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CNN Live Sunday
Israeli Cabinet Approves Road Map Plan
Aired May 25, 2003 - 18:37 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 Mideast road map for peace could be on its way to becoming a reality. The Israeli cabinet has approved the plan and preparations are being made for a presidential visit to the region.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Israeli cabinet's approval of the U.S.-backed road map for Mid East peace was applauded at the White House.
"It is an important step forward" said a spokesman. "We look forward to working with all parties in the region."
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will strongly consider such a meeting.
BASH: The Israeli vote paves the way for a possible three-way summit with President Bush, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
An administration official tells CNN an advance team is headed to Egypt for a potential meeting early next month at the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, the site of previous Mid East talks.
Mr. Sharon only agreed Friday to support the road map after the White House issued a delicately worded promise to deal fully and seriously with Israel's dozen or so concerns about the peace plan. Israelis and Palestinians say they're eager for a summit.
Bush officials want movement from both sides towards the first phase of the road map, Palestinians cracking down on terrorism, and Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas, a key challenge for Mr. Bush, ending the diplomat game of chicken over which side moves first.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We very much would like to embark on this road of negotiations. We must see the end of all terrorism. We would like to see some real action on the Palestinian side once and for all to dismantle all terror organizations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can you implement the security, Palestinian security plan if you have the Israeli Army is sitting there in the middle? BASH: One Democrat cautioned the cabinet vote simply endorses the goal of peace and it's up to the White House to lead the two parties there.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm glad that the Bush administration after two and a half years in which they effectively neglected the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have decided to get back involved.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And it's that kind of pressure not just from his domestic rivals but also from skeptical European and Arab allies that could make the timing right for President Bush's first real personal appeal for peace where so many of his predecessors fell short - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And, Dana, what's the expectation of how long it just might be before this peace plan is actually implemented?
BASH: That's anybody's guess and that is a big reason why people here at the White House do want President Bush to get personally involved in this, have a personal and really public meeting with these two leaders because they really want that to help to try to jump-start this.
Because, although there was this approval by the cabinet today in Israel, there are lots of things that are still left unsaid, lots of things that they still have to work out in order to get to that final place which is Palestinian statehood and it certainly will take a while and there is a lot of interpretation that differs on both sides on how to do that - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dana Bash from the White House thanks 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 - 18:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Mideast road map for peace could be on its way to becoming a reality. The Israeli cabinet has approved the plan and preparations are being made for a presidential visit to the region.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Israeli cabinet's approval of the U.S.-backed road map for Mid East peace was applauded at the White House.
"It is an important step forward" said a spokesman. "We look forward to working with all parties in the region."
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will strongly consider such a meeting.
BASH: The Israeli vote paves the way for a possible three-way summit with President Bush, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
An administration official tells CNN an advance team is headed to Egypt for a potential meeting early next month at the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, the site of previous Mid East talks.
Mr. Sharon only agreed Friday to support the road map after the White House issued a delicately worded promise to deal fully and seriously with Israel's dozen or so concerns about the peace plan. Israelis and Palestinians say they're eager for a summit.
Bush officials want movement from both sides towards the first phase of the road map, Palestinians cracking down on terrorism, and Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas, a key challenge for Mr. Bush, ending the diplomat game of chicken over which side moves first.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We very much would like to embark on this road of negotiations. We must see the end of all terrorism. We would like to see some real action on the Palestinian side once and for all to dismantle all terror organizations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can you implement the security, Palestinian security plan if you have the Israeli Army is sitting there in the middle? BASH: One Democrat cautioned the cabinet vote simply endorses the goal of peace and it's up to the White House to lead the two parties there.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm glad that the Bush administration after two and a half years in which they effectively neglected the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have decided to get back involved.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And it's that kind of pressure not just from his domestic rivals but also from skeptical European and Arab allies that could make the timing right for President Bush's first real personal appeal for peace where so many of his predecessors fell short - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And, Dana, what's the expectation of how long it just might be before this peace plan is actually implemented?
BASH: That's anybody's guess and that is a big reason why people here at the White House do want President Bush to get personally involved in this, have a personal and really public meeting with these two leaders because they really want that to help to try to jump-start this.
Because, although there was this approval by the cabinet today in Israel, there are lots of things that are still left unsaid, lots of things that they still have to work out in order to get to that final place which is Palestinian statehood and it certainly will take a while and there is a lot of interpretation that differs on both sides on how to do that - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dana Bash from the White House thanks 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
