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CNN Sunday Morning
Violence in Middle East Continues
Aired August 31, 2003 - 09:32 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the Middle East and the ongoing violence in the region. CNN's Jerrold Kessel is live this morning from Jerusalem. Hello to you, Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi, and I'm afraid it's the old new reality, grim reality, you could say, that's coming to the fore again with more casualties on both sides over the last 24 hours. The latest, an Israeli truck driver shot and seriously wounded down in Gaza near one of the Jewish settlements. Hamas, the militant Islamic group, taking responsibility for that shooting incident down in the southern part of Gaza.
And Israelis on a high state of alert, even intensifying that alert this morning, because this was the start of the new school year, and as Israeli children went back to schools, all schools, or at least most of them had armed guards or security people on the gates of the schools to make sure that there were no untoward terror incidents in Israeli cities today and so far, nothing untoward to report.
Israel has also been taking the initiative in its ongoing battle with the Palestinian militants yesterday. Israeli helicopters launched another attack on Hamas operatives, killing two Hamas men down in central Gaza, and this is the fifth such strike by Israel after the bus bombing here in Jerusalem two weeks ago as Israel goes on the offensive against Hamas and warns it won't allow Hamas to continue striking on Israeli target.
Another casualty yesterday, a 9-year-old Palestinian girl shot and killed, Palestinians say, by Israeli fire. Israel says it was firing back at Palestinians who were firing at their troops. All in all, something of a grim reality on the ground, pointing to the possibility of escalating violence.
And no sign of a breakthrough on the diplomatic front that will steer things back in a positive direction on that peace road, although the European community back in action again with the top foreign policy chief Javier Solana back in the area. He's begun meeting with Israeli officials starting with the opposition's leader, Shimon Peres, and he'll be meeting with officials this evening.
But no real prospect of advances down that peace road especially as Palestinians are engaging in a power struggle at the top, Heidi, between Palestinian authority President Yasser Arafat and his Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas. No sign relief on that front. And with no sign of relief on that front, it seems no sign of progress down that peace road the violence continuing to be at the forefront. Heidi? COLLINS: I wish we had some better news. CNN's Jerrold Kessel, live this morning from Jerusalem. Thanks so much, Jerrold.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: In the Palestinian territories, Israel's campaign of targeted killings aimed at militant groups has ordinary people living on edge. CNN's Michael Holmes reports from Gaza City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the skies over Gaza City, Apache helicopters return. A child points. The people wait. No missile this time, but the nervousness on the always- crowded streets of Gaza City is palpable.
Three Israeli missile attacks on Hamas targets inside a week have left seven Hamas men dead, but also one elderly man and more than 40 other civilians, many of them children, wounded.
Yesterday, they aimed the missile at one man, but all of the victims are civilians, says Ahmed, as he sits outside his Gaza store. And this, from Ashraf.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: It's risky walking down in Gaza; people are really terrified, because the Israeli missile, they don't discriminate between the ordinary people and the militants.
HOLMES: People have seen much bloodshed in recent years, but they are especially on edge these days, because of what appears to be an all-out Israeli assault on Hamas military wing members. Men, Israel says, have, or are about to carry out their own raids on Israelis.
Israel says its action is self-defense because of Palestinian authority inaction. Palestinians call the attacks assassinations. Israel security sources say, however, they strive for accuracy in what they call targeted killings, and add that many such strikes are being called off when it was too unsafe for nearby civilians.
Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth, and Palestinians say that even the most accurate missile strike in streets like these is almost certain to deliver a shrapnel load to more than just the intended target.
This poor girl, what did she do, asks the nurse? The patient, a 9-year-old, wounded now, on a respirator, in a coma. Doctors say she's quadriplegic. Six children are among the wounded. A 16-year- old boy, doctors say, is brain dead. In Gaza's hospital, those wounded by the attacks on Gaza's teeming streets are not impressed by the accuracy of Israeli missiles.
It's not just the person they target, it's the people around that target, says Fadma. Of course I'm scared.
Despite the casualty raid among bystander, there's no visible public pressure on Hamas to stop the attacks on Israel, however. The organization has strong support here. Meanwhile, most people say they have to go about their business, but they do take precautions with loved ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told my family, especially my sisters to stay at home until the end of this week. We don't know what will happen.
HOLMES: Israel uses an array of intelligence sources to pinpoint its targets. Unmanned drones circle the skies over the city. Cell phone signals are intercepted. And some locals, collaborators to Palestinians, turn in the militants.
Hamas itself acknowledges the Israeli intelligence apparatus and is changing tactics. On the Web site of the military wing has appeared a six-point guide to militants. Use cell phones sparingly, it reads, and only if you must. Do not give out details. Drive only when necessary, and when you do, drive alone. Use disguises is another tip; avoid main roads; use the crowded back streets to avoid surveillance from the air.
Also a warning to be careful who's watching. The Web site says it could be a drone up there, it could be a storekeeper. It could be your neighbor. Meanwhile, Hamas operatives have gone underground. People we normally are able to reach easily are now hard to find.
But they are the militants. A deadly game of hide and seek is part of their job description. For people on the streets who don't deal in death, the prospect of facing it has become an everyday reality.
Michael Holmes, CNN, Gaza City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 August 31, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the Middle East and the ongoing violence in the region. CNN's Jerrold Kessel is live this morning from Jerusalem. Hello to you, Jerrold.
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi, and I'm afraid it's the old new reality, grim reality, you could say, that's coming to the fore again with more casualties on both sides over the last 24 hours. The latest, an Israeli truck driver shot and seriously wounded down in Gaza near one of the Jewish settlements. Hamas, the militant Islamic group, taking responsibility for that shooting incident down in the southern part of Gaza.
And Israelis on a high state of alert, even intensifying that alert this morning, because this was the start of the new school year, and as Israeli children went back to schools, all schools, or at least most of them had armed guards or security people on the gates of the schools to make sure that there were no untoward terror incidents in Israeli cities today and so far, nothing untoward to report.
Israel has also been taking the initiative in its ongoing battle with the Palestinian militants yesterday. Israeli helicopters launched another attack on Hamas operatives, killing two Hamas men down in central Gaza, and this is the fifth such strike by Israel after the bus bombing here in Jerusalem two weeks ago as Israel goes on the offensive against Hamas and warns it won't allow Hamas to continue striking on Israeli target.
Another casualty yesterday, a 9-year-old Palestinian girl shot and killed, Palestinians say, by Israeli fire. Israel says it was firing back at Palestinians who were firing at their troops. All in all, something of a grim reality on the ground, pointing to the possibility of escalating violence.
And no sign of a breakthrough on the diplomatic front that will steer things back in a positive direction on that peace road, although the European community back in action again with the top foreign policy chief Javier Solana back in the area. He's begun meeting with Israeli officials starting with the opposition's leader, Shimon Peres, and he'll be meeting with officials this evening.
But no real prospect of advances down that peace road especially as Palestinians are engaging in a power struggle at the top, Heidi, between Palestinian authority President Yasser Arafat and his Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas. No sign relief on that front. And with no sign of relief on that front, it seems no sign of progress down that peace road the violence continuing to be at the forefront. Heidi? COLLINS: I wish we had some better news. CNN's Jerrold Kessel, live this morning from Jerusalem. Thanks so much, Jerrold.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: In the Palestinian territories, Israel's campaign of targeted killings aimed at militant groups has ordinary people living on edge. CNN's Michael Holmes reports from Gaza City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the skies over Gaza City, Apache helicopters return. A child points. The people wait. No missile this time, but the nervousness on the always- crowded streets of Gaza City is palpable.
Three Israeli missile attacks on Hamas targets inside a week have left seven Hamas men dead, but also one elderly man and more than 40 other civilians, many of them children, wounded.
Yesterday, they aimed the missile at one man, but all of the victims are civilians, says Ahmed, as he sits outside his Gaza store. And this, from Ashraf.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: It's risky walking down in Gaza; people are really terrified, because the Israeli missile, they don't discriminate between the ordinary people and the militants.
HOLMES: People have seen much bloodshed in recent years, but they are especially on edge these days, because of what appears to be an all-out Israeli assault on Hamas military wing members. Men, Israel says, have, or are about to carry out their own raids on Israelis.
Israel says its action is self-defense because of Palestinian authority inaction. Palestinians call the attacks assassinations. Israel security sources say, however, they strive for accuracy in what they call targeted killings, and add that many such strikes are being called off when it was too unsafe for nearby civilians.
Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth, and Palestinians say that even the most accurate missile strike in streets like these is almost certain to deliver a shrapnel load to more than just the intended target.
This poor girl, what did she do, asks the nurse? The patient, a 9-year-old, wounded now, on a respirator, in a coma. Doctors say she's quadriplegic. Six children are among the wounded. A 16-year- old boy, doctors say, is brain dead. In Gaza's hospital, those wounded by the attacks on Gaza's teeming streets are not impressed by the accuracy of Israeli missiles.
It's not just the person they target, it's the people around that target, says Fadma. Of course I'm scared.
Despite the casualty raid among bystander, there's no visible public pressure on Hamas to stop the attacks on Israel, however. The organization has strong support here. Meanwhile, most people say they have to go about their business, but they do take precautions with loved ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told my family, especially my sisters to stay at home until the end of this week. We don't know what will happen.
HOLMES: Israel uses an array of intelligence sources to pinpoint its targets. Unmanned drones circle the skies over the city. Cell phone signals are intercepted. And some locals, collaborators to Palestinians, turn in the militants.
Hamas itself acknowledges the Israeli intelligence apparatus and is changing tactics. On the Web site of the military wing has appeared a six-point guide to militants. Use cell phones sparingly, it reads, and only if you must. Do not give out details. Drive only when necessary, and when you do, drive alone. Use disguises is another tip; avoid main roads; use the crowded back streets to avoid surveillance from the air.
Also a warning to be careful who's watching. The Web site says it could be a drone up there, it could be a storekeeper. It could be your neighbor. Meanwhile, Hamas operatives have gone underground. People we normally are able to reach easily are now hard to find.
But they are the militants. A deadly game of hide and seek is part of their job description. For people on the streets who don't deal in death, the prospect of facing it has become an everyday reality.
Michael Holmes, CNN, Gaza City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
