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CNN Sunday Morning
Israelis to Release Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners
Aired July 27, 2003 - 10:08 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: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has won the backing of his cabinet to release some Palestinian prisoners linked to militant groups. At first Israel refused to free those with ties to Islamic militants.
The latest on the move from CNN's Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem.
Jerrold, do you think any of this has to do with the fact that Prime Minister Sharon is due at the White House on Tuesday?
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it may. Some might say that's a cynical way of viewing it. But this certainly is -- the timing is not accidental.
But the prime minister got what he wanted shortly before he set out for that Tuesday meeting at the White House and other meetings in Washington.
Ariel Sharon won the backing of his cabinet for an amendment to the criteria for Palestinian prisoners who might be released. Previously, they have said, the Israelis, that they would not release any members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad.
Now, today's decision by the cabinet and Mr. Sharon won quite an important vote by 14-9, endorses the idea that among the 600 or so prisoners who are likely to be released in the coming days, there will be at least 100 or so of the Islamic militant groups.
So that is a concession in the sense that it could shore up Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister. Whether it will answer the Palestinian needs or demands, another thing.
We have another demonstration of -- like so many we've had in recent days and weeks on Palestinian streets, this one in Hebron on the West Bank, Palestinians demanding that all the 7,000 or so Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails should be released. So releasing several hundred is not what they want.
It's not what Prime Minister Abbas wanted to hear from President Bush, that they would not back the release immediately of all the prisoners, but he did get a sympathetic hearing that there should be a more energetic Israeli release process.
But certainly Prime Minister Sharon, traveling to the White House, will be able to tell President Bush on Tuesday that he's doing his best, he feels, to try to push the peace process, that nation process known as the road map, forward from his point of view.
Whether Mr. Bush will ask him to ask for more than that, will demand of him more than that, another matter -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: And Jerrold, there's been yet another goodwill gesture, is that right, in the West Bank? I guess at least another checkpoint has been removed?
KESSEL: Yes. Interestingly, the -- the prisoner issue, as crucial as the Palestinians see it for creating a new atmosphere and a new positive relationship with the Israelis, that there should be prisoners released, it's not actually part of the road map, not part of the demands, the obligations that Israel has to fulfill.
But the issue of easing up on the daily hardship of ordinary Palestinians very much is there. And one of the critical issues, we know, over the last three years of the battle has been the question of those onerous Israeli checkpoints on the West Bank, which Israel says is important for security.
Today they've lifted at least two of the most important checkpoints, north of Ramallah, the main Palestinian town, freeing up Palestinian traffic, and that certainly is -- will enable Mr. Sharon to tell the president, "You see, we are doing our best, and it's up to the Palestinians to start cracking down on terror."
The U.S. challenge to the president is how to get both sides moving ahead at the same time. That's the critical diplomatic challenge -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Again, that meeting at the White House between Prime Minister Sharon and President Bush set to take place on Tuesday.
Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem, thank you.
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 July 27, 2003 - 10:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has won the backing of his cabinet to release some Palestinian prisoners linked to militant groups. At first Israel refused to free those with ties to Islamic militants.
The latest on the move from CNN's Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem.
Jerrold, do you think any of this has to do with the fact that Prime Minister Sharon is due at the White House on Tuesday?
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it may. Some might say that's a cynical way of viewing it. But this certainly is -- the timing is not accidental.
But the prime minister got what he wanted shortly before he set out for that Tuesday meeting at the White House and other meetings in Washington.
Ariel Sharon won the backing of his cabinet for an amendment to the criteria for Palestinian prisoners who might be released. Previously, they have said, the Israelis, that they would not release any members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad.
Now, today's decision by the cabinet and Mr. Sharon won quite an important vote by 14-9, endorses the idea that among the 600 or so prisoners who are likely to be released in the coming days, there will be at least 100 or so of the Islamic militant groups.
So that is a concession in the sense that it could shore up Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister. Whether it will answer the Palestinian needs or demands, another thing.
We have another demonstration of -- like so many we've had in recent days and weeks on Palestinian streets, this one in Hebron on the West Bank, Palestinians demanding that all the 7,000 or so Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails should be released. So releasing several hundred is not what they want.
It's not what Prime Minister Abbas wanted to hear from President Bush, that they would not back the release immediately of all the prisoners, but he did get a sympathetic hearing that there should be a more energetic Israeli release process.
But certainly Prime Minister Sharon, traveling to the White House, will be able to tell President Bush on Tuesday that he's doing his best, he feels, to try to push the peace process, that nation process known as the road map, forward from his point of view.
Whether Mr. Bush will ask him to ask for more than that, will demand of him more than that, another matter -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: And Jerrold, there's been yet another goodwill gesture, is that right, in the West Bank? I guess at least another checkpoint has been removed?
KESSEL: Yes. Interestingly, the -- the prisoner issue, as crucial as the Palestinians see it for creating a new atmosphere and a new positive relationship with the Israelis, that there should be prisoners released, it's not actually part of the road map, not part of the demands, the obligations that Israel has to fulfill.
But the issue of easing up on the daily hardship of ordinary Palestinians very much is there. And one of the critical issues, we know, over the last three years of the battle has been the question of those onerous Israeli checkpoints on the West Bank, which Israel says is important for security.
Today they've lifted at least two of the most important checkpoints, north of Ramallah, the main Palestinian town, freeing up Palestinian traffic, and that certainly is -- will enable Mr. Sharon to tell the president, "You see, we are doing our best, and it's up to the Palestinians to start cracking down on terror."
The U.S. challenge to the president is how to get both sides moving ahead at the same time. That's the critical diplomatic challenge -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Again, that meeting at the White House between Prime Minister Sharon and President Bush set to take place on Tuesday.
Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
