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American Morning
Roadblocks on Path to Peace
Aired June 09, 2003 - 07:32 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 get to the Middle East right now and roadblocks on the path to peace. Three militant groups, Palestinian groups, claiming responsibility for an attack yesterday in which four Israeli soldiers were killed and another four were wounded. It follows last week's historic Aqaba summit in Jordan and both the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers say they remain committed to peace despite the new violence.
Kelly Wallace in Ramallah watching a much anticipated press conference and announcement from Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister -- what was said, Kelly?
Good afternoon.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.
Well, the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, facing a definite challenge from the Palestinian militants responsible for Sunday's attack. And so what he did on this day, he tried to go on the offensive and do some damage control after he has been facing mounting criticism from within the Palestinian community that his remarks last week in Aqaba demanded too little of Israel.
So he told a room full of journalists that he's standing by his commitment, including an end to the armed intifada against Israel. But he also talked about other issues, such as the importance of the release of Palestinian prisoners and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel proper.
A key question now, exactly how the radical Palestinian groups will respond, including the group Hamas, which broke off ceasefire talks with the prime minister on Friday. Mahmoud Abbas saying today that there can be no alternative but to keep talking. And he says he will not use force to get any agreement, voicing confidence. He believes ultimately Hamas and these other groups will come back to the negotiating table.
Mr. Abbas, though, is also saying Israel needs to take some steps and on that note, some representatives of the Jewish settlers meeting with defense ministry officials on this day. The Israeli government could, over the next few days, dismantle some 10 to 15 illegal settlement outposts and the Israeli government is hoping to get the cooperation of Jewish settlers and avoid any confrontation.
But right now, Bill, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister; Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister; both facing tremendous challenges from hardliners in their own parties. The first major test of that road map and all of the optimism coming from Jordan last week -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kelly Wallace live in Ramallah.
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 June 9, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get to the Middle East right now and roadblocks on the path to peace. Three militant groups, Palestinian groups, claiming responsibility for an attack yesterday in which four Israeli soldiers were killed and another four were wounded. It follows last week's historic Aqaba summit in Jordan and both the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers say they remain committed to peace despite the new violence.
Kelly Wallace in Ramallah watching a much anticipated press conference and announcement from Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister -- what was said, Kelly?
Good afternoon.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.
Well, the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, facing a definite challenge from the Palestinian militants responsible for Sunday's attack. And so what he did on this day, he tried to go on the offensive and do some damage control after he has been facing mounting criticism from within the Palestinian community that his remarks last week in Aqaba demanded too little of Israel.
So he told a room full of journalists that he's standing by his commitment, including an end to the armed intifada against Israel. But he also talked about other issues, such as the importance of the release of Palestinian prisoners and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel proper.
A key question now, exactly how the radical Palestinian groups will respond, including the group Hamas, which broke off ceasefire talks with the prime minister on Friday. Mahmoud Abbas saying today that there can be no alternative but to keep talking. And he says he will not use force to get any agreement, voicing confidence. He believes ultimately Hamas and these other groups will come back to the negotiating table.
Mr. Abbas, though, is also saying Israel needs to take some steps and on that note, some representatives of the Jewish settlers meeting with defense ministry officials on this day. The Israeli government could, over the next few days, dismantle some 10 to 15 illegal settlement outposts and the Israeli government is hoping to get the cooperation of Jewish settlers and avoid any confrontation.
But right now, Bill, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister; Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister; both facing tremendous challenges from hardliners in their own parties. The first major test of that road map and all of the optimism coming from Jordan last week -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kelly Wallace live in Ramallah.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
