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American Morning
Ariel Sharon, Mahmoud Abbas Plan Talks in Jerusalem
Aired May 29, 2003 - 07:05 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: Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet today after postponing a meeting yesterday. They now will sit down to discuss the U.S.-backed road map for Middle East peace. Both sides are also expected to have a summit with President Bush next week.
Our Mike Hanna has the very latest now coming to us live from Jerusalem this morning.
Hello to you -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello there, Heidi.
Well, the meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon, due to take place later in the day in the city of Jerusalem, the two sitting down to discuss how to begin implementing the U.S.-backed road map, a process designed to end the conflict in this region and to bring about an independent Palestinian state.
The Palestinian prime minister has been making conciliatory sounds leading into this meeting, saying that he believes that a cease-fire is possible, believing that he can persuade militant groups such as Hamas to end its attacks against Israeli civilians. But he stresses that Israel needs to meet its obligations in terms of that road map as well, withdrawal from certain Palestinian areas and an end to attacks against Palestinian militants.
So, the two leaders meet. This is the second meeting this month between the two, but, once again, attempting to find a way in which they will implement the road map and meet the obligations in terms of that process. This, a preliminary to an even more important meeting next week, and that is with U.S. President George W. Bush due to take place in Jordan -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Mike, I know that Yasser Arafat will not be there, but he's still considered to be a main Palestinian figure. How is all of this going down?
HANNA: Well, the Palestinians insist that Yasser Arafat is the elected president, and that he ultimately has control and power over the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. and Israel say, no, they will have him not taking any part whatsoever in the ongoing negotiation process.
What his absence from these talks was a condition by Israel in terms of accepting the road map in the first place. But he remains influential, and his prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, continues to insist that he still sees Yasser Arafat as a leader. And whether or not the Israelis or the U.S. wish to wish him away, he will remain on the sidelines and he will remain influential in terms of decisions that the Palestinians take -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Mike Hanna live from Jerusalem this morning. Thanks, Mike.
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 29, 2003 - 07:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet today after postponing a meeting yesterday. They now will sit down to discuss the U.S.-backed road map for Middle East peace. Both sides are also expected to have a summit with President Bush next week.
Our Mike Hanna has the very latest now coming to us live from Jerusalem this morning.
Hello to you -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello there, Heidi.
Well, the meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon, due to take place later in the day in the city of Jerusalem, the two sitting down to discuss how to begin implementing the U.S.-backed road map, a process designed to end the conflict in this region and to bring about an independent Palestinian state.
The Palestinian prime minister has been making conciliatory sounds leading into this meeting, saying that he believes that a cease-fire is possible, believing that he can persuade militant groups such as Hamas to end its attacks against Israeli civilians. But he stresses that Israel needs to meet its obligations in terms of that road map as well, withdrawal from certain Palestinian areas and an end to attacks against Palestinian militants.
So, the two leaders meet. This is the second meeting this month between the two, but, once again, attempting to find a way in which they will implement the road map and meet the obligations in terms of that process. This, a preliminary to an even more important meeting next week, and that is with U.S. President George W. Bush due to take place in Jordan -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Mike, I know that Yasser Arafat will not be there, but he's still considered to be a main Palestinian figure. How is all of this going down?
HANNA: Well, the Palestinians insist that Yasser Arafat is the elected president, and that he ultimately has control and power over the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. and Israel say, no, they will have him not taking any part whatsoever in the ongoing negotiation process.
What his absence from these talks was a condition by Israel in terms of accepting the road map in the first place. But he remains influential, and his prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, continues to insist that he still sees Yasser Arafat as a leader. And whether or not the Israelis or the U.S. wish to wish him away, he will remain on the sidelines and he will remain influential in terms of decisions that the Palestinians take -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Mike Hanna live from Jerusalem this morning. Thanks, Mike.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
