Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Saturday Morning News
Can Road Map Be Salvaged?
Aired June 14, 2003 - 09:01 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.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our attention now to the Middle East. Despite a bloody week that left dozens of Israelis and Palestinians dead, there are signs today that officials from both sides are taking steps to salvage the road map to peace.
CNN's Matthew Chance joins us from Jerusalem with more on that front. Matthew, good morning again.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) very much. Good morning.
There's possible talks coming, of course, at the end of a week of bloodshed, in which more than 50 people have been killed, Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Nothing has been confirmed to us by officials on either side, but we understand that high-level security meetings may resume between Israeli officials and officials of the Palestinian Authority over the course, perhaps, over the next day or so, perhaps as early as this evening, Saturday evening, local time, to try and find a way out of this worsening violence.
Basically, what our sources on both sides are telling us is that discussions will focus on the possibility of Palestinian Authority officials assuming responsibility for security inside parts of the Gaza Strip, to try and stop militant groups like Hamas and others from firing missiles into Israeli settlements and into Israel proper.
That, in exchange from a -- for a partial Israeli army withdrawal from certain areas inside Gaza, to allow greater freedom of movement inside that Palestinian territory.
Nabil Amr is the Palestinian Authority minister of information. He's been discussing this subject over the last few hours or so. Let's hear what he has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NABIL AMR, PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: Yes, we are ready for take over the areas from which the Israelis withdraw. We are not speaking now about a partial withdrawal. The main condition for Palestinians, the withdrawal must be according to the road map, the states and the concept and the timing schedule.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHANCE: Well, the withdrawal from territory in the Gaza Strip is just one of the factors Palestinian officials say they want to fulfill before they can embark on this proposed security deal.
The other, perhaps more important, one, what Palestinian sources are telling is that they're demanding from Israel a suspension of its policy of assassination against militants, against the militant leaders of Hamas. Israel has not indicated that it is willing to meet that condition.
But again, Palestinian sources are telling that -- telling us that if there is to be a deal, then it has to be under those circumstances.
Back to you.
ROBERTS: Matthew, thanks for the update. Our Matthew Chance, live for us this morning in Jerusalem.
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 14, 2003 - 09:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our attention now to the Middle East. Despite a bloody week that left dozens of Israelis and Palestinians dead, there are signs today that officials from both sides are taking steps to salvage the road map to peace.
CNN's Matthew Chance joins us from Jerusalem with more on that front. Matthew, good morning again.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) very much. Good morning.
There's possible talks coming, of course, at the end of a week of bloodshed, in which more than 50 people have been killed, Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Nothing has been confirmed to us by officials on either side, but we understand that high-level security meetings may resume between Israeli officials and officials of the Palestinian Authority over the course, perhaps, over the next day or so, perhaps as early as this evening, Saturday evening, local time, to try and find a way out of this worsening violence.
Basically, what our sources on both sides are telling us is that discussions will focus on the possibility of Palestinian Authority officials assuming responsibility for security inside parts of the Gaza Strip, to try and stop militant groups like Hamas and others from firing missiles into Israeli settlements and into Israel proper.
That, in exchange from a -- for a partial Israeli army withdrawal from certain areas inside Gaza, to allow greater freedom of movement inside that Palestinian territory.
Nabil Amr is the Palestinian Authority minister of information. He's been discussing this subject over the last few hours or so. Let's hear what he has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NABIL AMR, PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: Yes, we are ready for take over the areas from which the Israelis withdraw. We are not speaking now about a partial withdrawal. The main condition for Palestinians, the withdrawal must be according to the road map, the states and the concept and the timing schedule.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHANCE: Well, the withdrawal from territory in the Gaza Strip is just one of the factors Palestinian officials say they want to fulfill before they can embark on this proposed security deal.
The other, perhaps more important, one, what Palestinian sources are telling is that they're demanding from Israel a suspension of its policy of assassination against militants, against the militant leaders of Hamas. Israel has not indicated that it is willing to meet that condition.
But again, Palestinian sources are telling that -- telling us that if there is to be a deal, then it has to be under those circumstances.
Back to you.
ROBERTS: Matthew, thanks for the update. Our Matthew Chance, live for us this morning in Jerusalem.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
