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American Morning

Fighting is Escalating in Middle East

Aired May 21, 2001 - 11:00   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour in the Middle East where the fighting is escalating. Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza today hours after soldiers shot and killed two Palestinians. Military officials say the men were trying to plant a bomb near a boundary fence. All of this as the final draft of the Mitchell Report is released that lays out a plan for ending violence in the Middle East.

CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett listened in on that plan, joins us now with the details -- hi, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

I can tell you, a senior Bush White House administration official tells CNN that the White House views the Mitchell Report as not an avenue to a new policy in the Middle East, but an opportunity, in this adviser's words, to see if the other two parties are ready to take meaningful steps to end the violence.

That is the first and foremost recommendation of that Mitchell Report, to end the violence. Senator Mitchell described that push for the end of violence this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE MITCHELL, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: First, end the violence. That must be the immediate aim. The cycle of violent action and violent reaction must be broken. We call upon the parties to implement an immediate and unconditional cessation of violence. Part of the effort to end the violence must include an immediate resumption of security cooperation between the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority aimed at preventing violence and combating terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: That, of course, is the first and most essential precondition to creating any sort of environment that might at some time in the future lead to peace talks. But there is no sign on the ground that either the Israelis or the Palestinians intend to agree to that immediate cessation of violence -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: And on another note, Major, the president, going back to this alma matter, on a lighter note, going to be addressing graduates. What do you expect him to say? GARRETT: Well, we've been advised here at the White House that the president will make brief and slightly comical remarks about his own history at Yale, graduating in 1969 with a history degree and very middling grades. The president will poke fun at himself, trying to make light of a moment the has drawn a little bit of controversy up in Yale, some of the students not quite pleased and some of the faculty even more displeased that this president is being awarded an honorary degree in law, rather, only four months into his presidency. They believe he needs a little bit more time here at the White House to prove himself worthy of such a high honor at Yale -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: And we will bring that commencement speech to you live when it happens right here on CNN. Thanks, Major.

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