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CNN Live Sunday
Israelis Lift Siege of Arafat's Compound
Aired September 29, 2002 - 17:09 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More now on the Israeli army easing its grip on what's left of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's West Bank headquarters. CNN's Ben Wedeman of the partial pullout of Israeli troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first carload of journalists enters Arafat's compound; CNN leading the pack. The Israelis have just left.
Arafat's building, surrounded by razor wire. The CNN crew looks for ways over that wire.
Chaos at the front door. Unaccustomed to sunlight, the building's occupants emerge.
Upstairs, Arafat meets with U.N. special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, here to discuss the Security Council resolution calling on Israel to leave the compound. Arafat is not satisfied with Israel's redeployment.
YASSER ARAFAT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT: And what we are asking, the clear implementation of this Security Council resolution. Complete withdrawal, and not as they are speaking, some few meters. Not more.
WEDEMAN: Then, I ask, if he was negotiating with the Israelis over the Palestinians on their wanted list.
ARAFAT: First of all, you are speaking to General Arafat. You haven't right to ask me these questions. I refuse, from you, to ask me this question, as I am refusing any person to speak with me with this language.
WEDEMAN: Minutes later, he tells me his angry response was a message, presumably to the Israelis.
Outside, a family is reunited after the 10-day siege. For families and comrades in arms, an emotional moment, relief that the siege had ended without a fight.
The barbed wire is removed and moved outside. Fresh supplies arrive.
For Arafat loyalists, survival is victory. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's still alive and he'll be more stronger, you know?
WEDEMAN (on camera): You'd be hard pressed to find anyone here who say this wasn't a victory for the Palestinians. The Israelis have left the compound, and it appears the Palestinian Authority had to give nothing in return.
(voice-over): But Arafat's headquarters is a shambles. Every building in the compound either severely damaged or destroyed. Earlier, Israeli tanks rumbled out of the compound. But they didn't pull out very far. They plan on staying close by to monitor all those who leave.
YONATAN PELEO, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: We still expect these people who are accused -- have blood on their hands and are wanted terrorists to either give themselves in or be surrendered so that they can be brought to justice, and brought to a fair trial, as is customary everywhere in the world.
WEDEMAN: Arafat greets supporters with kisses. Once again, emerging from yet another siege, position intact.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Ramallah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 29, 2002 - 17:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More now on the Israeli army easing its grip on what's left of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's West Bank headquarters. CNN's Ben Wedeman of the partial pullout of Israeli troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first carload of journalists enters Arafat's compound; CNN leading the pack. The Israelis have just left.
Arafat's building, surrounded by razor wire. The CNN crew looks for ways over that wire.
Chaos at the front door. Unaccustomed to sunlight, the building's occupants emerge.
Upstairs, Arafat meets with U.N. special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, here to discuss the Security Council resolution calling on Israel to leave the compound. Arafat is not satisfied with Israel's redeployment.
YASSER ARAFAT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT: And what we are asking, the clear implementation of this Security Council resolution. Complete withdrawal, and not as they are speaking, some few meters. Not more.
WEDEMAN: Then, I ask, if he was negotiating with the Israelis over the Palestinians on their wanted list.
ARAFAT: First of all, you are speaking to General Arafat. You haven't right to ask me these questions. I refuse, from you, to ask me this question, as I am refusing any person to speak with me with this language.
WEDEMAN: Minutes later, he tells me his angry response was a message, presumably to the Israelis.
Outside, a family is reunited after the 10-day siege. For families and comrades in arms, an emotional moment, relief that the siege had ended without a fight.
The barbed wire is removed and moved outside. Fresh supplies arrive.
For Arafat loyalists, survival is victory. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's still alive and he'll be more stronger, you know?
WEDEMAN (on camera): You'd be hard pressed to find anyone here who say this wasn't a victory for the Palestinians. The Israelis have left the compound, and it appears the Palestinian Authority had to give nothing in return.
(voice-over): But Arafat's headquarters is a shambles. Every building in the compound either severely damaged or destroyed. Earlier, Israeli tanks rumbled out of the compound. But they didn't pull out very far. They plan on staying close by to monitor all those who leave.
YONATAN PELEO, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: We still expect these people who are accused -- have blood on their hands and are wanted terrorists to either give themselves in or be surrendered so that they can be brought to justice, and brought to a fair trial, as is customary everywhere in the world.
WEDEMAN: Arafat greets supporters with kisses. Once again, emerging from yet another siege, position intact.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Ramallah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
