Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Deadly Strikes in Israel, Sharon Postpones Travel
Aired May 18, 2003 - 8:59 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Hours after the deadly strikes targeted civilians, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon postponed today's travel to Washington.
We go now to Jerusalem where CNN's Jerrold Kessel has the latest. Good morning, Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson. And clearly, there are major political implications of this latest wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the west bank and in Jerusalem, but at 6:00 this morning, as the commuter bus No. 6 was making its way in from one of the northeastern suburbs in the outskirts of Jerusalem into the city center, and the bomber, disguised as a religious Jew, blew himself up aboard bus No. 6.
The political implications were the last thing on people's mind. There was the business of counting the dead, tending to the wounded, making sure they got quickly taken away to hospital, and then the grim aftermath of clearing up another harrowing terror attack in an Israeli city.
Seven people were killed in this attack and more than 20 wounded, several of whom are reported in serious condition. But clearly, there are political implications, because this attack had followed two others last night in the west bank and one of which a Jewish settler couple were killed by another suicide bomber.
There was another suicide bombing attempt half an hour later after the bus bombing, and those attacks came just hours after last night. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, was meeting for the first time with the newly installed Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen.
And after those three hours of talks, which we do believe the two sides laid down what they wanted of the other side to do, there was no clear meeting of the minds, because while the Israelis continue to say that it is the Palestinians who must move first, not just commit themselves verbally, but in practice to going after the Palestinian militants, and -- the Palestinians are saying -- it is the responsibility of Ariel Sharon to lend a helping hand to the new Palestinian prime minister and in that way, to enable, by concerted action together, if the Israelis commit themselves to the obligations under the newly unveiled peace map, then the two sides can move from confrontation to negotiation.
And in addition to this, the Israelis have another angle, a political angle, because they are laying the blame, now firmly, at the door of Yasser Arafat and saying it is up to Abu Mazen, the new Palestinian prime minister to divorce himself from the Palestinian authority, President Yasser Arafat, who they and the United States have been trying to sideline, whom -- but whom -- Israel says still has his hands in directing the terror attacks.
While this is going on, Ariel Sharon has convened a meeting of his cabinet. Within an hour from now or two hours from now, here in Jerusalem and he's postponed traveling to Washington for that scheduled meeting with the president at the White House on Tuesday, as the world waits to see what action, what direction the Israeli prime minister might take in the wake of this new wave of Palestinian attacks.
COOPER: Jerrold, Jerrold, thanks very much, we're going to continue following this story, really, throughout the day here on CNN.
Israel has canceled all flights, we should mention, of its national airline to Kenya, citing, of course, security concerns. The decision regarding El Al Airlines comes days after the U.S. and Britain issued travel warnings urging their citizens to avoid the African nation. Though, Kenyan officials had earlier been warned of a potential -- been warned of a potential terror attack, Britain, like Israel, grounded all flights to Kenya, as well.
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 May 18, 2003 - 8:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Hours after the deadly strikes targeted civilians, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon postponed today's travel to Washington.
We go now to Jerusalem where CNN's Jerrold Kessel has the latest. Good morning, Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson. And clearly, there are major political implications of this latest wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the west bank and in Jerusalem, but at 6:00 this morning, as the commuter bus No. 6 was making its way in from one of the northeastern suburbs in the outskirts of Jerusalem into the city center, and the bomber, disguised as a religious Jew, blew himself up aboard bus No. 6.
The political implications were the last thing on people's mind. There was the business of counting the dead, tending to the wounded, making sure they got quickly taken away to hospital, and then the grim aftermath of clearing up another harrowing terror attack in an Israeli city.
Seven people were killed in this attack and more than 20 wounded, several of whom are reported in serious condition. But clearly, there are political implications, because this attack had followed two others last night in the west bank and one of which a Jewish settler couple were killed by another suicide bomber.
There was another suicide bombing attempt half an hour later after the bus bombing, and those attacks came just hours after last night. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, was meeting for the first time with the newly installed Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen.
And after those three hours of talks, which we do believe the two sides laid down what they wanted of the other side to do, there was no clear meeting of the minds, because while the Israelis continue to say that it is the Palestinians who must move first, not just commit themselves verbally, but in practice to going after the Palestinian militants, and -- the Palestinians are saying -- it is the responsibility of Ariel Sharon to lend a helping hand to the new Palestinian prime minister and in that way, to enable, by concerted action together, if the Israelis commit themselves to the obligations under the newly unveiled peace map, then the two sides can move from confrontation to negotiation.
And in addition to this, the Israelis have another angle, a political angle, because they are laying the blame, now firmly, at the door of Yasser Arafat and saying it is up to Abu Mazen, the new Palestinian prime minister to divorce himself from the Palestinian authority, President Yasser Arafat, who they and the United States have been trying to sideline, whom -- but whom -- Israel says still has his hands in directing the terror attacks.
While this is going on, Ariel Sharon has convened a meeting of his cabinet. Within an hour from now or two hours from now, here in Jerusalem and he's postponed traveling to Washington for that scheduled meeting with the president at the White House on Tuesday, as the world waits to see what action, what direction the Israeli prime minister might take in the wake of this new wave of Palestinian attacks.
COOPER: Jerrold, Jerrold, thanks very much, we're going to continue following this story, really, throughout the day here on CNN.
Israel has canceled all flights, we should mention, of its national airline to Kenya, citing, of course, security concerns. The decision regarding El Al Airlines comes days after the U.S. and Britain issued travel warnings urging their citizens to avoid the African nation. Though, Kenyan officials had earlier been warned of a potential -- been warned of a potential terror attack, Britain, like Israel, grounded all flights to Kenya, as well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
