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CNN Live Sunday
Senator Specter Lobbies Israel to Extradite Terrorists
Aired June 22, 2003 - 16:32 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: One U.S. lawmaker has a unique approach to dealing with the group Hamas. He says when Americans are killed in Hamas attacks, those responsible should go on trial here in the United States. CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us live with details from the White House. Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Fred. It was Senator Arlen Specter, the Republican from Pennsylvania, who first announced on CNN about this initiative, that he's lobbying Israel for a new approach in cracking down terrorism, and what it involves is actually extraditing Palestinians who have been convicted of killing U.S. citizens in Israel to the United States, where they could face the death penalty. Senator Specter saying that he has actually lobbied Israeli officials, including making phone calls as well as letters, even a face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the matter.
In a letter he sent to Sharon, he says "It would be a significant step forward if the U.S. tried, convicted and imposed the death penalty in a U.S. court on a Palestinian terrorist who has murdered Americans in Israel."
Now, Specter is seeking Israel's cooperation in at least two cases of convicted Palestinians, one of them a 1996 bus bombing that took place in Jerusalem that killed three U.S. citizens.
Now, Specter says that he has gotten some positive feedback from Israeli officials. He has also spoken with the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. As you know, Israel is against the death penalty, normally would not extradite convicts, but there is an exception to that law when it comes to issues of national security.
Should also let you know as well, Fred, and you had mentioned it before, that Secretary of State Colin Powell earlier today really denouncing and expressing some concern over the recent killings of some Hamas leaders inside of Israel, saying that he felt that this could possibly impede progress towards Middle East peace. It is believed by U.S. officials that perhaps Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is really on the verge of winning a cease-fire from Hamas, that this would not be helpful -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Susanne, thanks very much from the White House.
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 June 22, 2003 - 16:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: One U.S. lawmaker has a unique approach to dealing with the group Hamas. He says when Americans are killed in Hamas attacks, those responsible should go on trial here in the United States. CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us live with details from the White House. Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Fred. It was Senator Arlen Specter, the Republican from Pennsylvania, who first announced on CNN about this initiative, that he's lobbying Israel for a new approach in cracking down terrorism, and what it involves is actually extraditing Palestinians who have been convicted of killing U.S. citizens in Israel to the United States, where they could face the death penalty. Senator Specter saying that he has actually lobbied Israeli officials, including making phone calls as well as letters, even a face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the matter.
In a letter he sent to Sharon, he says "It would be a significant step forward if the U.S. tried, convicted and imposed the death penalty in a U.S. court on a Palestinian terrorist who has murdered Americans in Israel."
Now, Specter is seeking Israel's cooperation in at least two cases of convicted Palestinians, one of them a 1996 bus bombing that took place in Jerusalem that killed three U.S. citizens.
Now, Specter says that he has gotten some positive feedback from Israeli officials. He has also spoken with the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. As you know, Israel is against the death penalty, normally would not extradite convicts, but there is an exception to that law when it comes to issues of national security.
Should also let you know as well, Fred, and you had mentioned it before, that Secretary of State Colin Powell earlier today really denouncing and expressing some concern over the recent killings of some Hamas leaders inside of Israel, saying that he felt that this could possibly impede progress towards Middle East peace. It is believed by U.S. officials that perhaps Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is really on the verge of winning a cease-fire from Hamas, that this would not be helpful -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Susanne, thanks very much from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
