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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Will Israel Strike Back?; Nativity Standoff Nearly Over; Law Deposed

Aired May 08, 2002 - 17:00   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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Now on this special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS: Live From Jerusalem: After a devastating bombing, will Israel strike back harder than ever? Does Yasser Arafat face exile? I will speak with Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres, senator John McCain.

The church stand-off nearing an end? I will take you on the back roads to Bethlehem, through the blockade, and into another world.

A cardinal is forced to answer questions in court. Did he turn a blind eye to sex abuse in the church?

And he cracked down on staffers who talked to the media about JFK, Jr. Now, he tells all to readers and to us.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is now back here in Israel. He is meeting at this hour in an emergency session with his senior cabinet members. Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting live from Jerusalem. We'll get to several developments in the Middle East, including the cabinet meeting, but there are other developments as well, and that tops our News Alert.

Negotiators are trying to nail down a new deal to end the standoff at Bethlehem's church of the Nativity. It would let most of the 123 Palestinians inside leave, while 13 alleged terrorists would remain until some nation agrees to take them. Italy, which torpedoed an earlier deal, is still refusing to admit the 13.

Yasser Arafat has responded to the suicide bombing 24 hours ago with a strong statement, declaring that he is part of the war against terror and instructing his security forces to confront and prevent terror attacks against Israeli civilians by any Palestinian faction.

There was a failed suicide bombing today at a bus stop in northern Israel. Until a robot was deployed, police believed the bomber was killed. He is now in a hospital. The latest attack came 12 hours after the bombing at a packed billiard hall in Rishon Letzion, which killed 15 Israelis and injured dozens more, several of them critically. The suicide bombing was the first in Israel in nearly a month.

The FBI says Luke John Helder has confessed to planting pipe bombs in rural mailboxes in five states. Helder is to be arraigned next hour in Nevada. Charges were filed against him today in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. The 21-year-old art student was arrested in Nevada after a tip from his father put authorities on his trail.

Boston Cardinal Bernard Law was in court today, answering questions in a civil suit stemming from the case of a defrocked priest. Dozens of people have sued the archdiocese, alleging sex abuse by John Geoghan, who is now in prison. Cardinal Law is accused of turning a blind eye, moving Geoghan from parish to parish.

In the grim aftermath of yesterday's suicide bombing, which killed at least 15 Israelis, everyone here is asking, what's next?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): In accordance with Jewish custom, they started burying the dead right away. And as the funerals began, Israelis and Palestinians alike were bracing for the next shoe to drop, in the aftermath of the pool hall bombing near Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, immediately after returning to Israel from his abbreviated U.S. visit, met with his cabinet to plot Israel's next move.

Earlier in the day, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat went on Palestinian television to condemn the Rishon Letzion bombing and to warn against further terror strikes against Israelis.

YASSER ARAFAT, CHAIRMAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY (through translator): I have issued my orders to the Palestinian national security forces to confront and prevent any terror attacks on Israeli civilians no matter which Palestinian factions stand behind them.

BLITZER: But, Israeli officials say words won't be enough. They are demanding strong action from Arafat. Some within Sharon's cabinet are already calling for the exile of the Palestinian leader and his top lieutenants from the West Bank and Gaza.

Other options, officials say, include a resumed military strike against targets in the West Bank, but expanding that operation this time to include Gaza as well. Israeli police say they did manage to thwart a second suicide attack when this Palestinian man's explosives went off prematurely. He survived the explosion, was removed by a robotic arm and is in serious condition.

Two Israeli passersby were slightly injured. Israeli police believe his target was a crowded bus station in Afula, just southeast of Haifa. Meanwhile, there was movement again at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are attempting to end the five-week standoff. But, a critical issue remains unresolved: Where 13 suspected Palestinian terrorists will be exiled. It seems no country is currently prepared to accept them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Is the end to the standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem? Let's go live to CNN senior international correspondent, Walter Rodgers. He is on the scene for us tonight in Bethlehem -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf. We are waiting for diplomatic representatives to enter the Church of the Nativity. Their mission, to assure the Palestinians inside of safe conduct when they emerge from the church. The Palestinians are said to be reluctant to leave the church, be seen leaving the church, and simply surrendering to the Israelis outside.

The Palestinians have asked that diplomatic representatives of third countries be involved in this surrender. They particularly asked for the Americans and the British. Not all the Palestinians will be emerging from the church; 13 will be staying inside. These are the 13 hard core Palestinian fighters whom the Israelis say are "senior terrorists."

The Israelis allege that these are men who have made suicide bombs, that they have dispatched suicide bombers or shot and killed Israeli soldiers and civilians. Back to you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Walter Rodgers in Bethlehem. Of course if there are further developments we'll go right back to Walter at a moment's notice. Thank you very much.

The world is now bracing for some sort of Israeli response to the suicide bombing 24 hours ago. Just before he went into the Israeli cabinet meeting I spoke with Israel's foreign minister Shimon Peres.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Foreign Minister Peres, thanks so much for joining us. Now that Yasser Arafat has issued a statement in Arabic on Palestinian television calling on Palestinians to stop these kinds of suicide bombings, will this stop the Israeli government from reacting militarily in the light of what happened in Rishon Letzion?

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: We would like to see Arafat giving orders to his troops, he has under his command something like 30,000 policemen, really to try and prevent further acts of terror.

BLITZER: So what you're saying is the statement that he issued is not enough by itself?

PERES: The statement issued should be accompanied by order to the policemen that are under his control. We said that we shall judge him by his efforts not necessarily to trust by the end results, and one of the efforts and this is part of his statement should be accompanied to the statement is a call to his troops to take acts against the continuation of suicide bombers and terror.

BLITZER: As we speak, foreign minister, you're preparing to go into a meeting with the cabinet, the inner cabinet involving Prime Minister Sharon. Some of your colleagues already including in education minister -- including the education minister are already raising the possible of exile for Yasser Arafat and his key lieutenants. Will you oppose that? PERES: Yes, not only me. I think the majority are against it because when we reached an agreement about Ramallah, we agreed that what will be -- there will not be any expulsion of Arafat.

BLITZER: You're still hopeful that you can reach a deal with Yasser Arafat?

PERES: I really don't know, but we're now in a new situation because in addition to Arafat there is the quartet, four nations that got themselves involved very seriously, and I think they can impress Arafat with the need to abandon all the foolish ways of violence and terror and to turn to the main road of peace.

BLITZER: Finally Foreign Minister, do you think that despite what happened in Rishon Letzion, what happened later in Afula with the second incident that there's still a possibility that Israel, the Palestinians and others can go to this regional peace conference in the early part of the summer?

PERES: None of us has a better alternative. Even when we have those terrible days and terrible experiences, our aim remains a peace achieved by political means and not by military might. And I think this is our aim and this is also, I believe, the only alternative available to the Palestinians.

BLITZER: Foreign Minister Peres, thanks so much for joining us.

PERES: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So, Yasser Arafat has ordered his security services to prevent all Palestinians from engaging in terror attacks against Israeli civilians. But is it too late? Let's get some Palestinian perspective. Joining us, the chief PLO representative to the United States, Hassan Abdel Rahman. Ambassador Rahman, thanks for joining us.

HASSAN ABDEL RAHMAN, CHIEF PLO REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you.

BLITZER: I guess a lot of people are asking why has it taken so long?

RAHMAN: Well, it has not taken so long. Yasser Arafat has in the past called on the Palestinian people on more than one occasion, on the 16th of December, in March 28 and before not to hurt Israeli civilians. And in the same way, he called on Israel also not to hurt Palestinian civilians. So that's not a new position by Yasser Arafat.

BLITZER: There's some speculation now in the West Bank and in Gaza that Palestinian security forces are rounding up members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, other suspected Palestinians involved in potential terror strikes. Can you tell us if that's true?

RAHMAN: I believe it's true. There are suspected elements who have been arrested as far as I'm concerned. BLITZER: What will the Palestinian leader do now to prove not only to those like Shimon Peres and the Israeli government, but also to President Bush and to Secretary Powell, that it's not just words, but it's actions that he's going to do whatever he can to prevent what happened in Rishon Letzion yesterday?

RAHMAN: I think Yasser Arafat like in the past has indicated readiness to do what he can in order to prevent attack against Israeli civilians. But there's a problem that we face here. You have a situation in the Palestinian territories, Wolf, that is untenable. Palestinian people are under siege. They are being killed on a daily basis. Many civilians -- the economic situation, the Israeli troops did not withdraw.

There is an environment in the Palestinian territories resulting from Israel's presence there that's conducive to hopelessness. And like President Bush said yesterday, hopelessness generates suicide bombing. Therefore, if Israel and the world wants Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to succeed, they need to force Israel to change its behavior towards the Palestinians and show the Palestinian people that the 36 years of brutal military occupation is coming to an end at some point and that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them.

Otherwise, regardless of what Yasser Arafat says or anybody else, we will have Palestinians that will react to Israel.

BLITZER: Ambassador Hassan Abdel Rahman, the chief PLO representative to the United States, thank you very much for joining us.

RAHMAN: Thank you.

President Bush, meanwhile, is scheduled to meet within an hour or so with a key player in this entire Middle East situation. Jordan's King Abdullah is expected to tell the president that the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat must, must, remain part of the peace process.

Despite yesterday's bombing in Israel, the Bush administration still plans to send the CIA director, George Tenet, back to the region as early as next week. Congress, both Houses, the House and the Senate, last week expressed strong support for Israel, a development that obviously has to be taken into consideration as the president moves forward.

Joining us now in Washington, Senator John McCain. He's a key member of the U.S. Senate. Senator McCain, always good to talk with you. Thank you very much. Do you think it is too late for Yasser Arafat to now play a more constructive role in the peace process?

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe that increasingly, the burden of proof lies on Mr. Arafat to prove that he is either capable or willing to stop these murderous attacks and he seems to be flunking that test.

BLITZER: So, what do you say? Is there an alternative though to Yasser Arafat as the leader of the Palestinian people?

MCCAIN: You know, I don't know the answer to that. I know that there's never a vacuum of power anywhere, particularly in the Middle East. And I happen to be reminded, 1991, many people believed that we had to leave Saddam Hussein in power because we were afraid of what might come after. And there's no one now that believes we should have left Saddam Hussein in power. And I think there's a certain parallel there.

But, you know, you can't believe that it was a coincidence that this latest or next to latest bombing took place while Prime Minister Sharon was meeting with President Bush. What could be a clearer signal of the defiance or lack of effort on the part of the Palestinian Authority to stop these bombings?

BLITZER: Do you believe, as Prime Minister Sharon and members of his government believes, Senator McCain, that Yasser Arafat directly and his Palestinian Authority must be held accountable for the suicide bombing attack yesterday, even though the Hamas organization did claim responsibility for it?

MCCAIN: Well, if not responsible, it's a demonstration on Yasser Arafat's part that he cannot control elements within the authority of the Palestinian government. So it still ends up in the murder of innocent people. Whether he is either unwilling or incapable is almost a semantic question.

BLITZER: As we speak right now, Senator McCain, Prime Minister Sharon has convened an emergency meeting of his cabinet. They're meeting at Ben Gurion Airport. He just got off the plane. Everyone is bracing for some sort of Israeli military response. Pointedly, earlier today, Secretary of State Powell did not call on the Israeli government to exercise restraint. Do you think the Israelis should exercise restraint?

MCCAIN: No more than if someone came across the border into Tucson or Phoenix, Arizona and set themselves off in a bomb in a billiard parlor in one of those cities. Would my fellow citizens of Arizona expect us not to respond to an act of terror? And, yes, I expect them to respond, and, yes, it's an act of violence that I don't see how you cannot respond to it and maintain credibility as the governing power in your own country.

BLITZER: George Tenet, the CIA director, is expected to come back here next week, but it might be a case, if the Israelis do respond in some sort of massive way, it might be a case of too little, too late. One question about Tenet's role. It is appropriate for the CIA director to play that kind of role in trying to help the Palestinians have a unified security structure?

MCCAIN: Well, I think that Mr. Tenet is going for a variety of reasons, including trying to bring about some kind of at least pause in these acts of terror. I respect the judgment of the president in sending George Tenet. He's a very capable individual. So, it's hard for me to second guess. But if these terrorist attacks continue, I don't know how Mr. Tenet could possibly have much of a prospect of success.

BLITZER: Senator McCain, while I have you, let me switch to a domestic issue, namely your political future. Why, all of a sudden, is there so much speculation that you might bolt from the Republican party and become an Independent, formally become an independent or perhaps even a Democrat? What's behind that and is there any truth to it?

MCCAIN: No. There's been a heat wave here in Washington in the last couple weeks, as you know. It may have affected some people's judgment. And, you know, I've been accused of wanting to be everything except a vegetarian. And so, I'm a Theodore Roosevelt Republican. I continue to believe in a strong national defense, free trade, deregulation. I'm pro-life. There are many, many issues that I feel would make it very difficult for Democrats to embrace me.

BLITZER: So can we hear a Shermanesque statement from you, Senator McCain, that you will never leave the Republican party?

MCCAIN: I envision no scenario in which I would leave the Republican party.

BLITZER: OK. Senator John McCain of Arizona, thanks so much for joining us.

MCCAIN: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Even though I'm in Jerusalem, you're in Washington, usually I'm right next to you. Appreciate it very much.

And our Web question of the day is this: Do you think exiling the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, would make the situation better or worse in the Middle East? You can vote. Go to my Web page, cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, let me know what you are thinking. There's a "click here" icon right on the left side of the page. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, by the way, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

How far did the Catholic church go today to try to cover up sexual abuse in the church? We'll have the transcripts from Cardinal Bernard Law's forced deposition.

Plus, the confessed pipe bomber. How many chances did the police have to get him? Wait until you hear about the missed opportunities.

Also, sleazy exploitation or truth telling? The new book on JFK Jr. tells all. Author Richard Blow joins us live to answer the tough questions about his motives. But first, with more on the Middle East, here is our "News Quiz."

How many of Israel's 11 prime ministers were raised in the United States: one, two, three or four? The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

I'll be back here in Jerusalem shortly with more developments in the Middle East. I'll also tell you how I snuck into Bethlehem yesterday. We'll have a report on that. But there's other major news going on elsewhere. For that, let's turn to my colleague Daryn Kagan. She joins us from the CNN Center in Atlanta -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, a pleasure to stay late just for the chance to work alongside of you.

Let's start with our look in the U.S. In Nevada, that is where a 21-year-old college student is scheduled to appear in a courtroom less than an hour from right now. He will be arraigned on charges linked to a series of pipe bombs discovered in mailboxes across the nation's heartland. We find our Martin Savidge in Reno with the latest on the case against Luke Helder. Marty, hello.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Luke Helder goes before a federal magistrate, as you say, in about 35 minutes. It is described as his initial court appearance following his arrest about 50 miles northeast of Reno last night. That after a high-speed chase. He was held overnight at the county detention facility. He was brought there following his arrest. He was smiling. He was described by the sheriff as courteous, polite and downright cooperative, but he was not in any way showing any signs of remorse. And now he's been transported to the federal courthouse here.

The FBI releasing, in the meantime, two, not one, but two affidavits outlining the case against him and they seem to have some fairly strong evidence. A lot of it based upon communication he had with family members and friends back in his home of Minnesota. They also claim that they have a verbal, not a written, but a verbal confession from Helder outlining exactly where he placed the bombs, even pointing out on a map.

In the first affidavit though, some very interesting reading there. When they talk about the FBI, three what could be missed opportunities in which they might have apprehended the 21-year-old suspect. And these were all circumstances that occurred on the fourth and fifth. He was stopped not once, but three times by law officers in three different states. The first time, on May 4, he was speeding in Nebraska. When he was pulled over, the officer, as he approached the car, said that Helder said, hey, I didn't mean to hurt anybody. The officer didn't know what he meant. He said I'm only stop stopping you for speeding. All three times Helder was allowed to continue on his way -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Amazing. Martin Savidge in Reno, Nevada. We'll hear more after that court hearing.

We move east now to Boston, where Cardinal Bernard Law defended his policies today, as he gave a deposition in response to a lawsuit accusing him of covering up child sexual abuse. Our Jason Carroll is in Boston and he continues his coverage of the story. Jason, hello.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello to you, Daryn. The attorney representing the plaintiffs in this civil case said that Cardinal Law suffered from a case of selective amnesia during the deposition today. Cardinal Law questioned for several hours about defrocked priest John Geoghan.

The attorney for the alleged victims suggested that as early as 1984, Law was told about allegations that Geoghan had sexually abused young boys. The attorney referred to a letter written to Law in 1984 by a woman claiming Geoghan had molested her children. Law initialed the letter but said during his deposition he didn't remember receiving it. But later, Law did admit that in 1984, he knew Geoghan had a history of, quote, "homosexual involvement with young boys." Law was asked, quote, "in 1984, you knew, did you not, that it would have been wrong for a priest to have sexually molested boys? Is that correct? Answer, "oh, absolutely." Question: "OK. And that's something you would have tried to stop from happening again?" Answer: "That's correct."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, PLANTIFFS' ATTORNEY: He's towing a line. I think he's hiding something and I think he's going to continue to try to hide it. I think when it was convenient, he was honest, and as Mark said, he had selective amnesia. And I think he's not going admit anything that he thinks may hurt him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Law was moved -- Law moved Geoghan from parish to parish over a period of time, but Law says that he relied on medical advice given to him before he ever reassigned Geoghan. The next time that Law is scheduled to be deposed is this Friday -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Jason Carroll is Boston. Jason, thank you so much.

And a reminder for our viewers that our Miles O'Brien will have much more on the church abuse scandal when he is LIVE FROM BOSTON. That is this evening at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific.

That's all for right now from CNN Center in Atlanta. Now back to Wolf in Jerusalem.

BLITZER: Thank you very much, Daryn. Thanks for staying late. We'll be back to you later this hour with more news.

I'm going to tell you also how together, with my crew, we snuck into Bethlehem. We'll show you pictures. You're not going to see any place else. Stay with us.

But when we come back, destruction and beauty: An ancient city under siege.

John F. Kennedy, Jr. exposed and tales about Caroline. Did the author of the new Kennedy biography cross the line?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Richard Blow did what, to be honest, what any of us would certainly think about doing and what many of us would do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: An insider turned tell-all. Richard Blow joins us live when we return. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: As the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem has been a destination for pilgrims from all over the world, but few pilgrims visit Bethlehem these days. As our producer, Linda Roth (ph), our photographer Scott McWhinnie (ph) and our driver, Samir Bozboz (ph) and I found out on Tuesday, traveling to Bethlehem has become a difficult and time consuming ordeal even when the trip is just a few miles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): During normal times, the drive from Jerusalem to Bethlehem should take less than 15 minutes. But, these are not normal times.

(on camera): We are at the Rachel's Tomb checkpoint and are waiting to see if we can get into Bethlehem.

(voice-over): I make an effort to sweet-talk the soldier with my rough Hebrew.

(voice-over): No luck, so on to plan B. If we get into Bethlehem, Samir, will it be a problem getting out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The same way you have to go back.

BLITZER: We will go back the same way.

(voice-over): At least there are some spectacular views from this circuitous route through the Arab village of Beit Jala. But once again, no luck at this second checkpoint. Finally, plan C, also crossing an Israeli military checkpoint, but getting onto a dirt road.

(on camera): As you can see, when we say we are taking a back road into Bethlehem, we are clearly taking a back road. Look at this. Samir, you know all the ways to get around.

(voice-over): Eventually, we make it in.

(on camera): We are in Bethlehem. The place is pretty much empty. People are reluctant to go out. There is a nominal curfew. Some individuals are walking around. We haven't seen many folks. The place looks pretty deserted. People are inside their homes. We are going to get ready and go over to the Church of the Nativity. There seems to be some movement going on, but they have been saying that for 24-36 hours. We will see if the standoff is about to end. (voice-over): We park our car and continue on foot. There are constant reminders of the fighting.

(on camera): It's hard to believe this was once a car. This was once a car. That's one of the things you notice as you walk down these allies and all these streets; everyplace you go you see these little posters of these martyrs, so-called martyrs.

(voice-over): As we get close to the church, we see a huge crowd of journalists and TV crews from all over the world. And we connect with our CNN team on the scene, including Walter Rodgers.

RODGERS: We've got lots of shots. We've got lots of altitude. I'll show you the shots. Come on.

BLITZER: We wind our way to an even better vantage point.

(on camera): You are looking at a picture of the Church of the Nativity. You see there, the so-called "Door of Humility" behind those four posters over there. That is where, eventually, the individuals inside the church -- more than 100 -- will walk out.

Some of them will immediately go around, they will be going through those metal detectors that you can see over there. First a couple of busses will be there. Some of them will be free to go: the monks, priests, nuns and civilians, innocent people that happened to be caught up in this five-week standoff.

Some of the Palestinian suspects will be sent to Gaza, where they will be under the authority of the Palestinians -- a handful of others will be exiled.

(voice-over): The walk around the church area is depressing, especially for those of us who have visited Bethlehem under earlier, more pleasant circumstances.

(on camera): We are only a few hundred yards from the Church of the Nativity. But look at this, barbed wire, garbage that has not been picked up in weeks, flies all over the place. It is sort of disgusting. What you can't tell right now is the smell; the smell is really, really bad.

(voice-over): I meet one Palestinian who says his cousin, supposedly a member of the military wing of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, the Tanzim, is inside the church. I meet another Palestinian who teaches at a local university, 44-year-old Khader Shokeh (ph). Here is a coincidence: He was a graduate student years ago in my hometown of Buffalo, New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All we want is our independence. We have to feel that we are like other people; we have to have our own state. Is that a lot? Is that a lot?

BLITZER: We begin our drive out of Bethlehem, but that is easier said then done. (on camera): All right, we have to back up. If you think it was hard getting into Bethlehem. Guess what? It's hard getting out of Bethlehem, too.

First checkpoint -- obviously a failure.

(voice-over): Second checkpoint, after some haggling, success, and we are back on the road to Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Please stay with CNN for all the late-breaking developments tonight, 8:30 p.m. Eastern, 5:30 p.m. on the West Coast, I will anchoring a special LIVE FROM JERUSALEM. We will have all the late- breaking developments. Please join me then, 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

And when we come back, John F. Kennedy, behind closed doors. What has got the Kennedy family upset right now -- indeed, outraged? You are going to hear about it, next. But first, the answer to our news quiz.

Earlier we asked how many of Israel's 11 prime ministers were raised in the United States. The answer, two. Israel's only female prime minister Golda Mair (ph) spent her childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Benjamin Netanyahu went to high school in the United States while his father worked as a history professor in the United States.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: I'll have more from Jerusalem coming up, but as promised once again, let's go to CNN's Daryn Kagan. She is at the CNN center in Atlanta with a look at a very, very controversial book -- Daryn.

KAGAN: This is a big talker, Wolf. Thank you very much. "American Son" is name of the book. It is about the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. It is written by the former editor of Kennedy's magazine, "George." And now as CNN's Michael Okwu tells us, the identity of the author is part of the controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Days after John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s plane went down off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, the editor of Kennedy's magazine, "George," banned his staffers from talking to the media. Months later, those magazine staffers were shocked to hear that editor Richard Blow had cut a book deal.

(on camera): Former "George" staffers say that there was an unspoken pact to protect Kennedy from the media, but it turns out Blow had been keeping a detailed journal all along.

SASHA ISSENBERG, FORMER "GEORGE" WRITER: I don't think people were surprised that somebody realized that they can make a lot of money off of writing a book, a sort of sleazy tell-all about John Kennedy. But, it takes a while for the vultures to fly in, and I think we were surprised that one was waiting in the office next door.

OKWU: Sasha Issenberg started as an intern at "George" and became a writer. He said Richard Blow even fired one staffer who gave a flattering quote about Kennedy to "New York Magazine."

At this gathering last week, former "George" employees wished the book a safe passage into obscurity. "American Son" describes JFK, Jr. As a hard-working, if imperfect, editor, a sensitive, often generous man, his affection towards his wife Carolyn, private observations, like the fact that Kennedy spent the night before his crash alone in a hotel room.

The truth was, John had fraught with Carolyn, Blow writes. "That didn't mean they were headed for divorce, as would be reported in the tabloids, just that the two had had a fight hurtful enough for John to sleep elsewhere. If you had ever seen John's temper or Carolyn's determination, you know that wasn't so unthinkable.

Blow and other staffers had signed nondisclosure agreements, promising to keep professional and private dealings with Kennedy strictly confidential, but there now may be limited appetite to enforce the agreement. And in a telephone interview, Blow's publisher said, "the magazine is gone. Alas, JFK Jr. is gone. I am sure there are few people who care about the internal politics of the magazine. I think there are far more people who care about John F. Kennedy, Jr."

MICHAEL WOLFF, FORMER "GEORGE" EDITOR: I think Richard Blow did what, to be honest, what any of us would certainly think of doing and what many us would do. I think in the light of day, most people have come to realize, well, this is what happens here. You can't -- you can't own the myth.

OKWU: Less than a week after its release, :American Son" is number 19 on the Amazon list. It is now being adapted into a television movie. Michael Okwu, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: So what does Richard Blow have to say for himself and what exactly is in the book? He will have a chance to speak for himself. He will join us live right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The book is called "American Son, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr." The author, Richard Blow, joins us now from our New York bureau. Richard, hello. Good to have you with us.

RICHARD BLOW, AUTHOR, "AMERICAN SON, PORTRAIT OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, JR.": Daryn, thanks for having me on.

KAGAN: You have taken a lot of criticism. So let's hear it up front. Why, why would you write this book given you know how private the Kennedys are?

BLOW: First of all, let me just say one thing. If I was the person that you actually just described in that lead in, then I think I would be a pretty bad guy, too. You made a few mistakes in there. I certainly never ordered people not to talk to the press, and I certainly never fired any "George" staffers for talking to the press.

KAGAN: Wasn't the understanding at "George" magazine that you were there to be part of the magazine and not to tell tales of John F. Kennedy, Jr.?

BLOW: Certainly that is true, but the thing is, you know, the former intern whom your reporter spoke with described this book as a tell all, and frankly that is news to me. This is really an homage to a person whom I admired and respected very much.

KAGAN: We are going to get to that in just a second. You had to know, you had to know, you are a smart guy, that there was going to be some scathing criticism you would get for even attempting a project like this. The one I know you've heard it before, but out of "Newsweek," this quote, "Nothing says friendship like dancing on your buddy's grave for profit." -- ouch!

BLOW: A couple of things, first I just have a feeling that person who wrote that hadn't actually read the book. We live in a time when unfortunate, you are writing a book about a famous person whom you know, people assume it's some form of exploration into his personal life, because those things often sell a lot of books. This is kind of a different kind of book.

KAGAN: There are personal insights in this book, Richard.

BLOW: Of course there are personal insights. You have to use personal insights to tell a story. John Kennedy knew that. He was a magazine editor. The fact is that I think people who have read this book get a very different picture than people who are just commenting on it before they have read it.

KAGAN: Well, I have got to say, in the interesting of full confession, when my "Vanity Fair" came in the mailbox, it was the first piece that I turned to read it. So there is interest out there. I realize that. I want to get in one of the tidbits that is at least within the excerpt and I'm sure is in the book, talking what you said was John's fascination with the tabloids. Different than what some people might not think. You wrote, "John had a different attitude toward gossip columns, a sort of bemused fascination as if they were covering a stranger who happened to share his name. John would kick back and laugh. Part of him admired that tabloid's creativity, part of him was flattered by the attention."

BLOW: Right, you know what's funny. People had this idea that John hated the press, he was completely anti-media. Sometimes it's true, he was upset and bothered by paparazzi, but in general, John was quite reasonable about this sort of thing. For example he gave a lot of interviews, he did a lot of interviews for "George" magazine.

When he would read these things in the tabloids, he knew that this was nothing he should take seriously. It was kind of entertaining for him. KAGAN: So maybe you could make the argument, he was born as a public figure and grew up that way, but even he had a problem with how the media treated his wife Carolyn, and this is kind of where you lose me, where you talk about personal and private stuff, about what this poor woman, who had a tragic ending to her life, not to mention her sister, private things. Here's one the quotes on Carolyn from your book, "From the time she started being photographed with John, she felt a pressure to look the part of his physical peer."

And then you talk about how she used Botox, and how she straightened and colored her hair. I've got to tell you, Richard, as a girl, alive or not, I don't want that stuff in a book.

BLOW: Well, you know in fact, Carolyn was certainly public about that stuff beforehand. People knew she colored her hair, she said she colored her hair. What I was trying to get at, by describing those things was to say it was not easy to be the wife of John Kennedy. Carolyn felt a lot of pressure to be in that situation.

"Newsweek" put her on the cover as the new style icon of America. That wasn't me doing that. That was other people putting that kind of pressure on Carolyn.

KAGAN: Well, because our time is short, we'll have to leave it out there for our viewers and your potential readers to decide for themselves. Richard Blow, thanks for coming on and talking with us today. We appreciate it.

I'm going to go to a different type of unbelievable picture. What do royal watchers, a streaker and Queen Elizabeth all have in common? You'll have to watch the videotape to see it, coming up next.

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KAGAN: And now for a look on what's coming on "MONEYLINE" with Lou Dobbs, let's go to New York and hear from Lou. Lou, hello.

LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Daryn, thank you very much.

Coming up, diplomacy taking a back seat to violence in the Middle East. Israel now considering responses to yesterday's deadly terrorist attack while the United States is warning about the future of peace talks. We'll have reaction from the White House. I'll be talking with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's foreign policy adviser, Danny Ayalon.

And on Wall Street, Cisco Systems inspired a rally that was nothing short of sensational, the best day, in fact, for the Nasdaq in more than a year. We'll have complete market coverage. Jan Hopkins will be here.

And the SEC proposing new rules for Wall Street analysts, and two editorials today criticizing the chairman of the SEC, Harvey Pitt. Harvey Pitt is our guest tonight. Please join us for that and lot more coming up at the top of the hour. Now back to Daryn Kagan.

KAGAN: Lou, thank you very much.

It was a bit of a surprise guest for the queen. We'll have those pictures for you just after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: And finally, this note about Britain's Queen Elizabeth. She had quite an eyeful yesterday on her Jubilee tour. Look at this. A naked man ran in front of the Rolls-Royce carrying the queen and Prince Philip to an official engagement. The incident happened in northern England. The man, who had the words "Rude Britannica" scrawled across his back, was apprehended. As it turns out, he is a civil servant. A court ordered him to keep his distance from the monarch. OK, those things happen in Britain.

That is all the time we have today. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back at 8:30 with a special LIVE FROM JERUSALEM. And this note: Tomorrow, I'll have a special interview with the former vice president of the United States, Dan Quayle. We'll speak on the Middle East.

For Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center in Atlanta and me, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Jerusalem. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" begins right now.

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