Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Truce to Last Three Months

Aired June 25, 2003 - 13:00   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.


DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Three Islamic militant groups are swearing off attacks against Israel. But the temporary truce is getting an early test already.
CNN's Sheila MacVicar standing by in Gaza, where word of the truce was followed by another Israeli attack -- Sheila.

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, those reports of the truce have been agreed this three month temporary cease-fire, which was CNN (ph) to all attacks in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel proper itself is coming from Palestinian officials close to Yasser Arafat. Speaking to Islamic militants here, people associated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad here in Gaza, we are told that in fact discussions are continuing, that no agreement has been reached or finalized. However, we do know that these discussions have been under way largely with Egyptian influence and Egyptian intervention, and we are told that perhaps a cease-fire may be announced some time in the next 24 or 48 hours.

But there are event here on the ground this afternoon, Kyra, which may put that temporary truce, or the possibility of the temporary cease-fire into difficulty. Just a short while ago, the Israeli Defense Forces confirming to us they were indeed in action this afternoon over a Gaza village called Vanisuela (ph). We are told they fired three missiles at a car carrying a Hamas militant. The Israelis say that militant, Mohammed Abu Asuay (ph) was on his way to deliver a mortar. We are told he survived that attack. However, two other Palestinians, people merely in the next car, have been killed. Eleven others, we are told, wounded, three of them in critical condition.

Now in speaking to Hamas militants just a short while ago, a senior member of Hamas here in Gaza, asking his reaction to these events this afternoon. He said, basically, we are continuing our discussions, but clearly in talking to him and talking to others from Islamic Jihad,this is not the most promising start one could hope at this time -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sheila, if indeed this truce does take place, the talk is it'll happen for three months. What needs to take place within that three-month period for that truce to continue?

MACVICAR: Well, from the Palestinian point of view, they need to see some real changes here on the ground. They need to feel they are making progress toward the road map, a peace agreement. They need to feel that the closures are lifted, that some form of normal life, real normal life, begins to return, both here in Gaza, and in the West Bank.

From the Israeli perspective, and also it needs to be said, from the U.S. government's perspective, what they want to see is in that three-month period the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas make real steps toward dismantling those militant groups and their armed structure, if you will.

What no one -- what the Palestinians -- what the Israelis, rather, and the U.S. does not want to see is those groups to use that three-month period as a time to rearm and then relaunch terror attacks. But in order to assure that does not happen, there must be real substantive progress that the Palestinians themselves see -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sheila MacVicar, live from Gaza. 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 June 25, 2003 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Three Islamic militant groups are swearing off attacks against Israel. But the temporary truce is getting an early test already.
CNN's Sheila MacVicar standing by in Gaza, where word of the truce was followed by another Israeli attack -- Sheila.

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, those reports of the truce have been agreed this three month temporary cease-fire, which was CNN (ph) to all attacks in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel proper itself is coming from Palestinian officials close to Yasser Arafat. Speaking to Islamic militants here, people associated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad here in Gaza, we are told that in fact discussions are continuing, that no agreement has been reached or finalized. However, we do know that these discussions have been under way largely with Egyptian influence and Egyptian intervention, and we are told that perhaps a cease-fire may be announced some time in the next 24 or 48 hours.

But there are event here on the ground this afternoon, Kyra, which may put that temporary truce, or the possibility of the temporary cease-fire into difficulty. Just a short while ago, the Israeli Defense Forces confirming to us they were indeed in action this afternoon over a Gaza village called Vanisuela (ph). We are told they fired three missiles at a car carrying a Hamas militant. The Israelis say that militant, Mohammed Abu Asuay (ph) was on his way to deliver a mortar. We are told he survived that attack. However, two other Palestinians, people merely in the next car, have been killed. Eleven others, we are told, wounded, three of them in critical condition.

Now in speaking to Hamas militants just a short while ago, a senior member of Hamas here in Gaza, asking his reaction to these events this afternoon. He said, basically, we are continuing our discussions, but clearly in talking to him and talking to others from Islamic Jihad,this is not the most promising start one could hope at this time -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sheila, if indeed this truce does take place, the talk is it'll happen for three months. What needs to take place within that three-month period for that truce to continue?

MACVICAR: Well, from the Palestinian point of view, they need to see some real changes here on the ground. They need to feel they are making progress toward the road map, a peace agreement. They need to feel that the closures are lifted, that some form of normal life, real normal life, begins to return, both here in Gaza, and in the West Bank.

From the Israeli perspective, and also it needs to be said, from the U.S. government's perspective, what they want to see is in that three-month period the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas make real steps toward dismantling those militant groups and their armed structure, if you will.

What no one -- what the Palestinians -- what the Israelis, rather, and the U.S. does not want to see is those groups to use that three-month period as a time to rearm and then relaunch terror attacks. But in order to assure that does not happen, there must be real substantive progress that the Palestinians themselves see -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sheila MacVicar, live from Gaza. 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