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American Morning
Promising Signals Coming From Israel
Aired May 27, 2003 - 07:33 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As we have been reporting, there are some promising signals coming from Israel days after it approved the U.S.-backed road map to peace. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon late Monday said the Palestinians were living under Israeli occupation. He called it a terrible thing that must end.
More now from Jerusalem and our bureau chief there, Mike Hanna -- hello, Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
Well, a remarkably moderate statement from the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon. It's only a word, but words in this region are all important and at this particular time, indeed. The use of the word occupation, well, it's normally Palestinians or the Israeli left who use that word. Never before a right-wing Israeli prime minister or member of the Likud Party.
Ariel Sharon signaling, it would appear, his intent and his good faith in accepting the U.S.-backed road map, the end result of which is designed to be an independent Palestinian state.
But let's listen to exactly what Ariel Sharon had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I want to say to you very clearly, I will make every effort to reach a political solution because I think it is important to Israel to reach a political solution. I also think the idea to keep three and a half million people under occupation is a bad thing for us and them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNA: Mr. Sharon referring to the presence of Israeli forces in Palestinian towns, cities and villages, not necessarily the settlements, the Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, which remain a major stumbling block as the negotiations and the implementation of the road map continues.
The Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, well, he's due to meet Ariel Sharon in coming days. There was a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, but we've learned from both sides now that this has been postponed for, I quote, "technical considerations," and I stress this is a postponement, say both sides, not a cancellation.
The meeting due to take place before the end of the week. And it's a very important stepping stone, this meeting between the two prime ministers, because that, in turn, will lead to an even more critical meeting, a summit involving U.S. President George W. Bush, which most observers believe will take place within the next 10 days, giving that road map an even greater momentum -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And we'll wait to hear for exact dates on all of those meetings.
Thanks so much this morning.
Live from Jerusalem, Mike Hanna.
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 May 27, 2003 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As we have been reporting, there are some promising signals coming from Israel days after it approved the U.S.-backed road map to peace. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon late Monday said the Palestinians were living under Israeli occupation. He called it a terrible thing that must end.
More now from Jerusalem and our bureau chief there, Mike Hanna -- hello, Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
Well, a remarkably moderate statement from the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon. It's only a word, but words in this region are all important and at this particular time, indeed. The use of the word occupation, well, it's normally Palestinians or the Israeli left who use that word. Never before a right-wing Israeli prime minister or member of the Likud Party.
Ariel Sharon signaling, it would appear, his intent and his good faith in accepting the U.S.-backed road map, the end result of which is designed to be an independent Palestinian state.
But let's listen to exactly what Ariel Sharon had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I want to say to you very clearly, I will make every effort to reach a political solution because I think it is important to Israel to reach a political solution. I also think the idea to keep three and a half million people under occupation is a bad thing for us and them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNA: Mr. Sharon referring to the presence of Israeli forces in Palestinian towns, cities and villages, not necessarily the settlements, the Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, which remain a major stumbling block as the negotiations and the implementation of the road map continues.
The Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, well, he's due to meet Ariel Sharon in coming days. There was a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, but we've learned from both sides now that this has been postponed for, I quote, "technical considerations," and I stress this is a postponement, say both sides, not a cancellation.
The meeting due to take place before the end of the week. And it's a very important stepping stone, this meeting between the two prime ministers, because that, in turn, will lead to an even more critical meeting, a summit involving U.S. President George W. Bush, which most observers believe will take place within the next 10 days, giving that road map an even greater momentum -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And we'll wait to hear for exact dates on all of those meetings.
Thanks so much this morning.
Live from Jerusalem, Mike Hanna.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
