Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Peace Plan Under Fire

Aired June 09, 2003 - 09:17   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: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said that he will not let the latest terror attack derail his pursuit for a cease-fire. Four Israeli soldiers were killed at checkpoint in Gaza Sunday, and three Palestinian militant groups are claiming responsibility. Can the prime minister get the militant group to lay down their arms? Our guest now, Middle East analyst Fawas Gergez, a professor at Sarah Lawrence College.
Professor, good morning to you.

Perhaps we're not surprised an attack took place given the current environment of efforts to make peace. But the fact that these three groups operated together, something that they so rarely do.

PROF. FAWAZ GERGES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: Absolutely. I mean, I think several points need to be highlighted. Well executed, highly coordinated among the three major militant groups, Hamas, Jihad and (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the targeted the military, not Israeli civilians, and did not involve suicide bombings.

KAGAN: For people not as familiar as you are with these groups, how unusual is it, how incredible is it that they worked together?

GERGES: This is the first time the three main armed Palestinian groups launched a joint attack against Israeli forces, and I think they sent several message. I think they first say, they reject the conditions stipulated by the road map, and they consider the Israeli army a fair targets, but more important, I think they challenged the authority and legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas, the new prime minister, Palestinian prime minister, to deliver on his promise to end the armed Palestinian intifada, and I think this is the big point about the attacks yesterday.

KAGAN: Two things happened over the last week, of course the summit at Aqaba, but also Hamas cutting off talks with Mahmoud Abbas. The spotlight is on this man to see what he will do in retaliation, but even he himself said last week, he said, I'm going to need at least a few weeks to get these people in check. Is this fair?

GERGES: This is a great point. I think Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister, finds himself in a terrible behind, promising to end the Palestinian armed intifada, without even possessing the means to do. I think his speech in Aqaba with President Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon angered not only Palestinian militants, but the bulk of Palestinian public opinion. They believe that Abbas did not really stress enough Palestinian suffering and the legitimate Palestinian peace arrival (ph). In fact, Mahmoud Abbas was forced to schedule a conference for today in order to reiterate the importance of these points, ending Israeli military occupation, freeing Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and of course talking about the right to return, and promised that he will not squander these legitimate Palestinian national explorations (ph) when the negotiations begin.

KAGAN: Especially on the right to return. That's something the Israelis made clear, that's not even going to be on the table. Talking about the pressure on the other side of Mahmoud Abbas, I'm going to run a quick soundbite from Colin Powell, talking about what he expects from the Palestinian prime minister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: Now, he has to build up his capacity, his capability, to deal with these kinds of organizations, but based on the conversations we had with him over the past week, and the past several weeks, for that matter, I know he is committed to doing that, taking these organizations down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Is that fair? Do you they that the Americans and the Israelis understand the kind of pressure that Mahmoud Abbas is under?

GERGES: Not at all. Mahmoud Abbas, so far, remains a figurehead with a great deal of potential. He lacks not only standing and legitimacy, but also the powerbase to challenge either Arafat or the militants.

Unfortunately, many Palestinians believe that Abbas himself is a creation of the Americans and Israelis; he was imposed on them. And the question is really, without really showing that Abbas can really make a marked improvement in Palestinian life, can really help Palestinians improve their quality of life, Abbas faces some major internal opposition he cannot iron out. In the short-term, he needs time, he need patience, he needs to show Palestinians he can make a difference in their lives, and what the United States and Israel can do would help Mahmoud Abbas a great deal to do so.

KAGAN: Those are three big, big things to order and ask for. Professor, thank you for your time and your insight. Appreciate it.

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 - 09:17   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said that he will not let the latest terror attack derail his pursuit for a cease-fire. Four Israeli soldiers were killed at checkpoint in Gaza Sunday, and three Palestinian militant groups are claiming responsibility. Can the prime minister get the militant group to lay down their arms? Our guest now, Middle East analyst Fawas Gergez, a professor at Sarah Lawrence College.
Professor, good morning to you.

Perhaps we're not surprised an attack took place given the current environment of efforts to make peace. But the fact that these three groups operated together, something that they so rarely do.

PROF. FAWAZ GERGES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: Absolutely. I mean, I think several points need to be highlighted. Well executed, highly coordinated among the three major militant groups, Hamas, Jihad and (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the targeted the military, not Israeli civilians, and did not involve suicide bombings.

KAGAN: For people not as familiar as you are with these groups, how unusual is it, how incredible is it that they worked together?

GERGES: This is the first time the three main armed Palestinian groups launched a joint attack against Israeli forces, and I think they sent several message. I think they first say, they reject the conditions stipulated by the road map, and they consider the Israeli army a fair targets, but more important, I think they challenged the authority and legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas, the new prime minister, Palestinian prime minister, to deliver on his promise to end the armed Palestinian intifada, and I think this is the big point about the attacks yesterday.

KAGAN: Two things happened over the last week, of course the summit at Aqaba, but also Hamas cutting off talks with Mahmoud Abbas. The spotlight is on this man to see what he will do in retaliation, but even he himself said last week, he said, I'm going to need at least a few weeks to get these people in check. Is this fair?

GERGES: This is a great point. I think Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister, finds himself in a terrible behind, promising to end the Palestinian armed intifada, without even possessing the means to do. I think his speech in Aqaba with President Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon angered not only Palestinian militants, but the bulk of Palestinian public opinion. They believe that Abbas did not really stress enough Palestinian suffering and the legitimate Palestinian peace arrival (ph). In fact, Mahmoud Abbas was forced to schedule a conference for today in order to reiterate the importance of these points, ending Israeli military occupation, freeing Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and of course talking about the right to return, and promised that he will not squander these legitimate Palestinian national explorations (ph) when the negotiations begin.

KAGAN: Especially on the right to return. That's something the Israelis made clear, that's not even going to be on the table. Talking about the pressure on the other side of Mahmoud Abbas, I'm going to run a quick soundbite from Colin Powell, talking about what he expects from the Palestinian prime minister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: Now, he has to build up his capacity, his capability, to deal with these kinds of organizations, but based on the conversations we had with him over the past week, and the past several weeks, for that matter, I know he is committed to doing that, taking these organizations down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Is that fair? Do you they that the Americans and the Israelis understand the kind of pressure that Mahmoud Abbas is under?

GERGES: Not at all. Mahmoud Abbas, so far, remains a figurehead with a great deal of potential. He lacks not only standing and legitimacy, but also the powerbase to challenge either Arafat or the militants.

Unfortunately, many Palestinians believe that Abbas himself is a creation of the Americans and Israelis; he was imposed on them. And the question is really, without really showing that Abbas can really make a marked improvement in Palestinian life, can really help Palestinians improve their quality of life, Abbas faces some major internal opposition he cannot iron out. In the short-term, he needs time, he need patience, he needs to show Palestinians he can make a difference in their lives, and what the United States and Israel can do would help Mahmoud Abbas a great deal to do so.

KAGAN: Those are three big, big things to order and ask for. Professor, thank you for your time and your insight. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com