Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

Thousands Of Migrants Gather At Turkey-Greece Border; U.S. And Taliban To Sign Deal To End "Forever War"; Omar Razzaz, Jordanian Prime Minister, Gives His Perspective On The Israel-Palestine Conflict; Netanyahu Makes Big Campaign Push Before Polls Open; Family In South Korea Quarantined After Baby Infected; Joe Biden Wins Big In South Carolina; Arab Vote In Israel. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired March 01, 2020 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Well, let me just put the politics to the side for a moment because, wow, what a view. Jerusalem's Old City in

its full glory, bells ringing, lights glimmering. But Old City, new problems, not least of which are, in fact, of course, political and right

here in Israel.

But also right across what is this extremely complex region because right next to it is Syria's civil war, threatening a new chapter. Turkey's

imposed deadline for the Russian-backed Assad government to withdraw from the Idlib province has now passed.

Fatigue for Syria's endless conflict can't hide the enormity of this. Ankara and Moscow both looking for an end game.

In a move to pressure the European Union for support, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has followed through on his threat to open his

borders, now encouraging refugees to cross into Europe from Turkey through Greece. Arwa Damon joins us from the Turkey-Greece border where all of this

is unfolding.

Arwa, you reported on the European refugee crisis back in 2015, following families on their journey from Syria into Europe.

Are we now looking down the barrel of a second European refugee crisis?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, when you look at some of the scenes here, it really does feel as if we have gone back in

time to those years. But the dynamics right now are very different.

The likelihood of Europe reopening its borders are very slim. But as you were saying, people have been encouraged to move up here. The IOM are

estimating some 13,000 refugees are living like this on the Turkish side of the border with Greece.

And when they try to cross, it's very clear that Greece is not going to allow them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON (voice-over): 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.

Abdullah (ph) 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.

DAMON (voice-over): It's not. Greece is not letting anyone through.

DAMON: 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.

DAMON (voice-over): 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 flow.

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 angered 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 here try to stay

warm.

Samida's (ph) 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 crossed through Europe.

At night, we meet some of those who tried to cross the river to Greece but failed. Greek authorities deny this but Khaled (ph) from Idlib says the

Greeks forced him back, tore up his ID and took his phone.

DAMON: He hasn't spoken to his parents in almost four weeks and they're in Idlib. They're in the camps. He's worried about them and now he has no way

of getting in touch with them.

[11:05:00]

DAMON (voice-over): This family from Afghanistan says the same thing happened to them but, even worse, they were separated from their men.

DAMON: Her father, your brother, her husband, are over there and you're stuck here.

DAMON (voice-over): They are scared, vulnerable and 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)

ANDERSON: Oh, this is gut-wrenching stuff. And so many of these refugees, of course, are young kids. A real sense of hopelessness here.

What do they believe happens next?

DAMON: Well, they're not sure and that's why they all are waiting around. I mean, look, they're getting ready to spend another night here. There's a

number of fires that are burning.

The issue --

(CROSSTALK)

DAMON: -- say that no matter what happens, they'll wait and try because they do believe this right now is their only chance.

There's a lot of frustration because, especially those who come from Syria, Becky, they know the game. They know that their fate is not in their

control. They know that they're being used as political leverage at this stage.

What they still struggle to understand is how it is that the world continues to watch what's happening in their country, what's happening to

them out here, and fails to act. Look, we've been talking to a number of Syrians here. And they have all said to us, if somehow the war would end,

if we thought we could go get back home and not be detained by the regime, we would get on a bus and go back immediately. We're not here by choice.

But there is this sense right now that they're just going to be left here to wait, that they're going to continue to be stuck in limbo until the

greater political dynamics somehow sort themselves out.

ANDERSON: Lest we forget, this is the real story on the ground.

Meantime, what is going on so far as the politics is concerned?

DAMON: Well, it's a very complicated situation, Becky. Look, Turkey wants to get more support for what it's trying to accomplish inside Syria.

It wants to see, at least at this stage, the regime forces pushed back to the borders of what was the originally negotiated-upon demilitarized zone

that encompassed Idlib province and some of the surrounding areas.

Over the last two or three months, since the beginning of December, the regime, backed by the Russians and the Iranians, has really pushed forward

into Idlib and forced around a million people to move towards the border with Turkey.

There's a massive humanitarian buildup crisis happening inside Syria that we have been reporting on regularly. And what you're seeing here is

directly tied to that.

Turkey is using its refugee population to try to pressure Europe. Turkey, the president, President Erdogan, has said they are not going to close down

their borders, that their borders are going to remain open.

What does that mean for the people here, Becky?

Throughout the day they move from one different location on the border to another. They get encouraged to move in certain directions and then they

try to cross and they get pushed back more often than not.

Many of them, like you saw in the report that we just aired, say, when they do manage to get across, the Greeks end up forcing them back. They're

stuck.

And right now at this stage, even though we are expecting a meeting to take place between Presidents Erdogan and Putin at some point next week, at this

stage, until Russia and Turkey resolve what's happening in Syria, if they're even able to do that, these are among the many people that are

going to end up having to live like this to a certain degree because they're stuck in the same way that the population inside Idlib itself is

also stuck.

ANDERSON: One can only imagine the impact on not just the adults around you but particularly on those kids. Arwa, thank you.

Arwa Damon is on the Turkish-Greek border.

As the Syrian war escalates with no end in sight, it seems, over in Afghanistan, America's so-called forever war could soon be winding down.

Taking a very short break. Back with that after this.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:10:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching a special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.

It's been called the graveyard of empires and it's not hard to see why, even in today's modern world. After 18 years, America looking to wind down

its Afghanistan war. It has cost thousands of people their lives and trillions of dollars.

But now, after nearly two decades of fighting, the U.S. and the Taliban signing an historic agreement, paving the way for foreign troops to leave

Afghanistan within 14 months.

Remember, America went into the country originally to obliterate the Taliban's rule. Our Nic Robertson is in Doha, where this historic agreement

was brokered.

So, Nic, what has changed to have allowed this deal to work?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: A cynic would say it's a war of attrition. The Taliban would say that's what the United States was

going to get when they went into Afghanistan, because, as you say, it's been a graveyard for -- often described as a graveyard for empires.

Certainly the Soviet Union founding that out.

What's changed is the reality that the Taliban understand, that they can't fight their way to victory. Even if they did, they'd continue to be

pariahs. The United States has recognized and certainly under President Trump has made it a campaign promise to get troops out of Afghanistan.

[11:15:00]

ROBERTSON: It's just bleeding the country of money with no visible gain in Afghanistan. So a compromise has emerged. Certainly there isn't trust;

certainly this isn't a quick page turn to a massive peace deal.

One of the interesting details about being here in Doha is hearing all the different places that the next round of talks could take place. And they

could take place in Doha, it could be Berlin, it could be Oslo, Moscow, Malaysia, because all of these are up now, as countries that could help

host the next round of talks.

In Doha, it's the Qataris putting a lot on the line, hosting Taliban leaders for the last seven years, getting them to a point where they can

sort of open their front door to U.S. negotiators a year ago and now expect to be part of the verification process to make sure the Taliban do their

part of the deal, which is go after Al Qaeda and ISIS.

The Qatari foreign minister explained to me his country's role going forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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

can be able 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

all 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 fight their 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 define -- identifying how we can monitor this agreement in a way that's delivered by both parties.

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

the commitments put in.

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. And we'll make sure, 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 in these agreements and these hiccups, which we expect to have in

the future.

But we spend a lot of time during the negotiation in 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 regarding Al Qaeda and others, there are clear mechanisms for this

to be monitored and to be implemented.

And if there is anything goes wrong, we believe the entire agreement will be in jeopardy because all if the is interconnected together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So that's it, you hear about the firm commitment. The Taliban are going to be held to over Al Qaeda. But what's not in the agreement

between the United States and the Taliban is any mention of women.

That's something that will be hashed out between the Afghan government and the Taliban as part of the intra-Afghan talks that are expected to happen

early March. There are some hiccups on that because of an exchange of prisoners.

But this issue of women is an important issue to so many people around the world because of the way that the Taliban treated women when they

previously ran the country two decades ago.

I put that to a member of the Taliban, who's been in these negotiations. Interestingly, he says that Afghan women will no longer have to wear the

all-enshrouding burqa. This is what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Will it have a new constitution, this new government?

MUHAMMAD SUHAIL SHAHEEN, TALIBAN NETWORK: Yes, sure. I think they must have a new constitution. If they continue with that, that means the constitution

of the occupation time so it will not have credibility and trust of the people.

ROBERTSON: What guarantees are you going to give in that constitution for the education of women and the role of women in society?

SHAHEEN: Yes, about the role the women, their education, because women want to have education. And women want to have right of work. We do not have any

problem with that.

ROBERTSON: And education up to which age?

SHAHEEN: Yes, yes, no problem with the higher education, that's not the problem.

ROBERTSON: Higher education for women?

SHAHEEN: Yes, yes. Only the issue is the Islamic hijab they observe, because it is an Islamic society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:20:00]

ROBERTSON: There's a long way to go on this, Becky. Clearly the Taliban and the Afghan government are coming from this completely poles apart. The

Taliban see that the Afghan government is really a quisling government that's being propped up by an occupying force and the Afghan government is

an Islamic republic. The Taliban want to call themselves an Islamic emirate. They are a long way apart right now, Becky.

ANDERSON: A long way apart, says Nic, but a chink of light at least in one endless war.

No sign of the end of the conflict here between the Israelis and Palestinians. Things more entrenched than ever, if anything, experts say.

We know that one of Benjamin Netanyahu's election promises is to annex parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, something Jordan has strongly

condemned.

On Saturday, former Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman claimed Mr. Netanyahu informed Jordan's King Abdullah he would not go through with the

annexation pledge. In response to that The prime minister called Lieberman's comments, quote, "crazy talk."

Jordan plays an extremely unique and important role in this region and indeed the conflict. That is why I sat down with the country's prime

minister to get his perspective.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OMAR RAZZAZ, JORDANIAN PRIME MINISTER: The Jordanian hope and maybe even the Israeli at the time was for it to lead to a comprehensive solution at

the level of the region and sustainable peace and all of this.

Unfortunately, none of this materialized. So yes, today we are at the kind of lowest level in the relationship that has been since signing the peace

treaty.

ANDERSON: Is the peace treaty at risk?

RAZZAZ: Well, the peace treaty can go into a deep freeze mode. And, therefore, it's definitely at risk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to

Israel's security.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Are you concerned that there is a price to pay for not supporting that deal by facing economic pressure from the U.S., which, of course,

provides Jordan with billions of dollars in economic aid?

RAZZAZ: Jordan's relationship with the U.S. are deep, historic and strategic. And they have been such with all U.S. administrations, the U.S.

House and the U.S. Senate and the U.S. people. We are not worried that that strategic relationship will be affected.

ANDERSON: Did the U.S. discuss with you the details of this plan, which, by the way, includes some very specific projects that Jordan would benefit

from?

RAZZAZ: None of the elements of this were discussed with Jordan prior to its announcement. And we never will mix political aspirations with

financial deals.

ANDERSON: You face a tough task, balancing international donors, a frustrated population; Jordan's debt-to-GDP ratio is just under 100

percent, an unemployment rate of just under 20 percent. That's the highest in 25 years. You say you have a plan.

So what is it?

RAZZAZ: What we have is a five-year plan that would put our economy on a sustainable path, given everything that we've inherited. By the way, what

got us into this very bad situation to begin with, the closure of borders, the refugee crisis, the aftermath of the Arab Spring.

ANDERSON: Was it mismanagement and corruption of the economy that got it into this mess?

RAZZAZ: That is a legitimate question. We have created all the necessary institutions and given them all the independence to look into corruption

cases and fight them. But if you look, sheer number -- you know, the cost of the interruption over the Egyptian gas, the cost of absorbing 1.3

million Syrian refugees, that's 20 percent of Jordan's population.

Can you imagine a country that absorbs 20 percent of its population overnight and stays, you know, solvent?

What we worry about is people are impatient. And we understand why they are impatient because it's been 10 years since the economic slump after the

Syrian refugees and the whole regional situation.

[11:25:00]

RAZZAZ: And unemployment is up, unemployment among youth is up. And it's very hard to convince a young, educated, creative young man or woman to

say, well, can you wait another four or five years?

ANDERSON: What happens with the economy will have an effect on Jordan's security and stability. And its stability is important to Israel and around

this region to many of America's allies.

How concerned, sir, are you?

RAZZAZ: We live in a troubled neighborhood and we've been on the receiving end of this trouble since day one. And Jordan has become extremely

resilient, both politically and economically.

It's not a coincidence that we've seen countries 10 times the size of Jordan and 10 times the economy of Jordan collapse and turn into failed

states, unfortunately. Jordan did not.

The reason is there is a -- there is a certain, I'd say, political culture that has developed in Jordan, where the population is united in many, many

ways. We agree, we disagree but there is unity behind the Hashemite rule in this country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Too many plans try to pressure Israel to withdraw from vital territory like the Jordan Valley.

But you, Mr. President, you recognize that Israel must have sovereignty in the Jordan Valley. You are recognizing Israel's sovereignty over all the

communities in Judea and Samaria, large and small alike.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Critics of the Donald Trump Middle East plan for peace, who sympathize with Jordan's position, say that this is a plan that provides an

existential threat to Jordan.

We know there is rhetoric from the Israeli right, which has been alluding to an eventual population transfer of Palestinians to Jordan. Jordan as

Palestine goes, the saying from them.

Can you comment on that?

RAZZAZ: We don't support or agree with, of course, these statements about Jordan as Palestine or the transfer. These are extremely dangerous. Not

just for Jordan, they are dangerous for the whole region, for the stability, et cetera.

So it's really playing with fire in a region that's already in a tumultuous situation. So it's pushing things in the wrong direction. We cannot be but

totally opposed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: The Jordanian prime minister, speaking to me in Amman yesterday.

We are live from Jerusalem, where another challenging day is ahead for Benjamin Netanyahu. He and the rest of Israel going to vote for the third

time in less than a year. We're going to hear from his Likud Party next about whether this time will be different.

Plus I'll speak to Israeli politician, Ahmad Tibi, the man who has been a thorn in Benjamin Netanyahu's side this election.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: Well, many call him simply King Bibi. Benjamin Netanyahu mocking his biggest rival, a serious threat to his reign. The last bit of

campaigning done with here in Israel. Now Mr. Netanyahu and his rival, Benny Gantz, waiting for the polls to open.

On Monday, they face off for the third time in less than a year. Neither has been able to form a coalition government after previous elections. And

that has left this country in a political deadlock.

So is Mr. Netanyahu's campaign push going to pay off?

Let's speak to someone from his Likud Party. Nir Barkat is the former mayor of Jerusalem.

Sir, thank you for joining us.

Is there any reason why this election, the third in less than a year, is any more likely to break this political deadlock here?

NIR BARKAT, FORMER JERUSALEM MAYOR: Hi, Becky, good evening. I believe so. I think the people of Israel understand that we must break the deadlock,

the political deadlock. And if you analyze the numbers and the details, you see that the Likud, headed by Netanyahu, has very strong positive momentum.

The first round, we had 60 parliament members out of 120; the second time, 55. But it looks like we're back on track to exceed 60 seats. I believe

that that will happen tomorrow. People are excited and ready to go and vote tomorrow.

ANDERSON: You won't be surprised to hear that your main opposition don't share that enthusiasm. Earlier we spoke to Ofer Shelah of the Blue and

White Party about why they couldn't form a coalition government in the past couple of elections. He is more hopeful now. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OFER SHELAH, BLUE AND WHITE PARTY: 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 bloc, which we call the immunity bloc, the bloc that he tried to form in order to avoid going to court,

actually shrank more than 10 seats.

So if that trend continues and if politicians, especially Avigdor Lieberman, who said there will be no fourth election -- and he's actually

between the blocs -- if he stands up to his word, then we may be able to form a government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, does the Blue and White Party have a better chance at forming a government than your party, sir?

[11:35:00]

BARKAT: The numbers don't match. Again, if you look at the (INAUDIBLE) have to the major accomplishments Netanyahu had in the international front and

the security and an economy and the gaps between his abilities and the ability of Gantz, which is inexperienced, does not understand how the world

works.

As time flies, people understand and recognize the huge difference and the risk that they have by supporting Benny Gantz, which is 100 percent

supported by the Arab votes in the parliament, which is very radical in their approach.

So I think people are starting to understand the big differences and are coming to understand why they must support Netanyahu more than they did in

the past. And I believe that's what you're going to see tomorrow.

ANDERSON: Annexation of parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley has been an election pledge by Benjamin Netanyahu. He failed to get the support

of the Trump administration to push that through ahead of this election. But it, of course, remains on the table, extremely divisive, not just here

but in Jordan.

I spoke to the prime minister there yesterday in Amman, on my way to Israel. I mean, a real concern that that threat puts the peace treaty with

Jordan at risk.

Do you share that concern, the stability and security of Jordan as well as Israel, it seems at stake at this point?

BARKAT: Well, I remember that people were concerned about the move of the embassy to Jerusalem and it went smoothly and brought more stability to the

region. I remember people were concerned about the recognition of the Golan Heights by the Americans as part of Israel. There was many concerns and it

moved ahead very, very well.

Similarly, the plan to recognize the legality of the settlements in Judea and Samaria and now what we want is go around the lines of -- we want civil

separation from the Palestinians. We want 100 percent security with Israeli government and Israeli security forces. And we do want joint ventures in

the economy.

So nobody is going anywhere. The Israelis are not going anywhere, the Palestinians will not go anywhere. And that as well recognize sovereignty

over Israeli, part because it's part of the plan anyway. So I don't think anybody should be excited about it.

(CROSSTALK)

BARKAT: It will be done after the mapping part as a team.

ANDERSON: Let me get back to the question I put to you because Palestinian grievances are Jordanian issues and annexation is a huge, huge issue.

My question to you was, should the peace treaty with Jordan be at risk?

Do you have a problem with that?

BARKAT: We must never be concerned doing the right thing. The right thing for Israel is the settlements are not going anywhere. Might as well right

now, it's difficult to live there, the quality of life and the civil side of the Jewish -- of the Israeli part in Judea, Samaria, this is recognizing

Israel's sovereignty over the Jewish parts and it is the right thing to do.

Nobody should scare us with anything, not peace agreements with our neighbors. We're here to make peace and stability. And don't threaten us.

We must find a way to continue working together.

ANDERSON: OK. Two weeks after Monday's election, the criminal trial against Mr. Netanyahu begins. He is facing bribery, fraud and breach of trust

charges.

How are voters reacting to a prime minister who has been indicted?

And does that worry you?

BARKAT: Prime Minister Netanyahu is innocent until proven guilty. And the law specifically says that he can continue serve as prime minister while

having his trial.

And so what I'm basically saying to my friends on the other side of the aisle is embrace the law, remember the value, that he's innocent until

proven guilty. He's doing a thousand things, now he'll do a thousand and one. His ability to manage the state of Israel, he will be able to do that

while his trial is on. I'm not concerned about that.

ANDERSON: With that we leave it there. Sir, the election is tomorrow. Let's speak again. Thank you. Taking a short break. Back after this.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: The World Health Organization raising its global risk alert of the novel coronavirus to its highest level. The group says this should be

a, and I quote them here, "reality check for governments around the world to prepare."

There seem 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 the outbreak is affecting the nation's youngest and most vulnerable.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 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.

With these numbers rising all the time, we now know around 60 percent of confirmed cases in this country are still surrounding and linked to this

one particular religious group, Shincheonji. Now they have come under tremendous pressure here and criticism from the public, also from

officials.

And they have been on a bit of a PR offensive this weekend, fighting back. I spoke to one of them this Sunday morning. The first question I asked was,

how did it take a week to get from making the link to the group and the virus to giving the full list of members to the authorities?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM SHIN-CHANG, 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 lived up to the expectations of the people. But we did our best.

HANCOCKS: The mayor of Daegu is reporting your group to the police for omitting members' names and for hampering the fight against the virus. He

clearly does not think you've been transparent.

KIM (through translator): On the 25th, our headquarters gave a list of all the members, including domestic and overseas. I'm sure that Daegu city also

received this as well as the KCDC. We also gave a list of all those who have been educated at the centers on the 27th.

HANCOCKS: You say your group has been very transparent but we know that 600 peace officers had to be drafted to try and track some of the members down

because they were not answering phones.

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

KIM (through translator): 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 did not take that into consideration and thought the members unreachable if they did not 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 have raised it to level 4, which means Americans should not go to that area -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks reporting for you.

[11:45:00]

ANDERSON: Well, we are coming to you from next to the Old City ahead of Israel's general election.

Meantime in the States right now, Democrats who want to replace Donald Trump in November are bracing for the big Super Tuesday primary elections.

Former Vice President Joe Biden got a boost walking away with a desperately-needed win in South Carolina on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the moment to choose the path forward for our party. This is the moment and

it's arrived, maybe sooner than anyone guessed it would, but it's here.

And the decisions Democrats make all across America in the next few days will determine what this party stands for, what we believe and what we'll

get done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now I am very proud that, in this campaign so far, we have won the popular vote in Iowa, we

have won the New Hampshire primary, we have won the Nevada caucus. But you cannot win them all. A lot of states out there. And tonight we did not win

in South Carolina.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Meanwhile billionaire businessman Tom Steyer has thinned the playing field. He has dropped out of the race.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, live from Jerusalem. Israeli voters are ready to head to the polls again for the third time in less than a year as

the country looks in political deadlock. Details on that are just ahead.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (voice-over): This is a campaign ad for Ahmad Tibi, who some people call the worst nightmare prime minister for Benjamin Netanyahu, as

Israel has its third election in less than a year; 20 percent of Israel's citizens are Arab.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And Arabs make up 17 percent of eligible voters. Most of them vote for the Joint List, the political alliance of the main Arab political

parties in Israel.

The faction formed and performed well at the last election in September and another strong showing could put one more term of Likud leadership out of

reach. The Joint List leader, Ahmad Tibi, has featured heavily in Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign.

[11:50:00]

ANDERSON: And not just this time around.

Back in 1996, Netanyahu first ran on a slogan of "It's either Bibi or Tibi," one he still uses today. Ahmad Tibi joining me now from the

Palestinian Village in the West Bank.

You are clearly a threat as far as Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned.

Why?

AHMAD TIBI, LEADER, JOINT LIST: Usually I don't like to be a nightmare of anybody but a hope for those who are voting for me, hope for change for

better future.

But to be the nightmare of Benjamin Netanyahu, it may be a way for a change and for a hope. He is fighting against me, against the Joint List, because

he is very much afraid of the Joint List. We are going up in the polls. Our turnout is increasing.

And if we will achieve 15 or 16 seats, Benjamin Netanyahu will do have a very horrible nightmare. He will not be a prime minister because of us.

That's why he is filling all the streets of Israel. But my photo with Gantz, it is to say that the vote of the Arab citizens is so crucial this

time.

ANDERSON: Arab turnout has in the past been notoriously very low but as you rightly pointed out, the Arab Joint List had a very high voter turnout in

September. That is making people, Arabs here, very hopeful this time around.

Arabs make up 17 percent of voters. But the Joint List alliance of the parties hold 13 of the 120 seats in the Knesset.

Were you to get more, and you sound confident that you will, you clearly will be a force or could be a force in Israeli politics.

How, sir?

What will your position be this time around, should Benny Gantz ask you to be part of a coalition, for example?

TIBI: When we were 15 seats last time in September, we blocked Netanyahu from being a narrow government prime minister. But if we will be 15 at

least, definitely Netanyahu will not be prime minister.

And we then will decide, Joint List, how to use this political achievement in order to upgrade the Arab minority, the Arab citizens and to push for a

real and genuine political process between Israelis and Palestinians and to have much more influence of the Arab community in the Israeli politics and

in the Knesset.

It cannot only be by joining the government. We will not be there. But it can be by blocking a front, by trying to negotiate with Blue and White

after the elections without joining the government and achieving a change for our voters and for Jewish progressive voters, who will find the Joint

List as the only choice for them as leftists (ph) in Israel. We are the hope.

ANDERSON: Let me ask you this, sir, what are the issues that matter most to people who vote for the Joint List?

And with the kind of -- the background atmosphere of the Donald Trump vision for peace, what is your position on that?

TIBI: First test (ph), there are the civic and the social and economical issues. It is very important for our voters and our community.

But now there is the Trump deal. We are totally opposing this deal because it is deepening the apartheid in the Palestinian occupied territories,

making the vision of two-state solution very far.

And there is an article talking about transfer of Arab citizens of the triangle, an area here, Taibed (ph), which is a town inside Israel, 300,000

Arab citizens, according to this foolish article, this racist article.

[11:55:00]

TIBI: And the Trump deal will be transferred and their citizenship will be revoked. It was put there by Benjamin Netanyahu and by Ambassador Friedman

and Jared Kushner.

It is racist because they are dealing with us as if we are not citizens. They can move us from here to there, revoking our citizenship. We are

struggling in order to be equal citizens and we are struggling against occupation in order to have genuine peace process and have independent

Palestinian state.

We are the only list (ph) talking about occupation and we will continue to do that.

ANDERSON: With the Arab view there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.

You have heard the Israeli right-wing view, before that the center left before that still. We've connected you all through Israel's political map

this hour, teeing up the big day for you. We've got special coverage from the start right through until CONNECT THE WORLD.

For now -- and I am just being told that Mr. Tibi is in Israel tonight, not in the West Bank -- I'm Becky Anderson. Good night.

END