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American Morning

Interview with Daniel Kurtzel

Aired August 01, 2002 - 07:01   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: Let's go back to the Middle East. You mentioned a short time ago the violence has come now to the U.S.

The latest terror attack in Israel claiming the lives of five Americans, including: Benjamin Blutstein from Pennsylvania, he was studying to be a teacher; also David Gritz, who had a French citizenship as well; Marla Bennett, a graduate student from San Diego, planning to return home on Friday; Janis Ruth Coulter from Massachusetts, escorting American students to Israel. The fifth victim so far has not been identified.

This morning, also Israeli authorities know more about who is responsible for that blast, and they are retaliating for other attacks.

Jerrold Kessel back at Hebrew University, where he was just about 24 hours ago.

Jerrold -- hello.

All right, Jerrold Kessel, trying to make the contact -- there we go, great.

Go ahead -- Jerrold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. Hope you hear me now.

Despite the horror of yesterday in this square at the cafeteria behind us, where that bomb killed seven people and wounded more than 80, some 20 of whom still remain in the hospital this morning, attempts to get back to life as normal as much as can be done, and that means studies again.

Yesterday was examination time for those who had completed some of the courses. Today, new courses are beginning in Hebrew studies, Arabic studies, and other Middle Eastern studies, mainly of the international students program, because the majority of the university students are on summer vacation. But the summer program is back in full swing.

In one of the poignant moments, I was walking through the corridors and saw some of the exam results going up from yesterday, those who had set those final tests for their courses. And as I say, life seeming to try to get back to normal, but it's a very somber mood this morning, as we spoke to some of the students trying to get a handle on things.

And we are joined here in this square outside of the cafeteria by the U.S. ambassador to Tel Aviv, to Israel, Daniel Kurtzel.

Thanks very much, Ambassador Kurtzel, for joining us. You have just laid a wreath at the site of yesterday's bombing. Can I have your reaction to the incident yesterday?

DAN KURTZEL, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Well, Jerrold, thank you.

As you know, President Bush condemned this horrible act in the strongest terms yesterday, and conveyed the condolences of the American people to the families of those who lost their lives or those who were still in the hospital. As I said here today, we have shared the grief of the Israeli people over these past 22 months, and now it's even deeper with the loss of life of five Americans at the Hebrew University.

There was an invasion of the sanctuary of academic space, which as you said, has been inhabited by Arabs and Jews and Christians and Muslims and people of all countries around the world, and it's a despicable act which deserves the right kind of response, which is an end to terrorism.

KESSEL: Hamas claiming responsibility for this action. It said it was revenge for the Israeli action. Now, there has been a lot of talk among the student body here at large of whether Hamas intended to target the people who were targeted here, where there were Americans, international community. What's your feeling on that?

KURTZEL: You know, it's hard to know the motivations of a murderer or a terrorist. Clearly, they chose a university, and clearly, they chose a place where students, Israeli and foreign students, were mingling and studying and pursuing their studies. So this was a conscious decision on the part of the murderers and the terrorists, not an accidental one.

KESSEL: And how to stop it?

KURTZEL: I think the determination that we have and the government of Israel has to pursue the war on terrorism needs to be continued. The president said this yesterday. We in Israel work very closely together. As I said here today, it's not just a question of condemnation of this act. Palestinians, other Arabs have to work to stop the terrorism and stop it now.

KESSEL: Ambassador Kurtzel, thank you very much -- the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzel.

And the Israeli police are saying in regards to that bombing yesterday that they believe that it was the explosives -- the bomb inside the bag inside the cafeteria was set off by means of a cellular telephone, a message to that telephone. That's the working assumption as Israel goes about trying to find a way not just to handle this -- to find a solution of what happened here, but to handle the question of the bombers at large.

This morning, Israel blew up a house of a suicide bomber in a neighboring town, and there are reports that Israel will deport family members from their homes in the West Bank to Gaza.

And now, though, a somber mood here at Hebrew University.

Back to you in New York.

HEMMER: Thank you, Jerrold -- Jerrold Kessel at Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, thank you.

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