Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Seeking Death Toll from Earthquake and Tsunami in Indonesia Jumps to 1.234; Will FBI Kavanaugh Probe Widen Before Friday Deadline; Boris Johnson Slams British Prime Minister's Brexit Plan; Netanyahu Refuses to Commit to Two State Solution. Aired 11-12p ET
Aired October 02, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are trying to get stuff from my house. So, I need to get the kids out of here.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: People are looting?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are stealing things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: An earthquake's aftermath, Palu is dealing with unimaginable death and destruction. Next, the latest for you on the rescue
and recovery effort. And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I look forward to working with President Trump and his peace team to achieve that goal.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): Here I must reiterate that we are not against negotiations and have never
rejected negotiations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The American President says he wants to strike the ultimate deal in the Middle East, but despite those warm words, the parties seem farther
apart than ever.
Coming up, a reality check on the path to peace.
Also --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I think not many countries have a President as strong as ours and I think many people would like to have
such a president in their countries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Russia's President is posing again. 2019 Vladimir Putin calendars are on sale. A peek at the year to come later this hour.
Hello and welcome. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, live from Abu Dhabi, where it is 7:00 in the evening.
Desperation, I'm afraid, growing in Indonesia as residents face a fourth day without adequate supplies following Friday's deadly earthquake and
tsunami. It comes as the death toll has sharply risen again to more than 1,200. For that number, certain to continue climbing in the coming days as
rescuers continue to pull bodies from the rubble.
The situation becoming dire in Palu with food, water and medicine in short supply. Earlier we learned from emergency officials that fuel trucks have
finally begun reaching the city. CNN's Matt Rivers on the ground and has more on the challenges and the trauma that survivors and rescuers are
facing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rescuers think there's a body in here and believe it should be found. They don't mind crashing through
the rubble to search because the house was already gone. Around the corner, another search, a tarp laid in case they find someone. They don't.
But these guys did. To add to a climbing death toll after a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami flattened this part of Sulawesi. If you
lived here, you would be lucky if you weren't hurt, even if you lost everything you owned. That's what happened to many of these people,
airport refugees awaiting a government evacuation, most trying to leave because they've got nothing left. Even some with homes intact, get out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are trying to get stuff from my house, so I need to get the kids out of here.
RIVERS (on camera): People are looting?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are stealing things. They're trying to rob us.
RIVER (voice-over): For those that remain behind the conditions are horrific. We visited a hospital that set up an outdoor ward because post-
quake patients were scared to go back inside. The injured filled beds soaked in sweat, covered in flies. That's where we meet Puteri Putewee
(ph). She was riding a motor bike with her cousin, her best friend when the tsunami hit. She lived, her cousin didn't.
At first, I shouted, she says, Enda, Enda where are you? She didn't respond. In the beginning I thought she would survive, but then my family
found out she was dead.
The stories of trauma are as common as they are awful.
We meet this bandaged 7-year-old a few minutes later. He was with his mom and little brother when the wave hit. They were swept away and haven't
been seen since. He says he sees a black shadow, that's what he said, I think it's him remembering his mother and brother. Officially they're
missing in all likelihood, they're gone. So, what does a poor town do when the bodies keep piling up and there's nowhere to put them?
(on camera): This town is so inundated with death that the morgue is completely overwhelmed. The only space left for many of the bodies is here
in the parking lot outside the emergency room. Some of these have been outside exposed for three days now, 130 remain.
(voice-over): The only solution to prevent the spread of disease is to strip the dignity of a proper good-bye. Mass burials started Monday a
thankful task performed by a military already spread too thin. They'll continue Tuesday and maybe after that.
[11:05:01] As long as people keep searching and finding what nobody wants to find. Matt Rivers, CNN, Palu, Indonesia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Rescue efforts have been nonstop since Friday's earthquake, but there is now growing criticism over the government's response to the
disaster. Residents say they desperately need food, water, and access to sanitation facilities. Dini Widiastuti is the director, the executive
director, of Yayasan Plan International joining me from Jakarta. And your group, I know, has been coordinating closely with the government and other
aid agencies to provide relief. What are your primary concerns right now?
DINI WIDIASTUTI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YAYASAN PLAN INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA (via skype): Yes, good evening, Becky. Our primary concern, of course, is
to save lives. That's the first thing. We are coordinating with the government and also other aid agencies for Yayasan Plan International we
are trying to especially focus on the safety of the children and then especially girls and also women with small children and lactating and
pregnant women. It is difficult at the moment because it's difficult to send logistic. Even though we have ready sheltered kids, for example, and
also water and hygiene kits, but it is difficult to reach the area.
ANDERSON: Dini, we've seen many images of the devastation in Palu. Information though has been slow coming out of Donggala as I understand it,
this was closer to the epicenter of the earthquake, and was hit by a giant tsunami wave, possibly an even worse situation there. I know that some of
your staff have been able to reach that area. What are they reporting back to you?
WIDIASTUTI: Yes. They've traveled from Mamasa, which is in West Sulawesi to respond from yesterday and they reached Palu today. But along the coast
they have seen destruction. They've seen areas that has been badly impacted by the tsunami and the children and, you know, affected
communities trying to get the support along the way. It is really a bad situation along the way towards Palu.
ANDERSON: You've explained where the challenges are. You've explained who is being worse affected at this point, there have been complaints about the
speed at which the Indonesian government has acted. Are you seeing an effort made on the part of international organizations and donor countries
that I know we've spoken to a number of people in this region who have said they want to help? Is that help getting in?
WIDIASTUTI: Well, the coordination is getting in and, you know, with our colleagues, for example, globally we have been coordinating. The
government, rightly so, is really careful in terms of the kind of assistance getting into the country but I believe this will be coming in a
very short period of time. It's a matter of coordination and please bear in mind, also, that Indonesia is still responding to the aftermath of the
earthquake in Lombok.
ANDERSON: Sure. Sure. Dini, I know that you are very busy. We do thank you for the very important work you and your team are doing. Dini
Widiastuti is the executive director of Plan International Indonesia. Thank you for your time.
The sheer size of the tsunami that followed the earthquake is raising questions for many scientists. Meteorologist Chad Myers joins us from the
CNN weather center. You always put it straight on these things. This was a big earthquake, but not the type that would usually cause such a large
tsunami. I've seen many of these images on social media. It was remarkable. Why did it generate such massive waves?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Part of the problem with Palu is that it's kind of in the bottom of a catcher's mitt. It's in the bottom of a bay.
And all that water piled in there all at the same time.
Why was there a tsunami? There was a tsunami because the sea floor at some point, somewhere, moved. Now typically we get a thrust fault that pushes
the earth up and that happened in Banda Aceh in 2004. That was a major 9.4, 9.1, big, big earthquake. This is what it looks like. All of a
sudden, the sea floor shakes and part pushes up. Even only six inches, that's a wave on top of the ocean that eventually moves around. That did
not happen. This did not go up like this and push the water bubble like this. This slid this way. That's called a slip strike, and so they slid
sideways. So, where was the motion of the seafloor up or down?
[11:10:00] We don't know. But there's a possibility that there may have been an avalanche, a landslide, a mudslide under the ground that would move
the dirt, that would move the water, that would make the slide. So, here's what typically happens. Thrust fault pushes the water up, bubble on top,
the bubble gets toward land. Even if it's only six inches it could be meters up here because all of a sudden you get shallower and shallower.
So, a 10-centimeter wave turns into something much deeper as it gets on land.
It was a 7.5. That is a very large quake. No question about it. There is significant aftershocks as well and a lot of earthquake damage. But people
didn't die because of the earthquake in general. Some of course did. But it was the wave that people weren't expecting. It came down the side of
the island here -- the Peninsula -- and right into this be called Palu. Now Donggala we know did get hit, but really, Palu was worse.
Look at the island. People up here -- this is before the quake, houses, park, right here a road that went by. The bridge is now gone, the houses
are now also now gone.
Now we take a look at this little mosque that was here. We saw some video taken from that parking lot, right there, as the water came on shore. And
as it did, it washed all the way back into the neighborhoods behind it and the mosque was already damaged by the earthquake, it fell in. But then the
water pushed on through it for more damage here.
Now were going to take a look at some things that happened here because of the topography. Some of these landslides. This is kind of an area that's
been built on dirt that has been washed down from the mountains above. So, all the sudden a very large neighborhood and that neighborhood slid all the
way here. And now all those houses are in that direction.
Look at here. This is where the middle of Donggala here. That is going to slide here. All of the homes that were here are now, Becky, all piled up
right here. And people were still in those homes. They are hopefully may be being rescued. There are still a few more days of the window for that
rescue even without water and food. But the window is quickly closing.
ANDERSON: Chad, thank you for that. And if you'd like to help the victims affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia you can do that through
CNN.com/impact. There you'll find links to organizations who are working to bring relief. Again, that is CNN.com/impact. If you are a regular
viewer of the show and this network you will know that that is a site which is full of good information on various issues and events. Indonesia front
and center, of course.
And to the controversies surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Now CNN has learned that the FBI has completed its interview of
Kavanaugh's friend, Mark Judge, according to Judges lawyer.
Meanwhile, the focus appears to have shifted a bit to Kavanaugh's past drinking habits. Former college classmates raising questions about whether
Kavanaugh lied about that when he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. It's not clear if the FBI will look into Kavanaugh's
alcohol consumption as part of the reopened background investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Well that FBI investigation is supposed
to wrap up by Friday. Democrats want to add more to the list of people the FBI will interview. But the Republicans aren't. Well there vowing to
stick to their timetable to vote on Kavanaugh's nomination.
CNN's Abby Phillip has a round up for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: The time for delay and obstruction has come to a close.
Mr. President, we'll be voting this week.
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, saying he will move forward with the vote on Judge
Kavanaugh's confirmation despite the White House allowing the FBI to expand its investigation into the nominee. His pledge coming amid backlash over
the restricted probe.
SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: We certainly want the FBI to do a real investigation. It does no good to have an investigation that just gives us
more cover.
PHILLIP: President Trump declaring that he supports a comprehensive probe with a couple of caveats.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My White House will do whatever the Senators want. I'm open to whatever they want. The one thing
I want is speed.
The FBI should interview anybody that they want within reason.
PHILLIP: CNN has learned that the FBI has spoken with three people who knew Kavanaugh in high school and Deborah Ramirez who accused him of
exposing himself to her in college. A claim he denies. But the extent that the FBI will delve further into Kavanaugh's past remains unclear. A
source says, Ramirez supplied an extensive list of witnesses to the FBI. And Democrats on the judiciary committee submitted a list of more than 20
individuals they believe should be interviewed. Including Kavanaugh's third accuser, Julie Swetnick.
Swetnick says, she witnessed Kavanaugh engaging in inappropriate while they were in high school, which Kavanaugh also denies.
BRETT KAVANAUGH, U.S. SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: The Swetnick thing is a joke. That is a farce.
[11:15:00] PHILLIP: Republicans are raising questions about Swetnick's credibility. But a spokeswoman for a key GOP swing vote, Susan Collins,
tells the Portland Press Herald, that Collins is advocating for the FBI to look into Swetnick's claims.
JULIE SWETNICK, ACCUSES BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: He was very aggressive, very sloppy drunk, very mean drunk.
PHILLIP: Meanwhile, Kavanaugh's college friends offering conflicting accounts of the nominees past drinking habits. The White House releasing
statements from two of Kavanaugh's friends who say they never saw Kavanaugh blackout. An account contradicted by Chad Ludington, a former classmate.
CHAD LUDINGTON, BRETT KAVANAUGH'S FORMER CLASSMATE: I can unequivocally say that in denying the possibility that he ever blacked out from drinking
and in downplaying the degree and frequency of his drinking, Brett has not told the truth.
PHILLIP: Ludington says he was present during an altercation involving Kavanaugh at a bar in 1985. According to the police report and argument
started between Kavanaugh and another man who said the nominee through ice on him before Kavanaugh's friend hit him in the ear with a glass.
President Trump appearing to veer off script Monday when discussing the Supreme Court nominee's relationship with alcohol.
TRUMP: He's had a little bit of difficulty. I mean, he talked about things that happened when he drank.
I watched him. I was surprised at how vocal he was about the fact that he likes beer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Abby Phillip reporting for you. And this saga, of course, is taking constant twists and turns. Almost like a daytime soap opera, isn't
it? Will the Republicans have enough votes to confirm him to become the next Supreme Court justice or will some of them help the Democrats to
derail this nominee. How will the findings from the FBI investigation affect the Senate vote? All that and more. Let's get the teeth in tonight
at CNN.com.
Still to come. As Brexit deadlock looms large over Britain's future affairs, is this man making a bid for the U.K. Conservative Party's top
job. The key lines from the speech that earned him a standing ovation. Up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: I hope you will join me in urging our friends in government to deliver what the people voted for.
[11:20:00] To back Theresa May in the best way possible by softly and quietly and sensibly supporting her original plan. And in so doing to show
confidence in conservatism and to show confidence in our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Former British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, speaking just hours ago at the annual conference of the party driving Brexit forward.
Johnson took to the stage vying for fellow Tories to back his Brexit vision and dump the Prime Minister Theresa May's own so-called Chequers plan,
slamming it as a constitutional outrage. Well the torrent of criticism comes on the eve of Mrs. May's own keynote speech to the conference as
experts say he is after her job.
Well, former North Ireland secretary and prominent Brexiteer, Owen Paterson, joins us live from Birmingham, England where the four-day
conference is being held. Let's deal with Boris Johnson before we move on. He fell short of actually providing what some might have said they were
expecting, which was a leadership challenge today. Does he want her job or is it at this point a poisoned chalice?
OWEN PATERSON, FORMER NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY: No. He gave a very good speech, which I think every single person, you know, the absolutely packed
audience agreed with. With hundreds shut outside because they couldn't get in announcing what was mainstream conservatism. And what you saw was the
mainstream of the Conservative Party hearing someone standing up for the manifesto on which all members of parliament including the cabinet and
prime minister were elected. So, we have the biggest vote in British history in the referendum to leave. Everyone then said, right, fine, what
does leave mean? Well we defined leave very clearly in the manifesto and - -
ANDERSON: As what?
PATERSON: That was to leave the single market, to leave the customs union --
ANDERSON: I'm sorry, with respect, go on.
PATERSON: Hang on, let me finish this.
ANDERSON: Go on.
PATERSON: And all we're doing -- and we are the mainstream and Boris was talking to the mainstream -- was asking for the government to deliver what
it said in the manifesto and what Prime Minister said in her Lancaster House speech.
ANDERSON: We -- let's be clear, this was a meeting on the side of the main conference and this was an audience that was converted to what are known as
the hard Brexiteers. Brexit rebels doing their best to undermine the Prime Minister at the moment and Boris Johnson front and center. You yourself
comparing Theresa May's Brexit plan to a ghastly cockroach. With the greatest of respect there are six months left to cut a deal with the EU or
Britain crashes out. Is that what you want, a chaotic divorce? And if so, can you just explain why?
PATERSON: Oh, no, that is absolutely nonsense what you've just said. We fought a general election --
ANDERSON: How so?
PATERSON: -- last year on the platform of delivering leave. Meaning, leave the single market, leave the customs union and leave the European
Court of Justice. Because without that we will not be able to do trade deals for instance with the United States. I was in Washington ten days
ago and it was made brutally clear that if we have a common rule book in which laws are imposed upon us by the European Union where we are not even
in the room when those laws are made up, which we cannot amend, which cannot repeal, there is no chance of doing a proper free trade deal with
the largest economy in the world, the United States of America. So, we are the mainstream. Trying to caricature us as hard Brexiteers is wrong and
nutters and extremists is sadly completely wrong. We represent the mainstream --
ANDERSON: Sir, can I just put this to you. Let me just put this to you, for our international audience --
PATERSON: No.
ANDERSON: No deal -- the best deal is no deal, is that what I'm understanding? The best deal is no deal whatsoever as far as you're
concerned with the EU? It is go it alone as Britain and can't deal --
PATERSON: No. That is nonsense.
ANDERSON: And a president that nobody can work out whether those deals will be cut going forward, but it's no deal is the best deal, correct?
PATERSON: No. Completely wrong. We've always said the optimal solution is to chuck Chequers rapidly because it does not deliver what manifesto
promised. It means we would still be under the jurisdiction of the ECJ. We'd still have to take law from Europe. What is the best is a wide-
ranging free trade deal which is now called Canada plus, plus, plus, which was clearly described by the IEA last week and which would have broad
support in Parliament. Now that would, obviously, be best. That could be brought in pretty rapidly in time for the deadline. Which as you rightly
say is approaching soon at the end of March.
[11:25:04] But, if the European Union does not take that up -- and they did offer that, don't forget, back in March. Tusk offered that that we should
have a broad, wide-ranging free trade deal. If they don't take that then we will move to world trade terms on which we trade with countries such as
the United States of America at the moment. So, we're not jumping off a cliff.
ANDERSON: Let's have a look at some of these specific issues which really do need -- let me take a look, thank you, at a number of issues which are
really critical at this point. One being the border issue. The Democratic Unionist Party, your party needs in coalition at present, has threatened to
pull the plug on Theresa May's government, warning it is not bluffing when it says it will not accept a border in the Irish Sea. The Irish Taoiseach
wants a solution by November. The U.K. former Brexit negotiator accusing the EU of seeing the border issue from a nationalist perspective. What is
the solution with regard to the border issue, sir? With your former Secretary of State for North Ireland affairs, I think you're a good man to
gives us your perspective on this.
PATERSON: Well thank you. Yes, well, I did follow business in Ireland, both sides of the border before I was an MP, I spent three years going to
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland every week as the shadow Secretary of State when we were in opposition. I then spent two years as
the real Secretary of State.
And I am really dismayed at the way the border has been blown up into a really big, big problem. Because it is not. There is a border today.
There is a tax border. There is a value added tax border. There is a currency border. There's an excised duty border. There is very much a
security border and you do not need, quote, a hard border. There's no infrastructure on the border. All that is handled today very effectively
with modern technology and administrative assistance.
There is sadly significant smuggling into the Republic of Ireland into North Ireland. There's a big heist of 8 million cigarettes in Belfast only
in February. Nobody has suggested at any stage that the answer to that is to put up, quote, hard infrastructure on the border.
Ten days ago, the European research group -- which I am a member -- we wrote a paper, worked out with senior customs advisors -- people with real
experience in customs and freight forwarding -- showing that all we have to do is to extend these existing technologies and processes and we can handle
the border to the satisfaction of the WTO at the Republic of Ireland government, and the European Commission and Westminster government. But
the --
ANDERSON: Your perspective at present --
PATERSON: What is --
ANDERSON: Disagree with --
PATERSON: No but hang on. Let me finish this. What's very interesting, that paper has been out there for over two weeks. Nobody has rubbished it
on the technical details. They've just been added homonym attacks. And what is very interesting is that Monsieur Barnier is suggesting that there
should be some border down the Irish Sea, i.e., between a Great Britain and North Ireland which would be wholly unacceptable to the DUP as you said.
But also, wholly --
ANDERSON: Right.
PATERSON: -- unacceptable to Unionist members of Parliament like myself. But what is very interesting is Barnier said you could have inspection
points away from that border in which case, as we have said in our paper, why can't we have inspection points further away from the border as happens
now. You have a water dam --
ANDERSON: All right. You've made your point.
PATERSON: -- the inspection points are 20 kilometers, 12 miles, from the docks. So, all this is solvable with goodwill and the use of existing
technologies --
ANDERSON: And you've made your point. Let me move us on because I'm running out of time. I've got to take a break at the bottom. I've got a
couple of other questions. Boris Johnson just days ago once again reiterating calls for a bridge to be built between Scotland and North
Ireland. The 40-kilometer long bridge would cost 15 billion pounds or over $19 billion. As the former North Ireland Secretary what do you make of
that idea? Give me a very short answer on this. I have a couple other questions for you.
PATERSON: Well I have not looked at the economics, but I think all infrastructure projects that help improve communications are worth looking
at.
ANDERSON: Clearly you support the --
PATERSON: You wanted a short answer.
ANDERSON: -- various messages from Boris Johnson's address today -- you did give me a short answer. You tweeted another standing ovation after
Boris Johnson's positive speech. Clear reinstatement of conservative principles, the benefits of free markets and why we must chuck Chequers to
take back control and deliver conservative manifesto pledges.
At this point with the rest of the world looking on at what looks like such chaos, do you really genuinely believe that what is going on in the
Conservative Party makes best sense for Britain at present?
[11:30:01] PATERSON: Well, I don't see it as chaos because I was in the whole. I've been speaking at fringe events where my views have been
received in the same way that Boris was. We are speaking to the mainstream. We are -- all we're asking is that our manifesto is delivered.
What Boris said about markets and the prosperity and the jobs they deliver, what he said about private home ownership, what he said about keeping taxes
low in order to raise more money for the public services, what he said about building international relations. He cited a glorious example of our
export opportunities, a company in his own patch in Oxbridge that makes bus shelters which apparently are sold to Las Vegas. So, if you wake up
feeling rough after a jolly night on the town you might wake up in one of the bus shelters. All is in tune with absolute mainstream conservative
thinking.
ANDERSON: Right, OK.
PATERSON: And it was expressed --
ANDERSON: I've got to say take a break.
PATERSON: -- in beautiful glorious colorful language and jokes which Johnson is very good at.
ANDERSON: I've got to take a break at the bottom of this hour. You are suggesting that you are mainstream to those who were in the room not
necessarily the mainstream British view at this point. We'll rest it there. Former Northern Ireland Secretary and prominent Brexiteer, Owen
Paterson, thank you for joining us.
Live from Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm going to take the break that I promised you. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:35:00] ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back. It is 7:30 or just after in the UAE.
You are more than welcome if you're just joining us.
To one deal now that has so far eluded the U.S. President, Donald Trump, even as he racks up others that he is touting as historic, like the one
replacing NAFTA. For now, the ultimate deal though as he has dubbed it, peace in the Middle East, still languishes on his to-do list. Well a peace
plan is in the works. The White House says being spearheaded by Mr. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, a man we saw lauded just yesterday for
his role in pushing NAFTA negotiations towards a successful conclusion. But can the first son-in-law seal the deal given a tumultuous 12 months?
Oren Liebermann takes us back to revisit some key moments and looks at what has changed and what hasn't.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They last met in September 2016. Handshakes and smiles and committed to seeing each other
again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
LIEBERMANN: Two years later that meeting has yet to happen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas are perhaps farther apart than ever before. For the last nine years these two leaders have faced each other, mistrust has grown as accusations
have flown back and forth.
President Donald Trump has plowed ahead with his secretive peace planned to end the Israeli/Palestinian conflict saying at the United Nations General
Assembly that it will be released within two to four months.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I look forward to working with President Trump and his peace team to achieve that goal.
LIEBERMANN: Trump's administration has come down firmly on the side of Israel even as Netanyahu refuses to commit to a two-state solution, the
international consensus on the only possible outcome to the conflict. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the embassy
to the city.
JARED KUSHNER, SENIOR ADVISOR TO TRUMP: By moving our embassy to Jerusalem we have shown the world once again that the United States can be trusted.
We stand with our friends and our allies and above all else, we've shown that the United States of America will do what's right and so we have.
LIEBERMANN: Meanwhile, he's cut off the Palestinians financially and diplomatically in an attempt to pressure them back to negotiations. And
following the embassy move the Palestinians have said they refuse to consider any plan put forward by the Americans, looking to the
international community for an alternative.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): I reiterate that we are not against negotiations in the least, and we have
never rejected negotiations on any single day and we will continue to extend our hands for peace.
LIEBERMANN: The last negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians took place from 2013 to 2014 led by then Secretary of State John Kerry.
Negotiations fell apart after eight months with the Americans publicly blaming both sides. In a recent interview to Palestine TV former Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert, whose 2008 offer to Abbas went unanswered. He said he still believes the Palestinian leader is a partner for peace.
EHUD OLMERT, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I admired his dedication and his commitment to achieve peace. I share the same belief, that peace is
achievable.
LIEBERMANN: His optimism hasn't been shared by Netanyahu. Oren Lieberman, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well my next guest has been heavily critical not just of Israeli policy but also of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, former Prime
Minister Ehud Barack has condemned what he called Israel's quote, dark nationalist government under Netanyahu. Going so far as to say the only
existential threat to Israel at this time is internal. Mr. Barak joins me from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Sir, what do you mean by
that? Explain.
EHUD BARAK, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I basically observe what happens in Israel, is our own government unfortunately invoked in the last
few years in a direct attack on the very foundation of the institutions of our democracy. The Supreme Court is under continued attack. The free
press is under continued attack, the civil society and the NGOs, human rights NGOs, are under continued attack, as well as the ethical codes and
the very moral authority of the commanders of the IDF. That's damaging Israel. It is done if the name of something great, a great vision, which
is a delusional one. It's basically ultranationalist. A vision messianic and dark.
ANDERSON: Well these are your personal thoughts. You are -- have certainly for some time not been a fan of the Netanyahu government. I
wonder whether we'll talk to the details of what is this long-promised U.S. peace plan then?
[11:40:04] The details yet to be released and those regional players, key stakeholders that I have spoken to, genuinely appear to be largely in the
dark as to what Jared Kushner's plan includes. Suffice it to say they fear an independent Palestinian state is off the table. Now, does Donald Trump
suddenly essentially endorsing a two-state solution last week, then mean anything? Because in an interview with CNN Benjamin Netanyahu refused to
commit to a two-state solution just last week.
BARAK: Look, only time will tell whether this ultimate plan of Donald Trump will fly. It needs certain trust between the two sides, which had
been lost. It needs certain trust of both sides in the Americans being an honest broker. I don't see on the Palestinian side -- it needs certain
readiness of the Americans to help both sides to come closer. And that's something that had been tried by several American Presidents in the last 25
years and until now it has not been successful.
We hope it will succeed this time. But only time will tell. What is clear is that the only solution is two-state solution, even when President Trump
basically said one state, two state, whatever the two sides will agree upon, the two sides can agree only on two states. It's inconceivable that
the Palestinians will agree to a one state and then Israel which is a Jewish democratic state, over the whole area. So, basically, we are
talking about two-state solution.
At the end of Camp David where I sat with President Clinton with Arafat on this issue, our conclusion was that even if it takes five, 15, it's now 15,
or 50 years, 5-0, you will need magnifying glass when the time comes to strike a deal, to see the differences between what was already on the table
at Camp David and later on you mentioned on Olmert's table and what will be ultimately agreed. And not --
ANDERSON: You knew Benjamin Netanyahu well. You've worked with him in government. Whatever his personal pursuits of peace might be, do you
believe he can pursue peace with the Palestinians, with this current government?
c I know Netanyahu from the time he was almost a teenager, he was a young officer under my command some 40 years ago or more than 40. He's a capable
person. But in the recent few years, leading an ultraright wing government he dived into a mindset of deep pessimism, passivity, deep anxiety, and a
sense of self victimhood, which is probably a good recipe for survival in politics, but very bad for statesmanship. It tends to produce several
fulfilling prophecies.
Because if you do not respond you do not initiate anything. On one hand, no one can blame you for the fact that nothing happens but you are missing
the great opportunity. The great opportunity which is missed for three years now by our own government is the opportunity to ride on the common
interests we have the autocratic leaders, emulate Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, to corner the Iranian hegemonic and nuclear intentions, to struggle
together radical Muslim terror and to create a counter weight to the Shiite banana which stretches from Tehran to Baghdad to Damascus to Beirut and we
are missing it because it cannot fly without Israel being ready to talk seriously with the Palestinians. Not because these autocrats have any love
affair with the Palestinians, they don't, but because their people have. And somehow --
ANDERSON: Well this again --
BARAK: -- these autocratic (INAUDIBLE) leaders cannot feel safe in their own seats. Legitimize Israel, the Palestinians remain under our --
ANDERSON: It is unclear at present, sir, where all the stakeholders stand. And we're talking about a peace plan which has not been divulged at
present. So, let's just wait to see where the red lines stand as it were. But your analysis is important. You've had harsh words for Netanyahu as
we've heard and in speaking in Tel Aviv earlier this year.
[11:45:00] You said and I quote, there exists a very real historic possibility of establishing an alternative leadership strongly united sober
and fearless. One that will bring vision, hope and capability.
It certainly sounds as if you might be planning to be that leader. What are your political ambitions now, given what you say is going on in your
country and what your country is going through?
BARAK: You know, I'm out of active politics for five years now. I was a commander of the armed forces and head of intelligence. I was foreign
affairs minister, interior minister, defense minister, prime minister. I had been in every role. I'm now traveling outside of the country most of
the time, so I'm always jetlagged. I wake up at 2:00 in the morning and don't know what to do, so I start taking example from this nation, I start
to trump. I'm trapping some blunt critics, probably the harshest critic of Netanyahu but for reason, he deserves it in a way.
So, I became kind of acquainted on the social network. But as of now I'm out of politics and let's see when the time of election comes in few,
several months, probably half a year, probably a year, we will see how to continue from here.
ANDERSON: Well, we'll -- with an adequate swerve of the question, I guess, we're going to leave it there. We thank you very much, indeed, for joining
us. The former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on the show this evening.
BARAK: Thank you, Becky.
ANDERSON: CONNECT THE WORLD live from Abu Dhabi. Much more still ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All this week we are looking at the increasing influence Japan is having across the Middle East including helping to train Syrian refugees
in Jordan. Jomana Karadsheh has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Zaatari refugee camp is home to more than 80,000 Syrian refugees. Since it opened in 2012 it
has gradually evolved into a city and burgeoning economy from the Jordanian desert. It faces many grim challenges, difficult living conditions,
poverty, unemployment and poor infrastructure. Several countries are supplying financial aid. But 50 kilometers away and behind the doors of
Jordan's national electric training center, some are receiving skills that will not only benefit their community, but potentially provide them with a
future career. With financial assistance from Japan and expertise from Jordan, up to 200 Syrian refugees are being trained to become electricians.
[11:50:00] IBRAHIM HAWARI, NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY JORDAN: There is three training courses we train them. First course is basic of house
wiring course. How to do the wiring inside the house. This is the basic, basic course. Then the advanced course of house wiring. Then the consumer
services, how to serve the home from the overhead network which are in the camp.
KARADSHEH: This latest group of students have undertaken just two weeks of training.
MOHAMED MANSOUR, SYRIAN REFUGEE and (through translator): I didn't know much about electricity before and I learned all the basics here and I'm
thankful to the professors that contributed to this project.
KARADSHEH: The training is not only about providing skills and supporting the infrastructure of the Zaatari refugee camp. It's also about giving
them a career if they eventually return to war-torn Syria
DHYA GHOUJAN, SYRIAN REFUGEE (through translator): If we return to Syria and some homes needed repairs or rebuilding, we will be the first to
participate in repairing the electricity. We have the experience from what we learned here and God willing, we will work in our country.
KARADSHEH: Japan's international cooperation agency, or JICA, a government entity, has been working in Jordan since the 1980s. Its aim, reducing
poverty, minimizing social disparities and supporting sustainable economic growth. Since 1991 the Japanese have given more than $2.5 billion in
loans, over $750 million in grant assistance, and more than $350 million in technical assistance on various projects throughout Jordan.
TSUTOMU KOBAYASHI, JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL: The reason why we are assisting so much to Jordan or this region is the stability of the
region will benefit all the countries, including Japan's.
KARADSHEH: With certificates in their hands, these individuals leave with a new skill, renewed confidence, and a potential career that could help
rebuild their home country some day in the future. Jomana Karadsheh, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And tomorrow we'll be seeing how Japan is hoping to help make a dent in youth unemployment. A major issue in the Middle East and North
Africa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the Egypt Japan university of science and technology, or EJUS, the Asian's nation influence is everywhere. If you
are an undergraduate student at this university near Alexandria, learning Japanese is mandatory.
[TEXT] My name is Khouloud. It is nice to meet you and I am a student at E-JUST.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Learning Japanese in Alexandria. You can catch that full report in CONNECT THE WORLD here on Tuesday. On Wednesday, our apologies, I'm a
day late but we -- on Wednesday for that report as we continue a look at those films.
Live from Abu Dhabi this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, one world leader is already looking forward to 2019. So much so, he has unveiled his own
calendar. Details on that up next.
[11:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Puppies, horses, leopards, glistening snowy landscapes, all things you would expect to see in a calendar, right? But perhaps not posed
alongside Russia's bare-chested president. Vladimir Putin has unveiled his famous or perhaps infamous annual photo calendar and the pictures show the
Kremlin leader in a variety of poses, including cuddling animals, fishing and playing hockey. And of course, the obligatory shirtless Mr. Putin.
The calendar is now on sale in Russia.
I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching from the team here it is very good evening.
END
