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Two Officials to Testify Wednesday in First Public Hearings; Trump Criticizes Democrats and Demands Bidens Testify; Israeli Forces Kill Islamic Jihad Commander; Former President Morales Accepts Asylum in Mexico; Fires Reach Suburbs of Australia's Largest City; Rockets Fired into Israel After Islamic Jihad Leader Killed; Dancing with the Star Quarterbacks. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired November 12, 2019 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00]

ANNOUNCER: Live on CNN, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN HOST: And connecting this hour, we're on the cusp of watching history unfold right here in America. It's 10:00 in the morning

right here in New York, 7:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi. I'm Paula Newton. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD.

The countdown as we were saying is on, on what could be a pivotal day in the Trump presidency. In exactly 24 hours, the U.S. House will convene the

first public hearings in the impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump. Now two key officials will testify, including the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine.

Now remember the two people testifying are actually still employed by the U.S. government. And that means the President of the United States.

The President at this hour in New York -- not far from where I sit right now. We may hear from him a little bit later. He is leaving Trump Tower

shortly to go deliver an economic speech. Already, though, as you can see there, he he's been on Twitter, right. Repeating earlier on substantiated

claims that witnesses are biased against him and demanding that Joe Biden and his son be called to testify.

This all happening amid news of White House infighting over just what is the best strategy to respond with in terms of this inquiry. Now "The

Washington Post" reports chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has been struggling to prevent officials from cooperating. And CNN has learned Republicans in

terms of their staff, three House panels involved in the inquiry, have sent a memo to members detailing their strategy to defend the President.

We have correspondents and analysts right across all of this. Suzanne Malveaux joins us right now from Capitol Hill. CNN legal analyst, Elie

Honig is here in New York with me and CNN political analyst, Sabrina Siddiqi joins us from Washington. We are going to turn first though to

Suzanne. They're starting to see the makings of what might be a lot of political theater and obviously strategy on both ends. They are coming to

this hearing armed.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: You know, you're absolutely right, Paula. Because members of Congress are coming back today from their

home states here arriving on Capitol Hill. You've got a group of Democrats who will be meet with the House Speaker later today. You also have both of

those committees involved in the impeachment inquiry meet with their members.

And as you mentioned, Republicans trying to get out of this testimony with their eight-page memo of talking points. The main points they'll lay out

tomorrow to make their case to defend the President include that the July 25th phone call shows no evidence of pressure. That both Presidents Trump

and Zelensky had said that there was no pressure on those calls. So they are taking their word for it that the Ukrainian government was not aware of

the aid that was on hold during that call. And that the military aid ultimately was provided to Ukraine.

The big question is what are the American people going to believe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): The impeachment countdown ticking closer to public hearings tomorrow. First, the public will hear from top diplomat to

Ukraine, Bill Taylor, and deputy assistant Secretary of State, George Kent, Wednesday. The former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch,

testifies Friday. Their testimony is expected to detail explosive claims alleging President Trump pressured Ukraine to launch investigations for his

political benefit.

So how will this week's hearings work? House intelligence chair Adam Schiff and Republican ranking member Devin Nunes will lead the sessions.

They'll have 45 minutes each to question witnesses with staff lawyers likely playing a big role. All other committee members will get five

minutes each to do the same.

REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D-CA): Our strategy is to focus on the facts.

MALVEAUX: Meanwhile, House investigators releasing three more transcripts from their closed-door depositions. Including former Ukraine aide

Catharine Croft revealing the summer hold on assistance wasn't the first time the Trump administration delayed military aid for Ukraine. Croft

telling lawmakers that in 2017, then-budget director Mick Mulvaney held up plans to send missiles to Ukraine saying he was concerned that Russia would

react negatively, despite claiming all of the policy agencies were in support of providing the equipment.

REP. MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL): What's Mick Mulvaney doing making that decision when he's the head of OMB? It's extraordinarily unusual.

MALVEAUX: Croft also testifying Mulvaney was involved in Ukraine policy making this year working alongside Trump megadonor turned U.S. ambassador

to the European Union, Gordon Sondland. The claim corroborating former top Russian adviser Fiona Hill's testimony.

[10:05:00]

And, according to Croft and Laura Cooper's testimonies, Ukraine was aware about the hold on security assistance earlier than previously believed.

Cooper, the only Pentagon official to testify in the inquiry so far, recalling a conversation with then U.S. envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, in

August. Saying, he gave a very strong inference that there was some knowledge on the part of the Ukrainians.

In that same meeting, Cooper says Volker explained, an effort that he was engaged in to see if there was a statement that the government of Ukraine

would make that would somehow disavow any interference in U.S. elections. Adding, the path that he was pursuing to lift the hold would be to get them

to make this statement.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: And Trump has teased via Twitter that it would be today or potentially later in the week that he'd be releasing the transcript of a

second phone call that he had with the Ukrainian President that he believes clears him of any wrongdoing. But it really is going to be the fallout

from that July 25th phone call that is going to set the stage for these impeachment hearings as they open up in just about 24 hours -- Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, it's interesting, Suzanne, the President said we might get it today. He's now saying by the end of the week. We'll see what that means.

I'm sure the timing of the impeachment hearings will have a lot to do as to why and when he will release that transcripts. Suzanne Malveaux from

Capitol Hill, thank you.

We go now to Elie in New York and Sabrina in Washington. Elie, first to you. We heard a little bit in Suzanne's reporting there the fact that the

structure here of these hearings will be a little different. You know, there will be lawyers. There will be staffers. The timings are different.

How do you think this will play out differently from what perhaps we were used to during the Mueller inquiry.

ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: So this will be very different from what we saw before. This will be much more substantive and much more orderly.

During the Mueller inquiry -- and think about if you watch the Corey Lewandowsky testimony -- first of all, you had questioning limited to five

minutes per member. That's nothing. You can barely get started. Here we're going to start with 45-minute blocks for each side. Also, we're

going to see a big chunk of the questioning here done by lawyers. The individual who is going to be doing most of the questioning for Adam Schiff

is a former federal prosecutor who I used to work with at the Southern District of New York. So I think you'll see a lot more substance, a lot

more focus, a lot more factuality and a lot less sort of histrionics and drama from the witnesses and from the members alike.

NEWTON: And Elie, as you said, that you know somebody that's actually going to be doing the questioning. How do you think it will be different

in terms of the interpretations back home? And remember, this is not about the Democratic base, right. It's about independents and Republicans,

perhaps trying to tune in to this story for the first time.

HONIG: Yes, I think what we'll see is House Democrats going for the big points right up front. 45 minutes is more time than we've seen before but

it's still not that much time by prosecutorial standards or trial standards. And so I think they are going to have to feature the greatest

hits sort of right up front.

The fact there was this shadow diplomacy network set up with Rudy Giuliani and Sondland and Rick Perry. And the fact that there was this exchange.

There was this pressure brought to bear in the form of military aid and a White House visit in exchange for these investigations. I think they'll

have to hit those themes early and often and drive them home to the American public. And as you say, especially to independences and

undecideds.

NEWTON: Yes, have to. Because this impeachment hearing has had quite a billing. And, Sabrina, I know you're in the thick of it there in

Washington. The Republicans think they have a pretty good line, right? Former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Niki Haley said, look, OK, it might have

been wrong, but it's not impeachable. How do you think the Republicans will be trying to get more traction out of that line in these hearings?

SABRINA SIDDIQUI, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you've seen many different stages when it comes to the Republican response because the GOP has really

struggled to defend the President on the substance. And until now they've largely gone after the process criticizing that the depositions were taking

place behind closed doors. Well, that argument no longer holds weight when the witnesses are being hauled before the public. And Republicans

themselves have an opportunity to question the witnesses before the cameras.

And so, I think what you're going to see them do is now try and suggest that what the President did does not, in fact, as you point out, amount to

an impeachable offense. And also, you've heard many of them say that it wasn't a quid pro quo because Ukraine did not actually deliver what the

President wanted by way of investigations. And they've also argued -- although that's according to testimony disputed -- that Ukraine was not

aware what the reasoning was behind the freeze on military aid.

So a lot of it has to do with trying to undermine or undercut key elements of witness testimony that we've seen thus far in the transcripts. But the

biggest problem for Republicans is, really, the fact that they can't change what has come out in these depositions from former and current career

diplomats who have a longstanding reputation of being unbiased civil servants. And that's really what they're going to be up against even as

they are primarily performing for an audience of one, which is the President of the United States.

[10:10:00]

NEWTON: And significant, of course, because we've all got the paperwork, right? We're all seeing the transcripts and can read it for ourselves.

Elie, at this point in time though, when you start talking about Democratic unforced errors -- they've done it before. We know they can be prone to

them. What do you think they will be trying to -- really trying to mitigate here during these hearings. Which I have to point out, right.

We're talking about this as if it's some sort of judge, jury and court. It is not. This is political theater.

HONIG: It is political theater. And I think what we're going to see tomorrow though is a much cleaner presentation than we saw in the Mueller

hearings that happened for a couple of reasons. First of all, these witnesses are telling a story that the Democrats will like and will embrace

and want to feature and want to drive home. In contrast to, again, Corey Lewandowski who was combative and fighting the Democrats at every turn. So

I think Democrats are going to be in the line of a prosecutor presenting a case where you want the focus on the witness and you don't want drama and

histrionics.

So I think that's the challenge for the Democrats. Yes, they've committed unforced errors. Having the lawyers do the questioning is also going to

cut back on that. And it's going to be a question of political discipline. Are the members going to be able to avoid grandstanding and avoid going

down irrelevant paths in order to keep the focus on the facts and the truth.

NEWTON: And Sabrina, Elie said a word there, right, he said discipline. The President is also going to be tuning in to these hearings. A lot of

people are already talking about what he will try and do to distract from the hearings, to up end the hearings, to, really, make his case or perhaps

just distract altogether. What do you think we can expect from him?

SIDDIQUI: Well, I think it's a fairly two-pronged approach that you saw play out also during the course of the Russia investigation which is, one,

try and discredit the investigation itself and undermine the integrity of the witnesses. Even though, again, it bears repeating there's no reason to

believe that there's any reason to discount the testimony we've heard thus far.

And, two, put significant pressure on Republicans to go to bat for him to defend him and try and undercut key aspects of the testimony. And you have

very much seen Republicans rally behind the President. Jim Jordan, one of the President's most loyal defenders in Congress was temporarily assigned

to the House Intelligence Committee just for the purpose of being able to question some of these witnesses.

And so I think you'll fully expect that the President is going to continue and call this a witch hunt and try to really pretend that what we've heard

thus far is somehow is not true even though, again, there's no evidence to support the fact that the President was not engaging in a quid pro quo. In

fact, all the evidence points to the fact there was a quid pro quo and that's what's difficult for the President here.

It's a very straightforward narrative where there was a hold on key U.S. military assistance to Ukraine and that for aid would only be lifted if the

Ukrainian government launched political investigations sought by President Trump. So this is a lot more clear cut for the American public to

understand and that's precisely why the President will have his work cut out for him.

NEWTON: Yes, clear cut, and Mick Mulvaney tells us all to get over it. I think the question is, after all these hearings, will the Americans get

over it? We shall see. Elie Honig for us in New York and Sabrina Siddiqui in Washington. Stay tuned to impeachment E. Thanks so much.

Now as we've been discussing, the House impeachment hearings begin tomorrow. On Wednesday they start at 10:00 a.m. right here in New York.

Yes, T-minus 24 hours and counting. 3:00 p.m. in London. Be sure to tune in to CNN for extensive live coverage throughout the day. We will also, of

course, have expert analysis.

Now we have been talking for days now about Republican officials who are refusing to cooperate in the impeachment probe. Our website has a great

video that explains the options Congress has when people defy subpoenas. Check it out at CNN.com for that.

Want to go now to a developing story here at CNN. Violence has erupted along the Israel/Gaza border following the high-profile assassination of a

senior commander of Islamic Jihad. Now Israeli Defense Forces killed Baha Abu al-Ata and his wife. This was a targeted strike overnight in Gaza

City. He was accused of planning imminent terror attacks against Israel. In fact, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a ticking bomb. He

also declared that his country will do whatever it takes to defend itself.

But the leader of Islamic Jihad warned that Mr. Netanyahu will pay a high price for his actions. Gaza militants responded to the commander's death

by firing more than 100 rockets into Israel. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That indicates this isn't over yet. As of this point, and we just heard a loud explosion behind us. You can

see there a plume of smoke. I don't know which way that fire was coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Yes, that was CNN's Oren Liebermann there as a rocket hit just behind him. You were reporting live on the air. And thanks for joining us

now. You've now moved to Ashkelon.

[10:15:00]

I really want to go through this escalation, right, Oren. Look, we've seen this before. This predictable cycle, escalation, retaliation. You tell me

what is different this time around as both residents in Gaza and parts of Israel remain on high alert as we just saw there from that video.

LIEBERMANN: Although on the surface this may appear to be the escalations, we've seen over the past couple of years here. That sort of start quickly

and end relatively quickly, this is fundamentally different for one reason. Although big picture, this is Israel versus Gaza. Specifically, this is

Israel versus Islamic Jihad in a way that we haven't seen before.

First, of course, we began early this morning with Israel's targeted assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu al-Ata. That a targeted

killing is something we haven't seen Israel carry out in a major way in Gaza in years. That led to what you pointed out -- hundreds of rockets

being fired. Israel specific to say those were fired only at this point by Islamic Jihad and in Israel's retaliatory strikes for those rockets, Israel

targeted -- they say -- only Islamic Jihad targets. That's significant. Hamas hasn't entered the picture yet. Why did Israel target Baha Abu al-

Ata? Here is IDF chief-of-staff, Aviv Kochavi earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AVIV KOCHAVI, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF (through translator): This man was a live ticking bomb. Even in recent days he worked and

planned attacks and was meaning to carry them out. We tried to prevent his operation in various ways but unsuccessfully. In the circumstances

created, we recommended to the political echelon to target him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMANN: At this point, five have been killed inside of Gaza, according to the Palestinian ministry of health, as well as several injuries. And

there have been several injured in Israel as well.

But, according to Israel, Hamas, which rules Gaza, has not yet entered the picture. Has not yet entered the fighting. Has not yet fired rockets of

their own. Whether they do or not, Paula, will go a long way into determining whether this escalates quickly and perhaps spirals out of

control. Which is always the fear on both sides of the border, or whether there's an off ramp for de-escalation here. And that appears to be what

Israel's leaders are saying. If Hamas doesn't enter the picture, there's a way out.

Internal political pressure in Hamas and Gaza and Israel may make that more difficult, but that is something that appears to be on the table at this

point. It is now evening here. I think you can see that behind me, Paula. And this would be an opportunity for escalation if that's the way this

goes. And we shall see, of course here.

NEWTON: And we will wait because as you can see, it's just after 5:00 p.m. there where you are. Oren, you alluded to it. You know, you said the

complicated situation not just in Gaza but, obviously, within Israel at this point. Israel that is still trying to cobble together a functioning

government. How do you think the politics of this will play out, whether it escalates or does de-escalate?

LIEBERMANN: Well, we've seen from opposition leader Benny Gantz that he's supported Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to carry out this targeted killing

and saying that terrorists won't be able to live freely inside of Gaza, supporting that decision. Whether there are or aren't political

considerations -- and Netanyahu and his Likud party have denied there are political considerations -- there are clearly here, political consequences

and effects and it appears many of those favor Netanyahu as his rival Gantz rise to put together a government.

First, as long as this continues, Gantz can't really work to put together a government, meeting other parties. Second, it essentially rules out Gantz

creating a minority government that relies on the Arab parties. As they have criticized this action by Netanyahu and this action by the Israeli

military.

On top of that, when you talk about the potential indictments that might be coming, if those were to come down in the coming days, Netanyahu could

easily say, look, how dare you do this at a time we're facing a security situation. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has warned repeatedly in previous weeks

that Israel faces tough security challenges while one of those security challenges was clearly triggered by this targeted killing this morning. So

even as Netanyahu and his Likud party deny that there were political considerations behind this, there were clearly consequences in Israel's

complicated and deadlocked at this point political sphere.

NEWTON: Absolutely and that will play out in the coming hours and days. Oren, thanks so much. Good to have you there on the scene.

And now we'll have much more on the heightened tensions at the Gaza/Israel border later in the show Mukhaimer Abusada from Al-Azhar University will

join us with details on exactly who is Islamic Jihad and the role that they play right now in Gaza.

Meantime, Bolivia's longtime President will soon arrive in Mexico after being granted political asylum. Evo Morales resigned on Sunday after weeks

of protests over disputed election results. What's unknown now, get this, who is in charge of Bolivia. There's been a heavy police presence on the

streets of La Paz. Lawmakers will meet in a few hours to discuss next steps.

CNN Matt Rivers joins us now from Mexico City. I want to get first to why Evo Morales is even in Mexico City. It's so interesting as this broke in

the hours when after Evo Morales resigned, he said he would not leave. He said there was no reason for him to leave. And yet, so quickly, Mexico

offered him asylum. Why was this an offer he couldn't turn down?

[10:20:00]

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, this was Mexico's government basically saying that happened to Morales was a coup. They said that

because the military asked Evo Morales to resign that it had all the hallmarks of a coup and the leftist government here led by President Lopez

Obrador, said that that was unacceptable and they would offer him political asylum if he so wanted it.

And as you say, it was just a couple of hours later that apparently former President Morales felt the pressure was concerned that he might even be

taken into custody in some form in Bolivia and so he felt, obviously, that he had no choice to move very quickly.

So what happened, was the Mexican government sent a plane late last night arriving in Bolivia. There was a lot of back and forth between how the

plane would get in, how Morales would get out. What air space they could use on the way to Mexico City. For example, Peru denied the Mexican

government plane air space rights over Peruvian air space. And so they were forced to land in Paraguay to refuel. But ultimately Morales is on

that plane expected to arrive here in Mexico City sometime between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. local time. Where he will be met by the foreign secretary

of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard.

Now that's all happening here. What's happening in Bolivia. Later today - - as you mentioned, Paula -- lawmakers from both chambers are expected to meet. And the first item on their agenda is to look at and officially

recognize the resignations of not only President -- former President Morales, but also other members of his cabinet. And then comes the task of

choosing, well who is their interim leader going to be? Because they don't have one right now.

There has been some speculation that it could be members of the opposition party but members of the Morales' party still hold majorities in both

legislative chambers. So this is far from over in terms of getting an interim leader and that all comes before the question of, well, when will

new elections be set up? That will be the first task facing a new interim leader, should that person actually be put into power today. This is all

an extremely fluid situation, Paula. And we don't know where it goes from here.

NEWTON: Yes, fluid is the word. And a reminder that three people have been killed. Hundreds already wounded in the protests there on the

streets. And again, very alarming pictures that we see -- we continue to see come out of cities and towns in Bolivia. Matt Rivers there for us

following the story. Appreciate it.

Still to come -- an uphill battle for firefighters trying to douse the bush fires across Australia. You won't believe these pictures. Forecasters say

conditions are creating what they say is a catastrophic risk.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: Firefighters are facing what officials are calling catastrophic fire danger as they battle more than 100 bush fires in eastern Australia.

Now many of them are raging right out of control. Look at those pictures. And of course, here's the problem. Dry, windy conditions and high

temperatures have been making matters even worse. I want you to look at this. The bush fires have already reached the suburbs of Australia's

largest city, Sydney.

Aircraft are now at this moment dropping fire retardant on neighborhoods there and people are being urged to stay inside to, of course, avoid all

that hazardous smoke. We continue to see, though, hellish scenes from inside the fire zone itself. I want to show you this report from one of

our Australian affiliates. This is 7 network reporter Bryan Seymour brings us this report near Taree in northeastern New South Wales.

[10:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYAN SEYMOUR, SEVEN NEWS REPORTER (voice-over): Trapped in the middle of a fire storm. Surrounded by flames, Anthony Thornhill takes refuge in a

tiny paddock at his home in Koorainghat just south of Taree. As the fire races towards him, he desperately tries to calm his horses. 11 in total

safe by his side. The challenge, keeping them from bolting back into the bush and into the path of the inferno.

ANTHONY THORNHILL, KOORAINGHAT RESIDENT: Stay with me. Stay here.

SEYMOUR: Engulfed by the flames, Anthony started filming. A record of their final moments in case they didn't make it.

THORNHILL: That's why I sort of grabbed the camera out and videoed a little bit. So this is the last bit. So I'm like, so that's it. Sorry

about that, sweetheart.

THORNHILL: Lynn and Peter Iversen returned to their place in Rainbow Flat this morning. This is all that's left.

LYNN IVERSEN, RESIDENT: Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness.

THORNHILL: Their neighbors fought to save their house but couldn't.

PETER IVERSEN, RESIDENT: It's only things. It's only things. We've got family and we've got our lives.

LYNN IVERSEN: And we're lucky we've got each other. Some people don't even have anything, so we're blessed.

SEYMOUR: Further north in Wytaliba a town broken by the death of two of their own, one, George Noll, remembered today.

STORM SPARKS, WYTALIBA RESIDENT: He was a very interesting character. That's for sure. Lots of loud classical music and afternoon coffees.

SEYMOUR: Those who have lost everything are seeking refuge in evacuation centers. Holding tight now to the things that matter most. Their homes

badly damaged, Peter Thornhill and his partner Julianne are there now, too. Like so many preparing for tomorrow.

SEYMOUR (on camera): Today the owners of at least 150 homes are working out where to go. What's next? Grateful for the community support they are

receiving, but many, almost all angry that more hazard reduction burns weren't done ahead of this fire season.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was no maintenance because of legislation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Things need to change, obviously, mate.

SEYMOUR (voice-over): Today he's the eye of this fire storm. Without a change in the weather, it could yet become far worse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Yes, our thanks there to Bryan Seymour. And he's not kidding and here's why. Take a look at this video. Absolutely apocalyptic scenes

taken just a couple of hours ago. Firefighters in Australia from Monaro Rural Strike Service team take a drive through -- look at that. They are

literally driving through fire in a New South Wales neighborhood with fires blazing all around them. Unfortunately, as I said, it will be several more

days if not weeks.

Now we have some news just in to CNN. We've just gotten news that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is now out of surgery. Now he had a procedure

to relieve pressure on his brain after a couple of falls that he had recently. Now the pressure was caused by bleeding that the 95-year-old

Carter had after several health scares, including those falls. And remember, he had a bout with cancer and even through all of that, it has

been an extraordinary thing to see him maintain such an active lifestyle. Especially at his church and in his charities. We'll have a complete

report for you from outside the hospital next hour.

Meantime, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live today from New York City.

Still ahead, the countdown is on to the first public impeachment testimony on Capitol Hill of U.S. President Donald Trump. Details on a new report

about infighting at the White House over a response.

Plus, yes, the hip stretches. They went viral. I'm not sure I can even do these. We'll show you the latest quarterback dance moves -- well not dance

moves, but sports will tell us. Stay with us.

[10:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: Welcome back. I'm Paula Newton. CONNECT THE WORLD comes to you live from New York today.

We are just a day away from the first public hearings in the impeachment inquiry of U.S. President Donald Trump. Now two key officials will

testify, including the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine. You can watch all the action right here from start to finish live on CNN.

Meantime, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney no longer plans to sue in federal court over his House subpoena in the probe. The fact he

did receive that subpoena. Instead his attorneys told a federal judge he's planning to obey the White House and Justice Department's direction for him

not to testify.

And we return now to our developing -- we return to our developing story on the violence breaking out at the Israel/Gaza border. The funeral for a

senior commander of Islamic Jihad was just held in Gaza City following his assassination by Israeli Defense Forces. Baha Abu al-Ata along with his

wife were targeted by an air strike overnight. Officials say he was plotting imminent attacks against Israel.

We want to bring in associate professor of political science at Al-Azhar University, Mukhaimer Abusada. He joins us now live from Gaza. And I have

to ask you just as an up to minute situation here, I know that people in Gaza are used to this cycle of violence, retaliation and escalation.

What's the situation right now?

MUKHAIMER ABUSADA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY: It's true, Paula. We are used to this kind of violence every

now and then. Gaza has been under war for three times in the past ten years and there have been a number of cycle of violence between Israel and

the Palestinian over the past few months.

But this is the first time Israel has assassinated a top commander since the war of 2014, when the war ended after 51 days of Israeli offensive

against Gaza. The situation in Gaza, it has been a very tense day for the Palestinians. Rockets from Gaza have been fired against Israel. And a

retaliation, Israel also has fired and bombed many areas in Gaza which has led to the death of four Palestinians, including Abu al-Ata and his wife

and more than 20 Palestinians have been injured since the early hours of this morning Gaza time.

In addition to that, no schools, no universities, shops were closed. Everything has been closed as a result of the cycle of violence today

between the Islamic Jihad and Israel.

NEWTON: In terms of people observing this right now, they normally have very clear indications in Gaza about why someone was targeted and why now.

How do you think Hamas is taking all this in right now? They are not only supposed to be in control of Gaza and some are suggesting that this is why

they will not escalate the situation with Israel right now. That this was a person who perhaps they didn't always agree with in terms -- even though

they cooperated -- didn't always agree with in terms of their strategy.

ABUSADA: Well, according to Israeli sources, they are saying that Israel has taken the decision ten days ago to assassinate Baha Abu al-Ata. And

about ten days ago, a number of rockets were fired from Gaza against Israeli towns and villages, and Israeli security services are accusing Abu

al-Ata of being responsible for the barrage of rockets which were fired against Israel ten days ago. And they have -- the Israelis are saying they

have been monitoring his movement for the past ten days to kill him in the right moment.

[10:35:00]

Yes, Hamas is in control of the Gaza strip, but let me just mention that the Islamic Jihad is the second largest military organization in Gaza after

Hamas and the relationship between Hamas and the Islamic group -- the Islamic Jihad has been a very tense relationship. Because over the past

many months, the Islamic Jihad have tried to provoke Israel many times which wasn't in the interest of Hamas who is responsible for the well-being

of 2 million Palestinians in Gaza and has to take care of their daily life. Right now, Hamas hasn't joined the fighting or -- Hamas has refrained from

launching any rockets against Israel. It's only the Islamic Jihad who has been launching rockets and revenging for the assassination of its military

commander.

And it's an important point that has to be made as you said. Hamas not joining in that escalation. And yet what's the risk now of Islamic Jihad,

the other militants and, of course, their ground troops there in Gaza decide that they are going to retaliate.

ABUSADA: It's true. In addition to the Islamic Jihad, a number of smaller Palestinian factions have also joined the fighting and launched rockets

against Israel during the day. But the most important thing here is Hamas. Hamas is the largest military organization. Its leader in Gaza, Mahmoud

al-Zahar, just indicated about a week ago that there are 70,000 armed men here in Gaza, and they are ready to join the fighting any moment.

But until this moment, Hamas feels that it's not in the interest of Hamas or the interest of the Palestinians in Gaza to join the fight or to

retaliate against Israel. Hamas believe that Israel shows this time for political agenda and especially for Netanyahu who is facing a stalemate in

Israel and also facing corruption charges, and he probably tried to avoid those corruption charges by escalating the situation against the Gaza

strip. As a result of that, Hamas has refrained from launching any rockets and is trying to convince the Islamic Jihad to stop the fighting or to stop

the launching of rockets and, again, commit to the cease-fire which was brokered by Egypt a few months ago.

NEWTON: Yes, important to note that Egypt is obviously observing what's going on and trying to make sure things don't escalate. Thanks so much.

Always important to get the perspective there inside Gaza. Appreciate it.

And we will now be right back with more CONNECT THE WORLD in just a moment.

[10:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: And then there were none. Apparently, I was told I wasn't up for it. I was the most exciting Monday night football game in years. The last

unbeaten team in the NFL finally fell. But, hey, we're here for the dancing, OK. It was San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo whose

pregame warm-up had everyone boogying Monday night. Jimmy's moves come after Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott's pregame routine went viral on

Sunday. I absolutely saw this, and, Amanda, I am going to tell you now too much information. I've already broken my hip. I will be doing neither of

those two moves. But I have to confess, the trainers tell them to do this, right. There must be a purpose to this dancing madness.

AMANDA DAVIS, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, exactly. It is what the pros need to do apparently well established, well known warm-up exercise for the pros.

I think you and I should definitely leave them to it, Paula. And you have to say, the game last night very much did live up to the hype of the

dancing. We've got more on that. The one that's being talked about is the game of the season and a very big call by the England manager to drop,

Raheem Sterling for this week's Euro 2020 qualifier. All coming up on "WORLD SPORT" in a couple of minutes -- Paula.

NEWTON: And we will be tuning in for that. Amanda, thanks so much. We will be right back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

[10:58:00]

DAVIS: Emotional stuff there, but that is it from Cory, myself and the "WORLD SPORT" team for now. There will be more later in the day. But time

to hand you back to Paula -- Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, Amanda, just want to make it clear. Doesn't matter what Kawhi does, we the North, he's always welcome north of the border. Even

though they gave him a hard time on the court. I just one point that out. Amanda, thanks so much.

And we'll be right back with CONNECT THE WORLD at the top of the hour.

END