Israel seals off West Bank and Jerusalem to celebrate Passover [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
Tight security measures and restrictions characterize every Friday in the occupied territories, rendering the Palestinians' attempt to enter al-Aqsa mosque a difficult mission. But this week, these measures were doubled under the pretext of celebrating Jewish holidays, but no consideration was taken for the Palestinian Christians' observance of Good Friday. Israel imposed a full security cordon on the West Bank, and raised the state of alert in occupied Jerusalem in an arbitrary measure that will extend until Sunday night. This has paralyzed normal life in both sites. Our correspondent Shorouk Asaad reports from occupied Jerusalem.

Reporter, Female #1
Few Christians in Palestine were able to reach the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem on Good Friday. Israel imposed a closure on the West Bank, and deployed police and security in Jerusalem, the Old City and its surroundings.

Guest, Female #2
They allow Israelis to wander around, and walk as they please at the expense of our comfort. We feel discriminated against. You can't understand how difficult it is to feel this way. Look, my children are five and six years old. When I leave the house, they ask me, "Mom, is the checkpoint going to be crowded, or are you taking the Jaba road?"

Reporter, Female #1
Reaching Jerusalem to pray, visit family, or for any other reason is difficult except for those who carry an Israeli security permit. Very few permits are issued to Christians from Gaza and the West Bank. Israel provides Israelis with access to Jerusalem so they can freely move around the city on Jewish Passover, while it deprives Palestinians from reaching their holy sites.

Guest, Male #2
Why should permits be issued to begin with? Why should one need a permit to go to Jerusalem from Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus or Gaza? And especially on holidays. Some family members receive a permit, while the others don't. So how can a Christian Palestinian family celebrate a holiday when some of its members are missing?

Reporter, Female #1
Israel tightened the checkpoints in the West Bank, and those between the West Bank and Jerusalem. One can only pass through them in the case of an emergency and Jerusalem residents after painfully long waits. Otherwise, all permits were canceled.

Guest, Male #3
I run a school, and I gave the teachers permits because in April we have school field trips. They came back and told me that all permits are rejected during all of April, not just this week. Sadly, we have to deprive ourselves and our kids of everything just so their highnesses can have a good time.

Guest, Male #4
The most important thing for them is to make it impossible to reach Jerusalem, and they use security as a pretext. They think this will lead the people who pray there, and its original inhabitants, to forget about Jerusalem.

Reporter, Female #1
Like every week, thousands of Muslims are also deprived from reaching al-Aqsa mosque. So checkpoints around the city of Jerusalem, and those spread throughout the West Bank were shut down, depriving Palestinians of their free movement just so Israelis can enjoy their holiday. Shorouk Asaad, Dubai TV, occupied Jerusalem.

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Security in Israel raised to high alert for Passover [IBA, Israel]

Security has been raised to high alert nationwide as a precaution ahead of the Passover holiday, which begins at sundown. Large forces of police have been deployed to all major cities and strategic locations, particularly around the Old City of Jerusalem. The IDF has imposed a full closure on the West Bank. With the exception of medical or humanitarian emergencies, Palestinians will be barred from entering Israel. The national Magen David Adom paramedic services has also increased its level of readiness to the second highest. Citing concrete intelligence warnings of an imminent attack planned against Israeli citizens, the counterterrorism bureau reiterated its advisory against travel to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula or Turkey.

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Eilat tourists unfazed by rocket attack [IBA, Israel]

A large contingency of security forces is continuing to maintain a particularly high profile in Eilat, following the firing of at least one Grad missile at the city yesterday morning. The Red Sea resort city is expected to host thousands of tourists for the Passover holiday.

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IDF chief reassures Israelis in YouTube Passover greeting [IBA, Israel]

Speaking in the wake of the rocket attacks on Eilat, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz has reassured residents in a special Passover greeting on YouTube that the army is well-prepared to act against all threats against Israel. Gantz also said that any future missile fire on Israel's south will be met with a retaliatory attack against Hamas whether or not it was directly involved, any fire from Lebanon will be met with an attack against Hezbollah, and any attempt to harm Israelis abroad related to Iran will trigger a retaliatory attack against Tehran.

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Thousands rally behind dying 'godfather of human rights' in Bahrain [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Massive demonstrations were held in the areas of A'li and Jadhafs west of the Bahraini capital, al-Manama, in solidarity with rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. The demonstrators said they would hold the regime responsible for his death. The peaceful demonstrations were led by scholars, community leaders, and political figures. The participants called on the international community, notably the US, Britain, and countries that offer political support for al-Manama's regime, to take responsible action in Bahrain. Thousands of demonstrators held al-Khawaja's pictures and banners with his famous phrase "freedom or martyrdom." Similar demonstrations were also launched in al-Nuwaidrat and al-Sanabis and other villages on Sitra Island. Meanwhile, massive demonstrations were held on Sitra Island to express solidarity with al-Khawaja and to demand his release.

Presenter, Male #1
Bahrainis held a funeral procession for martyr Khadijah Mohamed Ali Abbas, who died of poisonous tear gas inhalation. Meanwhile, Mohamed al-Jishi, the lawyer of detained rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, said his client had been transported to a military hospital due to his deteriorating health.

Reporter, Male #2
With these slogans, Bahrainis took to the streets in a massive demonstration to mourn the death of martyr Khadijah Mohamed Ali Abbas, who was killed by poisonous tear gas fired by regime forces at residential neighborhoods in the town of al-Ma'amir. Amid these chants and the massive participation of residents, the martyr was laid to rest in the town cemetery. This news comes as the health of detained Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly two months, continues to deteriorate. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights held al-Manama authorities directly responsible for any harm caused to al-Khawaja, and urged international and rights organizations to mount pressure on the regime to release him and all prisoners of opinion, as recommended by the Bassiouni Commission.

Guest, Male #3 (Yousef al-Rabii, Director of Bahrain Center for Human Rights)
The parties responsible for the murder of this prominent rights activist are the Bahraini king, the prime minister, as well as the minister of the interior. This is premeditated murder.

Reporter, Male #2
The Bahraini opposition, most notably al-Wefaq Society, called for organizing angry demonstrations across various cities and towns in solidarity with al-Khawaja in a bid to save his life. In the town of Sar, regime forces stormed a residential home, fired tear gas, and stabbed family members. Several occupants were injured due to gas inhalation and serious stab wounds. In addition, a campaign of raids and arrests was launched across various regions. In the latest incident, Zainab al-Khawaja, the daughter of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, was detained following her participation in a women's sit-in demanding the release of all prisoners. With these slogans, the residents held demonstrations in solidarity with al-Khawaja, demanding his release and the release of all prisoners. Regime forces fired tear gas and live bullets at the demonstrations in an attempt to disperse the crowd, injuring dozens of protestors who inhaled the gas.

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Mali's Tuareg rebels claim independence in north [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said there is no military solution to the Tuareg issue in northern Mali. Chairman of the African Union Commission Jean Ping rejected northern Mali's declaration of independence and considered it void. He called on the international community to support the AU's position.

Reporter, Female #2
This used to be the headquarters of the former governor of the city of Gao in northern Mali. But today, it became the official headquarters of Azawad Republic, which was unilaterally declared a state. This reality was established by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, the largest Tuareg faction in Mali, by declaring the independence of all regions under its rule in the northern parts of the country.

Guest, Male #1 (Bilal Ag Acherif, National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad Secretary-General)
We hereby proclaim the independence of Azawad starting on April 6th, 2012.

Reporter, Female #2
The declaration was followed by a movement leader's affirmation in Paris that the movement will not work with al-Qaeda and is not affiliated with any Islamist movement. He added that its goal is limited to liberation and independence.

Guest, Male #2
We are not linked to any Islamist movement; our goal is freedom, which began today by declaring our independence. We demand that al-Qaeda withdraw from Azawad; it has no business in staying in the region.

Reporter, Female #2
France downplayed the significance of this development. The French minister of defense considered the unilateral declaration of independence to be meaningless if it's not recognized by African countries.

Guest, Male #3 (Bernard Valero, French Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
We believe the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad's unilateral decision to declare Azawad independent to be void and pointless. We call on the movement to put this issue within the framework of a political dialogue to assure respect for the constitution and the unity of the country of Mali.

Reporter, Female #2
Ten leaders from African countries prepared an authorization for the formation of a force that may be dispatched to Mali after the Economic Community of West African States reaches an agreement. These countries may lift the sanctions they had imposed on Mali, according to Burkina Faso's foreign minister's announcement after talks with a leader of the military coup in Bamako. However, developments in the north are dominating today's scene, and have prompted a coup leader, Amadou Sanogo, to threaten to accept a Western military intervention in northern Mali. A number of parties, most notably Mali's neighbor Algeria, have warned against such an intervention.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, dozens demonstrated in the capital Bamako in protest of Azawad's leaders' declaration of independence in northern Mali and the proclamation of the Azawad State. Protesters of northern descent chanted slogans calling for the country's unity, saying they would fight against those they referred to as separatists.

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Syrians flee to Turkey as violent clashes rage [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said security and army forces killed 25 civilians in a number of areas, most of them in Homs. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said clashes around the city of Damascus are ongoing, especially in the town of Duma and the areas of Kfar Batna and Saqba, where three regime soldiers were killed. Protests were held on Friday in many Syrian areas demanding the downfall of the regime.

Reporter, Male #2
The countryside of Damascus tops the news on a Friday the opposition dedicated to supporting the Free Syrian Army with financial and material support by using the slogan, "the Friday of the one who prepares a fighter is as if he fought himself." The town of Duma is witnessing a military escalation between the regime's forces and members of the Free Army. The towns of Harasta, al-Zabadani, Madaya, Kalamoon, Qarra and Muadhamiya Shaam witnessed raids with tanks, military reinforcement, arrests, and constant security deployment. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that three regime soldiers were killed in fierce battles in Saqba, the surroundings of Arbeen, and the gardens of al-Ghouta al-Sharqiya in the countryside of Damascus.

Guest, Male #3 (Rami Abdul Rahman, Director of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in UK)
Violent clashes broke out after midnight on Thursday night in Saqba, the surroundings of Arbeen, and around Kfar Batna and al-Ghouta al-Sharqiya. They continued until the early hours of the morning. Right now, Syrian regime forces have started raiding these areas; raids are accompanied by heavy gunfire, and explosions were heard.

Reporter, Male #2
The military escalation, though dominating the scene in the countryside of Damascus, did not prevent demonstrators from taking to the streets of Dariya, Zabadani, Yabrud, Almin, al-Tall, Artouz, and Zamalka, in addition to the Damascus neighborhoods of Barza and al-Maza. In Homs, the neighborhoods of Qarabis, Khalidiya and Jourat al-Shayyah were subjected to rocket shelling. The city of Rastan in the countryside of Homs was struck with the heavy machine guns of the regime forces that have been attempting to take control of the city for months. Clashes erupted this morning between defected soldiers from al-Taiba village in Homs, where most residents are Sunnis, and armed regime loyalists from the villages of Shniyeh and al-Qabu, where most residents are Alawites. Clashes started after regime loyalists opened fire at seven women, who were on farmland between these villages.

Guest, Male #3
Clashes broke out in the countryside of northern Homs in al-Hula after two women were martyred by the indiscriminate gunfire of the shabeha, or armed regime loyalists. Clashes were between fighters from armed groups of defectors from al-Taiba village and armed men from al-Qabu village; they led to the killing of four shabehas.

Reporter, Male #2
Protests were held in a number of Syrian areas demanding the downfall of the regime and support for the Free Army. This is the scene in Dara'a. Meanwhile, Syrian refugees continue to flee their villages in the northern parts of the country to nearby Turkish regions, raising the number of refugees in Turkey alone to 21,000, according to figures released by Turkey. Hayyan Aqoub, BBC.

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Saudis, Yemenis stage fresh anti-regime protests [Press TV, Iran]

Saudi Arabian anti-regime rallies are being held in the oil-rich Eastern Province, including the towns of Qatif and Awamiyah. The protestors demanded the release of thousands of political prisoners behind bars across the country. Activists say there are over 30,000 prisoners detained for wanting reforms.

People in Yemen have held fresh rallies demanding the trial of the deposed ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh and his aides; they also want them to leave power.

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Two US-led foreign troops killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

Another NATO soldier has been killed in eastern Afghanistan, bringing Friday's death toll to two, while a US drone has also crashed in the country. As the weather gets warmer, Taliban attacks are expected to intensify.

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UN report: land mines affect 1.5 million Iraqis [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]

Presenter, Female #1
A UN study revealed the prevalence of land mines in Iraq directly affects the lives of over 1.5 million people.

Presenter, Male #1
The southeastern parts of Iraq along the border with Iran are the most harmed by land mines. Sahar al-Ibrahim has the details.

Reporter, Female #2
Iraq signed the Ottawa Treaty that bans anti-personnel land mines in 2008. In compliance with the treaty, Iraq pledged to cleanse the country from land mines by 2018. It also pledged to never use, produce, buy or export anti-personnel mines. On April 4th, the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, countries around the world, as well as Iraq, exerted efforts to raise awareness of the danger of land mines and push for progress in mine disposal techniques.

Guest, Male #2 (Sirkon Sliwa, Iraqi Minister of Environment)
This was a good opportunity to show the true extent of the tragedy or problem that Iraq is suffering from because of land mines and unexploded ammunition. At the same time, it was the right occasion to call on the country's decision makers to pay attention or focus on this matter, and dedicate more effort to solving the issue. In fact, our ministry has a special program this year, and it's more widespread than last year's program.

Reporter, Female #2
The United Nations is helping Iraq fulfill its international obligation to eliminate land mines. The UN affirmed its commitment to supporting Iraq's land mine removal programs through its secretary-general's special representative in Iraq, Martin Kobler. Kobler explained that nearly 90 percent of the mine-contaminated land is farmland. He added that a large number of land mines were planted around the main oil fields.

Guest, Male #3 (Martin Kobler, UN Secretary-General Special Representative in Iraq)
There are two elements that are particularly worrying. The first is the problem of land mines in farmland. The other problem is equally important; well, for me, it's even more important, and that is the human dimension of the issue. There have been many victims of land mines.

Reporter, Female #2
Iraq is considered one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. However, it has achieved remarkable progress in cleansing areas from land mines and unexploded ammunitions, as well as activating mine-removing strategies and holding awareness programs on the damage mines cause. Sahar al-Ibrahimi, Al-Iraqiya, Baghdad.