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Donald Trump And Benjamin Netanyahu To Discuss Gaza Ceasefire Plan; Prominent Gaza Teacher Missing Following IDF Strikes; Donald Trump To Meet With Top Congressional Leaders At White House; Sources: Trump To Attend Meeting Of Senior Military Officials; Adams Says He Doesn't Have Funds To Run "A Serious Campaign". Aired 10-11a ET
Aired September 29, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:35]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: A very warm welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in
Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening, and we are following a busy and high stakes week for the U.S. president. We're now an
hour away from a consequential meeting between Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where they are expected to discuss an
emerging multi point plan for a Gaza cease fire.
Now this comes as the U.S. government is barreling towards a shutdown. President Trump and congressional leaders are due to meet later today to
try to negotiate a way out.
Meantime, the president escalating his immigration crackdown by sending federal troops to Portland, Oregon, as new videos show violent arrest
tactics by immigration agents.
Well, all eyes are on the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will sit down next hour
for a scheduled high stakes meeting focused on ending the war in Gaza. The president pushing for Israel to accept his 21-point plan that provides a
road map for a cease fire and post war governance of the enclave. He is voicing optimism that there will be a breakthrough. The prime minister says
it is still a work in progress. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're working on it, Jacqui (PH). It's not been finalized yet, but we're working with President
Trump's team, actually, as we speak, and I hope we can -- we can make it a go, because we want to free our hostages. We want to get rid of Hamas rule.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Hamas, for its part, says it hasn't received the proposal. Well, a quick reminder on the key points of this plan, according to our
sources, first, it calls for the release of all hostages held by Hamas within 48 hours of the agreement.
It provides a framework for the future governance of Gaza without Hamas, and for Israel's gradual withdrawal from the Enclave. The plan also
recognizes aspirations of a Palestinian state. It does not, however, promise any U.S. support for the creation of one.
Well, CNN's Alayna Treene live at the White House. Those are the sort of three top lines. There are 21 points in this plan. What are you hearing
from the White House ahead of -- and let's be quite frank about this, this is -- this is a really crucial meeting at this point.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Absolutely, it's very high stakes, and it's actually Netanyahu's fourth visit to the White House. But this is
the one I know from my conversations with White House officials that they are hoping they can actually get this plan approved, at least by the
Israeli prime minister.
And that was really the question I had posed to the White House press secretary, because look, I mean, they are having -- yes, they're going to
have this bilateral meeting and a bilateral lunch as of now that's expected to be behind closed doors, but then later this afternoon, Becky, they're
going to have a joint press conference.
That signals to me, just from covering the president for so long that they are expecting to have good news to announce. I think it's the clear signal
yet that they are really expecting Netanyahu to get on board with this plan, or, at a minimum, hash out the differences so they can deliver that
type of good news when they address the press this afternoon.
But that was really what I had asked the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, I want you to listen to her response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TREENE: The press conference today with the Israeli Prime Minister signals, I think, that he's expecting there to be a deal announced, or at least that
Netanyahu is going to accept the proposed plan. Is that the hope that the president has today?
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Look, the President knows and believes that this is as good of a plan as these sides are going to
see. And that's why it's 21 points, it's very detailed, it's comprehensive. The president has been working tirelessly on this. He speaks to, you know,
Prime Minister Netanyahu all of the time. Of course, he's in constant correspondence.
But he's also taken a lot of time to speak with our Arab partners and allies in the Middle East.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TREENE: So, a few things I want to point out there as well. One of course, is you can hear that optimism. She essentially is saying she thinks that
this is the best type of plan that both Israel and Hamas are going to get, at least, that the Trump administration is involved in.
[10:05:02]
And what she also said was, you know that they are talking with their partners in the Middle East. That's important as well. We know that the
Qataris have also been heavily involved in these discussions. The president was slated to speak with the Emir of Qatar before Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the White House. Still very much unclear whether or not that call has happened just yet.
But all of this comes also as we're hearing from Israeli sources, Becky, that Netanyahu isn't entirely on board just yet. We're hearing that he
still has some reservations. There are some changes he wants to make to this proposal.
So, we're going to really have to wait and see what is hashed out behind the scenes. But I can tell you, again, from my conversations, they really
are hoping to have some sort of good news on this when they address the press later today.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's going to be fascinating, isn't it?
Look, if we thought that we were going to get, you know, a conclusion to this, it will be amazing news, it has to be said, but -- and thank you,
Alayna.
Far right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, both key, of course, to propping up Mr. Netanyahu's governing coalition of taking to
social media ahead of this meeting to lay out their opposition to the deal.
CNN's Jerusalem Correspondent Jeremy Diamond has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: There's no question that there's already been some wrangling over some of the specific provisions
inside of this, and we can already start to see the kind of political lines that are being drawn here in Israel about this plan and what would happen
should the Israeli prime minister choose to support or oppose it.
The Israeli Prime Minister's right-wing allies in government, such as Bezalel Smotrich already beginning to lay out their red lines for this
proposal, and it includes several items that are in this proposal.
For example, Smotrich has said that this proposal can have no mention of any kind of aspirations for Palestinian statehood. He is also making clear
that he wants to see the full and complete demilitarization of Gaza, and he also has several demands about where Israeli troops would need to be
deployed to in the event of a partial or complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
And so, indeed, this is kind of the choice that the Israeli prime minister is going to have to confront. Yet, again, is whether he will be listening
more to the Americans and going on board with what they are clearly pushing him to sign on to, or whether he will, once again, as he has in the past,
take his own political considerations into account here and perhaps put those ultimately above what the United States is pushing him for.
And I think ultimately it will come down to how strongly President Trump is actually going to pressure the Israeli prime minister to accept this
American plan, which already has the backing of some Arab countries as well.
In the past, we've seen that so much hope has been placed in President Trump's lap in terms of the hope that he would bring that sufficient
pressure to bear to get the Israeli prime minister on board with a plan to end the war in Gaza.
But ultimately, that pressure has fallen short of what is required, it would seem, to get the Israeli prime minister to move forward.
But it is important to note that even as we are focusing today on this meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and President Trump, there is
also Hamas that is not part of the equation today, but will need to be part of the equation for any of this to become a reality.
And we heard just yesterday from a Hamas -- a member of Hamas political bureau speaking to Al Jazeera, who was saying that Hamas has yet to
actually receive this full proposal. As of yet, they've only seen reports of it in the media.
And so, we've seen this movie before, where the United States and Israel try and get to an agreement, and then try and bring enormous pressure to
bear on Hamas to accept what they have already agreed to.
But of course, Hamas is the other party in these negotiations, and they are the ones who will decide whether or whether or not to release the 48
Israeli hostages being held, including in the 48 hours of this agreement, the first 48 hours as this agreement calls for.
So, important to keep in mind that even if Israel gets on board with this plan, there is still the wrangling that will need to take place to see
whether Hamas can also get on board.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. All right, that's Jeremy's perspective for you. Let's get more on the Israeli perspective. I'm joined by Yaakov Katz, a
senior columnist for The Jerusalem Post. Good friend of this show. It's good to have you.
Look, both U.S. president and Netanyahu obviously looking for a win out of this. You've just heard Smotrich's red lines, part of the ruling coalition,
of course. His red lines over the involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and any movement towards a Palestinian state.
And I know that you've argued Trump has enormous leverage here, but Netanyahu has his own domestic considerations.
I mean, is there a win here for the Israeli prime minister, as you see it, and it -- if not, out of a -- and I say they, these two leaders, U.S.
president and the Israeli prime minister overcome these obstacles to get anywhere near a peace deal at this point?
[10:10:22]
YAAKOV KATZ, SENIOR COLUMNIST, THE JERUSALEM POST: Well, I think Becky, there's definitely a lot of leverage that Donald Trump has over Benjamin
Netanyahu. We saw just over the last week how more increasingly isolated Israel has become in the world stage, the walkout from his speech --
Netanyahu's speech on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly, the slew of countries, allies of Israel, France, Canada, Australia and others,
Britain recognizing a Palestinian state. This makes Netanyahu all the more dependent on Donald Trump, and Trump knows that, and he'll use that to the
maximum. But what I also think is possible is that, if it's really true, that Donald Trump, through the Qataris, through the Egyptians, the Turks,
whoever it might be, is able to get Hamas to agree to release all of the 48 hostages, the 20 believed to be alive and the 28 who are known to be
deceased, it'll be very difficult for Netanyahu to say no to a deal, even a deal that crosses some of his own red lines, as well as the red lines of
people like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir who have said in the past they would bring down the government. If it's all the hostages, Netanyahu will likely
take it.
ANDERSON: And getting those hostages released is would be, you know, a massive success. Do you see that as part of the Prime Minister's sort of
calculations? Here, get these hostages released. You know, does it matter whether, ultimately, then the Israelis stick to the rest of this 21-point
plan, because that's just the start of this? This is about how to end the war and what a post Gaza conflict -- Gaza -- post Gaza -- post conflict
Gaza, sorry, would look like.
KATZ: No, 100 percent. Look, Israelis want this war over. They, for the most part, have fatigue. They're worn down. Their hearts remain broken from
the fact that the hostages are still being held in Gaza, from the loss of soldiers who continue to be killed in the line of duty, and from the
general tragedy that has befallen this region. We want to see a new reality.
And this war over the last two years, and the new security reality in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iran, and, of course, also in Gaza, puts us on the
cusp of a potential new reality for this region, one that can create stability and long term potential.
I don't want to say peace, Becky, but long term normalization between Israel and some of its neighbors with whom it does not yet have those
agreements with.
So, the first stage of this, get back those 48 people. The second stage pulling the Israeli military out of the Gaza Strip and starting that
renewing and reconstruction of Gaza that is so desperately needed for the people of Gaza.
But we also have to keep in mind, and this is what Netanyahu will insist on in his meetings with Trump today, is giving Israel what's called
operational freedom, the ability that, if needed, if Hamas reconstitutes, if it presents itself once again as a threat, for Israel to have the right
to act.
ANDERSON: Yes, that is -- that's an incredibly important point, and one that will be, I'm sure, discussed today.
All of this being done, of course, without Palestinian representation, or certainly not as far as Hamas are concerned, they've seen no official plan.
How much involvement do you understand that to have been from the sort of wider Palestinian community?
KATZ: Well, the Palestinians want to play a role here, and I think that they feel they deserve to be able to play a role. And there's no question
that if we want to see a stable Gaza, it's going to need some sort of Palestinian involvement. It can't be run just by the Egyptians or the
Jordanians or the Saudis or anyone else for that matter. It's going to need Palestinian leadership.
This is a sticky point for Netanyahu, who has said many times that the Palestinian authority going into Gaza is a red line, or that a Palestinian
state is a red line. This is a red line for members of his coalition.
I do think, though, that if there is an opportunity, again, the onus will be on Hamas to give back those hostages. But if that happens, they'll find
a way to work out the issue of the Palestinian Authority. It won't be the central leader of the new entity in Gaza. It will be a member of the entity
in Gaza, Israel will retain some sort of operational freedom.
[10:15:04]
But we can't live in an illusion, Becky, you and I both know this. There has to be a Palestinian role in the future of the Gaza Strip. Otherwise,
it's nothing moving forward.
ANDERSON: Donald Trump finally has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank after meeting with Macron and Arab Muslim leaders last week, I just
wonder how you expect that to play out between the two leaders now and what aspirations of a Palestinian state, which is what the plan recognizes means
without the promise of any support for a Palestinian state from the United States?
KATZ: No, and again, this is one of Netanyahu's big obstacles and challenges, Becky, you're putting your finger right on it. If Netanyahu has
to go into the Oval today and say, I'm signing up to a 21-point plan that allows the Palestinian Authority back into Gaza, and I have to declare -- I
don't know if I have to declare a Palestinian state, but I have to declare a political horizon for the Palestinians. He needs to come back with
something not just for his coalition, but for the Israeli people.
And while the hostages coming home is definitely a huge thing, he needs something also on the political level. What could that be? It could be a
potential small, minor scale annexation, maybe just settlement blocks, maybe just the Jordan Valley. Although the President has said he's opposed
to that.
I think what we could really be looking at, and I hope this is the case personally, is normalization, getting back on track with the Saudis to
where Israel and Saudi Arabia were prior to the October 7th, 2023 attack, opening up the door for relationships and agreements between Israel and
Syria, Israel and Lebanon.
If that horizon is presented to the Israeli people, I think they will grab it with both arms, even if it means annexation today is being shelved for
the time being.
ANDERSON: Fascinating, it's always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for your perspective.
KATZ: Thank you, Becky.
ANDERSON: Well, a world away from those talks in Washington, the reality on the ground in Gaza remains harrowing as families struggle to flee Gaza
City. CNN has obtained video of tanks on the streets there, Israel pushing ahead with its military campaign, saying it is intensifying strikes on Gaza
City.
Well, you are looking at images of Palestinians camped out on a roadside in central Gaza. One displaced Palestinian says, "Life is non-existent here."
Well, hospitals in Gaza say dozens were killed over the weekend as Israel ramped up its air strikes. Among those now missing is a prominent Gazan
teacher whose home was hit in a strike. The only clues to her whereabouts are a series of voice notes sent from her phone. Paula Hancocks explains
and her report does contain disturbing images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ghada, this is Civil Defense. Ghada Rabah, we have come for you.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Gazan rescue workers search for a well-known and much loved teacher in Gaza City, Ghada Rabah. She may
have been under this rubble for days. Having evacuated with her family, she returned with her brother, Hussam to their home in Tel al-Hawa in the
southern part of the city to pick up belongings.
When she arrived, she sent photos and voice notes to a WhatsApp group of fellow teachers celebrating the lack of Israeli tanks.
GHADA RABAH, MISSING TEACHER (through translator): Thank God, it's quiet, and I pray that stays quiet so I can get our belongings out, I brought them
to the staircase. Oh God, how beautiful homes is, how beautiful and safe, it's amazing. May God keep us safe.
HANCOCKS (voice over): Minutes later, she sent this desperate note to her siblings, saying, Israeli drones targeted the area, hitting her brother,
Hussam.
RABAH (through translator): My siblings, the car that came to pick us up was struck, the driver and the car were smashed, our belongings were
destroyed. Hussam tried to help with four others, and they were all hit by shelling. I don't know what happened to my brother.
HANCOCKS (voice over): Palestine Red Crescent workers retrieved the bodies of Rabah's brother and others in the street, but Rabah was nowhere to be
found. A friend said Rabah called her. She heard her say, hello, but then the line went dead. Israeli strikes destroyed her home, her family and
countless students she has helped over the years fear the worst. The IDF did not respond to CNN for comment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love this teacher.
HANCOCKS (voice over): An outpouring of grief for a woman who secured scholarships outside Gaza for her students, a tireless advocate for
education.
SAHAR AL BASHA, GHADA'S FELLOW TEACHER (through translator): She was loved by all teachers and students. All her students are turning social media
upside down for her.
[10:20:05]
HANCOCKS (voice over): She drew this picture just three weeks ago with a poem that reads, was spinning in circles, searching for safety.
Her brother Ismail, believed she was hiding in her home when an Israeli strike destroyed the building.
Spinning in circles, searching for safety. Her brother is male, believed she was hiding in her home when an Israeli strike destroyed the building.
ISMAIL RABAH, GHADA'S BROTHER (through translator): I cannot say that I have lost my sister because I have hope o will find her. I cannot say I
have lost her, I don't know what happened to her.
HANCOCKS (voice over): It is a perpetual reality of the past two years, officials in Gaza believe thousands of civilians are still trapped under
the rubble across the Gaza Strip. There is no closure without confirmation and no time to grieve while still under fire.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me CNN -- with me CNN -- with me Becky Anderson.
Still to come, Republicans and Democrats are in a standoff as the deadline for U.S. government shutdown looms, going to tell you what's holding up a
potential deal and how the funding fight could impact other top priorities of the administration.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the clock is ticking. The You S government will run out of money in less than 48 hours from now, unless a deal can be reached.
President Donald Trump set to meet with top congressional leaders from both parties later today, amid efforts to avoid a shutdown.
Now this is just the latest in what is a dizzying and sometimes frankly overwhelming flurry of news coming out of this administration. Even in the
midst of a funding fight, the Trump White House continues to make its crackdown, of course, on illegal immigration. They're making that a top
priority in addition to Chicago and Memphis, Tennessee.
President Trump has now announced he plans to send us troops to Portland, Oregon, a city he described as war ravaged. Mr. Trump says the decision is
necessary to protect immigration facilities, which he claims are, "Under siege by Antifa and other domestic terrorists."
Now, all of this as new videos emerge of confrontations involving ICE agents. I've got to warn you, some of you may find the images that we're
about to show you disturbing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement now says the officer who shoved a woman into a wall and then pushed her to the
ground has been relieved of his current duties. That incident was caught on camera Thursday at an immigration court in New York.
And a 79-year-old U.S. citizen has filed a $50 million civil rights claim after he's seen in a video being slammed to the ground by federal agents.
The man accuses the agents of ignoring his pleas for medical assistance and detaining him for hours after an immigration raid at his car wash business
earlier this month.
[10:25:04]
Despite all of this and the threat of a government shutdown, the U.S. president is also focusing his attention on what is happening at the
Pentagon. Sources say Mr. Trump is now planning to join Tuesday's meeting of top military brass called by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in
Virginia. The gathering is expected to resemble a sort of pep rally where head will underscore the importance of the warrior ethos and outline a new
vision for the U.S. military.
Well, let's get you a little bit more sort of analysis and thought on this. CNN's Senior Reporter on Politics, Stephen Collinson is with us. Before I
get to him, he writes about this U.S. funding fight, for example, "The shutdown brinkmanship will take on a wider narrative of whether a rampant
president can be slowed or stopped on any issue."
As promised, Stephen joins us now. Regular guest on the show. Always good to have you. Thank you.
Just break down your point there on why the stakes are higher in this government shutdown than in those of the passing?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yes, shutdowns have become a feature of life in Washington simply because in such a divided country,
Congress struggles to do its basic work, which is financing the government every year and passing these bills, so you have these series of short term
bills that are passed, that gives the opposition party, at this point, the Democrats, a chance to try and use some leverage against the White House.
Democrats have the ability to stop legislation in the Senate due to the 60- vote filibuster threshold.
So, these shutdowns are frequent. The difference here is, is that Democrats have very little power in Washington. They have been trying to make an
impression on this most aggressive presidency, the most, I think, you know, tough implication of federal presidential power we've ever seen in the
modern age.
So, their supporters want them to hold up Trump's legislation, close down the government, not finance it until they can get concessions out of the
present. Now, that seems like a good idea. The problem is, you're dealing with Donald Trump.
First of all, is he going to stick to any deal you come up with? Democrats want some more funding for health care for the less well-off Americans,
which Trump's policies are denuding.
And if the government, in this case, is a hostage, Trump's quite happy for the hostage not to come out of this alive. He's going to close down vast
swathes of the government.
So, it's unclear, really, if the Democrats go into this shutdown on Tuesday night, how are they going to get out of it?
ANDERSON: Yes, it's fascinating, isn't it? I mean, a lot of people saying, where's the stomach for the fight from the Democrats, which of course, many
have not seen in the last 9.5 months. Question is whether this is the fight that's worth -- well, I guess worth fighting.
Look, the videos. I want to move us on to the immigration story. We've just showed our viewers videos of violent arrests by ICE. They're just some of
many as federal troops now mobilize to Portland. Trump's immigration czar, as it were, Stephen Miller adding fuel to the fire over the weekend, saying
this, "Campaign of terrorism will be brought down." Miller has often been referred to as Trump's Prime Minister. How much does he call the shots on
this immigration crackdown, and where do you see this going? Our viewers, you know, may not be as familiar as you are with Stephen Miller.
COLLINSON: Yes, I would say he's the philosophical epicenter of President Trump's MAGA project in the White House, most specifically on immigration.
I think he has a lot in common with a lot of these far-right European politicians. He really does have quite extreme views on the issue.
I think you're seeing what everyone feared might take place. When this mass deportation project geared up, was that American citizens are themselves
getting pulled into this because you have a very aggressive federal force in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and sometimes within the
Homeland Security Agency that have every political interest, from the White House down, in showing toughness and intimidation. And notwithstanding the
thousands of undocumented migrants that are getting caught up in this, some American citizens are too, and that's why this has such authoritarian
overtones, I think, to many Americans.
[10:30:02]
The question is --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Yes.
COLLINSON: Is this what most Americans voted for, who wanted Trump to improve the economy, to make them more economically secure? In the long
run, is that what they voted for last election?
A lot of people wanted the border secured. They don't -- I think, necessarily want this increasing evidence of thuggishness on the streets.
But we're back to our initial question about who is there, apart from the courts to stop this, because Republicans in Congress won't, and the
Democrats have very little power.
ANDERSON: Briefly, before I let you go, I just want to get your thoughts on Trump and Hegseth's "pep rally" about warrior ethos tomorrow. What are they
trying to get optically out of this? And do you think it will work?
COLLINSON: This is very, very unusual. All of these top brass officers are being flown into the United States, be put in one place which itself is a
security risk. It looks like it was the brain trust of Pete Hegseth, who wants to push this philosophy of the warrior class in the Pentagon,
basically instilling MAGA values in the military, which is in itself quite politically troubling.
Then, it seems that the President got wind of it and wants to turn it into, as you say, an optical opportunity so he can look tough again with those
authoritarian overtones and imagery in front of military officers. So, I think it's causing a lot of consternation about the politicization of the
military. That said, Trump seems to just want to turn it into yet another political rally, so, he may end up frustrating some of his own defense
secretary's aims in this insomuch as we actually know what they are.
ANDERSON: We talked about this being a busy and consequential week. We spent the first half of this show talking about the meeting between Donald
Trump, of course, and Bibi Netanyahu, which comes up in the next hour. So, that's how the president will start his week. All of the rest of these
things are sort of building up in the next, sort of 48 hours. Remarkable stuff.
It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Stephen is in the house.
Up next, the latest ahead on that high stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: -- CONNECT THE WORLD with me. Becky Anderson from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi.
Your headlines: Next hour, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
[10:35:04]
Mr. Trump is sounding confident that Israel will accept his 21-point peace plan for Gaza, though the prime minister is expected to push for changes to
the deal. Hamas, so far, says it hasn't received the proposal.
Well, another high stakes meeting at the White House later today. President Trump is set to meet with top congressional leaders as a government
shutdown in the U.S. looms. Funding will run out in less than two days, but Republican leaders still need critical votes from Democrats to sign any
short-term bill into law. At the moment, neither side appears to be backing down.
And in Michigan, a source says up to seven people are still unaccounted for after a deadly attack on a church on Sunday.
Police say a 40-year-old man rammed his truck into the entrance and started shooting with an assault rifle before setting the church on fire.
At least four people were killed and eight others are injured. The attacker was killed in a shootout with police. A motive not yet known.
Well, as we edge closer to today's high stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is expected to push for
changes to what is the White House's 21-point Gaza peace plan, which is understood to call for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and sets
out a road map for governance once the war ends.
The proposal was presented to Arab states at the U.N. last week, with Trump saying that all countries within the region are involved in the deal.
Well, I'm joined now by William Wechsler, senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council.
It's good to have you. And let me just correct myself. It was Arab and Muslim leaders that the U.S. president met last week and proposed this 21-
point plan to.
First, Benjamin Netanyahu facing heat from his far-right coalition. We haven't had any response to Hamas. We know that Donald Trump wants a win
out of this. How much leverage do you believe he has at this point over the Israeli prime minister?
WILLIAM WECHSLER, SENIOR DIRECTOR, RAFIK HARIRI CENTER AND MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS, ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Well, Trump has tremendous leverage over
Benjamin Netanyahu. And it looks like today, in about 30 minutes, he is going to really use it, and hopefully bring this war to an end.
There is really no way that the -- that any Israeli prime minister can operate without the support of the United States and President Trump has
signaled in a variety of ways that his patience has been wearing thin as of late.
ANDERSON: Gulf and wider Middle East states would play a crucial role in getting this deal across the line and helping guarantee Gaza's security.
So, I just wonder in you're very well source, just how much buy in does Donald Trump have to this 21-point plan and what role for the region,
William?
WECHSLER: I think that Donald Trump has a lot of buy-in from the wider Arab world, and especially from the Gulf. Remember, Donald Trump's first trip
anywhere that he organized as president, this term, was to the region, where he went to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, and he did not visit
Israel. He has very strong relationships there.
Because just last Friday, that the president of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed, met with Benjamin Netanyahu for a preview of the message that he is going
to receive when he visits today to the White House. So, I see a lot of align -- a lot of connections between the Trump White House and the Gulf.
ANDERSON: Those who, you know -- I want to say Trump watches. I certainly don't want to say Trump's critics. Those who sort of, you know, are very
observant of Donald Trump, often say that he tends to be influenced by the last person who has his ears. So, while that was Arab and other Muslim
leaders last week, I just wonder, given the pushback by the far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition, when it comes to involvement of the P.A.
going forward, talk of at least aspirations towards a Palestinian State going forward. I wonder how much -- and let's call it wiggle room you
believe Benjamin Netanyahu may have at this point.
WECHSLER: You know, from what we have seen, the 21-point plan that the Trump administration has put forward, is something that on the substance
Israel should leap at.
[10:40:08]
It is -- it's a demonstration of the -- frankly, the level of success that they've had over the last two years.
I think, as long as Donald Trump stays committed to the plan as we understand it, that Benjamin Netanyahu will go -- will go along with that.
There is always the chance, as the people on Wall Street say, who watch Donald Trump, that there might be another TACO incident. So, Trump Always
Chickens Out. But I really hope it's not. It's not the case.
ANDERSON: We have seen some red lines being -- you know, being expressed very specifically by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, two right wing members -- you
know, very right-wing members of Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
One of those red lines for Netanyahu was that any peace deal should establish no involvement of Qatar in Gaza, Qatar, of course, playing a key
role in -- an integral role in mediating up until the recent attack on Doha. Reports actually suggest Netanyahu is closer to making amends with
Doha than alienating it.
How do you read this position, this stance, at least by members of his right-wing coalition, vis-a-vis Qatar right now?
WECHSLER: You know, these -- that the harness that are allowed to be part of this Israeli government are flailing right now. They don't want a peace
deal. They don't want Qatar. They have more recently said that, well, if we are going to have a peace deal, then we need to annex the West Bank,
something that Donald Trump has explicitly thrown off the table.
The -- at the end of the day, president -- Prime Minister Netanyahu has a decision to make. The decision is between the national security interests
of Israel and his political coalition potentially. He needs to call the bluff of these Kahanist parties and see if they will take down the
government.
ANDERSON: Yes. Question is, is he ready to do that? Matt, at this point with, you know, less than an hour to go remains to be seen. We know this
meeting is scheduled to start just after the top of this next hour, and we are expecting a press conference on the back of that. Stick with CNN for
that.
William, it's a pleasure having you on. Thank you very much indeed.
We are back after this quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Adriatic Sea, once teeming with sharks and rays is losing marine life at an alarming pace. Today, on our series, "CALL TO EARTH", we dive
into dark waters, with the European scientists working tirelessly to protect some of what are the most vulnerable species. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[10:45:02]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): It's pitch black and choppy beneath the Adriatic Sea at night, with only the moon above and a
flashlight below to guide the way. But these are ideal diving conditions for Bosnian marine biologist Andrej Gajic, who searches for sharks who come
to life after dark.
ANDREJ GAJIC, MARINE BIOLOGIST, GENERAL DIRECTOR, SHARKLAB ADRIA: I think, the biggest misconception that these are some kind of man eating,
bloodthirsty machines. The majority of the species grow less than a meter. They are smaller. They are terrified of humans. The more time I spend
diving, I actually realize how fragile they are, not how frightening they are.
ASHER (voice over): The Adriatic Sea is the long, narrow arm of the Mediterranean, home to a diverse range of sharks and rays. It's also one of
the most dangerous seas in the world for them, where overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss have left nearly 70 percent at risk, and some
on the edge of extinction.
GAJIC: My team and I decided to come here to conduct systematic research about the number of individuals, diversity of the species, and their key
habitats in this area before it's too late.
ASHER (voice over): Andre runs Sharklab ADRIA, a research group in Albania working to protect some of the Mediterranean's most vulnerable marine life,
from documenting rare sharks, to investigating causes of disease and death.
GAJIC: Majority of my career are dedicated studying the deep sea, and there is angular rough shark that is particularly important for me. Diving with
the rough sharks, it's like I meet some dinosaur from Jurassic or whatever. It's a critically dangerous species we try to protect like for past 10
years. As well as the spiny butterfly rays, our team has rediscovered the population after no records in this century in the region.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 2.5.
ASHER (voice over): His team spends about 160 days in the field each year, assessing marine animal health, behavior, environmental exposure, and more.
GAJIC: We are now trying to understand the population better, the threats, and what we can do to mitigate the fisheries is definitely one of the
worst. There is also pollution. There is a habitat loss. Climate change is terrible issue.
ASHER (voice over): After his night dive concludes at 2:00 a.m., Andre is swapping his scuba gear for his lab scrubs. He will work through the night
with his team, analyzing by catch donated by a local fishery just hours earlier.
GAJIC: This is a small juvenile --
We process a large amount of samples, unfortunately, that are always retrieved dead by the trollers. Without their support, we won't be able to
actually do this scientific research.
ASHER (voice over): Sharklab ADRIA also runs an on-site rehabilitation program, where marine life are cared for and monitored before being
released back into the wild.
GAJIC: We have a lot of sharks case of race coming to rehabilitation after being landed or retrieved alive. And most commonly, we work with severe
traumatical fractures caused by the poor handling and the hooking.
ASHER (voice over): Alongside his research, Andre works aboard commercial trawlers, collecting data on by catch and teaching fishermen how to safely
return live animals to the sea.
GAJIC: Being on the trawlers, it's very eye-opening moment. You see the reality, and this is why I tend to call out of work being at the front
lines of conservation.
Thankfully, after one year of intense work at the port, many of these fishermen are collaborating with us, at this point. They are trained to
proper handling protocols and rapid release protocols, with over 70 trainings per year that we organize for them.
Every shark, every ray that I received on my phone each day from the fisherman that is released back in the sea is the utmost success that I can
see in my field.
I think over the past few decades, we somehow split from the nature, and I think this is the right time to take responsibility for what we are doing
to our home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, let us know what you are doing to answer the call with the #calltoearth.
You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. There is more news ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:50:46]
ERIC ADAMS (D), MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board's decision to withhold
millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And with that, New York City Mayor Eric Adams ends his re- election bid, leaving three candidates in the race. The frontrunner, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, had a message of his own.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), MAYORAL CANDIDATE, NEW YORK CITY: At Andrew Cuomo, you got your wish. You wanted Trump and your billionaire friends to help you
clear the field. But don't forget, you wanted me as your opponent in the primary too, and we beat you by 13 points. Looking forward to doing it
again on November 4th. Hope you are well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Gloria Pazmino, covering the mayor's race. This is an election that has not only captured national attention, it's captured
international attention as well. Explain what this decision by Mayor Adams does to the race at this point. Its significance, if you will.
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN NEWSOURCE NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Becky.
You know, I have to say it was not really a surprise that the mayor decided to exit the race. For many weeks, we'd been reporting about whether or not
he would do it. And even talking about some of the considerations that he was taking, whether or not he will be able to take a job in the Trump
administration as a way to leave the race.
So, it was not a surprise that he would exit, but is definitely a sort of a stunning end to Adams' political career here in New York.
You know, when he took office nearly four years ago, he described himself as the future of the Democratic Party, and so much has happened in the last
four years, including the mayor's own federal corruption charges last year, and charges faced by several of his senior advisors.
All of this is actually what resulted in his inability to really mount a strong reelection campaign.
Now, you talk about the fact that this race has gotten international attention, and that's because the democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani
has made such an impact and really stunned the political establishment here in New York and across the United States by winning the primary last June.
Now, he is facing off against two other candidates that remain in this race. That's former Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Republican nominee Curtis
Sliwa.
Now, the idea behind Eric Adams leaving the race is that it would help Cuomo get some support and increase his chances of actually beating
Mamdani.
But the polling that we've seen in this race so far does not suggest that the numbers are there, at least not enough for Cuomo to get support to
really make a significant dent and potentially have a shot at beating the Democratic nominee. But he is certainly going to try.
I've been speaking to Cuomo's aides in the last several hours. They see this as a much-needed boost, and they are hoping that fundraisers will get
behind their campaign in the next several weeks.
But, as you saw Mamdani there in that video, he is going to make it all about Cuomo's connection to Trump. Trump did make it clear.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: All right.
PAZMINO: He believed that Cuomo was the better candidate to win this race. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and Trump giving the impression that that's because he's a New York man, he just believes that Cuomo would run the city better, and he
has a, you know, love for the city. It may be more. There may be, of course, more to it than that.
I just think it's really important for our international viewers to just take on the following.
On the national stage, the Democrats have frankly, failed to turn up since the U.S. President Donald Trump took office, and the Republicans and the
MAGA side of the Republican Party have sort of, you know, made hay.
And the party doesn't seem to think that Mamdani is the face of the Democrats going forward. So, where, I wonder, does this leave the
opposition as it were, in the U.S.?
[10:55:08]
I mean, this is -- this is definitely bigger than just -- and it's big enough when it's a New York mayoral election, of course, That's a massive
city.
But where does this leave the Democrats at this point?
PAZMINO: You are absolutely correct that the race is about a lot more than just a mayoral race here in New York City. It's exactly about sort of a
battle of ideology and direction that the Democratic Party is having with itself here in the United States. About whether or not they should tack
left, and run campaigns similar to Mamdani's, or if they should tack to the center and moderate a bit more in order to appeal to moderate Democrats and
Republicans.
And we have seen that struggle play out in this race, Mamdani has yet to get the support of key figures like the minority leaders in the Senate and
in Congress. So, it just shows you that there is a struggle there, but Mamdani certainly continuing to grow his support here in New York.
ANDERSON: Always good to have you. You are closing out the hour for us. Thank you for that. And that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN.
"ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
