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Connect the World

The Economy of ISIS; Competing Independence Day Marches in Kiev, Donetsk; Close to Identifying James Foley's Executioner; Rise of ISIS; Israel-Gaza Conflict; Effects of War on Gaza's Children; Israeli Air strike Destroys Residential Building; Hamas Releases New Statement About Kidnapped and Murdered Israeli Teenagers; Israel PM Compares ISIS to Hamas; Parting Shots: Northern California Earthquake

Aired August 24, 2014 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Right. Welcome back. You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.

Now Britain's ambassador to the United States tells CNN intelligence services are close to identifying the executioner of American journalist

James Foley.

Now Britain's foreign secretary says it's an utter betrayal that an ISIS fighter with a British accent killed Foley.

Well, in northern Iraq, ISIS militants have created yet another desperate humanitarian situation. The small town of Amerli has been surrounded by

ISIS for more than 70 days, we're told. Residents there relying on the Iraqi government to help them escape or to provide food and water.

Well, Nick Paton Walsh will join us shortly to discuss the latest developments there. He'll also tell us about the routes taken by ISIS

recruits and the means of recruiting them.

First, though, let's take a closer look at the Sunni extremist group that has taken over swaths of Iraq and Syria. ISIS may not be as well organized

as al Qaeda, but it does have one crucial advantage and that is a steady stream of revenue for its terror activities. Most of that funding comes

from oil sales on the black market.

John Defterios shows us how ISIS was able to build an underground oil business so quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ISIS popped up on the global radar in June with its attack on Mosul. And in the span of just two months has

created its own black market for Iraqi crew.

THEODORE KARASIK, INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST AND GULF MILITARY ANALYSIS The scale is actually sizeable in the sense that they were able to export up to

$3 million a day of oil. Now this is probably going to rise in the coming months because winter's coming.

DEFTERIOS: Kurdish regional government president Massoud Barzani confirmed that figure which he said is generated through a combination of oil sales

and extortion. Now, this may be a small sum by global oil standards, but if left unchecked, ISIS could earn more than a billion dollars a year from

its oil operations in Iraq amid that charge June 10th into Mosul and now has four oil facilities in Mosul. And if you go down to Kirkuk, which has

big deposits, but they have three smaller operations, it has a total of 80,000 barrels of capacity per day.

What ISIS lacks is refining capacity - -unable to wrestle control of the strategic Baiji refinery south of Mosul. Energy strategists say ISIS is

selling the Iraqi crude at $25 to $60 a barrel -- a deep discount on the global benchmark of $100 a barrel. But black market distribution even for

basic crude in this part of the world is well established.

ROBIN MILLS, MIDDLE EAST ENERGY ANALYST: In Northern Iraq of course people have been stealing and smuggling oil and tapping off from pipelines for

years in small volumes. So there's already that kind of infrastructure and those middlemen who know how to trade the stuff.

DEFTERIOS: Islamic militants plied their energy trade in eastern Syria, seizing oil and gas assets for the past few years. In early June under the

banner of ISIS, they took control of Syria's biggest field in the Deir ez Zor Province.

LUAY J. AL-KHATTEEB, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IRAQ ENERGY INSTITUTE: This is not a nascent experiment, it is something I would call

a -- at least three years of experience and they've been supported by various cartels that they have interest in this black market economy.

DEFTERIOS: Opposition Turkish parliamentarian Mehmet Ali Ediboglu based in the country's south border in Syria, claims "$800 million worth of oil that

ISIS obtained is being sold in Turkey."

AL-KHATTEEB: We're talking about the sophisticated network that stretch between -- predominantly between -- three countries. That's Iraq, Turkey

and Syria.

DEFTERIOS: With U.S. military intervention, strategists say the Kurds have kept ISIS out of Kirkuk's super oil field, capping (ph) for now the group's

new-found wealth.

John Defterios, CNN Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: John Defterios is joining me now. John, this is fascinating stuff.

If U.S. air strikes, as you've suggested, have been successful in effectively stemming the militant's ability to extend their arc of oil

wealth, that begs the question what happens when and if those U.S. air strikes stop?

DEFTERIOS: Well, this is the biggest concern, Becky, is the U.S. particularly President Obama in for the medium or long-term, because right

now in a sense you could take a look at the story they've ring-fenced ISIS's ability to go into Kirkuk, 600,000 to 800,000 barrels a day and

their largest field, or go into the big bounty into the Kurdish north, which has 45 billion barrels of proven reserves and all the oil majors that

have gone in.

But if they don't have the sustainability, this would allow ISIS to regroup and go into the Kurdish region and go after Kirkuk. So far that has not

happened.

The other thing I think is quite interesting about this discussion now, UN resolution 2170 passed 10 days ago. U.S. Treasury speaking to CNN over the

weekend suggesting we're going after the Gulf financiers in Kuwait. There's been an arrest already. You could take a different tact here and suggest

that ISIS doesn't need the Gulf financing anymore, they have access to 80,000 barrels of capacity in Iraq. They control 70,000 barrels of

capacity, 60 percent of what's in Syria already. And they're fighting extortion throughout the country right now.

So they have money coming in. They may not need the outside funding by the time the sanctions kick in.

ANDERSON: To quote your report, John, we are talking about a sophisticated network that is structured predominantly between three countries, that is

Iraq, Turkey and Syria. Turkey, forgive me if I am wrong, or correct me at least, but I don't think I am, is a NATO member. What sort of pressure is

being brought to bear on Turkey at this point? And what has it said about what's going on?

DEFTERIOS: Well, it's a very delicate period of time, as you know, in Turkey, because we're going from a transition of Prime Minister Erdogan to

President Erdogan on Thursday. We have not heard anything from Turks about this distribution in the southern half of the country in the Jahan Port

(ph).

I'll tell you why it is sensitive right now. President Erdogan is going to need the support of the southeast to Kurdish Turks to build his

constitutional reforms. Is he going to want to lean on those people right now, shut down this export of this trade, at the same time when he needs to

build support at home?

So he's trying to build support at home, but also the international community, the calls are growing louder, we need to shut this down. You are

a NATO member, take action, because this is leaking out.

And it's not just Turkey, by the way, you can add a fourth country, the Jordanian traders, not the government, but the Jordanian traders have

entered the market as well, according to sources.

ANDERSON: This is a story that isn't going away. In fact, it will only get bigger. You're on it. I know you're going to be on it in the days and weeks

to come.

What are the sort of questions we should be asking ourselves at this point?

DEFTERIOS : Well, it's a very good point. There are a number of different facets to the story. First and foremost, there is the financing that has

come forward by large family trading groups from the fold, from the Gulf. So we're following that angle.

There is also the other kind of murky question of who owns the Kurdish crude right now. The Turks have loaded up seven tankers of Kurdish oil --

I'm not talking about ISIS oil, but Kurdish oil, which is on the sees right now. So we're tracking that story as well and we're waiting for a U.S.

court decision about that.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. John, thank you. As ever, John Defterios with us in Abu Dhabi live from the UAE. This is Connect the World.

People in the U.S. state of California dealing with fires and damage early this Sunday created by the strongest earthquake to hit the Bay Area since

1989. We're going to get you updated throughout this hour on that story. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: As it says on the box, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson live from Abu Dhabi. It is 25 minutes past 7:00 here in the UAE.

In the States, residents in California are picking up the pieces after a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the area this morning. This

highway in the San Francisco Bay area has a large crack in it from the quake. The U.S. Geological Survey says about a million people felt the

earth moving in northern California.

It happened south of the States' wine country.

Let's take a look at the damage to these buildings in the Napa Valley. Several aftershocks have continued to shake the area.

We'll get more for you on this as we get it into CNN of what's frightening stuff. You'd have to be over the age of 25 to have experienced anything

like it. The last biggest shock like this was in 1989.

Well, Ukraine marking independence day with a show of military might in Kiev. Today, a parade of missile launching vehicles, armored personnel

carriers and soldiers marched through the streets, many of them soon to be deployed to eastern Ukraine to fight the pro-Russian insurgency there.

And an unexpected sight in Donetsk, images of captured, destroyed Ukrainian military vehicles, a parade of 100 prisoners reportedly Ukrainian soldiers

detained by the separatists being led through the streets.

British freelance journalist Maximilian Clark was there during that counter independence day rally. He joins us now from Donetsk.

And I'm going to get your pictures up of these men being paraded in the streets. Just describe what you witnessed for us earlier today.

MAXIMILIAN CLARK, PHOTOJOURNALIST: Well, prior to the so-called march of shame, or victory march, I've heard it described it in different ways,

there had been a lot of patriotic music on the square, and by patriotic music I mean, music for the new Donetsk People's Republic. They are very

pro-independent and very independently minded.

And, yeah -- so, when very quickly from a slightly festive atmosphere to a very somber one as these prisoners were marched through the streets. The

reaction from the people was of (inaudible) of quite what's going on here.

The city has been shelled around the clock. I've been here for over a week. And we've been working out the last few days by quite intense artillery

bombardment at 6:00 a.m. And this cause a lot of collateral damage and that anger was obviously on the streets today.

These prisoners were not treated with silence, or with respect, they were piled with abuse. They were called fascist. They were told to go home. They

-- it was very, very heart wrenching. They were -- a lot of emotion on both sides, and it was quite --

ANDERSON: I'm just going to stop you for a moment. Let me just stop you for a moment, because I want to get back to those pictures.

These are images you would just not expect to see, you know, out of eastern Ukraine in the year 2014.

I go back to, what, November of last year when we saw those -- when we saw the Maiden Square protests. And you know not 12 months later these pictures

really quite depressing.

How would you describe the atmosphere where you are to set some context for our viewers at present?

CLARK: Well, the city is empty. There are no current figures. I mean, we hear about 1 million refugees, IDPs have been (inaudible) it feels like a

lot more. One of the activists I've been talking to here reckons that more than 50 percent of Donetsk have fled. The streets are empty. Every single

shop boarded up and closed. Shops are running out of food. And this is in Donetsk. It's much worse in Luhansk. There's a severe, severe humanitarian

crisis by the ongoing siege. And the people here just suddenly feel like their former government are just leaving them to die. There's around the

clock shelling. The streets are empty. The people are terrified. Everyday there's new shelling. We go to the shelling sights. There are children, old

women, torn apart by incoming fire. There's death on the streets. This is - - the economy is shut down. I've never quite witnessed such a desperate situation here in Donetsk.

The anger -- to see these prisoners treated like that was beyond -- beyond reproach, but I -- the anger is not coming from nowhere.

ANDERSON: We very much appreciate your time and what is a pretty depressing day in the region that you are in today. Thank you, sir.

The latest world news headlines are just ahead, plus the militant group ISIS is filling up its ranks with western jihadists. We're going to tell

you why and how they are getting there. That, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, out of the UAE. The top stories for you this hour.

UN and Iraqi officials are appealing for immediate help to prevent a possible massacre in the northern Iraqi town of Amerli. ISIS militants have

laid siege to that town for more than two months. About 17,000 people there are running out of food, water, and medical supplies.

Palestinian health officials say an Israeli air strike on Gaza has killed seven people, including an 18-month-old child. Hamas says it fired mortar

shells at the Erez crossing on the Israeli-Gaza border. Four Israelis were injured.

A story that is developing for you in Northern California. Residents there woke up this morning with a strong earthquake and several aftershocks. The

6.0 magnitude tremor triggered some house fires, causing structural damage, and cutting power to about 15,000 homes. There were no immediate reports of

injuries. As we get more on this story into CNN, of course, we will bring it to you.

An alliance of Islamist militia now in control of Tripoli's main airport. They seized control from a group of rival fighters from Zintan. Fighting

has raged around the airport for weeks.,

Let's move you on. I want to get you to London on a part of the ISIS story, which is developing. Britain's ambassador to the US tells CNN intelligence

services are close to identifying the executioner of American journalist James Foley. Britain's foreign secretary says it is an utter betrayal that

an ISIS fighter with a British accent killed Foley.

Well, Nick Paton Walsh has just returned from Iraq. He joins us now, live from London. And before we start, let's just hear from the British

ambassador to the US, and what he said on CNN's network in the US earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER WESTMACOTT, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE US: I see that the British media this morning are speculating that we are very close to identifying

who this guy is, and you may see that my foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said yesterday we were putting out a great deal of resource into

identifying this person.

I think we're not far away from that. We're putting a lot into it and there are some very sophisticated technologies, voice identification and so on,

which people can use to check who these people are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: All right, OK. Nick, what more do we know at this point?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, very little. The British media here is awash with speculation, many names being

bandied around. And of course, the front page is occupied with suggestions that people are close to identifying, if not even suggesting identification

has already been done.

This is, of course, as the ambassador outlined himself about piling through voice recognition software, listening to whatever may have been recorded of

phone calls made by the 500-plus Britons who have known to travel to Syria to pursue jihad. Not all of them have come back, many still there.

And of course, that delicate task compounded by, perhaps, looking at those videos, perhaps at the eyes, even. Some of that is stored on biometric

data, passport records, too. So, a lot of techniques the British can be using. I'm sure there's a lot of help from the Americans as well in doing

this.

The question though, really, Becky, is what happens then, if you do know who this is? Do you announce that to the world? What does that do to the

fate of Steven Sotloff, the other American hostage being held? Do you, perhaps, talk to a family here to try and open up a channel of

communication?

That's possibly the more complex part, maybe, given the technology available to the British here that many thought they would find it probably

not that hard to identify who this man necessarily is. The question is, what do you do with that information next, Becky?

ANDERSON: Yes. Nick, I know that we don't actually know conclusively where that execution happened, but we are assuming, to a certain extent, it was

Syria. Meantime, of course, ISIS doing what appears to be a pretty effective job in Iraq of gaining its ground despite some of these air

strikes, which had been ongoing.

In Baghdad today, a car bomb kills three and wounds 19 others in a Shiite- dominated part of the city. That, Nick, just as the Iranian foreign minister is in town meeting his Iraqi counterpart. The timing could be a

coincidence, of course, but just how significant is it that that the Iranian foreign minister is in Baghdad today?

WALSH: Clearly it's an attempt to try and obviously retain an Iranian influence. That's never really been in doubt, frankly. Many criticize, in

fact, the Iraqi government has been far too close to Tehran.

Car bombs go off in Baghdad, sad to say it, every couple of days. We were there during a period recently when there were two every day in a 48-hour

period. So, it's often hard to link the violence to political moves as well, but that continuous sectarian division just flared relentlessly by

the explosions.

Only yesterday -- oh, sorry -- two days ago, there were a number of Sunni worshipers killed allegedly by Shia gunmen at a mosque not far from

Baghdad. So, a continually violent and despicable, frankly, sectarian war happening inside Iraq --

ANDERSON: Yes.

WALSH: -- so politicians have to try and heal that divide to get a government together, Becky.

ANDERSON: I want to examine another angle of this ISIS story with you tonight while I've got you. The US State Department says that fighters from

at least 50 countries are now active in Syria. They -- that includes, Nick, several thousands Westerners who joined radical groups like ISIS. Many of

them are smuggled into Turkey via the Turkish border.

I know that you went to the border town of Hatay back in November. This is what you found, let's have a little look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (voice-over): Just miles from Syria's savage war is Turkey's Hatay Airport. International in all of the wrong ways. Every flight we secretly

film land carried men from countries al Qaeda calls home.

(GUNFIRE)

WALSH: Why are they here? Two from Mauritania, these four from Libya with large backpacks.

WALSH (on camera): Hello. How are you doing? Where are you from? Benghazi, OK, OK.

WALSH (voice-over): Another from Egypt, then Saudi Arabia. Even Leicester in the UK. Most must be innocently traveling, but many say little and rush

into waiting cars. It's astonishing to see. Such a global crowd, so open and close to Syria where al Qaeda is blooming right under the noses of

Turkish border control.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Nick, you saw firsthand how easy it's been for foreign fighters to get into Syria, and by extension, of course, into Iraq. Do you think

much has changed since your initial reporting?

WALSH: It seems to be harder at this stage. Certainly, Turkish authorities, I think, have changed their approach to some degree. Obviously, their

defense back at the time was we can't simply arrest anybody we think looks suspicious. But I think the problem has now become so acute that they have

changed their approach.

It's become more complex. We've heard perhaps people have to take detours from their home countries before they finally arrive in Turkey. Iraq a very

difficult place to fly into. Baghdad or Erbil, both have tight security measures potentially place, their issues there.

So, the accusation is still there. I spoke to one expert today who suggested that perhaps the traffic of international jihadists, particularly

from the West, may have plateaued, that the majority who wanted to go have gone.

The task is harder now. The security services in all countries focusing more upon that passage. But the issue is they are still there, they are

still in substantial number, and there seems to still be enough will from those in their homelands in Europe or even the US to commit that journey,

too. So, a complex task when you have that many people trying to move. Becky?

ANDERSON: Nick, finally tonight, another reported gain by ISIS, this time back in Syria. And the airbase and Tabqa. No doubt President Assad needing

to up the fight against these militants, not because Iran, of course, will demand that he does, and he has to prove a reliable ally to Tehran.

When does your enemy's enemy become your friend? At what point does the international community bring their nemesis, Assad, back in from the cold?

WALSH: Publicly, the United States and the United Kingdom, the UK quite specifically, actually, just in the last few days, have said an alliance

with Bashar al-Assad is never going to happen.

You can see the logic for that, really, because so many say that, in fact, the brutality he exercised against the Syrian rebels, many of them Sunni,

allowed the outrage, to allow an abyss into which ISIS came and that, in fact, there were enough people furious at the lack of international aid

that that actually somehow fuels the radicalism behind ISIS, too.

So, there's an argument that some make that, In fact, the Syrian Civil War helped forge ISIS in the way that it currently is now. So, you're not going

to help by simply allying with the original motivation, perhaps.

But the broader issue, too, many accused Washington of is their broader goal in the Middle East is some sort of accommodation with Iran to prevent

it from going for a nuclear weapon. Is that compatible with continually attacking Assad? Possibly not.

But I don't think there's anybody who really thinks that openly embracing the Assad regime as a partner in this fight is going to work because that's

simply bringing far too much more blood, frankly, into the American or European position here. But really, the options are slim and the Assad

regime is very keen to advertise its anti-ISIS credentials. Becky?

ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh in London just out of Iraq for you, Nick. Always a pleasure, thank you.

A quick update on what has been a strong earthquake that shook Northern California just hours ago. Damage reports are starting to come in after

what was a 6.0 magnitude earthquake, rocked the San Francisco area.

No injuries have been reported as of yet, but some buildings and roads were damaged. The tremor also ruptured a water main and sparked house fires.

This the strongest quake to hit the area since 1989. Stay with CNN, of course. You will get updates on that regularly. As we get more into CNN

Center, we will get it to you.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, out of the UAE this evening. It's rather humid out here.

Gaza pounding for another day as Benjamin Netanyahu warns residents to get out of areas where Hamas operates. We'll be live with the very latest

developments for you, both sides of that border.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: A very good evening from the UAE, it is just after a quarter to 8:00 in the evening here. The Israeli prime minister warns that Hamas will

pay a heavy price for its crimes. Israel and Hamas have renewed their attacks on each other since a temporary cease-fire, of course, crumbled

last week.

Several Israeli air strikes have already pounded Gaza today. The Palestinian Health Ministry says that seven people, including some kids,

were killed in one of those attacks.

And the Israeli military says several rocket attacks also struck the Golan Heights in the early morning hours. These, though, appeared to come from

Syria, and it's not clear if they were directly related to the weeks-long conflict with Hamas.

Both sides of the border for you, starting in Gaza today on the day that 500,000 kids were supposed to be back in school. Ian Lee has this from Gaza

City.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(EXPLOSION)

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The immensity of the destruction in Gaza. Entire neighborhoods flattened, over 2,000 people

killed. But it's the damage with the greatest reach that is also the hardest to see, the psychological toll of the war affecting the strip's

most vulnerable: children.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

LEE: Here at the Child and Family Counseling and Training Center, they aren't just reciting the colors, they're re-wiring their brains with hope

of achieving some sort of normality. Something as simple as popping a balloon unsettles the nerves.

(BALLOONS POPPING)

(CHILDREN LAUGHING, SQUEALING)

LEE: Loud noises associated with death and destruction are being reprogrammed to sound, well, like something different.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

LEE: Abdelaziz Thabet is a professor of psychiatry. He says this war has created an unparalleled number of children needing therapy.

ABDELAZIZ THABET PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY: We expected more acute stress reaction, mostly anxiety. We are seeing cases now of sleep disturbance,

hyperactivity, over activity. We are seeing children with aggressive behavior.

LEE: The UN estimates up to 400,000 children in Gaza are in need of psychological care.

LEE (on camera): Experts say that it's crucial for children dealing with trauma to get back to some sort of normal routine. They say going back to

school is extremely important. But as you can see at this school in central Gaza City, the classrooms are full, but not with students.

LEE (voice-over): That's because for now, they're makeshift shelters. School has been canceled.

(CHILDREN PLAYING)

LEE: Here, we find grandmother Aziza Said. She tells me her years of experience taught her what children need most is hope, kindness, and a

loving embrace to melt their problems away. Simple acts desperately needed in a hopeless place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And Ian joining us now from Gaza. Another brutal day for residents there, not least those, Ian, living in a 14-story building

targeted by Israelis. What do we know about that?

LEE: Well, Becky, the residents of those -- that building were given a 20- minute warning before the air strike that just completely demolished it. Residents were able to get out. Despite that, at least 17 people were

injured.

And that's -- that's from people who gathered around. When you get these sorts of warnings, people tend to gather around and wait to see what

happens. Well, a lot of people were too close and they were hit by falling debris.

But this building just highlights one of the big problems here in Gaza. Over 400 people lived in that building, according to local sources. And

those people, if they don't have family members to go live with, they go to these UN-run schools.

Well, there's a lot of people here in Gaza now that have lost their homes, that have nowhere else to go, and that are holing up in these schools. And

really, until they find an alternative, someplace for these people to go, whether it's a camp or the rebuild their homes, they're going to be there,

and that's going to be hard for the UN to restart the school year.

The UN is looking at that. They're very concerned. But they are starting recreational activities for the children in Gaza, trying to get some sort

of normal routine back into their lives, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, understandably so, Ian. Listen, the spark for this latest conflict, the Israelis will tell you, was the abduction and death of those

three teenagers some months ago now in the West Bank.

Hamas has until now distanced itself from the killing of those three Israeli teenagers which, as I say, acted as a catalyst for this latest

uptick in violence. But it's since responded to Israeli findings that Hamas militants were responsible.

And I quote: "We at Hamas political command do not know anything about the kidnapping. All information we have is from the Israeli investigation.

But," they go on to say, "if this is true, this mission is considered self- defense against the Israeli occupation."

For months, Hamas denying that they knew anything about what had happened that night. And now this. Your thoughts?

LEE: Well, that's right. Hamas has said that -- the leadership said that they didn't know about, which would suspect that this was a rogue group,

that Hamas leadership did not order this.

But after the findings that this group did belong to Hamas, Hamas leadership is saying that they are taking ownership of some sort of it,

saying that their fighters were responding to what they say was self- defense, and they're saying that these people who are in the West Bank are there illegally.

But you're right, the Hamas leadership had no idea initially that this was their men taking -- doing this operation. But now, they're owning up to it

and saying that it is something that they support.

ANDERSON: Ian Lee's in Gaza for you this evening. I'm going to get you to Karl Penhaul, who is in Jerusalem next. But just this first. Ahead of his

weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made another effort to align his fight with the one currently being waged

by the US in Iraq.

And I quote: "In this battle, we are on a wide front. Many countries in the region and the West are beginning to understand that this is one front.

Hamas is ISIS, and ISIS is Hamas. They simply work in the same way. They are branches of the same poisonous tree." Karl Penhaul is up for you in

Jerusalem this evening. Surprised to hear that?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, if you look at that, that kind of comparison really doesn't stand up to too much scrutiny.

Historically, at least, speaking, Hamas's ties have been much closer to the Syrian regime, the Iranian regime, and also to Hezbollah, both in terms of

funding in the past and also training and technology. And that would, of course, put them actually on the opposite side of the fence to ISIS, not

the same side.

But as you suggest, this looks like a ploy by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to get some publicity for his fight, or some added

publicity for his fight against Hamas, trying to put them in the same bag as ISIS, trying to tar them all with the same terrorist label and saying

they're all the same. Which is to say, of course, in the Islamist world, they are not.

ANDERSON: What happens next, Karl, from the Israeli perspective?

PENHAUL: It's very difficult to see where this is heading and where the end game may be. Again, these attacks continue, these rocket attacks have

continued. Also, Hamas is making what appears to be an increased use of mortars, which can't be detected or destroyed by the Iron Dome defensive

system.

Obviously, shorter range than the rockets, but is certainly creating problems around the Gaza Strip. Today, an attack on the Erez border

crossing. And so now, Israel is saying that they're closing that border crossing until further notice.

And then, we also saw some rockets come in from Syria towards the Golan Heights. No indication, though, that that is a second front opening up in

this fight. But it is really difficult to see beyond rocket fire from Gaza and then air strikes from Israel really what the end game here is.

Of course, Hamas wants to try and continue to disrupt daily life inside of Israel. Yes, we've seen the cancellation of the start of the soccer season

here. Also, the school year in Israel as well is just around the corner. May that be disrupted.

But in terms of hard action, difficult to see where Israel could go back to the negotiating table, for example, and offer something that Hamas would

seize upon to say OK, let's silence the weapons, now. Let's have a period of calm so that we can talk more in-depth, Becky.

ANDERSON: Depressing stuff, isn't it? Karl Penhaul is in Jerusalem. Ian Lee, earlier, in Gaza for you on the story. Thanks, Karl.

The very latest on this morning's magnitude 6.0 quake in San Francisco Bay Area. That is just ahead, stay with us. You're watching CNN, this is

CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, at least 87 people were injured by a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Northern California this morning. It's left people rattled

and without power. These your Parting Shots this hour, at least.

Some roads in the San Francisco Bay Area have, we can see here, large cracks in them from the quake. The US Geological Survey says about a

million people felt the earth moving this morning. The earthquake happened south of the state's wine country. These are live pictures coming to you

from the area.

Damage to buildings as well, in Napa Valley. Several aftershocks have continued to shake the area. People, you can see, are on the move. But stay

with CNN. We'll get you more on this story as we get it into CNN Center. But we are clearly on the story, it is only hours old.

A big quake -- you'd have to be 25 years old to have felt anything like this in San Francisco. A quake this size last back in 1989. I'm Becky

Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN.

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