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CNN Live Sunday

Israeli Military Moves Into Several Parts of West Bank

Aired March 31, 2002 - 18:01   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Bill Hemmer is keeping track of all the latest developments in the Middle East, and he joins us now from Jerusalem -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol. Good evening from Jerusalem. Another busy day, very active from a number of fronts. As you mentioned a short time ago, the Israeli military once again on the move, specifically we know in two different parts of the West Bank. We'll talk about a little more on that in a moment here.

But first, the violence continues in Israel proper. Two suicide bombings today, the most devastating one taking place in the coastal town of Haifa. This is up well north of Tel Aviv, south of the Lebanese border. A restaurant is where the suicide bomber targeted today. Hamas has claimed responsibility. We're told the physical damage there was absolutely devastating. And in terms of the human toll, 15 dead, including the suicide bomber.

People in the area tell us this was a neighborhood where a lot of people took a lot of pride simply because there was a mix of Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs who lived in this area socialized. But again, that was the target today in Haifa. Again, 15 dead, including the suicide bomber.

The other one I mentioned, the town of Efrat near Jerusalem here. Not nearly as devastating, but still the symbol was there. Suicide bomber is dead, four injured, all whisked away to the hospital. All the injured have survived the injuries as of tonight. Five days now, five suicide bombings throughout the region.

Now, as for Ramallah, Yasser Arafat still surrounded by Israeli tanks and troops at his compound there. Three days running. There's a big question tonight in the region as to what is next and what does the Israeli military do? Well, Ariel Sharon laid out sort of a road map tonight for the Israeli people. He came on national television here. His address lasted anywhere between four and five minutes. It was relatively brief and to the point.

In other words, Ariel Sharon says the operation will expand before it contracts. Israel says it has a lot of work to do when it comes to tearing apart what they call "the terrorist infrastructure" now operating, they say, in Gaza and the West Bank. Ariel Sharon tonight also talking about that three-letter word that so many are talking about, that word being "war." Here's the prime minister. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The state of Israel is in a war, a war against terrorism. It's a war that has been imposed upon us. It's not one that we have chosen to undertake. It's a war for our home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Ariel Sharon, from earlier. Palestinians quick to react to that. They simply dismiss Sharon's comments. In fact, they say Sharon has asked for this conflict for many years, they say. Saeb Erakat, Palestinian negotiator, has been very close to Yasser Arafat for the past few days in Ramallah, issued this response to the prime minister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: Sharon's stance, Sharon's (UNINTELLIGIBLE), Sharon's siege, Sharon's sustaining of occupation will not bring security or peace for anybody in the region. Will not bring peace to Israelis. The shortest way is through a meaningful peace process that will ensure the ending of this Israeli occupation, which Mr. Sharon is trying to maintain and sustain as if the last thing he would do in his life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Saeb Erakat talking about the peace process. Both sides right now far removed from that. In fact, they've moved further away from that with each passing hour here in the Middle East.

The military action, Carol, now under way has been dubbed by the Israelis as Operation Protective Wall. Tonight, two locations we do know of in the West Bank. Number one called Qaqiliya, which sits right along the green line that separates the West Bank from Israel proper, just near the town of Netanya and Tel Aviv. Qaqiliya, we are told, several dozen Israeli tanks rolling into that town earlier tonight.

Also getting some reports there is military action, we are told, in Bethlehem as well, which is about six miles south of our location here in Jerusalem. We were told the operation would expand earlier in the day. Israeli government sources indicating that several hours ago. Indeed, it has in this -- on Easter Sunday, now moving into the day of Monday -- Carol.

LIN: Bill, are either the Palestinians or the Israelis -- is anybody talking about having U.S. troops or U.N. peacekeepers on the ground as the only solution at this point to stop the violence?

HEMMER: It's been discussed in various circles, but as to whether or not that happens really is a truly wide open question. I can tell you, though, through Israeli government sources, they indicate that it's quite possible that Yasser Arafat and the other lieutenants with him there inside that compound may indeed be having conversations with the Israeli government. They point to Yasser Arafat being cornered in the past at certain points in history in the Middle East and negotiating his way out.

Now, whether or not that happens here is anybody's guess. And again, we're not there. We don't know what's happening inside that compound relative to Arafat at this point. But again, it is possible. Anthony Zinni still in the region. No question, though -- no answer, really, as to whether or not Zinni is having any success with his mission here, Carol.

LIN: Bill, at the same time, with this increasing or stepped up activity on the Israeli army's part, the army spokesperson today said that, yes, Arafat was indeed at risk even if he was not a target. Are the Israelis still saying that they do not mean Yasser Arafat any physical harm?

HEMMER: Indeed they are, Carol, and quite emphatically. They say they will not harm Yasser Arafat. In fact, that has been the stated objective going back to Friday, early morning Friday here in the Middle East when the Israeli military went on the move there in his compound, bulldozing a number of buildings, seven in all. We are told three rooms still remain standing.

But again, it is the stated intent of the Israeli military and government that it will not harm Yasser Arafat, but the mere fact that tanks and troops still remain in the area tell us quite clearly that it is still a dangerous situation.

LIN: Indeed. All right. Thank you very much, Bill Hemmer. reporting live from Jerusalem.

HEMMER: Sure.

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