Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

A top spokesman for the taliban tells the bbc its still willing to negotiate. And a landmark case at the uk Supreme Court. Judges consider whether Boris Johnson acted unlawfully in suspending parliament. In the last half hour, the current israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Neta nyahu has addressed his supporters, saying hes still awaiting the official results from the general election. Exit polls suggest there is no clear winner, but the indications are it will be much harderfor mr netanyahu to build a governing coalition, bringing to an end his long run as Prime Minister. But he said he would work towards establishing what he called a strong zionist government. From tel aviv, the bbcs jeremy bowen reports. Israeli tv exit polls showed no decisive victory for any side. The votes will be counted through the night, but it could take weeks of coalition horsetrading before the next government and Prime Minister emerge. The election has been a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahus last ten years in office. He is israels longest serving Prime Minister. His main rival is retired general, benny gantz, from the blue and white party. Some of his supporters fear he was politically naive not to press harder on corruption charges faced by mr netanyahu, which the Prime Minister denies. In Opposition Strongholds in tel aviv, queues of voters were waiting and hoping to end mr neta nyahus political career. Whats wrong with netanyahu . Everything . Whats not wrong with him . Hes corrupted, he hates everyone, he rules in fear, hes too much right wing. But mr netanyahu has a reliable support from ultra religious israelis, who have their own political parties. Just before the vote, they rallied in jerusalem. In exchange for privileges for their community, theyve supported mr netanyahus premierships. Why am i going to vote . Because that is what my rabbi tells me to do, and thats what im going to do. Who would you like as the next Prime Minister . I guess netanyahu, thats what the rabbis say. The power of the ultra religious has become one of israels most divisive issues. Mr netanyahu was, as usual, a formidable campaigner, even starring in his own commercials. In this one, he puts hikers back on the right track, while losers follow untrustworthy guides named after his opponents. Israelis have been offered more personal insults than policy debates. Mr netanyahus message was that hes the only one, with his powerful friends, to protect israelis from iran and the palestinians. In a close race, he upped the ante by promising to annex the occupied Jordan Valley, around a third of the land palestinians want for a state. It was an extravagant gambit to keep the votes of the israeli right. In the valley, its harvest time for date farmers palestinians and israelis who have settled here since it was captured in the 1967 war. Khader hermeidat, a palestinian farmer, says he was scared by the Prime Ministers promise of annexation. Translation where is the peace that he is talking about . Netanyahu, he wants to take our land and we live from it. Annexation will be off the agenda if mr netanyahu cannot form a government after all the votes are counted. On walkabout in tel aviv, this could be the politician the Prime Ministerfears most, once the Coalition Negotiations start. Polls suggest his party, called israel our home, has made significant gains. This man, avigdor lieberman, may become the kingmaker after the election. His party might control the balance of power, when it comes to forming the next governing coalition. One important factor though, he used to be a major ally of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and now they are opponents, even enemies. After the exit polls, mr liebermans supporters were the only ones that were celebrating. If the results back that up polls are not always accurate then the netanyahus era in israeli politics is ending. Jeremy bowen, bbc news, tel aviv. Lets discuss this. Lets cross to noura erakat, a human rights attorney and author who joins us from our washington studio. First of all, your reaction to this early result, exit polls. Theres a lot to be said analytically about the polls and what it means for israels domestic considerations whats most important is a palestinian watching this is that the 5 million palestinians who will endure israel s governance in the aftermath over governance were not allowed to pass a vote. It does is allowed to pass a vote. It does is all we need to know about israel as well as the International Communities and the racist exclusion of palestinians. Considering the annexation example. That is in the west bank. There are 3. 7 million palestinians in the west bank, this is affecting their lives, city thousand palestinians in theJordan Valley, they have no say in what happens there. As to the blue and white versus the opposition right now, it is very little difference between them except in rhetoric. Blue and white, when netanyahu promised to annex theJordan Valley, said he would distract that he stole the edgierfrom them. This isnt about two alternatives in terms of the fate of the Peace Process of the future of peace rate of peace of the future of israel, this is about a the future of israel, this is about a with the future of israel, this is about a with a the future of israel, this is about a with a just party and about blue and white which is a right wing Secular Party and it spells doom for palestinians regardless of how we cut it and it hasnt even been discussed which is very telling. But, i dont know if youre able to hear but we just heard from a palestinian in the jordan hear but we just heard from a palestinian in theJordan Valley who said how scared he was of that annexation policy, incident these much less likely than another that be acted upon . And people like that can rest a little easier in the Jordan Valley . Two things you read about this, there is a defector annexation of the Jordan Valley anyway, palestinians not have access to 90 of the jordan anyway, palestinians not have access to 90 of theJordan Valley anyway, palestinians not have access to 90 of the Jordan Valley which anyway, palestinians not have access to 90 of theJordan Valley which is under closed military zones, nature reserves , under closed military zones, nature reserves, settlements were 11,000 settlers have access to six times as much water is a 60,000 palestinians. With without annexation, past and its not have access to the lands which the world bank has been distract is called the breadbasket which would give them a yield of 1. 2 billion annually if they had access to dense seed, minerals as well as Water Resources to produce agriculture. As a matter of fact, palestinians already dont have access, as a matter of law, the fact that this depends on which is leader which israeli leader will be in power, it is a travesty, it is a clear and unequivocal violation of the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force. Why are we leaving it to an election and to an israeli leader to discover distract you decide what International Law has prohibited . The palace unabomber has prohibited . The palace unabomber has every right to be fearful by the greatest fear comes from the apathy of the International Community that has written this up as a domestic issue rather than an affront to the International Community and world order. He talked about palestinians who werent able to vote. But it does look like arab israeli is have gone to the polls in larger numbers than previous is in. The projections between 11 and that entities between the unified arab parties, without be a significant shift in your eyes . think what is significant is that palestinian israelis have rehabilitated the joint this in order to demonstrate the unity and demonstrated they are the Third Largest coalition. It is also telling that had blue and with the joint list which they offered, they would have been in a clear majority right now to when the selections and yet the blue and white party refused specifically because it its based refuses to enter into alliance with palestinians. Refuses to enter into any discussions about anti the occupation, refuses to enter into any discussion about annulling the state law, so its very exciting that the joint list has increased in demonstrated and demonstrated its power by the fact of the Third Largest coalition and will not be part of any government arrangement tells us again what we need to know about israels racist exclusionary policy where they would rather lose a dont have a majority government rather than have to make an alliance with palestinians. We have delivered them a thank you very much for your time. We have to leave it there. Lets get some of the days other news. Russian coastguards say they have seized two north korean boats and more than 80 crew members, which it says were engaged in illegalfishing. A spokesperson for the Russian Federal Security Service said the two schooners were spotted poaching near the yamato bank in the sea ofjapan. Spain is facing another general election, following an announcement by king felipe that no political leader has enough support to form a government. The sociliast Prime Minister, pedro sanchez, has been unable to reach a deal with rival parties. Us Officials Say theyve identified the exact locations in iran from which they believe an attack on saudi oilfacilities was launched on saturday. The broadcaster, cbs, says more than 20 drones and cruise missiles were fired. Iran insists the projectiles came from Houthi Rebels in yemen. 0ur correspondent david willis joins us for more. The us keeping up the pressure on the run . Very much so and Administration Officials claiming to have pinpointed the locations in southern iran from which they believe drones and cruise missiles used in saturdays attack on Saudi Arabian Oil Facilities were launched. Now given the satellite images that the us released over the weekend, appeared to show the maximum damage on at least one of these all installations, being on these all installations, being on the north and the west of that installation, but would seem to contradict suggestions by the rebels in yemen that they were behind the attack. And the fact that Saudi Arabian Missile Defence systems failed to intercept these weapons is the Administration Officials are pointing out, as the officials are pointing out, as the officials are pointing out, as the officials are pointing out, they were facing south because anticipated an attack would from yemen which is why they didnt pick up the attack. They also say that the Houthi Rebels maintained that the Houthi Rebels maintained that ten drones used yet theyve counted at least 17 attacks, 17 strikes on one of these installations alone. All of which belies, they say, the suggestion that the Houthi Rebels were to blame. Iran for its part, continues to maintain it had nothing to do with this attack. So what options open to the white house . What are they discussing doing about this if they discussing doing about this if they believe that iran was as possible about the proof . Thats a good question. And i think we are seeing a change in stance if you like, from the president , more measured approach in recent days after that rather incendiary locked and loaded comment on sunday night. Theyre making and loaded comment on sunday night. They re making clear the administration, that this is saudi arabias problem if you like. Its up arabias problem if you like. Its up to saudi arabia to come up with the intelligence to show where the attacks were launched from, to come up attacks were launched from, to come up with some sort of response and indeed to carry out the response with the support of the International Community. The United States secretary of state, mike pompeo is travelling to saudi arabia tonight to help gather that intelligence but i dont think the United States is looking to take the lead in this if you like, it does not want as President Trump conceded yesterday, to get involved in a war in the middle east. Particular sensor in the middle east. Particular sensor goes against everything he campaigned for when he sought president ial office. Thank you david. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come the 10 year old russian skateboarder who overcame his disability to wow the world, and his hero, tony hawk. 30 hours after the earthquake that devastated mexico city, rescue teams still have no idea just how many people have died. There is people alive and there is people not alive. We just can help and give them whatever weve got. A state funeral is being held for princess grace of monaco at the church where she married prince rainier 26 years ago. It looked as though they had come to fight a war, but their mission is to bring peace to east timor, and nowhere on earth needs it more badly. The governments case is being forcefully presented by monsieur badinter, the justice minister. Hes campaigned vigorously for the abolition, having once witnessed one of his clients being executed. Elizabeth seton spent much of her time at this grotto, and every year, hundreds of pilgrimages are made here. Now that shes become a saint, its expected that this area will be inundated with tourists. The mayor and local businessman regard the anticipated boom as just another blessing of st elizabeth. This is bbc news, the latest headlines early signs suggest theres no clear winner in israels general election. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says hell now hold talks on forming a coalition. His main rival, benny gantz, called for a broad unity government. This week, were reporting on the grim situation in afghanistan, where peace talks have collapsed and theres been a spike in violence. On tuesday, two separate suicide attacks killed 48 people. The taliban have said they were behind both blasts, but the organisation insists it does want talks to continue. Earlier this month, donald trump abruptly cancelled the talks between the us and the afghan taliban. 0ur chief International Correspondent lyse doucet has been speaking to the talibans chief negotiator. She asked him about his message to President Trump. We say that negotiations is the only way for peace in afghanistan so that is why we have started negotiations with the american side so we hope that the american side, they should, especially the president , mr trump, should listen to his negotiation team, the head of the negotiation team, mr khalilzad, and he should ask the report from him but i know there are lobbies and some people which are against peace this in afghanistan because they see their own business in the war in afghanistan and we hope that mr trump should not listen to those people to continue the war in afghanistan because the war is not in their interest and as well it is not in our interest. The americans say that the negotiating process is dead. What do you say . From our side, our doors are open for negotiations. So we hope the other side also rethink their decision regarding negotiations. Afghans are asking why the taliban say they dont target civilians, but civilians die. The majority of civilian casualties are related to afghan and Foreign Forces in afghanistan. But you also need to take. Because the Foreign Forces, most of them are in the quarters bases are in the cities and villages and that is where the civilians live. They are not in the mountains so it is natural that civilian casualties will occur. But we are trying our best to restrict it just to the we are trying our best to restrict itjust to the military side and they should not go to civilian target. But your fighters, they should not go to civilian target. But yourfighters, and they should not go to civilian target. But your fighters, and we have seen it ourselves, your fighters take shelter in afghan homes. So you use the Afghan People as human shields. No. That is not true. 0ur as human shields. No. That is not true. Our people do not take shelter in civilian houses because our fighters are fighting for the liberation of the whole country. We are against the Occupation Forces in afghanistan. And we say to the Foreign Forces that they are bombarding civilian villages. For many months they have bombarded hospitals and schools. Hundreds of civilians killed by the bombardment. The Uks Supreme Court has begun hearing a case that could make history, defining the relationship between parliament and Prime Minister. Its being asked to decide whether borisjohnson behaved lawfully when he suspended parliament. The bbcs mark easton reports. But the country voted, didnt they, to leave . Where does power lie in this troubled land . How can you be so stupid . You tell us lie, after lie, after lie with the brexit rift in noisy evidence outside the Uks Supreme Court today. Court will rise. Inside, the 11 most seniorjudges in the land sat in courtroom number one to consider that question, and make it clear they were not there to judge the merits of brexit. The determination of this legal issue will not determine when and how the United Kingdom leaves the european union. A month after becoming pm, was borisjohnsons request to the queen that parliament be suspended for five weeks a ruse to silence mps opposed to a no deal brexit . Scottish judges did think it stymied the house of commons, ruling it unlawful. The high court of england and wales disagreed, arguing it was a matter for politicians, not judges. Representing the remain campaigner gina miller against the government, lord pannick told the justices borisjohnson had acted unlawfully. No Prime Minister has abused his powers, in the manner in which we allege, in at least the last 50 years. Without a written constitution, the relationship between the three pillars of uk governance is always evolving. Youve got parliamentary power, of course, based over there. Then youve got the governments power, focused on 10 downing street, behind the walls of whitehall. And then you have the power of the courts, ultimately resting here, at the Supreme Court. And what were seeing this week is that balance of power being tested. The geography of westminster reveals the triangle of power at the heart of the state. Today, lord pannick focused on the relationship between mps in parliament and the government, headed by the pm in downing street, describing ministers as the junior partner. He also argued the courts were entitled to rule on the legality of number 10s suspending, or proroguing, parliament. The Prime Ministers motive was to silence parliament for that period, because he sees parliament as an obstacle. Lord pannick quoted from this bbc interview, to suggest borisjohnsons real purpose was not a queens speech but achieving brexit by halloween. The best way to do that is if our friends and partners over the channel dont think that brexit can be somehow blocked by parliament. This afternoon, mrjohnsons lawyer in court had his turn to make the arguments. The Prime Minister will take all necessary steps to comply with any declaration made by the court. Hed come with an undertaking from borisjohnson but he also referred to westminsters balance of power, suggesting the Supreme Court would be meddling in what were political matters if it ruled against the government. 0ne judge wanted to know, if they did, might the Prime Minister seek to suspend parliament a second time . We take it, then, he wouldnt apply to have Parliament Prorogued again . Im not in a position to comment on that proposition at all, my lord. It would be helpful to have the undertaking given in writing. Judges like to have things written down, especially when feelings are running high and theyre attempting to unpick the complex relationship between legitimate power and political ambition. Mark easton, bbc news, the Supreme Court. A ten year old boy from russia with a passion for skateboarding could only dream that his idol tony hawk would one day take notice of his skills. Well, his dreams have come true and that combined with the power of social media, the youngster has become an inspiration to many. Freya cole reports. This is maxim abramov. Its this video. And his epic skills. That have made the ten year old an overnight sensation. Maxim or max for short could hardly believe his eyes when tony hawk shared the video to his 4. 6 million followers on instagram. New favourite skater according to the us based skateboarding legend. Translation overnight max became a world celebrity. Large numbers of fans, subscribers and just so many people wrote him personal messages saying max oh my god thats so cool max isnt just any skater. His first board was simply a way to get around after losing both his legs in a house fire when he was just 18 months old. At such a young age it could have been a major setback. But it hasnt stopped the youngsterfrom dreaming big. Translation iwould really like to take part in the olympics. Maybe i wont win, but at least i can take part. And with his new found stardom he would have supporters from all around the globe. Freya cole, bbc news. This is bbc news. We will be back very soon. Hello there. Some more late summer warmth in this forecast but also a hint of some rain where its been so very dry over the last few weeks. Now, most will be dry until weekend, with High Pressure in control. Although, for wednesday there is a bit of rain to be had and that is across the far north of scotland here with this weather front moving in. But that is the exception. For many it will be dry because we have this big area of High Pressure sitting in right across over the british isles. And where weve had the clearer skies overnight, and particularly into parts of england and wales, wednesday starts on a chilly note. The coldest spots in the countryside in low single figures and there will be a few mist and fog patches around. But also a lot of sunshine across much of england and wales, cloudy skies in scotland, outbreaks of rain, including some heavier bursts in the north for a time. Parts of eastern and southern scotland brightening up during the day, more sunshine in Northern Ireland by the afternoon, some patchy cloud though, filtering furth south through england towards north wales and the midlands. South wales and southern england staying mostly sunny and this is where we will see the higher temperatures, around about 20 celsius. Now, as we go on through wednesday evening and night, a lot of clear weather around through Northern Ireland, much of england and wales into southern scotland, some patchy cloud, but also some patches of mist and fog developing as it turns quite chilly once again. The exception will be northern scotland, holding onto cloud, temperatures here in double figures, and still some light rain or drizzle to be had. But for most, thursday starts quite chilly, some Poor Visibility around in places, so bear that in mind. Fog may be slow to clear in some spots. Drier in northern scotland, turning a bit brighter here during the day, and elsewhere there will be good, sunny spells around, and any patchy cloud slow to clear. And those temperatures are just edging up a few degrees, thats a sign of things to come for friday into the start of the weekend. Why . High pressure is still with us, but its moving eastwards, having a flow of air, warm air, to come in from the sale. Thats going to lift temperatures more widely into the low, even for some spots into the mid 20s. Though, particularly by saturday, that will be on a freshening wind coming in from the south or south east. Now, there is a weather system coming our way over the weekend, it isnt here on friday, though. Again there will be some mist and fog patches around, slow to clear on friday, but for most places there be a lot of sunshine, turning breezy in the west and it will feel warm in that sunshine. Now, into the weekend, for many, we will start dry and sunny, here is a view for some places down the eastern side of the uk, 25 celsius in london. But as the weather system moves eastwards during sunday, more cloud around by then and a chance of seeing some rain out of that cloud, and temperatures come down a little. This is bbc news, the headlines early signs suggest theres no clear winner in israels general election. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says hell now hold talks on forming a coalition. His main rival, benny gantz, said he would work towards a government of national unity. Us Officials Say theyve identified the exact locations in iran from which they believe an attack on saudi oilfacilities was launched on saturday. The broadcaster, cbs, says more than 20 drones and cruise missiles were fired. Iran denies involvement in the attacks, which have disrupted global oil supplies. A landmark case has started in the uk Supreme Court withjudges considering whether borisjohnson acted unlawfully in suspending parliament for 5 weeks. Critics say the Prime Minister took the action in a bid to stop the scrutiny of mps in the run up to brexit