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Connect the World

Proposed Unity Government Still Faces Many Hurdles; Irish Parliament Condemns Israeli's "De Facto Annexation"; CNN Aboard "Startotanker" as it Takes Part in NATO Flyover; Congolese Leaders on Alert for more Volcanic Eruptions; Democratic Republic of Congo on Alert for Another Volcanic Eruption; Proposed Unity Government Seeks to Oust Netanyahu. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired May 31, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNNI HOST: This hour he's become known as King BB, but now he is facing being dethroned. Facing fierce political enemies is nothing

new for Benjamin Netanyahu. But the Israeli Prime Minister's biggest battle yet may be here.

Right-Wing Leader Naftali Bennett is joining a new coalition made up of the Prime Minister's rivals on the left, on the right and in the center. They

have widely divergent views. But one common goal to see the back of Benjamin Netanyahu, he's been Prime Minister for the last 12 years.

But the last two have been anything but smooth politically. Four elections in that time failed to yield a clear winner with a mandate to lead. Well,

this new path is far from a done deal. Mr. Netanyahu will surely put up a fight, but this new coalition is determined to blaze a new trail Hadas Gold

with this report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Nearly 10 weeks after Israelis cast their ballots and a decisive primetime move from Former Defense

Minister Naftali Bennett.

NAFTALI BENNETT, FORMER ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER: It is now clearly proven there is no right-wing government possible with Netanyahu at its head. It

is either a fifth election or a unity government.

GOLD (voice over): Once close aides to the prime minister, now perhaps the man to sink Netanyahu's 12 year unbroken run as Israel's leader.

BENNETT: I'm announcing today that I intend to act with all my strength to form a national unity government together with my friend Yair Lapid so that

God willing, together we will rescue the country from this tailspin, and we will get Israel back on track.

GOLD (voice over): Minutes later, Netanyahu lashed back.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: He is deceiving the public again, the same lies the same hollow slogans about hatred and division,

this from a man who was actually contributing to hatred and division, a man who was committing the deception of the century.

GOLD (voice over): Apparently no greater crime for Netanyahu than seeking to create a left wing government an accusation at which Bennett scoffed,

given his own previous support for West Bank Annexation.

BENNETT: The left is making difficult compromises when it bestows upon me, the Former Leader of the YESHA Council, the proponent of the land of Israel

with the role of prime minister.

GOLD (voice over): Up to eight political parties would likely take part in any unity government. But sources close to coalition talks say the hard

work has already been done. The position of Prime Minister is widely expected to rotate with right-wing Bennett going first and Centrist Lapid

second; an announcement could come in the next few days.

Then parliament has a week to give its approval. Even so in a country so long used to seeing Netanyahu in power, few rule out the possibility of a

further twist or two before this story finally resolves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Hadas joining us now from Jerusalem. And Hadas I spoke earlier to a member of the left leaning Meretz Party in the Knesset who is supporting

the so called change coalition trying to unseat Mr. Netanyahu.

And he admitted that his camp is giving up many of their principles in order to as he puts it, remove Netanyahu from his throne. This is though

Hadas by no means as you explain a done deal and what could happen between now and what, a week, 10 days time?

GOLD: About a week, possibly until this new government could be sworn in. Essentially, here are the steps that need to happen. First, the coalition

agreements need to actually formally be signed before Yair Lapid, the Leader of the Centrist - can go to the Israeli President and say that he

actually has the coalition.

His deadline to do so is this Wednesday. Then the Israeli parliament that also known as the Knesset needs to vote on this, but the Speaker of the

Knesset is loyal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. So there could be some sort of delay, perhaps a sort of procedural move there.

But once the parliament then votes and approves this, then that new government could be sworn in. And many political observers here are saying,

listen, it does seem as though they are headed towards forming this government towards having Naftali Bennett be the next Prime Minister.

But nothing is done in Israeli politics until those votes are counted. And until that government is winning, because we could potentially see

Netanyahu try to maybe convince some defectors from this coalition. All he needs is a few a handfuls, maybe two to defect and that could cause this

entire coalition to crumble, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, 61 of course the magic number in the Knesset which has 120 seats. I interviewed Naftali Bennett just a couple of days into what was

the recent deadly Israeli/Hamas conflict. And I asked him if he was confident at the time that he would be the next Israeli Prime Minister.

Have a listen to what he told me.

[11:05:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENNETT: I'm not confident it's a very complicated and the - you know, difficult situation. And certainly it's pretty messy Israeli politics are,

are pretty messy, unfortunately. But we're doing our best to get the country out of this muddle. I don't want to get to 5th elections within two

and a half years. That's certainly not what Israel is about. I grew up in the high tech arena and the military we worked very orderly and this is

quite a mess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Benjamin Netanyahu describes him as carrying out the deception of the century by joining this so called change coalition. What has changed

for Naftali Bennett, do you think?

GOLD: Well, I mean, he gets the opportunity to be Prime Minister. The ultimate role in Israeli government and it would be a very unusual position

for somebody like him because his party only won seven seats in the last election. So to be prime minister with a party of only seven seats, it's a

very unique situation.

Also he I think, maybe the first prime minister who was more religious, he wears a keep he wears a yarmulke all the time that it would be the first

for an Israeli Prime Minister. And it would be a very unique coalition, a very unique unity government as its being called with parties from all the

way to the left towards the right towards Naftali Bennett.

The question of course, will be what will they do substantively? What will they do with the issues because as you know, as you noted, not much unites

these parties other than their being against Benjamin Netanyahu and wanting him out of power.

So there is some speculation that they will not try to make necessarily big strides when it comes, for example, to tourism - towards relations with

Palestinians toward any sort of formal peace deal.

They may be focusing on sort of smaller issues, perhaps more domestic issues, just because how can you find an agreement potentially, when you

have parties that are sitting on such opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, their main goal right now is just to get Benjamin Netanyahu out

of power.

ANDERSON: Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem for you. Well, recent fighting between Israel and Palestinians has diplomatic ramifications around the globe. Last

week, we saw strong condemnation of Israel's actions by Ireland's parliament calling them the De Facto Annexation of Palestinian land Ireland

says it's the first European nation to use those words.

The Irish Foreign Ministry has been very vocal about the issue as well. The spokesman even tweeted a report about Israel approving plans for the

construction of hundreds of new settler units on Palestinian land in the west bank along with this, " More land grabbing by the apartheid Israeli

State". This is annexation, it's a serious breach of international law and Ireland has called it as it is. There needs to be consequences for law

breakers.

Well, joining me now from Dublin is John Brady, Sinn Fein Spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Defense. And Ireland support for Palestinians of

course, goes back decades and stems from a shared experience of occupation British occupation on the part of the Irish, of course. Just to explain how

Ireland's parliament came to what is this historic conclusion?

JOHN BRADY, SINN FEIN SPOKESPERSON FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE: Hello, Becky? Absolutely, I mean, Irish people know what it is to have the yoke of

colonization around our neck and therefore, we acknowledge and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed people in Palestine, we have a

shared experience.

The motion that was passed by the Irish parliament last week was a momentous historic occasion received cross party support. And not just in

terms of declaring the right for self determination for the Palestinian people, but probably more importantly, being the first European country to

explicitly state that Israel has breached international law, i.e. land grabbing i.e. by annexing large portions of occupied Palestinian territory.

And we know since 1967, there has been the creation of over 250 illegal colonial settlements on occupied Palestinian land, which consists of over

650,000 colonial illegal colonial Israeli settlers. So the Irish parliament took an amendment - momentous decision to call it as it is to state that it

is illegal land grabbing it is a legal De Facto Annexation.

And as a result of that declaration, now there needs to be serious consequences to ensure that there is accountability that when somebody

breaks the law, they must be held to account.

[11:10:00]

ANDERSON: I'll ask that Ireland's Foreign Minister had insisting - sorry, insisted on adding a condemnation of recent rocket attacks on Israel by the

Palestinian group Hamas before he agreed to government support for the motion.

And a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, however, still outright rejected the motion. Ireland is the first EU country to condemn Israel the

way that it has. Do you believe other EU countries will follow suit? Why haven't they done the same do you believe?

BRADY: Look, we've seen in recent times, the fact that it took 10 days for the UN Security Council even to come to some agreement. And in terms of the

issue of a statement, am I surprised by the response of Israel in, you know, rejecting the decision taken by the Irish parliament?

Absolutely not often, in recent times, Israel have also dismissed attempts by the UN Human Rights Council to carry out an investigation into gross

violations of human rights, they've have also refused to partake in an investigation by the international criminal court.

So I'm really surprised that they have rejected the motion by the Irish parliament, absolutely not. But what it does show is that Ireland can take

unilateral decisions. We know that as the first European country to do so within the EU, you know, it's critical now that the Irish government

articulate the rationale.

And the reason why we took a momentous decision to stay that Israel has breached international law, because the EU has consistently stated that

only when Palestinian lands around expiring Israel, will they take action to hold them to account and that has been the mantra across the world.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about the impact of this, this decision. An amendment to the motion that sought to impose sanctions on Israel and expel the

Israeli ambassador failed to pass. I wonder why you think that was and whether any other action will be taken by Ireland's government.

Because if it isn't, then with all due respect, what actual change will this motion actually bring in support of Palestinian?

BRADY: Well, it's critical, there needs to be consequences. We know Israel have essentially ignored resolutions that have been passed by the UN

Security Council and by the UN itself.

So it's critically important that there are consequences in the fact that Ireland by stating Israel have acted illegally under international law,

there needs to be consequences. The amendment that was put to the Sinn Fein motion was debated.

But we now need to return to that critical conversation to ensure that Israel cannot continue to act unilaterally in terms of our abuses of human

rights and in terms of breaches under international law.

So that conversation now needs to take place not just within Ireland and there are a number of measures that should be taken by the Irish government

immediately. Firstly, I would argue that we need to officially recognize the state of Palestine.

Plus, we cannot have normal relationships with a country that has breached international law is being investigated by the international criminal court

and is under investigation under the human rights council.

So you know we need to ensure that there are sanctions in place. And indeed the Irish parliament previously had debated a piece of legislation called

the Occupied Territories Bill which will ban the importation of products from the occupied Palestinian territories. And that not only come back onto

the table.

ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear, Israel absolutely disputes the fact that it is in contravention of international law. I do want to just discuss with

you the story of the day because there may just be a seismic shift in Israeli politics coming. We've been reporting on this.

This is our top story today. Benjamin Netanyahu is 12 year long rule maybe about come to an end and set to replace him would be the right leaning the

Right-wing Former Minister of State Naftali Bennett who famously supports annexing the West Bank and doesn't support an independent Palestinian

state.

I've just been speaking to a member of the merits party who was - who's supporting this so called change coalition, who was quite clear, he said,

effectively, the Palestinian issue would be off the table for a couple of years.

This would be a change coalition with such ideological differences when it comes to the root causes of what many people I believe with the - was the

result of the escalation of violence recently. What do you make of that? Would you support that? Do you see that as a good change in Israeli

politics?

[11:15:00]

BRADY: Well look, fundamentally, it's up to, you know, the Israeli people. It's up to, you know, the government and parliamentarians in Israel to put

in place a government. Do I have concerns? Absolutely you know, I have major concerns about the - government, as well in terms of annexing in

terms of the approval of illegal colonial settlements.

We know that last year, we've seen the approval of 12,000 settler units in the occupied territories this year, in January alone seen another two and a

half thousand. Then only last week 560 were given the approval in Bethlehem.

So you know, only time will tell as to whether there will be a seismic shift in terms of, you know, the legal actions of Israel. Am I optimistic?

No, am I concerned? Absolutely but fundamentally, it's up to the international community to hold Israel to account irrespective as to who is

in government as to who the prime minister is.

So - Ireland taken this unilateral decision, a momentous decision, hopefully, that will be a catalyst to ensure that older countries will

follow suit because you know, it was only when the international community stood up against the apartheid system in South Africa, in the 1980s.

And Ireland played an integral part of that we seen, you know, workers in a supermarket refused to handle products from the apartheid South African

regime. And that built a massive campaign internationally to oppose apartheid.

And we know human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, - and Bethlehem have found Israel guilty of the crime of apartheid. So essentially, what

they are doing is a blueprint of the apartheid system.

That wasn't in place in South Africa. And it was only the response of the international community to hold them to account, fundamentally and

ultimately brought that apartheid system to an end. So it's the international community irrespective as to who is in power within Israel.

ANDERSON: With that, we leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us and we will have a lot more on this story a little later this

hour. I'll be joined by Martin Indyk, who is Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Bill Clinton. He played a leading role in Middle

East peace efforts for decades and gets his response to what we are seeing in Israeli politics at present.

Well, let's turn from political coalitions to perhaps the ultimate military coalition NATO showing solidarity between its members and its military mind

in the skies. U.S. and NATO bombers are flying over all 30 NATO nations in North America and Europe. Operation Allied Sky comes on Memorial Day in the

U.S. It includes aircraft from 20 NATO allies.

Well, CNN's Nic Robertson was aboard the Stratotanker Aircraft which took part in the European leg of the mission. And he joins us now from RAF

Mildenhall in Suffolk in England. Nic just tell us firstly what was it like of it?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Outstanding and quite amazing when you see these two aging aircraft you talk about the KC 135

Stratotanker that we run on the B-52 long range bomber, the Stratofortress. These are very aging airframes. But they're still there for NATO performing

the same job that they were doing back during the Cold War, which is in essence, deterrence.

What's happening today there's sort of allied this Operation Allied Sky over Europe is really designed to send a message to Russia and to anyone

else that NATO's alliance can work together across all the nation's then it can enhance interoperability that it can enhance training.

That it shows a common deterrence. But I have to say when you're up there in the skies, as we were flying from here all the way to the northern tip

of Scotland where this strata fortress, long range bomber was being refueled.

The technology that might have been brand spanking new back 30, 40, 50 years ago is still doing the same job is still functioning is still doing

it effectively talking to the air crews.

They're saying that the - you know that this is the most reliable way to refill these long range aircraft and that's what we saw today. But you

know, let's put this in some kind of context of where we're at today.

In about 14 days time, there will be a new NATO summit of leaders, President Biden will be there a time of intense tension if you will and a

summit between President Biden and President Putin coming up.

[11:20:00]

ROBERTSON: And of course, Belarus 14 down a passenger jet right on the fringes of where these NATO aircraft were flying today, Becky.

ANDERSON: Nic Robertson on the story for you Nic, thank you. Well, coming up, experts keeping an eye on a rumbling volcano in the Democratic Republic

of Congo as they tried to determine whether it will erupt, again more on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, volcanic activity building up in the Democratic Republic of Congo raising fears for another eruption. Volcanologists say it could

happen at ground level or below a lake near the City of Goma. Now over the weekend nearly 100 earthquakes were recorded in the area more than a week

after a deadly eruption.

Lava has destroyed homes and roadways displacing 400,000 people. Larry Madowo has been reporting on the disaster from Goma he is there and he

joins us live and just describes where you are and what you're witnessing?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So Becky, we're on the city limits of Goma. This is how far the lava got. What you look at behind me used to be

people's homes that are flattened. One of the women you're about to meet used to live right here. This is where we're doing our live shot from and

it goes as far as this as the eye can see.

And Nyiragongo is at the back. It smells like burnt charcoal. But this is still burning, this still embers here and there almost nine days since

there's a volcanic eruption. We've been speaking to some people to give you a sense of how the city's coping.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO (voice over): Where deadly lava flowed in Mount Nyiragongo now relatively harmless a week after one of the world's most dangerous

volcanoes erupted. CNN flew around it with scientists, including a volcanologist who has studied the mountain since 1995. They need a few more

days to determine if the danger is gone.

DARIO TEDESCO, VOLCANOLOGIST: I'm not ruling out the possibility another eruption. I'm thinking and I'm saying that statistically, there are very

few chances that this can happen.

MADOWO (voice over): Tedesco says the last eruption was impossible to predict. Nearby residents remain on edge. The Congolese city of Goma is

surrounded by not one but two active volcanoes Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira.

I'm in the crater of the second. Any of these could erupt at any time, bringing death and destruction in their wake. The pain of the first

eruption still burns, Immaculee Kavira returns to where her home used to be.

IMMACULEE KAVIRA, LOCAL RESIDENT: I don't know how I'm going to get another house. Even my entire business got burnt in the house.

MADOWO (voice over): She's stranded with six children and no income. Immaculee registers her loss with a local official but she doesn't think

she will get any help to start over. West of Goma this choir incited rehearsals for Sunday service as normal.

[11:25:00]

MADOWO (voice over): But Church is already full with a congregation of internally displaced people. They are among the 400,000 that fled. Without

shelter for those evacuated, they ended up wherever they were welcome. Even strangers front porches, Agnes Milongo worries that too many people crowded

in small spaces could make them sick.

AGNES MILONGO, LOCAL RESIDENT: We know the colors in this area, so it's dangerous. There are limited toilet facilities and they're not hygienic.

And then we're also afraid that we might get COVID because we don't even have masks.

MADOWO (voice over): A day after CNN spoke to Agnes, she went back home against government advice. Not everyone has a place to return to.

MADOWO (on camera): Many of the 900 homes that were flattened by the volcanic eruption belonged to some of these communities, poorest people.

This was one of them. These were their neighbors. All that's left now is a mountain of lava. Their homes were made of tin or wood so they were

particularly vulnerable and without insurance or government support they might never rebuild.

MADOWO (voice over): Even though the cycle of natural disasters, disease and displacement, joy and faith are never far in the DRC.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: The Goma Volcanic Laboratory did two more flyover flights over Mount Nyiragongo after CNN Sunday light; they found that there are still

great plumes coming out of that. So that's a good thing.

But they're still telling people to be vigilant because there's still a possibility that the magma under the city of Goma and Lake Kivu might

erupt. So Becky, the ground might erupt or the water might erupt in the middle of that a study of 2 million.

ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely, frightening stuff. Larry, thank you and coming up in about 10 minutes time on this show. The DRC's Information and

Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya he joins us with a look at how his government is trying to cope with what are this massive displacement and

tragedy and what they are doing.

We will discuss. And after the break we have the latest on another school kidnapping we're afraid in Nigeria as the country rails from yet another

attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Nigerian security forces are searching the forest in the North Central State of - for another group of kidnapped schoolchildren. It's just

the latest in a string of mass kidnappings in the country over the past couple of years.

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: State police say bandits invaded the Town of Tegina shooting indiscriminately and abducting kids. And make no mistake about it. These

mass kidnappings of students have become a cruel industry there.

Stephanie Busari joins us now from Lagos. And for months, Steph has been reporting on these kidnappings and the devastation that they have caused.

What's the latest? And this of course, part of a much bigger story, isn't it?

STEPHANIE BUSARI, CNN SUPERVISING EDITOR, AFRICA: Yes, that's right Becky. This is a big industry. So it's one of the biggest growing industries in

the country right now. And what we do know about this, although we don't have confirmed numbers of children who were taken?

What we do know is that there were very young children, some were in kindergarten, and we were told by the police. And these - 11 of these

children were so young that they were let go by the kidnappers because they couldn't walk the distances in the forest. Yes, so you know, we also know

that one person was shot dead in the rain on the school Becky.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSARI (voice over): Fear is a currency Nigeria's booming, kidnapping industry trades on. This video filmed by kidnappers, and posted online

pressure families into paying ransom. In rural Northern Nigeria incidents like these are becoming all too common.

The Iliyasu Family no more than most what it feels like? In February 15 year old Habiba (ph) was asleep in a bed when the kidnappers came. They

fired guns. Some of them came into the school. They came and took us away.

Taken from her dormitory in - she and 278 of her schoolmates were made to walk all night through the forest to the kidnappers' camp. What she found

that was unimaginable. Four of her own family members who had also been snatched from their homes, including she says her sister and father.

I cried but my sister told me to stop crying because when you cried here, you got beaten. But there was to be no joy for reunion.

ILIYASU MAGAJI, KIDNAP VICTIM: I wouldn't look at her because I was afraid they will know that she's my daughter. And as a result, harm her or harm

me.

BUSARI (voice over): Iliyasu says he was regularly beaten by his kidnappers. One attacked him with a machete.

MAGAJI: He wanted to cut off my hands.

BUSARI (voice over): He tells us they demanded around $25,000 be paid in ransom for his family's freedom. There has been a recent surge in

kidnappers targeting schools. Nearly 800 children have been taken in the past four months alone.

International outcry over the Chibok kidnappings by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in 2014 helped make schools and lucrative target. Many of these

criminal gangs known locally as bandits are not agitating for political or religious ideology. The motive is simply to make money and lots of it.

These gangs target everyday Nigerians and many of the country's road networks have become no go zones for commuters.

SHEHU SANI, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND FORMER SENATOR: Just in the last five years even a rough estimate, over $100 million have been paid by either

individuals or organizations to terror groups or to bandits for ransom, and thousands of people have also been killed.

BUSARI (voice over): Nigerian authorities have long denied paying ransom to kidnappers. But recently the president spoke out blaming local governors

for "Rewarding bandits with money and vehicles". Many say the federal government also has a part to play in improving security in rural areas.

For the Iliyasu Family a moment of relief when first Habiba and her schoolmates were released and then shortly after, following more than three

months held in the forest, her father was allowed home. Like many others across parts of Nigeria, they now live in fear for when they will next be

forced to pay for their freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUSARI: There you have it, Becky. This is a problem that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And the president is been really urged to take it

seriously and reprioritize and re strategize on security.

ANDERSON: Stephanie Busari is in Lagos. Thank you. Well, there could be more danger ahead for the Democratic Republic of Congo as millions brace

for a second volcanic eruption. You heard Larry, speaking about the situation on the ground earlier. Next, the country's Information Minister

will now join us with discussion about the tough work of both rescue and rebuilding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:35:00]

ANDERSON: You're watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson. Well, flags in Canada are flying at half staff to honor hundreds of children

whose remains were found buried on the grounds of former school for Indigenous children. The news is drawing strong reactions from across the

country as CNN's Paula Newton now reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The discovery is astounding and so too the anguish leaving community members and much of Canada

reeling. The remains of 215 children some as young as three buried for decades on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School their

deaths believed to be undocumented graves unmarked.

The indigenous community in British Columbia calls it an unthinkable discovery and yet former students of the school like Harvey McLeod, who was

subjected to abuse there, tell us they thought of nothing else for decades.

HARVEY MCLEOD, UPPER NICOLA BAND: What I realized yesterday I was talking to a lot of people didn't come home.

NEWTON (voice over): It was one of the largest residential schools of its kind in Canada, but there were well over 100 across the country, many like

the one in Kamloops were run by the Catholic Church and later by the federal government.

According to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, indigenous children were forced to attend the schools separated from families and many

neglected and worse physically and sexually abused and many disappeared. Their families never knowing what became of them.

CHIEF ROSANNE CASIMIR, TK'EMLUPS TE SECWEPEMC FIRST NATION: What they were told was that when children were missing, that they were told they ran

away.

[11:40:00]

NEWTON (voice over): And yet the community here knew that couldn't be true. Survivors and families of the missing children were sure a mass grave would

be found, but they were unprepared for the loss of 215 souls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was devastating. It was actually quite mind boggling.

NEWTON (voice over): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country's

history. The governments own Commission says thousands of children likely died of abuse or neglect in these schools.

The Legacy now is one of intergenerational trauma for many of Canada's indigenous communities, while the Archbishop of Vancouver and other

individual societies have acknowledged the abuse. The Catholic Church has never formally apologized.

In 2019, Trudeau agreed decades of abuse perpetrated on indigenous peoples amounted to cultural genocide. Now, native leaders say it's time the

government's step up 215 pairs of shoes is laid on these Vancouver steps. Finally, their souls symbolically are at rest. Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: We're taking a short break back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Humanitarian groups are working to get food, water and shelter to those forced from their homes by a volcano in the Democratic Republic of

Congo. At the same time, they must be on guard for a potential second eruption. More than 30 people have already been killed in the Deputy Head

of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Congo says more than $1 billion is needed to repair the damage already.

Well, Patrick Muyaya is the DRC's Information and Communications Minister. He joins us from the Capital Kinshasa via Skype. It's good to have you sir.

We are told that a second eruption in Goma could be possible. How concerned are you? And what measures is the government taking to prepare for this?

PATRICK MUYAYA, DRC INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER: We are very concerned since the beginning of this eruption because what we are watching

actually, is something we never seen before. The eruption just came like that without having any - as it was in the past.

And actually people were in Goma are feeling this earthquake every day. We don't know what is going to happen. But the government take the disposition

to protect people that why we decide to move people from Goma to the neighborhood to make sure that to make sure scientists, those who are doing

research on the volcano, give us the right information.

So we can see when the people can come back. But actually we are thinking we have all options on the table. And we know that people are safe, even if

the conditions are not good where they are. But at least we are working to see the way they - will tell us what can come tomorrow. But one thing is

clear. We'll do our best as government to protect our people.

ANDERSON: What are you talking about 400,000 people displaced at least 31 killed. Is it safe to say that the government was ill prepared for this?

MUYAYA: You know, even the United States you are never ready when you have this natural catastrophe.

[11:45:00]

MUYAYA: It's very damaging to see what's happened. But at least you know our country's travel is everything a lot of things to fix at the same times

in the - particularly it's been like more than 20 years that there is trouble, there is - there is - in the place.

We are just put under the province under siege to make sure we are providing what we need to solve the security problem. And then come - will

come with those entire humanitarian situation. It required a lot of things to do as government. That's why we think that those was - watching what DRC

can stand up where they are so they can bring some help some support for those people who are displaced today.

ANDERSON: What is the plan for those who've been evacuated? I mean, you say you're trying to keep people safe. What is the government doing to help at

this point?

M UYAYA: Now what the government did is the first of all to evacuate people from Goma to bring them in - and then the volcano eruption - one word, the

national two, we will be in between Goma and - this word was opened. This way was open so people has three or four options some can go to - in South

Kivu, or they can go in - or they can go in - they can go in Altru.

For the tips - one thing is clear that people can get out of Goma. One thing we are working on, is to make sure that people where they are going

they have access to some sanitary to some water to some - we took some - some churches to make sure people are safe. People are safe just the time

to wait. If the situation - normally in Goma, so we'll organize, they're coming back and we are working on that.

ANDERSON: It's clear that their safe return will be certainly delayed by the potential for this second eruption. According to UN officials, it'll

cost more than $1 billion to repair the damage to water supply to electricity supply to roads. And that's just off the back of this first

eruption. Are you confident that you will get anything like those sorts of fund?

MUYAYA: One thing is clear here the government is providing since the beginning of the situation the first solution. Today there is electricity

in Goma we did our best. We need almost 10 millions to make sure we repair water, but it will take billions because some village was totally damaged

by the eruption.

And there are a lot of things we need to repair. We are doing things point by point. We start - we can start it was to solve to safety for life. For

those who are staying in Goma or a neighborhood we make sure electricity is back. We are working now to bring water back and then we're going to

repair.

They're coming back of people when those were walking on the volcano will tell us on the volcano will tell us that can be - people can come back. But

for the moment--

ANDERSON: Let me just put this to you. I mean, as we speak in thank you. As we speak these scenes are really quite apocalyptic. The Head of the

Norwegian Refugee Council says that the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the worst and most neglected humanitarian crises of the 21st century.

That's 27 million people, including over 3 million kids who don't have enough food to feed themselves. So I have to ask, how did it get this bad?

MUYAYA: You know, the situation in - for the past 20 years was all this rebellion, was - people from our neighborhood. I cannot come back in the

past. But one thing is clear here, there is a political will to solve the problem with our neighbor first, and then to see the way we can employ our

young people.

The way we can make reform inside a country with an economy which can give us money to solve those problems. The coffee was neglected, because some

people in the world weren't watching what's going on in the DRC as an emergency issue.

And these volcano - again bring us unfortunately to the spotlight and I hope all people who can watch this interview around the world can see that

in this country there is trouble but there is also opportunity. What we are ending actually with this eruption we'll pass in the coming days, but at

least if people - they will see their hunger, which is one of the biggest in the world.

[11:50:00]

ANDERSON: All right.

MUYAYA: People can come to visit; there is a lot of - copper, a lot of mineral resources. We have all the possibility to start bringing and

building a strong country--

ANDERSON: Which is --?

MUYAYA: --but what we--

ANDERSON: --which is why people will find it so difficult to hear that it is one of the worst displacement crises of the 21st century. Sir thank you

very much indeed, for joining us as we continue to look at images of this volcano, smoldering.

Well, returning to our top story now the possibility Benjamin Netanyahu may lose his grip on power in Israel. A rival says the prime minister may be

out within a week although it is likely to take longer if at all, a unity government could be formed with parties from a wide range of the political

spectrum.

When I say that I absolutely mean the widest range of the political spectrum that became a lot more likely. When Naftali Bennett seen here a

Right Wing Leader and Former Defense Minister under Mr. Netanyahu announced that he will join that government that announcement made late over the

weekend.

My next guest was U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Bill Clinton Martin Indyk is now a Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign

Relations. He joins us from New York. And you will have been keeping a keen eye on developments over the weekend. Are Benjamin Netanyahu's days as

Prime Minister now numbered?

MARTIN INDYK, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Hi Becky. Yes, that certainly seems to be the case. It's not over till it's over. And

Wednesday, the mandate for the Opposition Leader Yair Lapid will expire. He will have to go to the president and tell him either that he has a

government. He has the votes to form a government or not.

So I don't think we'll know before Wednesday, but we will know around then. And it will be clear. And you can see from the way that Netanyahu is

behaving at the moment, that he feels that his days are numbered.

ANDERSON: Martin, I spoke earlier to a member of the left leaning Meretz Party in the Knesset who is supporting the so-called change coalition

trying to unseat Mr. Netanyahu. And he admitted, that his camp is giving up many of their principles in order to as he puts it, remove Netanyahu from

his throne.

What sorts of concessions are being made across the board to support a coalition that would be headed with Naftali Bennett as Prime Minister at

least on a rotating basis? And what does it mean for Israel and the rest of the world's dealings with it as a country?

INDYK: Well, I think the coalition that that will be formed is a coalition that spans the spectrum from the left Meretz that you personally were

talking to all the way over to the right of Netanyahu's own party. Naftali Bennett, who is likely to be Prime Minister in a rotating arrangement with

Yair Lapid, he is to the right of Netanyahu.

And so that means that for this coalition to cohere there is a basic principle that they are all accepting, which is that none of them neither

on the right in the center or the left, will be able to push their agendas.

They will have to basically agree on, on what they have in common, which is to pass a budget to put Israel back on the course of better governance

after two years of repeated elections and interim governments and to try to focus on the things they have in common.

Recovering from the pandemic, promoting the economy, the kinds of things that Joe Biden is pushing in the United States, broadly, calming things

down, which is what Joe Biden is doing too but when it comes to Meretz's desire to see a two state solution with the Palestinians, - Taliban, its

desire to annex the West Bank. Those things are off the table. And they've agreed on that.

ANDERSON: Yes, Golan told me that those sorts of issues are likely off the table for a couple of years. And these are issues that we have been

discussing over the past couple of weeks. Issues, the root cause of this massive escalation in violence, once again, and yet this coalition is

agreeing to take those off the table it seems for a couple of years.

I want you to just have a listen to what Thomas Friedman told CNN in the wake of Naftali Bennett's announcement over the weekend just have a listen.

[11:55:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS FRIEDMAN, NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST: I do think we are in a phase where the dangers to Israel of becoming an apartheid state are becoming so

clear became clear in the last two weeks here. You know, we may be seeing in Joe Biden, the last pro Israel, Democratic President of the United

States, if you look where the rising left in that party is today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: We've got a couple of minutes, your thoughts?

INDYK: Well, I don't think that if the opposition forms a government, now it will be able to focus on some of the things that are problematic for the

aggressive side of the Democratic Party, equal rights within Israel for its Arab citizens is an urgent priority.

This government, if it comes together will have support from at least one of the Arab parties. And there will be greater attention on, on the

concerns of the Arab communities in Israel. When it comes to the Palestinians, I think that the consensus will be that things should be

improved for them in the West Bank settlement issue, which is such a cause of aggravation for the Palestinians is going to be put on hold for the time

being.

So I think that it will be possible in small ways to move the relationship with the Palestinians forward even as we're not going to be able to move to

some kind of renewed negotiations for a two state solution.

ANDERSON: With that, we'll leave it there. Martin is always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

INDYK: Thanks Becky.

ANDERSON: What a busy show, folks? It was a pleasure having you with us. Stay safe, stay well, wherever you are watching in the world. It's very

good evening from us here in Abu Dhabi. One World with Zain Asher is after this with much more on the attempt to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu and your

other news, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Israel's longest serving Prime Minister could soon be out of a job. Here is what's coming.

END