U.S.-Led Panel Begins Investigation into Deadly Wave of Violence in the Middle East; Barak Calls Early Elections in Israel
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Today, a United States-led panel has started investigating a deadly wave of violence in the Middle East. This comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak submitted his resignation. CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna joins us now. He's got a look at this fact-finding mission, as well as a look at what's next for Mr. Barak and for Israel. Mike, good morning.</s>MIKE HANNA, JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning. The fact-finding mission has arrived in the region, a five-member commission headed by U.S. Senator George Mitchell. Although meetings have already been held with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, and the mission is on its way down to the Gaza Strip, where it will hold a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. Still no clarity as to the exact terms of reference of the commission; its function is to involve the courses of the past 10 weeks of violence that have plagued the area. However, Palestinians contend that its remit (ph) must go beyond this to look at the causes of this violence. Israel insists that the scope of the committee is to look at the violence from the date it began, which is September the 28th. But the fact-finding commission has not deterred Israelis from what is the main focus of attention, that is preparations for an election, due to take place within the next 60 days. And one person who wants to take part may not be able to; former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he intends to enter the race for prime minister, but as the law stands at present, he cannot do so within the terms of Israel's basic law. Yet those supporting his candidacy are exploring ways at present in which the law could be altered for one instance to allow Mr. Netanyahu to enter the race; or secondly, to find ways in which the Knesset, the parliament itself, can dissolve, therefore having elections for both the parliament and for the prime minister on the same day, which means that Mr. Netanyahu could take part. But, first, even if all this happens, he has to secure the candidacy of the opposition Likud Party. So there are a number of hurdles for the former prime minister to cross, should he want to take part or should he attempt to take part in the election race. The date at present for the election is, by according to most commentators, February 6. Mike Hanna, CNN, reporting live from Jerusalem.</s>HARRIS: All right, thank you, Mike.