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U.N. To Vote Jerusalem Resolution Amid U.S. Threat; 18 Injured In Melbourne Car Attack, 4 Critical; War Drags On In Last Rebel-Held Damascus Suburb; Saudi Arabia Versus Iran, A Cold War In The Middle East. Aired 10- 11a ET
Aired December 21, 2017 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:27] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: And those words will be echoing through our show as we connect your world this hour. You've got me, Becky
Anderson, live today from London. Let's get right to the major fast moving story right now. An extraordinary session of the U.N. General assembly is
just now getting under way.
A vote will take place under threat after the United States threw conditional diplomacy out the window, warning critics of Jerusalem policy
that it will be taking names and they could be consequences. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley first hinted about retaliation in a tweet. Then
President Donald Trump said it outright warning countries they could lose U.S. funding if they vote for a resolution rejecting his recognition of
Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Despite that threat, the nonbinding resolution is expected to overwhelmingly pass some countries including
Turkey, saying Mr. Trump's bullying won't work and their votes are not, he says, for sale.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (TRANSLATOR): What do they call the U.S.? The cradle of democracy. The cradle of democracy is looking for wills that can be
purchased. Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turk's Democratic will with your dollar this is our decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Israel rejecting the outcome even before the first vote is cast. Calling the United Nations a, quote, house of lies. Oren Lieberman
who is live for you in Jerusalem. Also joined by Elise Labott in Washington. Standby Lisa, Oren the Israeli Prime Minister sending a
message of gratitude to the United States ahead of this vote, this debate. What did Benjamin Netanyahu say?
OREN LEIBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: Well, it wasn't just a message of gratitude towards President Donald Trump and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.
Nikki Haley. It was beyond that. It was an attack on the U.N. itself as you pointed out, calling it a house of lies. That preemptive strike is
expected here because the vote, the results of the vote is expected as you said with an overwhelming majority voting in favor this. If you want to
get the sense of just how overwhelming this majority may be, look at the vote of the U.N. general assembly just a couple of days ago on Palestinian
self-determination, it was 176 in favor and less than 10 against. We could be seeing very similar result in just a couple of hours after a number of
speakers and then we'll see the vote itself. That is despite the U.S. threat to cut off some foreign aid, as well as the ambassador Nikki Haley
saying they'll be taking names and Israel trying to lobby convince some countries to abstain. Here is what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
in thanking the U.S. for its efforts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, President Trump and Ambassador Haley, for standing up for Israel and for standing up for the
truth. Ultimately, the truth will prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEIBERMANN: Palestinian leaders went a step beyond what the Turkish leader said, accusing the U.S. of extortion in trying to change votes here. I
expect we'll hear more of that type of harsh rhetoric against the U.S. when we hear from the speakers ahead of this vote at the emergency meeting of
the U.N. General assembly, Becky.
ANDERSON: Elise, let's remind our viewers exactly what Mr. Trump said when he warned critics of the Jerusalem policy, that they stand to lose a lot if
they vote against him at the U.N. have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They take hundreds and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us. We're watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We'll
save a lot. We don't care. This is not like it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of
dollars and nobody knows what they are doing. We're not going to be taken advantage of any longer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: There's been some backlash to these remarks. What's being said?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: I mean, listen, Becky, I've talked to, you know, about a dozen of ambassadors from a variety of
countries and they pretty much say what the Turkish President said that their vote is not for sale. The United States is free to vote -- to do
what it wants with its embassy and the members and recognize Jerusalem and the members of the U.N. General assembly are free to vote their conscience
and criticize that decision.
[10:05:09] This is a member driven organization. Each person -- each country has their own vote. I think it's worth noting that just a couple
of days ago in the President's national security strategy in his speech, he said countries are sovereign to do their policy as they see fit for their
national interest. It's a little bit of an inconsistent message. Let's be clear some of the countries that are getting to be voting against us today,
Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, some of the largest recipients of U.S. aid and the U.S. is not necessarily doing them a favor by giving them those aid. This
is in U.S. National interest whether it's to go after ISIS, to combat extremism. Obviously Israel another recipient of U.S. aid, but a lot of
these countries are like, I don't think that is really going to happen, because the U.S. gives us the aid because it's in their interests.
ANDERSON: Interesting. Let's just identify some of those numbers for our viewers as you rightly point out, many of the U.S.'s Arab allies are
expected to vote against Washington. Egypt, for example, gets $1.4 billion in U.S. aid this year alone. Jordan is too, $1.3 billion much needed at
present. And Iraq at some $370 million. So to your mind, Elise, from sources you had spoken to, if these countries stick to their guns in voting
against the U.S. as Trump pass it, are they at risk of losing it all?
LABOTT: Well, I certainly don't think those three countries are. This is the -- these are the pillars of U.S. you know, diplomacy and influence in
the middle east working with these countries will smaller countries in Europe that don't vote with the United States that are getting U.S. aid
developing countries or small countries in Asia or Africa, will they see a drop in U.S. aid? I personally don't think so. You know Nikki Haley
talked a great game about we're taking names and, you know, you're with us or you're against us when you come in. The U.S. did cut a lot from the
budget, but I think it's a lot of bluster. I think the U.S. gives aid because it's in its national interest, not because it's a favor.
I think some countries will be interesting to look at particularly in Europe are Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. These leaders have a good
relationship with United States, there are new leaders are more of nationalist bent and also close to Israel. I think the U.S. will get some
votes but this is a widely unpopular decision in the world and as Oren said, I think the U.S. is going to suffer the same, kind of defeat it did
when the almost entire U.N. General assembly, except for about ten countries, voted for Palestinian self-determination.
ANDERSON: What about Oren, look, it's not clear exactly how much aid the Palestinians receive for example, in 2016. Either the number ranges
between $300 and $700 million. How much concern among Palestinians about the U.S. aid taps being cutoff?
LEIBERMANN: No concern that I've heard yet. We already know the relationship between the U.S. and the Palestinians and strained
specifically because of Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Could that get worse? Yes. Certainly. Essentially frozen ties
at this point. But no concern about the foreign n the aid in which you are right. It is in range of $400 million or so. How does that play out? How
does the U.S. carry through on its threat? We have to see the statements after the voting and the final results of the vote and of course President
Trump will have to pay attention to twitter.
ANDERSON: To both of you, thank you. Let's get you to what was a terrifying attack in the head of Melbourne, Australia earlier. Police say
a driver deliberately rammed a vehicle into a crowd of Christmas shoppers. The car was barreling down the road at about 100 kilometers per hour. 18
people were injured including a small child. Police say there is no evidence the act was linked to terror. The 32-year-old suspect has a
history of drugs and mental health issues. Let us get you there. Joining us Sara James on the ground for you in Melbourne. Sarah, with the very
latest, what are authorities telling of the details of this incident?
SARA JAMES, JOURNALIST: They're saying that this is a fluid investigation and it continues at this hour, but what they say is that a 32-year-old
driver came flying down the road beside me. This is in the absolute heart, the center of Melbourne. There's the big train station, Flinders Street
station on one side and on the opposite side is the center of the city. So all of these pedestrians were, on their way to do Christmas shopping, to
look at the Christmas windows, or they were commuters heading back to see their families at the end of a busy workday.
[10:10:04] As they walked across this very busy street, the car came flying down the center and actually drove along the tram tracks that run through
the center of the street and plowed into the crowd injuring 18 people, four of them critically, one of them as you mentioned a child. They are all in
area hospitals this evening. Just about 15 seconds after the attack occurred the car hit part of the tram station and an off duty police
officer kept in and pulled the driver out of the car and subdued him and that brought it to an end. Police arrested the driver on the scene and the
also talked to another man who had videotaped the entire thing, but they said earlier this evening in a news conference, they're not sure that that
is related in any way.
The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says there's going to be heightened coordination between the federal authorities and people here to make sure
that security tighter, so lot is happening to try to make -- to bring an area of feeling safer to the city.
ANDERSON: Sarah, let's stand by for a moment. Just few hours ago CNN spoke to an off duty nurse who witnessed what is this horrific attack.
Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRILLE BUNTON, WITNESSED MELBOURNE ATTACK: So I was just walking up from work and it was terrible. There was a few people on the ground with a few
people around police had just cordoned off the area. It wasn't very nice at all. There was lots of people watching and lots of police and fire. No
ambulances were there then. They just arrived. I was very lucky because I was supposed to be walking through there then. It wasn't very good. The
people they saw there weren't moving. From what I was told, the witnesses that were talking to the police there, this four wheel drive just flew
through the intersection without stopping and suddenly it had hit everyone. It wasn't very nice at all from what eyewitnesses are saying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She is clearly shocked. While authorities Sarah, have said that the streets and landmarks around this area of Melbourne had been the target
of multiple attempted terrorist plots, all foiled by police within the past year, it does seem there is no evidence of a link to terrorism on this
occasion, correct?
JAMES: That is correct. They do not believe that this was terror related. This suspect had a history of drug problems and mental health issues, they
believe that has the cause. You're right that this has been a city on edge. It was only about a month ago that authorities said that they had
foiled a terror plot that was planned for New Year's Eve and that is at a huge celebration that takes place just over there on the opposite corner,
big New Year's Eve celebration here in the heart of the city.
They arrested someone who was planning to bring gun a fire at people at that New Year's Eve celebration, so that attack was foiled. But yes, there
have been a number of potential attacks. Authorities have very vigilant. But there has been a lot going on. Of course, the City is also reeling
from an attack that happened that was not terror related but 11 months ago almost the day when another man who seemed to have a history of mental
health problems slammed into a crowd and killed six people and that was just a couple blocks away from where I stand and where the attack happened
today. Becky.
ANDERSON: Thank you. The story from Melbourne for you.
Still to come on this show, this hour, blood fire and starvation. A special report on the children suffering from the last rebel held suburb of
Damascus. That is up next. And a little later, a beauty queen is handling the ugly side of social media. I will be speaking live to Ms. Universe
Iraq about the selfie that sparked a firestorm.
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[10:17:07] ANDERSON: It is one of the many raging battles in the Middle East affected by the rivalry of two regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran.
And Syria, Bashar al-Assad and Russian forces have all but declared victory in the ruins of the civil war. You might not know that. The last rebel-
held suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus, the war of malnutrition drags on. It is the young who are suffering the most. Under siege, malnutrition
and starvation is the worst since the Syria conflict started some six years ago. That according to the United Nations. For more on that, what this
tragedy in slow motion, Nick Paton Walsh joining me now. Nick with some exclusive reporting.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, just one really to bear in mind. In fact in January, in this area, a very short drive from the Syrian
regime's Presidential palace in central Damascus there are about one in 50 children suffering from acute malnutrition in a war zone that has now
rocketed up to about one in ten. Quite a staggering change and part of siege has been put in place by the Syrian regime causing daily life to be
frankly insufferable for so many children trapped there.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
PATON WALSH: On the edge of existence in a war you may have thought was over, the siege by Russian air power (inaudible) the Syrian regime, the
head long dash into dust and rubble has become routine. Still children, mostly forgotten. Yet here feeling the things they will never forget.
This is childhood in eastern Gupta, Syria where Moscow has declared victory. Tiny bodies are abandoned, anonymous. No parents at hand to
whisper their names. Some must urgently get out. He lost the chance of a normal life and his mother in shelling on December 3rd. Intensive care
under intensive bombardment. One of the grotesque norms of this war. He is among the 137 children who the U.N. said this week urgently need
evacuating for medical treatment. Another is Kareem. He lost an eye in another bombardment and his mother too. His injury took half of his sight.
Yet drew the attention of the international community, the outside world powerless and exhausted by this war. Now reduced to hashtag and gesture.
This at the U.N. Security council is pretty much all they can do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (TRANSLATOR): We feed many respiratory and intestinal problems in children. Due to the lack of hygiene, drinking water, unclean
air. We see 50 children with signs of mental illness, but we can't offer them anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO)
[10:20:12] PATON WALSH: Bombs are not the only weapon and Myra is age 1, only five kilos in weight. He is 4 but only ten kilos. The U.N. and Iran
use to be part of this war, said child malnutrition here is the worst it has ever been in the war. They are not starving from property but from a
siege. Foot purposely denied the defenseless by the regime, here the time of cheer and plenty elsewhere does not spell even a pause in this war.
There are 400,000 people trapped there. The siege tightening and also we see plenty of decrease in international attention already ebbing over the
course of this brutal war and exactly how these nasty pockets of continued conflict ending up being resolved in the final days. The broader
perception that the regime is kind of getting its way across the battle field. That is no comfort at all to those dying and suffering daily in a
place like eastern Gupta, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick, we have mentioned the effective cold war between Iran on the one hand and Saudi Arabia. This is how it literally maps out showing
our viewers on the screen now, you can see how vast of the breadth of the countries there, settling scores really and some are political of course.
Others are violent confrontations letting blood shed play out on the Arab streets in the region. As we move towards the back end of 2017 and into a
new year of 2018, Nick, you have been around and have covered this region for a very, very long time. What is the wider narrative at play here?
PATON WALSH: Well, the Saudis were always sort of someone in the background during the Syrian civil war, the material backers of elements of
the Syrian rebellion. The key thing now to look into moving into a new year is exactly what this kind of change battlefield now it looks who it
benefits. The key beneficiary's is the Saudi Arabia's key enemy and that is Iran. Through a very accommodating country of Iraq, where the Assad
regime has a lot of control all the way to the coast where Mediterranean, Lebanon also has a lot of Iranian allies so they've done very well out of
this. That is why we may see Israeli concerns coming to a head in 2018 and why there are so many flash points across the region where it is possible,
Yemen, the Israeli Syrian border, the Lebanese border and elements in Syria, too, where they could possibly be flash points as people try and
check that expanded Iranian influence. Brought around frankly because of the efforts made by them to in the fight against ISIS, specifically in
Iraq. Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh on the story for you today. Nick thank you.
As starvation and war tear communities apart in Syria, in Yemen another battleground for the Iranians and the Saudis as Nick rightly pointed out.
Disease running rampant. The cholera outbreak in the country has now reached one million suspected cases. That is one million suspected cholera
cases in Yemen. The international Red Cross tweeting out what is a horrific statistic and also highlighting that more than 80 percent of the
population lack food and clean water and access to health care. In a statement released today by the Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Yemen, Saudi
Arabia said the coalition has secured humanitarian corridors and delivered almost one million tons of aid since November. But as conflict lingers,
suffering only continues. Here's my report.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
ANDERSON: Children cry while mother weep. And doctors do what little they can to treat their dying patients. Patients who are dying from cholera in
the largest and fastest growing outbreak of the disease in modern history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very clear that this cholera outbreak is not a natural phenomenon. It's something that happen when systems breakdown and
the systems have broken down in this country because of the conflict and because of the tactics employed by those involved in the conflict.
ANDERSON: The conflicts, the war between the Saudi led coalition and Iranian backed rebels is ripping Yemen apart. The number of Cholera cases
surpass 1 million. Not since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti has the world seen an outbreak on this scale. Haiti had 815,000 confirm cases of cholera
in the seven years following the quake. Yemen exceed that number in just six months.
[10:25:24] Cholera, a completely preventable and treatable water borne bacteria illnesses, instead causing thousands of deaths among this poor and
starving war-ravaged population. Unsanitary conditions are the leading cause of cholera, a disease rarely seen in the modern industrialize world.
But in a nation that infrastructure has been decimated by bombs and bullets with sanitation workers on strike, sewage running in the streets and
medicinal supplies scarce, cholera has found a breeding ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (TRANSLATOR): We receive countless patients every day and we are working around the clock. We receive two, three, four cases
every minute which is a huge number. We are suffering from a lack of medication to face this epidemic.
ANDERSON: CNN traveled to Yemen and saw firsthand just how dire those hospital shortages are. Doctors most of whom have not been paid since the
government stopped funding the public health system more than a year ago don't even have basic things like soap to help to stop the spread of
illness, much less the fluids needed to keep someone from dying of cholera related dehydration. Still day-to-day they do what they can to ease the
suffering. With little choice but to look to the international community for help as Yemen's so call-called forgotten war rages on.
(END VIDEO)
ANDERSON: While millions are trapped in Yemen, others are risking their lives to get out of North Korea. A young soldier makes a dash across the
DNC. Plus, CNN investigates the mystery of North Korea's ghost ships washing up on the shores of Japan. Taking a very short break. Back after
this.
[10:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: You're watching Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. Half past 3:00 today out of London for you. I want to get you
straight to the United Nations where there is a debate going on to reject the announcement by the U.S. that Jerusalem is Israel's capital. This I
believes is either the Yemenis or the Palestinians. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIYAD AL-MALKI, PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through a Translator): Ladies and gentlemen, we have asked -- we have called for holding this
emergency special session of the general assembly in order to make heard the voice of the international community which has been embodied by the
reactions of people and the positions of countries throughout the world.
As the obvious majority was experienced in the Security Council where a vote was conducted on a resolution that confirms the legal and political,
and historical status offer (Inaudible), and the fact that any attempts to change the status would be null and void.
I would like to thank the Arab group and the member states, and the organization at this time in cooperation with the movement for calling for
this emergency session after the use of the veto obstructed the Security Council and made it unable to perform its duties, and maintaining to
national peace and security.
Despite the fact that 14 member states of the council supported the draft resolution table there by Egypt and which we thank her for. The General
Assembly now has with inspire with this, the right to undertake this responsibility as per the united for peace principle.
This session comes after decisions were issued by the Arab council which was held in Cairo upon the state of Palestine and the Kingdome of Jordan as
the guardian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.
It also comes in (Inaudible) to the extraordinary session offer to the IOC that withstand in Istanbul under the chairmanship of Turkey. It is also in
light of the international consensus on the dangerous nature of the U.S. decision and its repercussions indeed at security at the regional and
international levels.
We meet today not because of any animosity towards the United States of America but because of its decision which constitutes an aggression on the
genuine and natural right of the Palestinian people to the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Arab nation, and all the Muslims and Christians of the
world.
An aggression on the status of Jerusalem, its religious and humanitarian status at the succession and we would like to confirm that the American
decision will not impact the status, and decision of the holy city in any way whatsoever.
Whether it naturally affect the status of the United States as a mediator of peace because it has failed in the test of Jerusalem despite our
warnings and the warnings of the entire world not to take this step seriously and our warnings of the danger of taking any positions.
And decisions that will inflame religious feelings and would contribute towards transferring this solution -- A political solution that can be
solved to a religious war that has no boundaries, we can't help but ask what does this decision serve?
[10:35:00] It serves the Israeli government in planting its colonial plant. It serves the powers of extremism and terrorism, and religious in the
world.
Who could imagine that there would be any credibility to a peace plan where Jerusalem is excluded? Is there any voice that supports peace, and that
enjoys credibility, that has supported this decision?
How does this decision been described by states, and by regional and political blocks of parliament, and even the secretary general of the
United Nations not to mention the Christian, and Islamic religious establishments, and authorities throughout the world.
Does not the United States wonder why it stands isolated in this position which is being rejected by everyone near and far, and why even its closest
allies could not even turn a blind eye to this decision? The answer is clear.
Al-Quds Al-Sharif is the cradle of civilization, it's the land of the divine religions, it is the path of the prophet. It is the gateway to
heaven. It is the city of the nativity of Al-Aqsa, it is the first of two points of prayer, the third of the holy mosques.
It cannot be misrepresented. It cannot be falsified. It will not fall to any siege or any domination or any monopolization. It is the key to war.
It is the key to peace in the entire world.
Therefore, international law, international consensus were clear over Jerusalem. All states who care for respecting the special status of
Jerusalem of the historic status of the holy sites including Al-Haram Al- Sharif.
Today the United States once again, misses an opportunity to go back on an illegal and provocative decision. It misses an opportunity to join the
international community and put an end to assassination.
However, it insists on ignoring the dangerous repercussions of the decisions and the call of the international community, and to respect the
laws of international legitimacy which governor works, and which prevent the escalation of conflict and offer a framework of reference for just
peaceful solutions.
Mr. President, the state of Palestine respects the sovereignty of states so long as this sovereignty is in line with international law. However, we
refuse to have sovereignty used as an excuse to violate international law and to trespass on the rights of our Palestinian people which are annual
and we refuse to deny our right to exist on your land.
We stand here today with the countries of the world -- all of the world, united for freedom, for justice, for peace. The veto will not stop us. We
will not be threatened.
We are confronting these challenges and in doing this, we rely on international law and we seek its judgment and this is -- we do not seek
religious what appears to be religious advice that is being used in order to justify colonialism and to justify the forceful annexation of land.
We wonder how Israel, the occupying authority have not yet realized that the countries here represent people that for many decades suffered from
colonialism, apartheid, oppression, domination, aggression.
And that they know very well the difference between colonialist -- between colonialist desires and others, and will refuse any kind of justification
for these crimes, be it as a security justification, religious one or a national one because these are justifications that have been exposed by the
experience and the struggles of people.
And these countries and their people are loyal and Palestine will not forget the support that it has received from them in order -- until they
have achieved and regained their freedom, and independence.
Moreover these states recognize and understand the rational for which this international organization was formed over 70 years ago in the aftermath of
World War II. It is a logic that is based on justice, collective will, and which is embodied and the charge of the United Nations and the
international law.
This organization is now undergoing an unprecedented test with Palestine being its headline. All international frameworks that have agreed on our
right, on the justice of our Palestinian cause, this includes the general assembly, the Security Council, the human rights council, the International
Courts of Justice and the customs of the high contact of overstate of the Geneva Convention.
[10:40:00] And today, we trust that the states in voting will rely on this basis and this firm foundation which are also based on the logic that is in
line with human civilization.
Mr. President, history records names. It remembers names. The name of those who stand by what is right and the names of those who speak false
hoods and today, we are seekers of rights and peace despite the oppression and the injustice that has be fallen our people, children, women, the
elderly, at an oppression that started before 100 years ago to -- 70 years ago to the occupation of the U.S. bank including East Jerusalem
(Inaudible), until this very day.
And despite our march on the path of thing for over a century, we have not wavered in our will to achieve peace whenever we were given the chance.
However, colonialism and peace do not meet. And those who choose peace must rescind colonialism and those who choose colonialism are the enemies
of peace.
And Israel does not hide its Palestinians and its intentions. The deviator has decided to take its side and does acknowledge what is wrong and ignore
what is right. This requires the formation of a multi-lateral, international mechanism under the United Nations and on the basis of
international diplomacy and the framework of reference of the Peace Process.
That's what embodies the international, and puts an end to occupation and conflict, and to achieve a just comprehensive and lasting peace that will
secure -- that will guarantee security and peace to all the people in the region.
The peace process is not the exclusive property of one party and the question of Palestine is the responsibility of the international community
as a whole, including the United Nations in order to arrive at a just solution that would guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people.
And in a manner that cannot be limited and tied to the good intentions of the international community, more than the occupational power. And these
states cannot use the excuse of supporting the dialogue between states to many political maneuver out of responsibility and duties of international
law.
And not recognize the illegitimate staffers that Israel has created and not contribute towards the continuation of this process, and it must
distinguish between the occupied territories and the occupying power.
And it must hold accountable those who commit and perpetrate violations and must support the Palestinian people, and just well to achieve freedom and
independence including recognizing the Palestinian states within the 1967 borders.
Our steadfastness in our land -- in our historic land and our desire to achieve freedom and dignity, and our hope to achieve security and welfare
to our people and our future generations is renewed every day.
However, the barbarism of the Israeli occupation is taking away the future of the Palestinian people. It is enough to mention what we've seen the few
days where a person -- a handicapped Palestinian was shot by a sniper in his wheelchair.
A man was show face and an entire battalion of soldiers have surrounded an unarmed young man, the kidnapping of a brave girl child in the middle of
the night from the arms of her parents. When will this end? When will our catastrophe end, when will we achieve our freedom and live in dignity and
peace, and security on our land and the land of our predecessors and ancestors.
The world is celebrating the birth of Christ over the next two days. But the light will not be lit in the land of Christ in Jerusalem and Bethlehem,
and in Nazareth as a response to attempt to eliminate the Palestinian, Arab, Christian and Islamic identity of the city in affirmation of the
unity of the Palestinian people around their cause.
These have taken their position on colonialism and apartheid, and wars, and Palestine cannot remain alone hostage to the tragedies of historical faces
that variety has rejected and refuse.
The Palestinian people continue to hold fast and stand fast in Jerusalem, and in its streets, and allies as a -- as an organic relationship exists
between them that cannot be dismembered.
And we would like to note here that the Palestinian people are standing to defend the same valley that you've come here to defend.
[10:45:04] And I call upon you on behalf of the Palestinian people to vote in favor of the draft resolution in order to make heard the voice of a firm
right that cannot be denied.
And in order to take a fair position in history and to recognize principle, the international law and your own resolutions, and in order to combat
attempts of fraud and to reject a blackmail and intimidation. Those who want peace must vote for peace today. I, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank the observer of the state of Palestine. His excellence (Inaudible) for foreign affairs. I now give the floor to the
distinguished representative of Turkey. His excellence...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right, you've been listening to the Palestinian authority foreign minister at the U.N. supporting a resolution that calls on the U.S.
to rescind its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. echoed by Donald Trump earlier has said the U.S. will be watching and taking notes, and names effectively of those they
perceived to have turned their backs on them.
You can imagine that the Palestinians certainly clearly going to vote in favor of that resolution against the U.S. We're going to take a very short
break at this point. That continues as a debate in the U.N.G.A. We'll be back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. Diplomacy and death threats, today tension mounts over the U.N. vote on Jerusalem. It's on going as we speak but even before
the debate, Israel's prime minister rejected the vote.
Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the U.N. as a, quote, house of lies. Meanwhile elsewhere, a friendly gesture aimed at peace sparks rage and an
Arab woman is subjected to online bullying and worse. This is the selfie that launched a thousand threats. Some of them death threats.
Ms. Universe Iraq is on the left posing with Ms. Israel, and that it seems is the rub. Well, Sarah, Ms. Universe Iraq joining me now from Los
Angeles. It was, Sarah, the first time in 45 years as I understand it Iraq had a contestant in the pageant.
A month or so ago you were on cloud nine and then your world was turned upside down, your security and safety and that of your family at risk.
Very briefly explain what happened.
SARAH IDAN, MS. UNIVERSE IRAQ: So what happened, I was in Las Vegas at the time for the pageant. And when I posted the photo, I didn't really expect
that, you know, it was going to create this much of controversy. At the time I didn't know that Iraq had no relations with Israel because I spent
the last few years in the United States.
[10:50:00] What happened, you know, the same day, actually, or one day after, I woke up, you know, like a lot of phone calls from the Iraqi
organization, from my family and people are going crazy and sending me death threats online.
ANDERSON: Well, look, let me quote some of your words to our viewers. You saying the Iraqi government has been quite scary --scary quiet, sorry. And
when this quite, you don't know what waits for you at home. Were you expecting more from your country? Do you feel like Iraq has let you down?
IDAN: I would say like I'm a little bit disappointed, yes, because I haven't heard from any government official anything about the incident. I
haven't heard any public figures from Iraq or the Middle East talk about this.
No one has reached out to me. No press. As if nothing happened. So for me the whole thing is strange. I was expecting, you know, like at least a
statement from the government to say OK, we approve or we don't approve but I haven't heard anything yet.
ANDERSON: Were you encouraged to take this selfie down? Just let's get this clear?
IDAN: I'm sorry.
ANDERSON: Were you encouraged to delete the selfie, get rid of it and by who?
IDAN: I was ordered to delete it many times by the organization director. And I said I'm sorry, I cannot delete it. It's already been posted.
He said OK, we can still blame it on Ms. Israel and say that she came, she took the photo with you. It's like a photo bomb. It's not your fault. I
said no. I said already posted. People they know it.
And I don't think I've done anything wrong. He said you know you realize that the Iraqi government -- they will prosecute you because they made a
law that you cannot support the Israeli government.
ANDERSON: Right.
IDAN: I said, OK. Then the best Thing I can do is I will write another post to say I'm not supporting the Israeli government.
ANDERSON: OK. With that, we're going to need to leave it there because there is an ongoing story as we speak at the United Nations. It's been
important to speak to you about this. Let's listen in to Nikki Haley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIKKI HALEY, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: It's a wrong that undermines the credibility of this institution, and that in turn is
harmful for the entire world.
I've often wondered why, in the face of such hostility, Israel has chosen to remain a member of this body. And then I remember that Israel has
chosen to remain in this institution because it's important to stand up for yourself.
Israel must stand up for its own survival as a nation, but it also stands up for the ideals of freedom and human dignity that the United Nations is
supposed to be about.
Standing here today, being forced to defend sovereignty and the integrity of my country, the United States of America -- many of the same thoughts
have come to mind. The United States is by far the single largest contributor to the United Nations and its agencies.
We do this, in part, in order to advance our values and our interests. When that happens, our participation in the UN produces great good for the
world -- together we feed, clothe and educate desperate people. We nurture and sustain fragile peace in conflict areas throughout the world. And we
hold outlaw regimes accountable.
We do this because it represents who we are. It is our American way. But we'll be honest with you. When we make generous contributions to the U.N.,
we also have a legitimate expectation that our good will is recognized and respected.
When a nation is singled out for attack in this organization, that nation is disrespected. What's more, that nation is asked to pay for the
"privilege" of being disrespected.
In the case of the United States, we are asked to pay more than anyone else for that dubious privilege. Unlike in some U.N. member countries, the
United States government is answerable to its people. As such, we have an obligation to acknowledge when our political and financial capital is being
poorly spent.
We have an obligation to demand more for our investment. And if our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our resources in more
productive ways. Those are the thoughts that come to mind when we consider the resolution before us today.
[10:55:00] The arguments about the president's decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem have already been made. They are by now well
known.
The decision was in accordance to U.S. law dating back to 1995, and its position has been repeatedly endorsed by the American people ever since.
The decision does not prejudge any final-status issues, including Jerusalem's boundaries. The decision does not preclude a two-state
solution, if the parties agree to that. The decision does nothing to harm peace efforts.
Rather, the president's decision reflects the will of the American people and our right as a nation to choose the location of our embassy. There is
no need to describe it further.
Instead, there is a larger point to make. The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for
the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation.
We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world's largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when
so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.
America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do, and it is the right thing to do. No vote in the
United Nations will make any difference on that.
But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the U.N. and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the U.N., and this vote
will be remembered. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of
Israel.
DANNY DANON, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ISRAEL TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Thank you, Mr. President. It's shameful for the United Nations that I must
stand before you today. It is shameful that this meeting is even taking place.
Jerusalem is the holiest place on earth for the Jewish people. It is the capital of the State of Israel, period. It is a fact that simply cannot be
disputed.
King David declared Jerusalem the city of the Jewish people 3,000 years ago. The Jewish bible mentions Jerusalem 660 times. Our prayers recall
Jerusalem's holy name over and over again.
As our prime minister -- the first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, said and I quote, Jerusalem is an inseparable part of the history of Israel, of
the faith of Israel.
I am holding up here an original coin. It's from around 67 A.D. It says in Hebrew, and I quote, Freedom of Zion. Look in the envelope in front of
you. You will see, you have a replica of the coin. It is clear evidence from the time of our second temple.
It rules the ancient collections of Jews to Jerusalem. The bond to Jerusalem is unbreakable. No UNESCO declaration, no empty speeches, no
General Assembly resolution will ever drive us from Jerusalem. These are the facts.
This body does not want to heal. These are the facts this body wishes to ignore. So today, I will tell you about another unbreakable bond -- the
unbreakable bond of hypocrisy between the Palestinians and the United Nations. Some have cautioned that the Unites States' decision is one sided
and harmful to peace.
END
