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CNN Sunday Morning

Israeli Official Focus on Fact-Finding Mission

Aired April 28, 2002 - 08:02   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the Middle East, where Israeli officials are focusing on a U.N. fact-finding mission.

CNN's Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem, again, with the latest on that and much more -- Jerold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, double-barreled decision expected from the Israeli government, both on the question of accepting the arrival of the United Nations probe on the Jenin refugee camp. That U.N. team cooling its heels for now, are in Geneva waiting for the decision on whether Israel will play ball with it.

And then the second question that the Israeli cabinet was discussing this morning, a proposal that P.M. Sharon said he had heard from President Bush in a telephone call last night, that with regard to the standoff between Israel and the Palestinians over Yasser Arafat's isolation at his headquarters in Ramallah, that United States or British troops take guard over the Palestinians who are there -- six wanted Palestinians by Israel in connection with two acts of terror, as the Israelis are calling it -- wanting those people to be put behind bars or at least to be tried.

The United States proposing that United States or British troops stand guard over the Palestinian prisons.

These two issues on the table of the Israeli cabinet, and we understand now, after an hour's recess, the Israeli cabinet has resumed its discussion, and what we're getting out of it from sources in the Israeli political establishment is that two decisions are both about delaying a decision.

With regard to the U.N. probe, we understand that the tendency, at least in the cabinet at the moment, is to accept with P.M. Sharon's position was -- is that while they still continue to have an argument with the United Nations about one specific point of the terms of reference of that U.N. probe -- that is, who should be entitled to summon witnesses to the committee -- whether Israel should be allowed to send whom it deems necessary, from its military and political establishment, perhaps to give testimony.

The United Nations team saying absolutely, flatly, that they should have the right to question whomever they wish with regard to what happened in the Jenin refugee camp. Now, P.M. Sharon this morning made the proposal, the need to go on discussing this with the United Nations before admitting the team in, and that appears to be, they say at least, the inclination of the cabinet, to accept the prime minister's position while the negotiations go on with the U.N., which would mean the delay of that United Nations team coming here.

And we've had an immediate response in the last 20 minutes from the Palestinian side, the top Palestinian spokesman, negotiator Saeb Erakat, telling CNN in a statement that he is urging Kofi Annan, the U.N. secretary general, to send the fact-finding team right away. Mr. Erakat saying, enough is enough. If Mr. Sharon wishes to keep the team out of the country, so let him do it.

On the other issue, of the American proposal, we understand there is virtually a tie in the Israeli cabinet about whether accepting President Bush's idea. Debate on that goes on. It could be delayed again, a decision on that.

Critical day for the diplomatic maneuvers to end these standoffs, but it could be that critical day could be extended into tomorrow -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jerrold Kessel, live from Jerusalem. Thanks Jerrold.

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