Senior Israeli and Palestinian Security Officials Meet with U.S. Envoy Anthony Zinni; More Violence at Israeli Roadblock
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials met today with U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni, presiding over discussions meant to lead to a cease-fire agreement. Even as they met, more violence at an Israeli roadblock. CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna is monitoring the volatile events for us this morning. Mike, what do you have?</s>MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the cease-fire process continuing, despite being buffeted by ongoing acts of violence on the ground. Earlier in the day, Anthony Zinni, the U.S. envoy, met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Harsh words were exchanged according to all accounts. Afterwards, he says he did not believe Yasser Arafat was doing all he could to stop these ongoing acts of violence. But despite this, security talks went ahead between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, security chiefs from each side talking about how to get a truce in place. Well, these talks were postponed from Thursday night after a suicide bombing in the middle of Jerusalem. Three Israelis were killed and dozens injured when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in the middle of the afternoon in a crowded part of the city. The man was identified as the 22-year-old Palestinian police officer. He was a member of the Al Aqsa brigade, an offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, and details emerging he had been placed in prison by the Palestinian Authority in February. He was released from prison in the West Bank city of Ramallah following Israeli incursion into that city earlier this month. Also on this day, while the negotiators meeting, another bomb attack, this time at a checkpoint in the West Bank. According to the Israeli Defense Force, a Palestinian detonated an explosive device near an Army checkpoint, near the West Bank city of Jenin. The bomber died. No other deaths in the blast. Two Israeli soldiers nearby were likely injured. But a reminder how tenuous the situation as negotiators continue their efforts to get a truce in place on the ground -- Carol.</s>LIN: Mike, is today's suicide bombing attack, the suicide bomber, is he connected with the group that attacked yesterday in central Jerusalem? Well, there has been one claim of responsibility so far for that attack in a telephone call to news agencies. The group claiming responsibility, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the same group that claimed responsibility for the bomb blast in Jerusalem Thursday. But this attack on the West Bank, of a differentiated order on many levels, Carol, the fact that it was not in an Israeli city, the fact that Israeli civilians were not killed certainly a determining factor as to whether Israel sees it as a sufficient breach of tentative agreements in order to break off negotiations. That's not any indication of that happening at this stage. The negotiations are continuing.</s>LIN: So Arafat came out yesterday and condemned the attack in central Jerusalem of this group that he has connections with. Has he said that he is, in fact, going to be cracking down on them, going out and arresting, backing his words with some actions?</s>HANNA: Well, that is what the U.S. Is demanding, and that is what Israeli is demanding. Yasser Arafat, as you say, strongly condemned attacks against Israeli civilians following that bomb attack in Jerusalem. But no signs yet of what he means to do or what he intends to do to prevent such attacks. The U.S. is now determined and declared the Al Aqsa Brigades a terrorist organization. There have been demands for Arafat to crack down on Al Aqsa brigades and other extremist organization, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. As yet, no sign that this is happening, and Arafat as well on Thursday promised to hunt down those who helped plan the suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem. Once again, no indication that this is happening on the ground. This is a demand that has been made by the U.S. and Israel, all parties waiting to see whether Arafat makes his pledges into a realistic and determined action on the ground -- Carol.</s>LIN: Waiting indeed. All right, thanks very much. Mike Hanna, reporting live from Jerusalem. Vacations to the Holy Land used to be big business, but not right now, obviously. Tourism has been ruined by terrorism, and the region's economy has been seriously wounded. CNN's Michael Holmes explains.</s>MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stroll around Jerusalem and you'll have plenty of room to do so. It's quiet. Very quiet. (on camera): What sort of change have you seen in these streets in the last month or so?</s>ETTIE EPSTEIN, STORE WORKER: Oh, big, big change. I mean, every day, it's getting worse.</s>HOLMES: This is the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall in west Jerusalem, and it's not the rain that's keeping people away. This area has been the scene of several suicide bombings, the most recent in December. This place is usually teeming with tourists, the shops full. But not anymore. These days, even Israelis are reluctant to come here.</s>EPSTEIN: No tourists. Even Israelis, if they do want something, they call us to bring them, if they saw something they want.</s>HOLMES: They don't want to come?</s>EPSTEIN: They don't want to come.</s>HOLMES (voice-over): Ettie Epstein works in a deserted jewelry store, but it's not just economics she worries about.</s>EPSTEIN: If something happens, the kids, I have to call the kids to tell them, OK, I'm still alive. It's bad, it's bad.</s>HOLMES: A little way up the street, past empty cafes, and closed ones, we meet Gerry Stevenson, seller of, among other things, black humor T-shirts,</s>GERRY STEVENSON, STORE OWNER: I opened up last night at 7.30, which is normally a busy time. I would say there was about eight people in the entire mall. Of those eight, maybe six were shop owners.</s>HOLMES: Security is tight, nerves, frayed. Enter one of the coffee shops still open, and you'll do so only after a search, even at McDonald's. (on camera): Do you feel that, ironically, if you like, you have something in common with Palestinians, economically?</s>STEVENSON: Certainly. Whether you agree with their politics or not or what's going on, they're obviously feeling it, too.</s>HOLMES (voice-over): Cross into Arab east Jerusalem, and you see that Gerry Stevenson is right.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are afraid, and they are afraid.</s>HOLMES: Meet Tony Katanasho, owner of a once-bustling restaurant. You're looking at the lunchtime rush. (on camera): Two years ago, how many people would have been here?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot.</s>HOLMES: Would it have been full?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really full.</s>HOLMES: And how is business now?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, it is completely dead, nothing.</s>HOLMES: In alleyways where tourists once jostled for space, store owners play backgammon, sleep, sit, or don't bother to open up at all. During our filming in east Jerusalem, we got a call to come here, to perhaps the best example of why there are no tourists here. A suicide bomber detonates his explosives in front of a bus. (voice-over): The bomber blown literally to pieces, nine Israelis in hospital, with understandable shock. More tourists decide to stay home. (on camera): Did you make any money today?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, only five shekels from 7:00.</s>HOLMES: Five Shekels, that's about a bit over a dollar. (voice-over): In this place of complexity and nuance, both sides have a simple solution to ending their economic pain. (on camera): What will bring it back.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace, that's all.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace, of course.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace, we hope.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace.</s>HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN, Jerusalem.