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CNN Live Sunday

Israeli Incursion Does Not Let Up

Aired April 07, 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: As the United States prepares to become more engaged in the Middle East, Israeli leadership has said it will pull back from its positions inside the West Bank, but as CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports, there are no signs yet that the fighting is letting up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): No let up in the Israeli action. In fact, intensified fighting, particularly here in the heart of the biggest Palestinian city Nablus, in the old part of town, which Israel has long seen as a militant stronghold.

Heavy fighting also further north, in the refugee camp adjacent to the town of Jenin where Israeli troops have met with the stiffest resistance from Palestinian gunmen. Top Israeli commanders tell CNN the operation will be completed in both Nablus and Jenin by Monday.

MAJOR GENERAL DAN HAREL: I expect it to end today or tomorrow.

KESSEL: But at the Israeli cabinet table, pointedly no time frame given by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for when his troops will complete their operation in the other Palestinian towns and villages, despite President Bush's insistence that the Israeli campaign end, in Mr. Bush's phrase, "without delay."

Many in Israel believe the real U.S. deadline for ending the Israeli operation is Secretary of State Powell's arrival here later in the week, which is why many Arabs are furious that Mr. Powell isn't coming here directly.

AZMI BISHARA, ISRAELI ARAB LEGISLATOR: There is nothing urgent in Morocco and nothing urgent in Spain. The urgent things are here. Mr. Powell could be here today. He could be here today. Why the delay? That's why we do not trust Mr. Bush.

KESSEL: Prime Minister Sharon says the key to whether this U.S. initiative takes off is not just Israeli withdrawal but whether Palestinians crack down on terror, and whether Yasser Arafat will commit to a real cease-fire.

CHEMI GHALEV, ISRAELI ANALYST: The divergence is that Sharon is given up on Arafat altogether and that President Bush is willing to give him one more chance, and that Anthony Zinni, the special emissary here is trying to get Arafat to sign on to his proposals and then, if that happens, Secretary Powell will meet Arafat and then he might be slightly rehabilitated. But if that doesn't happen, I think Sharon and Bush will agree together that they have to look for somebody else.

KESSEL (on camera): In Tel Aviv, the funeral for an 88-year-old Israeli woman who died of her injuries after the suicide bombing on the eve of the Jewish Passover holiday, the 27th person to die in that attack, which triggered the massive Israeli military operation still underway.

(voice over): The Palestinian attack, which President Bush says had nipped in the bud a cease-fire, which was about to be completed. Now, it's Prime Minister Sharon who must satisfy the President that his actions aren't going to thwart the renewed cease-fire attempt, one which the U.S. hopes will gain momentum once Secretary of State Powell steps firmly into the picture.

Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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