[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 10/16/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Female #1
Murderers, no matter how long they try to hide, will finally be brought to justice. Today, the blood of Iraqi martyrs prevailed over fugitive Mohammad al-Daini and his evil group.

Presenter, Male #1
Today, the Malaysian authorities announced the arrest of Iraqi fugitive Mohammad al-Daini in an airport in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Reporter, Male #2
After being stripped of his parliamentary immunity early in the year, Mohammad al-Daini mysteriously disappeared from Iraq. Mohammed al-Daini, a former Iraqi Member of Parliament, was implicated in the 2007 bomb attack on the Iraqi parliament. Al-Daini was also accused of taking part in a number of terrorist and criminal acts, including theft and forceful migration. Iraqi Members of Parliament confirmed that al-Daini was arrested in Malaysia, and called for his extradition to Iraq to face justice.

Guest, Male #3
Any suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We call on the Iraqi government to take actual and not symbolic measures to help extradite Mr. Mohammad al-Daini to Iraq. Once he is brought back to Iraq, al-Daini will stand trial before a fair and investigative commission.

Reporter, Male #2
Legal experts say timing is critical in the case of Mohammad al-Daini, who is a flight risk, and might disappear once again. The Iraqi government must speed up the legal process and immediately present the evidence to the Malaysian authorities. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry must form a security committee and send it immediately to Kuala Lumpur to take custody of prisoner Mohammad al-Daini. The efforts must be launched in cooperation with the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

Guest, Male #4
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the International Police Bureau in Baghdad, must file a request for extradition. The request must include the suspect’s complete name and address, as well as the charges and evidence against the suspect. Once the request of extradition is filed, they must send it immediately to the Malaysian government or the investigative commission in Kuala Lumpur. Then, al-Daini will be extradited to Iraq, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and international anti-terrorism laws.

Reporter, Male #2
It seems that al-Daini’s dramatic getaway from Iraq has come to an end. This news comes after al-Daini was arrested in Malaysia, carrying his diplomatic passport. The next important step is to speed up the legal process in order to extradite him from Kuala Lumpur to Baghdad, where he will stand trial on all the charges filed against him. From Baghdad, Dia Rahim Ta’i, Iraqiya.

Presenter, Male #1
The official spokesman of the High Judiciary Council, Abdul Satar al-Birgedar, said that fugitive Mohammad al-Daini will be tried in accordance with Iraqi laws. In addition to other pending cases filed against him, Al-Birgedar said that al-Daini is being accused of blowing-up the Iraqi parliament in 2007. The spokesman further said that his council is waiting for Malaysian authorities to confirm al-Daini’s arrest.

Presenter, Woman #1
We start in Geneva, where the UN Human Rights Council adopted the Goldstone report on Israel’s violations in its last war on Gaza. The council agreed to submit the report to the UN Security Council.

Presenter, Man #1
25 member countries at the UN Human Rights Council Voted in support of the report, six countries voted against it, and eleven countries abstained from voting. The UN Security Council may take measures to implement the report’s recommendations, and may submit the report to the International Criminal Court at The Hague, if the Palestinian and Israeli sides fail to conduct independent investigations, as was ordered in the Goldstone report.

Presenter, Woman #1
Of course this will be the main topic of this news cast, and we will discuss it from different angles. Now we will talk about a different topic.

Presenter, Man #1
Our Al Jazeera correspondent in Cairo said that Egypt agreed to Hamas’ request to extend the signing of the Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation agreement by two or three days.

Presenter, Woman #1
This comes as Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said that the elections will be held on the original date if the reconciliation agreement does not go through.

Reporter, Man #2
In February 2007, both Fatah and Hamas representatives signed the Mecca Agreement. At the time, Saudi Arabia managed to reconcile the two conflicting factions, after many had given up hope that they would ever reconcile. However the warmth of this scene did not last long. The Mecca agreement collapsed as the two factions continued to exchange accusations on many disputed issues, last of which was the Goldstone report, which sited violations committed during the Israeli war on Gaza. Originally the Palestinian Authority (PA) demanded that the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva postpone discussing the report. The PA justified its demand by what it called, “the need to rally maximum support for the report.” However, the postponement of the report created tremendous problems between the two factions; despite all this, Egypt continues to make efforts to bridge the gap between the two factions, in hopes that that these two parties, which some describe as enemies, will eventually reconcile. During the past few hours, Fatah notified the Egyptian government that it agrees to the reconciliation agreement, while Hamas demanded more time for consultations. Egypt agreed to Hamas’ request, which observers consider to be a flexible position towards Hamas. Egypt wants to protect what it has achieved in this latest period. Meanwhile the Palestinian President warned that if Hamas derails the reconciliation agreement, then the presidential and legislative elections will be by held on the original date. These developments raise questions about the two sides’ true intentions, and whether they really can reconcile and end the internal crisis, the price of which is being paid for by the Palestinians.

Presenter, Female #1
The Israeli Police Inspector General acknowledged that an undercover Israeli police unit operates secretly among its citizens, especially the Arabs of 1948. The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, revealed that the unit was established under pretext of “fighting crimes and collecting intelligence information on criminal networks.”

Reporter, Female #1
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published information about a new undercover unit of Israeli spies monitoring the Arabs of 1948 and the activities in Arab Israeli towns. This is still causing tumult among Palestinians. Palestinian officials in these towns said that Israel’s step has inflamed relations between Israel and its Arab citizens, because it promotes discriminatory policies between citizens although it is supposed to treat everybody equally.

Guest, Male #1
This is strong evidence that Israelis, unfortunately, have not changed their opinions on the Arab public in Israel. The general feeling is that Israel has not changed their mentality about dealing with the Arab public. Israelis are still treating Arab-Israelis as a security threat, not as equal citizens.

Reporter, Female #1
In reality, the undercover units, which recruit Jews who speak fluent Arabic and are familiar with Palestinian culture, are not a new phenomenon in the Israeli military and police. Their activities began clearly during the first Palestinian intifada and the following events in West Bank and Gaza. Their missions varied from reporting information on the activities of Palestinian organizations, to eliminating or arresting the activists. The members of these units are usually secretly trained such that their Jewish origins are not unveiled. The new unit that is active in the Arab community in Israel is only one of a series of units. Israeli police and officials are concealing the details of this unit, though we demanded explanations from them.

Guest, Female #1
Israel has several undercover units. Some of them report to the border patrol, while others fight organized crimes. Generally these units operate in secrecy and camouflage themselves as Palestinian Arabs.

Reporter, Female #1
Haaretz newspaper quoted the Israeli police Inspector General, who acknowledged the shortcomings of the country’s intelligence capabilities within the Arab communities in Israel. He reiterated that an undercover unit like this can dramatically improve the quality of so-called “spying” on the Arab community in Israel. In his opinion, the work of these units will not only contribute to uncovering activities with criminal impetus, but will also clarify the general security situation in the areas that they operate in. The undercover, or “Istiarabiya” units have been active for years in East Jerusalem and its suburbs as well. They played a large role in detaining Palestinians during the events that the city saw in the last several days. Chirin Lunis, BBC, Jerusalem.

Presenter, Female #1
There was intense controversy this week between Lebanon and Israel. Israeli military released footage and Hezbollah released pictures of its own to counter them. The pictures were evidence to support different accounts of what happened in an explosion in a home in the Tair Falseih village in southern Lebanon. Israel said that the pictures they released were of missiles being transferred away from the site of the explosion, while Hezbollah’s pictures showed junk being moved from the area of the explosion in presence of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). So what really happened in Tair Falseih? This weekend, my colleague Aliya Ibrahim surveyed the area.

Reporter, Female #1
The streets of Tair Falseih have been restored to their usual calm after a week full of events. The heated media reports revolving around an explosion that took place in the home of a Hezbollah member in Tair Falseih have left no trace here. Nor is there any trace of the investigation teams. According to the command center of the Lebanese military, the investigation has not reached any new conclusion yet. The only proof that something happened here, is the residue of the burned garage in “Eisa’s House,” now empty of its residents. The residents of this house criticized what they called, “inflated media reports of what happened.” Some of the people that we talked to said that they didn’t know any details, and refused to talk in front of the camera. Security members wearing civilian clothes demanded that we not interview the residents and leave town. In the neighboring town of Izrarie, we met with Nashat and Abbas Mazih. They are Hezbollah supporters from Tair Falseih. They believe that the security situation in southern Lebanon is better than ever.

Guest, Male #1
In all villages, there are remains of missiles, landmines and shrapnel. There was a bomb; the people that should be trusted most are Hezbollah and the Resistance. This is known in this area. The bomb was placed in the home of one of the leaders, and as they were trying to dismantle the bomb, it went off. The incident was blown out of proportion by the media.

Reporter, Female #1
Nashat Abbas believes that the pictures that Israel released are fabricated, and says that a garage door was being transported, as was shown in the Hezbollah pictures. Meanwhile, UNIFIL is continuing its investigation with cooperation from the Lebanese military, to learn what truly happened. The investigation hopes to identify the wounded person in the explosion, who is said to be a worker, and the story of the garage door.

Guest, Male #1
“We don’t know the identity at the moment of the wounded”. I think that it’s still too early to reveal some of the data. We have a team of investigators who are working to analyze the information that’s been collected. As for the garage door, we are conducting an investigation to learn what happened to it while it was moved away from its place.

Reporter, Female #1
The security situation in southern Lebanon is calm today. But the explosion in Tair Falseih and the relevant events following it, are a sign of the fragility of the International Resolution 1701, even though all the sides claim to be fully committed to it. According to UNIFIL, there is no doubt that the Israeli daily air violation forms a challenge to the International Resolution, UNIFIL is still waiting to decide whether Hezbollah violated the resolution, as it did last summer in the Khirbat Silim explosion. Aliya Ibrahim, Al Arabiya, from southern Itani area.

Presenter, Man #1
The closure of Al Aqsa Mosque was lifted one week ago, but the occupation is still imposing restrictions of Palestinian worshipers. The restrictions the Israeli authorities imposed on the Palestinians entering the noble sanctuary in Jerusalem remain in place until further notice. The Israeli authorities are trying to make these restrictions permanent in order to ban Palestinians younger than fifty years of age from praying in Jerusalem all year long, not only on Friday prayers or during Ramadan. We leave you with Muhammad Al Said.

Reporter, Man #2
The Israeli restrictions, imposed on Palestinian worshippers less than fifty years of age that prevent worshippers from entering occupied, Jerusalem are not new. What is new is the Israeli attempt to make these restrictions permanent all year long.

Guest, Woman #1
This is unfair and they should not do that. Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is for all Muslims and we must pray in it regardless of whether the Israelis allow us to.

Guest, Man #3
This is an Israeli intervention in Muslims’ right of worship. They are denying the Palestinians their freedom of worship. These are reckless measures, and there is no need for explanation.

Guest, Woman #2
The land is ours and everything here belongs to us. They came and took everything by force with their weapons. What can we do?

Reporter, Man #2
Israel justifies its restrictions on Palestinian worshippers by military regulations that ban young Palestinians from acquiring work permits inside Israel. These unprecedented measures in Jerusalem explain why Al Aqsa Mosque squares were almost empty of worshippers even on Fridays, which is unusual.

Guest, Man #4
What they are doing is “ethnic cleansing.” They are denying people their freedom of worship. We are not afraid, because the holy Quran said that Al Aqsa Mosque will be protected. Therefore no man on earth, even with the might of the occupation, can deny Muslims their religion, God forbid.

Reporter, Man #2
Israel is hoping that the Palestinians will eventually be forced to accept these restrictions as time passes, just as what happened at Al Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, which was ultimately divided between Jewish and Muslim worshippers. After Israel manages to make its restrictions on Palestinians permanent, by preventing Palestinians under 50 from praying in the holy Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Israel may take its next step which the Palestinians are concerned about. Israel has a hidden agenda to divide Al Aqsa Mosque, which might be the first step towards replacing it with a Jewish Temple, an idea that has been gaining momentum in Israel.

Reporter, Woman #2
“Naturalization,” “immigration” and “forceful migration”: some the terms usually associated with the Palestinian plight. The problem of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is very sensitive, especially after different Lebanese politicians discussed a Zionist plan to naturalize Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in exchange for canceling its foreign debt. Both Palestinian and Lebanese political forces reiterated their rejection of naturalization, but no one asked the Palestinian refugees about their views, though they are the ones directly affected.

Guest, Man #1
Those who claim they represent the Palestinian people must take responsibility for what will happen to the Palestinians. They can’t do it with words or billboards.

Guest, Man #2
The option of naturalization is a red line and no one can accept it. Palestinian refugees used to have property in their homeland. Some own hundreds of acres and they have documents proving that. How can they give all this up?

Guest, Man #3
It is true that we have never set foot in Palestine, but we smell our land all the way from here. We have been raised to love our country.

Reporter, Reporter #2
They want to return to their homeland and refuse to be naturalized in Lebanon. However, they continue to suffer daily, especially when it comes to lack of medical care.

Guest, Woman #3
The United Nations Refugee and Work Agency does not help. It does not help us when we need major medical treatment, and even when we want to take major medical exams, we are told we must pay half the costs and so on. This makes it hard for us to receive medical treatment.

Guest, Man #4
We tell the whole world that the Lebanese should treat us just like the Syrians are treating the Palestinian refugees. They receive medical care, education and other social services. I do not know how the UN can help. We will never accept an alternative homeland to Palestine.

Reporter, Woman #2
What is the position of the Palestinian Authority on the fact that Palestinian refugees have been denied their human right to return to their homeland?

Guest, Man #5
We want Palestinian refugees who live in refugee camps in Lebanon or any other country to live in good living conditions. These camps are a testimony to the Zionist enemy’s crimes committed against our people. We want the UN, the international community and other relief agencies to continue to be responsible for the refugees, despite shortcomings. Yes the UNRWA is not satisfying its responsibilities.

Guest, Woman #4
The UNRWA acknowledges that it is failing to meet it responsibilities. However this is because hospitals are very expansive in Lebanon and the UNRWA just doesn’t have the resources to cover the medical expenses of all refugees. For example, we can only cover the partial costs of cancer treatments, open heart surgeries, and other surgeries. In any case, UNRWA suffers from a financial problem. It has problems in its general budget. Everybody should know that UNRWA does not have a specified budget it can depend on every year. Every year we have to ask donors for funds so we can cover the costs of our services.

Reporter, Woman #2
The Palestinian refugees in all refugee camps in Lebanon will never accept naturalization in Lebanon in exchange for giving up their right of return to their homeland. They are holding an olive branch in one hand, and a rifle in the other one. The question is how will they receive medical care until they actually return to their homeland? From the Burg Al Shmali refugee camp, Elen Halaq, New TV.

Mosaic Intelligence Report
By Jamal Dajani

It's amazing what a little controversy can do to the ratings of a mediocre television show: it drives them up through the roof. And that's exactly what happened to what used to be a "barely-watched" Turkish drama series called Ayrilik: a love story that develops between the lead characters during Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" on the Gaza Strip. The show, which airs on Turkey's state-owned TRT television, depicts Israeli soldiers murdering innocent Palestinian civilians. One particular segment showed images of Israeli soldiers shooting a smiling young girl in the chest, steamrolling a tank through a crowded street and lining up a firing squad to shoot at a group of Palestinians.

Ayrilik's producer owes some gratitude and thanks to Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman who has recently complained to the Turkish government over its airing when he said on Wednesday that, "broadcasting this series is incitement of the most severe kind, and it is done under government sponsorship." Since then the show has been making headlines in both Turkish and global media, drawing more audience to TRT television and curiosity-seekers to YouTube to watch clips of the show.

This is not the first time a Turkish drama has caused a buzz in the Middle East. Last year a cheesy series called Noor (light) became a phenomenon when it captured an audience of 85 million viewers when it aired its last episode. The show's popularity increased when some Muslim Imams accused it of violating Islamic values and the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia issued a fatwa against watching it.

The saga between Israel and Turkey is not about a television drama, although in reality it has unfolded like one ever since the rise of the Justice and Development Party in 2002. Turkey's ties with Israel have been deteriorating rapidly since Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip last winter, which left hundreds of Palestinian civilians dead. However, tensions between the two allies hit a peak after Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stormed out of a conference during the Davos summit this year where he confronted Israel's President Shimon Peres over the Palestinian civilian casualties during its offensive on Gaza. Wagging his finger at Peres, an emotional Erdogan accused him of "murdering children on beaches" -- an outburst that made Erdogan a hero in the Arab world.

Adding more fuel to the fire, Turkey has recently banned Israel from an international air exercise in protest against its actions in Gaza, then announced that it will hold military exercises with its nemesis Syria. The announcement came after officials from Ankara and Damascus held the first meeting of a new co-operation council in the Syrian city of Aleppo aimed at ending years of tension between the two neighbors.

For decades Turkey has been looking to the West. It has been eager to please the United States, Europe, and NATO. It has been obsessed with membership to the EU, though snubbed thus far. What's more interesting is the fact that the Turkish military, which usually determines the country's strategic path, even when it goes against the will of the people, is keeping mum about the political decision which could signal a major shift in Turkey's future alliances.

For decades, Turkey has been Israel's closest ally in the Muslim world. It was the second Muslim majority country (after Iran) to recognize the State of Israel. The Islamic Revolution ended Iran's ties with Israel, and although Turkey's ties with Israel will not be severed, they have been permanently damaged.