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CNN Sunday Morning

Israeli Delays U.N. Jenin Fact-Finding Team

Aired April 28, 2002 - 10:11   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of activity in Israel today as the Israeli cabinet meets to consider two important issues. Earlier, we told you, the cabinet endorsed a Bush proposal to find a way to end the siege of the Ramallah compound of Yasser Arafat. Now we have word on that other big issue -- the inspection of the Jenin refugee camp. For details on that we turn it over to CNN's Jerrold Kessel -- Jerrold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, whereas with respect to President Bush's proposal to send in U.S. and or American troops or guards to guard those Palestinians suspects, which would, in a way, open up the alleviating the siege on Yasser Arafat, open the end of that standoff, we have something -- not a concrete decision, we understand by the Israeli government, but almost another postponement and we don't know for how long, with respect to the arrival of the Jenin fact-finding commission sent by the United Nations.

Now what we understand happened at the Israeli cabinet this morning there was a good deal of unanimity in the Israeli cabinet. Foreign minister, Shimon Peres saying beforehand that he said the terms of reference in which this fact-finding commission was coming was amounting to setting up a possible blood liable against Israel. Strong words from the Israeli foreign minister.

What Prime Minister Sharon had said was he wanted at least another 24 hour delay in the arrival of the U.N. team. Now what we understand in the wake of the discussion in the Israeli cabinet -- as I say, we don't have a formal statement from the Israeli cabinet -- they are telling the United Nations conditions are not yet ripe -- I stress that phrase, not yet ripe for the arrival of the U.N. team.

Now the Israeli were objecting to the fact that the United Nations wanted free and unfettered access to anyone whom they choose to question, witnesses, to what happened or what might not have happened, and the policy and actions undertaken in the Jenin refugee camp during that major Israeli offensive.

The Israelis were saying, no, only they should decide whom the U.N. should interview. That was the standing point, it remains the sticking point between the two sides. Now the Israelis are telling the U.N., don't come yet until we've worked that out. We understand the U.N. team, which has been cooling its heals in Geneva, has not yet set off, indeed has postponed that scheduled flight, which was to have taken place here this afternoon. The standoff at that point remains between Israel and the U.N. -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Jerrold Kessel, reporting to us from Jerusalem. Thank you very much.

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