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CNN Live Today

Activists Discuss Sharon Address

Aired February 21, 2002 - 14:22   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Perhaps between the headlines here the headline may be that Ariel Sharon did not come out flatly and declare war against the Palestinians.

Let's go to Jerusalem now and Mike Hanna, who is gauging reaction on both sides now. Mike is with us. Word is now evening time in Jerusalem.

Mike, good evening.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you.

The Israeli nation listened to Ariel Sharon's speech live and his subsequent news conference. Mixed messages, in the way, from the Israeli prime minister. An absolute adamantcy from him that Israel will not rest until, in his words, "the network of terrorism is dismantled." At the same time, saying that Israel will do anything possible to get to a ceasefire, this ceasefire, saying Mr. Sharon, an absolute essential precursor to any form of future negotiations with the Palestinian leaders; this being said, Ariel Sharon commits himself to speaking to Palestinian leaders in a way of getting a ceasefire in place.

I'm joined by two people: Tzali Reshef, from Peace Now movement and a member of Israel's Knesset, and Eve Harrow, sitting on the left, who is a member of the local council of the Efrat settlement in the West Bank.

Let's start with you, Eve.

Did you get anything out of that speech that indicated that Ariel Sharon is expressing a clear direction in which this society is going?

EVE HARROW, WEST BANK SETTLER: I was disappointed. I felt I would have liked stronger declaration of the fact that we're at war and where Israel is going in that direction, that it's clear the Palestinian Authority, there's nobody to talk to -- that it's clear that they are waging war against Israel, importing weapons on the (UNINTELLIGIBLE), suicide bombers virtually every day, shootings, funerals -- every day of Israelis, blowing up discos and pizzerias and what have you.

I would have like to hear him say this particular Palestinian Authority must go, that Israel is going to go and collect the weapons that Arafat is supposed to be collecting, to stop the terrorists that Arafat is supposed to be stopping, and that the security is going back into Israel's hands completely.

And then once this crew is gone, then we will see if there really is something that we can talk to that understands the peace the way we define peace, and not as appeasement.

HANNA: Tzali Reshef, we hear Eve saying that she was disappointed that he is not taking it even further. Your group has advocated negotiations dialogue. Did you find any encouragement in Sharon's speech?

TZALI RESHEF, PEACE NOW, ISRAELI KNESSET: Well, one thing we have in common is that both of us are disappointed. I think that his message was a very sad one. I think that he's offering the Israeli public nothing, that he is offering the Palestinians nothing, that what he is really proposing is continuation of the war between the two peoples.

He really failed to analyze, I guess for himself, but also to the public, the roots of the conflict. Right now, we are really facing a terrible wave of terror. We are facing bums in the cities of Israel. We are facing Israeli attacks on Palestinians.

But is the root of it? The root of it is the Israelis occupying the West Bank and Gaza. There are millions of Palestinians living under occupation without having their rights.

We tried to negotiate with them a 1 1/2 years ago. The negotiations failed, and it led to a war. But we need to renegotiate. If we do not recognize their rights, if we don't understand that we need to talk with one another, the prime minister is continuing with what is done in the last year. We are seeing the results: 250 Israelis killed; hundreds, if not more than this, Palestinians killed; thousands of people wounded on both sides, cripples.

Where is he taking us? Is this the leadership that he is offering the parties? Is this the leadership he is offerings me? This was a very sad night because it means that tomorrow and the day after and in the near future, we're going to see only more and more blood.

HANNA: Tzali Reshef, Eve Harrow, thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Once again, an indication of a divided Israeli society. Once again, the indication from our guests here is that both were disappointed in Ariel Sharon -- one that he did not go far enough, the other that he is not going far enough in another direction, the direction of negotiation.

But the message from Ariel Sharon saying that he will remain committed to a ceasefire, saying at the same time, though, that he will not rest until the "systems of terrorism" -- as he puts it -- are dismantled. And above all of this, says Ariel Sharon, the security of Israel will never be endangered. Back to you, Bill.

HEMMER: Mike, thank you. Mike Hanna, live in Jerusalem.

I want to stay in that part of the world now. From Gaza City, a Palestinian Cabinet member is now our guest live. Nabeel Sha'ath is standing by with us.

Sir, I said good evening to you.

I have already heard -- or read, anyway, on the wire reports -- that many Palestinian spokespeople are saying that Sharon's speech offered, quote, unquote, "no hope." Was there nothing in the speech that allowed you to find some sort of optimism in your near term? .

NABEEL SHA'ATH, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: It's very difficult to talk about optimism and hope here. There's just a little bit of vagueness and confusion that indicates that the man is also frustrated that he had failed in obtaining through military conquest what he wanted to do. And I think this explain a little bit of this confusion in his talk.

If you want to consider that a sign of hope, OK, but otherwise, the man did not spell out what he is willing to do to get peace back on the table and on the ground. He did not indicate whether he is willing to cooperate and implement signed agreements between the two parties in order to get a ceasefire. At least the last of which was the Tenet suggestions and the Mitchell report, in which the two sides have reciprocal commitments to do in order to get ceasefire on.

He didn't go far enough in indicating whether Israel is willing to talk to Mr. Arafat, the elected leader of the Palestinian people, who is willing to get back to the negotiating table in accordance with, again, the whole peace process that we've signed 10 years ago.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: I would like to get in one question, and that question is this: I understand your position regarding Ariel Sharon. Yasser Arafat, earlier today, again called for a ceasefire. Does Arafat not need to go much higher than he has gone thus far? And at the same time, why would it take the Palestinians almost four months to make arrests for an assassination that took place back in October, clearly knowing the Israelis made these demands, standing now for four months' time?

SHA'ATH: Because President Arafat is not really in control of every town and city and barracks of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian territories. He's under siege now for more than 80 days. And every one of his towns and his security people are under bombardment. Every one of their security buildings has been destroyed. He has no communication system and no command and control system. Therefore, the question becomes a matter of opportunity and ability. At a time of great attack by the Israelis and deepening occupation of Palestinian territory. HEMMER: We appreciate your time. We know Hosni Mubarak, the president of Egypt, has been in contact with Ariel Sharon. So we will keep our fingers cross for peace in your part of world, sir. Many thanks for you joining us this evening there in Gaza City.

SHA'ATH: I hope so too. Thank you.

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