Transcripts For KQED PBS NewsHour 20121122 : comparemela.com

The variability and the volatility in the climate. Brown and poet joy harjo celebrates the focal point of families and thanksgiving the Kitchen Table. Woodruff thats all ahead on tonights newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. And. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff after another day of violence, a ceasefire deal between israel and hamas was finally announced in cairo today. But further negotiations on key longerterm Sticking Points between the two sides were put off for now. Egypts foreign minister, Mohammed Kamel amr, announced the breakthrough with secretary of state Hillary Clinton at his side. Egypt has exerted efforts and conducted intensive discussions since the renewed outbreak of hostilities in the gaza strip with all parties the palestinian leadership, the these efforts and Communications Managed to reach an agreement to a ceasefire and the return of calm and halt of the violence and the bloodshed that was witnessed recently. The United States welcomes the agreement today for a ceasefire in gaza. For it to hold, the rocket attacks must end, a broader calm returned. In the days ahead, the United States will work with partners across region to consolidate this progess, improve conditions for the people of gaza, provide security for the people of israel. Woodruff a short time later this afternoon, israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters he leaves open the possibility of a Ground Invasion of gaza at a later date, but agreeing to a ceasefire made sense now. I know there are citizens expecting a more severe military action, and perhaps we shall need to do so, but at this time the right thing for the state of israel is to use this opportunity to achieve a long lasting ceasefire. Brown the deal followed another bloody day in israel and gaza. We begin with a report by john irvine of independent Television News in tel aviv. He filed it soon after the cease fire was announced. Reporter as the worlds top diplomats were trying to write a new chapter, the Israeli Palestinian conflict was clinging stubbornly to the same old narrative. Depressingly familiar, bus bombings were back. It may be six years since the last big explosion like this in tel aviv, but the Emergency Services are old hands. They quickly established that the bomber had fled on foot. And soon, the security had a suspect. We watched as he was strip searched and taken away. One of the first things the Israeli Police will be trying to ascertain is if this was a strike by a lone wolf, or a bombing that heralds the start of a new campaign. The bomb had been left under a seat. And predictably on a city center bus, there were many passengers. They became the many injured. The bus bombing came as they were cleaning up after a missile strike in a suburb of tel aviv. An air raid siren had saved the lives of the elderly couple who call this apartment home. Bus bombings by compairosn are so terrifying because they come with no warning. This was the first such attack of its kind. This time round, only a ceasefire would give it any chance of being the last. Woodruff residents of gaza endured another barrage of air assaults today before the ceasefire was called. John ray of independent Television News was on the ground in the territory today. Reporter after a week of air strikes, gaza has been pummeled by the most intense barrage yet. Under the plumes of smoke and fire, theres a sports stadium israel claims is used to train terrorists. News of that terrorist attack in tel aviv was proclaimed from the minnerettes. Sweets were handed out but the celebration soon gave way to worry about israeli retaliation. These people already spent week in line of fire and finally they have fled. Today we found thousands sheltering in school. It is crowded and chaotic, but safer than the homes they were warned to evacuate by the israeli military. Mohammed sultan said the bombs dropped all around his neighborhood and each time his children would cling to their mother in fear. The death toll, hamas said, has topped 150. Israel has also wrought vast destruction on the symbols and seats of hamas power. As the two sides have circled round a ceasefire deal, the violence has only gotten worse. This is all that remains of goverment compound. Today, this has not felt or looked like war coming to an end. explosions but if the guns are now to fall brown a short time ago i spoke to nprs layla fadel from cairo. Layla, welcome. Whats known about what finally led to this ceasefire . Reporter well, at this point, really the major Sticking Point that we were seeing last night was the issue of the blockade of the gaza strip. And basically, what they did to get past that hurdle was delay the issue completely. So either though we have a cessation of violence on both sides, they basically put off discussions of the easing of that blockade for 24 hours, until after 24 hours of the ceasefire, and then israel has agreed to discuss easing the restrictions by land and sea into the gaza strip. Glow sreenivasan so thats interesting. This really is a shortterm issue now. And youre saying theyre going to come back. They are going to talk about longer term things. Reporter yes, basically, i think the way its being described to us is a start and not an end. , this basically, was a way to stop the violence. Gaza has been under intense bombardment for eight days, more than 140 people killed. Of course, palestinian militant investigation firing rockets into israel. This is a way to bring this to an end now. And one the sease fiber holds for 24 hours theyll talk about a much bigger issue, the blockade of the gaza strip, something the gazaans have been living for years and say is necessary to protect their land. The palestinians is saying we need freedom of movement. Thats really the bigger issue, and its only then that well be able to see if this really is a deal that can hold. Now what was the role of the secretary clinton or how is this being seen there . Is it an egyptianled agreement or one broker bide both egypt and the u. S. . Reporter this is really being seen as an egyptianbrokered keel. I mean, the president here, is the only person involved that is actually speaking to both sides because they have contact wgz the israelis through the security channeles, which theyve had for years. And, also, they are in contact with hamas. Hose me mubarak was not in touch with hamas. They wouldnt speak to him at all and often closed the side to journalists it. The difference is mursi was able to speak to hamas and exprl mediate the deal. Thats really never been possible before. Of course, without american influence, this would never have come to pass. They are, in speaking to egyptian officials and speaking to palestinian officiales, everybody here said we really need the americans to lean on israel and only when Hillary Clinton came to the region, did a deal come to fruition. And finally, just even in the next day or days, is it clear how this is enforced . It didnt seem to be in any language, other than sort of leaving it to each side to enforce the deal. Reporter right. Its been very simple. Hamas has agreed to control all palestinians action. Nobody will fire into israel. Israel has agreed to stop the bombardment. At 9 00 p. M. Everything went quiet. The israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned and said were ready to ramp it up again if theres one breaking of that ceasefire. Basically, the idea, is it is an honor agreement. Each side will stop. Fa. Thank you. Shortly after that conversation i talked to sheera frenkel. What are you hearing from israeli officials youre talking to. Did they get what they wanted and do they think this will smold. The israeli leadership is definitely trying to portray at this point, the feeling of success to the israeli public. Weve heard from spokespeople from israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from defense minister ehud barak, that they achieved a lot of theirs goals, a ceasefire agreement with hamas in which they agree to not fire rockets. On a military level, they say theyve managed to take out a lot of hamas longrange rockets. Thats something at the very beginning of this military operation, israeli officials promised the public here. Now in the meantime today, there was the bombing in tel aviv. How much is known at this point about who did it and how they were able to do it . Weve heard a lot of different groups take responsibility at this point. And we dont know yet who is responsible. Rel Officials Say theyre still looking for the person behind it. It had a couple of suspects that have been apprehended but no one has been named as the perpetrator of that attack. What we do know from the Israeli Police is they came from the west bank about two minutes past 12 00 here, which was just at the time when most people were taking their lunch break, they threw a bag on to a bus that was travelinged in the city of tel aviv. A few minute after, that the bag exploded, causing injuries to people on the bus there. Let me ask you about gaza because i know youre also talking to sources in gaza today. How are they seeing this agreement . What are they saying about it and the prospects . Were seeing a lot of celebration in gaza. I just got off the phone with a friend of mine in gaza city. He said the last few nights he been able to sleep because of rocket fire and tonight he cant sleep because of the celebratory gunfire and fireworks all across the gaza strip. He said theres a real sense of victory and achievement there. For some palestinians, thats because they managed to hit cities in Central Israel like tel aviv and jerusalem. For others, its more about recognition from the arab world. In the last week we have seen a dip lo make the whirlwind for hamas. Theyve had visits from country nptz arab world. They had a center of the arab delegations. Theyre standing in the arab world has really risen in the last week, and i think a lot of people inside gaza and across this region, are going to be looking at this as a real sort of achievement for hamas. And finally, sheer awe heard earlier in the program, than of the important longer term issues here, the blockade of gaza and other things, were put on hold, basically, that it will be taken up latter. What have you been hearing on both sides about the prospecs for addressing those kinds of issues . What weve understood from israeli officials that this ceasefire agreement is actual flee two stages. The first is just cessation of violence. Its no, i dont later stages, which is probably not gog start for the next 24 hours at the earliest, that the two parties will be negotiating other things, along the list of items we were provided earlier today was change the buffer zone around the gaza strip. Easing the blockade of gaza. Reestablishing the rarah crossing between gaza and egypt, so the people of the gaza strip can have normalized trade replapgz the stopping of rearming of militant groups in gaza. There are a long list of items that both sides want to see addressed. But theres not going to happen for quite some time. Part of the issue that i think both israelis and palestinians have had with the ceasefire agreement is that they feel those issues should have been addressed before the seeps fire was established. Today in southern israel, there were protests tha in cities that have come under fire and they seem to object that they had not hammered up on the the terms of the agreement before agreeing to the ceasefire. Sheera frenkel in tel aviv, thank you very much. Woodruff still to come on the newshour the road ahead in the middle east; the syrian war spills over into turkey; record spending in the 2012 president ial race; measuring risk and Climate Change and a thanksgiving poem. But first, the other news of the day. Heres hari sreenivasan. Sreenivasan thousands of soldiers and policemen in eastern congo defected to the rebels side today. They could be seen laying down their weapons in goma a day after rebels captured that city. Rebel leaders have vowed to take control of the entire country, including its capital, kinshasa. Meanwhile, a new United Nations report concluded that rwanda and uganda are providing direct military support to the rebels. Both countries have denied those claims. General john allen the top u. S. And nato commander in afghanistan is back in kabul today to resume his duties. Hed been in washington to testify before congress when he became embroiled in the scandal of david petraeus. Allen is now under investigation by the pentagon for potentially inappropriate emails with a woman linked to the scandal. Allen will continue his duties in afghanistan during the probe, while his nomination for commander of u. S. European command and top nato general remains on hold. India has executed the last surviving attacker from the 2008 terror attack that killed 166 people. Mohammed ajmal kasab was hanged in secret early today at a jail in pune. Public celebrations broke out across the country as news spread of his execution. Kasab was part of a pakistani based squad of militants who carried out the threedaylong siege on indias financial capital. They targeted key sites like Luxury Hotels and a jewish center. Newly released documents show a Government Agency took 684 days to warn of earlier problems at a pharmacy linked to the meningitis outbreak. The food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter over the massachusetts lab in 2007 but it took nearly 18 months longer than an average response. The f. D. A. Acknowledged there had been a delay but said it was because of the agencys limited, unclear authority. 34 people in the u. S. Have died after receiving tainted pain killing injections from the massachusetts based lab. Congressman Jesse Jackson junior a democrat from illinois resigned from the house of representatives today. He had been on medical leave for treatment of bipolar disorder since june. Jackson has also been under investigation for misuse of Campaign Funds and was facing a congressional ethics probe. He won reelection to the house in november. Jacksons seat is now expected to be filled through a special election. Mortgage rates in the u. S. Fell to record lows this week helping to boost home sales. The average 30year loan rate dropped to 3. 3 , the lowest on record since records began in 1971. On wall street today stocks moved slightly higher ahead of the thanksgiving holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained 48 points to close under 12,837. The nasdaq rose nearly ten points to close above 2,926. Those are some of the days major stories. Now, back to judy. Woodruff and more now on the mid east story. Will the cease fire reached today between israel and hamas, hold . And what about longerterm, more difficult issues between the two sides . Ray suarez picks it up. Suarez im joined now by veteran diplomat and former ambassador nicholas burns. And hisham melhem, Washington Bureau chief for al arabiya tv. Mr. Ambassador, as you heard from the reporters earlier in the program, the shooting has stopped but has it really ended the conflict . Ray, it certainly hasnt ended the conflict. I do think theres a fairly good chance that this ceasefire will hold for two reasons. First the israelis had had a very, very tough week. Their entire civilian population in the southern part of the country has been in bomb shelteres, out of school, out of work. They had the terrible bombing in tel aviv today and rockets fired for the very first time in jerusalem, where several hundred,000 palestinians live. They have made the point they will defend their country, their iron dome Missile System responded very, very well. On the palestinian side, i think egypt, turkey, and qatar will make sure hamas adheres to the ceasefire terms. They will put enormous pressure on the hamas leadership to cease and desist. I think in the immediate sense well see the ceasefire hold but the bigger question is what can the United States and egypt do now to political horizon, this thing will crumble maybe next year. Suarez ambassador, do you agree with hishams conclusion that there is no wider american role . I think there is the possibility of a wider american role but it will be different than the typical role of trying to negotiate a Peace Agreement between the rels and palestinians. That is really not possible now. The Palestinian Community is so divide 20 Palestinian Authority in are you malaon the west bank, and hamas in gaza, the United States could take a page out of the history books. Henry kissinger after the october wars in 1973, negotiated a series of disengagement agreements between the egyptian and israeli armies at that time. Will israel agree to ease up on the economic restrictions a very badly suffering civilian population among the palestinians, and can the israelis be given, in turn, some confidence that hamas is not going to strike again . I think thats where youll see the american effort over the next couple of days and weeks and i do think this crisis points to the rep vault of the United States. Are not playing the same role in the middle east as we did before the arab revolution. Saw that the ceasefire was not able to be put together until secretary of state H