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CNN Sunday Morning
Interview With Ra'anan Gissin
Aired June 22, 2003 - 08:27 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.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: In the Middle East today, as we've been reporting, the militant Palestinian group Hamas threatening revenge for Israel's killing of one of its top men. But Israel vows to continue pursuing Palestinians it considers, quote, "ticking bombs." This is the backdrop of a key meeting in Jordan, attended by those who drafted the Road Map to Peace.
And CNN's Jerrold Kessel joins us from Jerusalem with the latest -- Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sophia, well, there's still dispute. No dispute really over the identity of the man who was killed late last night in Hebron. Abdullah Qawasmeh, was a top Hamas man; the militant Islamic group whose policy of continuing operations against Israel is at the heart of the ongoing row of how to get the peace initiative moving forward.
But there is a dispute over the circumstances of the killing. The Palestinians calling it a premeditated killing, Israel saying that it only intended to arrest him and he was shot as he was trying to escape. But the Hamas are vowing revenge and another fragile step on this effort to get the peace process going.
We're joined here now by Israel's -- Israeli prime minister's top aide Ra'anan Gissin.
Thanks very much Mr. Gissin for joining us. We just heard Secretary of State Colin Powell rather critical of that action in Hebron last night. That it might, as the Palestinians say, sabotage the efforts -- the peace efforts. How say you?
RA'ANAN GISSIN, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S ADVISER: First of all, I wouldn't say it was critical. I think you know we have a clear understanding with the secretary of state. We appreciate very much his effort and involvement in order to try and get the Road Map on the road.
We have here a clear case of police action. We went after Abdullah Qawasmeh because we wanted to bring him to justice to make an arrest. He resisted arrest. He pulled a gun. How would other police forces in the world react when a suspect pulls a gun at them? That's how we reacted. We regret that we had to take him out and couldn't bring him for interrogation. That was the main purpose; first of all because the major effort that we have to exert now is to stop terrorist activity, mainly because of lack of any action taken by the Palestinian authority. KESSEL: Prime Minister Sharon is on record again today saying that Israel will go after what Israel calls "ticking bombs," those Palestinians who are setting out for operations. Yet, you're calling Qawasmeh also ticking bomb?
GISSIN: Well, there's no doubt this man, as in other places in the world will be considered a serial killer. I mean he's responsible to the death of 25 Israelis directly. And indirectly, another 25 or 30 and hundreds wounded. All the recent suicide bombings were masterminded by him, conducted and directed by him. So, I don't know what a ticking bomb is if Mr. Abdullah Qawasmeh is not.
KESSEL: So, you're brushing off the criticism that we heard from the secretary of state, from the U.N. secretary general about this whether it's justified or not about this hampering?
GISSIN: No, I'm not brushing, I think you should have listened carefully to what the secretary said. He said he doesn't know -- doesn't have all the details and I'm sure that as he receives the pertinent information and detail, as in the case with Rantissi, I think the picture will be quite clear and one can understand why Israel has to take these measures of self-defense, particularly when the Palestinian authority is doing nothing.
KESSEL: But, Mr. Powell was also saying, the real need, whatever the circumstances of this incident in Hebron, the real need is to get the peace initiative going forward. Why isn't? Why isn't that move being taken that Israel hands over territory to the Palestinian authority, which stops the militant? Why not go ahead to that and leave aside the dispute of whether Hamas is acting or not.
GISSIN: Jerrold, you're bursting into an open door. We're the ones who stated, we're the ones who offered something (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they would -- they refused. They, as I said, they're not ready. We're ready to deal.
KESSEL: OK, thanks very much, Ra'anan Gissin.
So, there you have it, Sophia, continuing bumps, very serious bumps getting down the peace road. Another incident, more disputes about the nature of the incident more dispute on whether or not this helps getting on to that peace road. The rows go on -- Sophia.
CHOI: You're right about that. Jerrold Kessel, in Jerusalem, thanks you so 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 June 22, 2003 - 08:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: In the Middle East today, as we've been reporting, the militant Palestinian group Hamas threatening revenge for Israel's killing of one of its top men. But Israel vows to continue pursuing Palestinians it considers, quote, "ticking bombs." This is the backdrop of a key meeting in Jordan, attended by those who drafted the Road Map to Peace.
And CNN's Jerrold Kessel joins us from Jerusalem with the latest -- Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sophia, well, there's still dispute. No dispute really over the identity of the man who was killed late last night in Hebron. Abdullah Qawasmeh, was a top Hamas man; the militant Islamic group whose policy of continuing operations against Israel is at the heart of the ongoing row of how to get the peace initiative moving forward.
But there is a dispute over the circumstances of the killing. The Palestinians calling it a premeditated killing, Israel saying that it only intended to arrest him and he was shot as he was trying to escape. But the Hamas are vowing revenge and another fragile step on this effort to get the peace process going.
We're joined here now by Israel's -- Israeli prime minister's top aide Ra'anan Gissin.
Thanks very much Mr. Gissin for joining us. We just heard Secretary of State Colin Powell rather critical of that action in Hebron last night. That it might, as the Palestinians say, sabotage the efforts -- the peace efforts. How say you?
RA'ANAN GISSIN, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S ADVISER: First of all, I wouldn't say it was critical. I think you know we have a clear understanding with the secretary of state. We appreciate very much his effort and involvement in order to try and get the Road Map on the road.
We have here a clear case of police action. We went after Abdullah Qawasmeh because we wanted to bring him to justice to make an arrest. He resisted arrest. He pulled a gun. How would other police forces in the world react when a suspect pulls a gun at them? That's how we reacted. We regret that we had to take him out and couldn't bring him for interrogation. That was the main purpose; first of all because the major effort that we have to exert now is to stop terrorist activity, mainly because of lack of any action taken by the Palestinian authority. KESSEL: Prime Minister Sharon is on record again today saying that Israel will go after what Israel calls "ticking bombs," those Palestinians who are setting out for operations. Yet, you're calling Qawasmeh also ticking bomb?
GISSIN: Well, there's no doubt this man, as in other places in the world will be considered a serial killer. I mean he's responsible to the death of 25 Israelis directly. And indirectly, another 25 or 30 and hundreds wounded. All the recent suicide bombings were masterminded by him, conducted and directed by him. So, I don't know what a ticking bomb is if Mr. Abdullah Qawasmeh is not.
KESSEL: So, you're brushing off the criticism that we heard from the secretary of state, from the U.N. secretary general about this whether it's justified or not about this hampering?
GISSIN: No, I'm not brushing, I think you should have listened carefully to what the secretary said. He said he doesn't know -- doesn't have all the details and I'm sure that as he receives the pertinent information and detail, as in the case with Rantissi, I think the picture will be quite clear and one can understand why Israel has to take these measures of self-defense, particularly when the Palestinian authority is doing nothing.
KESSEL: But, Mr. Powell was also saying, the real need, whatever the circumstances of this incident in Hebron, the real need is to get the peace initiative going forward. Why isn't? Why isn't that move being taken that Israel hands over territory to the Palestinian authority, which stops the militant? Why not go ahead to that and leave aside the dispute of whether Hamas is acting or not.
GISSIN: Jerrold, you're bursting into an open door. We're the ones who stated, we're the ones who offered something (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they would -- they refused. They, as I said, they're not ready. We're ready to deal.
KESSEL: OK, thanks very much, Ra'anan Gissin.
So, there you have it, Sophia, continuing bumps, very serious bumps getting down the peace road. Another incident, more disputes about the nature of the incident more dispute on whether or not this helps getting on to that peace road. The rows go on -- Sophia.
CHOI: You're right about that. Jerrold Kessel, in Jerusalem, thanks you so 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
