[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 06/06/08: World News From The Middle East

* * *

* * *

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, said that expanding military operations against Gaza is more likely to occur than reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Presenter, MALE, #1
The speaker for the US Foreign Ministry said that Palestinian President, Mahmood Abbas, had confirmed to US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice that his conditions for dialoguing with Hamass have not changed, including Hamass’ reversal of the coup d’état in Gaza.

Reporter, MALE, #2
Before allowing for for calm, and perhaps as a response to the Palestinians’ call for internal dialogue between their factions, Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, threatened a wide scale military operation in Gaza. Olmert mentioned this possibility at the end of his visit to Washington, as if hinting that a green light was given by the US regarding an operation against the Gaza strip. This statement announces that the conditions are ripe for trouble. It might also play a part in turning attention away from Olmert’s personal crisis regarding corruption charges. Olmert is staggering under internal Israeli blows, especially those coming from his closest comrades in his Kadeema party, and his allies in the Labor party. His options have become limited, and hinting at a large scale military operation is a outlet for a new political horizon. Israeli planes preceded Olmert’s threat by conducting a night raid against Gaza. More than 15 Palestinians were injured. One Palestinian was killed in clashes between resistance fighters and Israeli forces that had infiltrated into Gaza. The Israeli military escalation and Olmert’s hint about a wide military offensive against Gaza comes at a busy time in the Palestinian arena. Mahmodd Abbas called for dialogue between the National authority and Hamass, based on the Yemeni initiative. The Prime Minister of the ousted Palestinian government, Ismaeel Haniya, sensed a fresh spirit of dialogue from this call, which was free from details like the coup d’état in Gaza. This led the US administration to ask for the details of the dialogue to be clarified. The US Secretary of State called the Palestinian President. US House speaker, John McCormack, relayed the conversation, saying that President Mahmood Abbas had reaffirmed that his conditions for dialogue with Hamass have not changed. In other words: Hamass has to reverse what he described as a coup d’etat in Gaza, and it has to abide by the international commitments taken by the Palestinian liberation authority. We return to square one: Reversing the situation in Gaza as they were prior to the events of June 2007, was the main point of disagreement between the two sides around the Yemeni initiative. Abbas had then called for reversing what he described as coup d’état, and Hamass had refused. The Palestinian arena awaits an outlet, to come out of the fragmentation that has scarred Palestinian National unity.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Abiyeh is a new and quickly growing crisis in Sudan. Most recently, the French Ambassador to the UN, Jean-Maurice Ripert, said that the EU might impose sanctions against Sudan if it does not cooperate with the international criminal court. The court is demanding that Khartoum turn over 2 suspects on charges of committing war crimes in Darfur. Ripert arrived in Khartoum with a delegation from the International Security Council, in an attempt to find solutions, around Abiyeh and Darfur.

Reporter, female, #2
Sudan has witnessed dramatic events this week. The Abiyeh case is still hot, with exchanged accusations between the two sides of deploying forces in the area. And the Darfur crisis is dragging the country into more tension with the international community. The attempts of the US have failed in solving the tension between the North and the South. The special Sudan envoy, Richard Williamson, had to go back to his country. He placed the responsibility of failure on the two sides, saying they were not serious about peace; and the US-Sudan dialogue sessions were suspended. The sessions involved several matters, including: Economic sanctions on Khartoum, establishing peace in Darfur, Abiyeh, and Sudan’s status among countries that harbor terrorists. Tension between Khartoum and the international criminal court is also expected to increase. The court’s attorney general plans to file a new case against high level Sudanese officials, on charges of committing crimes in Darfur. In an attempt that seems aimed at saving what can be saved, delegates from the International Security Council conducted talks in Juba and Khartoum. They met with leaders from the North and the South in regards to the crisis in Abiyeh. The delegates also discussed the deployment of international forces in Darfur and the Humanitarian conditions there.

Presenter, Woman # 1
The law allowing women to wear the Hijab at Turkish universities was nullified by the Turkish Constitutional Court which is the highest ranking court, on grounds that it violates the Turkish secular constitution. The court’s decision has returned the country to a state of division which in the worst case scenario can lead tio banning the ruling Justice and Development party. We leave you with Fatima Al Taweel.

Reporter, Woman # 2
Nesreen and dozens of other female students are forced to take off their Hijabs before entering University premises. This is the science college in Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, where 99% of the population is Muslim and many of whom are secular. Inside the constitutional court in Ankara, the highest ranking court in the country, the amendment that was introduced by the Parliament last February allowing women to wear the Hijab inside universities, was rejected. The court said that lifting the ban on wearing the Hijab violates the Turkish secular constitution. The court decision created fear that religious based division may occur among Turkey’s society. It has been 80 years since the secular Turks ended the Islamic caliphate, but these do not seem to be enough to end the struggle between religious and secularist groups. The secular establishment which is protected by the army does not want to give up Turkey’s modern principles and rejects the image of veiled women. On the other hand, the ruling Justice and development party considers wearing the Hijab a personal and religious freedom. Perhaps the court’s decision will affect the law suit that was filed by the attorney General who wants to ban the activities of the ruling Justice and Development party. The court’s decision which nullifyied the law allowing women to wear the Hijab, which was at the heart of the law suit against the Justice and Development party is an indication that this law suit may succeed. Thus the leaders of the Justice and Development party has no choice but to follow plan B, as political observers describe it, by forming a new political party while waiting for the court’s decision which will amount to a political execution.

Reporter, Woman # 1
Joining us from Istanbul, Dr Samir Salha a professor of international law and international relations at Istanbul University. Dr Salha, the latest Constitutional Court’s decision is a strong blow to the Justice and Development party. How will this decision affect the future of this party?

Guest, Man # 1
Yes, Sister Dana, as you said, what is happening is a settling of old scores between two forces, two movements and two ideologies. The settling of scores has not ended yet. Another point, until yesterday the Justice and Development party was very calm in the way it have been dealing with the situation because the party was convinced that the constitutional court would reject the opposition’s demands. However, the constitutional court supported the opposition’s demands and today the party is forced to adopt a new strategy. What is happening will directly influence the law suit demanding that the party be banned. I think that this is a serious matter and that the course of events may hurt many parties especially the Justice and Development party. The party is preoccupied with many foreign and internal affairs. As you know it has a large support base. There is a state of anxiety today. The Islamic press has covered the news in a way that leads one to believe that the political situation in the country will escalate.

Presenter, Woman # 1
Dr Salha you mentioned that the Justice and Development party remained calm hoping that the constitutional court would reject the opposition’s demand.How will the party now respond?

Guest, Man # 1
I think that some of the important scenarios that the Justice and Development party will discuss is proposing an early elections. If early elections are held the party may win more seats in the parliament. The party will try to deliver a fatal blow to its opponents. The other point that the party will focus on is forming a new party to replace the Justice and Development party as soon as possible. Forming a new party is very important because there are several possibilities including the possibility that the ambitions and visions of the Justice and Development party will be harmed.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Kuwait’s “Jareeda” newspaper published the confession of the detained Kuwaiti missionary, Mubarak al Bathali. Bathali said that he had recruited and trained Nasser Khlaif al-Unzi: an Al Qaeda member killed in clashes with security forces in 2005.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
The latest confession by the Kuwait missionary Mubarak al-Bathali, confirmed the long held doubts around his involvement with Al-Qaeda file in the area. Al Bathali fought in Chechnya over 10 years ago and has been detained several times since then.An international memorandum was also issued accusing him of supporting terrorism. Based on this, his assets were frozen.

Guest, MALE, #2
It is not the place of my family to give me money, they have their commitments and I have mine. I will resort to force, if this reaches a certain level, I will resort to force if I have to.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
The Kuwaiti Jareeda was the newspaper publishing the preliminary results of Mubarak al Bathalli’s investigation. He was detained a few weeks ago, after the statements appeared in a Kuwaiti newspaper. In it, he said he had sent fighters to both Iraq and Afghanistan. In his latest confessions, Al-Bathali said he recruited and trained Nasser Khleif al-Unzi. Unzi was an Al-Qaeda member and was killed during clashes with security forces that took place in Kuwait in January of 2005. The investigation brought back that incident to the forefront. Five separate confrontations took place in various cities in Kuwait; they involved the largest al Qaeda cell in the country. The cell was formed, became active, and was destroyed within a month. According to the newspaper, the attorney General transferred al-Bathali to a criminal court, based on charges of: Instigating young Kuwaiti men to fight in Iraq; and possessing a weapon and bullets. Bathali justified his possession of a weapon with his hobby of hunting, which he practices. Bathali is the most famous missionary in Kuwait. According to one security source, the preliminary results of the investigation might lead to finding new information about the disappearance of the two most dangerous Kuwaitis: Khaled al Dossari and Muhssin al Fadli. Zein al Fayezz, al Arabia.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Joining us from Kuwait is political analyst, Saleh al Sa’eedi. Saleh, who is Bathali? And what is his role in the Al Qaeda network.

Guest, MALE, #3
He is a long time fighter in the Salafi Jihadist group. He fought in Chechnya and Afghanistan. He was also one of the first to fight in Iraq. And I think that he belongs to a group other than that of Nasser Unzi, or the Haramayn Brigades, or the usoud al Jazeer, which were destroyed during the clashes in 2005. The name of Mubarak al Bathali did not come up in any of the confessions of those arrested rom the aforementioned cell. This is why I think he works with a different group that is separate from those cells; he might have communication with them, but it’s not official. As I said earlier, he was one of the first to fight in Iraq in 2003; and it’s believed that one of his sons is still there now.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Based on the confessions we heard and your observations in Kuwait: what verdict might Bathali receive?

Guest, MALE, #3
He’s been wanted and pursued for a while, with many open cases. He’s suspected of being involved with armed groups in Iraq and other places outside of Kuwait. His salary was cut for a while, and some of his assets have been frozen. But so far, he has not been proven guilty of being involved -on the organizational level- with any of the groups. He has not been convicted yet.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Political analyst Saleh al Sa’eedi from Kuwait, thank you very much.

Presenter, Woman # 1
The Dura residents called on the Christian families who were forced to leave their homes to come back, after the security situation in the area improved.

Presenter, Man # 1
The call was made as a delegation of Dura residents visited the Church of Saint Shimona in the Assyrian neighborhood in Dura.

Reporter, Man # 2
Taking slow steps, this lady is walking towards Saint Shimona church. She is holding the service by herself because more than 30 thousands Christian families were forced to leave the city. Due to acts of terror, no Christian families were left here except those whose homes are hidden in small alleys such as the home of Abu Salaman. He was beaten, robbed and threatened but he refused to leave his home and town.

Guest, Man # 1
I was home. Three men came, they beat me and hurt me. I knew who they were.

Reporter, Man # 2
You didn’t leave?

Guest, Man # 3
No, I decided to stay here.

Reporter, Man # 2
The residents of Dura were anxious every time someone would knock on their door, but now that security returned to the area, old Iraqi traditions have come back. People have begun to exchange visits and drink coffee together regardless of the religious background of their neighbors. The Living room of Abu Salamn was transformed into a meeting center for the neighborhood, both for entrainment and for solving problems.

Guest, Woman # 2
I get up in the morning. I eat breakfast with with Abu Salamn. Sami goes to school. My daughter stays home with me. If I need things I go to the market and then return home to cook. If I have time I go to my neighbor’s home.

Reporter, Man # 2
One hundred Iraqi families, who were forced to leave their homes, have returned to their homes in Dura. A delegation of residents from Dura, including members of tribes, and Sahawa councils who were not happy with what happened to the Christian families, took flowers and went to churches and called on Christian families to come back to their homes. They expressed their willingness to do what ever they can to guarantee their safety.

Guest, Man # 4
We call on the families regardless of whether they are Christian or Muslim or from other religions to come back to Dura. Now we have security and the security situation is good. The security agency has full control

Guest, Man # 4
We should not need guarantees. If the situation is good and if we can move freely and cooperate with our neighbors then this will be our guarantees. Our good relations with other religious groups is the only guarantee that our families will enjoy safety and security.

Reporter, Man # 2
A few months ago, the residents of Dura were afraid of death when they heard a knock on their door, but today whenever their doors are knocked, they open the door with excitement because the visitor might be a brother or an old friend who they have not seen for a while or even a passer by who needs help. This is how things have changed in Dura, Its water provides fish, its oil refineries provide fuel, and its power plants provide electricity for the people of Baghdad. Dura is the place where Iraqis rest and get their fuel and energy from. From Baghdad, Amjad Talea, Al Iraqiya.

This past Wednesday, at the Annual Policy Conference of AIPAC- the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, presidential candidate, Barack Obama drew a standing ovation when he pledged his "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" if he is elected president in November, and declared that Jerusalem should stay an undivided Israeli city.

The day before, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice seemed hopeful to reach an agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis before the end of the year,
"Israelis have waited too long for the security they desire and deserve," she said, "and Palestinians have waited too long, amid daily humiliations, for the dignity of a Palestinian state." But no one cheered and no one stood up.

The fact of the matter is, Rice's statement in front of one of the United States' most influential lobbying groups is more realistic and more in tune with the facts on the ground.

The United States and other international powers do not recognize Israel's annexation of Arab East Jerusalem following the 1967 war. Their embassy and those of most other countries are located in Tel Aviv. Even Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert refuses to give a direct response to Obama's statement that Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel.
"His words on Jerusalem were very moving," Olmert told reporters after meeting U.S. president George W. Bush at the White House.

When it comes to Jerusalem, Obama can talk the talk but can he walk the walk?

In reality, Jerusalem is a divided city. It has been divided since 1948. An Arab city (East Jerusalem) and a Jewish city (West Jerusalem).

In 1967, Israel conquered East Jerusalem and later annexed it in violation of all international laws and United Nations resolutions. In spite of this, the city remains divided, not through international borders and an armistice line but through psychological barriers and the discriminatory policies that Israel has imposed over its Palestinian residents for more than 40 years.

Under Israeli law, Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are not considered citizens. They are not even considered permanent residents; instead they are considered "temporary residents." Under this discriminatory policy, any Palestinian Jerusalemite would lose his or her legal residency in the City if he or she lives abroad for more than 3 years. At the same time any Jew who immigrates to Israel is eligible for full citizenship rights.

On the political level, Palestinians living in Jerusalem do not have the right to vote in the Israeli Knesset. Imagine if a certain ethnic group living in Washington D.C. were not allowed to vote in the congressional or presidential elections. Furthermore, Palestinian Jerusalemites are forced to pay the Israeli "Arnona" tax. Taxation without representation.

On the socio- economic level, under Israeli rule, Jerusalem has been divided into a city for the haves and the have-nots. After forty years, Israel has yet to upgrade the infrastructure of its debilitated Arab neighborhoods. It also continues its policy of appropriating Palestinian lands to construct new illegal settlements and housing for its Jewish population with all the modern comforts and amenities, while continuing to deny most building permits to its Arab population.

The stark difference between the two Jerusalems is clearly visible to the naked eye and for a candidate like Obama who prides himself on being a candidate for change...perhaps for a change; he should stop pandering to interest groups and take a hard look at the facts on the ground. Perhaps he should walk the streets of Jerusalem and see the reality for himself just like former president