Deadly clashes in Lebanon as Syria unrest spills over [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
Amid the raging tension, the return to the Abed al-Hamid Karami Square, and the meeting at the home of Mohamed Kabara, the day in the Lebanese north was filled with events.

Reporter, Male #1
For the second consecutive day, tension is running high in Tripoli, following the arrest of Shadi al-Mawlawi. Al-Mawlawi's arrest sparked violent clashes in the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods in Tripoli, where roads were cut off and traffic was halted. Five people were injured in the fierce clashes that erupted Sunday night and continued into Monday morning, especially in the area of Mankubin and Jabal Mohsen. Street battles and skirmishes spread to other regions, most notably al-Baqar and al-Malula. A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at an all girls' school in the area of al-Zahriyah. More than 50 people were injured and transported to city hospitals. It was very difficult for ambulances to reach some of the victims due to the intensity of fighting.

Reporter, Male #1
For its part, the Lebanese army reinforced its presence in areas overlooking Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. However, the army was unable to put an end to the sporadic clashes that lasted throughout the day. One resident from al-Rashed tribe was killed in today's violence.

Reporter, Male #1
Politically, a meeting was held at the home of Member of Parliament, Mohamed Kabara. Among the participants were Ahmed Karami, who represented Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and Ahmad al-Safadi who represented Minister al-Safadi as well as other local legislators. MP Muen al-Almaribi walked out of the meeting and held the army responsible for the security breach due to its slow response.

Guest, Male #2 (Muen al-Almaribi, Future Parliamentary Bloc Member)
Unfortunately, the army has not yet been deployed. The army doesn't want to make a plan or accept our proposed plan. It doesn't want to mobilize without a political cover. Therefore, we hold the army fully responsible for this breach.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohamed Kabara, MP)
It's a political conspiracy being hatched against the city of Tripoli. The High Defense Council, which convened under the auspices of the president of the republic, is conspiring against the city of Tripoli. I demand the political authority, led by the prime minister, to either take responsible action or step down.

Reporter, Male #1
The political mobilization launched during the early afternoon hours has failed to secure the release of al-Mawlawi. This prompted members of the Islamist movement to return to the square and cut off the roads.

Guest, Male #4 (Dai al-Islam al-Shahal, Founder of Salafi Movement in Lebanon)
If they want justice then they must treat everyone equally, and without prejudice or favoritism. They also need to find an immediate solution to this problem.

Guest, Male #5 (Omar Bakri al-Fustuk, Leader of Salafi Movement in North)
They made a mistake by arresting him. His arrest was illegal and illegitimate. They must take responsible action and release him. Otherwise, the situation will escalate.

Reporter, Male #1
The situation in Tripoli is back to square one, after all options were exhausted, which sparked a new wave of violence in a city, best known as capital of the north. From the city of Tripoli, Ramzi al-Qadi, New TV.

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Bahrain, Saudi Arabia to form Arabian Gulf Union [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Leaders of the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf are meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh to discuss incorporating Bahrain into Saudi Arabia. This comes a day after the preparatory ministerial meeting, where the Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa said the current challenges have made the union imperative. Meanwhile, the Bahraini opposition warned al-Manama's authorities of the repercussions of the union.

Reporter, Female #1
The summit of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf in Riyadh comes a day after the preparatory ministerial meeting. Its top priority is considered a dangerous model for the world. It discussed incorporating Bahrain into Saudi Arabia under the name "union", which was described as Bahrain sacrificing itself on the Saudi altar. This plan is not only facing objections from inside Bahrain, but also from member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa justified the plan by saying that exceptional challenges and conditions have made it imperative to form what he referred to as a unified security system to protect the GCC countries.

Reporter, Female #1
This is considered to be al-Manama's new official call to Riyadh, to repress and intervene in the revolution demanding change and democracy after Saudi Arabia's forces entered Bahrain. Disputes over the planned union dominated the summit, as revealed by Bahrain's Minister of Information, Samira Rajab. A majority of the member countries fear the increasing hegemony of what they referred to as the "Big Brother," Saudi Arabia. As for the Bahraini opposition, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society warned the regime against its attempted union.

Guest, Male #2 (Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary-General of al-Wefaq National Islamic Society)
No authority, al-Khalifa or any other, has the right in any form, be it federal or individual, to form a union with anyone without the Bahraini people's approval. Your decision is void.

Reporter, Female #1
For its part, the opposition Islamic Action Society denounced the idea of the union, and said the union of the weak will not stop the revolution of the steadfast. It indicated the peaceful protests have been ongoing for over a year, and the Saudi forces contributed to crushing them. The Society described the ominous union as stillborn and doomed to fail, asserting that it lacks legitimacy, as it does not abide by the people's will and legitimizes the Saudi occupation of Bahrain. In turn, political observers considered the so-called union a political move, and an attempt to dilute the Bahraini identity under an expansive Saudi entity. This in turn would break the democratic movement in Bahrain, which does not benefit al-Manama's authorities or the ruling family in Saudi Arabia.

Reporter, Female #1
Others said the union would be similar to Saddam Hussein's occupation of Kuwait, and they fear that its outcome would be brutal for everyone. Some other observers believe it has become a trend, using foreign forces to settle internal issues, and repressing the people. The plan came as a shock to many, that al-Manama's authorities would offer the sovereignty of their country on a platter to others, while not offering even the minimal concessions to their own people, or meeting their legitimate demands.

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Bahrainis rally against US support for Manama crackdown [Press TV, Iran]

In Bahrain, people have taken to the streets outside the capital Manama. They burned the US flag as they protested US support for the ongoing crackdown. The protestors have staged several anti-US demonstrations across the country, considering Washington responsible for the crimes committed against them by the Bahraini regime. The US recently welcomed the Bahraini crown prince to Washington and called Bahrain one of its allies in the Persian Gulf. Washington also announced several days ago that it is increasing its weapons sales to the Manama regime.

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Somali draft constitution gives voice to women after decades of civil war [Press TV, Iran]

Somalia is struggling to recover from a decades-long civil war. Somali women have borne the brunt of the crisis, being the majority of people in camps for internally displaced people and having some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. With the approval of a new constitution, their voice will be heard in the new Somali government. If the current draft resolution is approved in Somalia, women's voices will be heard in the political process for the first time in almost two decades, as 30 percent of the seats in the new constituent assembly will go to women.

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Syrian soldiers 'killed' in Rastan clashes [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
In Syria, the Syrian Revolution's General Commission said 16 people were killed today by the gunfire of Assad's brigades in various areas, including a first lieutenant and two civilians who died under torture in Homs.

Reporter, Male #2
After Assad's brigades intentionally targeted civilians in various neighborhoods and areas of Homs, the Free Syrian Army attacked the military and security centers in Rastan with machine guns and rockets. The Syrian security forces suffered large human and material losses.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 23 regime soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded. It noted that three armored troop carriers were destroyed; two of them were seized and the soldiers of the Assad brigades were imprisoned. In light of these developments, Assad's brigades launched retaliatory attacks using artilleries, killing and injuring dozens of civilians, and destroying houses with their occupants inside.

Reporter, Male #2
In Aleppo, the event is ongoing on the city's university campus. Hundreds of students demonstrated demanding the release of their schoolmates, who were detained by security forces on charges of participating in anti-Assad protests. However, the shabeha soon attacked the student protestors and assaulted them using batons and tear gas.

Reporter, Male #2
Meanwhile, a number of international observers arrived in villages in the countryside of Aleppo, and saw the tanks of Assad's brigades still deployed on the roads. In Hama, Assad's brigades and the shabeha stormed a number of villages in the countryside and carried out wide-scale arrest campaigns against the civilians amid heavy and arbitrary gunfire terrorizing the residents. As the UN observers' delegation arrived in Hama, hundreds of citizens waiting for them chanted slogans demanding freedom.

Reporter, Male #2
In Idlib, in the northern parts of the country, a number of residents were killed and injured by the regime's violent killing machine. There was also a massive crowd greeting the international observers. Clashes were reported between Assad's brigades and defectors from the regime army in al-Quriya, of Deir az-Zour Province. Meantime, Assad's brigades were deployed in neighborhoods of the capital Damascus and their forces pounded several villages in the countryside of the capital, leading to deaths. The heated developments on the ground did not prevent the demonstrators from taking to the streets of the Syrian cities and towns as usual, chanting anti-Assad slogans.

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Palestinians reject Netanyahu's response to Abbas' message [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
Israel's response to the current impasse in the peace process did not satisfy the Palestinians. It contained no clear answers to the basic issues in dispute which are hindering the resumption of negotiations. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's message, reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, stated Israel's point of view on returning to negotiations without preconditions. Our correspondent Shuruq Asad reports from Ramallah.

Reporter, Female #2
Israel's response did not come with anything new, nor did it contain any answer to the essential issues that are hampering the resumption of peace talks. The most notable of these issues is ending the construction of settlements, acknowledging the borders of June 4th 1967, and releasing the political prisoners. This response followed Israel's response to Mahmoud Abbas' original message.

Guest, Male #1 (Yasser Abed Rabu, Secretary of PLO Executive Committee)
The Executive Committee believes that the Israeli message does not contain any clear answers in regards to the essential issues which are hindering the resumption of the peace process. Ending settlement construction tops our list.

Reporter, Female #2
In reality, the Israeli response did not exceed the Palestinians' expectations, and came as a reaffirmation of its settlement policy on the ground in the West Bank and Jerusalem. It was a response similar to Israel's stance during the exploratory talks in the Jordanian capital around two months ago: Israel demanding negotiations without any preconditions, focusing on the security deployments, specifically in the Jordan Valley. This new response with the same old content does not create any groundwork for resuming the talks.

Guest, Male #2 (Wasel Abu Yousef, Member of PLO Executive Committee)
This matter will prevent the opening of a political path in the region. Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government is responsible for it, especially after the coalition it created with the Kadima party led by Mofaz. With this, the right-wing extremists in this government will be dealing with the Palestinian people.

Reporter, Female #2
The prisoners' hunger strike was another issue discussed at the meeting of the Executive Committee, which held Israel responsible for the prisoners' lives. Abbas said there are Arab and international efforts, specifically from Egypt, to resolve this humanitarian crisis.

Guest, Male #3 (Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President)
We have stated more than once that some of their lives are at risk. If that happens, it will be a national catastrophe.

Reporter, Female #2
So the Palestinian leadership is still waiting for urgent international intervention in the prisoners' issue and to save the peace process. The Palestinian leadership fears for the upcoming phase in the light of Israel's expanded right-wing government. Meanwhile, many Palestinians on the ground demand the restructuring of internal fronts in Palestine, and urge the international community to intervene again. They also demand that the Palestinian Authority end its security and economic obligations to Israel. Shuruq Asad, Dubai TV, Ramallah.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, as part of Israel's policy of demolition, hundreds of Palestinian houses and organizations were razed in 2011. According to a report by non-governmental organizations with the cooperation of the United Nations, Israel demolished 620 buildings in the West Bank, including 62 that were built with funds from the European Union. The report added that 110 other buildings were listed to be demolished in the future.

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Israeli ministers 'skeptical' Palestinian negotiations will resume [IBA, Israel]

The Palestinians have received the Israeli response on the renewal of the peace process. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started off the cabinet meeting by introducing his new Vice Premier Shaul Mofaz and restating the four main goals of their new unity government, which include forming an alternative to the Tal Law by the end of July and implementing change to the electoral system by the end of 2012.

They also discussed the delivery of Prime Minister Netanyahu's reply to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which stated Palestinians should resume negotiations without preconditions, acknowledge Israel's security needs, and recognize Israel as a state. Many ministers expressed skepticism at the negotiations.

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Pro-settler group petitions Israeli High Court on behalf of Ulpana residents [IBA, Israel]

A pro-settlers' group petitioned the Israeli High Court on behalf of residents of the Ulpana neighborhood whose homes are slated for demolition by July 1. The petition by the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel states that the court should not have ruled in favor of demolishing the buildings until it had heard the claims of the apartment buyers or the residents of the Ulpana neighborhood, and the Forum is requesting an interim order to freeze the evacuation of the neighborhood until a final decision on its appeal is reached.

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New UK-based Algerian satellite TV channel launches [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
A new Algerian satellite channel was launched in London. The channel hosted several Algerian opposition figures living in exile. The sharp criticism by the guests of al-Magharibia of the government in Algeria raised questions about the motive of the channel and its owners. One of the funders is directly linked to the Algerian Islamic Movement. More details in the following report.

Reporter, Male #1
The launch of al-Magharibia channel in the British capital London nearly four months ago coincided with the announcement of the Algerian authority holding legislative elections on May 10. Since then, al-Magharibia dedicated its entire coverage to the events in Algeria. The channel opened its doors to Algerian opposition leaders, who didn't hesitate to sharply criticize the Algerian army and regime, prompting many Algerians to consider the channel as opposition-based media.

Guest, Male #2 (Salim Saleh, al-Magharibia Editor-in-Chief)
Some people will watch the channel because of the status quo in Algeria, where the media is not free.

Reporter, Male #1
Many Algerians living in Britain who watched the launch of al-Magharibia accused the channel of exaggerating its rhetoric against the authority by focusing only on the negative issues.

Guest, Male #3
Every channel has two sides, positive and negative. However, this channel has a negative side only.

Reporter, Male #1
It's worth mentioning that Britain is hosting a large number of Algerians who fled the country during the terror attacks launched in the 1990s.

Guest, Male #4 (Mohamed Kadash, Algerian Coffee Shop Owner in London)
The channel is more open, and its programs cover many issues, especially political, social, and current events in Algeria.

Reporter, Male #1
All Algerian television channels, including satellite stations, are funded by the government. This has led the Algerian people to seek channels that offer the other side of the story and hold officials responsible.