[Bernard Shaw, Cnn Anchor:] To the Middle East now, where members of a Palestinian legislative body finished a two-day meeting in Gaza Monday. Officials approved Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's plan to declare a state by the end of the year. CNN's Jerrold Kessel has more on the prospects of Palestinian statehood.
[Jerrold Kessel, Cnn Correspondent:] ... of many ordinary Palestinians is running out for Yasser Arafat to fulfill his promise to bring them their long awaited state.
[Unidentified Male:] He wait enough, you know, he wait enough time. So no more time, I mean, to wait more.
[Kessel:] At the summer camp, not far from Mr. Arafat's seaside headquarters, where the decision was being taken on how and when to declare the state, the teenagers borrowed part of their leader's favorite phrase. "We're not asking of the moon," says the camp slogan, "only for our flag, our identity, and a homeland." In the arts and crafts lessons, some dwell not only on the shape of their future state, but whether it will live up to dreams. "It's a great idea," he says, "but I worry it will be weak. We won't have real sovereignty." Also, along Gaza's seashore, at the beach refugee camp, people say a state is important, but only if it secures all Palestinian rights, especially the right of all refugees to reclaim their homes inside what's now Israel. Best, say some, to insure that before the state is proclaimed. Others say declare the state, and then get all the other rights, even if it means having to fight for them. [on camera]: Whenever it comes, and whatever the context, the stakes are very high. The declaration of the Palestinian state could lead either to the end of the long conflict with Israel, or to the beginning of a reshaping of the long battle for Palestinian independence. [voice-over]: In either direction, plenty of rocky shoals still to be navigated, tricky waters yet on the way to the hopeful safe haven. Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Gaza.