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CNN Saturday Morning News
Israel May Soon Begin Transfer of Gaza to Palestinians
Aired June 28, 2003 - 09:12 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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: One of the President Bush's top advisers is en route to the Middle East this hour to meet separately with the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers. Condoleezza Rice may be on hand to witness one very significant milestone as early as Monday. Israel could begin its new (UNINTELLIGIBLE) transfer of Gaza security back to the Palestinians.
And Palestinian militants are on the verge of announcing a ceasefire of their attacks on Israelis.
For more on these developments, let's go now live to CNN's Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem. Jerrold, is it fair to say any cautious optimism there?
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think you can go even further than that, Kris. Thirty-three months the Israelis and Palestinians have been battling each other, bloodily battling each other, inflicting so much damage and casualties on each other. This may be the weekend when they turn the corner.
And under intense U.S. pressure, this is what's happening. The two sides are moving together on a number of fronts, but even though they are, there's a good deal of skepticism.
And that skepticism was reflected today on the streets of Ramallah on the West Bank. When Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas came to his office, he was greeted by a demonstration of Palestinians demanding the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, or there could be no movement forward.
Mr. Abbas said firmly that that is one of our top priorities, the release of all our prisoners. There won't be peace, any security, or any stability without their release. But there is hope that they can make the first steps in that direction of stability and security.
This, with those two agreements coming up this weekend. On the Palestinian side, unilateral decision by the various radical groups to withhold for three months their actions, their attacks on the Israelis. That one-sided truce to be complemented by agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority for the first steps to be made in implementing the so-called road map to peace, Israel withdrawing from parts of Gaza and the West Bank.
That's what Condoleezza Rice will be building on this weekend in her meetings, to consolidate those agreements, to move the two sides on that road from confrontation down the peace road.
Maybe it is the corner time this weekend, Kris.
OSBORN: Thank you, Jerrold Kessel, debriefing, detailing a very historic opportunity. 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 June 28, 2003 - 09:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: One of the President Bush's top advisers is en route to the Middle East this hour to meet separately with the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers. Condoleezza Rice may be on hand to witness one very significant milestone as early as Monday. Israel could begin its new (UNINTELLIGIBLE) transfer of Gaza security back to the Palestinians.
And Palestinian militants are on the verge of announcing a ceasefire of their attacks on Israelis.
For more on these developments, let's go now live to CNN's Jerrold Kessel in Jerusalem. Jerrold, is it fair to say any cautious optimism there?
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think you can go even further than that, Kris. Thirty-three months the Israelis and Palestinians have been battling each other, bloodily battling each other, inflicting so much damage and casualties on each other. This may be the weekend when they turn the corner.
And under intense U.S. pressure, this is what's happening. The two sides are moving together on a number of fronts, but even though they are, there's a good deal of skepticism.
And that skepticism was reflected today on the streets of Ramallah on the West Bank. When Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas came to his office, he was greeted by a demonstration of Palestinians demanding the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, or there could be no movement forward.
Mr. Abbas said firmly that that is one of our top priorities, the release of all our prisoners. There won't be peace, any security, or any stability without their release. But there is hope that they can make the first steps in that direction of stability and security.
This, with those two agreements coming up this weekend. On the Palestinian side, unilateral decision by the various radical groups to withhold for three months their actions, their attacks on the Israelis. That one-sided truce to be complemented by agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority for the first steps to be made in implementing the so-called road map to peace, Israel withdrawing from parts of Gaza and the West Bank.
That's what Condoleezza Rice will be building on this weekend in her meetings, to consolidate those agreements, to move the two sides on that road from confrontation down the peace road.
Maybe it is the corner time this weekend, Kris.
OSBORN: Thank you, Jerrold Kessel, debriefing, detailing a very historic opportunity. 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
