Philippines and Muslim separatists sign preliminary peace pact [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed an initial peace plan in Manila that would end the armed conflict that has lasted over 40 years between the two sides. The plan stipulates that the Liberation Front would abandon its arms in exchange for the establishment of a new autonomous region for the Muslims named Bangsamoro in the southern part of the Philippines.

Reporter, Male #2
A framework agreement crowns tough negotiations that lasted 10 years between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Guest, Male #3 (Benigno Aquino, President of the Philippines)
Much work remains to be done in order to fully reap the fruits of this framework agreement. There are obligations that must be respected.

Guest, Male #4 (Murad Ebrahim, Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman)
Today we extend the hands of friendship and partnership to the president and the Philippines to work together to rebuild the country, attain justice, and restore normalcy to their lives of the masses of our people.

Reporter, Male #2
These moments that were described by both sides as historical form the starting point of a new page of in-depth negotiations, scheduled to end in 2016 by determining and implementing the details of the initial agreement, which was struck through the mediation of neighboring country Malaysia.

Reporter, Male #2
The most notable stipulation of the peace plan is the permanent ceasefire in return for establishing an autonomous region in the southern part of the country named Bangsamoro, or the "Muslim State." The people are looking at the settlement with cautious optimism, and hope that this step will contribute to restoring life to its normal path.

Guest, Male #5
We were forced to leave our lands because of the armed conflict, and until now we have been unable to return to our home. We hope that this agreement will allow us to return to our homes, and to continue our lives.

Reporter, Male #2
On the other hand, the fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front turned the combat training camp into a space for celebration after the settlement called for turning in their weapons. However, this agreement does not imply an end to the conflict, but opens the door to a more challenging phase. The next months will prove if the positivity that accompanied the signing of the agreement was temporary, or if it a new chapter in the history of the Philippines.

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EU bans broadcast of Iranian TV channels on Hot Bird [Press TV, Iran]

European satellite company Eutelsat says that it has pulled the plug on several Iranian satellite channels based on an order by the European Commission. Eutelsat asked media company Arqiva to take Iranian satellite channels off one of its "Hot Bird" frequencies on Monday. Arqiva said that the decision was made by the EU Council. The channels include Press TV, Al-Alam, Jam-e-jam I and II, Sahar I and II, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Quran TV and Al-Kawthar. European satellite firms have been jamming the Iranian channels for months before the decision was announced.

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NATO air strike kills three children in southern Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

The Afghan government strongly condemned the killing of three civilians in a US-led air strike in the south of the country. Afghan officials say that the victims of the attack in Helmand Province were three children who were collecting firewood. The parents of the victims are calling on authorities for justice. Civilians are the main victims of both US-led foreign troops and the Taliban.

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'Yalla Vote' mobilizes Arab-American community to vote in presidential election [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
Every election season, the Arab American Institute launches a campaign called Yalla Vote, or Let's Vote, to promote the Arab-American vote. This time, the campaign comes amid receding Arab-American support for the Democrats. As for the number of Arab-American independents, it appears to be continuously growing, reflecting disappointment in the policies of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Nasser Abu Diab reports from Washington.

Reporter, Male #2
A few weeks before the American presidential elections, volunteers are contacting Arab voters to encourage them to vote in the midst of a fierce election campaign, and close margins between the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, and the President of the United States, Democrat Barack Obama.

Guest, Female #1 (Hillary Colledo, Community Relations Coordinator)
What you see is a workshop to contact Arab-American voters by phone to encourage them to participate in the elections in 12 states with a concentrated Arab presence.

Reporter, Male #2
These contacts are part of the Yalla Vote campaign sponsored by the Arab American Institute. It aims to give political momentum to the Arab-American voice, and is an attempt to influence the decision-making through unifying and closing in the ranks.

Guest, Male #3 (Omar Tewfik, Communications Coordinator)
We, as other Americans, care about the main issues. What distinguishes us is our ability to influence foreign policy. We are like a bridge that connects the United States to the Arab world.

Reporter, Male #2
The campaign is based on the efforts of volunteers who get reinvigorated every election season, and includes a number of events apart from the phone campaign, such as meetings, forums, and participation in political activities to educate the Arab-American community of the importance of their right to vote, regardless of their partisan orientations.

Guest, Male #4 (John Sakakini, Volunteer)
We are aware of the importance of the vote of ethnic minorities. So we strive to organize the Arab vote, and prove that our voice can also make a difference in American policy.

Reporter, Male #2
This is a heated presidential race where every vote is important. A large number of people remain undecided, while others haven't even registered to vote, which means the result of these upcoming elections hangs on these voters' choices. Nasser Abu Diab, Dubai TV, Washington.

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Violence rages across Syria as EU imposes new sanctions on Damascus [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
In Syria, the battles are continuing as new sanctions were imposed by the European Union. Damascus denies using cluster bombs in the conflict, and assures that it does not own these types of bombs. And on a tour to the region, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is delivering Iranian proposals to solve the Syrian crisis.

Reporter, Female #2
UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi denies he suggested sending a peacekeeping force to Syria. Ibrahimi's statement was issued from Baghdad, which he traveled to with Iranian proposals, and where he met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Al-Maliki called on Brahimi to take action quickly to preserve Syria's unity and the security of the region, as he warned the UN-Arab League envoy of Syria's crisis, considering it a danger to its people, neighbors, and world peace.

Reporter, Female #2
Brahimi had met with a number of Iranian officials and received Iranian proposals, which according to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian includes a transition phase in Syria under the supervision of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that would lead to presidential and parliamentary elections. The proposals also includes ending the violence, implementing a cease-fire, and an end to sending weapons and endorsing armed groups, and conducting a national dialogue between the opposition and the government.

Guest, Male #1 (Lakhdar Brahimi, UN-Arab League Envoy)
There are some ideas in your proposals which can help by adding to that forwarded by other nations who are also important with regards to the Syrian situation.

Reporter, Female #2
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed France that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will never leave and will remain until further notice, noting that Russia's stance in favor of al-Assad is becoming increasingly stubborn. Fabius' words came after a European Union meeting imposing additional sanctions on Syrian figures and companies. In Doha, the opposition General Secretariat of the Syrian National Council held meetings presided by Abdelbaset Sieda to discuss the situation on the ground and the political situation in Syria, in addition to relief efforts for refugees.

Reporter, Female #2
At the Turkish border, the new confrontation was with planes. Ankara said that its military fighter jets forced an Armenian plane to land in the eastern part of the country to search it before heading to the Syrian city of Aleppo. The Armenian Yerevan was quick to deny the stance by announcing that the Armenian cargo plane was transporting humanitarian aid to Syria, and had asked permission to use Turkish airspace beforehand, and that it was agreed that it would land in a Turkish airport.

Reporter, Female #2
On the ground, Syrian opposition websites posted scenes of a massacre that it said occurred in Daraya in the countryside of Damascus by the Syrian regime. In Aleppo, eight soldiers from the regime's army were killed in an attack by a booby-trapped car that opponents had set up at a Syrian army checkpoint at the entrance of the city. In Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that clashes are continuing for the third consecutive day near the largest military base in the region, the Wadi Daif base in Maarat al-Numaan.

Reporter, Female #2
On the other hand, Syrian TV said that Bashar al-Assad issued a decree to form a committee to repair the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, which is the oldest historical Islamic landmark in Syria, and was burned due to clashes in the mosque. Syrian TV showed images from inside the mosque and said that opposition fighters had wreaked havoc to its contents, as opposition websites denied that the Free Army had lost control of the mosque.

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Libyan Congress elects new prime minister [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
The Libyan National General Congress elected Ali Zeidan as prime minister, granting him 15 days to form a government. Zeidan vowed to form a government composed of all political factions. He stressed the priority is to solve the main issues in the country, and to rebuild the country's essential components.

Reporter, Male #1
The political scenario in post-revolution Libya appears to be moving toward additional breakthroughs and clarity. After the government of Abdul Rahim al-Kib completed its tasks, and Mustafa Abu Shakur failed to form a government, the National General Assembly elected Ali Zeidan as the country's new prime minister for the transitional phase. Zeidan, who is backed by the coalition of national forces under the leadership of Mahmoud Jibril, received 93 votes. In contrast, his opponent Mohamed al-Harari, the minister of the current local government who is backed by the Islamist movement, received 85 votes.

Guest, Male #2 (Omar Humeidan, parliamentary spokesman)
We wish him success and call on all parties, and all political factions, to cooperate and support Mr. Ali Zeidan in forming his government.

Reporter, Male #1
Several challenges await Zeidan, who has vowed to form a government comprised of all the country's political factions within two weeks. He assured that he will work on implementing the achievements of the transitional phase.

Guest, Male #3 (Ali Zeidan, New Libyan Prime Minister)
A government will be formed within two weeks. This government will be one of national consensus, and we will try to include in it all sides that create consensus among the Libyans. It will be a temporary government according to the constitutional declaration.

Reporter, Male #1
Zeidan, who was born in 1950 in the city of Waddan in al-Jiffra, holds a Master's in International Relations. He has been a member of the National Front to Save Libya since the 1980s, and an official spokesman for the Libyan League for Human Rights since 1989. He was a member of the National General Assembly for al-Jiffra before resigning to be nominated for the post of prime minister. Observers believe a significant legacy awaits the Zeidan government. On its agenda is guaranteeing security and stability for Libyans, through prohibiting the distribution of weapons and imposing the country's control in all arenas.

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Pakistani schoolgirl shot by Taliban arrives in UK for medical treatment [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
An Emirati plane transferred Pakistani student Malala Yousafzai to Britain for treatment nearly one week after being shot by Taliban gunmen for demanding the right to education for girls.

Presenter, Female #1
Fourteen-year-old Malala's condition sparked global sympathy. This comes as near-daily marches were held in Pakistani cities denouncing what its organizers said is the misrepresentation and extremist understanding of Islam adopted by the Taliban movement.

Reporter, Male #1
Her name is Malala and, from here, the 14-year-old girl is being transferred by an Emirati plane to Britain for treatment. Since being shot last week, Malala has become a symbol throughout her country, Pakistan. And as her story spread, the issue became one of global and public interest.

Reporter, Male #1
Malala lived in the Swat Valley, located on the border with Afghanistan. It's also where the Pakistani Taliban movement flourished, ruled, and dominated. Maulana Fazlullah secured his grip on the area after an agreement with the Pakistani authorities years ago. And since this man has a particular approach to Islam, he sought to deprive girls of an education.

Reporter, Male #1
His movement blew up girls' schools, and carried out death sentences against those whose behavior he and his movement viewed as immoral. The girl, Malala, who wanted to become a doctor when she grows up, stood up to them. She started her campaign for the right to education at the age of 11. Back then, she wrote on her blog, challenging those with an extremist understanding of Islam.

Reporter, Male #1
The child proceeded her defense of a right many say was obvious 14 centuries ago. She initiated her campaign, so they initiated their war. They spread death threats against her in newspapers. They placed their threat under her home's front door, but the brave Malala, as she is now described, did not back down. They fired at her as she was leaving her school in the Swat Valley.

Reporter, Male #1
Malala was hit in the head and neck, and lost consciousness. Her sympathizers say she awoke the consciousness of the entire country. Malala, in their opinion, has become a symbol and is no longer an individual, but a cause.

Reporter, Male #1
They organized marches, and prayed for Malala. Girls and boys of her age prayed and supplicated God for Malala's healing. They also raised their voice against what they described as a misconception and extremist understanding of Islam. However, their voice that was heard beyond their borders, does not appear to have reached the Taliban. Yesterday alone, hundreds of the movement's fighters attacked a checkpoint south of Peshawar. The police said they killed and injured some and committed even worse acts. They slaughtered a policeman, and according to the same source, took his head with them as they were leaving the scene.

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Knesset reconvenes for expected dissolution vote [IBA, Israel]

The 18th Knesset reconvened in Jerusalem for the start of its winter session, and is expected to vote to dissolve itself in three separate votes and officially announce new national elections to take place in exactly 100 days. The session opened with the traditional speeches by Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin, President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and opposition leader Shaul Mofaz. While this is the longest-serving Knesset in 24 years, this session is likely to be the shortest in history.

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Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reveals secret Syrian-Israeli peace talks before uprising [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Female #1
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth lifted the veil off secret peace negotiations between Tel Aviv and Damascus that occurred before the latest tensions erupted in Syria. During the negotiations, Netanyahu expressed willingness to completely withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights. Sources close to Netanyahu rushed to deny the news, claiming the Golan is considered a strategic asset that must not be given up.

Reporter, Male #1
This was in 2010. In today's issue, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted secret negotiations with the Syrian regime to reach peace between Tel Aviv and Damascus. Behind closed doors, Netanyahu agreed to completely withdrawal from the Golan, including returning to the June 4 borders, in return for full peace with Syria that includes exchanging ambassadors, and mandating Syria to cut its relations with Tehran.

Reporter, Male #1
Basing its claim on American documents, Yedioth Ahronoth said that Netanyahu assigned American diplomat Fred Hoff to conduct the secret negotiations. Hoff had worked for the American Navy, and is an expert on border demarcation in disputed areas; he was also responsible for the Syrian-Lebanese file in the Obama administration.

Reporter, Male #1
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the American administration was shocked at the flexibility that Netanyahu expressed during the negotiations and his willingness to withdraw, which exceeded that of any former Israeli prime minister, including Yitzhak Rabi, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert.

Reporter, Male #1
The newspaper also said that Netanyahu moderated the negotiations in absolute secrecy, and hid them even from his cabinet and from the Mossad and Shabak, and that negotiation sessions took place at his official headquarters in occupied Jerusalem, and at his villa in Caesarea.

Reporter, Male #1
The newspaper noted that Barak was the only minister who was aware of these negotiations, in addition to Netanyahu's military advisor Maj.-Gen. Yohanan Loaker, Maj. Gen. Uzi Arad, Netanyahu's political consultant Ron Dermer, and Barak's military advisor Mark Herzog. As for the American side, President Barack Obama, his Vice President Joe Biden, and the mediator Fred Hoff were the only ones who were aware of the details of these negotiations.

Reporter, Male #1
According to the newspaper, Netanyahu had agreed to withdraw to the shores of Tabria Lake, as Syria had stipulated the withdrawal must be completed within two years, while Israel preferred a longer period of time. However, bloody events erupted in Syria, and put an end to these negotiations. Netanyahu's office was quick to comment on the news by saying that talks are one initiative among many that the Americans had offered Israel, but that they were rejected, adding that publishing this news at this time was done for political reasons and considerations.