Presenter, Woman # 1
The Saudi Army continues its military operations along the border with Yemen, looking for armed Houthi fighters who may have infiltrated. These operations came after Saudi air strikes were carried out during the night against locations of the rebel fighters in the Dukhan Mountain area along the border. The Houthis released a statement confirming that Saudi air raids are ongoing. So far Saudi Arabia has launched more than 125 missiles and more than 15 air strikes. The following report shows some of the military operations that were carried out by the Saudi army against the Houthis during the past few days.

Reporter, Man # 1
The armed Saudi forces have intensified their military operations along the border with Yemen in order to eliminate Houthi rebels and prevent them from infiltrating into the country. The Saudi air force attacked one of the Houthi strong holds in the Dukhan Mountain, which has the largest concentration of the infiltrators. Saudi planes also managed to destroy a fort which the rebels used as a monitoring tower. According to Houthi sources, the Saudi shelling continues with tens of missiles and air strikes. The leader of the Houthi rebels called on Riyadh to stop its military operations. He denied that he rebels have any links with Al Qaeda and said that they do not serve foreign agendas. Saudi police in Jazan also intensified their presence along the road that leads to Khuba. Checkpoints were established near abandoned homes to prevent infiltrators from using them. Meanwhile, fierce fighting took place between the Yemeni army and Houthi rebels in the Malaheeth area in Yemen. The Army managed to take control of Jara’en area and stationed themselves there. The Yemeni army also shelled different Houthi locations in Hasama, Al Malheeth, and Maran. In addition, the Yemini air force attacked a rebel gathering area near in Shad. The Yemeni government hasn’t responded to Houthis’ announcement that they have taken control over all of Razeh district. According to local sources there, the entire district fell in the hands of the Houthis. They also expressed resentment because the army withdrew from the district for technical reasons without putting up any resistance. They even left military locations, leaving behind their ammunition and military equipment. Khaled Al kashif, Al Arabiya

Presenter, Female #1
The U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, expressed strong reservation over sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. In addition, Eikenberry expressed worries over the ability of the Afghan government and accused it of corruption. Meanwhile, the U.S. President, Barack Obama, warned that his country’s military commitment to Afghanistan is “not open-ended.”

Reporter, Male #1
The U.S. Administration is witnessing heated debates over the policy they should adopt in Afghanistan. The U.S. is still discussing whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, said that he opposes the deployment of additional U.S. troops to the country. Eikenberry, who is the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, sent a message to the White House: In it, Eikenberry expressed worries over the ability of the Afghan government and accuse it of corruption. The U.S. President is facing growing pressure, both at the official and public levels, over his military strategy. One of the options that Obama is considering is the deployment of 40,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. The troop buildup comes in response to a call by General Stanley McChrystal, the senior US military commander in Afghanistan. However, the surge in U.S. fatalities in Afghanistan has reflected negatively on the U.S. public support for the war. Meanwhile, several senior republican congressmen urged President Obama to immediately authorize the deployment of the 40,000 additional troops, saying that the surge will help reduce the threats facing the more than 68,000 U.S. troops deployed in the country. Obama called on the Afghan government to carry out serious reforms and added that his administration needs a legitimate and effective partner in Afghanistan in order to achieve peace and prosperity. However, Obama didn’t make a link between the deployment of additional troops and the credibility of the Afghan President, Hamdi Karazi. Khalil Lubad, BBC.

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian President, Bashar Assad, will arrive tomorrow in France to discuss several important issues, including the peace process between his country and Israel, in addition to his country’s relations with France. The Syrian-French relations have witnessed a major turning point after President Nicolas Sarkozi was elected to head the Elysée Presidential Palace. The visit will help bring Syria back to the international community, after years of isolation. The peace process between Syria and Israel was also the focus of discussion during the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to Paris. The French and the Israelis have confirmed that Tel Aviv is willing to hold unconditional talks with Damascus at any time. The Israeli-French meeting was tense due to the recent strain in the relations between Israel and the West over the settlement issue. Meanwhile, the French President, Nicholas Sarkozi, called for moving the peace process forward without any further delay. Mohammad Wamusi reports from Paris.

Reporter, Male #2
Netanyahu has stopped in Paris on his way home from Washington. The visit by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his talks with the French President, Nicholas Sarkozi have come at a difficult time. The French don’t have much to go on to jumpstart the peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, amidst the recent variables on the ground. Among these variables are: the shifting in Palestinian position, the arrogance of the Israeli government, and the strain in the relations between Tel Aviv and Washington. All these factors may complicate Sarkozi’s mission.

Guest, Male #3
Netanyahu’s visit has come at a difficult time due to the strain in the two countries’ relations. The French Foreign Minister used harsh words when he talked about the differences with Israel over its settlement policies. Also, France fears that Abbas may insist on his resignation, which may cause a political vacuum on the Palestinian front. The situation is very complicated: This is the message that Sarkozi wants to give Netanyahu.

Reporter, Male #2
While the French security agencies were fully deployed in and around the Elysée, Sarkozi told Netanyahu that France is not too happy with the Israeli position regarding the peace process. The meeting between Netanyahu and Sarkozi lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. Sarkozi seemed angry when he intercepted his guest who was heading toward reporters and signaled him to get into his car, in an attempt not to spoil the visit of Bashar al-Assad to Paris.

Guest, Male #4
Sarkozi is seeking to mediate the peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Sarkozi has an important bargaining chip from Syria. Sarkozi who met Netanyahu to discuss the peace process will hold talks tomorrow with the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, over the resumption of peace talks. However, Sarkozi knows for sure that Netanyahu is the one who is sabotaging the peace process. Therefore, all of Sarkozi’s efforts may turn into nothing but empty promises and dreams. Mohammad Wamusi, Dubai TV, Paris.

The Palestinian Central Election Committee has said that the January election will have to be postponed. US-born Israeli settler, Jack Teitel, has been indicted on murder and 14 other charges after he confessed to the crimes. Following his sentencing, he was asked if he had any regrets and he answered by saying that it was “a pleasure to serve my God”.

Netanyahu met with Sarkozy for close to 2 hours, and al-Arabiya TV has reported that the Israeli Prime Minister has given Sarkozy a message for Syria. Al-Arabiya reported that Israel has accepted in principle the correctness of withdrawing from the Golan Heights and that Netanyahu invites Assad to sit down with him and begin negotiations. A Senior Israeli official has denied the report that indicates Israel’s willingness to give up the Golan Heights. Al-Arabiya is standing by its story.

Presenter, Man # 1
The Palestinian government said that Fatah’s leader Mahmoud Abbas’s announcement that he will not be running for reelection, is a political maneuver aimed to strengthen his position. Hamas has said that this is an internal matter within Fatah and that it would be better for Palestinian unity if Abbas leaves.

Guest, Man # 3
I think that it is only a political maneuver, nothing more. This political maneuvering is not only aimed at strengthening Abbas’ position among the Palestinian people, but is also to show the US and the International community that he still counts. He wants to strengthen his position before the upcoming elections.

Guest, Man # 4
There are many political figures that can take over the leadership of the Palestinian authority and they can revive the Palestinian cause. I think that if Abbas leaves, his departure would pave the way to revive the Palestinian cause and national unity.
In any case, this is a decision that has to be made by Fatah. We think that this shows Fatah and the peace process are in a deep crisis.

Presenter, Man # 1
Abbas’ security forces launched wide scale kidnapping operations. More than 16 Palestinians who support Hamas were kidnapped, including 13 from the city of Qalqilya in the West Bank The same security agencies raided commercial stores last week, and kidnapped Hamas supporters in the West Bank, as well as, mosque worshippers, teachers and university students. It is worth mentioning that hundreds of supporters of Hamas and other Palestinian factions are still being held in the prisons of Abbas security agencies for months in compliance with the security plan led by the American Lt. General Keith Dayton. To comment on this issue, joining us is Mr Fauzi Barhum, a spokesperson for the Hamas resistance movement. Mr Fauzi, welcome. Let me start with the latest arrests in the West Bank. The numbers of people who have been arrested has multiplied after Abbas’ announcement, especially in Qalqilia. Is there a reason behind the timing of these arrests?

Guest, Man # 4
This proves that what Abbas is saying about withdrawing from politics, or taking strong positions against Israel, and the US, is only a political maneuver. Whoever wants to take a position against the US and Israel, must first cut the dangerous security cooperation with the Zionist enemy. We noticed that as soon as Abbas made his announcement, arrests have increased against Hamas and Islamic Jihad members. This shows that Abbas may say things publicly, but he is still committed to security coordination with the Zionist enemy, and that is dangerous. He is using security channels to conduct the negotiation which has been the case in the past 16 years. Ababs believes in conducting secret negotiations with the Zionist enemy and the Americans. The arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank shows that Abbas is till committed to the Oslo peace agreement and the security obligations under the road map for peace. There are 8 articles in the Road Map for peace that demand the Palestinian Authority to arrest resistance fighters, confiscate their weapons, and eliminate the resistance and even political officials from Hamas. This is made clear in the seventh article of the Road Map for peace agreement pertaining to the security situation. All of this coincides with secret negotiations with the Zionist enemy in order to protect its security.

Presenter, Woman # 1
A Turkish court ordered the arrest of Colonel Dursun Cicek for allegedly being involved in a coup plot against the Justice and development or the AK party, raising questions about the future relations between the civic institutions and the army in country. More details from our Istanbul reporter, A’mar Yassi.

Reporter, Man # 2
Amidst strict security measures and away from the media, Colonel Dursun Cicek was transported to a civil court in Istanbul. The Judge ordered that he be imprisoned for charges stemming from a coup plot against the government. The investigation report showed that the document of the coup plot was signed by Colonel Dursun Cicek. This is a pure legal matter though it does not happen often.

Guest, Man # 3
It is impossible to separate between what had happened and the power struggle between the government and the army. The arrested colonel is not retired; he is still in the army.

Reporter, Man # 1
It seems that there is a need for a sacrificial lamb. Many believe that he is going to be the last one to be arrested. However, others believe that the government is determined to clean up the army. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on several occasions that he will not allow the country’s institutions to become hideouts for what he described as wrong-doers.

Guest, Man # 4
Turkey is at a point where it can’t afford having an official who thinks about a coup plot.
The government understands this reality and therefore the arrests will not stop with Colonel Dursun Cicek. The story of the coup plot was first unveiled in June by the liberal newspaper Taraf, which had obtained a photocopy of a document drafted by Cicek detailing a coup plan. At the time, the court ordered that he be arrested, but he was released soon after that for lack of sufficient evidence. The army had then said that he document was only a worthless photo copy. However, an unknown individual sent the original copy to the Attorney General, thus reviving the case. Many people in Turkey say that Justice must take its course, but others say that this is an important step for the justice and development aimed at declawing the army, and preventing it from intervening in civic life in the future. Amr Yassi, Al Jazeera, Istambul.

The so-called anti terrorism forces carried out wide-scale arrests in Shati’ Al Taji in northern Baghdad. More than 60 people were arrested, in addition to the homes that were raided and sustained a great deal of damage. The arrests that were launched by the government forces in different areas in Iraq have significantly increased ahead of the parliamentary elections which indicate that they are being carried out to serve elections purposes.