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Refugees Flood Turkey's Border With Greece; U.S. And Taliban Sign Deal To End Forever War; Voters Facing Third Election In Less Than A Year; South Korean Religious Group Under Pressure As Cases Linked; New Cases Sprouting Up Across Europe; Jailed British-Iranian Mother Believes She Has Virus. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired March 01, 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]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, you can't go over them. You can't go under them. You can't even go around them. No, not the tearing

walls of the Old City, but these simple immovable facts of Israel's daunting political arithmetic.

Yes, indeed, hello and welcome to a special coverage of a string of elections so extraordinary and so an ending that they call it the Israel's

Brexit out here. I'm Becky Anderson here at Jaffa Gate and Jerusalem. And just hours from now, for the third time in a year, millions of people will

have a gold finally picking a new government. We are going to connect all the important threads together for you. And that is why we are right here

as ever.

Keeping itself safe in what is this troubled neighborhood, always the underlying pretext of any vote, not least here in Israel. In this hour

right next door, we're watching a new phase unfold in Syria's Civil War. Turkey's deadline for Russian backed government troops to withdraw from

near its borders now passing. But instead of going all out on Russia, looking to leverage itself it seems elsewhere, Turkey's president opening

his borders, encouraging refugees to cross into Europe through Greece.

Well, Arwa Damon is on the Turkey-Greece border with refugees and she joins us now live. Arwa?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky. And according to the IOM, there's about 13,000 of them that have made their way

up to the 200 kilometer stretch of border between Turkey and Greece. Scattered throughout all of it, in some areas you find them in bigger

clusters, and some areas smaller ones like you have here. And then people kind of making their way back and forth from this main road towards the

border.

But that is a border Becky, that is shots. And they came here hoping to be able to cross. They're being shuttled around, pushed around from one

location to the next, looking for a way through.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON: They just spent a night cold and wet out in the open. And for what? A sliver of hope sparked by Turkey saying it would no longer stop refugees

crossing to Europe and facilitating their transport here to the border with Greece.

(INAUDIBLE) is the sole survivor of a bombing that killed the rest of his family in Syria.

DAMON: They thought it was open. They thought the whole border was open.

It's not. Greece is not letting anyone through.

But it's quite chaotic. It's quite intense. People are just trying to bust through towards what they think is going to be a better life.

Europe doesn't want them, never really has. Striking a financial aid deal with Turkey back in 2016 that it never fully paid up on to stem the refugee

flooded. Turkey hosting upwards of 3.5 million refugees mostly from Syria has long threatened to open the gates if left to shoulder the refugee

burden alone. And now, Turkey is even more anchored by the West's refusal to support it in Idlib with anything more than rhetoric.

Many here are aware they are being used as leverage. The tear gas wafts over and mixes with smoke from multiple fires as those who are trying to

stay warm. Samita's husband was killed in Iraq by ISIS. She came to Turkey with her children, elderly mother, and disabled brother. Where are we

supposed to go? Then she wonders.

This Syrian mother doesn't want to talk. When we ask how she's doing. She just strokes her child's face. It's all horribly reminiscent of the

desperation we witnessed years ago as throngs cross through Europe. At night, we meet some of those who tried to cross the river to Greece, but

failed.

Greek authorities denied this, but Khalid from Idlib says the Greeks forced him back, tore up his I.D., and took his phone.

He hasn't spoken to his parents in almost four weeks. And there in Idlib, there in the camps, he's worried about them. And now he has no way of

getting in touch with them.

This family from Afghanistan says the same thing happened to them. But even worse, they were separated from their men.

[10:05:04]

Her father, your brother, her husband, are over there, and you're stuck here. They are scared, vulnerable, alone, burning discarded clothing, not

knowing where to go or how to find those they love. What are they supposed to do when their misery and desperation has become little more than a

political weapon?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Hi, Becky. We've just been talking to those people here including this family with the baby, and they're telling us that the same thing happened

to them when they actually somehow was able to get across. They say that they managed to actually somehow get through the border, they crossed over

to Greece, but then they were caught and forced back to come into Turkey. And now they feel as if they're just stuck in limbo being played by all

sides.

ANDERSON: Arwa Damon in on the border. Arwa, thank you. Well, everything in the Middle East interlinked. While Israel watches the war and takes part in

it in some ways, it's Jordan, a neighbor to both Syria and Israel that's bearing the brunt of the Syrian refugee crisis. I sat down with the

country's Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, to ask him about his country's views on the conflict. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OMAR RAZZAZ, PRIME MINISTER OF JORDAN: Jordan has been consistent on Syria, as it has been on Iraq, as it has been on Libya, as has it been on the

Israeli-Palestinian. The territorial integrity is very important. Factions, opposite factions sitting around the table is very important. And really

de-escalation is very important. And all of this is for the sake of the population of these countries.

Jordan is at the receiving end of waves of refugees, in the case of Syria 1.3 million, mostly women and children, traumatized by this by what they

have seen. And what do you think his majesty, the King's instruction was to the government and I was the Minister of Education at the time? It was no

child left behind. Wherever they come from, they'd be absorbed in our schools.

Immediately, this resulted in overcrowding of our schools and opening second shifts and third shifts and what have you. But the Jordanian

population realize that we do this because we have -- we've done this before, we know what it's like, and this is our role. We then appeal to the

countries of the world. We were not part of the Syria crisis. We are neither the regional powers that created conflict there, nor the

international powers.

ANDERSON: I know the foreign minister tweeted recently about a meeting he had with his Russian counterpart where he applauded the economic

cooperation as he called it in good relations, and said that they had -- they had talks about Syria. What is the prospect for an environment in

Syria which would be suitable, as far as Jordan is concerned, to invite those Syrian refugees who are hosted here to go home?

RAZZAZ: When that happens, we will do everything within our means to help the Syrian refugees be rehabilitated into their own communities. We will

not push them across the border. But we will do our best to create that kind of welcoming environment that would allow them to transfer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, that is Jordan's Omar Razzaz. Next out, the Prime Minister's take on Mr. Trump's Middle East peace plan. As we watch the war

in Syria get worse, America's so-called forever war in Afghanistan looks to wrap up. American troops have been fighting this since 2001. Indeed, if you

were born in that year, you're now more than old enough to go there as a soldier.

The U.S. and the Taliban just signed a historic agreement in Doha on Saturday, paving the way or certainly setting the way for a full withdrawal

of foreign troops from Afghanistan within 14 months. And U.S. President Donald Trump says he will soon meet with Taliban leaders in a bid to end

America's longest war.

CNN's International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson is in Doha, where this agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan was hammered out. And Nick just

described the atmosphere if you will, and indeed what happens next.

[10:10:01]

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, look, I think the atmosphere was one that was full of hope. There's a lot of people who

hadn't seen each other for many years, particularly with the Taliban and other interlocutors coming together here. Of course, key and all of this

were the talks between the Taliban and the U.S., the agreement that the Taliban have committed to go after al-Qaeda and ISIS inside Afghanistan.

The U.S. for their part, going from about 1,000 -- rather 13,000 U.S. troops at the moment over the next 135 days, dropping that down to about

8,600. A full withdrawal over the next 14 months conditional on the Taliban meeting their part.

But I think instrumental in all of this as well as been the role of Qatar and providing a location for these talks. Seven years ago, they let some

senior Taliban leaders released from Gitmo detention to come here, set themselves up in Qatar, and use that as a base to, in essence, sort of open

shop for the Taliban. And that grew into a location for talks with U.S. officials over a year ago which grew into the outcome this signing that

we've seen.

And Doha does expect to continue to play a role. And why is that? Because it will be part of making sure that the Taliban keep good on that

commitment after more than 20 years to turn on al-Qaeda.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL THANI, FOREIGN MINISTER, QATAR: In the agreement, there are specific criteria that shows and demonstrate how they

can be able to prove that they are going to sever the ties with al-Qaeda and there is an operation which is located here in Doha that will be held

jointly by the U.S., and Taliban, and the observation of Qatar, to make sure that all the parts of the agreements are adhering to these

commitments.

ROBERTSON: What convinces you that the Taliban have changed from the people they were before who thought they could find a way to victory?

AL THANI: Well, it's not a matter of what's convinced us but it's really a matter of how we can make sure that within the agreement, there are clear

measures that identifying how we can monitor this agreement in a way that's delivered by both parties.

All of us, we have to stay watching, we have to keep our -- to keep our eyes open, and to make sure that the agreement is implemented and everyone

is adhere to the commitments they puts on their selves.

ROBERTSON: And the role of Qatar to help oversee that, to help administer that, to help monitor that change, how would that role work?

AL THANI: Qatar will be a facilitator in this. We'll make sure that if there is any disagreement between the parties throughout the implementation

of the negotiation, that we can look at it and advise both parties to have a solution on these disagreements and these hiccups which we expect to have

in the future. But we spend a lot of time during the negotiation and making sure that the agreement is clear and the criteria are clear to be fulfilled

by both parties.

And when we are talking specifically about the counterterrorism criteria, which is regarding al-Qaeda and others, there are clear mechanisms for this

to be monitored than to be -- to be implemented. And if there is anything goes wrong, we believe the entire agreement will be in jeopardy because all

of it is connected together.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: So high stakes there of Qatari Foreign Minister telling us that. But I've also sat down here in Doha with a member of the Taliban

negotiating team, there are 19 man negotiating team negotiating over the past year or so with the United States. And I said to him, you know, have

you defeated the United States? And the reason I asked that question was because that's what they've been telling their foot soldiers, this is what

he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Does the Taliban believe the United States has been defeated militarily?

MUHAMMED SUNAIL SHAHEEN, MEMBER OF THE TALIBAN NEGOTIATION TEAM: We Solution through talks. That means when you reach a solution through talks,

that means it is a win-win situation for both sides.

ROBERTSON: Why should the United States trust you now when you say that you will now go after al-Qaeda and go after ISIS, because the Taliban have been

allowing al-Qaeda to live inside their territory in Afghanistan for the past 20 years?

SHAHEEN: It is our policy that anyone who wants to use the side of Afghanistan for their goals against other country and harm our country, our

people, we will not allow them.

ROBERTSON: When it comes to al-Qaeda, are you turning your back on your Muslim brothers of many years of many decades to support the United States,

a Christian country, and their national security.

[10:15:01]

SHAHEEN: It is a question of our policy that if someone harm other countries from Afghanistan and on our territory, and we have declared a law

that they should not do this, it means that we have to take steps to prevent them because this is law.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Well, Becky, the foreign minister --

ANDERSON: You also spoke to Qatar's foreign minister about Donald Trump's vision for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. What did he tell you?

ROBERTSON: Yes. He said on this issue, that he believes that the United States' commitments and efforts are good, but they have very clear line for

Qataris, as he says, as the other Arab states have very clear lines on this Mideast peace plan, the so-called deal of the century. And that doesn't

meet the criteria that's been laid down so far by the United States. This is how he explained it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AL THANI: We thank United States and we thank all the efforts in the international communities who are trying to think a solution -- about a

solution to bring peace and to end this conflict. But I think it's very important to have both parties involved when they engage in the peace

proposal.

ROBERTSON: So your advice to the -- your advice to Palestinians is to see this as a starting point and to negotiate?

AL THANI: At the end of the day, it's a negotiation process. I believe everybody should welcome all the opportunities for negotiation between both

the Israelis and the Palestinians. And the Palestinians, by the way, they demonstrated their commitment for direct negotiation. But unfortunately, we

have been seeing that the Israeli's, time after time, they were the ones who would refuse to engage with the Palestinians directly. And we hope that

after their election that they will have an engagement between both countries.

ROBERTSON: And if the Israeli government decides to annex the Jordan Valley?

AL THANI: Well, I think this will undermine the entire peace process. And I don't think -- we don't see the annexation as a legitimate move by the

Israelis. We have condemned this is the international community, condemned annexation of additional territories by the Israeli's.

ROBERTSON: But if they do it, what happens?

AL THANI: If they do it, we just see it as backward and the peace process and it won't help at all. It will be a counterproductive. And we believe

the United States also is encouraging the Israeli's not to -- not to start any annexation and to engage in negotiations. This is the position we are

getting from them as well.

ROBERTSON: Well, I talked to him as well about the Israeli elections tomorrow where you are, Becky, and he said they'll be watching. But of

course, this is an Israeli issue, and they know it's a tight race, but they don't think the outcome of it will particularly change things in the

region. I think that's the big takeaway. Becky?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Yes. Absolutely fascinating. Nic in Doha. Thank you, Nic. As you just heard from Qatar there, the eyes of this region and so the world, very

much falling on what is about to happen here in Israel. Of course, the Israelis have got to vote on Monday, but whoever finally breaks the

deadlock, does it really matter on the big issues? We'll look into that up next.

And if you can't imagine a more difficult election, well, America's race to pick someone's take on Donald Trump just might be it. The latest results

from South Carolina are just ahead.

[10:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. It is 5:20 here in Jerusalem. You're watching a special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD. That is the Jaffa Gate behind us. If

at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That might as well be a political motto here in Israel with candidates in their positions largely

unchanged, policies and points of contention entrenched, and voters seeming to want to stick to where they are at. Can anyone really break the

political deadlock here?

Well, to unpack the mess, Oren Liebermann is in the house for you. Here we go again, Oren. You know, they say that the third time is charm. Will it be

for anyone here in Israel?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, I would suggest a different quote to start off discussing Israel's third election in 11

months, that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Last round of election polls saw the same thing they did back in September, that Israel is headed for more political deadlock, and that is being led by

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite all that stands against him, including criminal indictments, is still the front runner right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIEBERMANN: He's a magician they shout, and this is his stage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting on a show entrancing the crowd with

another round of election wizardry, keeping the focus on his accomplishments and away from his corruption cases.

For Netanyahu, this election is all about voter turnout. He's trying to bring 300,000 more votes that he says he needs to win this election. It

seems it's no longer about trying to pull votes from other parties, instead it's trying to reach out to his voter base, getting them to come out and

try and get them to bring their friends and family out. That's the trick he'll us to try to win this election.

There are 6.5 million eligible voters in Israel but some two million didn't cast a ballot in each of the last two elections, more than enough to swing

an election in either direction. And that's where Netanyahu is looking.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER, ISRAEL (through translator): You need to go to your friends who are not going to vote, who think that it doesn't

make a difference. It does make a difference. We are in a range of two to three mandates from forming a government.

LIEBERMANN: His campaign signs say go out and vote. Victory depends only on you. At nightly campaign rallies, Netanyahu pulls people on stage and has

them call their friends who stayed home in the last election, telling them to vote on March 2nd. He tells the White House's deal of the century as his

accomplishment, vowing annexation if he wins. But the campaign promise barely seems to move the needle.

The longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel's history, Netanyahu is also the first sitting Prime Minister to be indicted. He faces charges of

bribery and fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption probes. He has maintained his innocence and the upcoming trial has done little to

shake his voter base.

At campaign rallies, his voters chant, "We love you. We love you." But in two straight elections in April and September, it hasn't been enough. And

victory has been an illusion. But the longtime magician of Israeli politics, so far at least, cannot make real. But then again, his opponents

have also failed to clear him from the stage.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIEBERMANN: At this point, it's everyone. Not just Netanyahu focused on voter turnout. That means despite what's going against this election, that

is voter apathy, and now some fears over coronavirus, it couldn't be that in Israel's third election in 11 months, voter turnout will actually go up.

Who does that favor, Becky? We'll find out tomorrow.

ANDERSON: And if we know one thing about Benjamin Netanyahu, it is that he is likely to run or has in the past run and continues to run a divisive

campaign. Without naming him specifically, it seems his opponent, Benny Gantz is taking a swipe at him today saying this. "I will unite not divide.

I will include not incite. I will instill hope and not hate. That's Israel we know. That see Israel we need."

What is preventing Benny Gantz and Blue and White from pushing Netanyahu from the stage as you described is there in your report?

[10:25:39]

LIEBERMANN: At this point, it seems everyone is entrenched exactly how they were thinking and it's very difficult to shift votes. And that's why

Netanyahu, it seems, isn't focused on shifting votes anymore. He's focused on bringing voters out. Again, the numbers are there. There are some two

million people who don't vote in this country and can, frankly, if they were all to come out and vote for another party, that party would win.

Netanyahu is trying to take as much advantage of that as possible. He lost some 300,000 votes between April and September. And on the other side,

Gantz is trying to do exactly the same, get more people in his strongholds that is in the left-wing or centers central strongholds to come out and

vote.

But it's entrenched here. And the idea that Netanyahu has been in charge of this country for 10 years when the country is doing quite well, that's

something many Israelis are hanging on to as well as a loyalty to Netanyahu. And that makes it very difficult for Gantz to change who

Israel's Prime Minister is. But as we're about to find out tomorrow, he is certainly still trying.

ANDERSON: Oren, I have a feeling that we will see you here a little later on the show. But for those who can't wait for another dose of Oren, head to

the Web site, fill yourself in Oren's excellent analysis. That is at cnn.com. Well, I promised you, we'll be connecting every side of this story

in our special coverage from Jerusalem, and we will be doing exactly what the show says on the tin and do just that.

We speak to a member of the Blue and White party who naturally see this election as kind of black and white, vote for them and end the reign of

Netanyahu. Why though? We asked them. That's ahead.

And more cases of the novel coronavirus brought up across the Middle East and Europe linked back to Italy. If you're getting on a plane train, even a

bus soon, you will probably want to hear what we have coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:31:05]

ANDERSON: What a sight, hey. Welcome back to Jaffa Gate. Called a search because it said, it's a three-day walk to Jaffa from here. And speaking of

things coming in threes, just tomorrow morning, Israeli voters will head to the polls to pick who runs this place.

Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, it's the third election in less than a year. And unprecedented achievement is sought schools by unprecedented

political deadlock here.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger Benny Gantz have each tried to form a government with no success. Neither of their parties

will get a majority by itself, so, coalition talks will be crucial to reach that magic number of 61 seats in the Knesset.

Well, meantime, the World Health Organization raising its global risk alert of the novel coronavirus to its highest level. The group says this should

be a reality check for governments around the world to prepare.

U.S., Australia, and Thailand, now confirming their first deaths adding to the global death toll of almost 3,000. And the list of countries reporting

new cases is getting longer.

Here in Israel, seven cases in total. The government denies entry to dozens of foreign nationals from several countries. And Iran now reporting nearly

1,000 cases and 54 deaths. There are concerns that people are being infected in prisons.

This woman Nazanin Zaghari -Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian mother jailed in Iran on espionage charges. She believes she has the virus. She has not been

tested, and we have not heard from the government there.

Well, fears over the outbreak resulting in historic market lows. U.S. President Trump has put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of his

coronavirus task force. They are trying to calm investors and the public's worries.

He spoke with CNN's Jake Tapper earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Most people that contract the coronavirus, they will recover. They will deal with a respiratory

illness, we'll give them treatment. But for people that have other conditions that would militate toward a worse outcome that we could have

more -- we could have more sad news, but the American people should know, the risk for the average American remains low.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That's the Vice President Mike Pence. So, there seems to be new cases everywhere you look. South Korea reporting nearly 600 new cases,

bringing the total there to over 3,700. Nearly two-thirds of them linked to a single religious group.

Paula Hancocks reports that the outbreak is affecting the nation's youngest and most vulnerable.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we've had confirmation of the youngest patient yet here in South Korea. A 45-day-old

baby has been confirmed with -- testing positive for the novel coronavirus, this, according to Korea's CDC.

We understand the baby and the family is being quarantined at home at this point. And with these numbers rising all the time, we now know that around

60 percent of confirmed cases in this country are still surrounding and linked to this one particular religious group, Shincheonji.

Now, they've come under tremendous pressure here and criticism from the public, also from officials. And they've been on a bit of a P.R. offensive

this weekend fighting back. I spoke to one of them this Sunday morning. And the first question I asked was, how did it take a week to get from making

the link between the group and the virus to giving the full list of members to authorities?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM SHIN-CHANG, DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS FOR SHINCHEONJI (through translator): We tried as quickly as possible to provide all the info the

government has been asking for. Our administration efforts have been delayed. So, unfortunately, we may not have lived up to the expectations of

the people, but we did our best to provide it as quickly as possible.

[10:35:05]

HANCOCKS: But (INAUDIBLE) is reporting your group to the police for a meeting member's names and for hampering the fight against the virus. He

clearly doesn't think you've been transparent.

KIM: On the 25th, our headquarters give a list of all the members including domestic and overseas. I'm sure the Daegu City also received this and the

KCDC. And we also gave the list of all those have been educated at the centers on the 27th.

HANCOCKS: Mr., can you say your group has been very transparent? But we know that 600 police officers had to be drafted to try and track some of

the members down because they weren't answering phones.

This slows things down. I mean, this is -- this is the accusation that this has slowed down the fight to be able to stop the spread of this virus.

KIM: Within the list, we have those who are currently in the military, those who may be overseas for work, and those who have changed their

numbers and failed to report it to us, and those who were unable to pick up their phone because they were busy.

The authorities didn't take that into consideration and thought the members unreachable if they didn't pick up their phone twice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: The United States has also raised the alert level to the particular area of South Korea that's worst hit, which is Daegu and its

surrounding areas in the southeast of the country. They've raised it to level four, which means that Americans should not go to that area. Becky.

ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks, reporting for you. We'll new cases also spreading up around Europe. France advising against cheek kissing, the very normal

greeting there, of course. Our Ben Wedeman is in Milan in northern Italy, the epicenter of what is the largest outbreak outside of Asia.

And Ben, any evidence that Italian authorities are getting this thing under control, contained?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Certainly if you look at the numbers, Becky, it does appear that they haven't been able to sort

of slow down the increase yet.

Yesterday, when the Civil Protection Agency reported their figures at 6:00 p.m. local time, it was 1,128. We're expecting new figures within the next

hour and a half. And certainly, there will be more probably well over 200 at this point.

Now, one disturbing statistic that has come out is that 10 percent of those who have been afflicted with the coronavirus are medical personnel. And

that sort of numbers would suggest that the Italian authorities may have trouble in the future.

And dealing with, they also say, they're going to have a problem dealing with new cases because they are running out of, at least, here in Lombard,

in the Lombardy region, they're running out of beds in the intensive care units.

Now, looking across Europe, not only are the French advising their citizens not to kiss on the cheek, the Louvre, the most visited museum on earth

closed this Sunday. France has 100 reported cases and has seen two deaths.

In Ireland, they saw their first case of coronavirus. In the U.K., 12 new cases, and the government is considering the possibility of drafting

retired doctors and nurses if the need arises.

So, it does appear that throughout Europe, coronavirus continues to spread and that the medical services are challenged. Becky.

ANDERSON: Ben, away from Europe and into the Middle East and Iran. We know that is sort of become a petri dish as it were, for the spread of this

virus around this region that we're in here of the Middle East.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian mother jailed in Iran on espionage charges says that she believes she has contracted the

coronavirus. Ben, her husband saying that prison authorities are refusing to test her.

WEDEMAN: Yes, she's been in under arrest in Iran since 2016, accused of espionage. She's currently in the Evin Prison, which is the largest prison

in Tehran. And according to the Free Nazanin campaign, who had received a message from her, she is suffering from what appears to be the symptoms of

coronavirus. She has a sore throat, occasional fever, she doesn't feel well.

So, and it appears that the prison authorities are not basically checking her to see if indeed she has it. We understand that in the prison, the

authorities have stopped face to face visits between family members and the prisoners, but it does not appear that they are taking at least her case

particularly seriously. And the situation in Iran is really one for concern.

[10:40:03]

WEDEMAN: Now, officially, they report 978 cases of coronavirus and 52 deaths. That number of deaths compared to the cases is particularly high.

Well over the two percent that other areas have seen.

And BBC Persian reportedly spoke to a medical official in Iran, who says that the death toll is actually over 200. So obviously, Mrs. Zaghari-

Ratcliffe's situation in that prison is cause for serious concern for her husband, Richard, and for all of the family. Becky.

ANDERSON: Sure, of course.

Ben, thank you. Ben Wedeman is in Italy for you, reporting from then.

Now, the impact on the Chinese economy can be seen literally from space. Satellite images show pollution, dropping dramatically since the outbreak

started this businesses in factory shot.

Remember, we saw almost 800 million people under some kind of travel restrictions in the past month or so. That is one in 10 people on earth.

Remarkable, isn't it?

This is CNN. We'll be back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:46:18]

ANDERSON: Well, it's 61 votes. That is the magic number for Israeli politicians with voters heading to the polls here in the coming hours.

Welcome back to Jerusalem. Both Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and the Blue and White Party led by Benny Gantz are trying for the third time to

end this political deadlock.

Neither party has been able to win enough votes or form a coalition government in almost a year. One Blue and White Party member says there is

a sense of finality in this election that wasn't there before.

Ofer Shelah, a lawmaker for the party is with me now. How so sir, because, you know, when you take a look at the polls, they certainly reflect a sense

that this deadlock here continues.

OFER SHELAH, ISRAELI KNESSET MEMBER FOR BLUE AND WHITE PARTY: Well, I don't know. First of all, if you -- if you take into account the fact that there

were major changes between the April -- last April elections and the September elections, actually, Netanyahu's block, which we call the

immunity block, the block that he tried to form in order to avoid going to court actually shrank more than 10 seats.

And so, if that trend continues, and if politicians, especially Avigdor Lieberman, who said there will be no fourth elections, and he's actually

between the blocks. If they -- if he, you know, stands to the left as was word, then we may be able to form a government.

ANDERSON: Well, I applaud your optimism. It's very likely that if your party succeeds tomorrow, you will need to form a coalition government, of

course. Then, last September's election, Benny Gantz failed to form one. So, just explain to us what is different this time around.

SHELAH: A lot of it or all of it, of course, depends on turnout. And this, an unprecedented situations for Israelis or elsewhere, you know, going to

elections time after time, after time. So we were, at least -- at first, concerned that there's going to be a low turnout. I think our voters will

be there. They were there in September as well.

I think there's going to be a high turnout in general. And once again, if politicians are true to their word, if Avigdor Lieberman, who vowed that he

will not go with Netanyahu. You know, is true to his word, then we'll be able to reach the 61 number.

ANDERSON: You've said you support President Trump's deal of the century. But, you also spoke about one section saying. I want to quote you here,

"There is an obscene clause on land swaps in Israeli land populated by Arabs. There is no need to speak about this. And when Blue and White leads

the country, this clause will be removed from the agenda."

Clearly, the vision for peace that President Trump announced In January of this year, providing some context as to where or where -- we're not the

peace process might go next. But what's the part which is such a priority to you and for your party in that?

SHELAH: You know, there are -- these are two things. Actually this clause that you were talking about is not a major or even an integral part of the

plan. And it talks about something that to me is, you know, immoral. And that is removing Israeli citizens, (INAUDIBLE), Jews, or Arabs, from Israel

to the future Palestinian state.

And this will not happen if Blue and White is in power. This will not happen. Actually, after a while, even Prime Minister Netanyahu said that

this will not happen, but --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: Will annexation happen if Blue and White were in power anytime soon?

SHELAH: We see this -- the Trump plan, which has many positive aspects as far as Israel is concerned and in our view. We see it as a basis for an

agreement between us, the Palestinians, and a regional agreement between us and -- the Palestinians, and other stability seeking countries in the

region.

(CROSSTALK)

[10:50:13]

ANDERSON: So, you're talking about Jordan?

SHELAH: I'm talking about Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Gulf States, Egypt, and the P.A. OK? And maybe others, so --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: All of whom have said that they do not accept this Trump plan as things done.

SHELAH: Yes.

ANDERSON: And I know that Benny Gantz has talked about annexation, needing the support of the international community. So, is kicking the can down the

road effectively, isn't it?

SHELAH: I think, and this is my personal opinion that any unilateral move, be it withdraw like we did in two, no five in Gaza or annexation will be --

will be an obstacle to reaching an agreement.

And Blue and White says, and Benny Gantz says this as well. We will try to reach within the Trump framework, the vision. And actually, when you read

the paper itself, it is called a vision by the people who do it up.

According to this vision, we will try to reach an agreement with the Palestinian and the regional powers.

ANDERSON: Just by name and very briefly, you know that no one party is really going to change their minds when it comes to this election. So, it

is all about voter turnout.

Coronavirus, seven cases here, is that going to prevent people coming out to vote?

SHELAH: I think there will be and I'm trying to, I'm beginning to see it in the social networks mirror a little bit of fake news attempt to dissuade

people from coming. I praise the Prime Minister Netanyahu for calling people to go and vote. I don't think it will be a factor in the -- in these

elections.

ANDERSON: Thank you, sir.

SHELAH: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Well, two parties in this election that will likely stand out above the rest we've just heard from one. One of them, the Blue and White

Party. In the next hour, we'll hear from the other. I speak to Likud Party member and former mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, right here on this

special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.

Now, I'm about, say two words that will make political leaders here smile, possibly with glee and probably think I'm speaking a foreign language.

Ready to hear this exotic term, here it goes. A landslide victory, but it's happening a long, long way from here between these hopefuls. We are

stateside, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: While we are well and truly in the dark now and not just as night falls in Jerusalem, but as to what actually happens next in Israel's big

vote kicking off tomorrow morning, and that is why we are here. Coming to you from next to the old city ahead of Israel's general election, but it's

not the biggest election in town. Not by a long shot.

Right now, Democrats who want to replace Donald Trump in November are bracing for the Big Super Tuesday primary elections this week. Former Vice

President Joe Biden got a boost ahead of those walking away with a desperately needed win in South Carolina on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[10:55:14]

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the moment to choose the path forward for our -- for our -- for our party. This is a moment and it's

arrived. Maybe sooner than anyone guessed it would, but it's here. And the decisions Democrats make all across America the next few days will

determine what this party stands for, what we believe and what will get done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Biden got nearly half of the votes and most of the state's delegates Biden's win puts a damper on front runner Bernie Sanders's

progress.

Meanwhile, billionaire businessman Tom Steyer has thinned the playing field he has decided to drop out of the race.

Well, next hour, a new front to serious war, a new peace to Afghanistan, a new leader for Israel? Perhaps, and that's not all my interview with

Jordan's prime minister, and we hear from Qatar's foreign minister and from the Taliban.

That is all only here on CNN. Stay with us.

END