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One World with Zain Asher
Israeli PM Speaks To U.N. After Dozens Walk Out; Hegseth Orders U.S. Generals And Admirals To Meet In Virginia; 45th Edition Of Showpiece Event Underway At Bethpage Black; Moldova: Russia Trying To Interfere With Crucial Election; Microsoft Cuts Cloud, A.I. Services To IDF; Wounded Gaza Teen Speaks With CNN Ahead Of Surgery In London; Trump Signs Executive Order Facilitating TikTok Deal; Frustrated Dater Puts Finding Love On A New Pedestal; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired September 26, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:10]
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Live from London, I'm Christina Macfarlane, and you're watching the second hour of "One World." Great to
have you with us.
As the world pressures Israel to bring an end to the nearly two-year war in Gaza and as a wave of countries recognize the state of Palestine, the U.S.
president is sounding an optimistic note about the end of the conflict.
A short time ago, he repeated that a deal to end the war in Gaza is very close.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's looking like we have a deal on Gaza. And we'll -- we'll let you know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What can you tell us about details of that?
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: I think it's a deal that we'll get the hostages back. It's going to be a deal that will end the war. It's going to be a deal which is going to
be peace. I think we have a deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please order in the hall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, President Trump's remarks come as Israel's Prime Minister delivered an uncompromising speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
Benjamin Netanyahu was heckled and dozens of delegates walked out of the assembly as he -- as he began his speech.
The Prime Minister rejected the notion of a Palestinian state and dubbed the wave of recognitions by several countries as quote, shameful, sheer
madness and insane. He defended Israel's actions in Gaza and said Hamas is responsible for the ongoing war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Lay down your arms. Let my people go. Free the hostages. All of them, the whole 48. Free the hostages
now.
If you do, you will live. If you don't, Israel will hunt you down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Around in Gaza, Israel is keeping up its pressure on Gaza City as Gaza health officials say dozens more killed over the past 24 hours,
adding to the toll of some 65,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began. Netanyahu rejected any accusations of genocide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NETANYAHU: I want to ask you a simple question, a simple logical question. Would a country committing genocide plead with a civilian population, it is
supposedly targeting to get out of harm's way? Would you we tell them to get out if we want to commit genocide? We're trying to get them out. And
Hamas is trying to keep them in.
What, did the Nazis ask the Jews to leave, kind of leave, go out? Others? You want me to name all the genocidal leaders of history? Just go one by
one. Did anyone do this?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, is joining us now from London.
Nic, before we get to discussing the body of that speech, I just wanted to turn to President Trump's comments on a peace deal which came directly
after that speech was made at the UNGA.
I mean, we know Trump has made repeated claims that a peace deal is -- a peace deal is close in, you know, the last couple of months.
So what, if anything, could this signify?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Potentially signified. He didn't listen very closely to what Prime Minister Netanyahu was saying,
because as you've just mentioned, he rejects the idea of a Palestinian state.
In fact, he used very tough language to say that's not going to be -- a terror state is not going to be forced down our throats.
But put that to one side, President Trump had the meeting earlier in the week with the -- with the Arab leaders, the Muslim majority nation leaders.
There was a 21-piece plan put out there, the minister from Saudi Arabia. And others have said that Trump understands there can be no more annexation
in the West Bank, but no more annexation in the West Bank.
And on the other hand, Netanyahu saying that there's no Palestinian state, well, that's been a core part of bringing in Israel's neighbors to a peace
deal around Gaza. It's hard to see how the -- how President Trump gets his positivity from -- from those statements.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And -- and to the speech yourself, I mean, given the gravity of the moment, it was somewhat surreal to see, you know, props
being used, the QR code, the -- the pop quiz. I mean, we are used to this kind of thing from Benjamin Netanyahu, but it was an effort from him to
push back, wasn't it, on that pro-Palestinian tide? What did you make of all of it?
ROBERTSON: It was unconventional, as you say. It was also uncompromising. There was a sense -- you know, Netanyahu is an incredible orator. And here
he had a huge stage, although the divisive nature of the things that he had to say people have left already.
So I don't think he will have won people over. There was a sense that this was a speech for the population in Israel who will have elections next year
to vote for a new -- well, for political elections where a new prime minister will emerge from that. So there was a sense of that.
[12:05:05]
But, you know, if he was trying to win over the audience on that issue of it's not genocide, we tell people to leave and using the statistic of only,
you know, there's any collateral damage of one in two people is collateral damage, he put that forward.
But the evidence that I think most people in that room and those that left the room as well see as presented by the health authorities inside of Gaza
that it is three quarters of the people who are killed are children, women, and the elderly.
So if he was trying to win over the audience and saying, there's this terrible thing that happened that was October 7th, I think everyone there
buys into that and supports and understands that. But if he was trying to win them over and saying, we're not doing the level of destruction that
you're essentially accusing us of, or we're not doing it with malice, I don't think that that point was going to land in a convincing way.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And we certainly saw at the start the delegates walking out there. So another sign of the diplomatic isolation that Israel is
under.
Nic, thank you.
Now, let's turn to an extraordinary escalation in President Donald Trump's efforts to prosecute his perceived political enemies. The former FBI
Director, James Comey, Trump's longtime adversary, is set to be arraigned on October 9th after he was criminally charged with two felonies, both
related to a lie he allegedly told Congress.
It comes just days after Trump publicly demanded the Justice Department prosecute Comey. Earlier, the U.S. President hinted the indictments won't
stop there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: There's not a list, but I think there'll be others. I mean, they're corrupt. These -- these were corrupt, radical left Democrats. Because Comey
essentially was a -- he's worse than a Democrat. I would say the Democrats are better than Comey.
But, no, there'll be others. Look, it was -- that's my opinion. They weaponized the Justice Department like nobody in history. What they've done
is terrible. And so I would -- I hope there -- frankly, I hope there are others because you can't let this happen to a country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, last night, Comey responded to the charges in a defiant video post.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: Somebody that I love dearly recently said that fear is the tool of a tyrant and she's right. But I'm not afraid. And
I'm innocent. So let's have a trial and keep the faith.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak is live with the latest. And, Kevin, almost every government prosecutor that has looked at
Comey's case has said they don't want to proceed because the evidence is insufficient. So tell us why it is moving ahead now.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, I think it's because President Trump wants it to. And he has kind of undergone this relentless
pressure campaign to try an, you know, exact retribution from his political enemies. And you've seen how that has played out over the last week or so.
He ousted the original U.S. attorney in the eastern district of Virginia after he declined to bring charges against James Comey. He berated Pam
Bondi saying that this was all moving too slowly and damaging his credibility and he installed into the U.S. attorney post a loyalist Lindsey
Halligan who was an advisor here at the White House and who has never prosecuted a case before. And so you see how the president has sort of gone
at this. This has all unfolded against the shadow of his demands, essentially for payback against his political enemies.
You know, it was notable when I asked him out on the South Lawn earlier who was next up on this campaign of retribution. He said that there will be
others. He hopes that there are others. He believes that there -- there will be others making pretty clear that this is really just the beginning
of all of this.
And it's, think, notable that everything that the president has done in this case has been out in the public, you know. It's not been some sort of
hidden hand behind the scenes, you know, trying to operate things. The president has been very explicit about what he's doing, which I think gives
you a sense of just how unbound he is in this moment.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Kevin, appreciate it. Thank you.
Well, also the U.S. defense secretary is saying he wants to hold an unusual face-to-face meeting with hundreds of his generals and admirals, but those
invited appear not to know what the meeting is about.
Pete Hegseth has ordered the top military officials to meet on Tuesday at a Quantico, Virginia military base. And while the White House is saying this
is just routine, there are concerns that having so many high ranking officers in one place could pose a security risk.
Joining us now to talk through this story and the other political news in Washington is Sabrina Siddiqui. She is the national politics reporter for
"The Wall Street Journal." Great to have you with us.
[12:10:02]
SABRINA SIDDIQUI, NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Thanks for having me.
MACFARLANE: So, before we get to what that potential meeting with Hegseth might be about, I want to turn to Comey because we have seen Donald Trump
accuse many of his perceived political opponents of crimes before, but never have we seen him directly insert himself into the process of pursuing
a prosecution like this. So talk to us about what this signifies.
SIDDIQUI: I mean, it's really significant, right? You know that in the past, President Trump has not shied away from trying to politicize the
Justice Department and -- and try and coerce the Department to act in his favor.
But this is really a dramatic escalation of that because what he is doing is he is instructing the Justice Department and U.S. attorneys across the
country to go after his critics and his -- and who he perceives to be his political opponents. It sets a precedent and it really is, I think,
instructing the bounds of what prosecutors traditionally consider when charging people with crimes.
You know, I think that obviously we'll see how this plays out in the courts. But, you know, if you think about the backstory that Kevin Liptak
was walking us through, Trump, ousting the U.S. attorney, found that there was insufficient evidence to bring this case forward. Is that going to be
the strategy to try and install a bunch of loyalists in these positions across the country who will now go after and try to persecute his
opponents?
MACFARLANE: Yes. An indication as Kevin was saying that Trump truly is unbound and not just there, right? I mean, this is not happening in a
vacuum running parallel to this. We're seeing efforts to minimize dissent to crack down on free speech, the removal of Jimmy Kimmel. But also the
spread of misinformation in the field of medicine.
Taken together, the approach here is everything all at once. How much by design is that?
SIDDIQUI: Well, I think it makes it very difficult for Democrats to push back, frankly, against the administration, right? Because there's so much
happening at once. And, you know, it's really hard for the American public to keep track of it all. And it's hard to get a sense of what is breaking
through.
But, you know, what that does is it distracts from the totality of the action, right? Just how unbound is such a good word, you know, to use how
unbound this -- the president is in this second term.
And the way in which he is remaking the federal government to act upon his own personal wishes, you know, and yes, politicizing the rule of law,
politicizing medicine and science, politicizing the U.S. military, I mean, the -- and free speech, you know, the -- the implications are far-reaching.
And I think we're only just scratching the surface of what he plans to do.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Do you know anything more about what this gathering of generals in Virginia is -- is about? And how concerning is it given? We
know that President Trump has looked to remove quite a number of high- ranking generals and officers during a second term that -- that this is -- this is happening.
SIDDIQUI: It's not immediately clear why Hegseth is summoning these officials. And I will say what we've heard now reporting is that these
military leaders and officials are really scrambling to readjust schedules.
I mean, some senior officials will receive thousands of troops at different -- in different parts of the country. So, it's creating a lot of
uncertainty to not have that clarity. As you pointed out, the Trump administration, Secretary Hegseth, in particular, has taken several actions
to really reshape the department, including firing top generals and admirals and rooting out these diversity initiatives that they say are
discriminatory.
So, you know, look, it's possible that this meeting is mundane. But what our officials are saying behind the scenes is it's really not helping to
not know what it's about and to have such little notice and potentially to leave gaps in leadership across the country.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Not to mention the security concerns that all of this raises.
Sabrina, really great to have your analysis and your thoughts. Thank you for joining us.
SIDDIQUI: Thank you so much.
MACFARLANE: Well, as we've been discussing, Donald Trump has been very busy in Washington. This weekend, he's mixing business with pleasure taking on
the role of cheerleader in chief as the U.S. host Europe for the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup.
Trump arrived at the world-famous and Bethpage Black Course in New York just a short time ago. And CNN's World Sports Don Riddell is at the scene
in Bethpage for us.
So, Don, tell us, is Donald Trump in residence and on the first tee?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Hi, Christina. Yes, the U.S. president has literally just taken his seat at the first tee just a couple of minutes
ago. And it has been an eventful morning in more ways than one.
Let's start with the golf, the Ryder Cup. We know how badly the American team wants to win this. They were pretty badly beaten in Rome two years
ago. But the Europeans arrived here and won the first three matches in the morning foursomes. The first time that the European team has ever done that
on foreign soil.
[12:15:11]
So, if ever the Americans were in need of a lift, it was now. And it was at that moment that Air Force One swooped in pretty low right over the
clubhouse here at Bethpage Black.
A few minutes later I saw the -- the motorcade arrive. The president slipped inside the clubhouse. Collin Morikawa, the American star, and many
of the wives and girlfriends all went inside to meet him. And they must be so desperately hoping that the president can provide a lift. They really,
really badly need it.
At the moment, the score is 3-1 to the Europeans. Shortly after Trump's arrival, the final American pairing of Xander Schauffele and Patrick
Cantlay did put a red point on the board. So it's all to play for coming up in the four balls shortly.
But Trump's involvement is absolutely fascinating. We know what a huge golf fan he is. We know what a big sports fan he is. And we know just from
recent weeks and months how much he loves being the center of attention at major sporting events. And, of course, he is going to be here this
afternoon.
We know how divided the United States is at the moment, so not everybody will be cheering his arrival. But many of the American players and the
American captain have been speaking about it this week. And it sounds like they will all be welcoming him with open arms.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: It's been a tough few weeks for our country with some of the stuff that's been going on. And, you
know, to have our president here and for us to be able to represent the United States of America, albeit in a golf tournament is extremely
important to us. And we're excited to -- to be here on home soil with the home crowd.
KEEGAN BRADLEY, CAPTAIN, U.S. RYDER CUP TEAM: I'm deeply honored that the president of the United States is going to come support our team at the
Ryder Cup. Having the president there to support you is something that is just absolutely incredible. And I'm really grateful for him for doing that
for us.
LUKE DONALD, CAPTAIN, EUROPE RYDER CUP TEAM: Anytime a sitting president wants -- wants to come to an event, it just shows how big the Ryder Cup is.
You've got to see that as a mark of respect.
A sitting president wants to support an event when he has a very busy schedule to find time for that is -- shows something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: Well, if anybody knows a thing or two about comebacks, it's the U.S. President Donald Trump. He will be hoping to inspire his players this
afternoon.
The afternoon four balls will be teeing off actually very, very shortly. And America need to do something to turn this Ryder Cup around, because it
has, so far, been a pretty miserable day for them.
The Bethpage Black crowd is famously loud, raw, and bombastic. They've been kind of quiet, so the American players need to give them a lift in order to
make this Ryder Cup competitive, because so far it's been a little bit on the one sided side.
MACFARLANE: But, of course, we here -- we here, Don, in Europe are hoping that Donald Trump will not throw Europe off their stride. Three-one up at
the moment. We'll wait to see what the day holds. Appreciate it, Don. Thank you.
Now, the Kremlin has its sights set on the country of Moldova.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA THORNTON, MCCAIN INSTITUTE: The first step is just to push Moldova away from the E.U. That's just the gateway drug to pulling them into the
Russian sphere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: After the break, we take a look at why Moldova is so important to Moscow.
Also ahead, Microsoft cuts services to the Israeli military over concerns of mass surveillance. What the company discovered and how it could affect
the IDF's operations.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OWASE JEELANI, PROFESSOR OF NEUROSURGERY, GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL: As a surgeon, like I said, you know, I'm used to dealing with -- with --with
injuries, but this was something that I was not used to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Wounds so horrific he was presumed dead. Ahead, a Gaza teenager is getting his smile back two years after an Israeli tank shell blew away
his jaw.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:30]
MACFARLANE: This Sunday, Moldova will face a critical election. It will decide whether the country keeps moving towards integration with the
European Union or lean closer to Russia.
Now, Moldova's government says the Kremlin is using cash and misinformation to influence the outcome. Russia meddling is nothing new for the former
Soviet Republic, which shares its border with Ukraine.
Clare Sebastian takes a look at the consequences of yet another European country under Moscow's control.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Moldovan police apparently moving in on a Russian state-backed network to organize mass riots around
upcoming parliamentary elections. Dozens arrested.
The fear of violence spilling onto these politically charged streets, a new twist ahead of a crucial vote. The government here has already warned
Russia is trying to rake.
MAIA SANDU, MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT (through translation): The Kremlin is pouring hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of
votes. People are intoxicated daily with lies.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): The Kremlin denies any interference. But is publicly accusing Moldova's government of persecuting political opponents
and denying those who support Moscow their right to vote.
SEBASTIAN: What would happen if pro-Russian parties gain a majority in this election?
THORNTON: The first step is just to push Moldova away from the E.U. That's just the gateway drug to pulling them into the Russian sphere.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Russia's full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine supercharged this tiny post-Soviet state's E.U. ambitions. Last year, it
started accession talks.
But the pro-Russian opposition is pushing back. Its main candidate and former president Igor Dodon claiming the E.U. is preparing Moldova for war
with Russia.
THORNTON: They still have a lot of steps they need to go through to become a member of the European Union. A pro-Russian party or pro- Russian
coalition would probably stall that if not try to reverse it.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Natalia Zaharescu, a Moldovan investigative journalist, says she has seen Russian tactics evolve first-hand. Zaharescu
has spent more than three years infiltrating online networks linked to this man, Ilan Shor, a fugitive Moldovan businessman living in Moscow and linked
to a vote-buying scheme that threatened to undermine last year's presidential election and referendum on E.U. integration.
His latest effort, Zaharescu says, was to train Moldovans to become professional online trolls. Shor has not responded to a CNN request for
comment.
NATALIA ZAHARESCU, MOLDOVAN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Hundreds of people were trained how to use social media, how to make accounts under fake
names, how to post these messages that they were given.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): And she, working undercover, was one of them.
ZAHARESCU: And they were telling that we are in an informational war. We have to act like a big troll farm. Everything is paid directly from Moscow.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Moldova is, experts say, a testing ground for Russian hybrid tactics. One whose European future now hangs in the balance.
Clare Sebastian, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: All right. Coming up, U.S. President Donald Trump draws a red line on Israeli annexation of the West Bank, saying he won't allow it to
happen. Ahead, will this shore up regional support for a Gaza peace plan?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:34]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Christina Macfarlane.
There's a fresh setback to the IDF's operations in Gaza.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNSHOTS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Microsoft is cutting off some of its cloud and AI services to the Israeli military after an investigation suggested that the technology
was being used for mass surveillance of Palestinians.
CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Oren Liebermann is joining us now.
And, Oren, I want to get to that Microsoft report in just a moment. But first, I know you were closely watching the Benjamin Netanyahu speech
earlier at the UNGA. I mean, we saw a speech of defiance, but also acts of, once again, from the delegates in the room to show how diplomatically
isolated he has become.
What -- what were your thoughts? What did you make of it?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't really address the issue of -- of the risk of Israel's
growing isolation, even as we saw him give a speech to what was a largely empty plenum at the United Nations in New York. He sort of skirted around
the topic, instead lashing out at Western countries that have recognized the state of Palestine throughout the course of the week, saying they have
caved and buckled to what he called the biased media and to radical Islamist minorities in those countries.
So -- so, it's almost as if he was angry at those countries for the diplomatic isolation that Israel is currently facing. He was also
absolutely unapologetic about Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza and showing no signs that he intends to back down or back off, as we see tens
of thousands killed here. He says he will continue the war towards his goal of the destruction of Hamas.
[12:30:16]
And it is that war that has led to the point we are where we are now that is Israel risking this growing isolation. And it's not just diplomatically,
we see it in Hollywood, in culture, in -- in -- in a number of other venues as well. And then, of course, we -- we saw it on full display at the United
Nations.
MACFARLANE: And to this report, Oren, of Microsoft cutting off some of its AI and its cloud services to the Israeli military, what can you tell us
about why this is happening now and -- and how significant this is?
LIEBERMANN: So this is a story that's played out over the course of the past couple of months. In early August, "The Guardian" and an Israeli
outlet called "Plus972" published an investigation where they said that Israel's military intelligence unit known as 8200 was storing millions of
Palestinian phone calls on Microsoft Asia. That is their cloud computing technology and this is what they unveiled.
Shortly thereafter Microsoft announced that they would conduct their own internal review, not looking at the data because that's private customer
data but instead they say they reviewed customer receipts, the financial records, the transactions, what they knew about them.
And they concluded by Brad Smith, the Vice Chair and President of Microsoft saying they found that at least some of the allegations were true. And
because of that, they said they were terminating a set of services used by Israel's Ministry of Defense that is the military intelligence unit 8200.
He said that the investigation itself would continue, but what the review found was against Microsoft company policy. You can't use, according to
Microsoft, their technology for mass surveillance. And that's what they found that Israel was doing.
And because of that they cut Israel off, potentially a major blow obviously to a -- a country and a military that works very closely with Microsoft.
We did reach out to both the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli military to see if they had a response. All they said from a security official was
there is no damage to the operational capabilities of the IDF.
MACFARLANE: All right. Oren Liebermann, appreciate your reporting on that from Jerusalem.
Well, as we have been discussing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant message to the world during his speech, but he didn't
mention Donald Trump's new red line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. No, I will not allow it. It's not going to happen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you speak with Netanyahu about this strategy?
TRUMP: Yes. But I'm not going to allow it, whether I spoke to him or not, I did. But I'm not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank. It's been enough.
It's time to stop now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: And in recent weeks, Israeli officials have suggested that their government could move to seize control of at least some parts of the
West Bank.
And earlier this month, Netanyahu signed a controversial settlement plan which includes building thousands of new housing units in the occupied West
Bank effectively cutting the Palestinian territory in two.
Time now for "The Exchange" in my conversation with Anshel Pfeffer. He is the Israel correspondent for "The Economist" and the author of "Bibi: The
Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu." Thank you so much for joining us.
ANSHEL PFEFFER, ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT, "THE ECONOMIST": Thank you.
MACFARLANE: So you would have heard there Oren pointing out that in this speech at the UNGA Benjamin Netanyahu did not acknowledge or even seem to
notice the diplomatic isolation that Israel is under even in -- in the room. And this did appear to be a speech largely aimed at one audience, the
Israeli audience with a lot of recycled talking points.
So, what did you make of it? And how is it being received where you are?
PFEFFER: Oh, you're right. It is like all -- almost all of Netanyahu's speeches at the U.N. and he's made many over the years. It's a speech which
is made in English, but it's for the ears of Israeli voters back home.
And since Israel is now unofficially but is actually entering an election year then this is very much an election speech. And -- and, you know, we
saw Netanyahu's main, you know, instinct (ph) over and over again, the visual aids, the lapel, the -- the -- these kind of pop quizzes to the
audience and the audience, as you mentioned, was very small. Most of the people who had been in the United Nations who had left except for a small
group of -- of Netanyahu supporters who gave him the -- you know, who gave him his -- his own course.
So, it's 80 percent an election speech for Israelis, 20 percent in the hope of that -- that some soundbite will -- will make its way to Donald Trump.
And as you said, he -- he didn't mention Trump's red line. He did mention Trump numerous times and he's trying to create this image of him and Trump
as partners rather than what we saw yesterday when Trump basically saying, I'm going to order it and now what to do and Netanyahu's going to listen to
me.
[12:35:10]
MACFARLANE: Yes. And that comment from Donald Trump about basically shutting down any idea that he would be in favor of Israel annexing the
West Bank was perhaps somewhat embarrassing to the prime minister.
President Trump came out after that speech as well to say that a peace deal was imminent was on the cards. We know the U.S. have put forward this 21-
point police plan.
Did you hear anything today from Benjamin Netanyahu to suggest he's ready to sign a deal?
PFEFFER: No, there was no policy whatsoever. Netanyahu -- there's a lot of rhetoric, there's a lot of arguing, there's a lot of things that he was
saying to various Western leaders who he accused of being weak and -- and - - and basically stabbing Israel in the back almost.
But at the same time, he didn't say what Israel is trying to do. He didn't say anything about Israel. He didn't say what Israel's response to the
decision of Britain and France and a number of other Western nations to recognize the Palestinian state.
Even though, as you said, it's been talking less for a few weeks of Israel annexing parts of the West Bank in retaliation. He didn't mention that
because he got the slap down from Trump yesterday and basically he's not -- he can't really do very much about it.
He didn't mention what Israel really plans to do in Gaza because he knows that he's going to -- he's coming under pressure from Trump to end the war
at the same time his far-right coalition partners are pressure -- are pressing him to continue with the war.
So -- I mean, it was 40 minutes of -- of rhetoric and then, you know, all his arguments, but it was very, very light. I mean, there was no policy
there whatsoever.
And it emphasizes that the really important event is not the speech, it's Monday's meeting in the White House with Trump.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And on the lack of policy. I mean, the one time he did move to mention the recognition of a Palestinian state was in relation to
the Israeli people. He said, you know, that his -- the Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's opposition to Palestinian state was not just the
position of the government, but of the Israeli people.
Was he correct in that assessment?
PFEFFER: Well, the numbers he used were wrong. He said he talks about 99 percent. But the numbers are -- it's not 99 percent. But the numbers are in
the 70 to 80 percent region. A -- a larger majority of Israelis don't currently trust the Palestinians. You know, certainly not since what
happened in October 7th to have a state within the same territory where -- where Israel is. That's -- you know, it's not a surprising conclusion, I
think, that many Israelis have drawn.
But at the same time, we've seen support for two-state solution in Israel go up and down for 30 years. Now, the same is happening -- has happened on
the Palestinian side.
The problem isn't what -- what majority or minority there is amongst Israelis or Palestinians at any given moment. The problem is there is no
political leadership willing to take the risks and push for that solution. We haven't had that political leadership for -- for many years now.
Certainly Netanyahu is not going to provide it.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And just briefly, Anshel, we have been hearing from hostage families since Benjamin Netanyahu's speech and those efforts to
broadcast that speech into Gaza to where the hostages are.
Some hostage families, the mother of Matan Angriest saying any sentence other than I came to the U.S. to sign a deal that brings you all home
amounts to psychological abuse to them.
I mean, obviously, there's going to be anger from hostage families. We've seen that time and time again, but it does not appear to ever move the dial
with the Israeli government.
PFEFFER: Well, Netanyahu has his position, which is dictated mainly by his political partners, that is to keep this war going, not to accept an
agreement, which will end the war, even when there were ceasefires, they were temporary and is already resumed fighting. It's not just Israel also
Hamas isn't an easy customer when it comes to reaching a ceasefire.
But this grotesque performance of said -- you know, putting loudspeakers in Gaza, ostensibly so the hostages could hear them. I very much doubt the
hostages were within earshot from the footage I've seen, the technical -- the technical execution was very bad and you could barely hear it was
Netanyahu talking much less discerned the words he was saying.
And it was once again, it was an election stunt. Immediately when it was done, the photographs of it was sent to the Israeli media by Netanyahu's
office. It's -- we've seen it before. We've seen these stunts that Netanyahu pulls at his speeches.
I -- I very much doubt that anyone thinks that the hostages will -- you know, would have heard that in there, wherever they're being hidden by
Hamas in Gaza. And if they did, I think that they would have derived much comfort from it.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Anshel Pfeffer, appreciate your comments. Thank you so much for joining us.
[12:40:08]
Now, a teenager from Gaza is finally getting the medical attention he needs after his jaw was severely damaged by an exploding Israeli tank shell. The
wounds nearly killed him, but now he's in London for surgery.
And a warning to some of our viewers that the images in this report are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE (voice-over): In 10 hours, Majd will get his smile back or think about eating or speaking normally again. He's about to undergo radical
reconstructive surgery, 19 months after an Israeli tank shell exploded near him blowing away his jaw.
MAJD ALSHAGHNOBI, PATIENT: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: I'm really happy to be treated here and have my operation.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Majd was collecting flour from an aid point when the Israeli tank shell hit, killing the two friends he was walking with.
His wounds so horrific he was presumed dead.
ALSHAGHNOBI: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: They took me to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. They put me in the morgue. When they saw my arm move, they moved me to the hospital kitchen
because there was no space in the operating room.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): In the kitchen, his life was saved by an emergency tracheostomy, but he was caught just short of death with no chance of
healing without further care. So his mother had to get him out.
ISLAM FEIFEL, MAJD'S MOTHER: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: I had been running for a month and a half between Nasser Hospital and Al-Aqsa Hospital for a month and a half to be able to make the
arrangement for him.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): He did get out, thanks to the charity Project Pure Hope who privately funded Majd's evacuation and treatment.
And thanks to one of Britain's leading pediatric surgeons who had the difficult task of choosing which Gazan child they should save.
JEELANI: As a surgeon, like I said, you know, I'm used to dealing with -- with -- with injuries. But this was something that I was not used to.
But, you know, if you sort of pause and look away, you know, this by tomorrow, there'll be a dozen, a few dozen more children that are well at
the moment. But will not be well tomorrow, will not be around tomorrow.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Professor Jeelani and nine other surgeons have taken months to meticulously plan this operation. Through the use of 3D
modeling, they will take bone, soft tissue and blood vessels from Majd's leg to close the gap in his jaw.
JEELANI: Majd was the best-case scenario where we feel with our plan, we can really get him close to how things used to be for him and make the
biggest difference in his life.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): The World Health Organization says hundreds of people have died waiting for medical evacuation, and more than 3,500
children are in need.
Majd is fortunate. His case has drawn attention here in the U.K., even from Prince Harry. But the trauma for his family is not over.
In escaping Gaza, his mother was forced to leave behind two of her sons, Muhammad and Yusuf.
MACFARLANE: What has life been like for your family in Gaza since you've been here in London?
FEIFEL: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: They're exhausted. They tell every day that you've left with your favorite child. They're in the north. You know what the north is like. And
they say they could die at any moment. If I knew the war would come back, I wouldn't have left.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): It took foreign governments, doctors and NGOs working together to bring Majd's jaw back. But Majd is past healing.
ALSHAGHNOBI: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: I wish Gaza could go back to what it was, that everybody could be reunited, and be together in Gaza as it once was.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:20]
MACFARLANE: President Trump signed an executive order Thursday that clears the way for a TikTok deal selling the platform's U.S. assets to a
consortium of mostly American investors.
But the deal is not finalized. It must still go through more regulatory approvals from both the U.S. and China before the deal is complete. So,
where does that leave TikTok?
Here to discuss all things technical is CNN's tech reporter Clare Duffy.
So, Clare, talk us through what more we know about how this deal breaks down.
CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: Yes. Christina, this executive order is an important but largely procedural step in moving this deal forward.
In this order, President Trump certified that the deal qualifies as a qualified divestiture, which is something that was required by this ban or
sale law that was passed in the United States last year.
Now the deal can move forward on to the next steps. We are expecting ByteDance to sign an agreement, essentially agreeing to the deal framework
that has been laid out here.
But as you said, we do expect that the deal will still need regulatory approvals from both the U.S. and China. And we're still waiting to hear
about a formal approval from Beijing, although President Trump did say yesterday that President Xi Jinping of China has given the deal the green
light.
We also don't yet know the full list of investors that will be involved in this U.S.-based joint venture that is taking control of TikTok's U.S.
assets.
President Trump talked about some of the names that we had already heard, Oracle, tech CEO, Michael Dell, potentially the Murdoch's Fox Corp. But
we're waiting to hear the full list of investors.
And that is really important in part because we've started to hear concerns from some U.S. users about this new American consortium that includes a
number of Trump allies controlling the algorithm and controlling what people will see on the platform.
President Trump and Vice President Vance addressed those concerns yesterday, saying that the algorithm will be fair for all users, although
President Trump did say that he wished the TikTok algorithm could be 100 percent MAGA.
But they attempted to reassure users that it will be fair for all people, for all perspectives. We'll see if that gives U.S. users enough confidence
to continue using the app after this deal moves forward. Christina.
MACFARLANE: This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to break down the algorithm, so it's partly held by one and partly held by the other? I
thought it was -- it had to be in its entirety in order for it to be deemed safe.
DUFFY: It's a really good question. And I imagine it is something that the U.S. lawmakers who agreed to pass this law that bipartisan consensus will
be looking closely at as they're reviewing this deal.
The plan essentially is to have ByteDance send a copy of the algorithm to this new U.S.-based joint venture. They say they will review it. They'll
retrain it on U.S. user data. And then Oracle will continue to oversee how it's serving content to users.
But I think it still is an open question as to whether that truly satisfies the national security concerns that were at the heart of this law, which
many people thought were going to require the new U.S. TikTok users to essentially create an algorithm from scratch.
Both President Trump and President Vance said they believe this does satisfy the national security concerns. That's part of what President Trump
certified in this executive order yesterday. But we'll see if everybody on both sides is ultimately satisfied with that solution.
MACFARLANE: All right. We'll continue to watch this phase. Clare, I appreciate it. Thank you.
Now, the U.K. hope's digital I.D.s will help curb illegal immigration. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the digital I.D. cards will be
mandatory for all those who work in the country. The cards would be on workers' phones, and it would be mandatory for employers to check before
hiring someone. Well, the debate has already begun on the streets of London.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:50:03]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's a good idea. I mean, we could be track -- we're being tracked every day anyway, through the use of our mobile phones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I think there are civil liberty concerns about it. I'm kind of worried about how that would be enforced, what -- what
people will be forced to choose. I wonder how effective it will be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, over time, the cards will be used to access -- for access to other services like child care, welfare and access to tax records.
OK. Still to come on "One World," an American woman looking for love uses a no-holds-barred approach to finding Mr. Right. What she did and how it's
working. That story, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: Turning now to a frustrated dater looking for love in California, who has taken to putting yourself out there to new heights. And
by new heights, we mean literally very high.
Luz Pena from Affiliate ABC 7 News in San Francisco explains how married Lisa came about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUZ PENA, REPORTER, ABC 7 NEWS (voice-over): This is what taking your chances at finding love to new heights looks like.
LISA CATALANO, SEARCHING FOR A FUTURE HUSBAND: I'm looking for a husband. I'm looking for a committed relationship and hopefully the love of my life.
PENA (voice-over): For almost a month now, Bay Area resident and bachelorette, Lisa Catalano, decided to put herself out there. And when we
say out there, we mean on six to seven billboards on Highway 101 from the South Bay to San Francisco.
PENA: This is pretty bold. What happened that you said, this is the approach that I'm going to take?
CATALANO: You know, every time I got a little frustrated with the dating scene within Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, I would work a little bit on
my website. And it started off kind of as almost a joke. Like, I'm just going to make my own website.
Then it just kind of, I was thinking, you know, maybe that's not that crazy of an idea after all. And so I decided, OK, well, I got to promote the
website somehow. And what's more local than a billboard?
PENA (voice-over): All hoping the one or someone who may know him leads him to her. Her ads are straight to the point, MaryLisa.com. Her website is her
personal application collection service. This is where her future husband can apply.
CATALANO: I'm looking for somebody who would be compatible with me on things like religious views, politics, you know, healthy lifestyle because
I lead a healthy lifestyle. Things that match up on all of that. And someone who's ready to get married and have kids in the future.
[12:55:06]
PENA (voice-over): One thing about Lisa, she is not taking any chances and simply relying on billboards. She's also keeping an eye out when she's out
and about.
CATALANO: Have flyers, business cards. You know, just in case I -- I'm somewhere in person and I want a network.
PENA: So if you see someone that you like, you're like, hey.
CATALANO: Oh, I could definitely do that, yes.
PENA (voice-over): She said her search recently went viral when she posted it on TikTok, leading to an influx of applicants.
PENA: How many applications have you gotten?
CATALANO: Oh, gosh. I don't know because I can -- my phone's been going off.
PENA (voice-over): Lisa says she's hopeful all this will be worth it when she meets the one. And just in case, we wanted to help.
PENA: Your future husband is watching right now. What do you want to say to him?
CATALANO: I'm real. This entire project is real. I am serious about finding the love of my life.
PENA (voice-over): For now, the search continues.
In San Francisco, Luz Pena, ABC 7 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: I love it. More power to you, Lisa. Put yourself out there. That's the epitome of that.
And this is it for today's edition of "One World." I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. Thank you so much for watching. Stay with us. "Amanpour" is up
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
