Presenter, Female #1
The Yemeni government rejected a ceasefire offer by Houthi rebels; insisting on continuing the war against them. A Yemeni official said that Abdul Malik al-Houthi’s initiative does not include a promise to stop the attacks on Saudi Arabia. Another reason the offer was dismissed is that it demanded the government stop its military operations first. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of escalating sniper attacks inside the kingdom.

Reporter, Male #1
There is no end to the Yemeni war on Houthi rebels in the northern parts of the country. The group’s battleground leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi announced his acceptance of the 5 terms proposed by the government in order to stop the war. His announcement was once again received with rejection and doubt. Yemeni authorities considered this initiative to be an attempt by the Houthis to gain time in order to reorganize their units and restart the war.

Guest, Male #1
Abdul Malik al-Houthi’s initiative voiced in the audio message is an attempt to pave the way for reorganizing its units again. There is nothing new in it; it’s still a conditional initiative. In addition to that, it failed to mention the sixth term announced by the government, which is the commitment to stop the aggression on our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is an essential term that we cannot make concessions on. So, if the Houthis were serious about this offer, they should have announced a clear commitment to the sixth term without any conditions.

Reporter, Male #1
The Yemeni government’s conditions demand the Houthis commit to a ceasefire, open the roads, remove the landmines, abandon posts in the mountains, stop entrenching on the roadsides, withdraw from municipal districts and stop intervening with bureaus for local affairs. The terms also stipulate that the Houthis return civil and military equipment, release the civilian and soldier detainees, comply with the constitution and laws, and commit to never attacking Saudi Arabia. The Houthis considered these terms to be impossible to carry out, especially in light of their lack of trust in the government and the absence of a third party to mediate between the two sides.

Guest, Male #2
The new terms they stipulated conceal other conditions than those agreed upon by our brothers many times before. Just like I told you earlier, the system of the country does not have any legitimacy.

Reporter, Male #1
Some political analysts believe that the government’s insistence that the Houthis completely accept all of its conditions does not prove its desire to stop the war, or keep the promise it made at the London conference to the international community to end the internal conflicts.

Guest, Male #3
The Yemeni government’s rejection of the initiative is the first step towards foiling the purpose of the London conference. It shows that the Yemeni government has no intention to improve the situation in Yemen.

Reporter, Male #1
Other analysts believe that what makes the situation even more difficult is that the Houthis do not have enough sympathy from the Yemeni public to pressure the government to accept a proper way to settle the conflict. Perhaps the lack of pressure from the people encourages the government to endlessly continue the war on the Houthis. Nwar al-Ansi, BBC.

A female suicide bomber blew herself up among Shia pilgrims on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital. At least 41 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. The bombing took place as thousands of Shia pilgrims flooded the streets as they were making their way to Karbala, southwest of Baghdad for their religious rite of Arbaeen, the 40 days of morning to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

Presenter, Male # 1
Gardening is the latest tool innovated by Israelis in order to steal more Palestinian land and adjoin it to the West Bank settlements. It is a green way, so to speak, that Israeli officials encapsulate their positions with; ranging from the peace process to the settlement freeze. It started with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise to have a garden in front of every settlement, after having offered a piece of nearby Palestinian land to fulfill that promise. From Jerusalem, report by our correspondent Sherouk Assad.

Reporter, Female # 1
Even though Israel has reluctantly decided to put a freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank, it has decided to expand the Beit Hagai settlement in Hebron, not to house settlers but to guarantee leisurely promenades on gardens built on occupied and expropriated Palestinian land. It is a green settlement, so to speak. The Israeli prime minister recently went to West Bank settlements and planted trees. Here, in the settlement of Ariel, south of Nablus, he planted a cypress tree and told the settlers what they wanted to hear.

Guest, Male # 2
We will stay here, and we will not go.

Guest, Male # 3
He wants to send many messages though this move, most important of which is that settlements are here to stay and that it is impossible to change Israeli policy, neither through American pressure nor through Palestinian and Arab pressure.

Reporter, Female # 1
Netanyahu’s government is trying to get the approval of settlers, but the situation on the ground is different.

Guest, Male # 4
More land has been expropriated, and dozens of dunams have been taken by settlers. They don’t allow farmers to reach their lands, and impose the realities on the ground. These lands are now 64% around the settlements and the wall, which means that the expansion of settlements is a well-planned and well-designed environmental and agricultural expansion meant to absorb millions of settlers.

Reporter, Female # 1
Israelis think that by planting old olive or orange seeds that they will ingrain their right to a place that does not belong to them. There is a lot of farmland in the West Bank being uprooted by Israeli bulldozers to take the old olive seeds and re-plant them in Israeli settlements in hopes of planting some sort of Israeli history. The Arab poet says that if the plant knew who planted it, it would grow to become a tear. Sherouk Assad, Dubai TV, occupied Jerusalem.

Host, Male #1
Mr. Maad Yazeed is the executive director of al- Awda, a Palestinian organization that plays a leading role in explaining the Palestinian cause to Europeans. You begin with this idea and have since expanded your activities, which has led to better communication with the West. Dr. Arafat Madi said that many people, including high levels European officials, are becoming more sympathetic to the Palestinians. What are the reasons for European members of parliament, scholars, and people in general to show solidarity with the Palestinians in this manner?

Guest, Male # 2
Of course as Dr. Arafat said, Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians have taken positions in support of the Palestinian cause and Europeans have started to understand these positions. Through free media, they now have access to the truth. The untruthful Israeli narrative that has prevailed in European societies for the last 60 years of conflict is starting to fade away, and what is happening now on the ground is the complete opposite. The truth that it is the Palestinians who are oppressed and slaughtered in Gaza and the West Bank has started to reach Westerners. Westerners need someone to present them with the truth. The fifty European members of parliament could not have gone on a joint trip to Gaza without the support of Arab and Palestinian organizations. Thirty Palestinian organizations in Europe took the initiative to establish European campaigns to end the Israeli imposed siege on Gaza and they have made it possible.

Host, Male #1
You say that fifty European officials visited Gaza during this trip, why was the number not 150?

Guest, Man # 2
I would like to reiterate that we can send 250 European members of parliament, but we do not have the resources. Organizing a joint trip for 60 delegates with their luggage and companions is hard enough.

Host, Male #1
It is a logistical problem?

Guest, Man # 2
Yes, it is purely a logistical problem. For those who want to take advantage of it, there’s a great opportunity to reach officials today.

Thirty one years ago, a series of events began that eventually led to the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran. On February 1st 1979, the late leader of the Islamic revolution Imam Khomeini returned to Iran after 15 years in exile to the cheers of massive crowds at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport. Schools, trains and boats across Tehran still ring their bells at precisely 9:33 AM on February 1st every year in commemoration of the moment when his plane touched down. The next ten days will feature events that mark the overthrow of the Pahlavi regime.

Presenter, Male #1
The Egyptian National Team was crowned today as the winner of the African Cup of Nations for the 3rd straight time. This is Egypt’s 7th championship title in the history of the African Cup of Nations. Egypt defeated Ghana in the 27th African Cup of Nations in Angola.

Reporter, Male #2
A sense of calm dominated the Ghanaian fans, who arrived at the November 11 Stadium in the Angolan capital of Luanda, where the Al-Jazeera camera tried to disturb this calm. Ghanaian fans expressed optimism and confidence that that their team, known as the “Black Stars, “will win the championship title of the African Cup of Nations.

Guest, Male #3,
Ghana will win. We will defeat the Egyptian team with a one goal win.

Reporter, Male #2
On the other side of the stadium, the atmosphere was more charged due to the outpouring enthusiasm and rowdiness of the Egyptian fans. The Egyptian team spent nearly 7 hours travelling in a bus from Bengal the Angolan capital. You could feel the joy of triumph on the faces of Egyptian fans, who recalled the last victory of their Pharaoh’s team over Algeria. The fans arrived at the Angolan stadium, wearing shirts with pictures of Egyptian soccer veteran, Hassan Shehata, on them. They arrived in Luanda, hoping to secure a victory for the third consecutive time.

Guest, Male #4
God wiling, Egypt will win for the third straight time. We are the champions of Africa, and we are here to uphold this title, God willing.

Reporter, Male #2
The Egyptian and Ghanaian teams entered the soccer field in full force, bringing back to memory the November 11th incidents, which led to Angola’s independence from Portugal. This is the stadium that was given the name of November 11th. While both teams exerted efforts, the Egyptian team was the one to secure a victory at the end of the 90-minute match. With this victory, Egypt has won its 7th championship title. In contrast, Ghana had won 5 titles in the African Cup of Nations. The first half ended with neither team being able to score any goals. In the second half, Ghana dominated the field but missed several opportunities to score. The patience of the “Sons of the Nile,” finally paid off in the last five minutes of the match, when Mohammad Gedo, scoring the only goal to give Egypt its third successive triumph.

Guest, Male #5
Think God, thank God. We thank God for rewarding us with this victory. We worked hard. Thank God.

Reporter, Male #2
The outpouring of joy and happiness spilled on to the sidelines of the stadium, as if Angola was the one celebrating. The Egyptian team has proven itself, just like a stumbling horse that eventually wins the race. Egypt was crowned today after receiving the golden cup. The cup was handed to Egyptian veteran player, Ahmad Hassan, by the Angolan President, Eduardo de Santos. Then, it was circulated between members of the Egyptian National Team. For some Egyptian players, who are planning to retire, this could be their last crowning victory.

Guest, Male #6
We feel great joy. This is our third championship title. I’m the happiest person in the world. I can’t describe my happiness. Egyptians will not sleep until their team returns to Egypt.

Reporter, Male #2
Angola smiled to its Pharos’ champions, who were crowned for the third straight time, after Cairo and Ghana. Egypt is hoping to make history in the next round of games set to take place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Ali al-Muslamani, Aljazeera, Luanda.

Presenter, Male #1
By 2015, the Western Desert will become an important source of environmentally-friendly solar energy for Europe. The Desertec Foundation is considered to be the most ambitious solar energy project in the world and may place Europe ahead of other continents in terms of fighting climate change. Moreover, this program will help South Africa and European countries develop within the mandatory carbon emission limits. Abdul Atif al-Omr has the report.

Reporter, Male #1
In the world’s most ambitious solar energy project today, these solar panels in the wide-open grassland of Ishbiliya are absorbing sunlight. The Desertec initiative, which costs 600 billion dollars, is being heavily relied on to provide Europe with abundant solar energy from North Africa and the Middle East. In a carbon-free facility, sunlight is absorbed by these solar panels to boil water and to get the turbines to function and generate electricity. Supporters of this project say that it will place Europe ahead of the others in terms of resisting climate change, and will also help North Africa and European countries develop within the mandatory limits on carbon release, which is the cause of global warming.

Guest, Male #1
“In this plant, we cool the condensers” with water. Rich water resources exist in this area. But in other areas such as Algeria in North Africa, we built solar energy plants and used other technologies to cool the condensers.

Reporter, Male #1
North African countries import most of their energy from overseas and will also be some of the biggest beneficiaries of the Desertec project. The founders of this project believe that one of the biggest appeals of Desertec is the fact that the energy that it will be able to generate in the desert in 6 hours is more than what the world consumes in a whole year. In Tozeur, Southern Tunisia, 550 Megawatts of new energy is expected to be generated in a project that is described as essential for turning Europe, North Africa and the Middle East into permanent energy-producers.

Guest, Male #2
The cooperation between the Maghreb region and Europe propels and supports the vast advancement of plants and electricity generators, especially in terms of solar energy, towards a big market, the European market.

Reporter, Male #1
The Desertec project may also face numerous risks. Sandstorms would require already scarce water resources to be used to clean the plant’s solar panels. This will make the technology more costly than the smaller projects that are currently generating most of the energy that Europe needs.

Presenter, Male #1
The Arabian Oud House is organizing a music festival in Cairo, in which artists gather to play songs composed by Ziyad al-Rahbani and Mohammed Abdul Wahab. The festival is part of the cultural and artistic development project for Arab youth.

Reporter, Female #1
At an Arabian musical event at the Artistic Creativity Center in the Beit al-Harawi neighborhood, close to Azhar, a group of Arab artists performed a number of oriental songs composed by Ziyad al-Rahbani, Mohammed Abdul Wahab and other Arab talents. The performers are members of the Arabian Oud House, which was founded by Iraqi artist Nasi al-Shamma in Cairo and in several other Arab cities. The organization aims to educate the upcoming generations about oriental musicians who study various performing techniques in Arab countries.

Guest, Male #1
The permanent program in the Arabian Oud House seeks to educate Arab youth about different aspects; culturally and artistically, and also help them cultivate good taste. All the students come here as aficionados, and we turn them into professionals without having to go to the art institutes. But their professionalism level equals that of any art or high-level institute.

Reporter, Female #1
The festival includes songs composed by Sudanese musician Ashaf Awad, such as “People Ask Me” sung by Fairuz. Jordanian flutist Laif Faisal played a number of songs, including “Kul Dakan Li” composed by Mohammed Abdul Wahab.

Guest, Male #2
Frankly, we have a thirst for playing the music that we love. Generally, every musician, performer and artist loves to perform what they have feelings for.

Guest, Male #3
I benefited a lot from it. It taught me the different schools of music: the Turkish, the Iraqi, and the Egyptian.

Reporter, Female #1
The diversity of the audience was attracting a lot of attention as well. While most people thought that the majority of Arabian music fans are from older generations, the festival received a warm welcome from the youth. A large percentage of the students in the Arabian Oud House are young people. Pure Arabian music comes out of this historical place. Arabian Oud House has become a place where Arabian music aficionados gather, both artists, and fans. The young generations come to listen to the Arabian Oud and flute playing the tunes composed by Ziyad Al-Rahbani and Mohammed Abdul Wahab. Samar Bashad, Al Arabiya, Cairo.