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The World Comes to Paris for Unity Rally; Israel's Prime Minister Speaks at Unity Rally

Aired January 11, 2015 - 14:30   ET

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


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back everybody. A remarkable scene inside the Paris Synagogue, of course, which is the most important Jewish site in Paris. But just minutes ago, there was the singing of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise. Let's listen for a moment to what happened inside with synagogue just a few minutes ago.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

The musical manifestation of a secular republic sung inside the Grande Synagogue of Paris. A message, of course, sent, even from inside the synagogue that it is unity among religions, among faith that is the big message of the day.

As I was mentioning earlier, I'm at the Place de la Nation. This is the end point of the big unity rally. Possibly the biggest demonstration in the history of modern France on this Sunday. And why is this country united on this day? Because so many French people, ordinary residents of Paris, but even visitors as well, I spoke to a few tourists here today who said they felt it was important for them to come out and reaffirm to the world that the terrorists cannot win.

That after the carnage at "Charlie Hebdo" on Wednesday and of course after that terrible shooting and hostage taking at the kosher supermarket on Friday, they would not allow those messages to stand, that the message that they wanted the world to hear coming from France was one of harmony.

Janine di Giovanni is joining me now live or -- at the Paris bureau.

I'm sorry, Morgan, are we going back to the synagogue? No, we're going to Janine. We were just expecting Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, once he starts speaking, we'll go to him.

But, Janine, first of all, you saw all these world leaders today in France, at the Elysee, marching arm-in-arm. But the highest level representative from the U.S. seemed to have been the American ambassador to France.

What did you make of that?

JANINE DI GIOVANNI, AWARD WINNING CORRESPONDENT, AUTHOR: Hala, I was very disappointed to see that there wasn't a stronger representation on the American side. We had the U.S. ambassador to France, of course, and we had Eric Holder who was here for a conference anyway.

I think that, as an American living here, it was -- it was surprising that Kerry, first of all, John Kerry, could not have flown back from India, that Michelle Obama couldn't have come if Obama himself was unavailable.

I think it's a disappointment and I think in some ways it will be a slight backlash. I think the French will take offense at it. Every -- nearly every other leader was here and I think that it was very much, if not sending a message, a slight act of disrespect.

GORANI: Right. Well, you also had world leaders who may not be as excited about press freedom in their own country as they seem to be in France today and that's been another criticism, Janine.

DI GIOVANNI: You're talking about Turkey, I think. I do think that in many ways we can pick apart what happened today at the march. But overall, it was a very strong show of solidarity, of unity of strength, and again of all of the principles of the republic that we know, fraternity, liberty, equality.

But, Hala, what I'm wondering, and I think what's on the mind of a lot of people is what's going to happen tomorrow. Today was extraordinary. It was unprecedented. It was emotional. But tomorrow is when it all starts. The march was not politicized, as you know, which was quite rare for a French march. But will tomorrow it starts, the politics, and the extreme right perhaps using what happened last week as a chance to make this story their own? To own this? To use it to their advantage.

These are some of the things I'm thinking about, that I'm concerned about, also again attacks on Muslims in mosques and various other places. Hala?

GORANI: Yes. And I have to say, I agree with you. It was a remarkable day. When I was standing here a few hours ago looking behind me with signs, now it's considerably thinned out, it has to be said. But I am Jewish, I am Muslim, I am Christian, we are all French.

And I have to say, it was quite emotional. I don't know what was going through your mind as you were watching this big unity rally unfold.

DI GIOVANNI: Incredibly emotional. Being American and French, I felt incredibly proud today of how France has responded this entire week. Francois Hollande is a president with dignity. The French people coming together with this kind of solidarity. I think that it really has shown that the fear, it's not -- there is this sense that we can overcome this. Whatever is going to lie in the future, which, you know, we have to take with greater security.

I mean, one thing that is evident is that we're going to have much tighter security. Not just in France but in all of Europe. And this is going to have to start tomorrow.

GORANI: Yes.

DI GIOVANNI: The day after. Today was a great day of commemoration. But tomorrow is really when it will begin -- we'll begin to see what happens post "Charlie Hebdo."

GORANI: All right. Thanks very much, Janine di Giovanni. The Mideast editor for Newsweek, joining me live in Paris.

We're going to have a lot more after a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: All right. Welcome back, everyone. As we continue to cover this big unity rally in Paris and in several cities across France on this day. The country coming together saying we will not allow the terrorists to win, to hijack our message of unity, of harmony, of liberty, of equality, of brotherhood of the French republic.

You're seeing images coming to us from the Grande Synagogue in Paris. We saw the former president Nicolas Sarkozy leave minutes ago. The French president Francois Hollande is still there. The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu still present, expected perhaps to say a few words. We'll go to that once it happens.

If you're wondering what this very loud music is behind me, well, it's an entire marching band that just made its way to the Place de la Nation with a very large brass section. So if I'm speaking at a higher volume than you're used to hearing me, that is the reason why.

The crowd has thinned here at Place de la Nation. But there is still, as you can see, a party atmosphere. People -- those who've stayed behind making sure they finished their Sunday evening in -- with some color and some music and having a good time.

All right. French president Francois Hollande is making his way out of the Grande Synagogue in Paris. So he won't be there in the synagogue when the Israeli prime minister makes his remarks. That wasn't expected, however, so that's not unusual.

We will be right back here on CNN with a lot more as we continue there our coverage coming to us from the synagogue in Paris.

Just to bring you up to date with more on what we know from Paris. It appears as though this may have been the largest march in modern French history. 1.5 million people perhaps. Up to two million according to some estimates. But those final numbers will be coming to us, I'm sure, tomorrow once police and organizers communicate the definitive figures.

All right. Some people there making their way out of the Grande Synagogue. Just as at the Place de la Nation, at the very end of this unity rally path, the party is now in full swing. And here's a look for you at the Place de la Nation with people

holding up their signs, we are Charlie, Charlie is not dead. France is still standing.

All right. Let's get you back to the Grande Synagogue in Paris. The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu making his way to the podium to make a statement and deliver a speech. Let's listen in.

(APPLAUSE)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (Through Translator): Please sit down. Please be seated.

My friends --

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

On this day, this day of emotion, I cannot express myself because my -- I do not speak well enough in French to be able to express myself fully. So I will speak in Hebrew with an interpreter. But it must be precise interpretation, precise translation.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

NETANYAHU (Through Translator): On this day, we citizens of Israel and all the Jews throughout the world --

(APPLAUSE)

We determined President Hollande and Prime Minister Abbas who have spoken out against the scourge of anti-Semitism and against terrorism and here in France, it's important.

I'd like to express my thanks -- I'd like to express my condolences to all the families of the journalists who were killed, all these innocent people who were killed just carrying out their everyday lives and everyday duties. These values which -- and this worries France, these values -- we have to fight for these values. In the streets of Paris today.

(APPLAUSE)

NETANYAHU (Through Translator): I ask for France to stick together, be courageous.

I'd like to give my thanks to the citizens, including the Muslim citizens.

(APPLAUSE)

I've come here from Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel. I've come here in order to join you this evening. Fighting against terrorism and may their memories remember them eternally. We remember them in our hearts.

(APPLAUSE) Alas, we've been living with these threats for years, these murders. For years we've been fighting terrorism. And personally, the pains of terrorism and pains of these losses and the many hostages who were taken and to the person who was killed trying to save the hostages.

(APPLAUSE)

But alas, he died in acts of terrorism. And soldiers fighting against terrorism in these operations. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

We are thinking today of these victims, ancient, proud people we are. We will overcome this.

(APPLAUSE)

For justice and peace.

(APPLAUSE)

Not ordinary Islam, we're talking about radical fundamentalists Islam. Hamas, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Al-Nusra, Al Shabaab, Hezbollah. They're all the same evil.

(APPLAUSE)

With this bloodshed of different acts of Islamic fundamentalism. They want to take over the world, want to bring humanity backwards. In particular, in the way that they attack Western cultures, freedom, freedom and rights, these values --

(APPLAUSE)

But, Israel, which is peaceful for all religions may live.

(APPLAUSE)

Radical Islam does not like Israel. Extremist Islam does not recognize Israel and hates Israel and the West.