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CNN Sunday Morning
Israelis Consider Killing Arafat
Aired September 14, 2003 - 09:02 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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: There is tension in Ramallah at this hour. For a third day in a row, Palestinians have gathered outside the compound of Yasser Arafat so they can show support for their leader. Arafat faces an Israeli threat to oust him, and now comes word from one Israeli official that killing Arafat is also an option. For reaction to that, let's go live to Jerusalem, and CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney. Good morning, Fionnuala.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Stephen, today is the first day of the working week in Israel. And the Israeli cabinet is holding its weekly scheduled meeting. But the issue and the topic of removing Yasser Arafat from the West Bank was not raised.
However, as you said, the deputy prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said in an interview with Israeli radio that there were various options on the table for removing Yasser Arafat, including killing him. That drew a furious reaction from the top Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, who said Israel's government was behaving like gangsters.
As you say, tensions still in Ramallah for the third straight day. Palestinians going to Yasser Arafat's beleaguered compound, demonstrating their support for him. Demonstrations also taking place in Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians marching there. And after one of those demonstrations, eight Palestinian youths were likely wounded during clashes between them throwing stones at Israeli checkpoints and an army base and Israeli soldiers firing back.
Meanwhile, as security remaining high here in Jerusalem, Jerusalem on high alert following the Cafe Hillel (ph) explosion on Tuesday night in which a number -- several people were killed. But the tension is also heightened here because of the discovery of three explosive belts in East Jerusalem on Saturday. They were found in a washing machine in a butcher's shop, and where, according to the Israeli authorities, were intended to be used by Palestinian suicide bombers -- Stephen.
FRAZIER: Fionnuala, as you are speaking, we have been looking at video of some of those demonstrations. And they always look terrifying, very, very tense, but as you know, in that part of the world, when the cameras leave, sometimes the demonstrations disperse almost instantly into a relaxed state. Is that what's going on there now, or is this a different kind of mood?
SWEENEY: I think there's a very different kind of mood following that announcement last Thursday evening by the Israeli security cabinet that they intended to remove Yasser Arafat from power. Yasser Arafat is now firmly back in the limelight, despite being shunned by both Israel and the United States. And since that announcement on Thursday evening, we have seen thousands of Palestinians demonstrating daily to show their support for the man they consider the standard bearer for a Palestinian state.
So, these demonstrations really are quite tense, as you say, at the moment. And they are taking place daily over the West Bank and Gaza, and I think might continue for some time to come -- Stephen.
FRAZIER: We are grateful for your insights. Fionnuala Sweeney, reporting today from 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 September 14, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: There is tension in Ramallah at this hour. For a third day in a row, Palestinians have gathered outside the compound of Yasser Arafat so they can show support for their leader. Arafat faces an Israeli threat to oust him, and now comes word from one Israeli official that killing Arafat is also an option. For reaction to that, let's go live to Jerusalem, and CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney. Good morning, Fionnuala.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Stephen, today is the first day of the working week in Israel. And the Israeli cabinet is holding its weekly scheduled meeting. But the issue and the topic of removing Yasser Arafat from the West Bank was not raised.
However, as you said, the deputy prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said in an interview with Israeli radio that there were various options on the table for removing Yasser Arafat, including killing him. That drew a furious reaction from the top Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, who said Israel's government was behaving like gangsters.
As you say, tensions still in Ramallah for the third straight day. Palestinians going to Yasser Arafat's beleaguered compound, demonstrating their support for him. Demonstrations also taking place in Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians marching there. And after one of those demonstrations, eight Palestinian youths were likely wounded during clashes between them throwing stones at Israeli checkpoints and an army base and Israeli soldiers firing back.
Meanwhile, as security remaining high here in Jerusalem, Jerusalem on high alert following the Cafe Hillel (ph) explosion on Tuesday night in which a number -- several people were killed. But the tension is also heightened here because of the discovery of three explosive belts in East Jerusalem on Saturday. They were found in a washing machine in a butcher's shop, and where, according to the Israeli authorities, were intended to be used by Palestinian suicide bombers -- Stephen.
FRAZIER: Fionnuala, as you are speaking, we have been looking at video of some of those demonstrations. And they always look terrifying, very, very tense, but as you know, in that part of the world, when the cameras leave, sometimes the demonstrations disperse almost instantly into a relaxed state. Is that what's going on there now, or is this a different kind of mood?
SWEENEY: I think there's a very different kind of mood following that announcement last Thursday evening by the Israeli security cabinet that they intended to remove Yasser Arafat from power. Yasser Arafat is now firmly back in the limelight, despite being shunned by both Israel and the United States. And since that announcement on Thursday evening, we have seen thousands of Palestinians demonstrating daily to show their support for the man they consider the standard bearer for a Palestinian state.
So, these demonstrations really are quite tense, as you say, at the moment. And they are taking place daily over the West Bank and Gaza, and I think might continue for some time to come -- Stephen.
FRAZIER: We are grateful for your insights. Fionnuala Sweeney, reporting today from 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
