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Trump Set For First Big Legislative Win; Cardinal Bernard Law Dead; Myanmar Mass Grave; Brexit Transition To End December 2020. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired December 20, 2017 - 10:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[10:01:17] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The tax cuts and jobs act is passed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: In Senate hands President Trump an early Christmas present passing the tax plan and what do the U.S. tax

payers think of it. A live report from the Capitol Hill, also cardinal Bernard Law accused of current coming up horrific abuse by priest has died.

Let us take a look back on his life and the lives that he affected. And access denied at U.N. human rights representatives will not be allowed into

Myanmar. That is coming as the mass grave was discovered in Rakhine state.

Hello and welcome you are watching "Connect the World." I am Becky Anderson for you today out of London where it is just 3:00 in the

afternoon, where U.S. President Donald Trump is about to clinch first legislative victory. A bill overhauling the American tax code can soon be

sitting on his desk. It sells through the senate without a single Democratic vote, now heads back to the house for a revote. Joe Johns

reports from Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The tax cut and jobs act is passed.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Senate Republicans celebrating after passing the first overhaul of the U.S. tax code in 30 years along strict party

lines.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Democrats have said that the American people will remember this night, I hope they do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This country will be moving forward again.

JOHNS: The early morning vote which was interrupted by protesters. Coming amid fierce objections from Democrats who attacked the $1.5 trillion for

disproportionately helping corporations and wealthy Americans. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer chastising Republicans for talking in the

chamber during his closing argument.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May we have order, Mr. President?

CHUCK SCHUMER, INCOMING SENATE MINORITY LEADER: The senate will be in order. It is a serious stuff. We believe you are messing up America. You

could pay attention for a couple of minutes

JOHNS: Ohio Democrats Brown prompting a rebuke about the quorum for an aide of the majority leader McConnell following this moment during the

senate debate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This tax cut raises, it causes a huge budget deficit to give money to the wealthiest people in the country, creates a huge hole in

the budget and who is going to fill the hole in the budget? Not the lobbyist, walking in and out of Senator McConnell office a hundred feet

down the hall.

JOHNS: CNN polling shows the bill is unpopular with the majority of Americans but remain convinced that once the legislation is enacted public

perception will improve.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we can't sell this to the American people we ought to go work.

JOHNS: Earlier in the day the house also passed the tax bill with every Democrats and 12 Republicans voting no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The report is adopted without objection the motion to reconsider. He is laying upon the table.

JOHNS: But after the vote the senate parliamentarian found three small provisions that violated budget rules meaning the house will have to revote

on the bill later today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To me is what happens when you the major legalization, conceive of it in the dark and rush it through.

JOHNS: After likely passing again in house, the bill will be sent to the desk of President Trump. He congratulated Republican in both chambers

after their votes. Due to changes in the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax, the president is likely to benefit greatly from this bill

despite insisting otherwise.

[10:05:03] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is going to cause fortune this thing. Believe me. This is not good for me.

JOHNS: Press secretary Sara Sanders repeating this claims Tuesday before conceding Mr. Trump could benefit.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: In some ways particularly on the person side the President will likely take a big hit.

On the business side he could benefit.

(END VIDEO)

ANDERSON: Joe Johns laying out the early morning vote on the tax bill then. Let's get you across to CNN Suzanne Malveaux on Capitol Hill for the

very latest. Firstly, is this as good as signed at this point, Suzanne?

SUZZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I think it's safe to say this is good as signed. There is a process they have to go through first. As

you know and Joe had mentioned, the house has to vote on it the second time because of technicality that happen yesterday, but it is expected to again

pass on the house side and we already heard from the White House this morning announcing that there will be a 3:00 this afternoon which is the

president and lawmakers will go forward and celebrate this. It's not officially legislation in terms of signing, because that takes some time,

the bill has to be (inaudible) so that will take several days. But we are told by the beginning of next year there will be most of this legalization

will go into effect as law and have a great impact on every single American.

ANDERSON: well before the bill Joe also pointing out in his reports, taxpayers weren't fans. Is that likely to change now? And how will this

first major legislative win for Trump affect his own approval rating so you think?

MALVEAUX: That is a great question. There are two things. There's the short term and the long term. The immediate impact here is you've got a

spending bill to fund the government, a deadline Friday midnight, that I likely going to be kicked down the road if you will and into January. One

of the reasons why is because there are several lawmakers who signed on to this big tax plan negotiating over the bill. One of them who wants to take

a look at health provisions to help people who are going to lose their health insurance, because of this tax plan. Another who is looking at the

immigration policy trying to help those immigrants who are undocumented who came over as children, DACA.

They want things like that in the spending bill. We're going to have negotiations going to go into the weeks ahead. Check the can down the

road, we're looking at 2018 midterm elections and that is a very big question for Republicans and Democrats. Republicans know that they've got

to sell this and sell this hard. That it's going to be a tough sell. There are tax cuts for almost all of the individual income brackets. Some

of it not all that substantial. So they're going to have to convince the American people at this is a good thing and that they won't be penalized

for it next year. Becky?

ANDERSON: Suzanne Malveaux on the Hill. Let's just have a look because we were expecting the Dow Jones to really take another hike this morning

cracking on towards 25,000. It is up some 30 points. The markets open there and we are looking. We're below 25,000 at the more, but don't be

surprised if you see that number knocking on the door of what will be another historic high for the Dow. Certainly investors in U.S. stocks like

what they see and hear.

It's been a busy end to what has been turbulent year for Britain Theresa May. She has face a final prime minister question in parliament. Later we

will we will try through the final stage of her E.U withdrawal bill as it is known, because the (inaudible) in Brussel the E.U. chief negotiator set

a deadline on an outstanding issue. The transitional period post Brexit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHEL BARNIER, EU CHIEF BREXIT NEGOTIATOR (TRANSLATOR): At Florence Theresa May in her speech refers to a maximum of two years. The European

commission's position is that this will run 31st of December, 2020.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That is shorted by three months than the period the prime minister is looking for. When Britain leaves in March, 2019 Bianca Nobilo

has more from Westminster. Just explain what matters most here. What do we care on this one, so far as the date is concerned and then we'll look at

the wider picture?

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN PRODUCER: We care about the date, because the Brexit timeline has been since its inception called incredibly tight. Everyone in

the British parliament broadly has been concerned that it is not enough time to negotiate a future relationship, a divorce deal. All of these

components, one of the most prominent civil servants and diplomats in the U.K. said at the start of Brexit after article 50 was triggered it would

take about ten years to make these kind of negotiations happen. By shaving off an eighth of the time that the U.K. had allotted for that transition

period is just making that timetable even shorter, Becky. That is why we care.

[10:10:22] ANDERSON: As I said, it's been a busy end to what has been a turbulent year. Perhaps that is somewhat of an understatement when we

consider the British Prime Minister Theresa May year, if we step back then from a moment, where has she won and where has she lost over these

negotiations? Who's down effectively?

NOBILO: In the negotiations at the moment on what today at least seems that the E.U. has the upper hand. A good example of that is the that the

fact this morning Michel Barnier, as you mentioned has set this new deadline at the end of the December, 2020, but then in parliament later

this afternoon Theresa May will be deciding with her MP's some legislation that might be able to delay the Brexit process which is now sort of a moot

point, if the E.U. want to expedite the transition. It just shows the E.U. is really is leaving the negotiation at the moment, but in terms of who's

won and who's lost throughout this year, one thing that can be said, when we look at Theresa May performance and her MP's today, she was confident.

She manage to get a few quick shenanigans Jeremy Corbyn. And at the beginning of the year she was riding very high then she had this double

digit poll lead. She called this election slashed that majority, was a very bad place. And the most disaster conference speeches we've ever seen.

Remember I was talking about that Becky, and then she was incredibly vulnerable and wonder how long would she last. Would it be a day, a week.

Now she is certainly in that powerful position again in terms of leading the Party. There isn't anybody at the moment who looks like, would be

leader of the party. She seems safe for now just because this (inaudible) task the Brexit somewhat of a poison chalice and not many of her rivals

will take at over. She definitely got the party discipline, in fact mostly she did suffer defeat last week, but she is in a stronger position and many

would have imagined possible at this point of the year given the year that she is had.

ANDERSON: It is 12 minutes past 3:00. The sun going down in London and outside Westminster Bianca, thank you.

Well the abuse of children by predator priests rocked Catholicism and hold the church beg for forgiveness from the common man. Child abuse committed

by priests in Boston was brought to light by the media, the report change the world. It even became an Oscar winning film. Now it is bubbling to

the surface once again with the death of the former archbishop of Boston Bernard Law at the age of 86. He was accused of covering for Catholic

priest moving from place to place, rather than confronting them over accusations of pedophilia. He resigned and he was moved and given a post

at the Vatican. Cardinal's funeral. Correspondent Delia Gallagher joins us now from Rome. Before we talk about his funeral arrangements which I

know have just been released, just do step back for a moment. Remind us who Bernard Law was.

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, Bernard Law was one of the most respected cardinals in the Catholic Church worldwide. I

mean it's no understatement to say that before 2002 he was really a star of the Catholic Church. He was a favorite of John Paul II. He was made

archbishop of Boston by John Paul II. He was known for his civil he was known for work on behalf of immigrant and the poor. That is what made his

fall from grace in 2002 so spectacular, because peopled expected more from him. When it was revealed he knew about priest who had committed crimes

against children and didn't do anything to stop it and indeed moved some of them from place to place as you said, he became really the symbol of

people's outrage against the Catholic Church leadership who seemed to not get the severity of the problem. They had hoped they would pull him out of

the limelight by giving him a post at a church in Rome and instead that was seen by many to be kind of honorary position, so certainly after 2002

controversy flag the cardinal write-up until his death, Becky.

ANDERSON: What do we know of his funeral arrangements?

[10:15:00] GALLAGHER: Becky, possibly the controversy will continue, because the Vatican has just announced that the cardinal, will be given a

full funeral tomorrow here at the Vatican. The pope will say the final blessing at that funeral, this standard for a cardinal who dies in Rome.

The mass is presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals and then pope comes in to give the final blessings. So from the Vatican's point of

view, Cardinal Law always remained a cardinal and was indeed what they would consider a cardinal in good standing. He resigned as archbishop of

Boston, but he was still a cardinal. So they will be giving him what we would say a full cardinal's funeral which surely will raise some eyebrows

for those who would like to see more accountability and a deeper perhaps punishment for Cardinal Law. I think one clue, Becky to the way that the

Vatican sees this can be seen in Cardinal O'Malley. He issued a statement a few hours ago, he is the current archbishop of Boston where he spoke

about the wide breath of Cardinal Law, obviously issuing regret and remorse for the time in which Cardinal Law was cardinal and archbishop of Boston,

but at the same time Cardinal O'Malley said we acknowledge that we all strive for holiness in a journey which can be mark by failures large and

small. They might be something of an indication of the way the Vatican views this funeral. That even with large failures, he remained a cardinal

and therefore deserves a proper funeral, Becky.

ANDERSON: Delia Gallagher in Rome for you. Thank you.

Still to come this hour, the new head of South Africa's governing Party is to deliver his first address as its leader. We are love in Johannesburg

for you up next. In Myanmar, as refugees flee a mass grave is discovered and the country clamps down on foreign investigations. That after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. 20 past 3:00 in London. That is where we are broadcasting from today. Cyril Ramaphosa is to delivering the first

address of the ANC, the African national congress. The 65-year-old was elected leaders of South Africa's governing Party.

[10:20:04] He is now all but certain to take over as South Africa's President once Jacob Zuma's term ends in 2019. That has been a

controversial once. CNN David McKenzie joining us now from Johannesburg. David, who is Cyril Ramaphosa?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky he is very well known in South Africa and for those who followed the apartheid struggle, really an icon of

that struggle. But Cyril Ramaphosa is finally in the position that he always strived for, but it's going to be a very tough battle ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

This childhood home, the proud older sister waited for the vote to be announced.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very nice to meet you.

MCKENZIE: She waited in the bathroom, too nervous to even watch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was just praying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We declare Cyril Ramaphosa is the new president of the African National Congress.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We shouted.

MCKENZIE: Ramaphosa said this was always the goal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did think one of the good day's god will bless us like this.

MCKENZIE: It just too longer than expected. A union organizer during apartheid and a protege of Nelson Mandela, he was on the fast track to

becoming President. Ramaphosa became the ANC's chief negotiator. With the outgoing braces regime with a reputation as being tough but fair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The regime is determined to block any advance to democracy.

MCKENZIE: But when it came time to step down. Mandela chose another successor. Ramaphosa left government for business, becoming one of the

richest man in South Africa. Those business ties came into question in 2012. When police brutally killed striking miners at a Catalan mine at

Maricana. Ramaphosa was a board member at the company that owned the mine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The responsibility has to be collective and as a nation we should dip our head and accept that we did fail the people of Maricana,

particularly the families and the workers and those who died.

MCKENZIE: He was cleared of wrongdoing and by the time he re-entered politics as deputy President, many hoped he could drive the country

forward.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we are ready for a takeoff. You will see changes happening in South Africa soon.

MCKENZIE: Instead under the dealership of Jacob Zuma the country faltered entering a recession. Through Zuma's multiple corruptions, scandals caught

challenges and street demonstrations, like many in the ruling end see the ones vocal Ramaphosa stayed silent. He now faces fractures in the ruling

Party already losing support with the public. Here they are convinced that Ramaphosa is the man to bridge that divide.

When you see him again what are you going to say to him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to hug him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Well, Becky, one of the big early questions is what will Cyril Ramaphosa try to do about Jacob Zuma? He can try and recall the national

President or push him to resign. But whether he wants to use his political capital on that quickly remains to be seen, Becky.

ANDERSON: And is it clear what Cyril Ramaphosa really means for South Africa and the country's future at this point?

MCKENZIE: Well, what many people want to see is a clean break from Zuma years, but it depends on who you talk to. A more populist radical economic

transformation of the country, to try and slow that growing wealth gap. Others say they need reform, a crackdown on corruption. That is what the

investment community from abroad is asking from Ramaphosa. There's something for everyone. But whether he can use those negotiating skills he

is well known for to heal the division in his Party and the country is probably going to be his toughest test yet, Becky.

ANDERSON: Sure. Speak to experts internationally and they say if anybody can do it, Cyril can do, but we will see. David, thank you. Again he is

in Johannesburg for you.

[10:25:00] To Myanmar at this point and reports of a mass grave and unspeakable atrocities. They've been cracking down on Rohingya Muslims and

Reuter's journalist to investigating accusations of atrocities were arrested. There's been no word from them since. Meanwhile human rights

investigator has been banned from even setting foot in the country. She says that must mean something awful is happening there. CNN Kristie Lu

Stout has more.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Authorities in Myanmar are investigating a grisly discovery. A mass grave containing ten corpses was

discovered in northern Rakhine state earlier this week. State media reports the grave was unearthed by security forces who were acting on a

local tip. The military was quoted as saying action will be taken against those involve in the killings. This raises new concerns about what is

happening in Rakhine State. Since late August Myanmar security forces have launched a crackdown on Rohingya Muslims after militants attacked the

government posts. The government is saying it was targeting terrorist. Rights groups say the ensuing violence has resulted in the exodus of more

than 650 thousands Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine into neighboring Bangladesh. There has been international criticism about how Myanmar

leaders have handled the crisis and pressure on them to let journalist, rights groups and diplomats in to Rakhine to see the situation firsthand.

But the U.N. say Myanmar has denied access to the country and that it will no longer cooperate. In a statement to CNN government spokesman said that

Lee not impartial and objective while conducting her work. There is no trust on her. They told CNN the government's messages had been

contradictory.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they say one thing that there is nothing to hide, that anyone can come and yet they deny access, I really don't know what

message they are sending out and how to interpret that.

LU STOUT: There was also growing concern for two local journalists from the Reuters news agency who were covering the situation in Rakhine. They

were arrested last week and charge under the official secret act that could carry a maximum 14 year jail sentence. Human rights watch has accused

Myanmar of attempting to disappear the men and accusation the government has denied. This is Rohingya refugees continue to flow into Bangladesh

with accusations of massacre, rape and torching of their villages by government troops, allegations the government has denied. But the true

scale of the crackdown will remain unclear as long as Myanmar continues to restrict access to Rakhine State. Kristie Lo Stout CNN.

ANDERSON: The latest world news headlines just ahead. Plus Wall Street celebrating the senate passage of the U.S. tax bill. Dow jones industrial

average as you can see is now new flirting with a new milestone. We'll go live to New York for analysis. Up next.

[10:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Just after half past 3:00 in London. Immigration Becky Anderson and this is Connect the World. The top stories

for you this hour, Brussels says Britain must be fully out of the European Union by the end of December 2020.

Well Britain wants a transition period three months longer to soften the process of Brexit slated for March 2019. Well that comes as the prime

minister negotiates her E.U. withdrawal bill through the U.K. parliament.

Disgraced cardinal Bernard Law has died in Rome, age 86. Formerly the archbishop of Boston, he was accused of protecting catholic priests accused

of abusing children. The Vatican says he will get a funeral -- full cardinal's funeral at St. Peter.

South Africa will soon hear from the news leader of its governing party, Cyril Ramaphosa. He is to give the closing speech at a conference of the

African National Congress. Ramaphosa has promised to unite the ANC, a party embroiled in corruption scandal is facing President Jacob Zuma.

The bill overhauling the American tax code can soon be sitting on President Donald Trump's desk. It sailed through the Senate without a single

Democratic vote. Now, heads back to the House for a revote.

It's not set in stone yet, but might as well be. The tax bill is already rocking Wall Street in a good way as you can see, the DOW getting close to

what investors who hope the markets go higher. Of course there are -- those on the opposing side of that.

But those who hope it goes higher are looking at a magical number of 25,000. CNN Money correspondent Maggie Lake joins me now live from the New

York stock exchange.

Two things to explain, why this tax reform bill, which is all but done -- all but signed at this point is good for the markets and just how big a

leap these markets have had?

Because the U.S. president wants to brag about how good he has been for investors. And certainly the markets suggest that over the last year,

don't they?

MAGGIE LAKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they do. So let's take the second one first. There is a reason to brag. This has been an unbelievable year

for U.S. acuities. One for the history books, Becky.

I mean, we're talking about these magical round numbers. We have been blowing away through them all year. We're getting used to this. Look

where we started -- below 20,000. We have gained almost 5,000.

And it may be more than 5,000 going inside that year end. You and I have watched these markets for a long time. Rarely do you see a straight lineup

like that.

And yes, a lot of it has to do with this tax reform and the reason investors and markets like it so much is because part of what they're

proposing is slashing the corporate tax rate to levels we haven't seen in generations here in the U.S.

That's going to be good for businesses, good for stockholders. Will it be good for workers and which workers? That is a bit of a debate, Becky, but

there is no doubt, in many people's minds it's going to be good for corporations.

So that is fuelling some of these sentiments. But it's worth pointing out it's not the only thing. We already -- even before this was being passed,

we already saw very good earnings coming in.

[10:35:00] We've seen very good profits coming. Those are real fundamentals that fuelling this bull rally and remember, that has been a

long climb up from that global financial.

All those measures are put into place, both by the past administration, this administration, cost cutting and restructuring by corporations, that's

all coming to bare fruit. We have seen that in the earnings of profits.

So that's been helping. And then global equinity, right all that, money from central bank are slashing around has to go some place. That's been

going into U.S. equinity.

So you put it all together and you've got a bull rally for the history books. That is closing in but not suppose on 25,000, Becky. It's a little

bit away from it right now.

ANDERSON: Yes, and you and I -- keeping our eyes on it. And of course, if it does hit that number within the next couple of hours, CNN viewers and

folks will be the first to get it.

Very, very briefly, President Trump is absolutely determined this is a bad bill personally for him. He says it's likely -- he'll benefit so far as

corporate taxation is concerned.

But in the run-up to this reform bill, the average U.S. tax payer wasn't a fan of this legislation. Is that likely to change? Who wins and who loses

ultimately here?

LAKE: That is so complicated. The Republicans are going on a major charm offensive saying this will benefit a lot of people. We're going to have to

wait to see. Becky, that is more of a promise and a hope than a fact.

The fact is we'll put benefit corporations. The hope is that it's going to trickle down. But you know, trickle down economic, this is going to be a

very important test of that. But it will benefit the wealthier ones or just more.

The other issue is health care tied into this. Will you lose the individual mandate and will that throw people off the healthcare? Well,

that is also part of why there is a lot of skepticism among average Americans about whether this will benefit them. So it's complicated. The

answer is we're going to have to wait and see, possibly.

ANDERSON: Maggie Lake, on the case for you. Thank you, Maggie. Well red light for Uber after years of complaints mainly from taxi drivers, it's

going to be said that it is a transport company masquerading as a tech firm.

Well now, Europe's highest court agrees ruling that it should be regulated the same way as tradition taxi companies. So it's a bit of a car crash.

It's going to be said for Uber, which sells itself as a quote, platform for connecting drivers and riders.

But it is a major win on PayPal at least for taxi companies under stricter regulation. Let's get more from CNN's technology and business

correspondent, Samuel Burke, who is in London for us. So two questions to you -- first is this, what changes for Uber today as a company?

SAMUEL BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: To be or not to be, that used to be the question. And for ages, Uber has been saying, better not to a transport

company. But today they are a transportation company, Becky.

This is the end of the line for this fight. They are now a transportation company in dozens of countries here in Europe. They cannot appeal this

decision. And while customers here in London or maybe as far away as Italy, won't feel that ramifications right away.

There will be more regulation that they're subjected to now, so maybe tightly -- much more tightly regulate their Uber pop service. And for me

what's interesting here is how it will change their taxes.

We were speaking to lawyers here in the U.K. that were saying, they may now have to pay the V.A.T. Right now the drivers here in the U.K. pay that.

That could be a tax bill of about $267 million which means -- which means fares could go up by about 20 percent at least here in U.K.

ANDERSON: Interesting. OK. Well, it's -- it remains to be seen just what the numbers reveal. What do you think this means for other tech companies

in Europe? Particularly those involved in the sharing economy or the gig economy as it's known?

BURKE: Well, we're always told that it's a brave new world for the gig economy and it's looking like it's not such a brave new world, that they

are members of different industries.

Even though they see themselves as tech companies when they are dabbling in something else, they might be subjected to those regulations that their

competitors which aren't tech companies are facing, look this decision was specific to Uber.

But undoubtedly when you are the head of the liberal rule let's say like food delivery service company, you're looking out today and thinking, well,

my tax bills might be going up or I might have to change business.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. All right. Samuel Burke, in the house for you viewers. Still to come, warning from the United States, ahead of a

diplomatic showdown on Jerusalem at the U.N. General Assembly. Ambassador Nikki Haley says Donald Trump himself will be watching and the U.S. will be

quote, faking names -- that, after this.

[10:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. And if you are just joining us, you are more than welcome. This is CNN Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson for you in

London.

Well, the United States putting the world on notice, warning it will be taking names at a rare emergency meeting of the U.N. General Assembly

tomorrow.

And the assembly will vote on resolution that rejects Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, remember that? It's a

very controversial decision, lots of talks days ago.

Arab and Muslim states requested the meeting after U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley vetoed similar measure in the Security Council. Haley warning that

Mr. Trump will be quote, carefully watching to see which countries voted against the U.S.

Well, she maybe pretty busy taking names and unbinding resolution is expected to pass with overwhelming support as no assembly member has veto

power. Let's get more from CNN's Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem. And this all sounds like a not so railed threat from Haley. What's going on here?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. It was Haley who said that the U.S. wasn't ashamed of the fact that

it (Inaudible) veto. She said she was in fact proud of casting that veto and everybody else should be ashamed.

So they are staying on the same tack here. And it's interesting -- it will be interesting to watch because a vote last night on Palestinian self

determination at the General Assembly, passed over whelming, 176 for only seven against the U.S. and Israel among those against votes are

abstentions.

Tomorrow's vote which is on nullifying President Trump's resolution, expected to pass with much the same numbers. We sat down with the speaker

of the Knesset to see his take on this, on Trump's decision and more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIEBERMANN: Often more a shouting match than an orderly debate. Israel's Knesset is the heart of the country's government where different political

parties behind for influence and detention.

In-charge of the Knesset is speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein who sat down with CNN for an excusive interview to end the year, just weeks after President

Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

YULI-YOEL EDELSTEIN, IN-CHARGE, KNESSET: I think that now after this historic declaration, we have to think how we continue from here. We are

not going to disappear. The Arabs are not going to disappear. We have to start looking for serious solutions.

LIEBERMANN: Trump said here and I'm quoting, we're taking the position of any final status including the specific boundaries of the Israeli

sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders. Trump said, Jerusalem is negotiable and yet this was held as a historic decision.

EDELSTEIN: I still think that it's a historic decision. Otherwise, if it were not, I can't understand how come that some other world leaders are

still staggering about saying, one very simple thing.

Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel. Having said that, I think that the Palestinians will have to learn this term or this word rather

compromise.

[10:45:00] And meanwhile, they have never done anything that even looks like compromise.

LIEBERMANN: Is Israel willing to compromise on Jerusalem -- on Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or borders?

EDELSTEIN: I think when the times will come and the Palestinians will be able to compromise the way we are able to compromise. Many conflicts seem

irresolvable right now, will be -- it will be possible to resolve.

LIEBERMANN: You're implying, Israel is willing to compromise or negotiate Jerusalem without saying it.

EDELSTEIN: I am implying that we have proven that we are always ready for peace agreements. I don't think there's anything to compromise on

Jerusalem. It's -- if it ain't broken, don't fix it. The statement of the American is very important even if it doesn't go into specific details of

the future of the city.

LIEBERMANN: A day before the most recent elections in 2015, Netanyahu said there would be no Palestinian state under him. In his current government,

the ministers of education, justice and agriculture among others, all oppose a Palestinian state.

Why should the Palestinians look at the current Israeli government today and think this is a government that wants to engage in a peace process?

EDELSTEIN: Well, I'll be quite frank with you. For me the goal is peace in the area, peaceful co-existence, cooperation. It's not a certain

solution that it is the goal for me.

Probably we'll have to start as I have said already, to build peace bottom up to make sure that the income goes up, the life of the Palestinian goes

up.

I think that it doesn't mean that if we feed the Palestinians a while, they will forget about their national aspirations. Yes, then we'll be able to

talk about possible solutions. What kind of solutions -- I don't know right now. So let's stop talking in slogans.

LIEBERMANN: For all the focus on the Trump administration and the United States, the major presence in the Middle East is Russia who maintains

relationships with both Israel and Iran.

EDELSTEIN: The big question mark is about the future of Syria. I, for one, don't believe that there will be Syria the way we know it. There will

be some geopolitical changes on that territory.

LIEBERMANN: Israel has struck Syria multiple times in recent months. In certain cases, Russia has been updated in the real time. So, what are

Russia's red lines when Israeli strikes in Syria?

EDELSTEIN: I think that the very fact that no Russian soldier or officer, or inspector was in any immediate danger, and it speaks for itself. They

have the interest. The say by the way quite openly, and that's the good part about Russians.

They are not pretending. They are not trying to put this mask of acting out of Israeli interest. They have the Russia interest. We have our

interest. And we'll have to see how close we can get to each other with this interest.

LIEBERMANN: The prime minister is under investigation. The coalition chair is now under investigation. You can feel it. Elections are in the

air. And you are sitting here interviewing with CNN. What are your political plans after your term ends in 2018?

EDELSTEIN: I'm very happy to be the speaker of the Knesset and I think that the Israeli people think that I am doing a lot of bad job. And if I

don't fail with my present position, then the sky is the limit.

LIEBERMANN: Speaker of Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, thank you for your time.

EDELSTEIN: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIEBERMANN: A bit of a hint there that he wants to move up on the political world. There are that many spots above speaker of the Knesset

though.

He has tried to pick-up at the point on what he sees as the perceive momentum of Trump's announcement that Jerusalem -- or recognition that

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel by sending letters urging other speakers of parliaments around the world to recognize it as such. So far, Becky,

that attempt to pick-up in a perceived momentum of Trump's recognition has not gotten any positive reactions.

ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem for you. Oren, always a pleasure, thank you. Live from London today, you are watching Connect the World.

I'm Becky Anderson for you. Coming up, provocative portraits, each with a surprising, captivating back story, that is up next. Don't go away.

[10:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: All right, this is CNN, folks. You're watching Connect the World. It is just after 10 to 4:00 in London. Disney has unveiled a new

robot at its magic kingdom park in Florida -- a like this, of Donald Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America has been the nation to find what it's been. And we are a family. It was the American people

who rose up to defend our freedoms and win our independence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The Donald Trump robot is part of hall of presidents attraction. Every sitting president has recorded remarks for the hall since it opened

in the early 1990s. The show also features other presidential figures including Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Well, to your Parting Shots tonight, and we are approaching the back end of 2017. I can't help but to stop and reflect over the incredible year that

was especially in the Middle East where of course this show is normally based.

Now many of up keep with the news on our smart phones, don't we? Social media, through apps or in my case, endless e-mail alerts, it all gets -- it

all gets a bit much sometime, something a Dubai based photo gallery is tapping into. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Behind the portrait is the result of an open call for submission. We have encourage photographers to submit an image, as well as

the story behind the image, something that really resonates with who they are aiming to portray.

On of the images of images is the show is by (Inaudible) and the story is called urban craft. The photograph is a woman in a Burqa -- a very vibrant

blue burqa and behind her is a supermarket full of items. So there's obviously a contrast.

And what he is talking about is the struggles that we find both refugees and immigrants in different countries we see every day. So you might feel

I think yourself in some situations that you are feeling out of place and that you don't belong.

So what I think is powerful about the exhibition is that in many ways reflects what a city like Dubai is. I'm Canadian, I have lived here for

many years and what I love about this city, you have an opportunity to learn about different cultures, about different celebrations, about

different beliefs, and that can enrich your life.

I sat one night by myself going through over 500 images and stories, and I thought, we don't do this very often anymore. We scroll or we swipe, and

we pass by stories very quickly.

There are images of people's grand parents that have -- that have passed away and they express this sort of sense of loss but also a sense of

celebration that I think, you know, when we take the time to hear stories like that from our friends or our colleagues, or people that we meet, our

neighbors, it is a especial thing that I think is really disappearing with social media and the way that we connect.

So we hope people that come to visit the exhibition will slow down, will take the time to read the stories.

[10:55:00] Maybe search their life in a different manner.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Nice. Although we've just been telling you to step away from the small screens, we are sure that one Facebook page can't hurt you. For

it to look at the stories that mattered to you, then do check us out.

That is Facebook.com/cnnconnect on whatever device you are most familiar with. I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. From the team

working with me here in London today and those in Abu Dhabi and in the U.S., we thank you for watching. Stay with CNN. The news of course

continues after this short break. Don't do away.

END