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Rouhani: U.S. And Regional Allies To Blame; Kavanaugh Accuser Tentatively Agrees To Testify Thursday; Kim Jong-un Wants A Second Summit With Trump; Palestinian Hopes To Run In Jerusalem Mayoral Election; Japanese Technology Takes Root In United Arab Emirates; Meghan Markle Reveals Her 'Something Blue' From Wedding Day. Aired 11-12p ET
Aired September 23, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:00:00] LINDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORD, I'm Linda Kinkade coming to you live from CNN's world
headquarters here in Atlanta. Good to have you with us. So I want to go to an attack in the Middle East that is shocking in its own right and which
could have grave ramifications in an already volatile region.
This is the moment a military parade turned into a massacre. The moment is shocked before realities sink in and people flee or drop to the ground as
gunfire rang out in the Iranian city of Ahvaz. At least 29 people were killed, more than 70 people were injured. State media report all four
attackers were killed. Iran is blaming what it calls foreign-backed terrorists specifically calling out the U.S. and its regional allies for
Saturday's terrifying attack. Here's one witness' account.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In the middle of the parade we realized that an armed group wearing fake military clothing attacked our
children from behind us and then fired on women and children. They fired completely blindly meaning they weren't taking targets, just firings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, for more on the regional reaction and the implications of all of this Sam Kiley joins us from Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Good to have you
with us, Sam. An Arab separatist group has claimed responsibility as has ISIS although that has largely been dismissed. Just explain what you're
learning about how this all unfolded.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was clearly a very well-organized, well-planned attack using conventional weapons which
is somewhat surprising in the context in the Middle East where people were -- terrorist groups would want to very often I'll find it most necessary to
use explosives. In this case, they use firearms firing at some distance into the crowd.
Now, there's some confusion as to whether two or four of the attackers were killed initially. The authorities they're now saying that four, all four
the attackers are now dead. And this comes in a part of Iran that has a substantial Arab minority. It's right on the border with Iraq that has
been -- elements of it have been calling for independence for many years, Linda.
There are other groups of course in the north Kurdish groups and also the Baloch over out in the West who have these sorts of violent agendas in
pursuit of their regional autonomy or outright secession from Iran. And this, of course, all comes at a time when the United States is calling for
increased pressure to be brought upon the regime in Tehran. But Hassan Rouhani the prime -- President of Iran has hit back this is what he said
soon after those atrocious killings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT, IRAN: Small puppies, countries that we see in the region are backed by America, and the United States is provoking us and
giving them the necessary capabilities to commit these crimes. These crimes will have no effect on the will of our people and our path.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY: Now, Linda, also the Iranians are saying that there will be a swift response to whoever's responsible for this. I think the claims of
responsibility coming from so-called Islamic state can be easily dismissed. They come up with no proof of it. What there is though is this growing
sense of regional tension. I think that this week at the U.N. General Assembly that is going to be ratcheted up certainly by Donald Trump who
will be chairing the a Security Council meeting on Wednesday which he hopes to talk more about the sorts of changes he'd like to see in Iran.
And this all coming immediately after the -- after this terrorist attack I think would create great deal of tension. Of course, that has spread
already into the Yemen where Saudi Arabia, United States ally and the UAE are backing a coalition against the shear dominated Houthis of course aback
by Tehran. Linda?
KINKADE: And so, Sam, how do you see this playing out? Given the backdrop that we'll see this week with the U.N. General Assembly and Iran promising
a swift response, what that involve?
KILEY: Well, the Iranian response if they're able to identify the perpetrators could be brutal and very swift. The Iranians have a very
dominant, very powerful interior intelligence agency. But in terms of the international affairs, this comes as an extremely problematic time because
apart from the United States which backed out of the deal established to get the Iranian government to end its nuclear program, its nuclear weapons
program in return for lifting of sanctions, the United States has pulled out of that and threatened sanctions against countries doing business
there. Whereas, Europe especially the United Kingdom front, especially, want that deal to stick and we'll be putting a lot of pressure in the
international forum at the U.N. General Assembly to try to get that to continue to stick whilst the Trump administration of course is adamant that
it hasn't for its part already torn it up. Linda?
KINKADE: So Sam, we know that funeral preparations in Iran are underway. We're hearing these harsh words from both the president and the supreme
leader but is there any indication of what Iranian people make of all this particularly the finger pointing at the U.S. and Israel and allies?
KILEY: The Iranian people are pretty used to the finger pointing by the government at the Western allies particularly the United States and Saudi
Arabia, particularly at a time when both of those countries have been suggesting that they would get involved or support internal opposition to
the theocracy that runs Iran. But at the same time, Iran is suffering economically. There is a very, very young population in Iran that arguably
is wanting to be part of the international community, rejoin the community of nations, and very frustrated both with its own government and with the
United States for pulling out of the nuclear deal which has threatened economic recovery there.
The critics of Iran, of course, are saying that removing sanctions have allowed if you like, a bonus, financial bonus to Iran which has been
squandered in their view on supporting groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Syrian regime in Damascus, and the Houthis in the Yemen. Linda?
KINKADE: All right, Sam Kiley, good to have you with us from Abu Dhabi. Thanks so much. We're going to stay on this story because Iran's neighbors
and regional allies were quick to offer their condolences and condemn this terror attack as were traditional U.S. allies including the Gulf States of
Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, as well as Egypt. There is silence so far though from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, three of the firmest U.S. partners
in the region who have been taking a very tough line on Iran as well.
Iranian's state T.V. is reporting that the UAE envoy has been summoned over comments by what the channel calls an (INAUDIBLE) official. CNN has
reached out to authorities in Abu Dhabi for comment. Well, for more on what this attack could mean for Iran and for the region, Political Science
Professor Nasser Hadian joins me now from Tehran on the phone.
Iran claims with no proof that the U.S. and Israel and its allies are behind this attack. Is there any indication they played a role in this at
all and how is that playing into the regional tensions there?
NASSER HADIAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR: Pleased to be with you. I guess what Iran is trying to say is because that was a very sophisticated
actions which was taken in Ahvaz. It was organized -- I mean, the timing was outside Iran and they were armed most probably outside Iran, and they
were supported. So that's why Iran is blaming basically the regional countries but predominantly Saudi Arabia and UAE for this action.
Of course, I guess it is over the stretch to argue that U.S. or Israel are behind it but because they did not condemn the act so somehow there's
expectation among at least average citizen of the U.S. and Israel should condemn the act without any reservation. Because the action was a
terrorist action and nobody (INAUDIBLE) should be -- should be condemned. Otherwise, how possibly we can -- we can argue against those who bomb for
instance in Tel Aviv, or Jerusalem, or in New York, or in Pennsylvania how we can basically condemn those acts because they all have resentments.
They all have reservation.
KINKADE: Iran --
HADIAN: This action is a terrorist action. It should be condemned no matter who --
KINKADE: Absolutely. It should be condemned. But we're hearing from Iran and they're saying that President Trump will soon fail just like Saddam
Hussein failed in his war against the Islamic Republic. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley had this to say. I just want to play some sound for
our viewers. Just take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:10:12] NIKKI HALEY, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: The United States is not looking to do a regime change in Iran and we're
not looking to do regime change anywhere. What we are looking to do is protect Americans, protect our allies, and make sure that we do everything
we can to stop it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Does anyone in Iran believe that?
HADIAN: Of course, I'm mean, very few people who are naive may believe those statements because you know, this should be matched with -- the with
the deed, with action. The words you know, can come out of the mouth of President Rouhani or President Trump. The point is what are the actions
behind those words. On the one side, United States say that OK they are against for instance the Iranian government against the Iranian regime and
they are supportive of the people, but at the same time, they do on travel bans which basically impacts the Iranian people, not the Iranian
government.
So the actions do not match the woods so it is a kind of a hypocrisy. But what we expect more than anything else now is a clear-cut statement by the
U.S. government for the condemnation of such act. This is extremely important. This is number one. Number two, what is expected to the
Iranian people -- I'm not talking about the Iranian government, I talking about the Iranian people is not supporting, not (INAUDIBLE).
I was listening myself. Last night I should be the spokesperson for the organization called for the resistance of the (INAUDIBLE) which accepted
the responsibility of act. So they are based in Europe, they have a platform in the BBC, and they are basically propagating their faith's
basically ideology. So why? You just cannot do this -- you just cannot ask the other governments through the top of the things which you perceive
to be wrong but at the same time doing exactly the same thing yourself.
KINKADE: Nasser Hadian, great to get your perspective. We'll have to leave it there for now but we will continue to stay on this story.
HADIAN: I appreciate it.
KINKADE: Thank you very much. Well, still to come. A breakthrough in the controversial confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. We'll
have the details coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALEY: I think she's going to get the opportunity to say that. But you know, what I've said often is she deserves respect. She deserves to be
heard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: US Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley there not quite breaking with the Trump administration but telling CNN that she hopes the Senate
committee hearing next week will help Americans get answers about what happened between Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh -- remember, that is
a lifetime appointment -- and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford. CNN Supreme Court Reporter Ariane de Vogue has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:15:19] ARIANE DE VOGUE, CNN U.S. SUPREME COURT REPORTER: It looks like Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford will be facing
senators at a historic hearing on Thursday. They could very well determine the fate of Kavanaugh's nomination. While Ford alleges that Kavanaugh
assaulted her at a party some 30 years ago, he categorically denies the allegations. But there are still more details to be worked out between
lawyers for Ford and the Judiciary Committee before the hearing is final. They plan to talk later on Sunday to hammer out remaining issues.
Lawyers for Ford, for instance, believe that Republican Senator should question Ford. Some in the GOP want to hire an outside counsel, maybe a
woman to do the questioning. Also, Ford thinks other witnesses should be called. For instance, they want to call Mark Judge who Ford has said was
in the room where the alleged assault happened. Judge has said he has no memory of the party. But Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley says
there will be only two witnesses, Ford and Kavanaugh. Ariane de Vogue re, CNN Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: While the details of the hearing are being worked out, Democrats fear the 11 Republican men who make up the Senate Judiciary Committee may
not treat Ford's allegations fairly. Meanwhile, supporters of Kavanaugh seem confident his confirmation will go through. Take a listen to what
Senate Majority Leader McConnell told a gathering of conservative voters on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: You watch the fight, you watch the tactics, but here's what I want to tell you. In a very New
York future, Judge Kavanaugh will be on the United States Supreme Court.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: CNN Political Analyst Julian Zelizer joins me now from New York to break this all down with me. Thanks, Julian for being with us.
Thanks for having me.
KINKADE: Despite from what we just heard from Mitch McConnell there, Republicans have agreed to hold this hearing but Democrats really don't
seem to be sold on the process. How do you see this playing out? Will these type of hearing get us any closer to the truth?
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think it's going to be difficult. Really what you need is some kind of independent investigation with an
accusation like this to try to find out what happened. You do need testimony from other people. So I think Democrats are not being irrational
that they fear this is simply a way for Republicans to show that they're listening but then move forward with the vote that they're going to have
anyway. So the only thing that can change that is the actual drama of watching Dr. Ford testify and listening to the story that she has to tell.
KINKADE: Yes, that is going to be an interesting day come Thursday. But I just want to let out viewers a couple of polls that are out, one from a
very conservative media outlet, the other from what is considered to be a center, less leaning outlet. Both polls suggesting that opposition to
Kavanaugh's appointment is growing. Take a look at this Fox News poll. It shows that 50 percent of people now oppose his confirmation. And another
poll from USA Today shows that 40 percent oppose him. Is that going to be taken into account by Republicans at this confirmation hearing?
ZELIZER: It should be. And obviously, there are certain Republicans who are a little more to the center like Senator Susan Collins who everyone is
watching to see if those kinds of polls sway their vote. But thus far, Republicans aren't moved by that kind of public opinion revelation. We've
seen this before with all the problems President Trump faces in the polls and continued Republican support for the administration. And I think right
now Republicans are betting that despite the polls right now moving forward with the confirmation if they can will helped them in the elections more
than it will hurt them.
KINKADE: So there's no way this could be slowed down. It seems very rush given that this is a lifetime appointment.
ZELIZER: That's absolutely true. All these deadlines you're hearing about are artificial. There is no rush. If the Senate was serious they can take
a few days to really have a thorough investigation if not a few weeks. The Republicans themselves when Obama was president we're happy not even to
meet, let alone try to confirm the Supreme Court nominee. So this is really an artificial structure but Republicans are using it politically to
keep moving forward despite everything that's unfolded in the last few days.
KINKADE: And whether or not he is confirmed, we will see how that sort of affects people voting in the midterm elections. But so now I just want to
turn to Rosenstein, the Deputy Attorney General. He is denying reports that he discussed wearing a wiretap to record conversations with President
Trump and speaking about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the President from office. Let's just take a listen to what the U.S. Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo had to say about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:20:21] MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: we need everyone who's engaged in helping achieve President Trump's mission and I hope that
everyone in every agency, DOJ, FBI, State Department is on that mission. And if you're not -- if you're not you should take this time to go do
something more productive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Julian, do you think Donald Trump will fire Rod Rosenstein, and if so when?
ZELIZER: Well, he's wanted to fire him for a long time. That's the best path to closing down the investigation. And this is a story that offers
him some fodder to say look, the people in charge at the Justice Department have never liked me and they've always been out to get me. He's receiving
pushback from conservatives including on Fox television who are saying don't do this right now. It will be too explosive. And my guess is there
is part of President Trump who loves to have a foil. He would rather have Rosenstein there so that he can attack them. They could undermine the
credibility of the report whenever it comes out rather than having him gone.
So I'm not sure it's going to happen in the short term. I think he might actually keep him for a while and actually use this whole story to his
advantage.
KINKADE: And so what does this do to the credibility of the Justice Department when you've got a president who continually questions them and
attacks them?
ZELIZER: It's terrible. The president has used his bully pulpit repeatedly to really undermine public confidence in this institution and
there were many Americans who listened to everything the president has to say, who believe every story, and they will read a story like this New York
Times story and focus on this idea of a deep state out to get the President as opposed to the bigger part of the story that he was so concerned early
on. He's talking about do we need to record what the president is saying? Do we need to talk about the 25th Amendment? But this is creating a
certain kind of public chaos in attitudes of our institutions that will be hard to reverse.
KINKADE: That certainly will be. Julian's Zelizer, always good to get your perspective, Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton,
thanks so much.
ZELIZER: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, world leaders are gearing up for high-level debated of this year's U.N. General Assembly and the relationship between the U.S. and the
Korean Peninsula couldn't be more different from what it was a year ago. Our Paula Hancocks has the view from Seoul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are a key few days coming up when it comes to the denuclearization of North Korea. South Korean President
Moon Jae-in will be traveling to the United States to brief the U.S. President Donald Trump on his three-day summit with Kim Jong-un and he will
effectively be putting the ball back in the U.S. Court.
Now we already know that Kim Jong-un wants a second summit with the U.S. President. He sent a letter to Mr. Trump. The White House has said that
they are open to it. But President Moon will be reinforcing that message. He has said that Kim Jong-un told him he really wants another summit as
soon as possible so that he can continue with denuclearization very quickly.
Now there are plenty of critics in the U.S. including within the Trump administration that believe that Mr. Trump should not be rewarding the
North Korean leader with a second summit when they haven't been tangible results on the steps towards denuclearization. Now, the other tangible
results that President Moon believes he will be going to the U.S. with is that Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut down the key missile site and he will
be allowing international experts, he says, in to verify that process.
In addition to that, if the U.S. has corresponding measures, then North Korea will agree to shut down its Yongbyon nuclear facility. Now,
President Moon did have a press conference with journalists as soon as he got back to Seoul from this summit and I asked him what exactly are these
corresponding measures and he effectively said that it was to end hostilities against North Korea which means an end to the Korean War which
was signed by an armistice not a peace treaty back in 1953. And this is something that both North and South Korea have been very clear about. They
both want to ends the Korean War, to have that declaration and to have a peace treaty.
Now, certainly so far the U.S. response appears to have been positive to this three-day summit so President Moon will be heading to the U.S. and
also to the United Nations General Assembly knowing that there is this positive response, that the U.S. is willing to restart negotiations. But
the issue remains the same. It is all about timing and order. The U.S. wants denuclearization and they will follow that with a declaration of the
end of the Korean War and concessions. North Korea wants it exactly the opposite way. Paula Hancocks, CNN Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:25:05] KINKADE: Well, as we heard from Paula in Seoul and Julian in New York, politics in the U.S. is serious business right now. For some,
like U.S. President Trump it's the family business. But for others family and politics do not mix. One Republican Congressman found that out and six
of your siblings endorsed his opponent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE GOSAR, SISTER OF PAUL GOSAR: Paul Gosar, the Congressman isn't doing anything to help rural America.
TIM GOSAR, BROTHER OF PAUL GOSAR: My name is Tim Gosar.
DAVID GOSAR, BROTHER OF PAUL GOSAR: David Gosar.
G. GOSAR: Grace Gosar.
JOAN GOSAR, SISTER OF PAUL GOSAR: Joan Gosar.
GASTON GOSAR, BROTHER OF PAUL GOSAR: Gaston Gosar.
JENNIFER GOSAR, SISTER OF PAUL GOSAR: Jennifer Gosar.
G. GOSAR: Paul Gosar is my brother.
JENNIFER GOSAR: My brother.
JOAN GOSAR: And I endorsed Dr. Grill.
GASTON GOSAR: Dr. Brill --
T. GOSAR: -- wholeheartedly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You had said that the Charlottesville white nationalist March was created by the left, carried out by an Obama
sympathizer, do you still --
REP. PAUL GOSAR (R), ARIZONA: I think if we go back and recheck that, I said wouldn't it be interesting to find that. But my proof will be coming.
Check my Web site out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your proof will be coming. It's all been debunked. There was -- there was --
P. GOSAR: It's never been debunked.
I didn't hear you. We want Tommy out. We want Tommy out. Tommy out. We want Tommy out.
T. GOSAR: Paul is absolutely not working for his district.
GRACE GOSAR: If they care about health care, they care about their children's health care, they would hold him to account. If they care about
jobs, they would hold him to account.
P. GOSAR: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Paul Gosar has since released a statement about his siblings appearing in his opponent's ad. He tells CNN you won't be deterring from
his fight for conservative values. As to his more liberal siblings he says, and I quote, "see you at mom and dad's house." It's going to be very
awkward Thanksgiving this year.
Well, if you want to read more about that story or any of the week's top political news, you can check out cnn.com/politics. There you will find
the latest on the Supreme Court confirmation battle, Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, and of course the upcoming midterm elections. Well,
live from Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Still to come --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think people are afraid that by doing this we are accepting the occupation in Jerusalem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: We're going to meet the Palestinian hoping to run for the mayor of Jerusalem but getting on the ballot is just the beginning of the
challenges. That story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:31:19] KINKADE: Welcome back. With an update on our top story, Iran's Revolutionary Guard is vowing deadly and unforgettable revenge for the
terror attack on Saturday that killed at least 29 people.
A military parade was targeted in the city of Ahvaz, a province that has a large population of ethnic Arabs. Iran lashed out at what it calls
foreign-backed terrorists. Specifically calling out the U.S. and its regional allies. The U.S. condemned the attack expressing condolences to
the Iranian people.
Well, next month, Jerusalem will hold mayoral elections. Palestinians living in the city have long boycotted the vote. But this time around,
Palestinian resident, Aziz Abu Sarah wants to be on the ballot. And as our Ian Lee reports, getting on the ballot without Israeli citizenship is just
one of his many challenges.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IAN JAMES LEE, CNN FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT: This video by a Jewish group is supposed to scare Jerusalem's Jewish residents into voting. Depicting a
fictitious Palestinian mayoral candidate in cahoots with terrorists.
AZIZ ABU SARAH, PROSPECTIVE MAYORAL CANDIDATE: It is because we are Arab. Because we are Palestinians.
LEE: Aziz Abu Sarah, hopes to be a real Palestinian mayoral candidate. His concerns are better roads, trash collection, housing, and schools for
Jerusalem's Palestinian residents.
So, tell me the big differences between East and West Jerusalem.
SARAH: I think, this street is a great example. This is an important street here in East Jerusalem. And look at it, it's not paved, it's not
taken care of. You see garbage everywhere because normally takes weeks for the municipality to empty the garbage.
You would never find the streets like this in West Jerusalem. People would not allow it. They'll complain to the municipality, and the municipality
will come and take care of it.
LEE: Before the Six-Day War in 1967, Jerusalem was split in two. Israel controlled the West and Jordan the East including the Old City. Israel
captured the East during the war, now, viewed as occupied territory by the international community, Israel claims it as part of a unified capital.
The City Council insists it not only provides but is actually expanding services to East Jerusalem including transport, housing, and education.
But the division remains stark. Jerusalem's Palestinian residents living overwhelmingly in the East rarely vote despite being nearly 40 percent of
the population and paying tens of millions of dollars in taxes. Last election, voter turnout was in the single digits.
SARAH: We're being taxed with no representation. And what we are trying to say to our people is like enough is enough.
LEE: Alongside supporter, (INAUDIBLE), Abu Sarah explains the difficulties getting Palestinians to listen to him.
Yet, how was that going?
SARAH: I think people are afraid that by doing this, we are accepting the occupation in Jerusalem. We are legalizing it, we are making it OK.
LEE: Before he can run and challenge the other Jewish candidates for mayor, Abu Sarah needs an Israeli Court to help him. Like most of the
cities Palestinian residents, he's not an Israeli citizen. In current rules say, that makes him ineligible.
SARAH: We are breaking a taboo. This is 51 years of times that Palestinians have not participated in those elections. And so, it's hard
to change whenever you try to break something like that.
LEE: And that's perhaps the biggest challenge, giving Jerusalem's Palestinians change they can believe in. Ian Lee, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:36:08] KINKADE: Well, Aziz Abu Sarah, joins me now from Jerusalem. Good to have you with us.
SARAH: Thank you for having me.
KINKADE: So, you want to wear want it to run for mayor of Jerusalem. And I understand you speak Hebrew and Arabic, but as we just heard there,
traditionally, Palestinians don't vote in these elections. So, even if you are in the ballot, this is going to be an uphill battle, right?
SARAH: Oh, it is. It's an uphill battle. But I think one of the reasons people don't vote is that they didn't have somebody to vote for. This is
the first time that they giving Palestinians -- young Palestinians who are saying, we want to try to make a difference. And I think things have got
so much worse in the last few years that there is hope that Palestinians will go out and will vote.
KINKADE: And so, I just want to broaden this out a little bit because we know in May, the U.S. moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It was
obviously a highly controversial decision by President Trump, which some sorts are pending the Middle East peace process.
This is a city you want to be the mayor of. Where do you see this process now?
SARAH: You're right. I think people in Jerusalem in my part of Jerusalem, and I'll quote, "East Jerusalem are feeling neglected -- internationally
neglected, locally neglected by." Leadership are neglected indefinitely by the Israeli municipality where we house demolitions happening on regular
basis. There is no zoning plans in our city.
And so, people are feeling very frustrated, very hopeless. And really apt loss of what can we do to make a difference. And moving the embassy was
another reason for people to be upset, to be angry, to feel that those of us the Palestinians who live in Jerusalem are kind of not seen by anybody
in the world, and ignored by everybody in the world.
KINKADE: Israel considers itself the only democracy in the Middle East. If you are denied this chance to run to mayor of Jerusalem, what would that
say about Israel?
SARAH: Right, I think that's the question I'm putting before Israel, before Israelis is saying, we are 40 percent almost of the city and yet
none of us almost can't run for mayor of the city we live in, is that what democracy really means? It's -- from our perspective, it's a joke.
To claim democracy, you tell us you can vote but you can't be really the candidate. That just doesn't go on hand in hand. Now, remember, we pay
about 300 plus million shekels every year. And yet, we don't get any representation. We're not allowed to have the most important job in the
municipality. I think of that as taxation without representation.
KINKADE: Do you share the same concerns of other Arabs that you're legitimizing a process that doesn't serve Palestinians? As far as I
understand, there's only a mere handful of polling booths in Arab areas of the city.
SARAH: Right. I understand the fear. However, from an international law point of view, from a historical point of view, that's not true. When the
British were the occupying body here in Jerusalem, the mayor of Jerusalem was actually Palestinian, from a well-known Palestinian family --
Nashashibi family. For about 14 years, for example.
But the struggle is hard. I mean, you mentioned, for example, while the Israeli side of Jerusalem gets dozens of polling stations. And the
Palestinian side, we are getting a handful of polling stations. That means some people who live beyond the wall, for example, will have to get on a
bus, go through a checkpoint take another bus until they get to their polling station. And most of them still have not received a paper from the
government telling them where their polling station is.
KINKADE: So, if you are denied by the high court to run to be on this ballot because you don't have Israeli citizenship, will you apply for will
you get it?
SARAH: Well, I don't think people who under occupation should be required to apply for the citizenship of that country. But even those who do apply,
actually I've seen some numbers about 2016 where over1 1,100 people did apply.
The law allows you to apply, but only about 12 people got the citizenship. So, even though there is a legal process, in reality, I believe Israel
doesn't want us to vote because they don't want this to be in the municipality.
If we are in the municipality, we'll see what's really happening. We will challenge the discrimination that's happening. We will say no, we want
some of the budget that come to the city to be applied in our own neighborhoods. We will say that we want to change the zoning plans and
people will be able to build.
You know, it's interesting. Since the occupation of East Jerusalem, there have been many new neighborhoods, most or all of them now most all of them
are Jewish neighborhoods are a settlement. A third of the settlements in the West Bank are in East Jerusalem.
And yet, there was not a one area plan for us -- for the Palestinians. We cannot have our own new neighborhoods. We cannot build in our own
neighborhoods. That doesn't make any sense because we're put in a place where -- well, you can't build, you can't do anything.
And then, eventually, people end up moving out of the city and that's the biggest danger, we are being driven slowly out of our own city.
[11:40:27] KINKADE: All right. Aziz Abu Sarah, we'll have to leave it there for now. Perspective Jerusalem mayoral candidate, live from
Jerusalem. Thanks for joining us.
Well, let get you up to speed on some other stories that are on our radar right now. At least 223 people are now confirmed dead after an overloaded
ferry capsized on Thursday in Tanzania.
Local media say an estimated 400 people were on the boat which was built to carry only 100. The ferries captain has been arrested and its operators
are being detained for questioning.
Pope Francis is wrapping up day two of his tour of the Baltic nations where he's sharing a message of solidarity and peace. The countries who spent
decades under Soviet oppression. The pontiff held a silent prayer at the memorial to Holocaust victims marking the 75th anniversary of the
liquidation of the Jewish ghetto in the thorniest capital.
The fruits scare that has been plaguing shoppers in Australia has now spread to New Zealand. A supermarket chain in Auckland says they have
removed a brand of Australian strawberries from their shelves after finding needles in the packages. There have been more than 100 similar reports
across Australia.
Bill Cosby's court sentencing will begin on Monday. The comedian once beloved as America's dad was convicted in April of sexually assaulting a
woman at his home in 2004.
The 81-year-old could face 10 years in prison for each of three counts against him.
Well, coming up, growing crops in arid desert of the UAE is virtually impossible. The cutting-edge technology from Japan is changing that.
CNN's new series "MIDDLE EAST LOOK'S EAST" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, all this week, we are taking a look at the growing influence the world's third-largest economy, Japan is having across
the Middle East with investments in infrastructure and education.
The Asian nation is showing how a focus on development and economic prosperity can help foster stability in the region. Well, first up, how an
innovative technology born in Japan is taking root in the UAE.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:45:05] SAMUEL BURKE, CNN BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: In the arid desert of the United Arab Emirates, temperatures can reach up to 50
degrees Celsius. Growing crops is almost impossible, but could new cutting-edge technology change all that?
The people behind a sod farm almost two hours' drive west of Abu Dhabi think so. The fog engineers a spray nozzle manufacturer in Japan have
developed a cultivation system specifically for the Middle East harsh climate. They've started growing Japanese varieties of tomatoes and
strawberries without using any soil by spraying a fine fog mixed with liquid fertilizer directly onto the roots of the plant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because we spray a nutrient into fertilizer into a very fine fold, plant roots can get enough oxygen as well as the fertilizer.
BURKE: A pressure pump with special nozzles make the fine pod. It can produce 10 times more crops than traditional farming methods and even
controls the amount of water and nutrients each plant gets. A fine fog sprayed from the roof also acts as a cooling system.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The benefit of our technology is that we use less water compared to soil culture. And also, we can control the spray amount to
each root. If you want high gloss, we can spray more. And if you want to put the emphasis on quality or bleaks we spray this to make a very high
nutrient tomatoes like highly (INAUDIBLE) and high bleak.
BURKE: With dwindling reserves, water security is a growing and pressing problem throughout the Middle East. And so, is food security. The United
Arab Emirates imports up to 90 percent of its produce. Using new technologies like those from Japan, save water are more efficient and
environmentally friendly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no soil used, you are directly irrigate the roots of the plants by fogs or by direct water. And you are injecting the
nutrition within this water. This technology is the future of the agriculture.
BURKE: Futuristic farming methods which sea crops grown locally all year round is said to be a game changer in how countries like the United Arab
Emirates sources its food. Samuel Burke, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, tomorrow at "MIDDLE EAST, LOOKS EAST", you can find out how the Japanese are helping build one of the world's largest museums at the
famous Pyramids of Giza.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
The gadgets from museum would show more than 20,000 artifacts that have never been on display before. They were hidden in storerooms, in magazines
of the Egyptian Museum at Cairo from -- and so other facilities all over Egypt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: We're live from Atlanta. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, serious flooding continues in the Carolinas more than a week after a
hurricane struck. We'll have a live update from our Weather Center, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:36] KINKADE: Take a look at these pictures in Southern California. A brushfire quickly growing to nearly 3,000 acres. The flames erupted
Saturday in Los Angeles County. More than 100 firefighters are battling the blaze. It's now just 10 percent contained.
An official state no structures have been damaged so far, no injuries reported, which is good news. But from those flames to flooding, rivers
are still rising in parts of North and South Carolina, nine days after Hurricane Florence made landfall.
Well, the rains are long gone but the runoff is swelling rivers and causing major flooding. This is the scene in Conway, South Carolina today.
Residential streets are looking more like waterways and officials warning that flood dangers could continue for days to come.
Well, CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar joins me now. We're just looking at those pictures they really are quite incredible. But the real concern
is whether this will get worse?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. So, the concern going forward is we still have one river in South Carolina that has yet to press.
Meaning, it has yet to get to its highest point. And even more so, there's actually a chance of rain in the forecast which is the last thing that
those people need.
Especially, when you see the damage. I mean, look at some of the video that has really come in, it tells the story of just how much water. This
wasn't just a few millimeters, this was again a lot of rain in a short period of time and that water has to go somewhere. So, it covers the
roads, it goes in people's homes, into their businesses.
Even some of the major Interstates and highways that have now receded have hundreds of fish that are just dead laying on these roadways because they
were brought in with all of that flood water.
Here is the problem though, you look at how many areas of North and South Carolina still have flood warnings. There is a lot of them, in fact. The
good news is for the most part, the majority of them in North Carolina. The rivers and creeks and streams are starting to come back down.
The thing is they are so high, it's still going to take a lot of these rivers, the majority of them several days. We're talking five to seven
additional days before they get below flood stage. That's how high they are.
And in South Carolina, again, the concern here is this particular River, the Waccamaw River. This is near Conway, South Carolina. Again, not
expected to crest until early on Tuesday, local time. So that's a concern.
And the main concern is this is the estimate of where we expect it to get. But what happens if you add additional rainfall into the forecast. And
unfortunately, that's what it looks like. On Monday, about a 50 percent chance of rain in the Conway area and some of the surrounding communities.
Now, the rain chances do go down slightly to only 20 percent to Tuesday and Wednesday. But again, even if you get say an additional 10 or 20
millimeters of rain, it's the fact that you have to understand that it's on top of what they've already had.
Rain and a lot of it is also a concern on the other side of the world. We are also continuing to track Typhoon Trami as it makes its way up towards
Taiwan. Winds right now 215 kilometers per hour, moving west at about 20 kilometers per hour. The track, however, continues to take it up towards
Taiwan.
But again, this is where it starts to get a little questionable. Because, Lynda, by the time it gets there, we're going to have a system that may
perhaps kind of push it. So, the question is does it go to Taiwan or does it shift over towards the mainland China. We'll have to wait and see.
KINKADE: It certainly. Well, all right. So what to say, of course, Allison Chinchar, thanks so much.
Well seeing with the extreme weather, an international rescue mission is underway right now to save an injured sailor sidelined by a storm. Indian
naval commander was taking part in the more than 48,000 kilometer Golden Globe Race when his yacht lost its mast and became disabled in the South
Indian Ocean.
Now, he told rescuers his back was badly injured and he couldn't move. Australian Indian and French navies are sending their vessels to assist.
Officials say, a French fisheries patrol boat could reach him first but that would be until at least Monday.
For in our "PARTING SHOTS", something gold, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. It is that old rhyme about what a bride
should wear on her wedding day to bring good luck.
When now, royal watchers are getting a rare peek at Meghan Markle's "something blue". In a new documentary honoring Britain's Queen Elizabeth,
the Duchess of Sussex is reunited with her wedding dress for the first time since her wedding to Prince Harry. And she has a romantic revelation about
her one-of-a-kind gown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:55:10] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In Buckingham Palace, conservators for the royal collection are preparing the world's most famous wedding dress for a
very special reunion.
How are you?
MEGHAN, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Very well, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantastic.
MEGHAN: It is beautiful as you remember.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My goodness. It's amazing, isn't it?
This is the first time the Duchess of Sussex has seen her dress since the wedding day.
MEGHAN: Well, beautiful. Somewhere in here, there is a piece of -- did you see at the piece of blue fabric that stitched inside?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
MEGHAN: That's my "something blue" it's my -- a fabric form my --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, how much we look (INAUDIBLE).
MEGHAN: Yes. It's fabric from the dress that I wore on our first date.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh that's about the most romantic date.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Very sweet. Well, you can see the documentary, Queen of the World on HBO, Monday, October 1st at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time in the U.S.
And on ITV Tuesday, September 25th at 9:15 p.m. in London.
Well, I'm Lynda Kinkade. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks so much for joining us. I hope you have a good rest of the weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
