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First Death Reported Outside Mainland China; Eighth Case Of Wuhan Virus Confirmed In Macao; The Pivotal Week In Washington; Arab League Rejects Trump's Middle East Plan; Man Shot By London Officers In Stabbing Incident; Toddler Son Of Fallen Firefighter Is Honored; Residents Return Home To Assess Damage. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 02, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The authorities in Macau aren't taking any chances.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Tonight, the first person outside of China dies from the coronavirus. Then, President Trump could emerge
stronger than ever after what will be a whopper of a week for Washington. Plus, back to number one. Novak Djokovic, which slams out a win the
Australian Open.
The big story this hour, the number of cases of the Wuhan virus mushrooming around the world. Right now, it is infecting well over 14,000 people. A day
ago, they were just 12,000 cases. And that is difficult to wrap your head around, isn't it? Now, it's just another staggering overnight leap for
something that remember still is no vaccine right now.
The vast majority of cases still within Mainland China, but more than half are now outside the city of Wuhan, where this all seems to have begun, and
we could be far from it all being over. Researchers in Hong Kong warning of exponential growth as many as 75,000 infections.
Well, China taking some extraordinary measures to contain this outbreak, the likes of which, quite frankly, we have never quite seen before. State
media publishing video of drones with speakers chasing people down telling them to wear a mask or stay inside.
We are also seeing this state media broadcasting live video of one of two brand new hospitals now complete built within days as promised by
authorities, expected to start a missing patient on Monday. Well, let's zoom out to the rest of the world just for a moment for reaction. New
Zealand, joining the list of countries banning all foreign nationals coming from the mainland along with Singapore, Australia and the United States.
Here's how that works with the U.S. by way of example. If you are flying there, you will be asked if you've been to China in the last two weeks. If
you have and you are a foreign national, you will be denied entry. If you are an American citizen, you will be sent to one of seven us airports that
you are seeing here, including Atlanta right by CNN's worldwide headquarters.
Right, we got teams across China. Ivan Watson is standing by in Macau, David Culver is in Beijing. Let me start there with you, David. More than
half of the cases now reported outside of Wuhan. Just explain the significance of that if you will.
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, think of what's happening in the city of Wuhan right now. And you showed some of the video
of the first of two hospitals, brand new hospitals that went under rapid construction. This one is opening tomorrow, it's going to hold about 1,000
patients according to state media.
The second one expected to go online later this week. That'll hold another 1,600. Then you have some 8,000 medical personnel, doctors and nurses who
are in the city of Wuhan in particular, and in some other parts of Hubei province, but mostly this is focused on the epicenter.
So the concern is that when you start to look at the cases going outside of the city of Wuhan, which in of itself is a massive metropolis, 11 million
people call it home, you go to smaller communities, smaller cities and towns, less prosperous, and quite frankly, they do not have the
infrastructure that Wuhan does and the number of resources that are flooding into it right now, the supply that's going into Wuhan that we're
hearing about, even though sometimes it's not even getting to the front lines.
So Imagine that, Becky, in this situation of some of these smaller communities. It's going to be far more difficult to contain it than they're
doing right now in Wuhan. And you also have to think about the education campaign. You showed those drones. That's actually part of this. There's an
education and awareness campaign for some of the rural communities that the National Health Commission announced, and that this is part of making
people aware of basic hygiene and of encouraging the wearing of facemask, which in some places now, Becky, is mandatory.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Ivan, let me get to you because the eighth case has been confirmed in Macau. That is where you are. What is the situation
on the ground?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That eighth case is a 64-year-old woman according to the Macau authorities that was diagnosed.
She had never been to Hubei province. She did travel from this autonomous corner of China, semi-autonomous corner to Southern Guangzhou province --
Guangdong rather, and she was reportedly she purchased some live poultry in a wet market there. She started visiting hospitals here at the end of last
month. And she has since been placed in isolation.
Interesting, her doctor and nurse at a private hospital that she visited, they have now been placed in isolation as a protective measure as of today.
The authorities here say that anybody coming to one of the many casinos here in Macau -- this is the gambling capital of the world, arguably, now
must wear masks to go in. The impact of this health crisis on this city which depends so heavily on Chinese tourists, well, it's just staggering.
[10:05:47]
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WATSON: This is what the coronavirus crisis looks like. An ambulance delivers a patient to the emergency room in the tiny former Portuguese
colony of Macau. Health Workers fully protected against the new disease.
The authorities in Macau aren't taking any chances. They are informing the public that if you suspect you have symptoms of coronavirus and that you've
been in touch with somebody that you fear may also be sick somewhere in mainland China, call for an ambulance which will deliver you here to the
emergency entrance of the city's main public hospital.
Images from inside the isolation ward, at least seven patients are being treated here. The health emergency has had a startling impact on this semi-
autonomous corner of China. Macau with its small population of around 600,000 people is normally a major tourism hotspot, welcoming nearly 40
million visitors last year alone.
The main draw Macau's towering casinos. This is the gambling capital of the world with a casino industry that dwarfs Las Vegas. But since the
coronavirus outbreak, tourism to Macau dropped 87 percent in January compared to the previous year.
You've never seen it this empty before?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, never.
ALBANO MARTINS, ECONOMIST: I never saw something like this.
WATSON: Albano Martins is a Portuguese economist long based in Macau.
MARTINS: You go to the streets, I never saw streets empty. You go to the main square, totally empty. I never saw this in my life and I am here from
1981, so too long. Never. I think people are scared. Maybe scared because of the speed of these infections.
WATSON: The Macau authorities say they have been rounding up every visitor from the Chinese province of Hubei, the origin of the coronavirus. Those
people get a choice, either leave the territory or go into quarantine. But they're drawing a line when it comes to the critical engine of the city's
economy.
Would one of your health measures be to close the casino?
We do not rule out this possibility, the city's economy secretary tells me. But at this point in time, the casinos in Macau are totally safe.
For now, Macau's glittering gambling houses are still open. But like the rest of China, this city is struggling with a new virus, and everyone here
agrees this is just the beginning of the crisis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON: Becky, Macau authorities say that two people have been diagnosed with coronavirus across the boundary in the mainland Chinese city of
Zhuhai. But that is important because they both cross that boundary and typically work within the enormous casino industry here. So that is raising
more red flags here about potential threats to this very critical industry here. Otherwise, the schools here in Macau have been shut indefinitely.
People are being advised not to gather in large groups.
This former Portuguese colony really feels like a ghost town. The reports are that the hotels which would normally be full nearly to 100 percent
capacity are now at 50 percent capacity at the end of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. Becky?
ANDERSON: No, that is incredibly important reporting by Ivan on the ground. Ivan, thank you. We get back to you, David. As we saw in Ivan's reporting
there, there have been ghostlike scenes in Macau and across numerous cities in fact. Monday though, is meant to be back to business day in Beijing.
What are you expecting at this point?
CULVER: Right. Officially it is because they extended the Lunar New Year until today, and so the holiday ends and then back to business. But not
really because you've got businesses, Becky, that are suggesting their employees stay home and work from home. Schools, like Ivan pointed out in
Macau, likewise here, they're indefinitely closed. The tourism industry is shuttered as well.
Just over my shoulder here the backdrop, the Forbidden City, can't visit there, can visit a part of the Great Wall. So it's still going to be
relatively quiet, we anticipate, and really you still have this cloud of uncertainty looming over this.
And what we've seen over the past few days now, Becky, is that Mainland China as a whole, this country of 1.4 billion people has become
increasingly isolated, and it feels as though this country is in a globally imposed quarantine.
[10:10:46]
ANDERSON: David Culver is in Beijing, Ivan, of course, in Macau. To both of you, thank you. And keeping effects banged up today on the very latest
global response to this story. Israel, the latest to ban travelers coming in from China. That just into CNN. Paranoia towards this virus, well, it's
circling the world but he's this scale of fear valid.
Let's bring in Dr. Albert Ko. He is an infectious disease physician, and professor, as well as Chair of the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial
-- sorry -- Diseases at Yale School of Public Health. He joins me now from New Haven, Connecticut via Skype. Sir, your title is impressive and quite
frankly difficult to pronounce, but anyway, there you go. I got myself through it but it's fantastic to have you on.
You are -- your insight tonight will be extremely valuable. The first case of coronavirus, of course, detected in central China in early December.
Just weeks later, it is a full-blown global emergency with more than 14,300 cases confirmed across the world. To those of us who aren't experts, that
sounds like a rapid rise. Do you also find that number alarming?
ALBERT KO, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MICROBIAL DISEASES, YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Thank you very much, Becky, for the invitation.
And yes, those numbers are alarming. And as well the speed that these numbers are increasing, are equally alarming. With respect to how this all
happened, you know, this was -- you know, this is all being fueled by human to human or person to person transmission, and as well as travel not only
within China but also internationally.
ANDERSON: So, firstly, just for anybody watching who, you know, who may be concerned, who may be traveling, who may live somewhere where there are an
awful lot of travelers, what's your advice at this point?
KO: So I think the most important is, you know, we're still learning a lot about the epidemic and how it's being spread from person to person. But I
think the key issues are the issues that many of the public health departments throughout the world including China are using. If you've had
contact with a person who conceivably had been affected or had signs of infection, to procure, you know, medical treatment to our medical
evaluations and to be evaluated properly by public health officials.
I think the one issue that's coming is with the spread, and the travel bans, and the quarantine, are the -- are the court -- the measures made by
countries such as the United States in terms of isolating evacuees or people returning for 14 days. And that's what we call the incubation
period, the period when the virus -- when someone's infected could conceivably develop symptoms.
ANDERSON: We -- thank you. I mean, this is -- this is really valuable. We've been talking about the fear, and there is an awful lot of fear
surrounding this virus. So far though, as I understand it, the mortality rate of this virus is actually fairly low in comparison to that of SARS,
for example, and certainly MERS, and in comparison, to flu. The flu that we all know about every year wherever we live in the world, it is nowhere near
the same amount of confirmed cases or deaths. Is that something that you are keen to ensure that people are aware of?
KO: Oh, yes. You know, Becky, I think, you know, obviously, there's a lot of fear, especially since this is a new virus, one that we haven't dealt
with before, one where we don't know how to prevent -- we're learning how to prevent, and hopefully, we'll be learning how to treat. With respect to
how severe this is in comparisons, this definitely less severe than SARS. The case fatality rates were larger.
And as we are investigating these cases and identifying not only the people who have severe infections that go into the hospital, but those in the
community in the general population, we're likely to find a lot of -- many people have been either infected and not show symptoms, but also have
infected and have mild symptoms. So even lowering what we now know is the, you know, case fatality rate based on numbers around two percent.
So this may approach as you -- as I think a good point that you raised, this may represent what we see in influenza where we do have many deaths
that occur but actually the case fatality rate or the proportion of people who get sick, who actually die is actually low.
[10:15:48]
ANDERSON: Sir, we'll have you back. You know, one hopes that this story will -- well, the virus will peak and that we won't need you back, but I'm
afraid it feels me as if we probably will for the time being. Thank you, sir.
KO: OK, thank you.
ANDERSON: Just a moment ago, Israel announcing its closing all air, sea, and land traffic incoming from China. The country's Prime Minister
insisting it's a case of, if not when the virus will eventually arrive. That's not the only place in this region of the Middle East slowing things
down with China. Oman and Saudi Arabia also suspending flights. They are neighbors to this country, the UAE that has had five confirmed cases so
far. Remember these actions cannot be taken lightly. China, a vast economic powerhouse across tourism, and many sectors. It's a country that has huge
buying power.
Well, buckle up it's going to be a busy few days in American politics. Democrats inch closer to a nominee and President Donald Trump touts his
successes which may include an acquittal. The details up next.
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ANDERSON: In the coming week in American politics will be a fork in the road, not a huge fork but a fork nonetheless. Here's why. Democrats will
see which road they take when the Iowa Caucuses, as they are known, begin on Monday is by no means a guarantee of a nomination. But the boost gives
Democratic candidates a roadmap for the near future.
Also on Monday, it's the end of the road for Donald Trump's impeachment trial as closing arguments begin. Senators will also get a chance to speak
about the trial. Then on Tuesday, the State of the Union in the same room where Democratic congressmen voted to impeach him, Mr. Trump will tell them
how good a job is doing. We'll see which road he is heading down in what is likely to be a relaunch of his reelection campaign.
Then on Wednesday, busy week this week, one of the campaign speed bumps will likely be moved out of the way. Senators will vote most likely to
acquit the president in what is the end of his impeachment trial. This after voting to not allow witnesses or any new information.
[10:20:37]
Well, just after that vote, the Justice Department revealed it has but he's not releasing two dozen e-mails on Mr. Trump's role in the Ukraine aid
freeze. So with what is a busy and critical week ahead, where is Mr. Trump? Golfing at his Florida the resort. He tweeted out this picture of himself
on the link Saturday with the caption, "getting a little exercise this morning."
Well, we are covering this from A to Z, but mostly Z's. Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny joining us from Iowa and CNN Political Analyst
Julian Zelizer is a New York. Hello, chaps. Thanks for joining us. Jeff, you are where the action is this Sunday. Politics now taking precedent over
impeachment, though some will say they are one in the same in the U.S. these days. Just take us up for this caucus Iowa this week. What's the
story?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, there is no question, elections in the United States are very long, but we are finally
at the end of the opening chapter and the voting is about to begin. It's going to be coming on Monday evening. Here in Des Moines, the Iowa
caucuses, as you said -- as you said is going to kick off the 2020 nominating process.
And look, all of the Democratic presidential candidates, at least the ones who are still left in this race are competing very aggressively here.
Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, who of course challenged Hillary Clinton four years ago, is still very much in this race.
Most people believe he's the leader of this race. So he is campaigning on a plan to really change directions and in his words, bring a revolution.
Now, Joe Biden, of course, you know, Barack Obama's Vice President, which he reminds people at every turn, is also campaigning quite aggressively
here trying to make up some ground. Then you have Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and others. So this is going to give us a sense of
the, you know, the direction the Democratic Party is wanting to go.
This is not going to be the end of the story, the outcome here, but it is going to be the beginning of the story in terms of how long this nominating
contest is going to last. And if Bernie Sanders pulls out a victory here, as many Democrats I'm talking to believe he will, it is a signal that the
Democratic establishment could be in for some trouble here with Bernie Sanders.
So Iowa starts it tomorrow, and then on to New Hampshire next week. Again, very long elections here in the U.S. as you know, Becky.
ANDERSON: Why is -- why would (INAUDIBLE) is a Bernie Sanders victory in Iowa a problem to the Democratic infrastructure as it were? Can you just
explain that to our international viewers?
ZELENY: Sure. I mean, Bernie Sanders has never been a member of the Democratic Party. He's been an independent senator from Vermont. He is
campaigning in pretty equal measure taking on the Democratic establishment and the Republican establishment. Of course, he votes -- his votes are much
more aligned with the Democratic philosophy, the Democratic school of thought, but it definitely worries the establishment Democrats like the,
you know, from the Clinton school, if you will, about a Bernie Sanders nominee.
I mean, we are still seeing the remnants of that feud from four years ago, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and in fact, it's still playing out
here this weekend. One of Senator Sanders' top supporters, a Congresswoman from Michigan Rashida Tlaib was booing Hillary Clinton just yesterday, so
extraordinary that a Democratic member of Congress booing Hillary Clinton the last nominee, and she's supporting Bernie Sanders.
So much bad blood here between the Sanders campaign and some of the Democratic establishment. Some think he can't beat Donald Trump. Bernie
Sanders says no, no, I'm the only one who can beat President Trump because he believes he can draw new people to the process, younger people to the
process.
So we'll see how this plays out here. But the Democrats -- the establishment Democrats are watching Bernie Sanders in some respect with a
bit of dread.
ANDERSON: Yes. It'll be interesting to see how things turn out and whether a win for Bernie Sanders is as important as a loss as it were for Joe Biden
at this point.
ZELENY: Indeed.
ANDERSON: Julian, the Web site Real Clear Politics has just released a poll of polls on President Trump's job approval. And I've got a point to this.
While nearly 45 percent do approve of the job is doing, more than half disapprove of how he is handling the jobs. These numbers are on average
from 13 different recent poll. His campaign team will spin that as they will, but ultimately to your mind, what does this say for President Trump
and how does he stack up as he enters the next phase of this political drama as it were?
[10:25:24]
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Those poll numbers continue to show his vulnerability. This is not a president despite a good economy, despite
relative calm overseas, who has totally capitalized on this situation. He struggles with his national approval ratings. He's never gotten over the 50
percent mark. He's never had a high point. It's always been in the 40s. And so this is something Democrats have their eye on.
The flip side is his support within the Republican Party is not only strong, it's wildly enthusiastic. And so his whole electoral strategy
depends on solidifying and retaining that Republican support and then maybe winning over some Democrats or Independents but not many.
So he's willing to live with those approval ratings. But it does point to why Democrats have a really viable path to winning into 2020.
ANDERSON: With that, we're going to have to leave it there, folks. Thank you though, to both of you. I got some breaking news out of London for you.
Armed officers have shot a man in what they are describing as a terror- related incident. London's Met, that is the Metropolitan Police, said a number of people were stabbed. It happened in Streatham. That is in the
city's south. I'm going to get you more information as we get it. We will be back with more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:13]
ANDERSON: Want to just get you back to some breaking news out of London.
Armed officers have shot a man, in what they described as a terror-related incident to London's -- Metropolitan Police, say a number of people were
stabbed. It happened in Streatham, in the city's south.
This is some of the first video just coming into, as you can see, police and ambulances on the scene. And we've got reporters heading to the scene
for you. And we'll bring you more information as we get it. Not sure if we've got that video. If we haven't got it now, we'll get it to you
momentarily.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYMAN ODEH, LEADER, JOINT LIST OF ARAB PARTIES (through translator): The loyal Palestinian people are rising up against the deal of the century
because it does not aim to establish a small Palestinian state next to Israel, but aims to end the Palestinian calls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Arab-Israelis coming out on mass set against the U.S. and its Middle East plan. Let me put it another way. Coming out against Donald
Trump's peace to prosperity plan, chanting Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.
And they're not the only ones voicing frustration. Members of the Arab League as an umbrella organization of 22 Arab countries slamming the plan
of the meeting in Egypt on Saturday. Calling it, "a setback to peace efforts exerted throughout the past three decades."
In fact, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, warning he would sever security ties with both Israel and the United States if the plan were to be
implemented.
Well, CNN's Sam Kiley, reporting on this story. He's been doing it for decades -- joining us now from Jerusalem.
We've got two stories here. The effect of the Arab League to rejection of the plan, what, if anything, will that -- how significant is that on the --
on the situation at present, Sam? And what people telling you on the ground?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, in terms of the Arab League position, this will come with some relief to the Palestinians
because there had been some private consternation among the Palestinians about a lack of support in their rejection of this plan, with language
coming from the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and others, suggesting that this was a plan worth considering.
The Arab League now seemed to have tossed it out. And as you're saying there, Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian authority, threatening
to suspend security cooperation. Now, that will also come with some relief to the nearly 7 million -- sorry, nearly 3 million Arab-Israeli citizens of
Israel itself, who are very concerned about a clause in this proposal, Becky, which proposes it doesn't exist. It proposes that there's some
annexation of Israeli land into a future Palestinian state.
Effectively, a population transfer of people who identify themselves as Palestinians, but are nonetheless Israeli citizen. This has been their
response.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY: Israelis demonstrating against Donald Trump's peace plan, which he believes could lead to a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but they're
not Jewish, their ethnic Arabs, and make up about 21 percent of Israel's population.
They're saying no to a plan, which, among other things, proposes redrawing the boundaries of a future Palestinian state.
Among the proposals coming from the Trump administration is to incorporate Israelis who identify as Palestinians into a future Palestinian state. That
means moving the boundaries between the two, from there, maybe to here.
Now, that's a journey of only about a mile. But it incorporates a population of about 50,000 people that's in this town of Taybeh alone. The
total number of people who could end up being moved into a new Palestine could be over 250,000, human rights groups say.
Dr. Jaber-Awida's family has lived on this boundary between Israel and the West Bank for decades.
So, if there was going to be a movement of Palestinian ownership, if this town was going to be moved into a future Palestinian state, that fence
effectively would have to be moved from there to somewhere over there.
AMANI JABER-AWIDA, SOCIOLOGIST: Yes, yes, certainly.
KILEY: And how many people in your town?
AWIDA: We have about 50,000 people, Palestinian people living in Taybeh.
KILEY: Who gets fenced into a new Palestinian state?
[10:35:02]
AWIDA: Yes, along with the other neighboring -- you know, towns.
KILEY: These youngsters are Israelis. Removing their citizenship could violate the Geneva Conventions.
Ahmad Tibi leads the mainly Arab Joint List. It's the third-largest bloc in Israel's parliament.
AHMAD TIBI, HEAD, ARAB JOINT LIST: It's racist because they are sending signal and the message for the Arab citizens of the state of Israel.
Because you are saying that you are Palestinians, you can be moved or transfer for other sovereignty, so ridiculous, and so un-Jewish.
KILEY: The ruling Likud Party has authorized only Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comment on the Trump plan. It includes the U.S. green light
for unilateral annexation of Jewish settlements on the West Bank and of the Jordan Valley.
Netanyahu stood next to Trump when he said the plan will double the amount of land on the Palestinian control.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Mr. President, Israel wants the Palestinians to have a better life. We want them to have a future of
national dignity, prosperity, and hope. Your peace plan offers the Palestinian such a future. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians a
pathway to a future state.
KILEY: But these Israeli citizens are insisting that they don't want to be forced into being part of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY: Now, Becky, it was today that the Israeli Cabinet was going to begin meeting and discussing the annexation of the West Bank -- sorry, of the
Jordan Valley and the settlements on the West Bank. But that meeting has not gone ahead perhaps because as we've heard from the United States, they
don't want to see that happening until after Israel's elections, in the beginning of March, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Sam. Then, is in Jerusalem with the important story on the ground there.
My next guest, Aaron David Miller has worked with various U.S. administrations for the past 20 odd years on the Arab-Israeli peace plans,
many he says were unsuccessful, even half baked. he says. He joins me now live from Washington.
Sir, given your wealth of experience briefly, and I want to get into the sort of details as we move on. But briefly, in the first instance, how
would you describe this new piece to prosperity, prosperity plan from the White House?
AARON DAVID MILLER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: I mean, Becky, full disclosure, as you pointed out, I've drafted my fair share of certainly
some were half baked, most weren't successful stuff problem.
But I have to say, this one is far more ill-advised, Ill-timed, and ill- conceived in any U.S. initiative, I think. That's been drafted in the history of the Arab-Israeli peace process. And in large part, it was done
six weeks before the third election, and barely a year in a dysfunctional Israeli political system without any consultation, coordination, or
capacity to take into the needs and requirements of the Palestinians is not a one hand clapping process.
And finally, against the backdrop of an impeachment trial, 10 months before a U.S. presidential election, one of the most consequential in American
history, I mean, if you wanted to find a peace plan, both in time and content was more designed in a laboratory to fail, you couldn't have come
up with a better plan than the one they announced.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Well, before crafting his Middle East peace plan, Jared Kushner, as I understand it, came to you for advice. You told him
four things. The U.S. can't resolve this alone. Don't forget the past. Don't be in Israel's lawyer. And four, he asked you a question. As I
understand it, it was the following, what would success look like?
What did you say to him and do elaborate, if you will, on some of these points?
MILLER: You know, the reality is as important as the U.S. role has been. And in many respects, Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, Israeli-Jordanian
peace treaty, we really have played a positive role, but we've made many, many mistakes.
The core issue, though, is not what Mr. Kushner does or doesn't do. The reality is that Israeli and Palestinian leaders face critically important
decisions, they're tough decisions. These two leaders, Mahmoud Abbas, and Benjamin Netanyahu are either unable or unwilling to make them.
So, number one, I said to Mr. Kushner, he is not going to succeed. He could make the problem worse if he's not careful. The second, I said, don't
ignore the past, don't be imprisoned by it, but at least, take into account where Israelis and Palestinians have been for decades.
[10:40:03]
MILLER: Otherwise, you're going to end up with a plan that isn't going to even begin to address the core needs and requirements. And third, don't be
Israel's lawyer, and we played that role too many times.
Kinzinger, Carter, and Baker, we managed, I think, to be effective mediators and brokers. But don't come up with a peace plan that basically
gives the Israelis almost everything they want, and essentially trivialize and diminishes and degrades Palestinian connections to Jerusalem and a
meaningful state.
And then, finally, he asked me what would constitute success. And I said flat out, here's -- here is my view. The day after you come out with this
initiative, if Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, Europeans, the entire international community says, you know, there's stuff in here we don't
like. But the fact is, we got to give the Trump administration credit.
They've actually created a putatively sustainable basis for a negotiation around which Israelis and Palestinians with a lot of help from a lot of
other folks can engage. He has not done that. And this is a gift it seems to me to the Israelis.
ANDERSON: Sure.
MILLER: It's a toy, but the toy lacks batteries. It's simply not going to operate.
ANDERSON: And it seems to me that you are suggesting a missed an opportunity. Look, they -- you know, the Arab League, its foreign ministers
rejecting the plan outright. But you could absolutely argue there are some contradictory positions, not least that have, for example, the UAE and
Egypt to name a couple. There is certainly momentum in some parts of the Arab world for something different for, at least, a new blueprint if you
like.
And what -- do you sense a sort of, you know, a number of trial balloons being tested here around this region to see whether, at least, in
principle, you can get people back to the table at this point?
MILLER: I think the Arab world has changed, Becky, I think it's far more consumed with its own internal contradictions and challenges arising Iran,
the emergence of transnational Sunni Jihadist, have shifted priorities.
Key Arab states are exhausted with the Palestinians. They're frustrated, and above all, it's extraordinary. And frankly, with all due respect to the
Arab League, what that statement, frankly, is much less resin than what the Saudis, the Emiratis, the Qataris, the Egyptians, Jordanians, who have a
fundamental existential stake in this that the others don't.
It really depends on what they're telling the Trump administration. And nobody, for reasons that are hard for me to understand, maybe not, wants to
alienate or dis Donald Trump. So, you have a situation in which the administration is pocketing tepid reactions from key Arab states. That
suggests that, in fact, the plan has life.
And frankly, if you took the concept of Palestinian statehood, if you took the concept of Jerusalem as a capital of a Palestinian state, and you gave
it real definition and real meaning, and tried to find a basis for negotiation based not on imbalance of power, but on a balance of interests
that basically tried to meet the core needs of each side, you might actually have something.
But this plan was not intended to produce a negotiation. It was intended to satisfy the electoral requirements of both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Trump. And
finally, I think, to create and refrain American policy toward the Israeli Palestinian situation in a way that essentially validates most of Israeli
political and security concerns.
And frankly, yes, we have a special relationship with Israel. Yes, they're an American ally. But the reality is that relationship turns, turns to be
an exclusive one, where we ignore our own credibility and capacity to play the role of an effective broker. It's not going to work.
ANDERSON: Got it. It's always a pleasure having you on, sir. Thank you, Aaron David Miller.
Taking a very short break, back with the following residents returned home to find ravaged homes as Australia's bushfires continue to burn. But the
capital has lifted its state of emergency, at least, for now.
[10:44:53]
ANDERSON: Plus, we are only hours away from Super Bowl LIV. We'll have a preview of a few big moments expected during what is America's biggest
football game. Back, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, I want to get you back to the breaking news out of London for you. The officers have shot a man in what they are describing as a
terror-related incident London's met.
Now, the Metropolitan Police say a number of people were stabbed. Now, this happened in Streatham. That is in the city's south, sometimes described as
southeast, other times described as Southwest, it is almost directly south of the center of London.
And this is some of the first video coming into. As you can see, police and ambulances at the scene, and we've got reporters heading there. And of
course, you can rely on us get you more information as and when we get it.
But an incident there, described as terror-related in South London that is Streatham. That's the area where this is you can see there the emergency
services both the police and the ambulance services arriving at what is and has been described as a terror-related incident. More on that folks as we
get it.
Well, this photo is hard to forget, isn't it? 19 months year-old -- 19- month-old Harvey Keaton, sucking a dummy while wearing a firefighter uniform. He was given a bravery medal to honor his father, Geoffrey Keaton,
one of two firefighters who lost their lives battling the massive Green Wattle Creek fire.
That fire west of Sydney is now finally contained two months after it ignited, burning more than 278,000 hectares. But just keep this in mind
that is just one of the many fires in Australia's horrendous prolonged bushfire season that is still raging.
It began back in July last year. Yes, it's a long time ago. It has killed 33 people and an estimated billion animals. That is 1 billion animals,
burning close to 12 million hectares.
Now, the country's capital spent this weekend in the state of emergency, cautiously, lifting that just a few hours ago. The state's chief minister
warning that the threat was not yet over.
Now, for those who have lost their homes this weekend, this news will bring very little relief and doesn't change the fact that their homes are now
ashes. Our Australia affiliate, Nine Network, spoke to residents in Australia's central territory returning home today to see what is left.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, NINE NEWS REPORTER: An orange sunrise overbred bush shrouded in smoke. Crews working through the night and into the morning,
battling a fire that can only be described as savage. In nearby Bumbalong, its left its devastating mark.
Annika Safe and her family returned to find the remains of their home. Of more concern, they didn't get their animals out.
[10:50:02]
ANNIKA SAFE, RESIDENT, BUMBALONG, AUSTRALIA: We're just looking for any other animals, we've gotten seeing what we've got left of our property. I
knew it'd be hard but I didn't think it would be this hard. Yes.
WYNN-WILLIAMS: But, a moment of joy, two of the family's goats turning up safe and well, and ready for a feed.
David Davies watch the fire come down from the northwest at a speed and ferocity he's never seen before. He says it was war.
DAVID DAVIES, RESIDENT, BUMBALONG, AUSTRALIA: There was hate. They were explosions. There was flying -- I came over here this morning expecting so
you know, houses. How people didn't die, he just stays behind me.
WYNN-WILLIAMS: The strain of this summer is reaching over everyone and the land right now fire is -- are dealing with flare-ups down the valley and
that wind is back, make no mistake, the battle lines are still drawn.
It's a battle driven by the Rural Valley fire that started in the ACT and cross the border. This shot from a plane shows that fire inching its way
towards Canberra's southern suburbs, having already burned down 23 percent of the ACT'S landmass.
ANDREW BARR, CHIEF MINISTER, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: There's still days and possibly weeks of firefighting ahead of us.
WYNN-WILLIAMS: Containment lines are now in place between tower in Canberra's southern suburbs. Near Candelo, in the bigger valley, Ben
Lawrence left his property yesterday, deciding It couldn't be defended. He returned today fearing the worst.
BEN LAWRENCE, RESIDENT, CANDELO, AUSTRALIA: But I guess until you get your eyes on your own -- on your own property, it's kind of hard to imagine what
could be there waiting for you.
WYNN-WILLIAMS: Waiting for him, a property scorched around the edges, but with no major damage. Others nearby, not so lucky, the remnants in a
growing toll of homes lost.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, it's been a week since NBA legend Kobe Bryant's death. The basketball icon, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed
last Sunday in a helicopter crash.
In just hours from now, on one's arguably America's biggest sporting event of the year. The NFL plans to honor his memory in the Super Bowl half time
show. And that means that Super Bowl Sunday is finally here, almost 100 million Americans tuned in for it last year. The Kansas City Chiefs and the
San Francisco 49ers will go head to head for the World Championship in Miami.
CNN's Andy Scholes joins us right from there. And the Super Bowl is such a big deal. I wonder if you can just explain why and how important it is you
saying there will be this tribute to Kobe Bryant this year?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Becky, they'll definitely be a touching moment during this game. The NFL said they're going to do
something they didn't elaborate on the details. I imagine it'll be a moment of silence and something before the game. And then, Jennifer Lopez and
Shakira commented during their press conference that they will be doing something during the halftime show, to honor Kobe Bryant.
[10:55:00]
SCHOLES: And I'd -- and I'd tell you what, this has got shaping up to be a pretty awesome Super Bowl. The Chiefs, the Niners, two of the best teams in
the NFL. They both been playing amazing coming into this game. And as you can see, the weather is beautiful here in the city of Miami. Setting up
just in a very anticipated Super Bowl and that's definitely showing in the ticket prices for this game.
Becky, the cheapest seat to get in for a nosebleed upper deck seat right now is going for more than $6,000 on the secondary market. It's going to go
down as one of the most expensive tickets in Super Bowl history.
Now, when the game gets going, all eyes are going to be on Chief superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He's really become one of the NFL most marquee
players in the entire league, a lot of people looking forward to see how he performs in his very first Super Bowl.
The 49ers, on the other hand, Becky, one of the most storied franchises in the entire league trying to win their sixth title. We'll see who comes out
on top today here in Miami.
ANDERSON: Good luck to those with nosebleed upper deck seats. What a description. Nice, thanks, mate.
I'm Becky Anderson. We'll be back after the break with more CONNECT THE WORLD for you. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END