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CNN Sunday Morning

Israeli Cabinet Approves Road Map

Aired May 25, 2003 - 08:37   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.


ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: We have a breaking news story out of Jerusalem. The Israeli cabinet has just approved the U.S. road map for peace and for more on that we go live to Jerusalem to our bureau chief, Mike Hanna -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've just received details of that vote in the Israeli cabinet, which has been meeting throughout the day to decide whether or not to accept the road map to peace as outlined by U.S. President George Bush.

The result of those discussions, 12 members of the cabinet have voted in favor of implementation of the Road Map, seven have voted against. Four have abstained. This a clear victory for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in his attempts to get implementation of the road map.

I must stress whether there is any accompanying statement yet with this result, whether there are some conditions or writ is attached to acceptance. This we will bring you as the time comes in.

But for an immediate reaction, we have got somebody who's been intimately involved in peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians for a long period of time. The former Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Mr. Barak, this a very significant decision by the government, correct?

EHUD BARAK, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Yes, it is, especially the fact that he got more than half of the members of the government. Which means a real majority. This is a good news. Of course, we'll see in the coming hours if all the quasi conditions or some reservations and so on. But that doesn't matter. It moves -- the whole thing begins to move forward. And it opens a narrow, but clear silver lining in the dark landscape that we had in the last two years.

HANNA: I mean what we've had is a decision by an Israeli government to accept in principle, the establishment of a Palestinian state within a defined timeline. Within three years. This is enormous.

BARAK: Yes, that was not something surprising. If it were my government, or Rabin's or Peres, but for a government led by Sharon and the right wing, it's very meaningful. In a way, promising. But we should calibrate our expectation. It still has to be proven that to the Palestinian side is ready beyond the opening gestures and ceremonies, move forward with the actual demands of President Bush and his last June speech. Namely, to elevate Arafat to some totally symbolic role with no -- not even a drop of executive authority, to correct on Hamas and Islamic Jihad and the al Asqa Brigade. And put an end eventually to terror against Israel.

And then to be ready to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, not just as a matter of fact. As a Jewish state, namely realize that we can continue as all government has done all along our history to give some humanitarian solution or family unification for Palestinian. But no right of return as a political right into Israel, only into the newly created Palestinian state.

HANNA: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, thank you for joining us, reacting to news that the Israeli government has accepted the road map to peace as outlined by President George Bush.

The vote, once again, 12 members of the government in favor of, seven against, four abstaining; a clear, political victory for Ariel Sharon. But now many hurdles ahead, and in the day's weeks ahead as implementation of the road map begins.

Back to you.

KOPPEL: Thanks, Mike Hanna in Jerusalem, certainly a long road ahead. Not an unexpected acceptance by the Israeli cabinet of the road map.

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 25, 2003 - 08:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: We have a breaking news story out of Jerusalem. The Israeli cabinet has just approved the U.S. road map for peace and for more on that we go live to Jerusalem to our bureau chief, Mike Hanna -- Mike.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've just received details of that vote in the Israeli cabinet, which has been meeting throughout the day to decide whether or not to accept the road map to peace as outlined by U.S. President George Bush.

The result of those discussions, 12 members of the cabinet have voted in favor of implementation of the Road Map, seven have voted against. Four have abstained. This a clear victory for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in his attempts to get implementation of the road map.

I must stress whether there is any accompanying statement yet with this result, whether there are some conditions or writ is attached to acceptance. This we will bring you as the time comes in.

But for an immediate reaction, we have got somebody who's been intimately involved in peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians for a long period of time. The former Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Mr. Barak, this a very significant decision by the government, correct?

EHUD BARAK, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Yes, it is, especially the fact that he got more than half of the members of the government. Which means a real majority. This is a good news. Of course, we'll see in the coming hours if all the quasi conditions or some reservations and so on. But that doesn't matter. It moves -- the whole thing begins to move forward. And it opens a narrow, but clear silver lining in the dark landscape that we had in the last two years.

HANNA: I mean what we've had is a decision by an Israeli government to accept in principle, the establishment of a Palestinian state within a defined timeline. Within three years. This is enormous.

BARAK: Yes, that was not something surprising. If it were my government, or Rabin's or Peres, but for a government led by Sharon and the right wing, it's very meaningful. In a way, promising. But we should calibrate our expectation. It still has to be proven that to the Palestinian side is ready beyond the opening gestures and ceremonies, move forward with the actual demands of President Bush and his last June speech. Namely, to elevate Arafat to some totally symbolic role with no -- not even a drop of executive authority, to correct on Hamas and Islamic Jihad and the al Asqa Brigade. And put an end eventually to terror against Israel.

And then to be ready to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, not just as a matter of fact. As a Jewish state, namely realize that we can continue as all government has done all along our history to give some humanitarian solution or family unification for Palestinian. But no right of return as a political right into Israel, only into the newly created Palestinian state.

HANNA: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, thank you for joining us, reacting to news that the Israeli government has accepted the road map to peace as outlined by President George Bush.

The vote, once again, 12 members of the government in favor of, seven against, four abstaining; a clear, political victory for Ariel Sharon. But now many hurdles ahead, and in the day's weeks ahead as implementation of the road map begins.

Back to you.

KOPPEL: Thanks, Mike Hanna in Jerusalem, certainly a long road ahead. Not an unexpected acceptance by the Israeli cabinet of the road map.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com