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American Morning
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza
Aired June 12, 2003 - 09:32 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: About 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, about 90 minutes ago, a report out of Gaza City said that the Hamas leaders have now called for all of Hamas members to continue their attacks against Israelis, and also urging anyone from overseas, living and working in Israel, to get out immediately. That was the word we got from Gaza City.
In Jerusalem, here's our bureau chief now Mike Hanna there with more.
Mike, good afternoon there.
Another bloody, violent day.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed, Bill.
The Israeli government has said that it will go ahead and carry out its operations against members of the militant Hamas organization. This appears to be the case. Another Israeli helicopter attack directed at a motorcycle in Gaza. According to Palestinian sources, at least five people have been killed in the latest attack, more than 20 people wounded.
Now one Palestinian source tell us that in the vehicle that was the target of the initial missile strike was a Hamas militant, Jihaz Ruel (ph); also in the car where his wife and his son. All three of them are dead in the latest attack.
So ongoing violence, as Israel says it will continue it's operation against Hamas.
Hamas, for its part, has warned it will continue attacks against Israeli targets. It has called on all foreigners to leave Israel and the Palestinian territories, and it's appeared to be virtual open warfare now between the Israeli government and the militant Hamas movement, calling into question the entire implementation of that road map process -- Bill.
HEMMER: Mike, when we heard Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister, come out and urge essentially a cease-fire on behalf of Hamas and others, Yasser Arafat joined him in that plea, as well. Why is it that the words of these two men are simply not being heeded?
HANNA: We've got to put the concept here of what exactly is going on. The two parties who have subscribed to the U.S. road map are the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. The Hamas militant group and other militant organizations have been continually opposed to the road map and its implementation.
What we have here is a scenario where Israel is not waiting for the Palestinian Authority to carry through on its pledges to negotiate a cease-fire with the militant groups, to allow the implementation of the road map. Israel says that it cannot stand by while terror attacks are being planned against its subjects, and against Israel itself.
Here, we have got a real difference of opinion. The Israeli government and Ariel Sharon do not see any different in terms of their obligations under the road map, and these operations against those that they see as planning terror attacks. They see it as part of the same pattern, that the road map cannot be implemented with the ever present threat of terror.
The Palestinians see it very differently indeed. They see these operations as undermining and sabotaging the entire road map process as it makes it impossible for them to get any form of truce in place with the militants. The position of the U.S. administration in this. They were critical of the first Israeli attack and attempted assassination of the senior Hamas leader, but we are waiting to hear what they say in the wake of the chain against Hamas militants -- Bill.
HEMMER: Mike Hanna, live in Jerusalem. It's midday there, and as we go forward again throughout this day, we mark, again, more deaths and more casualties in the Middle East.
Mike Hanna, our bureau chief there.
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 12, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: About 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, about 90 minutes ago, a report out of Gaza City said that the Hamas leaders have now called for all of Hamas members to continue their attacks against Israelis, and also urging anyone from overseas, living and working in Israel, to get out immediately. That was the word we got from Gaza City.
In Jerusalem, here's our bureau chief now Mike Hanna there with more.
Mike, good afternoon there.
Another bloody, violent day.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed, Bill.
The Israeli government has said that it will go ahead and carry out its operations against members of the militant Hamas organization. This appears to be the case. Another Israeli helicopter attack directed at a motorcycle in Gaza. According to Palestinian sources, at least five people have been killed in the latest attack, more than 20 people wounded.
Now one Palestinian source tell us that in the vehicle that was the target of the initial missile strike was a Hamas militant, Jihaz Ruel (ph); also in the car where his wife and his son. All three of them are dead in the latest attack.
So ongoing violence, as Israel says it will continue it's operation against Hamas.
Hamas, for its part, has warned it will continue attacks against Israeli targets. It has called on all foreigners to leave Israel and the Palestinian territories, and it's appeared to be virtual open warfare now between the Israeli government and the militant Hamas movement, calling into question the entire implementation of that road map process -- Bill.
HEMMER: Mike, when we heard Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister, come out and urge essentially a cease-fire on behalf of Hamas and others, Yasser Arafat joined him in that plea, as well. Why is it that the words of these two men are simply not being heeded?
HANNA: We've got to put the concept here of what exactly is going on. The two parties who have subscribed to the U.S. road map are the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. The Hamas militant group and other militant organizations have been continually opposed to the road map and its implementation.
What we have here is a scenario where Israel is not waiting for the Palestinian Authority to carry through on its pledges to negotiate a cease-fire with the militant groups, to allow the implementation of the road map. Israel says that it cannot stand by while terror attacks are being planned against its subjects, and against Israel itself.
Here, we have got a real difference of opinion. The Israeli government and Ariel Sharon do not see any different in terms of their obligations under the road map, and these operations against those that they see as planning terror attacks. They see it as part of the same pattern, that the road map cannot be implemented with the ever present threat of terror.
The Palestinians see it very differently indeed. They see these operations as undermining and sabotaging the entire road map process as it makes it impossible for them to get any form of truce in place with the militants. The position of the U.S. administration in this. They were critical of the first Israeli attack and attempted assassination of the senior Hamas leader, but we are waiting to hear what they say in the wake of the chain against Hamas militants -- Bill.
HEMMER: Mike Hanna, live in Jerusalem. It's midday there, and as we go forward again throughout this day, we mark, again, more deaths and more casualties in the Middle East.
Mike Hanna, our bureau chief there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
