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American Morning
Crucial Palestinian Vote
Aired April 29, 2003 - 09:12 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Other interesting news out of the Middle East today, as Palestinian legislators are preparing to vote, a vote that could put the peace process back on track. If a new prime minister and cabinet are approved today in Ramallah, it could clear the way for a peace plan that President Bush is advocating.
Kelly Wallace is in Ramallah today with more on that.
Kelly -- hello.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
Well, the major challenge right now for Mahmoud Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen, getting a simple majority of the some 83 parliament members who are coming to this building behind me. Each of the members will get about three minutes to speak, so we could be here for awhile before the final vote is taken.
A side bar to all of this: Just how much power is Palestinian President Yasser Arafat still wielding behind the scenes? A sign of the power he still has, he was the first person to speak. He spoke out at his Ramallah compound not too far away from here, and in his remarks he called on the Palestinian legislative council to go ahead and endorse the cabinet of Abu Mazen.
Most believe that endorsement, following the settlement of the power struggle between the two men last week, means that this legislative council is likely to go ahead and approve this cabinet on this day.
We also heard for the first time from Abu Mazen. We haven't heard from him for weeks. He spoke out, and he said there can only be a peaceful solution, a political solution, not a military solution to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
He also said he would focus on security, making sure weapons don't fall into the wrong people's hands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABU MAZEN, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE(through translator): For ending the disorder and chaos of arms with the threats that are imposed on the country will be one of our main tasks, and we will not be lenient at all. Only the legitimate arms will be used to protect security and public order and the life of people and their property.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Israelis are likely to be heartened by those comments. Israeli officials have said once they see tangible steps on the ground, how Abu Mazen and his security team are trying to stop attacks by radical groups, the Israelis will take such steps, such as pulling out of some Palestinian towns.
And, Daryn, again, if this cabinet is approved on this day, that so-called road map for Middle East peace could be published as soon as Wednesday.
Daryn -- back to you.
KAGAN: Kelly Wallace in Ramallah, you'll be tracking it for us. Kelly, 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 April 29, 2003 - 09:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Other interesting news out of the Middle East today, as Palestinian legislators are preparing to vote, a vote that could put the peace process back on track. If a new prime minister and cabinet are approved today in Ramallah, it could clear the way for a peace plan that President Bush is advocating.
Kelly Wallace is in Ramallah today with more on that.
Kelly -- hello.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
Well, the major challenge right now for Mahmoud Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen, getting a simple majority of the some 83 parliament members who are coming to this building behind me. Each of the members will get about three minutes to speak, so we could be here for awhile before the final vote is taken.
A side bar to all of this: Just how much power is Palestinian President Yasser Arafat still wielding behind the scenes? A sign of the power he still has, he was the first person to speak. He spoke out at his Ramallah compound not too far away from here, and in his remarks he called on the Palestinian legislative council to go ahead and endorse the cabinet of Abu Mazen.
Most believe that endorsement, following the settlement of the power struggle between the two men last week, means that this legislative council is likely to go ahead and approve this cabinet on this day.
We also heard for the first time from Abu Mazen. We haven't heard from him for weeks. He spoke out, and he said there can only be a peaceful solution, a political solution, not a military solution to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
He also said he would focus on security, making sure weapons don't fall into the wrong people's hands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABU MAZEN, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE(through translator): For ending the disorder and chaos of arms with the threats that are imposed on the country will be one of our main tasks, and we will not be lenient at all. Only the legitimate arms will be used to protect security and public order and the life of people and their property.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Israelis are likely to be heartened by those comments. Israeli officials have said once they see tangible steps on the ground, how Abu Mazen and his security team are trying to stop attacks by radical groups, the Israelis will take such steps, such as pulling out of some Palestinian towns.
And, Daryn, again, if this cabinet is approved on this day, that so-called road map for Middle East peace could be published as soon as Wednesday.
Daryn -- back to you.
KAGAN: Kelly Wallace in Ramallah, you'll be tracking it for us. Kelly, 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.
