Israeli protestors attack African migrants in Tel Aviv [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in central Tel Aviv against the increasing numbers of illegal African immigrants in the country, and called for deporting them immediately. These protests came several days after the Interior Minister Eli Yishai called for arresting all African immigrants and deporting them from Israel. Israeli sources estimate there are 60,000 Africans in Israel from various countries.

Reporter, Male #1
Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets to support the call put forth by Interior Minister Eli Yishai to arrest and deport Africans living illegally in Israel. The scene was not free of aggression against Africans and local shops that employ them. The recent crimes and rapes committed by Africans instigated the Israelis to come out in protest. However, Yishai did not reveal the real reason behind his call from the podium of Knesset.

Guest, Male #2 (Eli Yishai, Israeli Interior Minister)
We are not racists, we will solve the problem of refugees, but we also want to protect the Jewish majority. Otherwise, within a few years, we will find ourselves fighting another independence war.

Reporter, Male #1
In every corner of Tel Aviv, groups of African immigrants will be found. According to official figures, 60,000 Africans are living in Israel. Half of them are from Eritrea, 15,000 from Sudan, and the rest are from other African countries. Brown-skinned people are viewed by Israelis as an uncivilized sight that should be removed.

Guest, Male #3
Israelis targeting us because we are black, and we're Africans. Not for other reasons.

Guest, Male #4
We came here in search of freedom and democracy. Then when we came here we encounter the same problems from Israelis. But not all Israelis hate Africans.

Reporter, Male #1
Israeli organizations monitoring Africans' affairs, especially those seeking political asylum, say that deporting them would risk their lives. And such behavior is inappropriate for a people that suffered persecution from the Nazis.

Guest, Female #2 (Sigal Rozen, African Refugees Advocacy Center)
Israel is a Jewish state established by refugees, for refugees. It cannot treat today's refugees this way.

Reporter, Male #1
The prosecution of Africans begins at the border with Egypt. Hundreds of them are arrested daily, while hundreds of others manage to arrive at Israeli cities. Along these borders, Israel is setting up a security fence that will soon cut off the way for immigrants from the African continent. Africans come to Israel in search of a new life and a safe refuge. But they are colliding with a society that hosts hatred and racism against strangers. This makes their life full of expulsion, arrests, and deportation, as well as violence. Ilyas Karam, Al Jazeera, Tel Aviv.

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Amnesty International slams human rights violations in Arab Spring countries [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Amnesty International warned in its new annual report that opportunities for change and democracy in the Arab countries that witnessed popular uprisings against their rulers, may be wasted due to the continuing human rights violations in those countries. The human rights advocacy organization accused major powers of holding double standards, and upholding their economic and political interests, at the cost of human rights.

Reporter, Male #1
The uprisings in the Arab world dominated Amnesty International's annual report. In the chapters pertaining to human rights in the Arab Spring countries, the report concluded that toppling a few leaders is not enough to achieve sought-after change. Human rights violations were the major cause for the eruption of those popular revolutions. However, these violations, in different forms, continue extensively in some countries of the region.

Reporter, Male #1
In Tunisia, human rights violations have not ended, according to the report. Security forces repeatedly used excessive force against protestors who demonstrated in protest of the delay of change. In Egypt, the practice of torture did not end after Mubarak's downfall; according to the report, the army adopted this practice. Military police have arrested thousands of civilians and brought them to military tribunals, which the international organization described as unjust.

Reporter, Male #1
In Libya, even though the National Transitional Council vowed to build a democratic country, unpunished human rights violations and continuous rights infringements by armed militias remain an endemic phenomenon.

Guest, Male #2 (Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East Acting Director)
The new transitional governments in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia have failed to meet the demands of the protestors, those people who took to the streets during the uprisings.

Reporter, Male #1
In addition, the report criticizes what it refers to as the double standard of major powers in terms of supporting the people of the region. These countries intervened decisively against Gaddafi in Libya to protect civilians. However, they have not intervened militarily in other countries, on account of their political and economic interests.

Guest, Male #2
In dealing with the human rights situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the major powers practice a double standard. We saw that from Russia and from the West, such as the United States.

Guest, Male #2
For instance, the UN Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court. But when it comes to Syria, it has not done that so far, even as the crimes against humanity continue.

Reporter, Male #1
In its new report, Amnesty International also expressed its deep concern for the crimes against humanity committed by army and security forces in Syria in order to quell anti-regime protests. The organization requested a referral of the Syria case to the International Criminal Court in order to investigate into these crimes.

Reporter, Male #1
Fifty years have passed since the establishment of Amnesty International, an organization independent from all governments. Therefore, its annual reports have special significance, and enjoy high credibility. Its latest report examines a critical phase in the history of the Arab world. The report is not only considered proof of the ordeal of those living under human rights violations, but also testimony that the path to change, especially in the Arab world, may be extremely long. But it has undoubtedly begun. From in front of the headquarters of Amnesty International in London, Ahmed Baha, BBC.

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Dozens killed across Syria as new parliament holds first session [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
According to the Syrian Coordination Committee, thirty-three people were killed today by gunfire of al-Assad's brigades. Most of the victims were killed in heavy shelling that targeted the town of Ihsin in Idlib's Jabal al-Zawiyah region, and the city of al-Rastan in Homs Province.

Reporter, Male #1
Syrians woke up to yet another day of indiscriminate artillery shelling targeting several cities. Homs' neighborhoods endured heavy shelling, causing massive property damage to residents' homes, amid a sharp food shortage due to the siege, and vicious attacks launched by the regime's brigades on rebel areas.

Reporter, Male #1
The Local Coordination Committees announced that dozens of people were killed or injured by gunfire of al-Assad's forces. Among the dead were four victims who were killed in a shelling by the regime's army in the town of Ihsin in Idlib's Jabal al-Zawiyah region. In addition, al-Assad's brigades resumed their indiscriminate shelling of residential neighborhoods in Deir az-Zour's city of Muhsin. The brigades also initiated heavy shelling targeting the city of al-Harak in Dara'a Province, where dozens of soldiers have reportedly defected from the regime's army.

Reporter, Male #1
In Damascus, a series of powerful explosions rocked the capital's neighborhoods, amid heavy gunfire, especially in al-Gabun neighborhood. In the countryside of Damascus, the Free Syrian Army confirmed the defection of more than 200 soldiers, including three officers, in the area of al-Qataifa near al-Qalamun. In addition, al-Assad's shabeha carried out a widescale arrest campaign in the area of Harasta. Dozens of university students were arrested in the raids.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, UN observers continue to tour heated areas across Syria. Several observers visited the city of Aleppo, which has been witnessing heavy shelling over the past few days. On the other hand, the Syrian al-Thawra Daily, which is loyal to the regime, accused the UN observer team and those behind them of seeking to implement "secret agendas" against the regime.

Reporter, Male #1
In the countryside of Aleppo, the sound of random fire and heavy artillery shelling echoed across the area of al-Atareb. Incoming reports also confirmed the arrest of one the youth in the city of Tal-Rifa'at. In Hama, the Syrian Revolution General Commission confirmed the murder of a mother and her five children. The Commission added that the victims were slaughtered by members of al-Assad's shabeha.

Guest, Male #2
Al-Assad's gangs have slaughtered a mother and her five children.

Reporter, Male #1
The unified leadership of the Syrian Free Army issued a statement hailing the formation of a military council affiliated with the Free Army in al-Suwaida'a.

Guest, Male #3
The formation of a military council in al-Suwaida'a Province is a step forward on the national path, similar to the one taken during the first Syrian revolution, which was led by Sultan Basha al-Atrash.

Reporter, Male #1
In Dara'a, the Syrian army and security forces stormed the city of Shiekh Maskeen, backed by tanks and armored vehicles. The invading forces carried out widescale raids and arrests among the civilians. They also assaulted the residents, as well as vandalized and looted their homes.

Reporter, Male #1
On the eve of a Friday dubbed "Damascus, we are coming soon," thousands of Syrians took to the streets across various cities in massive demonstrations, demanding the downfall of the regime and al-Assad's departure. Amid these developments, new members of the Syrian People's Assembly were sworn in during the first parliamentary session. Mohamed Jihad al-Lahham was elected as the speaker of the Syrian parliament with a majority of 225 out of 250 votes.

Presenter, Male #4
In the Turkish city of Istanbul, the Syrian National Council's Executive Bureau said in a statement that it has accepted the resignation of its president, Burhan Ghalioun. The council asked Ghalioun to remain in his position until a new president is elected at the General Assembly meeting scheduled for June 9th. Hours after his resignation, Ghalioun admitted that the council has failed the Syrian people, who have sacrificed so much. He added that his resignation was due to internal division between the Islamists and the secularists.

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Iran, P5+1 meet again in Baghdad [Press TV, Iran]

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are holding a new round of talks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The third round starts after bilateral talks between the head of the Iranian delegation, Saeed Jalili, and the lead negotiator for the P5+1, Catherine Ashton, as well as his Russian and Chinese counterparts. The talks will focus on the two packages of proposals the two sides exchanged on Wednesday.

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Egyptians vote on second and final day of landmark election [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Today, Egyptians end the voting process in the first democratic presidential elections in their history. The results will not be announced until the last ballot box is counted. Thirteen candidates are competing in the elections, most notably Mohamed Morsy, the candidate for the Muslim Brotherhood, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a former member of the group, and Hamdeen Sabahy.

Reporter, Male #2
Egyptians are continuing to cast their votes on the second and final day of the first presidential elections witnessed in the country, after the revolution that toppled the eras of oppression and corruption. The judges supervising the polling stations broke the red wax seals off the ballot boxes to receive the votes of the people, who insist on having a role in building their future. Cairo's neighborhoods witnessed a large turnout in the early hours that marked the beginning the voting process. Women accompanied their children to this democratic celebration.

Guest, Male #3
It is such a wonderful and successful experience. We are all happy that Egypt has reached this level of democracy. We will accept anyone who wins these elections, and we will support him as well.

Reporter Male #2
The voters' lines extended in front of the polling stations. This became a repetitive sight that is characterizing the elections in Egypt after the revolution. Protestors expressed their hopes that this election will deliver a president who will fulfill the people's ambitions.

Guest, Male #4
We want a president who will feel that he is responsible for us. He should be God-fearing and protect the poor people. We reached a level where we need a prophet to lift us out of these miserable conditions we live in.

Reporter, Male #2
Although the elections witnessed a moderate turnout in other governorates, due to high temperatures, the supervisors predict that the numbers will steadily increase as time goes by, especially since government declared today an official holiday.

Reporter, Male #2
As the election process advances, deputy chairman of the Freedom and Justice party, Essam el-Erian, assured that indicators confirm the lead of his party's candidate, Mohamed Morsy. This comes amid tight security procedures by security and military forces, and a visible deployment of observers and monitors at polling stations. As soon as the election day ends, the subcommittees will immediately begin counting the votes. And if none of the 13 candidates obtains a majority, a run-off will be held on the 16th and 17th of June between the two candidates who obtained the most votes.

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Are Egypt's elections truly democratic? [IBA, Israel]

Joining IBA in the studio to discuss the Egyptian elections is Israel's former ambassador to Cairo, Zvi Mazel. IBA asks whether the Egyptian elections, which have been described as "free," are truly democratic. Mazel discusses whether Egyptians want to choose between an Islamist and a man from the former regime, and the lack of candidates who are young and have a new vision for Egypt.

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Hezbollah chief pleads for calm after Free Syrian Army abducts Lebanese pilgrims [IBA, Israel]

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is appealing for calm after protestors blocked roads and burned tires in Lebanon's capital Beirut. The violent protests were launched by family members of 13 men who were reportedly abducted in Syria; they were reportedly aboard a bus of Shiite pilgrims returning from a visit to Iran when their vehicle was stopped by the Free Syrian Army after it crossed the Turkish border into Syria. The Syrian rebels are now reportedly demanding the release of prisoners in Lebanese jails in exchange for the abducted men.

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Netanyahu postpones right-wing bill to legalize West Bank outposts [IBA, Israel]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dodged a crisis with right-wing members of his coalition by gaining a two-week postponement on the first reading of a bill that would regulate private West Bank Arab lands. MK Zevulun Orlev of the Habayit Hayehudi party agreed to the postponement of his proposed legislation, which calls for the legalization of many unauthorized Jewish outposts in the West Bank settlements. The bill also calls for the financial compensation of Arab landowners, when necessary, and prohibits further demolition of any Jewish homes already constructed.

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Concerns rise over ongoing crises across Arab world [Algerie TV, Algeria]

Presenter, Male #1
In the Middle East region, which still witnesses fluctuating political and security mobilization further undermining stability, security concerns are increasing, especially in areas witnessing tension. According to knowledgeable sources, these developments require a serious, consensual evaluation among the countries of the region, in order to help bridge the gap and solve all existing crises. Ibrahim Khalil Kharbal reports.

Reporter, Male #2
The most tense area of the world, the Middle East, endured more than ten wars in the last century, the most intense of them being the Arab-Israeli conflict, along with the disagreements and peace treaties that followed. This is in addition to the conflict of interest among the people of the same region, and the greed of the superpowers in other cases.

Reporter, Male #2
In Syria and neighboring Lebanon, there are hopes for the situation to be resolved on one side, and fears that the situation will continue to deteriorate on the other. Each of those countries plays an important regional, political, and economic role. Syria is the center of economic growth in the Levant region, linked by routes between Iraq, Turkey, and Jordan and the Mediterranean. However, indicators of commercial trade showed a large recession since the Syrian crisis began nearly a year ago. This was also seen during the tension that reached Lebanon, and returned the feeling of insecurity, as well as the unannounced spread of arms leading to tensions between the authorities and factions of the opposition.

Reporter, Male #2
Meanwhile, tensions in the Kingdom of Bahrain have entered the second year. This explains the Gulf countries' rush to intervene, as the Gulf Cooperation Council views itself as the protestor at the forefront of the eastern region. As for Yemen, it is no longer a happy Arab country after the political and security turmoil that Yemenis lived through over the past several months. It is difficult to expect calm in the foreseeable future in the region, and for as long as the Middle East remains an oil-rich region. It is also difficult to contain these ongoing issues across the Middle East, which may require serious reviewing in all of these unsolved and interrelated issues.

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Guinea-Bissau: Military council to return power to civilians [Algerie TV, Algeria]

Presenter, Male #1
In Guinea-Bissau, after the new transitional government was formed, the military council announced today that its army will hand over the authority to civilians, so the army can return to its bases. The new government, comprised of 27 ministers, will be assigned to organize general elections within a year.