[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 01/17/08: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Woman # 1
Our Jazeera correspondent in Palestine said that the Israeli occupation forces launched a new air raid in Gaza, which hit a vehicle and killed two and injured others. The number of martyrs who were killed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza has reached 23 in the past two days. Yesterday five people were killed in different air raids. The martyrs included 8 from the Salah Al-Dean Brigades who were killed when their vehicle was hit near Al Burage refugee camp in the middle of Gaza. Meanwhile, six Israeli were inured by Palestinian missiles. Hamas’ military wing, Al Qassam Brigades took responsibility for launching the missiles and said that it was in response to the Israeli air attacks in Gaza. Among the wounded were two occupation soldiers who were injured when their patrol vehicle was hit by a missile in Eastern Gaza. Four other Israelis were injured in the Sderot settlement.

Presenter Man # 1
The Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it successfully tested a long range missile system near Tel Aviv. The Israeli radio said that the missile is named Jericho 3, and that it can be equipped with unconventional weapons. The missiles were launched as a part of a series of tests to develop the Israeli defense system. Joining us from Jerusalem is our correspondent Ilais Karamah. Ilias do you have more details about this missile test.

Correspondent, Man # 2
The Israeli security agencies said that this test was extremely successful because the ballistic missile was developed by Israel. They added that such tests will continue and that more Land to Land missile test will be conducted, some of which have a range of 4400 Kilometers. This missile test is part of the new vision which was introduced by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack when he took office with the objective of establishing a new anti missile defense system that can protect most of Israel. The system includes the American Patriot Anti Missile system and the Israeli Hetz Anti missile system as well. The two systems have been tested several times over the past few months. According to military sources these tests were very successful in all weather conditions. They also said that the two anti missile systems can be used simultaneously. In addition Israel is trying to develop a new system in which lazer guided missiles are used to hit short range missiles such as the Katusha, and the Palestinian missiles that are locally made by the resistance.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Arab League Secretary General, Amer Mussa, travels to Beirut for a political intervention to fill the Presidential void. Today, he met with the Leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, and resistance spokesman, PM Michelle Aoun. Mussa’s visit did not cause any breakthroughs worth mentioning in regards to the position of the majority and the resistance. The Lebanese streets are talking about ‘internationalization’; wondering if Mussa is capable of achieving any progress in the current state of affairs. Ellian Shatiri reports from Beirut.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
Amer Mussa promised to return, but his departure from Cairo to Lebanon took place under less optimistic circumstances. The Arab League Secretary General kept away from the lens of the camera, disappointing dozens of local, Arab, and foreign journalists at the airport in Beirut. They wanted to ask him about the purpose of his return visit to Lebanon and the outcome of his talks.
Mussa’s silence was interpreted by ex-Foreign Minister, Fawzi Sallookh, who welcomed him at the airport.

Guest, MALE, #1
During the press conference before his departure, he promised that he would come back to Lebanon, and he returned today to follow up on his fine efforts and attempts to find a solution. He simply does not have any information to disclose, at the moment.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
The awaited visit by Mussa did not make the Lebanese people forget the atrocity preceding his arrival in the series of explosions in the Karantina area. For the first time since the 80’s, the explosions targeted the diplomatic body, and weighed heavily on the political arena. The Lebanese people fear that their country will become a ‘stop’ and a ‘box:’ A stop for Arab and foreign delegates, and a mail box for security and political letters, both regional and international.

Guest, MALE, #2
We are entering a new phase from now on titled: The failure of Arab Initiatives. Or at least the disengagement of Arab countries being officially involved in Lebanon. Thus opening the door for internationalization, and the door for security problems, which showed their first signs yesterday with the Karantina explosion.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
The security situation returns to the forefront, the political situation is unstable, and the economic and social situation is deteriorating. All this makes observers wonder about Amer Mussa’s ability to achieve any kind of breakthrough in this complicated scene. Lebanon’s security is wounded and bleeding; the volcano of internal politics is erupting, and every side is holding on more strongly to its position. Amer Mussa returned to Lebanon under these circumstances; the result of the Arab League mission assigned to him is in the best case scenario, mysterious.

Two of the world's most influential organizations have predicted a good year for Iraq. The United Nations and the International Military Fund say they expect a period of sustained economic growth and political progress for the war-torn country. That optimism isn't shared on the ground. In Baghdad, there is talk of reopening a bridge that once linked Sunni and Shia suburbs is not being welcomed. It was closed after a stampede killed 900 people.

This is Kazimiya the Shia heart of Baghdad, home to the shrine of Imam Kazim, a place of pilgrimage for millions of Shias, particularly during this month, where they commemorate the death of the most venerated Imam, al-Hussein. This is the Sunni district of Azamiya, home to the shrine of Abou Hanifa, one of the leading figures of Sunni Islam. It sits just across the Tigris River facing Kazimiya. For decades these two ancient districts were linked by a bridge.

The bridge is the economic and religious lifeline of the district. Everything went through it: food, supplies, and people. It linked two holy districts. On the other side there is a holy shrine. It's called the Bridge of the Imams. They didn't choose one name over the other. They called it like the Bridge of the Imams in respect towards both of the holy men.

The Bridge of the Imams was closed in 2005 after a stampede sparked by a rumor that a suicide bomber was among Shia pilgrims killed nearly 1,000 people. The government has kept it shut down since to avoid cross-river attacks. That was then. Now it says there's enough security for the bridge to reopen in defiance of terrorism, says the spokesman of the Baghdad Security Plan.

Oddly enough, Sunni Azamiyas on the other side of the river, which is the Shia part of town and Shia Kazamiyas on this side, which is mostly Sunni. So for the past two years, people have been living in these sectarian bubbles completely cut off from the outside world. Reopening the bridge is absolutely essential to bring some sort of normality to their lives. But, many fear it will bring a lot of trouble too. The Sunni Azamiya district has become a ghost town surrounded by concrete wall, which seals it off from its surroundings. Al Qaeda was chased from here lately, thanks to local residents who now patrol and safeguard their area. Still, they say, it's too soon for the bridge to reopen, the wounds are too fresh.

If they open the bridge, there'll be no security. We would like the bridge to open so we can get goods, people can go to work. Better to keep it shut at the moment. We also need to see the good will from the other side.

As violence decreased, the Iraqi government is now facing the difficult task of lifting those very measures that improved security, but made daily life so difficult across the capital; an essential step to bring people together again and cement national reconciliation. But, the general feeling here is not yet. Let more water flow under the bridges of Baghdad, taking with it those bloody memories.

Presenter, MALE #1:
Some Americans hold the Bush Administration responsible for the decline in the US economy and the rise in prices. They blame this crisis on the Administration’s war on Iraq and the failure of domestic economic policies.

Reporter, MALE #2:
In 1992, President Bush, the father, left the White House after being defeated in the elections, leaving behind for his successor Bill Clinton, an economic catastrophe, represented by a dangerous economic recession. Today, President Bush, the son, is in his last year in the White House amidst strong signs of an imminent recession in the US economy. These signs made the issue of the economy a top priority for the candidates in their presidential elections. Their first priority is no longer just the war in Iraq.

Guest, MALE #3:
The voters feel reform is necessary to contain this recession , but there also needs to be reform in the Departments of Justice and state as well as in the Budget. The presidential candidates’ statements are focusing on these things.

Reporter, MALE #2:
Some signs of an imminent recession are the rise of unemployment rate last month and the fall in consumption rate, which alone represents two thirds of local production. The US dollar is weakening against other major currencies. The deficit in the federal budget continues to grow. The war on Iraq alone has so far cost nearly 500 billion dollars. However, this is not the only problem. When President Bush entered the White House seven years ago, the cost of one gallon of gasoline to the US consumer was just .90 cents. Today, the cost of one gallon is more than three dollars and the rise in the price of oil has increased energy costs and the price of American manufactured goods. In addition, another crisis currently threatens the US economy. It is the sub-prime mortgage loan crisis in the housing market, which forced Banks to foreclose millions of homes of Americans, who were unable to pay their loans. Bush’s popularity has fallen to 28 percent due to the deteriorating economic situation and because of Iraq. This has compelled the presidential candidates in his own Republican party to distance themselves from him.

Guest, MALE #4
It is clear when you have a president who is in his last year in office and his popularity has not exceeded 30 percent. His reputation was damaged by the war in Iraq. The events starting with Catrina and Iraq give an image of ineptitude and incompetence.

Reporter, MALE #2:
The US president is trying to look for an exit from this deteriorating economic crisis. He is expected to announce some proposed solutions during his State of the Union speech at the end of this month. After one year, when the new US president enters this White building, he will find two catastrophes awaiting him: the catastrophe of President Bush in Iraq and the other catastrophe, the economy. Atif Abdel Jawad. Syrian Arab Television. Washington

Black-clad Iranians are out in mosques and religious sites to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hossein, the third Imam of the Prophet Mohammed’s household. Elsewhere in the world of Islam, Muslims attended morning ceremonies to honor the memory of Imam Hossein and his true followers who fell martyred 1400 years ago.
President Ahmadinejad said the Middle East tour of U.S. President George W. Bush bore no results but tension and sowed the seeds of discord and intimidation.
Ahmadinejad made the remark in an interview with Al-Jazeera TV network. On Tehran’s nuclear case the Iranian President said it's time for the U.N. Security Council to correct its past mistakes and return Iran's dossier to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Ahmadinejad then made it clear that the U.S. bally-hoo on possible military action against Iran is largely geared towards their own domestic factional disputes, however, as he reiterated the Iranian nation will make any aggressive power regret any intention of an attack on Iran.
President Ahmadinejad says the Zionists have reached the end of the road and have no way out but to bow to the will of the Palestinian nation.
In a phone conversation, the President told the head of the political office of Hamas, Khaled Mesh’al, that Israeli crimes have hit their pinnacle adding the Zionist regime and its partners in crime would be brought to justice soon.
Ahmadinejad added, the Palestinian nation would sure ride out the hardships triumphantly. He further said the Iranian nation will stand by their fellow Muslims in Palestine up until the ultimate victory of the oppressed people comes true.
The Hamas official in turn thanked Iran for Iran’s stances on Palestine, saying Palestinians will resist to the bitter end for their rights.
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Saiid Jalili, held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister, Yung Jai Chi, on issues of mutual interests. The two sides also conferred on the latest developments concerning the Iranian nuclear program. Afterwards, Jalili described his talks as constructive with top Chinese diplomats, saying Beijing favors diplomacy for solving Tehran’s nuclear case. Earlier Jalili told reporters upon arrival, Iran will continue its positive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He added that countries which intended to impose sanctions on Iran and put the country under pressure have achieved no success yet. He said Iran and China enjoy amicable ties and stressed the importance of expanding relations in all fields.
The Syrian Foreign Minister was another senior official who backed Iran's civilian atomic program, saying diplomacy is the key solution to settling Iran's nuclear dispute.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart, the Syrian top diplomat said Damascus encourages the IAEA Secretary General and Iran to cooperate fully to settle the issue.
The first Vice-President said that Iran and Syria enjoy friendly ties, calling for the expansion of relations in line with interests of both nations. He made these remarks in a meeting with visiting Syrian Economy and Trade Minister, Ahmad Hosni Lutfi, and expressed Iran’s satisfaction with the growing cooperation in different trade, economic, industrial, cultural, and political fields.
The Syrian Minister, for his part, hoped that the current level of mutual cooperation would increasingly expand. Meanwhile, Iran’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development and Syria’s Minister of Economy and Trade signed a memorandum of understanding to boost economic cooperation, including power plant establishments.
A recent study by the American Enterprise Institute (A.E.I.) shows foreign companies have struck more than $153 billion in deals with Iran since the year 2000. The A.E.I. report has also found that the value of foreign deals with Iran rose from $21.68 billion in the year 2000 to $47.5 billion in the year 2007. During the period studied, China was Iran's number one trading partner with over $101 billion. French, German, Italian, Japanese, Austrian, Dutch, South Korean, British and Indian companies have followed China respectively.
Hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplantation research center at Tehran’s University of Medical Sciences, T.U.M.S., has joined the International NETCORD Foundation, which is one of the world’s largest blood bank networks. The research center has carried out extensive studies and has been in close contact with international and scientific research centers. Back in 1991, Iran's first bone marrow transplant was performed in the T.U.M.S. hematology center.
A teenage suicide attacker blew himself up at a packed mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshavur, killing eight people and wounding 20. The explosion ripped through crowds of people who were marking Ashoura. Witnesses said the attacker opened fire with an assault rifle before detonating himself just inside the mosque. After the attack, worshipers staged angry protests and beat their chests in mourning.

Presenter, Man # 1
The French government had decided to educate Imams, who will work in French mosques at Catholic Universities teaching world religions. This has generated a big controversy among the Muslim community in France. Sad Al Masudi provided us with the following report.

Reporter, Man # 2
The French government said that it wants to educate the 2000 French Muslims who want to become Imams in French Mosques about world religions, secularism, and different cultures. They will be appointed in one of the 1800 Mosques throughout France. These Imams will be trained at a Catholic University to educate them about non-Muslim societies. These imams will take religious and cultural classes, which already started this month and will continue for the next 6 months.

Guest, Man # 3
The Catholic University agreed to train the Imams by expanding their knowledge and education, not to convert them. The objective is to educate them about other religions; we do not want to change their Islamic principles.

Reporter, Man # 2
France which has always worked to get rid of fundamentalism, wants to prevent fundamentalism from entering into France by way of the Imams who come from outside of France. The objective is to protect its mosques from fundamental ideologies which may come from the unstable North African region, and to make sure that its Imams who come from abroad give Friday sermons which are not in contradiction with French values.

Guest, Man # 4
This step is aimed at providing a higher level of education in order to enhance religious beliefs.
It supports the notion that we all belong to monotheistic religions, regardless of whether we are Christians, Jews or Muslims.

Reporter, Man # 2
Some Muslim organizations object to the French government’s intervention in training Muslim Imams. Those who support the government’s decision accused those who opposed it as being fundamentalists. Some said that they support the notion of establishing mosques that are independent from the Imam’s countries of origin.

Guest, Man # 4
The Catholic University teaches cultural, social and legal matters. It has nothing to do with religious matters. However, there was confusion among the French media which made it look as if the Imams will be molded by the catholic university.

Reporter, Man # 2
Meanwhile, the grand Mosque in Paris will provide educational seminars to educate French citizens about Islamic culture and will provide Arabic classes. Providing education about different cultures and the main religions in France is primarily geared towards educating Imams who come from abroad and who are not familiar with the French language and culture. Sad Al Masudi, Al Arabiya, From Paris Grand Mosque.

Presenter, MALE #1:
A female parliamentarian accepts the condition of her colleague, and resigns in order to marry him. Meanwhile, Usta Muna is a poor young woman who prefers to fix tires to support herself and her family. This report by our colleague, Muna Ashmawi.

Reporter, FEMALE #1:
The Egyptian woman carries two burdens on her shoulders. The first is that men’s views of her decline when she achieves her dreams and success. The second burden is the battle she is waging so that she can prove that she is worthy of what she wants. If a woman is able to succeed in her work, then she may be faced with many rumors that harm her reputation. She may also encounter people, who will try to detract her from reaching a certain position. If we take a quick glance at the Egyptian parliament, we will find that the number of elected female parliamentarians do not exceed the number of fingers on one hand. Their numbers decreased after one female parliamentarian resigned when she married her colleague in the parliament. He had asked her to resign from her position in order to be free for married life. A man replaced her in the parliament in a case, which is the first of its kind.

Guest, MALE #2:
Regarding the resignation of our colleague, former Representative Dr. Shahnaz Al Naggar, who married our colleague, Mohammed Ahmed Aez, the secretary of the National party. The papers indicate that one of the conditions of the marriage was that she resign from the parliament.
I think this was a personal choice that relates to them, Dr. Shahnaz and Mohammed Al Aez.
There are very few women in the parliament as compared to men. I think that there were many opponents and independents who wanted a female candidate for the National Party to take the seat of Dr. Shahnaz in the same way. However, we were surprised that a man replaced her seat.
I don’t think that the National Party was able to find a woman to wage a battle and win the seat of Dr. Shahnaz.

Reporter, FEMALE #1:
Meanwhile, a stir was made when women demanded that they be nominated for high judicial positions other than administrative positions, which they had already attained. Some people doubted their capabilities and perseverance while also going through pregnancy and birth.
All this broke away from the traditional judiciary in Egypt. Despite all this, there are very few female Egyptian judges, who have proved with time, their qualification, and their worthiness.

Guest, FEMALE #2:
When we made demands for women’s rights based on the international convention to end the discrimination of women, we were surprised to find that they used different standards and spoke about Islamic law. With regards to Islamic law, the judges, the sheikhs, and the Egyptian mufti all said that there is nothing prohibiting the appointment of women as judges. But they stood by their positions. I think this is a male position that is absent of justice and makes us doubt these same judges and their ability to judge or work in the judiciary system within Egyptian society.

Reporter, FEMALE #1:
Some women prefer to work a man’s job without drawing the attention of this complicated society, which hold backwards ideas. Usta Muna has been fixing tires ever since she was seven years old. She is now 25 years old. She refuses to get married and prefers to take care of her sick father and five siblings.

Guest, FEMALE #3:
I worked when I was 7 or 8 years old. I decided to work after my father became sick. I worked to help him and my siblings to go to school. I was treated as a young boy. My name was Loscavelli.
Then when I grew up, they called me Usta Muna. I worked and then became known as Usta Muna. Everyone who comes to get their tires fixed calls me Usta Muna.

Reporter, FEMALE #1:
The Egyptian woman continues to be oppressed by society. The problem of motherhood, female genital mutilation, young marriages and honor killings dominate many Egyptian villages. It appears that this situation will require many years for the society to become confident in the capabilities of women and to not look at them as just beautiful bodies with hair and breasts.
Despite the passing of a century since the liberation movement of Egyptian women, women in Egyptian society face many challenges and obstacles amidst a patriarchal society that imposes its laws on them. Muna Ashmawi. Al Jadeed. Cairo.