1,200 Palestinians held in Israeli jails declare open-ended hunger strike [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
In occupied Palestine, events were held to mark Prisoners' Day. 1,200 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons began an open-ended hunger strike in protest of their mistreatment and ongoing detention. Participants in the event demanded the release of the prisoners. During the Prisoners' Day rally, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Ahmed Bahar called for escalating the armed resistance to liberate the prisoners. For his part, former Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Hisham Abdul Raziq highly praised the detainees' hunger strike and denounced the international community's silence on the occupation's practices. He called for showing solidarity with the prisoners in order to end their suffering.

Reporter, Male #2
From across the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of Palestinians flowed into the streets to take part in the events marking Palestinian Prisoners' Day. Thousands of Palestinian and Arab prisoners are still subjected to the most horrific practices by the Israeli prison administration. Participants called on the factions of the resistance to kidnap Israeli soldiers to force the Israeli occupation to release all the prisoners.

Guest, Female #1 (Samr Sabih, Freed Prisoner)
Today, we are here in Gaza and the squares of Gaza. All of us came out. We tell the Palestinian prisoners, "We are with you until you triumph over the will of the Zionist wardens." Specifically, I say the only policy of dealing with the occupation is resistance, and kidnapping the soldiers so they can be traded for prisoners from the occupation's jails.

Reporter, Male #2
Over 800,000 Palestinians have spent various periods of time in Israeli prisons. Tens of thousands of Palestinians came out today in solidarity with the thousands of remaining prisoners. Participants condemned Israel's violations of the prisoners' rights and its repressive practices against them.

Guest, Male #3 (Dr. Yousef al-Sharafi, Hamas Legislative Council Member)
We send all our greetings to the Arab and Islamic nations, and we want massive demonstrations to affirm their real solidarity with the heroic prisoners.

Reporter, Male #2
Leaders from every faction and civil society organization called for unifying the Palestinian front to achieve the goal of liberating the prisoners and attaining the remaining legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. They vowed to continue all forms of struggle until they fully attain their rights.

Guest, Male #4 (Khader Habib, Leader in the Islamic Jihad Movement)
All Palestinian people are behind you. We, along with you, are engaging in one battle in facing the Zionist enemy and confronting the world's arrogant policy. So, God willing, we will be with you and behind you, and support you with all our means, God willing, and that includes kidnapping Zionist soldiers in order to trade them for your freedom, God willing.

Reporter, Male #2
All Palestinian communities renewed their commitment to all forms of struggle and resistance until the prisoners are freed from Israeli jails. They demanded the international community and human rights organizations put an end to the Israeli violations and prosecute those who committed war crimes. Mustafa Abdul Hadi, Al-Alam, Gaza, Palestine.

Presenter, Male #1
In the West Bank, Palestinians headed to Ofer Prison for a sit-in to condemn the Israeli practices against the Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinians clashed with the occupation soldiers who dispersed the protestors by force and kicked them out of areas near the detention house. A variety of events were held to mark the Palestinian Prisoners' Day in the city of Ramallah. Participants called for unity and an end to the division, and denounced the policy of administrative detention adopted by the occupation authorities. In addition, they called on political parties, all Palestinian factions, associations, and labor unions to support the resistance until victory is attained.

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Senior IDF officer suspended for hitting Danish activist in face with M16 [IBA, Israel]

A senior IDF officer named Shalom Eisner has been suspended after being caught on camera using his M16 rifle to assault an unarmed 20-year-old Danish activist in the face on Saturday. As the news broke, officials condemned the behavior, and the IDF has launched a probe into the incident.

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'Flytilla' activists barred from entering Israel [IBA, Israel]

As for the foreign pro-Palestinian "flytilla" campaign, after much media hype, most protestors were never allowed to leave Europe. Those arriving in Israel were detained and deported. In the end, only a handful of activists reached Bethlehem as planned. Most of the foreign activists detained were French citizens.

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Amnesty International criticizes Bahrain over ongoing human rights crisis [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton called on Bahrain today to save the life of jailed activist on hunger strike, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. She said his health is now a "matter of the utmost urgency." Amnesty International said human rights violations are continuing in Bahrain, even though the Bahraini government accepted the international fact-finding committee's recommendations. According to a new report released by the organization, al-Manama failed to achieve justice for the protestors. It described the reforms in Bahrain as flawed and unable to provide justice for the victims of the violations.

Reporter, Male #2
More than a year has passed since protests erupted in Bahrain. The past year witnessed casualties within the ranks of those who came out to condemn the government's policies. Demonstrators gradually raised the ceiling of their demands, eventually calling for the downfall of the regime. Al-Manama responded to international criticism by forming a fact-finding committee that recommended at the end of its mission the political reform of the regime and its judiciary and security systems. But Bahraini opposition forces believe the government did not commit to the committee's suggestions. Instead, they believe the government outmaneuvered the recommendations and implemented only parts of them. Amnesty International adopted this position in its latest report on the Bahraini crisis. The report said government reforms are flawed, and have failed to provide justice for the victims of human rights violations in Bahrain.

Guest, Female #1 (Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director of Amnesty International)
It continues to hold large numbers of people in detention; it has imposed very harsh sentences on people without fair trials. There are 14 opposition leaders that remain in custody; there has been no high level accountability for those abuses. So we see window dressing in the form of independent investigation that gave an aura of seriousness on the part of the government in terms of living up to their human rights responsibilities, but very little in the way of follow-through.

Reporter, Male #2
In its report, the organization criticized what it viewed as the Bahraini government's attempts to convince the international community that the country is taking the path of reform, while its security institutions continue to practice torture and use excessive force against the protestors.

Guest, Female #1
So they've, you know, done the typical thing, in a sense, by going after those low-level people who were on the front lines but were really just following orders. So we've been really dissatisfied in terms of any seriousness about holding accountable those who are making the decisions, issuing the orders, and were really masterminding this crackdown.

Reporter, Male #2
At the end of its report, Amnesty International called on the Bahraini government to turn its words into actions, release all prisoners of conscience, and hold the perpetrators of torture and those who killed protestors accountable.

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Ahmadinejad warns the West against attacking Iran [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers denounced the last visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to Abu Mousa Island. They described it as a provocative act that contradicts good neighbourly policies. At the end of their exceptional meeting in Doha, the Cooperation Council's foreign ministers demanded their Iranian counterparts end the occupation of islands that belong to the Emirates, and comply with Abu Dhabi's call to find a fair and peaceful solution through bilateral negotiations, or referral to the International Court of Justice. The ministers announced their solidarity with the Emirates, and their support of all the measures the country is taking to retrieve its rights and sovereignty over its islands. In Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said the security of the Gulf is based on mutual security between all the states of the area. In a military show celebrating Iran's Army Day, Ahmedinejad called on Gulf countries to work together to ensure the stability of the region.

Reporter, Male #1
Militarily, there's nothing new on Iran's Army Day; the same weapons crossing the same road. However, the speech is different this time, and a calm tone distinguishes the statements of Iranian officials. Iran seems unaffected by an escalation with the West following the latest talks in Istanbul, which were described as positive. President Ahmedinejad preferred directing his speech to those who criticized his last visit to the Abu Mousa Island in the Gulf. The president's words carried an invitation to his Arab neighbors.

Guest, Male #2 (Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, Iranian President)
Security in the Persian Gulf is based on mutual security that needs the contribution of the region's states and people. The presence of foreign troops there undermines security. Iran is ready to secure the stability of this region in cooperation with the rest of the countries.

Reporter, Male #1
This Iranian invitation is not new, but important in a phase during which the area of disagreement between Tehran and its southern neighbors is widening. Iran seems as if it does not sense any danger these days. The agreement with the West on nuclear affairs and other issues may have calmed its tone. Tehran says the main danger has been lessened, though slightly. What remains is what is described here as a push and pull strategy with neighboring Arab countries, even if it appears as an escalation. Since the beginning, Tehran firmly dealt with the Abu Mousa issue. Abu Mousa, according to Iran, is absolutely part of the Iranian territory. With that, Iran prefers to engage in a dialogue with the Gulf countries, including the Emirates.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohamed Reda Amini, Journalist)
The case of these islands is old; focusing on it is not in the interest of these countries. I think that adopting a policy of confrontation is a wrong and unhelpful decision because of the region's distinct circumstances.

Reporter, Male #1
Iranians rule out the outbreak of an escalated crisis with neighboring Gulf countries. However, they are warning some in the region, and even some outside of it, from fishing in murky waters. Abdel Khader Fayez, Al Jazeera, Tehran.

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Syrian troops bombard Homs and other rebel areas [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
In Syria, dozens of people were killed by the gunfire of al-Assad's brigades. Most of the victims were killed in Idlib Province, where its town of Ariha is enduring heavy and indiscriminate shelling, similar to the shelling of Homs' neighborhoods and other towns in the Daraa province. Meanwhile, the head of the international observers' team said their mission is "not easy," and requires the coordination of all Syrian sides.

Reporter, Female #1
Five days have passed since the "cooling-off period" was announced. Meanwhile, the Syrian regime continues to violate the ceasefire, ignoring its commitment to the joint UN-Arab envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan. Even with the presence of international observers on the ground, al-Assad's brigades launched a new round of heavy shelling targeting Homs' neighborhoods, especially al-Bayada and al-Khalidiya where mortar shells fell on residential homes.

Reporter, Female #1
The situation was not much different in Homs' Jawbar and al-Sultaniya neighborhoods, which are witnessing heavy and indiscriminate shelling, amid a dire humanitarian crisis caused by the absence of food and medical supplies. This has led to additional problems, especially for the injured and the sick. A number of ceasefire violations were also reported in Idlib, where dozens of residents were killed and dozens of others were wounded. This comes as Syrian security forces continue to carry out fierce military operations across various villages in the eastern region of Jabal al-Zawiya. The army deployed dozens of armored vehicles and tanks, amid heavy mortar and artillery shelling. The operation was concentrated in the towns of Ariha, Saja, Bathabur, and Kifar Lata. The latter was stormed by al-Assad's brigades, deploying helicopters and opening heavy fire.

Reporter, Female #1
The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said that several people were executed by the shabiha in the city of Idlib. In Daraa, several residents were killed or injured due to the regime forces' artillery and rocket shelling that targeted Basr al-Harir in their attempt to take control of that village. In addition, the area of Lija in Daraa witnessed heavy gunfire and artillery shelling, amid sounds of powerful explosions. Lija, which is a steep rocky area, is home to a large number of defectors from the regime's army. In Hama, snipers were heavily deployed on school rooftops in the area of Qilaat al-Madiq. Armored vehicles were also entrenched in al-Qisour neighborhood, amid heavy gunfire.

Reporter, Female #1
Meanwhile, al-Assad's brigades stormed the town of Lahaya in the countryside of Hama, and carried out indiscriminate home raids and arrests. In the countryside of Damascus, particularly in Thaqba, the army continues to display a military presence and has set up barriers on the city's streets, as helicopters flew overhead in a blatant violation of the truce. Amid the fragile ceasefire, the international observers continued their mission in Syria by touring areas outside the capital Damascus. On their first day, the observers held intensive talks for hours at the Syrian Foreign Ministry's headquarters. The head of the international observers' team in Syria, Colonel Ahmed Himmiche, said their mission is "not easy."

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Egypt panel rejects barred candidates' appeals [Press TV, Iran]

Egypt's electoral body has rejected appeals filed by candidates disqualified from running for the May presidential election. The electoral bodies disqualified ten of the twenty plea-registered candidates. Three main disqualified candidates are Egypt's former main intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, Khairat al-Shater from the Muslim Brotherhood, and the ultra-conservative Salafist, Hazem Abu Ismail. The electoral commission argues that its decision is based on legal grounds.

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Women, children slam Shia massacre in Pakistan [Press TV, Iran]

Women and children have taken to the streets in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta to condemn the recent targeted killings of Shia Muslims in the Hazara community. Protestors shouted slogans against the government and law enforcement for their failure to curb the killings in the provincial capital Balochistan. A strike was also held on Sunday against the sectarian violence. Balochistan's chief minister has warned of the possibility of civil war in the province if the targeted killings continue.

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Divided Malians await election after coup [Press TV, Iran]

The military coup in Mali has divided the West African country between the central and northern parts, the latter being a stronghold of local fighters. There is a mixed reaction as the citizens wait for the interim government to resolve the country's instability.

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South Sudan: Why is Israel building a foothold in Africa? [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
The Sudanese parliament declared it voted to brand the government of South Sudan an enemy of Khartoum. This comes after South Sudanese force occupied the oil-producing Sudanese area of Heglig. The announcement declaring South Sudan's government an enemy of Sudan added that Sudanese state institutions must deal with the south accordingly. The head of the parliament called for ousting the government of South Sudan. The following report explores the mysteries of the Sudanese crisis.

Reporter, Male #1
It is a coincidence that the land of the Sudanese Unity State is a post-secession battlefield between the north and the south. The disputed state is located in the south, and holds the Bentiu area that has one of the most important oil fields in Sudan: the Heglig field. And while oil continues to be a contentious issue between Sudan and the emerging South Sudanese state, Juba doesn't hesitate to provoke Khartoum and drag it into an armed conflict.

Reporter, Male #1
Juba is backed by Israel, and according to the Israel Today newspaper, the country is training and arming the South Sudanese army. The newspaper revealed that Israeli warplanes land daily in the Rubkona airport in South Sudan, and confirmed that planes unload missiles and arms, in addition to transporting African mercenaries ready to fight on the side of the South Sudanese army against Sudan.

Reporter, Male #1
The relationship between Israel and South Sudan is not new, but goes back to the early 1960s when the armed rebellion was first launched, and was known as the Anya Nya and led by Captain Joseph Lagu in Uganda. The support was not limited to weapons, but military camps led by Israeli officers were established in Uganda. In the 1980s, the second armed rebellion started with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, led by John Garang. During this stage, Israel's arming and training of the movement grew. Following the secession of South Sudan, there was no longer a reason for secrecy and covertness, and the newly-established state's president, Salva Kiir, visited Israel after the two states started their official relationship on the basis of strategic cooperation. Kiir's famous statement was, "Had it not been for you, we would not have been able to exist. You fought with us for the establishment of South Sudan."

Reporter, Male #1
Israel's battle for the establishment of South Sudan wasn't fought with the southerners in mind, but it was part of an Israeli effort to create a non-Muslim Sub-Saharan African coalition led by Israel, with South Sudan at its forefront. The Israeli aspiration is not limited to the continent's oil, gold, and uranium resources, but extends to water, as Israel seeks to control the water springs that feed the Nile River. For this reason, it financed South Sudan's Nile water dam projects. And this will cause a conflict that neither Sudan nor Egypt are likely to idly stand by and watch.