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CNN Sunday Morning
White House Attempts Peace for Israel, Palestine
Aired May 18, 2003 - 9:25 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: Now let's get the view from the White House. For that, of course, we turn to CNN senior White House correspondent, John King.
Good morning, John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.
And an official reaction from the White House expected later in the day.
I spoke to an administration official just a few moments ago who said this is yet another reminder of the length to which opponents of peace and opponents of the existence of Israel will go to in the Middle East. It comes, of course, at a delicate time.
This was a test of President Bush's new commitment to exert whatever time and whatever energy it took to try to get the Israelis and Palestinians back into a peace process. The meeting with Prime Minister Sharon was scheduled for Tuesday night. White House officials say they simply do not know yet whether it will be a delay of a few days or whether the meeting will be postponed indefinitely.
They're waiting to hear from the Israeli government. In the meantime, they're hoping that this situation does not spiral out of control. In the past, after suicide bombings, sometimes there are then forceful Israeli retaliations, then there is another wave of violence from Palestinian militants.
The White House says it will appeal to both parties, the Israelis and the Palestinians to do everything they can to show restraint and to improve security. And as for the president's goal, which, of course, is to get both parties taking small steps in the short-term, eventually toward peace negotiations in a Palestinian state, White House officials say the president's commitment is unwavering, but they need to wait, now, to hear from Prime Minister Sharon as to when he can get here to Washington for a key meeting with the president in the oval office -- Anderson.
COOPER: John, curious to hear what you're hearing from White House people. Are they concerned the war on terror is overshadowing the progress on the roadmap to peace?
KING: Well, in many ways the White House says these are connected issues. Remember, many criticize this president. They say was he distracted from fighting the war on terrorism by fighting the war in Iraq. The president says they are one and the same. If it's the same case here, what this White House says is that the war on terrorism is part of a broader effort to transform the Middle East into a more peaceful, secure place and there is no way you can get to that goal if you do not bring peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
COOPER: All right, John King at the White House, thanks very much.
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 - 9:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get the view from the White House. For that, of course, we turn to CNN senior White House correspondent, John King.
Good morning, John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.
And an official reaction from the White House expected later in the day.
I spoke to an administration official just a few moments ago who said this is yet another reminder of the length to which opponents of peace and opponents of the existence of Israel will go to in the Middle East. It comes, of course, at a delicate time.
This was a test of President Bush's new commitment to exert whatever time and whatever energy it took to try to get the Israelis and Palestinians back into a peace process. The meeting with Prime Minister Sharon was scheduled for Tuesday night. White House officials say they simply do not know yet whether it will be a delay of a few days or whether the meeting will be postponed indefinitely.
They're waiting to hear from the Israeli government. In the meantime, they're hoping that this situation does not spiral out of control. In the past, after suicide bombings, sometimes there are then forceful Israeli retaliations, then there is another wave of violence from Palestinian militants.
The White House says it will appeal to both parties, the Israelis and the Palestinians to do everything they can to show restraint and to improve security. And as for the president's goal, which, of course, is to get both parties taking small steps in the short-term, eventually toward peace negotiations in a Palestinian state, White House officials say the president's commitment is unwavering, but they need to wait, now, to hear from Prime Minister Sharon as to when he can get here to Washington for a key meeting with the president in the oval office -- Anderson.
COOPER: John, curious to hear what you're hearing from White House people. Are they concerned the war on terror is overshadowing the progress on the roadmap to peace?
KING: Well, in many ways the White House says these are connected issues. Remember, many criticize this president. They say was he distracted from fighting the war on terrorism by fighting the war in Iraq. The president says they are one and the same. If it's the same case here, what this White House says is that the war on terrorism is part of a broader effort to transform the Middle East into a more peaceful, secure place and there is no way you can get to that goal if you do not bring peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
COOPER: All right, John King at the White House, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
