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Saudi Diplomat: Act Of War If Attack Launched From Iran; Trump Has No Plans To Speak To Iran At U.N. General Assembly; Trump Says His Conversation With Foreign Leaders Are Always Appropriate; Israeli Leaders Discuss Covering Coalitions; Extinction Rebellion: Youth Activists Find Their Voice; Teen Climate Activist's Big Year. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired September 22, 2019 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: We on the threshold of a military response, do you believe --
ADEL AL-JUBEIR, MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAUDI ARABIA: We don't want war, the U.S. doesn't want war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: We'll cooler heads prevail after Saudi Arabia's oil supply was attacked. CNN speaks with the kingdom's
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Also, a political coming together, will Benjamin Netanyahu or rival Benny Gantz be able to unite the
government? We're live in Jerusalem. And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The children and the people who will be affected by this --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It seems they are the ones affecting change. With a climatic crisis, the next generation takes a stand. A very warm welcome, this is
CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson live for you from Abu Dhabi where it is 7:00 in the evening. And we begin with new developments from this
very region. One of the center of deepening diplomatic divisions in the past couple of hours.
The U.S. President said he currently has no intention of speaking to Iran at the United Nations General Assembly in the coming week. Tehran, of
course, being the focus of global scrutiny following strikes on Saudi oil facilities earlier this month. Donald Trump says he's taking the following
approach.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nothing is ever off the table completely, but I have no intention of meeting with Iran. That
doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I'm very flexible person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Trump may not have any immediate plans for dialogue with Tehran but Saudi Arabia is being vocal in a different way. One of the
country's top diplomats tells CNN if an investigation shows the oilfield attack last Saturday was launched from Iranian soil, that would be
considered "an act of war." He spoke to our Nic Robertson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: The United States is sending a few hundred troops here, missile batteries. Is that really enough to guarantee 100 percent protection for
all your vulnerable sites?
AL-JUBEIR: The United States and Saudi we were close allies when it comes to defense relationship. And I believe the United States, they're sending
equipment knowing. The details of this are really with our Ministry of Defense but I believe that the situation will be assessed on a continual
basis and adjustments made when needed.
ROBERTSON: Iran seems to detect that Saudi Arabia is in a weak position. Their Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in effect that Saudi Arabia was
willing to fight Iran down to the last U.S. soldier. That implies he thinks you can't stand up to them by all sorts.
AL-JUBEIR: No. It confirms that he said many outrageous and outlandish things and frankly laughable things. Saudi and the United States have been
allies for 80 years. We have fought many wars together we have spilled blood, your blood and our blood together. Saudi Arabia always carries its
weight.
Saudi Arabia and the United States are not reckless when it comes to wars. With war, it's the last resort. It's the Iranians who are reckless in
engaging in such behavior.
ROBERTSON: Javad Zarif says that Iran isn't responsible for the attack, that he's willing to talk to Saudi Arabia. What do you say to him?
AL-JUBEIR: He and other Iranian officials have said a lot of things that that are frankly not correct if not out like outright lies. And so to say
that they are not responsible for this or didn't do it is outrageous.
ROBERTSON: But if they're saying that, then potentially they could do this again. What happens then?
AL-JUBEIR: So -- well, with regards to what they're saying -- so either Mr. Zarif is not telling the truth or he's not aware of what his government
is doing. The other side --
ROBERTSON: What do you think? Do you think that they are split?
AL-JUBEIR: We know that there isn't a part of the Iranian government that projects an image of wanting to talk to the world, but they don't seem to
have influence. And there's another part of the government that wants to expand the revolution and take over the regions and they don't want to
talk. And so they -- it's like two faces of the same coin. From our perspective --
ROBERTSON: You know, from your assessment, who is winning that at the moment in Iran?
AL-JUBEIR: I can't establish this for a fact. But what I can -- what we have seen is that Iran's aggressive behavior has increased, not decreased.
Iran's threats to the region and to world's energy supplies have increased, not decreased.
ROBERTSON: So the hardliners are on the rise.
AL-JUBEIR: It appears -- it appears so.
ROBERTSON: So what do you want Iran to do now? And if their politicians are in New York this week don't represent the country, what can they do?
AL-JUBEIR: We want Iran to behave like a normal nation. We want Iran to stop being a revolution and be a nation state. We want Iran to stop
interfering in the affairs of other countries and supporting terrorist groups and we want them to stop providing ballistic missiles to terrorist
groups and we want them to make sure that they are never in a position to acquire a nuclear weapon.
We want them to be good neighbors. We want to have good relations with Iran. We want to trade with them. But we can't do this if all we get from
them is death and destruction. For 40 years, we have tried to extend our hand and friendship to the Iranians and all we got was death and
destruction.
[11:05:25]
ROBERTSON: And right now the politics -- their top politicians President Rouhani, Foreign Minister Zarif are going to be in New York. What value of
the conversations they have if they don't represent the country?
AL-JUBEIR: I think that the Iranians need to hear a United and a firm message from the international community that this behavior is not
acceptable and this behavior must stop.
ROBERTSON: They've heard that message before, haven't they? They've heard that very loudly.
AL-JUBEIR: They need to hear it more and there needs to be action. Appeasement with Iran does not work. For example, trying to set up a
parallel financial payment system is appeasement, trying to give them a line of credit is appeasement. It just emboldens them. The Iranians have
to know that there will be consequences to their actions.
ROBERTSON: But their message has been behavior and changes towards Iran like the United States pulling out of the JCPOA, the joint nuclear deal to
try to get a better deal, to try to get control of ballistic missiles, to try to push the timeline and all those horizons. That -- you know, has
that blown up and backfired because what we've seen is from your assessment, the hardliners are on the rise and more aggressive behavior and
you're suffering for it.
AL-JUBEIR: Iran is feeling the pressure of the sanctions no doubt.
ROBERTSON: But you're feeling the heat of their pressure. This attack on your country, if you're right that Iran did this, you're feeling the heat
of that oppression.
AL-JUBEIR: Yes, but we do not engage in appeasement. We will do whatever it takes to protect our country and our citizens and our residents our
facilities. And we will work with our allies in order to ensure that this happens.
ROBERTSON: Are we on the threshold of a military response? Do you believe --
AL-JUBEIR: We don't want war, the U.S. doesn't want war, but it's really up to the Iranians. If they keep continuing along this path, then they
risk the possibility of military action. But nobody wants war. Everybody wants to resolve this peacefully and the end result has to be an end to
Iran's aggressive policies.
ROBERTSON: I don't see the difference at the moment if you don't mind me saying of Iran producing these weapons and then waiting for an
investigation to find out where they were fired from because surely it all amounts to the same thing that you're going to come to the same point.
Eventually, are you playing for time by saying that we're investigating right now when you perhaps have a very strong inclination?
AL-JUBEIR: No, we hold Iran responsible because the missiles and the drones that were fired, they're not only against (INAUDIBLE) but also from
Yemen were Iranian built and Iranian delivered missiles so we hold them responsible. To launch an attack from your territory, if that is the case,
puts it in a different category.
ROBERTSON: What's the different category?
AL-JUBEIR: This would be considered an act of war.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Al-Jubeir speaking to my colleague Nic Robertson. While, as the U.S. deploys more troops to Saudi Arabia in response to those attacks on
oil facilities, Iran has some strong words of its own namely stay away.
President Rouhani says the presence of foreign forces is "creating regional instability." Iran has said to participate in the U.N. General Assembly in
the coming week and Mr. Rouhani insists his country's focus is on unity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT, IRAN (through translator): We announced to the world that the presence of foreign forces can be problematic and dangerous
for the region, for international waterways, for maritime security, for oil and energy security. But our path and our way is creating unity in
coordination with the region's countries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh, he's in Tehran for you.
Nick, there don't appear to be any clear off-ramps here at this point. Donald Trump says he has no intention of talking to Iran in New York this
week when the Iranian president is there to attend the U.N. General Assembly. What's the Iranian president's message then likely to be as he
heads to New York?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He seems to be taking with him an idea for a regional peace initiative to try and reduce
the foreign presence, he says, in the Gulf region and possibly through that calm some of the tension. You did say Donald Trump seems to have no
intention of talking. Well, it's always interesting to past this statement because he go on to say well you know, there's no plan for it sort of like
he wouldn't be against it.
It's interesting to see the White House had their sort of leaving the possibility open that if it happened on the sidelines he might not cut it
short. But Iran's message has been entirely different which is unless you take the sanctions off it that you reinstated when you pulled out of the
nuclear deal, you can forget about it on any level at all.
[11:10:02]
So we had this strange situation where it seems off of North Korea frankly where Donald Trump was very willing to offer negotiations to try and get
things going, we have Iran refusing to even accept negotiations with Donald Trump until they actually get something out of him first.
Moving forward though, New York appears to be the focus of diplomacy outside of bilateral ones with the United States. That may seem to be also
to the United States' preferred option. Now, Donald Trump made some bluster about military options. But as Secretary of States Mike Pompeo
just speaking to American media today talks about how he wants to give diplomacy every opportunity, '
And that brings I think people to the broader conclusion about what exactly this week has done. Today Iran is beginning to mark the start of the 1980s
Iran-Iraq war which was particularly brutal and savage here. And that's where President Hassan Rouhani was talking about the need to reduce foreign
forces here.
And if you look at this week as a whole, Iran denies having anything to do with these substantial attacks on the Saudi Arabian oil refineries. But
despite the fact, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have directly accused them repeatedly, failing I should say, to provide evidence necessary, openly
accused them of launching the attack from their own territory.
We still have a week in which the tensions have risen. Iran has threatened all-out war if they are attacked. That's the foreign minister speaking to
me earlier on this week. And still things have passed and the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have not matched their open accusation of being attacked
militarily with a military retaliation.
And if you look at possibly longtime observers of what that means for the region, you may have some questioning whether or not that means the U.S. is
as willing as it was in the past to intervene on behalf of their allies, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Nick, thank you. Nick Paton Walsh is in Tehran. And in another update from Iran, we are hearing that the country could
release the British flagged tanker the Stena Impero in the coming hours. That is according to the ship's Swedish owner.
Now, you'll remember that the vessel was seized by Iran back in July. It was alleged or held for alleged marine violations two weeks after Britain
detained an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar.
Well, to the growing uproar over a phone call between President Trump and Ukraine's president. Mr. Trump is in Houston, Texas any minute now. He
said to have used that call in July to try to pressure Ukraine to investigate the business dealings of Joe Biden's son Hunter.
Now, the elder Biden says the president appears to have abused his power. Mr. Trump defending the conversation a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Look at the corruption on the Democrats side. Take a look at the whole witch hunt started. Now they want to try and start another witch
hunt. But unfortunately, this one is reverting now to Joe Biden because he's done some very bad things.
And I'm not even looking to hurt him, to be honest. He needs all the help he can get. I'm not looking to hurt him. I'm not looking to hurt his
family, but the corruption and what he said is a terrible thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, you saw them just before Donald Trump. CNN's Nathan Hodge following this story from Moscow and our White House Reporter Sarah
Westwood is in Washington. And Sarah, I want our viewers to hear what the head of the House Intelligence Committee told CNN a short time ago. He
raised the specter of impeachment. This is Adam Schiff a Democrat, of course. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): If in particular after having sought foreign assistance and welcomed foreign assistance in the last presidential
campaign as a candidate, he is now doing the same thing again but now using the power of the presidency, then he may force us to go down this road.
I have spoken with a number of my colleagues over the last week and this seems different in kind and we may very well have crossed the Rubicon here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: By which, Sarah, he means what?
SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, there has been pressure on Democratic House leadership, Becky, to go further in the direction of
impeachment. Already they are starting to have the makings of an impeachment inquiry but there's been some resistance within the Democratic
caucus.
So there House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff referring to the fact that this latest controversy with President Trump could push more
Democrats into that category of supporting impeachment, could ramp up the pressure on Democratic leaders who have been pumping the brakes on momentum
toward impeachment.
But today upon leaving the White House, as we just heard, President Trump continuing to defend this phone call that he had on July 25th with
Ukrainian President Zelensky. He said that call was completely above board. He said it was mostly about corruption, mostly congratulatory after
the new leader Zelensky had come into power on a promise to eradicate corruption from that country.
But President Trump all but admitting that he did discuss former Vice President Joe Biden and a potential investigation to the business dealings
of his son in that conversation which again President Trump stressed was on corruption.
A source tells CNN that on that phone call President Trump pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to open an investigation into the business dealings
of Hunter Biden. There's no evidence of any wrongdoing by former Vice President Biden or by his son.
Trump also said he hopes that the whistleblower complaint that sparked this whole controversy and details about the call will get released because he's
insisting again that he had nothing wrong on that conversation. That's a mixed message though, Becky, from what Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
told our colleague Jake Tapper this morning on State of the Union.
Mnuchin said he thinks it would be a bad precedent to give this complaint to Congress because it could make future foreign leaders wary that their
conversations with the U.S. president won't be kept private, Becky.
[11:15:52]
ANDERSON: Nathan -- thank you, Sarah. This dominating news in the United States, what the perspective on all of this in Ukraine?
NATHAN HODGE, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Becky, the Ukrainians haven't given us a full readout of that phone conversation. There was just a brief
statement that they put out following that July 25th call between Zelensky and Trump and they did acknowledge that corruption was mentioned but they
haven't given us a full transcript.
But it's important to remember what the stakes are right now. President Zelensky is making his debut on the world stage next week. He's traveling
to the U.N. General Assembly and Ukraine needs international assistance. So he has a very, very fine line that he needs to walk here. He needs to
maintain good relations with the Trump administration and he also needs to maintain good relations with whatever administration comes down further
down the road.
So certainly they've got a real balancing act, the Ukrainians have here. And of course, Zelensky I've mentioned came into power on a promise to
clean up and fight corruption he and in fact played a fictional president in this previous career, someone who becomes an accidental president by
coming to power after an anti-corruption ramp goes viral. So it's a real problem in Ukraine that we're talking about here, Becky.
ANDERSON: And terrific analysis on that, how the newly elected president in Ukraine navigates his relationship with Donald Trump in an article that
you have written or some analyses you have written for cnn.com, viewers, folks please use the Web site for that. Thank you, guys.
Meantime, Joe Biden may have a new worry. Our latest poll shows Elizabeth Warren picking up steam in the critical state of Iowa. Statistically, when
you take the margin of error into account, the two candidates are now neck and neck. Bernie Sanders lost support.
So while Biden is still very much in the game, Warren appears to be gaining momentum amongst those strategic Iowa Democrats. Watch this space folks.
Still to come, President Trump ramps up his maximum pressure campaign. Iran delivers fierce threats. The latest on escalating U.S.-Iran tensions
at what might happen next after this.
[11:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right, you're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Welcome back. And for those who are just joining us,
you are more than welcome. It's 20 past 7:00 here in the UAE.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We are by far the strongest military in the world. Going into Iran would be a very easy decision as I said before. It would be very easy, the
easiest thing. Most people thought I would go in within two seconds but plenty of time, plenty of time. I think I'm showing great restraint.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right. U.S. President Donald Trump there just hours after his Secretary of Defense announced the deployment of additional U.S. troops to
Saudi Arabia and right here in the United Arab Emirates. It follows last week's Saudi oil attacks which the U.S. blames on Iran.
Tehran continues to deny this claim with President Hassan Rouhani saying today and I quote, America -- anywhere the Americans and our regional
enemies appeared as players they created insecurity.
Well, Ramin Asgard is highly decorated U.S. Foreign Service Office veteran, previously working as the director of the Iran regional presence office
here in the UAE, and Senior Foreign Policy Adviser to the U.S. Central Command. It's a pleasure to have you on.
Donald Trump is saying that he is exercising great restraint, but in saying that, the U.S. and the Saudi Arabians suggesting that Iran was behind this
attack. The Iranians say nothing of the sort. Where does this go next?
RAMIN ASGARD, VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Thank you, Becky. Thank you for having me. I think that the President is exercising
restraint. I mean, for a long period of time you've been in this region, the go-to answer was military, the go-to answer was some sort of response,
kinetic response.
At this point, the president is still measuring his options but is he's still interested in increasing leverage and he's leaving the door open for
diplomacy. This has not been necessarily the way that it was expected to turn out.
And as far as the Saudi claims and the attack on Saudi Arabia, those are being pursued. And if they lead to a certain direction, the President may
have to take a stand in support of an --
ANDERSON: There are those that say that having beat the drum with regard Iran, and that being other Gulf states including the UAE and Saudi Arabia,
specifically, there is now a kind of sense of sort of you know, having the Americans doing their bidding at this point. You hear talk of de-
escalation here.
ASGARD: Yes.
ANDERSON: Necessarily hearing that from the Saudis. How would you describe the position with regard the UAE and Saudi Arabia at present?
I think the UAE and Saudi Arabia who forged a great deal of security cooperation through the Yemen conflict particularly have become a little
bit different. I think the Emiratis have become a little bit more pragmatic in their way -- the way that they're looking at this issue.
And the Saudis continue I think to look at this issue from a very, very adversarial perspective, and that's not -- that's understandable given that
they've just been attacked. They're certainly not going to soften their views and take a more pragmatic view on how Iran should be handled right
after an attack on their territory.
ANDERSON: In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, and I quote, Americans are weary of war have no interest in entering another Middle East
conflict particularly on behalf of Saudi Arabia. They will not stand by while the president undermines our security and jeopardizes the lives of
our brave service members.
You previously served as a senior foreign policy advisor to General James Mattis who left his position of course as U.S. Secretary of Defense late
last year after President Trump announced he would pull troops from Syria. Do you agree with -- given what we've just been discussing, with the U.S.
sending more troops to this region?
[11:25:19]
ASGARD: The U.S. sending more troops to the region to bolster or Saudi Arabia was a visible symbol that the U.S. is going to stand with its
allies. Taking concentrated military measures to counter Iran is a much bigger commitment.
And as you pointed out the polling particularly among the voters who are the base for President Trump is very much against the idea of another
overseas military conflict and getting the U.S. knee-deep in another -- particularly in this region after seeing what is going on over the last two
decades.
So I think President Trump is very attuned to his base. If there's one thing you can definitely say about President Trump is he keeps attune to
the wishes of his base and his constituency and they do not want another military conflict. They want the United States to be perceived -- to be
perceived as strong, they want the United States be perceived as a leader, but not necessarily through the military channel.
ANDERSON: Donald Trump's line on all of this is and a diplomatic solution would be -- should not be seen as a position of weakness, it should be seen
as a position of the strength speaking to his base. Thank you, sir, for joining us today live from Abu Dhabi. This CONNECT THE WORLD.
Come up, will Benjamin Netanyahu hang on as Israeli prime minister or will Benny Gantz replace him? Meetings going on right now could provide the
answer. More on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:19]
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson, just after half-past 8:00 here in Abu Dhabi.
You get the first shot at forming a coalition government in Israel. That's what Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin is trying to decide as he meets with
leaders of all the parties that won seats in last week's parliamentary election.
Don't forget there's a long list of those parties. The first meeting though was with Benny Gantz's Blue-and-White Party, which won the most
seats. Followed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party, which came in second. Neither party, of course, has enough seats to govern
without forming a coalition.
Well, our Oren Liebermann is live in Jerusalem and keeping an eye on events. And what do we know at this point?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Thank you. So far, we know what is predictable. Blue and right recommend -- Blue and White
recommended Benny Gantz to be the next prime minister. Likud recommended Benjamin Netanyahu to be the next prime minister.
Now, the joint list, the Arab parties are meeting with Rivlin. And this will be something to watch, Israel's President Reuven Rivlin. Because if
they do make a recommendation, it's not expected to change the results all that much, but it would be historic, nonetheless.
Only once in Israel's history have the Arab parties recommended somebody for prime minister that was way back in 1992 with Yitzhak Rabin. This
would be certainly a historic moment if they recommend somebody again. In this case, it would almost certainly be Gantz.
But again, it doesn't shift the blocks in any case. Let's take a look at the numbers real quick here.
The bloc led by Gantz is estimated to be at 57. The bloc led by Netanyahu at 55. Neither of these have that magic number of 61 without the man who
will round out today and that is former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.
His support here is crucial and he had a press conference a short time ago, making his position clear. He said, I'm not recommending anybody. I'm not
recommending Netanyahu because he's going with the ultra-Orthodox. I'm not recommending Gantz, because he's going with the Arab parties. That means
the only thing clear now is that Israel politically is stuck at this point.
ANDERSON: And the upshot of no-one being able to form a government, of course, is the third election. Is that still a realistic option at this
point?
LIEBERMANN: It seems like it's becoming a more realistic option by the minute here with neither side giving any ground at this point. Rivlin had
said, he will do what he can to bring together Netanyahu and Gantz to see if some sort of agreement can be worked out. But that's where this all
began in the first place.
Gantz had said he's not sitting with Netanyahu while he's under criminal investigation. And that seems to rule out any progress there because that
was one of his central campaign promises and he's sticking to it.
It is worth noting that whoever goes first here, whether it's Gantz or Netanyahu, is that a disadvantage. Why? Because it's expected that
whoever goes first will fail and that means the second person has an advantage. He has seen as having the advantage of having a fresh
opportunity with the other parties having seen the first failure. And perhaps that will create some wiggle room.
So, the president who holds all the cards at this point, Reuven Rivlin, is a very important decision to make over the next few days. The bigger
question, will it change anything? And that remains unclear at this point.
ANDERSON: We've just been watching some videos you spoke of the president getting the two leaders of those main parties together at an event just
after the election last week and getting them to sort of hold hands together.
I'm guessing, the president of Israel desperately wanting these guys to sort of sort this out amongst themselves so that we don't get to this third
election. And I have to say, I'm sure most observers feeling the same way.
During the Israeli campaign, Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump made no secret, of course, of their mutual admiration.
President Trump's image even appeared on Netanyahu campaign billboards.
But after, at least, Netanyahu somewhat stumbles in this election, Donald Trump seemed to distance himself from the prime minister, simply saying our
relationship is with Israel. And he has repeated that since. And suggestion being that President Trump perhaps is a fair-weather friend.
Just how important is that relationship with the U.S. to these two leading contenders?
LIEBERMANN: Well, the relationship between Israel and the U.S. is important for both countries no matter who is in charge of Israel or the
U.S. Especially from Israel's perspective, because, for example, of a $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding, because of arms sales, because of
military cooperation, because of technology cooperation, and all of that.
The fact that President Donald Trump came out and said, it's very close, we'll see what happens our relationship is with Israel. That is definitely
not what Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to hear.
He spent the last 2-1/2 years cultivating this relationship. Using it to his advantage. Over and over again, he mentioned it basically as often as
he could. And the fact that Trump is seems as getting ready to work with somebody else, perhaps, depending on how this all plays out, not a good
sign for Netanyahu.
But crucially, at this point, now that we're past the vote counting or just about past the vote-counting in the elections. Trump doesn't have an
influence on how this all plays out at this point. This is all internal Israeli politics and nothing is clear there right now.
[11:35:35]
ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann, the House for you out of the Jerusalem bureau. Thank you, sir.
Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. An anti-government protesters in Hong Kong packed a
shopping mall on Sunday and trampled on a Chinese national flag.
They chanted, Hong Kong people strive on. Riot police were also deployed at the main rail station serving the airport to prevent protests from
impacting air travel.
Tropical Storm Karen is formed in the Eastern Caribbean Sea and is threatening to dump up to 20 centimeters of rain in the Windward Islands.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Trinidad and Tobago.
If the storm continues its current track, it would arrive in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by Tuesday.
And the Rugby World Cup in Japan is well underway. And Ireland got off to a good start Sunday with a 27-3 victory over Scotland. Also today, Italy
beat Namibia in the first match for both teams. And England won its opening match with a 35-3 victory over Tonga-England among the favorites at
this year's tournament.
On Saturday, defending champions, New Zealand started their search for another title with a win over South Africa. The All Blacks defeating the
Springboks 23-13.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson, for you live from Abu Dhabi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRETA THUNBERG, STUDENT AND CLIMATE ACTIVIST: Do you think they hear us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No!
THUNBERG: We will make them hear us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Young people of the world demand action on climate change. Coming up, we'll hear from one of the youth organizes. That after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:39:54]
ANDERSON: Marching to the beat of a different drum. The world's youth turned out and force on Friday to fight for action on climate change. With
the environmental impact being felt globally, youth climate activism is absolutely and most definitely on the rise.
More than 1 million people took to the streets across six continents this weekend, bringing the issue center stage. The strikes and rallies,
demonstrations against the lack of action on climate crisis, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These young activists are more connected
and more aware of the issues than ever before.
Last month, I was in London for a children's assembly at an extinction rebellion festival. There I heard from a generation that is determined to
have a voice in the fight against climate change. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IRIS JONES, YOUTH CLIMATE ACTIVIST: This is our darkest hour. The science is clear: we're in the sixth mass extinction events and we will face
catastrophe if we do not act swiftly and robustly.
ANNOUNCER: -- is CNN "BREAKING NEWS".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live breaking news as Hurricane Irma continues to show no mercy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a hell storm of --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, in alignment with our consciences and our reasoning, declare ourselves in rebellion against our government, and the
corrupted inept institutions that threaten our future.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got the edge of collapse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We call upon every principled and peaceful citizen to rise with us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We refuse to bequeath a dying planet to future generations by failing to act now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you. We love you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you. We love you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We act in peace, with ferocious love of these lands in our hearts. We act on behalf of life.
ANDERSON: This is the call to arms that has inspired thousands worldwide to join extinction rebellions, colorful brand of civil disobedience.
In protest against a lack of action on climate change. Their message is clear, act now or future generations will suffer.
Well, here in South London, people of all ages are soaking up the atmosphere and an Extinction Rebellion festival, including those who have
the most to lose from climate change.
ALFIE CASTEL-O'LEARY, YOUTH CLIMATE ACTIVIST: What could we do to make our air clean again?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fossil fuels. We need to stop using them.
THIERRY SPALL, YOUTH CLIMATE ACTIVIST: Ban all non-ecofriendly commercial advertising.
CASTEL-O'LEARY: I'm concerned because I want a future and I want the future for my little brother -- he's only five. I'd like him to reach the
age of 30 without having to worry about the climate crisis.
ANDERSON: And what about those who don't care. What do you say to them?
CASTEL-O'LEARY: It's your future. Why don't you do something?
ANDERSON: Today's youth activists are more connected and more aware of the risks of climate change than any previous generation. Inspired by climate
activist Greta Thunberg, these kids are determined to have a say in their future.
JONES: The children are the people who will be affected by this. The children are the people who are growing up in this world with this all this
pollution and cars.
ANDERSON: As tensions in the climate crisis grow, the rise of youth activism looks set to continue.
JONES: Children know about these things and that they do actually care and it should be everybody's listen to not just adults.
ANDERSON: And despite the gargantuan task ahead of them, these kids have hope that they will succeed where previous generations have failed.
SPALL: I hope that climate change in the future is going to be something that is in a book of midst that the grandparents could tell their
grandchildren about how a group of activists realize the change needed to be taken. Save the planet we need to make our stand and make sure that our
voice is heard.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, that was my Sunday morning out in London. Fascinating stuff from the youngsters. Katie Eder, who's just 19 years old is the co-
founder and executive director of Future Coalition.
Yes, folks, you heard me. Right, it's a network of youth-led organizations and youth organizers for social impact. Katie joining me now live from New
York.
You've described climate change as the fire -- sorry, the five-alarm fire that America's political leaders pretend not to see. Well, they cannot
have missed the protests all over the world, Friday. Were you satisfied with the turnout, Katie?
KATIE EDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FUTURE COALITION: Yes. Definitely, it was the largest climate strike to date. We had our organizers estimate
that 4 million people strikes worldwide.
In the U.S., we had over 1,100 strikes in all 50 states across the country. So, we were very excited for the turnout and I think the energy that we
felt, you know, more than anything was that this was just the beginning. This is the launch of a new era of our movement. And so, I think, you
know, what we're just getting started.
[11:45:05]
ANDERSON: You make a really good point in an op-ed that you wrote for CNN that the facts you say are so daunting and discouraging when it comes to
climate crisis. That they can often paralyze people from taking any action. Can you just explain a little more on why you think it is that
this issue specifically has gained such momentum and traction amongst youngsters?
And I'm talking about, you know, youngsters as young as three or four that I spoke to in London recently. Why it is that it means so much?
EDER: I think that for a long time, the climate crisis was something that was very abstract to people. You know, we talked about it as -- you know,
this potential destruction of our -- of our world and a couple of years, a couple of decades, a couple of centuries down the line. But I think it
really has been in the last year and really last few months that it's become more concrete.
And that, you know, whether it be hurricanes, whether it be forest fires, whether it be heatwaves, people are really starting to see the effects of
the climate crisis in their own life.
And I think for young people, we're looking around and saying, you know, this is all happening. And our adults, our world leaders, they're not
doing anything. And so, you know, if we want a future, we're going to have to stand up for ourselves.
And so, I think that young people across the world are hearing that call to action and saying if we're not going to do anything, how can we expect to
anyone else to?
ANDERSON: Less than 24 hours from now, Katie, the United Nations assembly of world leaders will hear from climate change activist such as Greta
Thunberg, for example. The goal of the U.N. climate change summit, Monday, is to encourage member nations to honor the Paris Climate Agreement and
figure out ways to reach these objectives.
This youth strike was carefully timed just days ahead of that U.N. summit. Do you think the strike will have any impact? I'm assuming you want to
tell me, it will, at least, in resonating with those who were there.
But also what do you want to hear, specifically, from world leaders at this point -- people who are decision-makers at this point?
EDER: Yes, I mean I think that -- you know, the strikes on Friday and there's -- you know, in other countries, the strikes are happening on the
27th. And then, all of this week, we're going to see climate action across the world.
And I think, you know, our intention is to send the message to world leaders that we're watching. And this is what we care about, and we're
going to continue to put pressure on them until they take action.
And I think what we want them just -- we want to see is world leaders to acknowledge the scale and size of the climate crisis and talk about
solutions that match that scale in size.
You know, I think right now there -- there's a lack of courage in how our world leaders are addressing this crisis. And I think, you know, with the
energy of young people, with the energy of people across the world, we're asking, we're demanding that they have the courage to stand up and say, you
know, we have to put this issue at the top of our priority list. And we have to talk about it as the emergency that it is.
ANDERSON: Katie, we'll have you back. Good luck with everything in New York. We are in Abu Dhabi. Thank you.
This is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, we will take a look back at how that young teenage activist Greta Thunberg, mobilized the world's conscience to
act in stopping climate change. That's coming up after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:53:51]
ANDERSON: Well, in tonight's "PARTING SHOTS" view, who says one person can't make a difference? Just over a year ago, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg,
started a global phenomenon, walking out of school and sitting alone in front of the Swedish parliament. With a sign that read, school strike for
climate, then joined by just a couple of mates.
Students across the world did then start joining in. Fast forward to today. And take a look at this. Millions of people marching in cities
around the world, connecting together over the climate crisis. One person really can make a difference.
We'll be covering all of that more on a new super-sized and supercharged CONNECT THE WORLD starting from tomorrow. We are expanding to become a
two-hour show, which means, we can bring you a double scooping of all of your favorites. From news to sports to arts, and culture.
We are really excited to show you what we've got up our sleeve fever got lined up so tune in at 6:00 p.m. right here in Abu Dhabi. 3 p.m. London,
and at the times I'm sure you can work out where you are in the world.
And that is a two-hour show. That was your world all connected up. Thank you for watching. See you tomorrow in double.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade and this is CNN NEWS NOW. A top Saudi diplomat tells CNN that if an international
investigation finds the strikes that hit its oil facilities were launched from Iran, it would consider that an act of war.
The attack was so severe, it knocked out five percent of the world's daily oil production. Iran denies carrying out that attack.
Against the backdrop of these tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump, says he doesn't plan to meet with Iranian officials at the United Nations this
week. Mr. Trump also defended his July phone call with Ukraine's president after being accused of asking that leader to investigate a political rival.
END
