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Cycle of Rocket Attacks and Airstrikes Enter Second Week in Gaza; White House Treating Conflict with Sense of Urgency; Officials Urge Vaccinations as Key to Lifting Mask Rules; Demoted Rep. Cheney Blasts Trump and Fellow Republicans; Operations Return to Normal but Gas Shortages Remain. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired May 17, 2021 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00]
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM, and I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead. A fresh wave of air strikes pound Gaza overnight. Israeli officials say they targeted the homes of Hamas leaders. We are live in Israel for the very latest.
Plus, U.S. House leadership shake up in the GOP. Liz Cheney speaks out about the Republican Party's future days after being kicked out of her post.
And traveling to the United States to get vaccinated. Why growing numbers of people from Latin America are making that journey.
And thank you for joining us. The increasingly violent conflict in Israel and Gaza is in the second week and there are no signs of it ending any time soon. This was the scene in Gaza early Monday. Israel says air strikes destroyed several homes in Gaza that it says belonged to Hamas commanders.
It follows a Hamas claim of launching rockets into southern Israel. The Israeli military says it also struck a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has carried out 1,500 air strikes in recent days, and they will continue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: We do whatever it takes to restore order and quiet and the security of our people in deterrence. We're trying to degrade Hamas' terrorist abilities and to degrade their will to do this again. So it will take some time. I hope it won't take long but it's not immediate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Air strikes destroyed several homes in Gaza on Sunday. Palestinian health officials say at least 52 people were killed and nearly 200 have been killed in the past week including 58 children. The Palestinian Authority foreign minister addressed the U.N. Security Council Sunday.
RIYAD AL-MALKI, PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Israel keeps telling you, put yourselves in our shoes. This is what they say all the time. Put yourself in our shoes. But Israel is not wearing shoes. It is wearing military boots. It is an occupying and a colonial power. Any assessment of the situation that fails to take into account, this will fact is biased. It's criminal and unjust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well we have Salma Abdelaziz in Beirut, Lebanon and Hadas Gold in Ashdod, Israel. Welcome to you both. Hadas, I want I want to state with you. What's the latest on the escalating violence that is taking a disturbing toll on civilians?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm in Ashdod. We're about 15.5 miles north of the Gaza Strip. This is the city that the Israeli military says has received the highest number of red alert sirens indicating incoming rocket fire thus far in this conflict. And all day today we've been hearing airplanes overhead, jets overhead and then sometimes explosions in the distance that could be the sound of air strikes in Gaza.
We have at one point seen a large plume of black smoke rising over the skyline behind me. We understand that the Israeli military has continued to strike targets in Gaza. They say they have hit more than 1,500 of the targets ranging anywhere from rocket launchers, to as you noted, homes belonging to Hamas commanders, which they say also included a weapons storage.
We also understand the last few hours the Israeli military confirming it's again striking the Hamas tunnel system, they call it "Hamas metro." They say it spans across the Gaza Strip. They say that's where the militants hide. That's were they store things. That's where they have operational equipment. That's where they have other operational assets. They say that also they destroyed some of those tunnels.
But as you noted, the death and the destruction on both sides is continuing to rise. The Palestinian Health Ministry saying that yesterday was the deadliest day in Palestinian the territories, and that 197 people killed since the conflict began, 58 of them children. In Israel, 10 people have been killed including children in this conflict. And damages quite extensive in Gaza. We've seen complete buildings levelled in Israel.
[04:05:00]
We've seen buildings also struck including a synagogue earlier today. And while we know that there are efforts, diplomatic efforts behind the scenes from the Americans, from the Egyptian, from the Qataris, to try and bring some sort of calm to the situation. As we heard from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he says that the operation will continue until they believe their military objectives have been met.
And that's why we don't feeling a lot of the pressure -- the Israeli's feeling a lot of the pressure at least from the Americans quite yet, to bring an end to this. But we do know that the Egyptians have been working, and also Egypt was obviously a key factor in the last cessation of fire in 2014. The Egyptians saying that they have been communicating with both sides to establish an immediate cease-fire. And according to reports, an Egyptian delegation which met with Israeli and Hamas officials last week, have reportedly proposed a one- year truce for both sides. But from what we're hearing here in Ashdod, we continue to hear those jets. We continue to hear those explosions. We don't hear calm here -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: Hadas Gold, many thanks for that live report.
Salma, we want to go to you know in Beirut. What is the latest on regional and international reaction to this violence?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Rosemary, as you heard from my colleague Hadas there, as -- violence has escalated, as we had the deadliest day yet in this conflict yesterday. There have also been diplomatic efforts that are ramping up.
But the scene is really changing here, Rosemary. Traditionally it was Egypt, of course, that was brokering deals, brokering peace agreements between Hamas and Israel. Now what's happening is you have a lot of new actors on the stage. And that comes down to the normalization agreements, four countries last year, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, Bahrain, signing these normalization agreements with Israel. And you're going to see these countries really try to get involved in these mediation efforts.
Their argument -- these countries arguments -- in signing those agreements, which are of course highly controversial in the region, were that they could have greater influence at the negotiating table. But could have a say that might help the Palestinian people. That might help families in Gaza. Ultimately though many people here might feel that that's simply rhetoric. Those are simply empty words. Because how it's playing out, Rosemary, on the Arab streets is that people are being silenced to some extent. How
That's a couple of things that are playing out there. You have autocratic regimes. Post Arab Spring countries like Egypt that simply don't want to see tens of thousands of protesters gathering in their squares. That feels like a threat. Any human rights group will tell you that. But you also have this huge diplomatic shift. Countries trying to normalize their agreements with Israel.
And the question, Rosemary, is the status quo agreements, these flareup of violence that we see every few years and then they are calmed with these agreements, are going to change? Are we going to remain in that status quo? But yet again, brings the violence once every period when it flairs up. Which means more lives lost, more instability in the region or will there be a shift? And you also have a generational shift here. The lived experience of my parents, my grandparents, other people in this region was one of the great Arab wars. The violence that we saw. Lived experience of anybody under 30 in the Middle East is of the Arab Spring or periods of overflowing dictatorship, of demanding greater democracy and freedom from their governments. That means turning inwards on their country, but it also means that rhetoric around those historical dates, those great wars has changed.
It's now shifting online, especially on social media. Where you see a lot of young people speaking about a different very way about their current experiences in Gaza and Jerusalem. How they can improve the lives for people right now rather than being tied to that history and that past -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: Yes, that is very significant. Salma Abdelaziz, many thanks for that live report, appreciate it.
Well the Biden administration is calling for a de-escalation of the violence in Israel and Gaza and is spearheading diplomatic efforts. CNN's Arlette Saenz has that part of the story from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The White House is approaching the situation in Israel with a growing sense of urgency. As there is rising concern about the number of civilian casualties in the region. And that urgency was on display as the White House lead this diplomatic engagement over the weekend.
President Biden spoke separately in phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and then with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority. The first conversation that Biden had with him since taking office.
On the ground in Israel, the White House dispatched a top State Department official, Hady Amr, who sat at a virtual White House event, that he was sent by the president to lead a determined effort to halt the current violence gripping the West Bank and Gaza, and to achieve sustainable calm.
Secretary of State Tony Blinken was working the phones over the weekend. Having conversations with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Egypt, France, and Saudi Arabia.
[04:10:00]
One thing that this White House is trying to do is lean on partners in the region to try to calm the tensions there. There is also concern up on Capitol Hill. A group of more than two dozen Democratic Senators released a statement calling for a cease-fire. They wrote --
To prevent any further loss of civilian life and to prevent further escalation of conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories, we urge an immediate cease-fire.
This is just another example of the growing concern back here in Washington as these hostilities between Israel and Hamas rage on.
Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to clear up confusion. This after its announcement that fully vaccinated people could go without masks in most circumstances. The abrupt change in policy caught many off guard, including the White House. And it led to a lot of questions. CNN's Evan McMorris-Santoro has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Officials here in the United States are still trying to get a lot of Americans to take their vaccine shots. But they're also reopening the economy with a return to normalcy by lifting some mask requirements. The two competing goals can make for a complicated situations.
MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): The re-opening excitement is palpable. But with the CDC's new guidance out last week that vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks in most situations, there is also confusion. Where is it OK to take off a mask? And how do we know if people taking off their masks are vaccinated? There's one thing Americans need to know, says the CDC.
ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: In terms of the honor system, people have to be honest with themselves. You're protected if you're vaccinated.
MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice over): A celebratory moment muddied by continuing vaccine hesitancy. With less than 45 percent of eligible Americans fully vaccinated, according to the C.D.C., lifting mask mandates comes with caveats.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday, more clarity would come within the next few weeks about workplaces and other situations.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I would imagine, within a period of just a couple of weeks, you're going to start to see significant clarification of some of the actually understandable and reasonable questions that people are asking.
MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice over): But in the meantime, states and local governments are left sorting out the new guidance. In Rhode Island, the governor emphasized vaccines are the key to lifting those regulations.
GOV. DANIEL MCKEE (D-RI): People who are vaccinated can enjoy the freedom of not wearing a mask inside, and those who are not vaccinated -- we're not giving people in the state of Rhode Island a pass in terms of not becoming vaccinated and because it's safe, it saves lives and right now, everybody should be getting vaccinated in our state and around the country.
MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice over): The science around vaccination hasn't changed. Experts say more Americans need to get their shots if the country has a chance at herd immunity. That process is slow, but maybe it'll get a boost with new guidance allowing younger people to get doses.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You guys have the best day ever.
MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice over): Those new rules mean all schools should reopen for full time in-person learning this fall says the leader of the nation's second largest teachers union. But the new rules don't mean America is ready to fully abandon the mask, she says.
RANDI WEINGARTEN, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS: we can't have mass shaming. If people want to wear masks for their protection they should be able to.
MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Public health officials in the United States are hoping Americans do the safe thing. Get fully vaccinated before removing your masks.
Evan McMorris-Santoro, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And I asked Dr. Ester Choo, a professor of emergency medicine, what she thought about the CDC's updated mask guidance and what Americans should know going forward.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. ESTER CHOO, PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY: This is challenging, I will say. I mean, we were all looking for ways that things are changing to show that we are moving forward in this pandemic. So I think the question of masks has come up again and again. If we're vaccinated, then why don't we get to do things a little bit differently and actually the science supports that. It shows if you are fully vaccinated, so two weeks after your last vaccine, that you are much, much less likely to get sick from COVID and also to transmit COVID to others.
And so it makes sense on one level to start loosening restrictions on things like universal mask wearing. But on the other hand, what is, say, a business to do? Because there is no way to tell whether one person coming in is vaccinated or not. So we are really relying on people to do the right thing and, of course, it's been really difficult throughout the pandemic to get people to be consistent with their behaviors.
[04:15:00]
And it is likely that, say, you really dislike wearing a mask or you forgot to put a mask in your pocket and walk into the store. I mean, I think the tendency will be, well you know, it's no longer 100 percent required. So I'll just run through and do my thing, which, of course, puts the community at risk.
So I think, you know, I think the thing to do is -- I mean, there will be a lot more communication around this. And I think there will also be a lot of guidance around specific environments like businesses or schools, daycares, things like that. (END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Dr. Ester Choo there.
Well Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney has been demoted by her own party. But she's not keeping quiet about her experience or the dangers she says the country still faces. We'll explain on the other side of the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Well it's been less than a week since Republicans booted representative Liz Cheney from her leadership post because she refused to back the lie that Donald Trump won the election. But Cheney isn't keeping quiet about what she's been through or the state of her party. Suzanne Malveaux has that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Representative Liz Cheney is blitzing the air waves. Free from the pressing from her Republican colleagues, to pledge allegiance to Trump. To repeat his lie that the election was stolen from him, or to downplay that horrific deadly attack that occurred here at the Capitol on January 6, by Trump supporters.
She is doubling down on her message that the Republican Party must confront and promote the truth before they can move on. Now Cheney was voted out of her leadership role in the Republican House Conference as number three just this past week. Replaced by Trump loyalist New York Representative Elise Stefanik. Cheney now says that Stefanik and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are both complicit in spreading Trump's lies.
CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: When you talk about him being dangerous and the way he's leading the party, and I asked this about both McCarthy and Elise Stefanik, are they being complicit in what you consider the Trump lies?
REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): They are. And I'm not willing to do that. You know, I think that there are some things that have to be bigger than party. That have to be bigger than partisanship.
MALVEAUX: The split within the political party played out openly on the Sunday political shows, as lawmakers debated the future of the party with or without the former president. Representative Cheney said she would consider a run for the presidency in 2024, but she, like her Republican colleagues, are focusing on taking back the House and Senate for 2022, but without bowing to Trump.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN on Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And earlier I discussed Liz Cheney's fate with law professor Jessica Levinson, who says she doubts Cheney will find much support among the Republican base.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA LEVINSON, PROFESSOR, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY I think for Republicans looking at what happened to Liz Cheney, for Republicans wanting to keep their jobs and not be vulnerable with at least their base in the primary, I don't see her having a big following. The Republicans that we hear about saying we have to build a third party, or we have to abandon this idea that President Biden isn't the real president, those are largely people who are not currently elected officials. So at least in the short term it really looks like the Republican Party continues to be the party of Trump.
I think what it means for 2022 is that the Republican Party will continue to look a lot like the Republican Party in 2019, 2018, 2017 in the sense they will continue to be loyal to President Trump, former President Trump, even though he's not in power, and they will have to find their own way when it comes to policy proposals. Because President Trump was an a typical Republican or a typical conservative.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Jessica Levinson talking to me earlier.
Well drivers in the D.C. area can be forgiven for not following all the political drama inside the beltway. Like many in the Eastern U.S., they are more focused on simply trying to find gas. That Natasha Chen has the latest on the Colonial Pipeline shutdown and why the panic at the pump could still linger for a while.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NATASHA CHEN, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: U.S. gas demand has reached a pandemic-era high after seeing steady increases since late February. That's according to the app GasBuddy, which relies on crowd source data from drivers self-reporting outages and prices at gas stations around the country.
Now even as Colonial Pipeline said on Saturday that its systems were under normal operation. It could take several days or even weeks, in some places, before seeing a steady supply of fuel at the pump. As of Sunday afternoon, 81 percent of gas stations in Washington, D.C., were without fuel. There were some small improvements in North Carolina where that number now sits at 57 percent. Under half of the gas stations in South Carolina and Georgia, still do not have fuel.
And authorities are really telling people to continue not to horde fuel because that could just prolong the issue. Here in Charleston, South Carolina, we're not necessarily seeing long lines at the pump as most of the gas stations in the city seem to have fuel. And those that didn't, also got new supply in the last couple of days. And there have been some several states in the Southeast with states of emergency that really helps lift weight restrictions for the trucks delivering fuel and also helps prevent price gouging.
Natasha Chen, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina. (END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: In the coming hours, a federal judge in Florida will consider a plea agreement from a former official with ties to a well-known U.S. Congressman. This man, Joel Greenberg, is the former tax commissioner of Seminole County. After striking a deal with prosecutors, he plans to plead guilty to six federal charges, including a count of sex trafficking of a child. Prosecutors said Greenberg frequently tried to hide payments to women in exchange for sex.
[04:25:00]
CNN previously reported Greenberg had been providing information to investigators about his and Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz's encounters with women, who were given cash or gifts in exchange for sex.
Well troubles are mounting for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Through a spokesperson for the "Wall Street journal," Gates admitted to an extramarital affair with a Microsoft employee. The Journal reports that the company was investigating that relationship when Gates resigned from the board last year. The affair happened two decades ago and it's not clear if that or the Microsoft investigation played a role in Bill and Melinda Gates' divorce finding. Separately "The New York Times" reported Sunday that Gates pursued women who worked for him at Microsoft and his charitable foundation. Gates' spokesperson disputed the characterization of his conduct to the Times.
Well no end in sight. Coming up, the latest on the brutal cycle of violence in Israel and Gaza now in its second week. Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: There are no signs of a break in the cycle of violence in Israel and Gaza. Israel says air strikes hit nine homes of Hamas commanders in Gaza early Monday, as the conflict entered the second week. It follows a Hamas claim of launching rockets into southern Israel. Israeli military says it also struck a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza. Air strikes destroyed several homes in Gaza Sunday. Palestinian health officials say nearly 200 people have been killed in the past week, including 58 children.
