Mosaic News - 7/27/10: World News From The Middle East[VIDEO]
Israel razes Bedouin village in Negev desert
Al Jazeera, QatarPresenter, Female #1
Israeli bulldozers demolished scores of houses in the village of al-Araqib, north of Beer Sheva city in the Negev desert, and evicted 300 residents. Our al-Jazeera reporter said that Israeli forces completely wiped out the village from existence after cordoning off the area to protect the razing bulldozers. Al-Araqib village is one of the 45 Arab villages in the Neveg; Israel does not acknowledge their existence. Our correspondent Elias Karram paints a picture of the situation there.
Reporter, Male #1
Israeli bulldozers left nothing behind but destruction in the village of al-Araqib. Within just a few hours, the village located north of Beer Sheva city in the desert of the Negev became history. The humble homes with their simple furniture were completely destroyed, and more than 300 residents living here were left homeless.
Guest, Female #1
They surrounded us from all directions. They didn’t let us grab water or any necessities. What can we do?
Reporter, Male #1
You had to leave everything behind?
Guest, Female #1
Everything, I swear, the beds and the closets they were all still new. What can I say?
Reporter, Male #1
At dawn, the village had unexpected guests. Thousands of police members and Special Forces came, armed with weapons supported by the air force. They encircled the village and provided protection for the demolishing machinery.
Guest, Male #1
This country does not retreat from its criminal acts on the Arab people, whether it’s inside or outside the country.
Reporter, Male #1
They created great havoc. Nothing escaped the bulldozers: not a rock, or a tree, or even the birds. They killed life here, but they cannot kill the resistant in challenging spirit in the hearts of adults and children alike, who wish to rebuild their destroyed homes.
Guest, Female #2
We don’t have a home anymore. But we will stay here, we will not go anywhere. We no longer have a house; they demolished the homes of el-Sayah, Ismael, and Shama’a.
Reporter, Male #1
Al-Araqib village is one of the 45 villages spreading in the Negev desert, which Israel does not acknowledge even though they were here before Israel was established. Israel seeks to displace the residents here, and place them in 8 residential complexes built for this sole purpose.
Guest, Male #2
This is full-scale racial cleansing. This is displacement and elimination of an entire village, erasing its identity and moving it from its land and taking it over…under the basis that they’re planting trees and transferring it over to Israeli control. This is absolutely unacceptable.
Reporter, Male #1
185,000 Arabs live in the villages in the Negev desert, and Israel does not acknowledge the existence of half of them. Israel is trying to gather the largest possible number of these residents to put in the smallest piece of land, and scatter the tiniest number of Jews on the biggest possible piece of land. Here, a village called al-Araqib used to exist. Israelis wiped it out. Its residents say that they will certainly rised from the rubble to rebuild their homes, and stay on this land to continue the resistance against the displacement project that has been ongoing since Nakba Day in 1948. Elias Karram, al-Jazeera, from the ruins of al-Araqib village, the Negev desert.
Netanyahu blames Israeli opposition for obstructing direct talks with Palestinians
IBA, IsraelPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today blamed unnamed Israelis for systematically undermining efforts to entering direct peace talks with the Palestinians. The prime minister was briefing the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. This is not the first time that the government has tried to blame the opposition for obstructing peace talks with the Palestinians. Sources are saying that Kadima leaders are sending a message to Washington and the Palestinians to wait for a Kadima government, which will be much more forthcoming in negotiations. It should be noted that Kadima leaders have always strongly denied these charges.
Turkey's continued economic rebound
Al Jazeera, QatarPresenter, Male #1
Official sources say that Turkey’s economy started to effectively recover from the repercussions of the worldwide financial crisis in the last quarter of 2009.There are predictions that Turkey’s economic growth might possibly reach 7% by the end of the year. This will make Turkey one of the fastest countries to recover from the world’s economic crisis. However, even though Turkey managed to provide 1.8 million job in the last 12 months, unemployment remains the biggest challenge facing Turkey’s economy. More than 3 million people are still unemployed in Turkey.
Reporter, Male #1
While most countries are still discussing ways to get out of the world’s financial crisis, Turkey is already talking about its expected growth, which may reach 7% this year. Official documents also indicate that Turkey managed to create 1.8 million job in one year, which is nearly the same number of jobs that all EU countries managed to provide in that same period of time. Economic growth seems to have given the Turks much more confidence in their political negotiations with the Europeans.
Guest, Male #1 (Egemen Bagis, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator)
After China, Turkey is the second fastest growing economy. In comparison to the EU’s average growth, our average growth is reaching nearly 25%. This indicates that Europe will not be able to play an efficient role in the world without Turkey.
Reporter, Male #1
Many experts believe that the process of radical reform that the banking system has witnessed in the last year, and the nature of the Turkish economy, which is described as flexible, in addition to Turkey’s regional and international diplomatic activities, are factors that contributed to helping Turkey get out of the world crisis.
Guest, Male #2
The Turkish economy relies on small and medium businesses. This gives it the flexibility and speed to react and look for new strategies. It also helps that Turkey has good relations with the countries in the region and many countries in the world.
Reporter, Male #1
Until recently, Turkey was living its own long-term economic crisis, even without the world’s financial crisis. Today, even with the world crisis, Turkey has become one of the fastest countries to get out of it. However, this does not necessarily mean that Turkish economic problems have ended.Unemployment is still a painful wound in the body of the Turkish economy, especially when more than 3 million people are still out of work. Meanwhile, many experts believe that the rising Turkish Lira is the real obstacle facing the increase in the volume of Turkish exports, which accounts for approximately 130 billion dollars per year. Amil Rafi, al-Jazeera, Istanbul.
Cameron visits Ankara, pledges support for Turkey's EU membership
BBC Arabic, UKPresenter, Male #1
British Prime Minister David Cameron affirmed his country’s support of Turkey’s full membership in the European Union. This came during his visit to Ankara, which is his first visit to the Turkish capital since being elected as the United Kingdom’s prime minister. Cameron’s conversations with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, included matters related to the Middle East, Iran and Afghanistan. Cameron stressed Turkey’s role in these issues.
Reporter, Male #1
British Prime Minister David Cameron appeared to be very enthusiastic when he announced his absolute support of Turkey’s membership in the EU during a speech he made in front of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Cameron criticized the opposition to Turkey’s membership in the EU by saying:
Guest, Male #1 (David Cameron, British PM)
“I’m here to make the case for Turkey’s membership with EU. And to fight for it.”
Reporter, Male #1
Turkish-Israeli relations were an important part of Cameron’s meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Despite Cameron’s criticism of the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla, he hopes that Turkey and Israel will maintain their friendship.
Guest, Male #1 (David Cameron, British PM)
“I know that Gaza has led to real strains in Turkey's relationship with Israel.” ''But Turkey is a friend of Israel.” ''And I urge Turkey, and Israel, not to give up on that friendship.''
Reporter, Male #1
The Iranian nuclear issue was also included in the discussions. Western countries, including the United Kingdom, are still urging Turkey to reconsider its position on the matter. But Ankara insists that there is no other solution to the Iranian nuclear issue than diplomatic means.
Guest, Male # 4 (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkish Prime Minister)
As for the sanctions that were imposed on Iran, our position is clear because of the Tehran Agreement. We had essential reasons for signing that agreement, most important of which was to resolve this issue diplomatically.
Reporter, Male # 2
According to Cameron, one of the reasons for visiting Turkey is the economy, as economic relations between the two countries are growing and bilateral trade has exceeded 9 billion dollars in 2009. In addition, Turkey has welcomed nearly 3 million British tourists in that same year. David Cameron enthusiastically reiterated the British government’s support of Turkey’s entry into the European Union, which undoubtedly pleases the Turkish government. In any case, Turkish-British relations remain distinctive on all levels, according to officials from both countries. From Istanbul, Abdel Nasser Singue, BBC.
Ahmadinejad accuses US, Israel of plot to attack two Mideast countries
Press TV, IranThe Iranian president says the United States and Israel are planning to attack at least two countries in the Middle East within the next three months, Mahmud Ahmadinejad says this is part of a plot to exhort more pressure on the Islamic Republic. President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said in an exclusive interview with Press TV that the United States and its ally Israel are planning to wage a new war in the Middle East.
Netanyahu makes surprise visit to Jordan
Jordan TV, JordanHis Majesty the King discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ways of advancing efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of a two state solution and within a regional context that could bring about security and stability for the entire region. The meeting during Netanyahu’s brief visit to Jordan also dealt with diplomatic efforts aimed at preparing the right environment for direct and serious Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that tackle all final status issues.
Strategic U.S. base in Wasit transferred to Iraqi military
Al-Iraqiya TV, IraqPresenter, Female # 1
Today, the American army transferred control the Zulu military base in Waist Province to the Iraqi army. The American army had taken over the base in the north of the province.
Presenter, Male # 1
The Zulu base is considered to be one of the most strategic military sites due to its size, important for both security measures and to maintain control over the land within the borders of neighboring Babil and Baghdad provinces.
Reporter, Male # 2
The Iraqi-American security agreement has started to be widely implemented. One of its terms stipulates that military bases must be transferred to the Iraqi army, primarily because of the approaching departure of the majority of American forces from Iraq in April. The Iraqi soldiers, represented by the first regiment of the 32nd brigade, officially received the responsibilities of the Zulu military base, located in the el-Souhaira Province, north of Wasit Province, which was previously run by the American forces.
Guest, Male # 3
Today, we received the site located in el-Souhaira, and as you know, it is one of the hot spots. This is an indication of the seriousness of both the Iraqi and American governments in implementing the agreement to withdraw the forces, and control the Iraqi territory.
Reporter, Male # 2
It is a tactical and vital base that grants members of the Iraqi army the capability and access to provide security in order to control the territory and the ports near el-Souhaira Province, in addition to the capital Baghdad and Babil province.
Guest, Male # 4 (Brigadier-general Chris Kennedy, Zulu base)
Today, we are transferring another military base in el-Souhaira to the Iraqi forces, who will continue to maintain security and order.
Reporter, Male # 2
The Zulu military base is the 8th base to be handed over by the American forces to the Iraqi forces in Wasit Province, and is now their responsibility. American forces in the province only have one main base left, known as Delta, which is expected to be transferred to the Iraqi army after the complete withdrawal from Iraq in 2011.
Fans in Lebanon hold sit-in over ban on Fairouz
Future TV, LebanonPresenter, Male # 1
In solidarity with Lady Fairouz in the face of the lawsuit that was filed against her by the heirs of artist Mansur el-Rahbani, hundreds of artists and citizens demonstrated in front of the National Museum, and called on the two sides to resolve the case. This report by Rabih Shantaf.
Reporter, Male # 2
This voice, in his absence, has become less powerful judicially. Lady Fairouz is forbidden from singing roles composed by the Rahbani brothers, including 25 musicals. This, after the sons of the late artist Mansur el-Rahbani: Osama, Ghadi and Marwan, filed a lawsuit over the artistic legacy of the Rahbani family. They believe that the heirs are entitled to receive royalties from each work that is composed by their father and used by Fairouz. Since the case is no longer a family issue, and has now become a case of public opinion, hundreds of artists and Fairouz fans demonstrated in solidarity with her, and in honor of her career. They chose the stairs of the National Museum as a symbol for their demonstration, which was organized alongside a demonstration in Cairo.
Guest, Female # 1 (Rima Rahbani, Daughter of Fairouz)
The fans of Fairouz organized this protest, invited me, and I responded to their call.
Reporter, Male # 2
What’s the problem exactly?
Guest, Female # 1
I have no comments to make today. Today, I will only listen. We listen to Fairouz, we don’t tell her anything.
Guest, Female # 2
She doesn’t need my support, but a great woman like her is a symbol for Lebanon, a symbol of justice and liberty.
Guest, Male #1 (Bassam Barak, Future TV reporter)
I am here because Fairouz’s voice is here. If her voice was not present, then probably most of these people would not have come to the museum. They came to tell her how much they need her voice. Time and place is determined by Fairouz’s voice, not by where her voice is forbidden.
Reporter, Male #1
Regardless of the reasons behind the case and the motivation of those who proposed the ban, the fans of both the ambassador to the stars and the Rahbani brothers don’t care about this conflict, all they care about is listening to the voice of their beloved singer. They describe her as the symbol of Lebanon, and some even say that she is above the law. Banning Fairouz from singing angers many of her fans, who eagerly hope that this case will be solved with love, regardless of how complicated it is. From in front of the National Museum, Rabih Shantaf, Future TV.
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