well, Palestinians and Israelis are preparing for a second meeting between their prime ministers, which could pave the way for three-way summit with President Bush, while Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, finds himself in unfamiliar territory after his cabinet accepted the U.S. road map for peace.
CNN's Jerusalem correspondent, Kelly Wallace, joins us now with the latest -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, still no date set yet for that meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers, but we do expect it some time this week, and it does come after the Israeli cabinet made a significant move giving qualified support to that Mideast road map.
This means it is the first time the Israeli government is formally backing the creation of a Palestinian state. There are many who are not happy at all about this, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, went before some of them, some angry lawmakers, with his Likud political party.
There the prime minister found himself defending the move and the decision of the cabinet, and he told lawmakers, and he told them, quote, "To keep 3.5 million people under occupation is bad for us and bad for them." The prime minister saying this can't continue endlessly.
And as for how the Israeli public feels, a majority supporting the backing of the road map, but many people are somewhat doubtful in a poll in one of Israel's largest newspapers today. When people were asked, do you believe implementation of the road map will lead to a final peace agreement with the Palestinians, 43 percent said yes, 51 percent though saying no.
Now as for the Palestinians, Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, meeting today with the French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin. The foreign minister also meeting, though, with the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, over the objections of Americans and Israelis who say such meetings only undermine the new Palestinian prime minister.
Palestinian sources are telling us that in Mahmoud Abbas going into this upcoming meeting with Mr. Sharon will call for an end to all Israeli military operations in the Palestinian areas and an end to all settlement activity. The Israelis for their part, sources say, will call on Mahmoud Abbas to be taking actions right now to stop the incitement of terror and a crackdown on these radical Palestinian groups.
And the thinking right now, Kyra, is possibly after that upcoming meeting, there could be a formal announcement of a summit involving U.S. President Bush, but right now, Kyra, more questions than answers for exactly when and where that possible summit could take place, Kyra?
PHILLIPS: 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 May 26, 2003 - 14:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Palestinians and Israelis are preparing for a second meeting between their prime ministers, which could pave the way for three-way summit with President Bush, while Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, finds himself in unfamiliar territory after his cabinet accepted the U.S. road map for peace.
CNN's Jerusalem correspondent, Kelly Wallace, joins us now with the latest -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, still no date set yet for that meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers, but we do expect it some time this week, and it does come after the Israeli cabinet made a significant move giving qualified support to that Mideast road map.
This means it is the first time the Israeli government is formally backing the creation of a Palestinian state. There are many who are not happy at all about this, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, went before some of them, some angry lawmakers, with his Likud political party.
There the prime minister found himself defending the move and the decision of the cabinet, and he told lawmakers, and he told them, quote, "To keep 3.5 million people under occupation is bad for us and bad for them." The prime minister saying this can't continue endlessly.
And as for how the Israeli public feels, a majority supporting the backing of the road map, but many people are somewhat doubtful in a poll in one of Israel's largest newspapers today. When people were asked, do you believe implementation of the road map will lead to a final peace agreement with the Palestinians, 43 percent said yes, 51 percent though saying no.
Now as for the Palestinians, Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, meeting today with the French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin. The foreign minister also meeting, though, with the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, over the objections of Americans and Israelis who say such meetings only undermine the new Palestinian prime minister.
Palestinian sources are telling us that in Mahmoud Abbas going into this upcoming meeting with Mr. Sharon will call for an end to all Israeli military operations in the Palestinian areas and an end to all settlement activity. The Israelis for their part, sources say, will call on Mahmoud Abbas to be taking actions right now to stop the incitement of terror and a crackdown on these radical Palestinian groups.
And the thinking right now, Kyra, is possibly after that upcoming meeting, there could be a formal announcement of a summit involving U.S. President Bush, but right now, Kyra, more questions than answers for exactly when and where that possible summit could take place, Kyra?
PHILLIPS: 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
