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CNN Live Sunday
Israel to Release Some Palestinian Prisoners as Goodwill Gesture
Aired July 06, 2003 - 18:10 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: In a goodwill gesture, Israel says it will release some Palestinian prisoners under guidelines approved by its cabinet today. Under the criteria, Israel would free only a few hundred of the roughly 6,000 Palestinians in custody. And as CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports that could spell trouble for the peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): No mistaking the mood on Palestinian streets. This demonstration in Gaza was clearly well orchestrated. But the release of thousands of their prisoners from Israeli jails is the issue that unites Palestinians. Militant leaders and the Palestinian Authority warn that without a major release, the temporary hope of attacks on Israelis declared by the radical groups could end. Nafez Azzam is a leader of the radical group Islamic Jihad.
NAFEZ AZZAM, ISLAMIC JIHAD (through translator): We refuse the Israeli way of dealing with the prisoners. The release should be of all the prisoners, without regard of where they come from or their political affiliation.
KESSEL: The Israeli position is more complex. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas last week that he understood how much the prisoner issue matters. But, as Israeli ministers arrive to discuss the thorny issue, they were greeted by a small anti-prisoner release demonstration. This woman's daughter was killed in a Palestinian terror attack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never heard that a murderer or somebody who sent him or somebody who tried to kill and didn't succeed, how can they be released?
KESSEL: Israel's security services chief presented criteria for release. No prisoners who have killed Israelis will be released, nor those belonging to so-called rejectionist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, nor those described as a clear and present danger.
There was drama when the cabinet voted on the criteria. Giving a green light only after a second vote. And only if, in the words of the resolution, the Palestinians meet their peacemaking obligations.
AYRAHAM POHAT, ISRAELI INTERIOR MINISTER: We have an interest that the new Palestinian government will be strong and that they will be able to deliver. And in order to strengthen the Palestinian Authority we should give something to the Palestinians. The Palestinians should understood that the peace process gives them some achievements.
KESSEL: Sources say only several hundred prisoners are being considered for release to follow these Palestinians recently released. That could complicate matters for the Palestinian prime minister, for whom a major release of prisoners is critical to his credibility among his people.
KESSEL (on camera): Top U.S. officials say to keep moving down the peace road is imperative that Israel try to bolster Prime Minister Abbas. But it seems difficult to see how Prime Minister Sharon can achieve that on the prisoner issue, if he keeps strictly to the criteria for release that his government has mapped out. Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Jerusalem.
(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
Gesture>
Aired July 6, 2003 - 18:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: In a goodwill gesture, Israel says it will release some Palestinian prisoners under guidelines approved by its cabinet today. Under the criteria, Israel would free only a few hundred of the roughly 6,000 Palestinians in custody. And as CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports that could spell trouble for the peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): No mistaking the mood on Palestinian streets. This demonstration in Gaza was clearly well orchestrated. But the release of thousands of their prisoners from Israeli jails is the issue that unites Palestinians. Militant leaders and the Palestinian Authority warn that without a major release, the temporary hope of attacks on Israelis declared by the radical groups could end. Nafez Azzam is a leader of the radical group Islamic Jihad.
NAFEZ AZZAM, ISLAMIC JIHAD (through translator): We refuse the Israeli way of dealing with the prisoners. The release should be of all the prisoners, without regard of where they come from or their political affiliation.
KESSEL: The Israeli position is more complex. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas last week that he understood how much the prisoner issue matters. But, as Israeli ministers arrive to discuss the thorny issue, they were greeted by a small anti-prisoner release demonstration. This woman's daughter was killed in a Palestinian terror attack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never heard that a murderer or somebody who sent him or somebody who tried to kill and didn't succeed, how can they be released?
KESSEL: Israel's security services chief presented criteria for release. No prisoners who have killed Israelis will be released, nor those belonging to so-called rejectionist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, nor those described as a clear and present danger.
There was drama when the cabinet voted on the criteria. Giving a green light only after a second vote. And only if, in the words of the resolution, the Palestinians meet their peacemaking obligations.
AYRAHAM POHAT, ISRAELI INTERIOR MINISTER: We have an interest that the new Palestinian government will be strong and that they will be able to deliver. And in order to strengthen the Palestinian Authority we should give something to the Palestinians. The Palestinians should understood that the peace process gives them some achievements.
KESSEL: Sources say only several hundred prisoners are being considered for release to follow these Palestinians recently released. That could complicate matters for the Palestinian prime minister, for whom a major release of prisoners is critical to his credibility among his people.
KESSEL (on camera): Top U.S. officials say to keep moving down the peace road is imperative that Israel try to bolster Prime Minister Abbas. But it seems difficult to see how Prime Minister Sharon can achieve that on the prisoner issue, if he keeps strictly to the criteria for release that his government has mapped out. Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Jerusalem.
(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
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