[George Howell, Cnn Anchor:] Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. It is good to have you with us. I'm George Howell, with the headlines we're following this hour.
[Howell:] U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has another likely cabinet pick to announce soon. A source close to the transition process says the billionaire investor, Wilbur Ross, is being seriously considered for commerce secretary. Ross supported Trump during the campaign. Every U.S. president since 1948 has had to figure out the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. CNN's Becky Anderson explains soon it will be Donald Trump's turn, if he chooses to try.
[Announcedr:] If you always felt a deep yearning for Jerusalem
[Becky Anderson, Cnn Correspondent:] An enticing commercial for luxury homes from an Israeli developer. But they'll be built on what U.N. and many governments condemn as land stolen from Palestinians. Israel disputes this. Bright, vivid adverts like this.
[Announcer:] It will include residential buildings
[Andedrson:] Part of the ongoing hostilities between the two sides that began decades ago. Here, an attack on a Jewish community just before Israel was established in 1948. All stretching to today. A recent run of sometimes deadly stabbings by Palestinians against Israelis, the latest spasms of violence. This, as Israel moves forward with new settlements in territory that Palestinians want for a future state.
[Anderson:] It's all part of the seemingly endless pulling and pushing of cruelty from both sides. And president-elect Trump hasn't put out a clear vision on bringing about peace. At one point, vowing to remain neutral in any negotiations. At another, using rhetoric that feeds hardline narratives in Israel.
[Donald Trump, President-elect Of The United States:] We will move the American embassy to the eternal capitol of the Jewish people of Jerusalem.
[Anderson:] Doing that wouldn't go over well with many in this part of the world.
[Daniel Levy, President, U.s.-middle East Project:] The theory has been that this would cause some turmoil in the Arab world. It would undermine the prospects of peace.
[Anderson:] But it would almost certainly please Israel's right-wing leader who said he would be happy to see Trump take the White House.
[Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President:] Congratulations on being elected president of the United States of America. You are a great friend of Israel.
[Trump:] I love Israel. And honor respect the Jewish faith and tradition.
[Anderson:] It's a mixture some have been hoping for and others fearing potential new challenges for Netanyahu.
[Levy:] There will be a push to seize this moment that may not repeat itself, to annex territory, to do things that have not been done before.
[Anderson:] Whether it be president-elect's contradictions, he has promised to work for peace, saying, quote, "As a deal maker, I'd like to do the deal that can't be made and do it for humanity's sake." But other American presidents have tried and failed.
[Barack Obama, President Of The United States:] That is two states living side by side in peace and security.
[George W. Bush, Former President Of The United States:] I strongly support a two-state solution.
[Bill Clinton, Former President Of The United States:] The future of the peace process and the stability of the region are at stake. We cannot afford to fail.
[Anderson:] The peace process looks as endangered as ever.
[Levy:] So this could be a clarifying moment to say that a peace process that is thoroughly moribund will no longer be something we can pretend to cling to.
[Anderson:] The world waits to see if there will be a renewed push for peace. Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
[Howell:] Becky, thank you. A British woman is facing jail time in Dubai after telling police that she was gang raped. A U.K.-based legal advice group says that she has been charged with having extramarital sex. CNN's Muhammad Lela joins us now from Abu Dhabi following this story. Muhammad, what more are we hearing from the United Kingdom about this situation?
[Muhammad Lela, Cnn International Correspondent:] George, it's a good question. It's very interesting because this has become a very sensitive case here in Dubai. We did reach out to the British consulate. They gave us a statement and they said, quote and notice how terse this statement is. They say they are "supporting a British woman in relation to the case and remain in contact with her family." And, quote, "We have raised the case with the UAE government and would like to see it progress as quickly as possible." So, other than we know that the United Kingdom government is helping this woman, we don't have a lot more than that. We've spoken to government official that has told us this is a sensitive case and they won't say anything on the record. And neither will the police in Dubai. It's a very, very sensitive time right now, specifically because Dubai's brand or its image in the rest of the world is that it's a very friendly place to Westerners and tourists. It's a place of amusement Parks and skyscrapers and beaches. So, a case like this is the last thing that Dubai wants to publicize to the rest of the world.
[Howell:] Muhammad Lela, live for us in Dubai. Thank you very much for being with us. We appreciate your reporting. South Korea's corruption scandal is intensifying. The opposition party is collecting signatures for an impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye, who is now a suspect in the investigation. Three people with ties to the president were officially indicted on Sunday. CNN's Paula Hancocks has more now on the 's growing anger.
[Paula Hancocks, Cnn Corrspondent:] Elected on an anticorruption ticket, Park Geun-hye's promise to clean up South Korea's politics has gone disastrously wrong. Hundreds of thousands are calling for her resignation in protests. Park has become yet another presidential face of what one of her predecessors called the Korean disease. Park now considered a suspect by prosecutors is accused of conspiring with a confident, who was not part of government, but was part of a cult-like religion. Choi Soon-sil was indicted Sunday on charges of fraud, abuse of power and coercion, accused of extorting millions of dollars from big conglomerates, like Samsung, for her foundation's or personal use. She's apologized and denied the charges against her.
[Unidentified Male:] One problem with corruption in South Korea is that it does have its roots in the very same reasons why such an economic miracle. That is the cooperation, which is also collusion between the government and big business.
[Hancocks:] Not including Park, there have been six presidents since South Korea officially became a democracy in 1987. Every single one of them has been linked to corruption, either directly or through immediate family. Two spent time behind bars. One committed suicide in the middle of an investigation into corruption.
[Unidentified Male:] Politics and the business groups linked to corruption and also shaking the entire country from the fundamentals. So, we're very ashamed and we're very much worried about it.
[Hancocks:] Park's father, Park Chung-hee, ruled South Korea with an iron fist in the '60s and '70s. Some saw them as an economic savior. Others saw him as a dictator who trampled on human rights. Residents who once supported the daughter now fear they have voted in a ghost of her father. This protester tells, "This sort of thing happened with her father 14 years ago. But times have changed. The public will not put up with this anymore." [on camera]: President Park has apologized twice since this scandal broke. She's even effectively offered to give up some of her powers to parliament, but so far it is simply not enough. These protesters are not interested. The only speech they want to hear is a resignation speech. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.
[Howell:] Paula, thank you. France's Conservative Party has narrowed a crowded field to two candidates for president, but only one of them was supposed to make it this far. We'll have the details next. Plus, Kanye West fans, they are pretty upset after the rapper abruptly ended his concert in California on Saturday. You'll one of his notorious on-stage rants. Stay with us.