a development from the hague on the alleged chemical attack in the syrian town of duma with russia are inviting local witnesses to testify the incident was staged. in that havel they are in the basement and then heard someone outside screaming go to hospital we were scared they started to pour water on me i don't know why they did this for them as professionals we saw that there were no symptoms suggesting chemical weapons had been used to. pressure song cattle from its regional rivals amid claims the dubai based company commissioned the film the links linking the gulf states to terrorism to justify sanctions. thousand not even a dollar facebook's technology chief tells british m.p.'s that moscow spending on odd votes during the press that vote total just ninety seven seconds.

to sophie and kill him sophie shevardnadze israeli air force strikes inside syria are growing bolder targeting iranian military installations in the country while israeli actions provoke an all out conflict in the middle east while my guest today is lieutenant general benjamin gats twenty is chief of staff of the israeli defense force. the syrian civil war keeps throwing in new players with israeli jets and syrian air space striking government military targets as well as damascus as iranian allies the risk of a serious response from tehran is growing. israel continue gambling with its

strikes in the face of possible confrontation in syria is it ready for any possible escalation and can the middle east they get another conflict. there talent general benjamin chief of staff welcome to the show it's really great to have you with us a lot's to talk about russia is planning to deliver s three hundred missile defense systems to syria following the u.s. coalition and the israeli strikes earlier this month israel has always criticized the prospect of damascus having asked three hundred but as three hundred system are in essence defense weapon why do they make israel so nervous. well definitely three hundred system is a serious system that covers a lot of area to include the space of israel and once they're in the end of the syrians and north in the control of russia. end up using it the way thing it is israel is operating in the north in

a remote against russia of course nor even against syria itself but it's actually acting against what we believe to be negative elements of strategic capabilities because in the hands of the wrong people. in this system if it's there might challenge us a little bit but i believe we know how to do is everything. former out of israel's military intelligence most yadlin things israeli air force is likely to strike they asked three hundred see if those are deployed in syria since they view the missile system as a threat do you think it's a likely scenario will you know i cannot put myself in the hand heads or in the shoes as we say of former acting general prime minister and the minister of defense. i'm sure we're confident that our strategic leadership is not trying to operate again. russia of course needs to do all it

wants to do is to ensure israel's security and i have full confidence in the discussion and. the way the thing things being done so we'll let the future speak but general i mean the things happen every day unexpected things happen every day so if that was a scenario that happened adequate would take place with that set moscow and tel aviv on a dangerous path of confrontation israel ready for that and taking that both have enjoyed a really good relations recently. yeah definitely i think the relations between russia and israel are both good definitely important one and i don't see a collision between israel in russia is such once again sophie israel's interests in the north rima of pew security interests.

is. if you wish. the for not because we want to but because we have to so i'm sure that if there is a way. to bypass the need of confrontation people will definitely like it however we cannot jeopardize our security interests and whatever comes under those considerations comes under these constraints of. israel's defense minister liberman said that the israeli retaliation will come if and i quote anyone attacks us that the country will strike whatever system it needs to so far it's israel doing the attacking in syria so is it stops doing that and risking a counter strike should be worried about anything should it. yeah well you see the point is very much everybody is trying to promote stability in the nude in a real russia is trying to promote it is really different to support stability in

the moving arena so we have this trip of political stability that everybody respects. but underneath this canopy of stability if you wish we can see the positioning and the potential rise over radical elements capabilities in their hands this is something israel cannot stuck its head in the seven sede stuffy if somebody spitting can do it doesn't mean that it's raining so we have to look into reality if you wish really to operate against what we believe that seriously in danger our security in the region . and therefore i think that's what minister of defense to be right he said that we really have to operate against whatever we have to operate if you individuals us but. what exactly do you mean by dangerous elements because you've said israel is

after stability in the north and their reign about striking syrian targets or iranian targets in syria doesn't really bring stability at all how does that arc so . who operates form syria or from levanon against israel it's a radical outpost that doesn't just look to stabilize syria but it's like to be capabilities against israel in windows if abilities becomes potentially danger this is something very serious that we have to take in our consideration and i believe that i will it should be doing just that so since two thousand and twelve israelis believed to launch more than one hundred airstrikes on syrian territory aiming at suspected it on the link targets like if that is the reason for israel's opposition to ask for hundreds in syria when

they're reinforcing of syrian missile defense shield want to allow israel to do what they did before on a regular basis. you know what i'm sure that there was in the official channels between ministry of defense prime minister and president putin where respect very much trying to put the stability on the ground the discussions are being made over there and once again i think we should not ignore all the real facts on the surface stability it's on the upper layer underneath there are negative elements being pushed by a lot is the biggest terrorist organization operating from the an old an arena it is being supported by syria it is being supported by the iranians it is being equipped with high technologies between in danger israel security b. cannot ignore that. and therefore we are very clear on what we are definitely clear

is what we are doing this is exactly what you are seeing nobody is sitting for syrian society nobody is seeking for syrian territory nobody is seeking for lebanese stories you are talking now to the man who was the last one to leave lebanon in two thousand you are talking to the man who ordered to be in the field hospital that already treated more than four thousand syrians in israeli hospitals so israel has nothing against those countries the only thing we care for in this is what we are doing exactly what we are doing we are defending ourselves on the day to despond civil enough strategically speaking looking into potential future threats for us this is exactly what we'll do and i understand the logic although friends and allies. and definitely i understand the logic behind what you're saying . and i understand your devotion to the cause that you've been citing all your life

but as of today has balls and the iranian targets that you call dangerous are fighting the syrian civil war they're not fighting israel. let's not get too naive sophie. in rockets being delivered to the iranians with a higher level or higher level of accuracy is a high level of explosions and none of that has been used against israel against syria and i'm glad they didn't use it i'm just building pileups of an issue it has no other address than future israel started it we cannot ignore that fact and this is exactly what we are doing and i am sure that if you close the camera and speak to whoever you want official intelligence element in russia or in

other places you will get pretty much the same message well i'll tell you what everyone else is worried about they ask awaiting strikes against it on in targets in syria are really making people nervous can a direct hit on israel a confrontation break out because of this i'm just saying i mean there is a solution for that if you're wrong doesn't push it strategically people it is that we know what of the. target of them that they have seen is different if you runs is not involved in this or if it's the position is for egypt it could be didn't syria if the roof illusionary guy who operates there would not have to israel then a similar problem but the reality is that. doing something against it even if you go back to the declaration of the iranians unfortunately they do talk about destroying israel etc etc etc so once we see all that around there's no way we can ignore it or should we ignore it so once again imus yadlin and i keep quoting because i just spoke to him recently he thinks that russia could play and mediating

role it an all out conflict moscow enjoys a good relationship with both sides while israel accept russia's help in preventing a big conflict. i respect russia's strategic timothy in syria in trying to stabilize the area once again i don't think we should sacrifice future threats for that stability i think it can come together push for stability push for human rights ensure everybody's interest make sure the no negative element let's put it this way is a code that you know this question being put on the ground i think that might change picture all right general we're going to take a short break right now when we're back we'll continue talking weather tenant general benjamin katz twentieth i.d.f. chief of staff talking about the middle east pressing issues stay with us.

coin is a black hole and it is folks from all walks of life and money from all points on the globe and as it expands it's just a war of the size of anything else trying to deal with it that includes various money regimes but also includes very high level bankers and economists so christine legarde is just the latest to get lip to the calling. look at the blockade in the animosity fifty almost sixty years to change the regime

in cuba no the last administration realized that the majority of cuban americans wanted normalization of the normalized and when you normalize you can talk. i want to tell you from my experience in cuba when the united states you sugar. instead of a hammer things change in cuba in the way that the united states wanted it. and we're back it was lieutenant general benjamin gots the twentieth idea of chief of staff discussing israel's view on the middle eastern affair so general a confrontation with iran means a confrontation with hezbollah and the last time it happened it didn't go very

smoothly for a slap is another costly war like that really worth the risk for the country. well definitely an escalation in the northern area. in eleven and specifically will not be a hike in the park as we say but and i hate to see it's happening overseas for me is really perspective but seriously speaking since i understand it in lebanon. so many houses so many buildings that possess both a living room and nice a room in the same house i would really recommend lebanon not to let this happen because i think the price of lebanon will end up paying now unfortunately price i must say would be by far. than what we build these very decided we know it's not easy but we are capable of dealing with whatever threat that comes from the iran deal is once again in jeopardy as to trump administration is weighing in new

sanctions it's in jeopardy because once the trumpet ministration is weighing in new sanctions against iran by me mate tehran threatens to figure asli resumed their nuclear program if united states scraps the deal i know that israel didn't like the deal says to very beginning but what i'd be happy if the deal collapsed all together. with i think that what you must bear in mind is the goal of the deal is it was was to keep it with the iranians form approaching the ability to create potentially military nuclear capability i think all the discussions of what used to be the or what might be to be grooming for future times we'll have to look at it does it serve. the goal of keeping the ring is from this ability it's something the americans need to

put their think about it other people understood already said that supporting the deal but this is something that the bush countries will have to deal with but i mean it's obvious that if the deal collapses tehran will bring new iranian enrichment it makes no secret of it it says it will and then israel will then have to strike an iranian nuclear site how's that good for anyone i mean there will be retaliation strikes on the iran and the americans will stay in the region will be on everything. that's why i've said the thing that the means for t.g. good of everyone should be keep iran from nuclear capabilities the means could be so it is so different in so many of them the goal should be one keep them from being able to produce military nuclear capabilities but it's not it is really interest it's a war the interest it's the region interest and yes it's an israeli interest is

would if you would speak to someone from the arab countries in the gulf area and other places just a few would have who simply the same answer so the deal does precisely that it keeps. tehran from enriching uranium does that mean that israel is in favor of the deal. the prime minister of israel have said so many times and he's been doing it in his discussion with his ward leader with the gaps that he sees in that can it be improved to make sure that really at the end of the road does iran does not get the future proof. permission to produce this nuclear capability i think that's the idea i think there are a few holes over there and of course all the inspections everything and everything a very important so another topic that's been discussed very much lately the crown delegation is prepared by president trump to go to israel to mark the transfer of the embassy to jerusalem saying how his announcement of the transfer really made

the palestinian issue heat up do you see this as a maybe a little over the top and unnecessary maybe even a provocative move. well you know i don't look at the provoke it is potentially the reason of it of the potential this collision of it definitely jerusalem is the capital of israel you've been in these are so many times you know it yourself. since the days of king david we didn't need to have a president trump is all due respect. saying it but these jews are is our capital it's my opinion that most countries all countries who basically move their. assets into jerusalem just like the case in most of just like the case in washington d.c. even though the new york city's dick let's put it in the financial capital of his of the united states you've been to tel aviv to lives a definitely a financial capital of the state of israel but the capital of israel is drizzle and

that's where all those and this is need to be and sometimes it's up to get there what part of life yeah but i mean so far it's just americans threat carpeting that you're a salon member say others aren't too prone and too quick to accept that. really i hope and believe that more countries would. see was the palestinian leader just another excuse form of doing it well i tell you how it looks from the outside with his with so many politicians coming over to israel it seems that this is not just about these rallies it's more about the american voters and i mean it's great for trump to protect himself as a friend of israel to his voters at home but should he really be doing it at the expense of israel's security. well once again we believe that jerusalem is our capital for decades hundreds of years thousands of years and you stay saw the future come this way it is very results resilin is not israel is we understand it

according to jewish history and the israelis through of a country sometimes those principle come with a price i don't think it should come as price i think it has to do nothing with the palestinian issue all those places talking about jerusalem as we know it in the locations of such it has no or really interaction and definitely in the few is the theme of the palestinians idea so seriously we would like to put political side for a second to be look at the essence itself i'd see i don't see why should there be any major problems but once again jerusalem is essential for us and we will stand for it. so generally not most of the time i want to talk to these rallies about the palestinian issue they tell me that they palestinians do not want peace that israel is ready for concessions but palestinians aren't and you can't talk to them and

then when i talk to the palestinians they say that exactly same thing about israel though you you are obviously a very patchy arctic man who served and served his country are you able to take a step back and say this from a distance how unbending both sides are i think i think they can. think that both the police to news and the israelis need. to give a. in the illusionary dreams of getting read on the other we are staying here they're staying here and eventually we have to find ways of living side by side peacefully they already got historical political suggestion by prime minister or by prime minister barak in both cases they

rejected them and we faced wave of violence as a re is a result of it we didn't give up on our security and on our existence no should we do it in the future but i really hope it's on both sides we would find leaders this would understand that they need to sit with one another nobody's going. in for the over living side by side peacefully resolved is with securing its security and existence and i think if people have serious enough ways we'll be found do you think it's wise to be so stern on the palestinian issue i tell you i'm asking because this is something that hits me personally me very closely if you shoot at people at gaza border and then a man wearing a kippah is attacked in broad daylight in berlin and in france where i grew up and most of my childhood friends friends are friends jewish people and it's getting

dangerous for than it is does and it's so interrelated don't tell me it's not related does being tough on the palestinians in danger the jewish communities in europe. well unfortunately we might see a negative linkage between things that happens here and seeing that might happen on the way evil and to sin is in different places in the world just like the examples that you have given and once again. let's be honest enough to say what we're seeing in gaza those are unfortunate events instead of hamas supporting its people and taking its budget and been doing rebuilding them in education system or through the trees if you were ever they use them as human shields in the front of the border trying to penetrate trying to damage the infrastructure over there this is something that obviously we cannot unfortunately just saying that the greeting is not enough we have to sometimes do things and those unfortunate events we continue

to happen as long as hamas doesn't stop them on their side so do you think the current lineup of stayed steady or mediating the conflict working out well i mean the united states is israel's biggest ally about as a mediator in my not me the bass as the palestinians don't trust the white house do you think a change of format might help move this issue along. the way it's in the israeli palestinian challenge it should be in israel put this to me an issue was disappointed decides to give this support and i really think that for the benefit to the future. the future of the palestinian kids. will be born to more and. other kids in israel it's. good for us general thank you very much for this very candid take on the issues that we've discussed we were talking to a lieutenant general benjamin down in the twenty's i.d.f.

chief of staff. view on the situation in syria and other pressing issues of the middle east that's it for this edition of sophie and co i will see you next. for a world cup twenty eight team coverage we've signed one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time but there was one more question and by the way who's going to be our coach. guys i know you are nervous he's a huge star and the huge amount of pressure you have to be the center of the football with you and do all the great the great the good you are the rock at the

back nobody gets to you we need you to get let's go. alone. and i'm really happy to join the team for the two thousand and three in the world cup in russia meet the special one. needs to just read the review beyond the team's latest edition as we go. from foreign policy could be described as double speak the president doesn't have a defined policy approach and even goals are difficult to discern is this what the art of the deal means is transform policy making america great again the world safer.

on the welcome to worlds apart cuba is one of those countries that's long been perceived in described in terms of ideological opposites known in the years the star and later russia as the freedom island chains of capitalism it has long been seen in the west as one big reason ruled with an iron fist but when you spend almost half a century documenting the lives of its people as my guest today has done you'll find that the reality is different from the ideally core ideological cliches one is cuba really like well to discuss that i'm now joined by john alpert the american journalist and documentary filmmaker so it's good to see you in our studios think you're much for coming thanks for inviting me i appreciate it now you are here in russia to promote a documentary called cuba and the cameramen reach i think is

a very straightforward and a very honest title because you really show cuba as you've experienced it over what is it forty five forty five years on the film and i think this is very unusual for a western or american journalist because most of them believe that you need to cover stories from the position of either a neutral observer and so often from a position of judgement rather than experience or emotion of why did you break that tradition i wanted american people to really experience what the cuban revolution was like and it's complicated and i don't think you can understand this ninety second news report i don't think you can understand it in twenty ninety second news reports i spent forty five years following three families and see the castro when you watch the revolution and you watch these people in. and you learn a lot about cuba and i think it is also very obvious in your film that this kind of emotional involvement that you develop with your character is also allowed you not

so not only gain trust but actually gain unprecedented access to some of them including fidel castro you go the extra mile to show him as a human being rather you know a historical figure the way you show came up to really how you remembered him. that's the way i remember him fredo trusted me. and with you he considered me to be a friend and. took the risk. in my camera into places that never been before into his bedroom into his kitchen. taking his shirt off for me.