[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 05/05/08: World News From The Middle East

PRESENTER, MALE #1
Yemen, which is often referred to as “the happy Yemen,” is no longer living a peaceful and comfortable life, even the consumption of Qat is no longer effective in easing tensions there. Meanwhile, the south is rising and the Houthies are not taking the road of consensus. Amdist this, the Al Qaeda organization is exploiting the rising tension between the south and the north, and is trying to impose a state of affairs in the country.
The events in the past 36 hours are a warning of a hot summer in Yemen, and nothing out there suggests that the showdown will end any time soon.

REPORTER, MALE #2
The “happy” Yemen is turning into a troubling Yemen, after Yemenis have turned against themselves. The bombing explosion on Friday outside the Ben Slaman Mosque in the city of Saada came to give conflicts in impoverished Yemen a sectarian implication.
Yemen, which has witnessed over the past few years, attacks by the various Yemeni groups, against foreign tourists, embassies, government institutions, and oil pipelines, witnessed for the first time an attack on a mosque. This latest attack shows the deep division between the Yemeni authorities and the followers of rebellious leader, Abed Malik Houthy; the group belongs to the Shiite Zidiya sect, which Sana’a accused of carrying out the attack on the Saada Mosque. Since 2004, Houthy followers have fought the backed government forces in the mountains of Saada, through ambushes and direct armed confrontations. The rebels trying to undermine the government of Ali Abdallah Salih and they seek to bring back the 1962 Zidiya Rule of Imams (Imamiyah). During the past 4 years of this conflict, hundreds of Yemeni residents have been killed and thousands of others have been displaced. Nothing has helped to ease the tension between the government and the rebels; not even: The killing of Hussein Houthy, the founder of the rebellious movement; or the general pardon granted by the Yemeni President, Ali Abdallah Salih, to all Houthies and their invitation to form a political party; all these, along with the Qatari sponsored ceasefire agreement, have failed to end the hostility between the two sides. However, Friday’s attack on the mosque indicates that Yemen is entering into a sectarian conflict in Saada, where a Shiite minority sect is trying to strengthen its position among the 20 million, predominantly Sunni population of Yemen. In justifying their attacks, leaders from the Shiite Houthy group said they are fighting against the Sunni Salafi faction, and said Salifi military officers are now fighting on the side of the Yemeni army. It seems that religious extremism is one of the main troubling issues in Yemen, where the country is witnessing occasional bombing and armed attacks.
In addition, there has been a secret war raging between the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, in cooperation with the Yemeni forces, and armed fighters affiliated with Al Qaeda.
Al Qaeda is capitalizing on the growing influence of extremists in Yemen, and also benefiting from the growing public anger with the government, especially in the provinces in what used to be known as “Southern Yemen.” Yemenis have often taken to the streets to protest inflation and government control over the prices of food and essential goods as well as the prices of fuel products; such protests often developed into confrontations, with no victory claimed by either side of the conflict.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Welcome back. The 6 world powers want to offer incentives to Iran in exchange for stopping its Uranium enrichment program. But according to the speaker for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Muhammd Ali Husseini, the incentives are not a priority for Iran. He expressed his country’s rejection of any offer by the world powers that violates Iran’s nuclear rights and interests. This position was matched by the Supreme leader of the Islamic republic of Iran- Ayatullah Ali Khamenei. These world powers’ offer was announced from the London meeting, but was not sent formally to Iran. Four days ago, an Iraqi Parliamentary delegation visited Iran to resolve the crisis in Sadr city. The talks were said to have been positive. But two days later, a large quantity of weapons were revealed with a “Made in Iran” mark. Afterwards, official authorities said that Iranian interference is playing a part in shaking the security of Iraq. This raises the following questions: what will happen after Iraq and the United States agree that Iran is a threat to the Land of the two rivers? And what will happen after an Iraqi committee is formed to gather the evidence for Iran’s support of the Militias? Fayzah Allak reports.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
The speaker for the US forces and the speaker for the Iraqi government met. Although this is not their first meeting, it is the first time that they are singing to the same tune: Confirming the claims made by the US that Iran is suspiciously involved in internal Iraqi security.

Guest, MALE, #2
Regulating the relations with neighboring countries does not happen through inconsistent and contradictory statements, but rather by official and responsible means, whose top priority is to serve the interests of Iraq and its people. This is why, the Prime Minister ordered forming a special committee to determine if there is an Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
The meaning of this covert accusation is revealed in the released pictures of these weapons. Publically and secretly, the source of these weapons is said to be Iranian.

Guest, MALE, #
There is interference by Iran. Yes, there are weapons made in Iran, as well as an Iranian touch in the manufacturing of local weapons, explosive devices in particular- sad to say!

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
In other words, the same three parties go back to exchanging accusations, but directly this time. The United States blames the Quddss Brigades of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for training the Mahdi Militia under the Shiite leader, Muqtada al Sadr. Meanwhile, Iran insists that the problems in the land of the two rivers are due to the US disease. And between these two positions, Iraq’s government chose to write a new page with Iran under the title of Revealing the Concealed. This new page might represent a new chapter in the relationships with Tehran. Noor Al Maliki now has an opportunity to prove what he has always said, that he is not Iran’s man. But does this spare him from being described by Iran and its followers that he is the US’s man in Iraq?!

Presenter, MALE, #1
Iran’s alleged interference in Iraq is a phenomenon that the US army aims to curb through pursuing the Mahdi Militia. The US forces announced killing ten Militia members from the Sadr movement. Six were killed by an air strike and bloody battles in Sadr city, the four others were killed during clashes in the Mansour neighborhood. The clashes continued all night in Baghdad and left more than 40 people injured.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
Calm has returned to Beirut after an evening which witnessed security tensions between loyalists to the Future party headed by MP Saad Hariri and members loyal to Hezbollah and the Amal movement, (off screen) requiring the intervention of military forces, which contained the situation. The security breaches included the burning of homes and the firing of gunshots after an escalation of a verbal argument and an exchange of accusations between the loyalists and the opposition.

Guest, MALE #1:
There were gun clashes in the streets. In these areas there are always problems and gunshots. Everyday there are gunshots. Guards here and there. That’s it. It all falls on the shoulders of the people. They can not say anything or do anything. Cars are being vandalized and people are being bearing the burden, as life goes on. That’s it.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
With us from Beirut is the political analyst, Ameen Qamouriya. Mr. Ameen, everyone from the loyalists to the opposition, agree with the statement “I love you Lebanon.” However, they differ on how to love the country. What will be able to stop what is happening in Beirut?

Guest, MALE #2:
Of course, what can stop all that is happening in Beirut is a political agreement and political dialogue. But it appears that even this is impossible amidst the current conditions and the crisis of a deep lack of trust. There is a feud taking place, which has been exploding in the streets of Beirut for a while up until today. For the past two years and until this very hour political tensions have escalated to the furthest limits and there has been a prolonged political stalemate. There are sectarian and religious feuds. There are deep differences between the political forces.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
But, a committee has been formed by the members of the Future party, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement to prevent such incidents like this one from occurring in the streets.

Guest, MALE #2:
How can the committee be of benefit amidst political differences, which continues to escalate? Meanwhile, how can the committee be of benefit if statements made by Mr. Waleed Junblatt, the March 14 forces, March 8th forces, Hezbollah or the Amal movement, continue this escalation? What can the committee do, even if it has authority, amidst this huge feud, which is taking place in the country: amidst a lack of horizon or any hope for a settlement? The internal situation does not facilitate this objective neither does the foreign situation, regionally. Neither do those concerned with Lebanese affairs.

[Summary]

Talks between Israeli PM, Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian authority President Mahmoud Abbas signify progress.

[Summary]

Olmert has talks with Mahmoud Abbas and is also plagued with police investigations.

Presenter, MALE #1:
The Israeli Air Force newspaper reported that Israeli pilots participated in supporting the forces loyal to the Imam Badr regime, in the fight against the Egyptian army, which was deployed to Yemen to support the revolution in the 1960s.

Reporter, FEMALE #1:
According to the paper, the Israeli pilots carried out many air runs above Yemen, during which it dropping many weapons and munitions for the loyalists of Imam Badr in an operation dubbed “Salsa.”

Reporter, MALE #2:
Salsa is not exclusively connected with food. Rather it is the name of one of the most secretive operations in the history of the Israeli air force. According to the Israeli Air Force newspaper, the theater of the operation was in Yemen, where the paper reveals, the Israeli air force carried out 14 air runs during which it dropped at weapons, military arsenals, medical supplies and food to assist the forces loyal to Imam Badr, the last Imamate in Yemen in its war against the Egyptian army. The paper published pictures of the Israeli pilots and some top secret documents next to photos of some of the Imam Badr loyalists and Israeli weapons in their storage facilities. This expose has even affected the Israeli military analysts in Israel.

Guest, MALE #3:
It’s a very interesting operation from a military perspective; especially that it took place in the 60’s and from a distance of 2200 kilometers. The planes were not as developed then as they are today.

Reporter, MALE, #2
Israel supported the war waged by the allies of Imam Bader against the Egyptian forces sent by Jamal Abdel Nasser to support the Yemeni revolution in the 60’s. Israel thought this could play a part in exhausting the Egyptian army and stop it from carrying out a war against Israel. From here, a relationship was formed using mediation by a group of British Military Commanders in Yemen.

Guest, MALE, #3:
Israel wanted to take advantage of the fact that a certain group began a war with the Egyptians, who were our enemies at that time.

Reporter, MALE, #2
The Israeli army’s role in Yemen might have played a part in the defeat of the Egyptian army in June 1967. If confirmed, this operation shows Israel to have adopted the saying: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” It would have also succeeded in penetrating the Arab world in the early 60’s, to face the growing influence of Abdel Nasser. This raises the question: How deep is this penetration in the early part of the third millennium, now that the Arab world has split into two camps: One that is moderate and the other that is attached to the so- called ‘Axis of evil.” Elyass Karram, Al Jazeera, West Jerusalem.

Presenter, MALE, #1
According to a recent report by the Word Bank, the tightened siege over Gaza has led to catastrophic effects on the Palestinian economy. Sixty nine percent of all industrial operations have been halted in Gaza. The gas crisis is growing; the occupation continues to prevent fuel and cooking gas from coming into Gaza; and the lives of Palestinians continue to become more complicated and difficult. The following report sheds light on a new kind of suffering in the Gaza strip.

Reporter, MALE, #2
A gas canister of no less than 18 Kilograms is supposed to be here to cover the needs of Mussa and his family of five. He tried to make do with this small canister, but it did not even last him for 2 days.

Guest, MALE, #3
I swear to God, it’s been 17 days without gas, who do I turn to, and who do I complain to? Asking for help from anyone but God is humiliating, so I started using firewood. We use it to warm a glass of milk, or fry some potatoes-or something for the children. Who can we turn to?!

Reporter, MALE, #2
The situation becomes more difficult than one can imagine, and the situation takes this family back to ancient times. The mother uses firewood to make a fire and fry some potatoes for her children. She substitutes potatoes for other foods that require a lot of fuel to prepare.

Guest, FEMALE, #1
We are forced to do this because of the lack of oil and gasoline. The tight siege is affecting all Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. I feel like the mother of orphans, my sons and daughters tell me; I want to eat I want to drink. I tell them: what can I do for you, there is no gas…what am I going to cook with?!

Reporter, MALE, #2
The most significant restrictions imposed by the Zionist occupier over Gaza in 2008 were as follows: January 17th, 2008: The only electricity generator in Gaza was shut down, leaving Gaza in darkness for 4 consecutive days. March 18th, 2008 and until present day: Preventing the entry of even one liter of fuel to any of the gas stations. April 2nd 2008: Preventing the entry of Diesel into Gaza. April 9th, 2008: Closing the Nahel Oze crossing and preventing the entry of cooking gas. As for Gaza’s fuel needs, they are as follows:
350 thousand liters of Diesel. 120 thousand liters of Benzene; 300 tons of Gas- at least.
400 thousand of industrial Diesel to operate the central electrical station. But amidst this darkness and suffering, the Palestinians still have faith in their Arab and Muslims neighbors, especially the Egyptians, to open the passes and break the siege. This family is one of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian families in Gaza, forced by bitterness to taste more bitterness. Abdullah Mustajad, Aqssa TV, Gaza, Palestine.

Host, Man # 1
The French president Nicolas Sarkuzy visited Tunisia for the second time in less than a year. The economy was a major topic during this visit as well as the nuclear cooperation for peaceful purposes. However one can’t escape the need to talk about human rights when it comes to Tunisia. Will economic ties between the two countries take a precedent over human rights? To talk about this topic, we have host Samer Subh from Arabiez magazine, and the representative of the Tunisian Democratic Progressive party, Omaya al-Sideeq. Welcome to both of you. Let us begin with the article that was published in the Tunisian Newspaper, Al Shruq which will lead us to the discussion about Sarkozy’s speech. He said “I came to express my appreciation and support to Bin Ali and the success in Tunisia”. Mr Omaya al-Sideeq is this support of a regime that has been ruling the country since 1987?

Guest, Man # 2
In my opinion this is an intervention in Tunisian internal affairs and the Tunisians’ right to choose what the kind of government and society they want. We do not want foreign countries to interfere in our internal affairs regardless of whether they are friendly or unfriendly countries. However the situation in Tunis is very dangerous and it may explode at any time. The social situation in Tunisia is very bad. An entire village in Southern Tunisia sought political asylum from Algeria because its residents were no longer able to provide an honorable living for their families in Tunisia. Also the economic situation is very difficult despite what we hear from Nicolas Sarkozi and despite everything we read in some newspapers which receive aid from some governments. The inflation is 6% in Tunisia which has failed to achieve self sufficiency. This inflation does not promote stability in Tunisia. There are big challenges. No government that can’t achieve consensus among the different segments of the population and parties could ever face these economic challenges and maintain stability in the country.

Host, Man # 1
Doesn’t what you said about the economic problems contradict the fact that five French companies are opened on a daily basis in Tunisia.

Guest, Man # 2
We can say that Tunisia has two economies. One is called the offshore economy which enjoys tax free privileges and is prospering. The other one is the Tunisian economy which can potentially improve the countries capabilities, and provide citizens with an honorable living. These issues are not grasped by those who rely on newspapers and magazines to get their