Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Interview With Fawaz Gerges
Aired July 02, 2003 - 09:05 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: So what is the significance of today's events in Bethlehem? And will this be considered a critical test as Palestinian security forces take over?
Fawaz Gerges is the chairman of Middle Eastern studies and international affairs at Sarah Lawrence College and joins us now this morning. Let's get right to it. This is an important test. Has will it mean for the Palestinians? What exactly is expected of them now?
FAWAZ GERGES, CHMN., MIDDLE E. STUDIES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: Well I think today's action is the beginning of the process that will supposedly culminate in the pull out of Israeli forces from Palestinian towns and cities which were reoccupied in the last year or so.
Two major points here. Let's hope that this particular process that has taken place in the last few days in Gaza and today is not undermined and of course sabotaged by any outbreak of violence.
And, secondly, let's hope that the improved security situation will enable the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down and negotiate a settlement that takes into account the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinians and Israeli security interests as well.
COLLINS: Well as the momentum grows now for the road map for peace, what does the U.S. need to do? Is it fair to say that President Bush's involvement could only intensify, or might have to intensify from here?
GERGES: You know, Heidi, I mean, first and foremost, the United States, particularly the president himself, must remain actively engaged in this peace process and must equally apply pressure on both sides. The Palestinians and the Israelis, in order to live up to the commitments, in order to reach a settlement that will culminate in two viable states living side-by-side in peace.
And let's hope the president remains committed to the peace process and invests the needed capital even after the launching of the presidential elections in the next few months. It's essential that the United States must remain actively engaged because without American active intervention, little happen on the Palestinian/Israeli peace process.
COLLINS: And yesterday, we were watching pretty closely, we saw Sharon and Abbas, we saw them shaking hands, we saw that the mood was pretty upbeat. We see that from the leaders now but always curious to know, what are we seeing on the streets? What is the feeling for the average Israel and Palestinian?
GERGES: You know, Heidi, really, more than anything else, yesterday's meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas was symbolically important.
Here you have (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, directly addressing the Israeli public. Every life lost he's had is a human tragedy. No more suffering, no more pain, no more death. And he said, he added, Listen, we are not -- you are not our enemies. Our struggle is political.
And also, and similarly, Israeli prime minister talked about a joint future of peace and prospects. What this will do, this particular talk will empower the peace camps and weaken the militants on both sides.
Of course, the translation of this particular vision into political, complete political reality must be very difficult. but what we are seeing empowers the peace camp on both sides, on both the Palestinian and the Israeli side and weakens the militants on both sides as well.
COLLINS: Of course, we will continue to watch all of that action, especially today.
Fawaz Gerges, chairman of Middle Eastern studies and international affairs for the Sarah Lawrence College, thank you so much this morning.
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 July 2, 2003 - 09:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: So what is the significance of today's events in Bethlehem? And will this be considered a critical test as Palestinian security forces take over?
Fawaz Gerges is the chairman of Middle Eastern studies and international affairs at Sarah Lawrence College and joins us now this morning. Let's get right to it. This is an important test. Has will it mean for the Palestinians? What exactly is expected of them now?
FAWAZ GERGES, CHMN., MIDDLE E. STUDIES, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: Well I think today's action is the beginning of the process that will supposedly culminate in the pull out of Israeli forces from Palestinian towns and cities which were reoccupied in the last year or so.
Two major points here. Let's hope that this particular process that has taken place in the last few days in Gaza and today is not undermined and of course sabotaged by any outbreak of violence.
And, secondly, let's hope that the improved security situation will enable the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down and negotiate a settlement that takes into account the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinians and Israeli security interests as well.
COLLINS: Well as the momentum grows now for the road map for peace, what does the U.S. need to do? Is it fair to say that President Bush's involvement could only intensify, or might have to intensify from here?
GERGES: You know, Heidi, I mean, first and foremost, the United States, particularly the president himself, must remain actively engaged in this peace process and must equally apply pressure on both sides. The Palestinians and the Israelis, in order to live up to the commitments, in order to reach a settlement that will culminate in two viable states living side-by-side in peace.
And let's hope the president remains committed to the peace process and invests the needed capital even after the launching of the presidential elections in the next few months. It's essential that the United States must remain actively engaged because without American active intervention, little happen on the Palestinian/Israeli peace process.
COLLINS: And yesterday, we were watching pretty closely, we saw Sharon and Abbas, we saw them shaking hands, we saw that the mood was pretty upbeat. We see that from the leaders now but always curious to know, what are we seeing on the streets? What is the feeling for the average Israel and Palestinian?
GERGES: You know, Heidi, really, more than anything else, yesterday's meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas was symbolically important.
Here you have (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, directly addressing the Israeli public. Every life lost he's had is a human tragedy. No more suffering, no more pain, no more death. And he said, he added, Listen, we are not -- you are not our enemies. Our struggle is political.
And also, and similarly, Israeli prime minister talked about a joint future of peace and prospects. What this will do, this particular talk will empower the peace camps and weaken the militants on both sides.
Of course, the translation of this particular vision into political, complete political reality must be very difficult. but what we are seeing empowers the peace camp on both sides, on both the Palestinian and the Israeli side and weakens the militants on both sides as well.
COLLINS: Of course, we will continue to watch all of that action, especially today.
Fawaz Gerges, chairman of Middle Eastern studies and international affairs for the Sarah Lawrence College, thank you so much this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
