Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Extending the Gaza Cease-Fire; U.N. Ready to Rebuild Gaza; Ebola Crisis Widens

Aired August 07, 2014 - 05:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, silence over Gaza as Israel and the Palestinians work towards a lasting peace. Delegations from both sides in Cairo this morning. This as Hamas plans to rally on the broken streets of Gaza.

Live team coverage of the very latest this morning.

And Ebola emergency. The deadly virus spreading fast across Africa. Quarantines, travel bans not enough to stop it, and here in the United States the CDC issuing its highest alert as two Americans recover in a Georgia hospital from the Ebola virus. We are live with the very latest on the crisis as well.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Poppy Harlow. It is Thursday, August 7, 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.

Up first, the ceasefire in Gaza now in Day 3 and it is holding. Egyptian mediators planning to shuttle between Palestinian and Israeli delegations trying to hammer out a longer truce. The one effect now expires in 20 hours.

Secretary of State John Kerry urging Israel and the Palestinians to work on a permanent two-state solution, or try to, to this crisis in Gaza.

Let's go straight to Cairo and bring in Reza Sayah.

Reza, I know that we got word in the last few moment that these negotiations are going to start up again in full swing in one hour.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's correct. According to a Palestinian official, the talks will be resuming at 1:00 p.m. local time. That's roughly in about an hour. The Palestinian officials saying that these talks are making progress. When asked if the cease- fire will be extended, they are hoping for a long term agreement beyond just a cease-fire.

And that's where things seem to be stopped between the two sides, the Israelis and Palestinians. The issue: the question of extending the cease-fire beyond the 8:00 a.m. local time Friday, there are growing signs Israelis are pushing to extend the cease-fire.

But at least some members of the Palestinian delegation here in Cairo, they are not in. They believe they came here to discuss the core issues, the core demands and at least one Palestinian delegate said they are not convinced the Israeli delegation that's here is here to do that.

So, there's a lot of questions that remain moving forward. But according to this Palestinian official, the talks resuming at 1:00 p.m. local time.

HARLOW: All right. Reza Sayah, appreciate the update. We're having a little bit of audio blips with you. We'll get that fixed and get back to you a little bit later on the show for more. Appreciate that.

All right. Israel's month-long bombardment of Gaza left nearly 2,000 people dead and also left more than $4 billion in infrastructure damage behind. U.N.'s chief says the U.N. stands ready to help rebuilding Gaza, but with a big warning. He says this is will be the last time.

The Israelis continuing to hammer Hamas for the hundreds of civilian casualties because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insisting that Israel's assault on Gaza was proportional and was justified.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: The tragedy of Gaza is that it is ruled by Hamas, a tyrannical and fanatical terror group that relishes civilian casualties. They want civilian casualties. They use them as PR fodder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Meanwhile, Hamas is calling for a rally on the streets of Gaza City today. That's where we find John Vause.

John, the people of Gaza have finally had a chance in the last two days to go back to try to find their homes, many of them destroyed, to try to go to the market, to try to get to life as normal as much as they can. What are they feeling on the ground? Do they think that the strikes are going to start happening again in 20 hours time if a long term agreement is not reached?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, they have seen it before, Poppy. They have seen these agreements, these cease-fires, this long-term deals come and go a lot over the last couple years. So, there's hope, but a great deal of trepidation that, of course, a deal may or may not be reached in Cairo. It's just tentative, I guess. If they come through with the cease-fire, addressing those issues, it may not last.

What we are seeing, though, is that, as you say, they are playing this very, very big rally here in Gaza in just a couple of hours time. In fact, just a short time ago, there were cars going up and down the main street with loud speakers urging everyone here in Gaza to head off to that rally. It's meant to be a show of support for Palestinian unity because we know it's not just Hamas that is represented at the negotiations in Cairo. There are other militant factions there like Islamic jihad. And so, Hamas, which runs Gaza, they want to have this public turnout to show that everyone is behind them. That they have this unified voice speaking from Gaza.

Now, whether or not that is the case, it's difficult to say. But there is certainly a lot of support for Hamas as there would be for any government, for any leaders, if you like, during a time of war.

What we are also seeing here on the ground, though, over the last couple days, Poppy, with the lull in the fighting, there's been real progress in fixing some of the very big problems they had here. Israel started working on repairing the electricity lines in Gaza. There's electricity in some parts of Gaza. So, it's not pitch black at night here anymore. They are starting to work on the water problems with the pipes, sanitation systems.

And, of course, if there's no agreement in Cairo to keep the cease- fire going, it's all for nothing.

HARLOW: Yes, exactly. Let's hope they can extend the talks so there are no more civilian casualties. But we will see. We have been down this road before. You are very right.

John Vause reporting for us -- thank you.

Turning now to the widening Ebola outbreak. The CDC issuing the highest alert, level one, that is only for the most serious public health emergencies. President Obama doing what he can to try to calm nerves.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Despite the fact that we have to take this very seriously. It is important to remind ourselves, this is not an airborne disease. This is one that can be controlled and contained very effectively, if we use the right protocols.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Meantime, the FDA has OK'd the use of an unapproved test for Ebola. But a vaccine to combat the fast-spreading virus is at least a year away. As for those two Americans infected with the Ebola virus, they are showing signs of recovery at an Atlanta hospital. They received an experimental serum.

In West Africa, though, the Ebola virus is spreading with really alarming speed. Over 1,700 suspected or confirmed cases now in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, was well over half, 932 people have died.

In Sierra Leone and Liberia, a state of emergency has been declared. Troops called in to quarantine the Ebola victims. This outbreak is really being felt globally. A man in Saudi Arabia has died after visiting on a business trip. Testing is under way this morning to see if it was indeed Ebola that killed him. Also, Spain airlifting an Ebola-stricken 75-year-old priest out of Liberia, bringing him home for treatment.

Erin McLaughlin is tracking it all from London for us.

So, what do we know about this patient and his status?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Poppy. Well, 75-year-old Father Miguel Pajares arrived in Madrid at around 2:00 a.m. Eastern. He arrived on board a specially equipped Airbus A310 that have flown from Liberia.

Now, he was accompanied by a nun who also worked at that same NGO in Western Africa, though, she -- according to Spanish media reports -- has not yet exhibited any sort of Ebola symptoms. Now, we understand he tested positive for Ebola after having treated a hospital director and he was quarantined at that hospital in Liberia, which according to media reports has been shut down.

Now, he gave an interview to CNN Espanol earlier on Monday describing some of his symptoms. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIGUEL PAJARES, CAUGHT EBOLA IN LIBERIA (through translator): I got a fever and drowsiness. I sleep. I'm always half asleep. I have no appetite at all.

Today, I spent the day without eating anything. I have no appetite and energy. I have tried to eat. I have a lot of joint pain, especially pain around the hips and my knees are also affected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLAUGHLIN: Now, we understand from his sister that his condition has deteriorated since that interview, which is perhaps why Spanish authorities were so keen to get him back and repatriated in Spain. Now, he's going to stay at a hospital, Madrid's La Paz Hospital. They have apparently cleared out the entire sixth floor, although some doctors associations and nurses associations have expressed concern about that hospital's ability to deal with an Ebola patient -- Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes. And a few questions come to mind. I mean, you wonder if he is going to be given or has been given that experimental serum that was given to the two Americans that appears to be working. I mean, we can't say for sure if it's working or they are recovering on their own, but at least they are recovering after getting that. Do we know that?

And also, Erin, I wonder how European leaders are reacting? Because we heard President Obama asked -- it was the first question, he was asked about it in a press conference yesterday was his reaction to the Ebola virus and now, to patients coming to the United States. We heard from key European leaders on that?

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, in terms of that serum, Poppy, we understand that it's not entirely clear whether or not the Spanish government has reached out to the government, to the CDC inside the United States to try and access to that treatment that does appear to have been effective. So, that's not entirely clear.

We have heard from Spanish authorities. The director general of public health yesterday in Spain giving a press conference saying that Spain is ready and willing to treat any Spanish nationals that have been infected with the virus.

HARLOW: So, we'll be listening for more and wishing him, certainly, all the best for a recovery. Good that he was able to get home.

Erin, thanks so much.

Well, we are also learning more this morning about the death of U.S. Army General Harold Greene in Afghanistan. As you know, he was gunned down by an afghan soldier who turned on coalition troops visiting a training academy in Kabul province. Officials say that Greene was outside the facility when the gunman opened fire, just 100 yards away.

Reports say the attacker hid in a bathroom before this and used the NATO machine gun. As many as 17 others were wounded in that attack. Later this morning, the dignified transfer of General Greene's remains will take place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. He is the highest ranking U.S. officer to be killed in a war zone since Vietnam.

Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl will be questioned for a second day about his disappearance from his combat outpost in Afghanistan in 2009. Bergdahl is talking to Major General Kenneth Dahl ho is leading the investigation. Bergdahl was held by the Taliban for five years before his release in May in a swap for five Taliban prisoners. Some of the soldiers who served with Bergdahl though claim he deserted his unit and the army is investigating.

President Obama set to sign a $16 billion bill to revamp the V.A. health system. The bill passed Congress last week with widespread bipartisan support. It provides money for veterans to get health care outside the V.A. system. It also pays for new doctors and new nurses, while providing a lot more oversight for those V.A. facilities.

And time for an EARLY START on your money.

Right now, European shares are mixed. Asian stocks ended the day mixed as well. Here in the United States, futures point to a higher open this morning. Yesterday, stocks did snap that losing streak, but eke out really just small gains after a lot of losses.

Concerns on Wall Street are driving investors to the safe haven of bonds, on the 10-year treasury, while the yields are really near their low of the year, right, at 2.4 percent. Meantime, this is a big headline on Wall Street this morning that you'll be waking up to. Bank of America gearing up to pay the biggest mortgage fraud settlement on record.

A person familiar with the deal tells us that the bank has tentatively agreed to pay the U.S. Justice Department more than $16.5 billion. That exceeds the $13 billion settlement that JPMorgan paid last year on similar charges. Both banks are accused of misleading consumers about the quality of those mortgage-backed securities in the years leading up to the financial crisis. There is no formal announcement expected this week. So, you can expect they will continue to hash this one out.

All right. Closing arguments beginning for an Olympic runner accused of murdering his model girlfriend. Who is happening in court right now on Oscar Pistorius trial?

Also, breaking news overnight, drastic measures being taken to fight Chicago's crime crisis.

And a primary election pitting Sarah Palin against the GOP. What's going on? We'll explain, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right. Breaking news just into CNN: Russia announcing a ban on food imports from the United States, Australia, Canada and the E.U., as well as Norway. The move meant to counter Western sanctions that have really been hitting Russia's economy. And according to "Reuters", officials in Moscow are also considering a ban on transit flights to the E.U. and U.S. in terms of airlines travelling to the Asia-Pacific region. That air space over Russia is really key. We'll see if that happens.

Meantime, closing arguments are under way in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. The prosecution is making its case first, followed by the defense. There is no jury, so this will all up to the judge to decide his fate. The Blade Runner claims he shot and killed his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by accident, thinking she was an intruder. Though, remember, the trial began a long time ago, back in March, but it's been delayed several times.

Also, verdict in the Detroit porch shooting trial could be reached today. Jury deliberations begun yesterday in the trial of 55-year-old Theodore Wafer. He is charged with second-degree for shooting and killing 19-year-old Renisha McBride, an unarmed woman who knocked on his door during an early morning in November after her car crashed nearby. If convicted, Wafer could be sentenced to life in prison.

And desperate measures to combat crime in Chicago. Forty Illinois state troopers called in to join police in Chicago for patrols in four neighborhoods in that city. This order announced by Governor Pat Quinn on Wednesday will focus on catching wanted fugitives with known violent criminal backgrounds. The troopers are set to remain in Chicago for at least a month.

And last call for a Tea Party, at least in one state and really in these elections. Today's Republican primary in Tennessee is the last chance for conservatives aligned with Tea Party groups to unseat a GOP incumbent senator this primary season. Two-term senator and really an institution in Tennessee, Lamar Alexander, is being challenged by State Representative Joe Carr who has been supported by Sarah Palin.

And Mississippi's Republican Party has rejected a request to overturn Senator Thad Cochran's primary run-off victory over Chris McDaniel. This has been quite the fight. Party officials suggested that McDaniel would do better taking his challenge to court, something he has said he is trying to raise money to do. McDaniel had asked the party, rather, to declare him the nominee, claiming that Cochran's 7,000-vote margin was due to Democratic voters who he says illegally cast runoff ballots for the six-term incumbent.

All right. Another big ruling expected soon on sex same marriage. The U.S. court of appeals in Cincinnati hearing back-to-back arguments on four cases Wednesday. The cases challenge same-sex marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. Earlier this summer, two district courts struck down gay marriage bans in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia.

All right. Time for a look at the forecast.

Indra Petersons is here with me this morning.

I was saying I'm all alone, but now you're here. Thanks goodness.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I'm with you.

HARLOW: Where is Berman? Where is Christine? And you are here with me.

PETERSONS: We got this, Poppy.

HARLOW: We got it. How's it looking?

PETERSONS: We can definitely do it. It's so close to the weekend, too. Even more importantly. We kind of want to know, where is it going to get nicer? Even better news, at least for me, Northeast, Me and Poppy, right?

We are talking about the Northeast, high pressure moving in. Yes, couple of isolated showers will be kind of towards New England today. But, generally speaking, from the Rockies down to the Southeast, that's where we're going to be talking about, the chances for more of these showers out there. And some of them, pretty heavy. I mean, look at these totals that talk you talk about through Saturday, yes, through part of your weekend. You're talking around St. Louis, two to four inches. And especially down to the Southeast as well, we are still talking about some of those heavier rain bands.

Thanks for that cold front is going to the South. Temperature-wise, it's going to be just a hint. They are just a hint below normal to the Northeast, still beautiful, a lot of 70s and 80s. A perfect weekend day.

For me, down in the Southeast, we're talking about temperatures just a hint above normal. We are talking about the rain as well. But looking for some of those mid-90s.

I do want to give you a quick update, though, we want to tell you real quick what we are talking about with Iselle and Julio still making their way towards Hawaii. So, by later today, we are talking about the threat for landfall, possibly now, it looks like it could make land fall as a category one hurricane, this as we're going to be watching that, of course. Julio right behind and now, that's tracking a little bit further to the north.

HARLOW: So, we'll be watching closely. You'll be with us tomorrow morning all over that.

And, you know, the first update where we haven't been talking about these massive floods or tornadoes really in weeks. So, glad some good weather is coming this way.

Thanks, Indra. Appreciate it.

All right. Tiger Woods decided to tee it up at this season's final major, five days after pulling out of a tournament because of back spasms. Andy Scholes has the details straight ahead in the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right. Bad back and all Tiger Woods shows up in Kentucky and says he's ready to play in the PGA championship.

Andy Scholes has more on the "Bleacher Report".

So, he's all better?

ANDY SCHOLES, THE BLEACHER REPORT: Looks like it, Poppy. You know, after pulling out of the Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday with back pain, Tiger, he was questionable for this week's PGA championship. But, to the joy of golf fans everywhere, Tiger -- he showed up in Louisville yesterday, and amidst a sea of cameras and fans. He played a nine-hole practice round. Tiger said afterwards that he's pain-free and ready for the last major of the year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLDER: It's not the site of the surgery. This is something totally different. When I landed, it went loose. Yes, I'm pain free, except for the headache talking to you guys. But --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Tiger, he is off later this morning at 8:35 Eastern. You can watch all of the round one action on our sister network TNT starting at 1:00.

The MLS All Star hosting European power Bayern Munich last night in Portland. Bayern made up of German players who are fresh off winning the World Cup. The game was tied in the 70th minute when, who else but Landon Donovan put the MLS on top. They would go on to win the game, 2-1 afterwards. Bayern's head coach Pep Guardiola refused to shake hands with MLS all start Caleb Porter because he appeared unhappy with how the MLS All Stars play in the game. Pep said afterwards that he just didn't see Porter. Right.

NFL preseason kicks into high gear tonight with six games on tap. Plenty of eyes will be on the 49ers/Ravens match up, because even though Ray Rice was suspended for first two games of the regular season, after being charged with domestic violence, he can still play in the preseason. It will be interesting to see what kind of reception he receives when he carries the ball for the first time.

Tonight, another action, the Broncos, they will host the Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch. Poppy, the starters play one or two series in the first pre-season game. But I'm sure the Broncos starters want to go out there and have a better performance than they did in Super Bowl, because I'm sure that is on their mind.

HARLOW: Why do I think that might happen? Who is your team, Andy?

SCHOLES: I'm a Houston Texans' fan.

HARLOW: You know mine?

SCHOLES: Minnesota Vikings, right?

HARLOW: Always, this is the year.

SCHOLES: They play tomorrow night.

HARLOW: No doubt.

SCHOLES: Oh, this is the year with a rookie quarterback. All right, we'll see.

HARLOW: All right. Thanks, Andy.

Happening now, the last day of a temporary cease-fire in Gaza, this morning, negotiators trying to work out a long-term peace plan. But, can Hamas and Israel find common ground? That is a key question. We'll take you live straight after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)