Mike Hanna: Jewish settler killing latest setback in Mideast peace talks

Mike Hanna

Mike Hanna is CNN's Jerusalem bureau chief.

CNN Moderator: Why has Israel canceled peace talks?

Mike Hanna: At this stage it appears they have just been cancelled for the day. This in response to the overnight killing of a Jewish settler in the Gaza Strip.

CNN Moderator: Has anyone claimed responsibility for the killing, and how have the Palestinians responded to the incident?

Mike Hanna: There have been reports of two separate groups claiming responsibility, but this has not yet been independently confirmed. Palestinian leaders have expressed regret about the killing but say such incidents result from what they call the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory.

Question from chat room: Wouldn't that be more of a reason to continue the talks?

VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna has more on the slaying of an Israeli settler and its effects on peace negotiations (January 15) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace     AUDIO Police find slain Jewish settler 1.7M/161 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    RESOURCES Key issues: U.S., Israeli and Palestinian views    RESOURCES In-Depth: Israel Election 2001

Mike Hanna: This has been the problem with the attempts at renewing the peace talks throughout the past three-and-a-half months of violence. Israel maintains it cannot negotiate a wider peace while the violence continues. Palestinians maintain that it is only the peace negotiations that can end the violence.

CNN Moderator: How much of a setback is this latest break in talks?

Mike Hanna: At this point it is difficult to gauge the impact that the killing will have on the talks themselves. It is understood from Israeli and Palestinian sources that negotiators may resume their meetings tomorrow and that the security chiefs could be meeting within coming hours.

CNN Moderator: What seems to be the mood of the Israeli general public with this latest incident?

Mike Hanna: Incidents such as this are used by sections of the Israeli public as evidence that it is not possible to negotiate a peace while they say Israeli citizens continue to be attacked.

Question from Chat room: Are the 50+% of the Israelis who back Ariel Sharon for prime minister considered extremists by the Israeli news media?

Mike Hanna: Recent opinion polls do indicate that nearly 50% of registered voters will support Ariel Sharon if he stands against Ehud Barak in the elections for Prime Minister. However, the same polls show that nearly 50% would support Shimon Peres if he stood against Sharon instead of Barak. These figures indicate that many are supporting Sharon as a way of opposing Barak rather than out of sympathy with Sharon's right wing views.

CNN Moderator: Is it expected that in his last week of office President Clinton will continue to actively effort peace negotiations?

Mike Hanna: President Clinton has repeatedly indicated that he will not give up attempting to get some form of agreement until he physically leaves office on Saturday. However, the talks that have been happening in recent days have been taking place between Palestinians and Israelis without American mediators. It is not clear whether the talks are taking place on the basis of the latest proposals for a peace agreement advanced by President Clinton.

Question from chat room: Do both sides believe that they can get a better deal from Bush?

Mike Hanna: Both sides say that it is extremely important to keep the momentum of the latest round of talks going through the transition period between the Clinton and Bush Administrations. They expect that the Bush Administration will pickup where the Clinton Administration has left off.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts for us today?

Mike Hanna: The end of the Clinton Administration on the 20th is just one of the transitions that the peace process may have to survive. The second important date is the 6th of February, when Israelis vote for their prime minister. Many observers believe that the peace process will suffer a set back if Ariel Sharon wins that election. He has made clear that he is opposed to Ehud Barak's peace moves and has also indicated he is opposed to the Oslo Accords. Those accords have been the basis of negotiations which have been taking place for nearly eight years.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Mike Hanna.

Mike Hanna: Thank you to everyone. And thank you for your interest. We will continue to keep you informed of all the developments here.

Mike Hanna joined the chat room via telephone from Jerusalem. CNN provided a typist. The above is an edited transcript of the interview on Monday, January 15, 2001.

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Mideast peace
Middle East

Killing prompts Israel to cancel talks
January 15, 2001
Hopes fade for Mideast agreement before Clinton leaves White House
January 14, 2001
Fierce clashes erupt as Israeli-Palestinian talks renew
January 12, 2001

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