Two Palestinian hunger strikers near death as Israel postpones appeal decision [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Female #1
The head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Society's legal unit, lawyer Jawad Boulos, said the Israeli Supreme Court has postponed issuing a decision on the two appeals presented by two prisoners on hunger strike, Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla.

Reporter, Female #2
After prisoners Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla entered the 68th day of their open-ended hunger strike, a hearing was held in the so-called Israeli Supreme Court, where their trial was indefinitely postponed to review their demand to be released.

Guest, Male #1 (Ahmed al-Tibi, Head of the Arab Movement for Renewal)
Bilal fainted during the trial. After the judge's orders, I was asked to examine him since I am a doctor. The Prisons Authorities and the Nachshon Unit rejected the judge's decision twice. Only the third time, and after the judge and the court were extremely embarrassed, was I allowed to enter to examine Bilal. His body temperature was very low.

Reporter, Female #2
The Prisoners' Society and the Jerusalem Prisoners' Families Committee held a sit-in in front of the court before the trial began, to send a message to the occupation's administration that despite the ban on sit-ins, they insist on standing in solidarity with the prisoners who are fighting the battle of empty stomachs in the occupation's prisons.

Guest, Male #2 (Nasser Qaus, Director of Palestinian Prisoners' Society in Jerusalem)
These two prisoners presented the greatest image and the most courageous heroism in defense of our prisoners in captivity. A large number of our detainees are taking part in this hunger strike in the prisons. We call on all forces and international courts to stand by our prisoners.

Guest Male #3 (Amjad Abu Asab, Head of the Jerusalem Prisoners' Families Committee)
It is the supreme court of injustice that was belittled today by the power and determination of the two prisoners Thaer Halahla and Bilal Diab. And even though the occupation's authorities prevented us from entering and holding our sit-in in the corridors of the court, we held our sit-in at the entrance of this court.

Reporter, Female #2
During the session, Bilal and Thaer's attorney presented an argument to the judge in condemnation of the so-called policy of administrative detention that allows the detention of the prisoners without any charges. Also during the session, detained Thaer Halahla addressed the judge despite his deteriorating health condition, asking for a doctor to examine him as he seemed to be near death. He also asked the judge a question, saying that throughout his 22 months of detention, his case has not been investigated and no charges have been levied against him, asking under what basis his detention continues.

Guest, Male #4 (Lawyer Jawad Boulos, Head of Palestinian Prisoners' Society's Legal Unit)
The history of this court has taught us that neither justice and fairness, nor equity, can come out of it. We come here to raise our voices, the same way we do in front of the world, in front of their judiciary, in front of all those who should hear the cries of people being detained for no reason, and with impunity for the Israelis.

Reporter, Female #2
As for prisoner Bilal Diab, he fainted during the session. Member of the Knesset Dr. Ahmed al-Tibi requested the judge to allow him to immediately examine Bilal. The Shin Bet's so-called security service rejected the request three consecutive times. He was finally allowed to examine him after the judge allowed it. Al-Tibi said Diab is in very poor health. Thaer Halahla and Bilal Diab chose hunger over humiliation as the path to a dignified death, without subservience or subordination to the occupation that is only familiar with injustice and tyranny, even in its courts that claim to be just. Salwa al-Shakra, Palestine TV, occupied Jerusalem.

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Bahrainis rally against King Hamad's constitutional reforms [Press TV, Iran]

In Bahrain, people have held new protests, this time to reject political reforms recently offered by the regime of King Hamad. The protestors have chanted slogans calling for his downfall in the capital Manama and elsewhere. The king has announced a series of reforms which would give more power to Bahraini lawmakers. The reforms will enable the MPs to impeach some cabinet members, but they spare the longtime Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman, who has governed Bahrain with an iron fist for four decades.

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Fresh protests in Jordan, Yemen [Press TV, Iran]

Protestors have taken to the streets across Jordan, slamming the country's peace treaty with Israel and announcing corruption in the kingdom. Protestors burned the Israel flag during the rallies, calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Amman and the closure of its embassy. They also demanded reforms to the political system.

Tens of thousands of Yemenis have rallied in the capital Sanaa, chanting that the revolution that ousted the former regime is not over. The protestors demanded that the members of the country's former regime be purged from top military posts. Several of Ali Abdullah Saleh's loyalists and relatives are still hanging on to key military posts.

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More suspects charged with arms smuggling to Syria [Press TV, Iran]

In Lebanon, a military judge has charged 21 people with smuggling weapons intended to be used for terrorist acts in Syria. Days earlier, the Lebanese Army stopped the ship that was believed to have been smuggling weapons to armed groups in Syria. Fourteen of the defendants are in custody. The ship was carrying heavy machine gun shells, rockets, rocket launchers, and other explosives.

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Fugitive Iraq VP al-Hashemi slams Iraq's judiciary [Press TV, Iran]

Iran's fugitive vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, has accused the Iraqi judiciary system of lacking the principles of justice. Al-Hashemi made the accusation at a press conference in the Turkish city of Istanbul. He also said that he would not return to Baghdad because the charges against him are politically motivated.

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Kurdish gunmen kill three Turkish soldiers, two policemen [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Three Turkish soldiers were killed and two policemen were injured by Kurdish gunmen in two separate attacks in eastern Turkey. Local security sources said gunmen attacked a military patrol unit in a rural area in Tunceli, in the eastern part of the country. In a separate attack, the same sources reported that gunmen attacked a police car with machine guns, and injured two of its members in the region of Sirnak.

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Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Bajur [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
At least 20 people were killed and 45 others were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up. He targeted a police checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan. Among the dead were a number of policemen and civilians.

Reporter, Male #1
This is the result of attacks by armed groups in Pakistan. Their operations made a strong comeback despite campaigns against them by the Pakistani army and security. A man wearing an explosive belt targeted a market in Bajaur, leading to the killing and injury of dozens of people. Bajaur is a tribal area located near the border with Afghanistan. In the past few years, the Pakistani army has waged wide-scale attacks there against the Pakistani Taliban movement that is tied to al-Qaeda. Pakistani medical sources confirmed that among the dead are five policemen.

Guest, Male #2
The number of deaths is increasing because of the serious injuries. Among them are a local security commander, his deputy, a high ranking officer, and at least five policemen.

Reporter, Male #1
The Pakistani police sealed off the site of the attack while the Taliban movement claimed responsibility for it. Bajaur is one of the fiercest battlefields against the Pakistani Taliban. Gunmen linked to the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda usually target security forces and policemen in this area, which is located in the northwestern part of the country. This attack is the third in two days in Bajaur. On Thursday, two explosions killed five people, including two pro-government elders and security elements. Across the country, around 5,000 people have been killed in more than 530 attacks waged by the Pakistani Taliban's gunmen in the past five years.

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Egyptian troops, protestors clash in Cairo as thousands rally against military rule [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Over 20 people were injured in confrontations between the Egyptian security forces and protestors attempting to reach the headquarters of the Defense Ministry in Cairo. Our Al Jazeera correspondent reported that 20 armored trucks amassed in al-Abbasiyah Square after pushing the protestors away from the surroundings of the Defense Ministry. A number of political parties announced their rejection to the attempts to storm the Defense Ministry, and warned of its ramifications on the general security and political scenes in Egypt.

Reporter, Male #1
It is an inflamed Friday in Cairo, with near-repetitive scenes and different parties trading accusations amid a charged political atmosphere ahead of the approaching presidential elections. The platform of the confrontations is al-Abbasiyah Square, that has been on fire for many days. It began with a sit-in organized by the supporters of Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, the candidate that was disqualified by the High Elections Commission. During the sit-in, the protestors attempted to approach the headquarters of the Defense Ministry. Clashes then broke out between the protestors and individuals described as thugs and some al-Abbasiyah residents who are active in the popular committees, similar to the other neighborhoods of Cairo. Nine people were killed a few days ago. Another version of the story says they were killed by thugs, or those described as the regime's remnants.

Reporter, Male #1
On the other hand, the Military Council is accused of negligence and of deliberately allowing the situation to deteriorate in al-Abbasiyah Square. Those who make that claim say the Military Council is trying to postpone the presidential elections. The Military Council responded by denying the accusations, and is warning against approaching the Defense Ministry's headquarters, saying it would react by defending the ministry by virtue of military honor.

Reporter, Male #1
In between the hours that separated the Military Council's warnings and the launch of today's demonstrations, mixed positions were expressed. Tahrir Square hosted a demonstration against the Military Council, and so did al-Abbasiyah Square, that received even more protestors. The Abbasiyah Square protestors are no longer limited to supporters of Abu Ismail. Most Egyptian political parties were quick to announce their rejection of the attempts to reach the Defense Ministry's headquarters, and warned of the consequences. However, it seems their voices have not reached al-Abbasiyah Square, or the protestors who chose to clash with the security forces in their attempt to break through the multiple barriers around the ministry's building. Amid the fresh bloodshed, the calls for calm have been ignored. At the very least, it is likely for the security tension to continue, in addition to the heated political tension only days before the presidential elections.

Presenter, Female #1
Joining us from al-Abbasiyah to brief us on the latest developments is our Al Jazeera correspondent Mahmoud Hussein. Mahmoud, how do you describe what is happening now?

Guest, Male #2
What is happening now is that the seesaw operations are ongoing. Several minutes ago, two armored trucks came from the direction of Ramses Street to disperse the protestors. The remaining protestors are now at al-Nour Mosque.

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Protests escalate in Syria's Aleppo after university raid [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian opposition's Local Coordination Committees said 25 people were killed today by the gunfire of security forces and the army in Homs, Aleppo, and Jabal al-Zawiya. Activists said an entire family, comprised of a couple and their child, was killed by gunfire in a residential neighborhood of Aleppo between Thursday night and Friday morning. This comes as demonstrations broke out in many parts of Syria in response to a call by the opposition that titled this Friday's protests, "Our sincerity is our salvation."

Reporter, Male #2
Since the early morning, different opposition groups started to document reports of killings by the gunfire of the Syrian army and security forces as observers were visiting the cities of Idlib and Maarat al-Numaan.

Guest, Male #3 (Omar Abu Hadi, Local Coordination Committee Spokesman in Idlib)
Even the possibility of communicating with them is nearly impossible because of the heavy security deployment, and the observers are accompanied by security forces and their shabeha.

Reporter, Male #2
Opposition activists accuse the Syrian authorities of opening fire at a number of demonstrations that came out on a Friday named "the Friday of our sincerity is our salvation". Many parts of the country witnessed these protests, from the Kurdish province of al-Hasakah, where dissidents have continued their peaceful demonstrations during the many long months of the uprising, to the towns and villages of Idlib Province that are witnessing intensified security campaigns by government forces, which say they are pursuing gunmen. Similar demonstrations were held in the towns and villages of Daraa.

Reporter, Male #2
Protestors in the city of Dael carried banners in solidarity with the students of Aleppo University, and other slogans criticizing the performance of the international observers. Protests were also held in the countryside of Aleppo and the countryside of Hama. The demonstrations in the neighborhoods of Homs were characterized by massive crowds. Protestors chanted slogans calling for the downfall of the regime.

Reporter, Male #2
As for the capital, Damascus, activists reported gunfire and killings by the security's gunfire in the neighborhood of al-Tadamun, in addition to ongoing house raids and arrest campaigns targeting activists. Similar scenes were witnessed across the countryside of Damascus, where the deployment of the army and security forces was increased. Wael Hajjar, BBC.

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Knesset dissolution bill to be voted on next week [IBA, Israel]

Coalition chairman Zeev Elkin submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset, which will be put to a vote next week. Most sources in the Knesset advocate September 4 as the date for the country's next general elections. Benjamin Netanyahu will announce the date when he returns to official duties on Sunday. Media projections have Likud winning the most seats, while Kadima, currently the largest party in the Knesset, dropping to the least.

Meanwhile, the Tal Law will be automatically extended if the Knesset is not in session; it is set to expire on July 31, but will not be canceled until after a new government is formed following the election, which can take up to 100 days after the vote.

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Body of missing IDF soldier found near Beit Shemesh [IBA, Israel]

The body of IDF soldier Neta Brand, who went missing Wednesday, was discovered near Beit Shemesh. Brand was found shot to death, with his army-issued rifle laying next to him. Military police have launched an investigation into the incident. His family said they found a suicide note in his belongings.

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Brother of Yitzhak Rabin's assassin released from prison after 16-year sentence [IBA, Israel]

Hagai Amir, brother of Yigal Amir, assassin of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, will be released from prison tomorrow morning. Amir will be completing his 16.5-year sentence for conspiring to murder Rabin, and for threatening the life of Ariel Sharon when he was prime minister in 2006. His brother Yigal is serving a life sentence.

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Iranians vote in parliamentary runoff elections [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
In Iran, two months after the first round of elections was held and resulted in conservatives taking over the Shura Council, Iranians cast their ballots today in the runoff election to select the 65 remaining seats in the 290-member legislative body. The polling took place in 23 electoral districts, most notably Tehran, where candidates are competing for 25 parliamentary seats. Among the competing parties are the United Front of Conservatives, which includes opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the Steadfast Front, which includes both Ahmadinejad's supporters and opponents, as well as some reformists. Joining us directly from Tehran is our correspondent Reda al-Basha. Reda, how was the voter turnout in this second round of elections?

Reporter, Male #2 (Reda al-Basha, Dubai Correspondent in Tehran)
Mohamed, the voter turnout across Iranian polling stations has been low since this morning, just like the first round of the elections that were held two months ago. I believe the low popular turnout in this second round of the elections has something to do with the economic hardship witnessed in the country, especially in the past two months amid the soaring inflation rates. This was reflected on the Iranian street that expressed its dissatisfaction with the government's performance and its policies. I believe this dissatisfaction was more evident today in the polling stations that witnessed a low turnout as the second round of legislative elections kicked off.

Presenter, Male #1
Reda, when will the election results be announced? And do you have any initial thoughts on their outcome?

Reporter, Male #2
Mohamed, as I mentioned earlier, the economic policy adopted by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government will likely influence the results of the parliamentary election, and particularly in the second round. As shown in the polling stations, the Iranian street seems to be leaning toward electing parliament members who are opposed to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, especially those who questioned many of Ahmadinejad's ministers, or issued no-confidence votes against others. I believe that Ahmadinejad's opponents are in a better position to win, especially amid the ailing economic policy of the current Iranian government.

Presenter, Male #1
How important are these elections for overall Iranian policy and the future of its president, Ahmadinejad?

Reporter, Male #2
As far as Iranian foreign policy is concerned, I believe that Iran is trying to use these elections as a bargaining chip during its talks with the Group of Six nations in Istanbul, just like it did with the first round of elections. As we all know, Iran is scheduled to hold talks with the Group of Six in Baghdad in a few days. I believe this round of elections will play an important role in the negotiations, just like the first round did.

Reporter, Male #2
As for the internal Iranian policy, the election results will be reflected in one way or another on Iranian President Mahmud Ahamadinejad's government. If the president is lucky, and the majority of the elected candidates are among his supporters, this will be a victory for Ahmadinejad, marking the beginning of a new phase for his government, which is facing strong criticism from the current Iranian parliament.

Presenter, Male #1
Reda al-Basha, our correspondent from Tehran, thank you very much.