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CNN Live Sunday
Israel Approves Road Map to Peace
Aired May 25, 2003 - 16:04 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: The White House says Israel's cabinet took an important step toward -- forward today, rather, by approving the U.S.-backed road map to Middle East peace. White House correspondent Dana Bash, is standing by with reaction to what looks to be an historic vote today -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It certainly does, Fredricka, and as you said, the White House is very pleased with the vote. A White House spokesman saying that it is an important step forward, quoting; "We look forward to working with all parties in the region to realize the vision of peace laid out by President Bush in his June 24th speech."
Now, what that is referring to is a speech made by the president. That was the first time, in June, that he actually endorsed the idea of a new leadership and ultimately a new Palestinian state. And today's vote in Israel is the first time the Israeli government has actually acknowledged formally that they would be for such a state living to their side -- side by side with Israel.
The vote also came just two days after Ariel Sharon's support of the idea of the road map, and that only happened because the White House got rid of the diplomatic deadlock by issuing their own statement, saying that they would address the dozen or so concerns that Israel has in terms of the implementation of the road map. And also, Fredricka, this does pave the way for a potential three-way summit between President Bush, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, and the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. And CNN has confirmed there is an advance team headed to Egypt to prepare for that possible summit.
We're told that could happen in the resort town of Sharm el- Sheik, that has been the site of Mideast talks in the past. But officials do say that there is nothing that is set. Nothing formal has been set yet, they are just going to prepare. And this is normally a very tight-lipped White House, in all respects. But they're even more mum about this than in the past, because first of all, the diplomatic pieces are not in place.
But also, there is concern here, Fredricka, about security. Security for all of the players that would be involved in any kind of three-way summit such as this -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Dana, there have been some experts who have said if indeed there is a summit, it could be as early as ten days away. Is there any -- does that sound realistic from the White House point of view?
BASH: Exactly. If it does happen, the idea would be for President Bush to conclude the summit that he will be attending, the G-8 summit in Evian, France. That concludes June 2. Then the idea would be for him to, shortly after that, head to wherever they would have the summit, perhaps in Egypt. We're also told he might make a stop in Jordan. If he does indeed head to the region, head to the Mideast.
WHITFIELD: OK. Dana Bash from the White House, thank you very much.
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 May 25, 2003 - 16:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The White House says Israel's cabinet took an important step toward -- forward today, rather, by approving the U.S.-backed road map to Middle East peace. White House correspondent Dana Bash, is standing by with reaction to what looks to be an historic vote today -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It certainly does, Fredricka, and as you said, the White House is very pleased with the vote. A White House spokesman saying that it is an important step forward, quoting; "We look forward to working with all parties in the region to realize the vision of peace laid out by President Bush in his June 24th speech."
Now, what that is referring to is a speech made by the president. That was the first time, in June, that he actually endorsed the idea of a new leadership and ultimately a new Palestinian state. And today's vote in Israel is the first time the Israeli government has actually acknowledged formally that they would be for such a state living to their side -- side by side with Israel.
The vote also came just two days after Ariel Sharon's support of the idea of the road map, and that only happened because the White House got rid of the diplomatic deadlock by issuing their own statement, saying that they would address the dozen or so concerns that Israel has in terms of the implementation of the road map. And also, Fredricka, this does pave the way for a potential three-way summit between President Bush, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, and the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. And CNN has confirmed there is an advance team headed to Egypt to prepare for that possible summit.
We're told that could happen in the resort town of Sharm el- Sheik, that has been the site of Mideast talks in the past. But officials do say that there is nothing that is set. Nothing formal has been set yet, they are just going to prepare. And this is normally a very tight-lipped White House, in all respects. But they're even more mum about this than in the past, because first of all, the diplomatic pieces are not in place.
But also, there is concern here, Fredricka, about security. Security for all of the players that would be involved in any kind of three-way summit such as this -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Dana, there have been some experts who have said if indeed there is a summit, it could be as early as ten days away. Is there any -- does that sound realistic from the White House point of view?
BASH: Exactly. If it does happen, the idea would be for President Bush to conclude the summit that he will be attending, the G-8 summit in Evian, France. That concludes June 2. Then the idea would be for him to, shortly after that, head to wherever they would have the summit, perhaps in Egypt. We're also told he might make a stop in Jordan. If he does indeed head to the region, head to the Mideast.
WHITFIELD: OK. Dana Bash from the White House, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
