[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 05/14/08: World News From The Middle East

[Summary]

A rocket fired from Gaza exploded in a shopping center in the southern Israeli city of Ashkalon, at least thirty people were wounded. The attack takes place just as U.S. President George W. Bush begins his visit to Israel, and at the start of Israel’s 60th year of independence celebration. Meanwhile, Palestinians mark the “Nakba” or catastrophe, the 1948 war that sent many Palestinians into exile.

Presenter, Man # 1
Members of the Health Committee in the Iraqi Parliament revealed new details about sending Iraqi children on a regular basis for medical treatment in Israel. This action was organized by the American Iraqi Aid Center without the knowledge of the Iraqi government prompting members of the parliamentary committee to declare that this operation is in violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.

Reporter, Man #2
Iraqi children have been sent to Tell Aviv for the past year through the American Iraqi Aid Center which is administered by the US. The operation was conducted in extreme secrecy without the knowledge of the government or the International health organization. American officials notified us that the director of the American Iraqi aid center has refused to be interviewed on this matter which was uncovered by coincidence by Iraqi officials from the health committee in the parliament.

Guest, Woman # 1
They called a number of Iraqi doctors and said that Iraqi children are being sent to Tell Aviv. As a member in the Health committee in the Iraqi parliament, they send me emails with the details. They also called me and told me the news. We did not know this news before hand. Parliament member Hussein Al Diami, Osama al Nujifie, and Dr Salman Al Jumily investigated the issue. At the time they were in Amman. They found out that Iraqi children have been sent to Tel Aviv for the past year. It turned out that this was not the first wave of children that have been sent to Tel Aviv. The problem is bigger than this. It is about violating the ministry of health and Iraqi government and sovereignty. No sick Iraqi child or adult can leave Iraq to seek medical treatment any where in the world without the knowledge of the international health organization. There are certain individuals who have been sending children to Tel Aviv in complete secrecy. This may have been the fourth or fifth group of children that has been sent. ‘

Reporter, Man # 2
This issue has raised many questions for Parliament member Nawal Al Samaraie and Mahmud Othman.

Guest, Woman # 1
Why was the cardio center in Iraq burned? Why are Iraqi doctors forced to migrate? Because they want to send our sick children to Tel Aviv. I think that these things are linked. Why would Israel pay a great deal of money to treat Iraqi children, while it kills Palestinian children on a daily basis? Therefore something else must be at work; there must be another reason behind sending these children to Tel Aviv.

Guest, Man # 3
I have one question, where are the Arab countries? We have twenty-three Arab countries and no country is willing to help these poor children?

Reporter, Man # 2
Despite the measures that will be taken in the future to control the process of sending Iraqi children abroad for medical treatment, it seems that that all the people who were in charge are responsible one way of the other. The investigation is still ongoing to find the names of all the children who were send to Tel Aviv to receive medical treatment. However, there is an irony in all this; Iraqis are being treated in Tel Aviv, while our neighbors continue to export death into Iraq. Al Sumaria satellite Television, Ali Ramadan.

[Summary]

President Bush visits Israel for the second time in four months.

Presenter, Woman # 1
Palestinians in Ramallah responded to the Israeli international political campaign to celebrate its 60TH anniversary by holding protests near the Israeli borders as a way to exercise their right of return to their homes. Our reporter in Ramallah Muhamd Saqalah accompanied the Palestinian protestors and prepared the following report.

Guest, Woman # 2
We have been away from our country for 60 years and we are not going any where. We want our land back; we will not give our land up for the Jews. We are ready for martyrdom.

Reporter, Man # 1
This is how the Palestinians responded. They have commemorated their right to return to their homes on the 60Th anniversary of their catastrophe. Those who were able participated in demonstrations near the borders; the demonstrations this year were unique because they showed that the right of return does not only apply to those who were directly expelled of their homes.

Guest, Man # 2
My grandparents and old relatives and the schools teach us about what the Jews did to our people and lands.

Reporter, Man # 1
While Israel held the largest international political campaign to celebrate its establishment; the Palestinians here did what they can to show the magnitude of the crime that was committed against the only nation that continues to lives under direct occupation.

Guest, Man # 3
Foreign diplomats should have visited the victims first; this would have been a moral message to send to the world. Those who are going to Tell Aviv and Jerusalem are without morals and have no conscience; they have no respect for Justice and law.

Reporter, Man # 1
The many days spent commemorating this painful memory, were crowned with these walking demonstrations that encountered the separation wall, and security checkpoints thus transforming them into confrontations with the occupation soldiers. Israel has recruited presidents and leaders to legitimize its existence on Palestinian land stolen 60 years ago. The Palestinians here commemorate this day by holding demonstrations near the borders as a way to exercise their right of return to their land. Muhammad Al Saied, Dubai Television, Qalandia refugee camp, Palestine.

Presenter, Woman # 1
The Arab delegation which arrived to Beirut started mediating between the Lebanese government loyalists and opposition. Upon arrival, the Arab delegation headed by Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister Hamd Bin Jassem Al Thani, met with the Lebanese parliament’s speaker Nabeh Berry and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. A number of opposition leaders are also scheduled to meet with government loyalists.

Reporter, Man # 1
From the airport runway where the spark that triggered the armed crisis in Lebanon was ignited, the mission of the Arab delegation hasstarted in attempt to bridge the deepening gap between the contesting parties. The arrival of the Arab delegation headed by Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister Hamd Bin Jassem Al Thani was the first flight to arrive at Harriri’s international airport in one week, thus opening the door for a glimmer of hope that the new Lebanese crisis will be resolved. There is no doubt that the contesting parties are looking forward to hearing the ideas that were brought with the Arab delegation to resolve the crisis which the Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa, could not resolve. Before the delegation started its meeting in Beirut, the Lebanese opposition insisted that the recent government’s decisions must be revoked first before entering negotiations on what they called a basket of issues of mutual concern. The opposition demands are same as their old ones, but this time the opposition has imposed new facts on the ground which is enforcing its military control over important areas that belong to its two opponents, parliament members Sa’ad Al Hariri and Waleed Junbulat. There is information that the government will inevitably revoke the decisions that preceded that latest armed crisis. However the government loyalists have not made a decisive decision on whether they will participate in the national dialogue. Al Hariri said that he refuses to sit in the negotiations table while a gun is pointed to his head. His allies also insisted that the first item on the agenda must be Hezbollah’s weapons. It was not possible for the contesting parties to into dialogue before the armed clashes erupted, but now the two sides agree that things will get worse if they fail to reach an agreement. For the opposition, worse means exerting more pressure, for the government loyalists, worse means ethnic strife, but for the Lebanese army worse means civil war.

PRESENTER, FEMALE #1
Former Lebanese Prime Minister, Saleem Al-Huss, said that the political sides in Lebanon must come to an agreement, based on the Arab initiative. Al-Huss urged the Lebanese leaders to announce a declaration of intentions regarding the election of a new president and work toward an agreement regarding the makeup of the government. He further said that the newly formed government must be given the constitutional responsibility of drafting the election law.

GUEST, MALE #2
The only exit out the crisis is through consensus among the Lebanese, in conformity with the Arab initiative. They must announce a declaration of intentions that include the election of a non-partisan president and they must agree on the make up of the previous government, which must be granted the constitutional privilege over election laws. We hope to hold parliamentary elections that will renew the political life in Lebanon, after the political front was taken over by the epidemic of corruption and the evil of arms; and we say no to the concept of violence and authoritarianism.

PRESENTER, FEMALE #1
In Washington, the White House Deputy US National Security Advisor, Elliot Abrams, said that his country will exert efforts in order to have the Security Council handle the Lebanese crisis. Abrams added that Washington intends, this week, to take steps regarding the Lebanese crisis; and it may start with the Security Council.

PRESENTER, FEMALE #1
Two leaders from the Iraqi Islamic Party have escaped injury in two separate consecutive attacks in two separate areas in the Iraqi capital. Abed Kareem Al-Sumaraai, Deputy Chief for the Iraqi Security and Defense Committee and a prominent leader in the Islamic Party, escaped an assassination attempt, following a bombing attack on his convoy. Al-Sumaraai was on his way to work at the time of the attack, in which three of his guards were killed and several others were wounded. In addition, Iyad Al-Sumaraai, a prominent leader in the Islamic party and a representative from the Iraqi Accordance Front, escaped an assassination attempt, following a car bombing attack on his convoy in the area of Yarmouk. Two people were killed and six others were wounded in clashes that erupted between the Iraqi security forces and armed fighters from Al-Mahdi army in the Shuala neighborhood northwest of Baghdad. According to eyewitnesses, automatic weapons and heavy artilleries were used in the clashes; in addition, US helicopters were seen hovering over the neighborhood, which is considered to be one of Al-Mahdi army strongholds. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki arrived in Mosul in northern Iraq, where the Iraqi and US joint forces are carrying an offensive against armed Al Qaeda fighters. Al-Maliki was accompanied by his Defense Minister, Abed Qader Jasem Al-Eibaidi, and a number of senior military commanders. Backed by the US military, the Iraqi forces are carrying out Operation Lion Roar, which was described by the US army as “the new stage in the fight against Al Qaeda.” In another development, the UN has opened its first office in the Anbar province, where the UN will monitor the upcoming provincial elections in the country. With this, the High Election Commissioner overseeing the provincial elections is recognizing the Awakening Council as a political entity. Amidst these developments, the tribes in the Anbar Province are exerting efforts to form one tribal list to compete in the upcoming elections. The details are in the following report by Majid Hamid.

REPORTER, MALE #1
After declaring a victory over the armed groups in the Anbar province, the local tribes are trying to mark a new stage on the political front. This news comes as the tribes announced they will enter the upcoming provincial elections in Iraq. The tribes took several measures to guarantee a victory in the upcoming elections. They are holding daily conferences at the Anbar public gathering places in order to form one tribal list that can compete in the provincial elections.

GUEST, MALE #2
Today, we are getting ready for the upcoming elections. The tribes are now trying to elect their representatives; we will play a leading role in the political process. We are standing behind the political process and the democratic campaign in Iraq. We will help build Iraq and the Iraqi army nationally and away from sectarianism and power sharing.

REPORTER, MALE #1
The tribal leaders in the Anbar Province discussed ways to bridge the gap between the various parliamentary blocs, including the Islamic Party, joining the political process.

GUEST, MALE #3
We don’t have problems with the leaders of the Islamic Party. However, we want to be able to voice our opinion; and we disagree with any attempt to marginalize those who sacrificed and fought hard and were the main reason for the security we are witnessing today.

GUEST, MALE #4
There are many parties trying to control the province. However, the tribes will stand united and enter the elections with one voice.

REPORTER, MALE #1
The security issues in the Anbar Province were the focus of discussion among the Iraqi and the US military commanders, in an attempt to find a solution prior to the elections set for October. These elections will have a direct impact on the political process; especially because they are preceding the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country. For the past few days and until next October, there appears to be various tribal and political maneuvers taking place in the Anbar Province. On October, Iraq will hold provincial elections; such elections will decide who will lead the Anbar province: Is it the tribes with their awakening councils or the political parties that have been in power since 2003. From the Anbar province in Western Iraq, Majid Hameed, Alarabiya.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
The former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has withdrawn his party from the coalition government, which was formed six weeks ago. This news may take the country, once again, into political uncertainty. Sharif announced the withdrawal of the Pakistan Muslim League, which is the second largest member of a four-party alliance, from the coalition government. The withdrawal of the Muslim League followed the collapse of talks with the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party over the reinstatement of the judges ousted by Musharraf.

REPORTER, MALE #2
Six weeks after it was formed, the Pakistan coalition government suffered a major blow, after the Head of Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif, announced the withdrawal of his party’s ministers from the cabinet. This news comes after talks have failed to reinstate the judges deposed by President Pervez Musharraf last November.

GUEST, MALE #3
Our party held a session for its parliamentary block and its leadership and decided to withdraw from the coalition government. This comes after the deadline given to the government to reinstate the judges ousted by Musharraf has run out. Now that the deadline has run out, our ministers will submit their resignation to the government.

REPORTER, MALE #2
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government announced that it remains committed to the reinstatement of the deposed judges. However, according to senior Pakistani lawyers, the government is facing mounting pressure, not only from Musharraf but also from abroad, aimed at preventing the reinstatement of the judges.

GUEST, MALE #4
I think something new has come since the government agreed to reinstate the judges fired by Mushrraf. I believe that the Pakistan Peoples Party is facing mounting pressure from abroad to prevent it from fulfilling its promises to reinstate the deposed judges. This pressure is not coming from any source but the United States, which seems to be opposing the reinstatement of the judges.

REPORTER, MALE #2
The position the government found itself in after the resignation of the ministers from the Pakistan Muslim League, may lead to further political chaos and unrests.

GUEST, MALE #5
The future depends on the premeditated measures that President Musharraf may take. There appear to be talks about imposing direct presidential rule in the State of Punjab; and if this happen, it will further complicate the situation. By the same token, if no direct rule is imposed in Punjab, the situation will still witness deterioration, especially considering that the State government of Punjab supports the lawyer’s movement in Islamabad. In the next few days, Pakistan may witness street confrontations, conspiracies, and political maneuvers at all levels.

REPORTER, MALE #2
The Pakistani government may accept or reject the resignation submitted by the ministers of the Pakistan Muslim League; but regardless, this resignation has put the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party in an awkward situation: the party must make a decision: either to please the Pakistani public or the President and his supporters. The resignation of the Pakistan Muslim League from the coalition government, which is led by the Peoples Party, is turning the heat on the government to deal with mounting public pressure, demanding the reinstatement of the judges expelled by President Pervez Musharraf. For Madar Program, Jamal Ismael, Abu Dhabi Channel, Islamabad.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
Life in Khartoum has retrurned to normal, as it was before the events of Saturday. Citizens of Omdurman and the Khartoum coast went out to conduct business as usual to purchase their necessities from the markets of the capital.

Reporter, MALE #1:
This is the scene in Khartoum on the morning of the fourth day after the attacks of the Chadian army’s mercenaries. Life has returned to normal and everyone returned to their work. Transportation and traffic appeared to be moving, carrying citizens between areas and other different neighborhoods in the state.

Guest, MALE #2:
My name is Abdul Rahman Ali Musaad.

Reporter, MALE #1:
Is this route open?

Guest, MALE #2:
Yes, this is the northern route through Omdurman.

Reporter, MALE #1:
You’r going to Ajira?

Guest, MALE #2:
Yes I am going to Ajira.

Reporter, MALE #1:
Describe the conditions.

Guest, MALE #2:
Everything is good and there is no disorder. Everything is fine and calm.

Reporter, MALE #1:
This is another scene in the steadfast and firm capital, Omdurman, where citizens went out to buy their necessities from different markets in the city. Traders went to their stores after closing them for two or three days to protect their lives and properties.

Guest, MALE #3:
Thank God, everything is good and there is security. We are working under God’s protection. There is nothing wrong. There are shoppers and people are buying meat, vegetables and fruit. There are no problems, Thank God.

Guest, MALE #4:
The general situation is calm. There are no incidents. The road to the capital is open, there is nothing. There is stability.

Reporter, MALE #1:
This is the image that was taken by the television camera on a tour inside the capital, Khartoum. It shows normal conditions, which had existed before the latest events. The predominant sentiment among citizens is one of safety and security. All the people view the treacherous attacks as events, which will never destroy the people nor affect their unity and dignity.