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Discussion with Israeli Minister of Public Security

Aired September 09, 2003 - 13:19   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Some breaking news we've been following all this morning, another suicide bombing to tell you about. This one occurring east of Tel Aviv. at least five people were killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up. A powerful explosion near a bus stop, which happened to be near an army base outside of Tel Aviv.
Our Matthew Chance is on the scene, and he has an update for us -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, thank you very much.

And indeed, we are exactly on the scene where this latest explosion, the kind of suicide attack that unfortunately the people of Israel have become so used to over the course of the last several years, especially when they've been subject to this kind of targeting. This latest explosion occurred just outside the town of Reshonletsho (ph), in central Israel, a short distance from the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. We understand that at least five Israelis have been killed. The suicide bomber obviously killed in addition to that. Fifteen people, we understand, are injured and have been taken to hospitals and are said to be in serious condition.

Joining us now to discuss this latest attack is a minister from the government of Israel, Itzahai Hamegbi, who is the minister of public security. Mr. Hamegbi, thanks very much for being with us here on CNN. Let me ask you first of all, Israel was on a heightened state of alert. The authorities were expecting this kind of attack.

What could -- how could it have been allowed to have happened?

ITZAHAI HAMEGBI, ISRAELI PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER: Unfortunately, we are surrounded by fanatics. And even though we are aware of the fact that they are motivated to bring sorrow and tragedy almost every day, today they had a success. I don't know why we define it as a success, because it is going to bring sorrow to the Palestinian people, as well as to us Israelis, because when they launch an attack on us, I don't see how Israeli can trust them, and make peace and be ready to have a compromise and to give concessions. But this is their fanatic way, and this is their strategy of violence.

CHANCE: Security forces making it clear they understood there was a specific threat on this day. We've been seeing big security operations around Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Is it believed by you that this is a district result of Israel's action against the Palestinian group Hamas over recent weeks? HAMEGBI: No, as you have mentioned before, the Israeli people are already used to such atrocities. We have suffered in the last three years more than 850 people, most of them innocent civilians like today, kids, people were standing in the bus station waiting to go home. Some fanatic suicide, homicide bomber killed himself, and we knew it was going to happen, but we are going to fight back.

CHANCE: Let me ask you, you say you're going to fight back. What will be, what should be the response of the government of Israel to this latest suicide bombing?

HAMEGBI: The main problem is Arafat, the Palestinian chairman the American demonstration define an obstacle of peace. He is an obstacle to peace. And since we are so desperate to achieve peace, it's about time that we deal with his presence here, presence that is devastating to the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

CHANCE: So you would advocate actually moving at this time against the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and what, exiling him, or?

HAMEGBI: You know, today we have to deal with our tragedies. We don't have to make decisions on such horrifying day. But I think the government will have to convene very soon and to take a tough decision, and maybe to put an end to his presence in the Middle East.

CHANCE: All right, thank you very much, Mr. Minister, for being with us here on CNN.

Back to you there in Atlanta, Miles, with that latest information from the senior minister in the Israeli government.

Again, let me just recap on the casualty figures very quickly, at least five people, Israelis killed, as a result of this latest suicide attack, plus the suicide bomber, 15 in very serious condition.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Matthew Chance just outside of Tel Aviv at the sight of the latest bombing.

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 September 9, 2003 - 13:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Some breaking news we've been following all this morning, another suicide bombing to tell you about. This one occurring east of Tel Aviv. at least five people were killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up. A powerful explosion near a bus stop, which happened to be near an army base outside of Tel Aviv.
Our Matthew Chance is on the scene, and he has an update for us -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, thank you very much.

And indeed, we are exactly on the scene where this latest explosion, the kind of suicide attack that unfortunately the people of Israel have become so used to over the course of the last several years, especially when they've been subject to this kind of targeting. This latest explosion occurred just outside the town of Reshonletsho (ph), in central Israel, a short distance from the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. We understand that at least five Israelis have been killed. The suicide bomber obviously killed in addition to that. Fifteen people, we understand, are injured and have been taken to hospitals and are said to be in serious condition.

Joining us now to discuss this latest attack is a minister from the government of Israel, Itzahai Hamegbi, who is the minister of public security. Mr. Hamegbi, thanks very much for being with us here on CNN. Let me ask you first of all, Israel was on a heightened state of alert. The authorities were expecting this kind of attack.

What could -- how could it have been allowed to have happened?

ITZAHAI HAMEGBI, ISRAELI PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER: Unfortunately, we are surrounded by fanatics. And even though we are aware of the fact that they are motivated to bring sorrow and tragedy almost every day, today they had a success. I don't know why we define it as a success, because it is going to bring sorrow to the Palestinian people, as well as to us Israelis, because when they launch an attack on us, I don't see how Israeli can trust them, and make peace and be ready to have a compromise and to give concessions. But this is their fanatic way, and this is their strategy of violence.

CHANCE: Security forces making it clear they understood there was a specific threat on this day. We've been seeing big security operations around Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Is it believed by you that this is a district result of Israel's action against the Palestinian group Hamas over recent weeks? HAMEGBI: No, as you have mentioned before, the Israeli people are already used to such atrocities. We have suffered in the last three years more than 850 people, most of them innocent civilians like today, kids, people were standing in the bus station waiting to go home. Some fanatic suicide, homicide bomber killed himself, and we knew it was going to happen, but we are going to fight back.

CHANCE: Let me ask you, you say you're going to fight back. What will be, what should be the response of the government of Israel to this latest suicide bombing?

HAMEGBI: The main problem is Arafat, the Palestinian chairman the American demonstration define an obstacle of peace. He is an obstacle to peace. And since we are so desperate to achieve peace, it's about time that we deal with his presence here, presence that is devastating to the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

CHANCE: So you would advocate actually moving at this time against the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and what, exiling him, or?

HAMEGBI: You know, today we have to deal with our tragedies. We don't have to make decisions on such horrifying day. But I think the government will have to convene very soon and to take a tough decision, and maybe to put an end to his presence in the Middle East.

CHANCE: All right, thank you very much, Mr. Minister, for being with us here on CNN.

Back to you there in Atlanta, Miles, with that latest information from the senior minister in the Israeli government.

Again, let me just recap on the casualty figures very quickly, at least five people, Israelis killed, as a result of this latest suicide attack, plus the suicide bomber, 15 in very serious condition.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Matthew Chance just outside of Tel Aviv at the sight of the latest bombing.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com