Syrian regime declares conditional truce as Islamist group rejects holiday ceasefire [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
Hours before the start of Eid al-Adha, Syria agreed to stop its military operations. However, the opposition conditioned the truce on the release of its prisoners by Friday, while what is known as Ansar al-Islam, or the Partisans of Islam, rejected the truce.

Reporter, Female #2
Syria's announcement of its final and official stance on the truce proposed by Brahimi was delayed. But the regime's response is a gift to the Syrian people during the holiday. The announcement was made a few hours before the start of Eid al-Adha by the general leadership of the Syrian army, but it reserved what it called the right to respond to attacks by armed groups. Military operations will stop on the Syrian territory from Friday until Monday.

Reporter, Female #2
On the other hand, the Free Syrian Army confirmed its commitment to the truce, but conditioned it on the release of its prisoners on Friday. Meanwhile, Ansar al-Islam gunmen doubted the regime's army will abide by the truce, and considered themselves unconcerned with the ceasefire. UN Human Rights Council investigators have indicated war crimes and crimes against humanity are occurring in Syria. The head of the investigators' commission, Brazilian Paulo Pinheiro, announced that it sent the Syrian president a letter asking for permission to enter Syria.

Reporter, Female #2
Meanwhile, before the truce goes into effect, the situation on the ground in Syria has not eased since military battles continue between the two sides of the struggle, and have also intensified. Agence France-Presse reported that opposition fighters took control of Aleppo's strategic Ashrafiye neighborhood that holds a Kurdish majority. At the same time, clashes were ongoing between regime forces and opposition groups vying to control al-Sirian, a Christian-majority neighborhood located south of al-Ashrafiye.

Reporter, Female #2
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the cities of Daraya, Harasta, and Douma in the countryside of Damascus were shelled, and clashes erupted on the outskirts of al-Tadamon and al-Qaddam, south of the capital, and in Maarat al-Numaan in Idlib, and in al-Rastan in Homs. The opposition Observatory also reported finding the body of the pastor of St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church, Fadi al-Haddad, who was slaughtered in the city of Qatana in the countryside of Damascus. He had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen a few days ago.

Reporter, Female #2
On the other hand, the official Syrian TV channel said the death toll of the massacre committed by what is called Liwa al-Islam, or Islam Brigade, in Douma, has risen to 25. The channel said the victims were slaughtered on Ali ibn Abu Talib Street. It also broadcast videos of a car explosion carried out by terrorists in a crowded street at the Tadamon entrance in Damascus, indicating that the preliminary toll of the explosion is four killed, and 11 injured civilians. This comes as Syrian Prime Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi is visiting Homs Province to look into the situation of its residents under the direction of President al-Assad.

Guest, Male #1 (Dr. Wael al-Halqi, Syrian Prime Minister)
Homs is calling on its residents to return, because life here is completely normal. The government will also start, and it has started, to prepare a database of afflicted people in Homs and other provinces. The government will provide financial compensation equal to half the estimated value presented by the governors and sub-committees.

Reporter, Female #2
On the international front, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the United States is coordinating and providing logistic support to supply weapons to the Syrian opposition. At the same time, the Iranian Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, accused Washington and Zionism of creating crises in the region with the aid of their agents here to distract their people of the imminent dangers they face. He said some are seeking revenge against Syria because for three decades, it stood in the face of Zionists, and defended the resistance factions in Palestine and Lebanon.

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Israel calls Sudan a terrorist state after Khartoum holds Tel Aviv responsible for air strike [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Israeli defense official Amos Gilad described Sudan as a dangerous terrorist state, but did not confirm Israel's involvement in the raid on an arms factory in Khartoum yesterday. On the other hand, the Sudanese cabinet asked international and Arab organizations to denounce what it described as Israel's brutal aggression on the Sudanese territory.

Reporter, Male #1
During a meeting last night, Sudan's cabinet decided to seek help from internal and external forces to confront what it he described as an Israeli aggression. The cabinet also asked the African Union, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement to denounce Israel.

Reporter, Male #1
As soon as the meeting ended, a number of Khartoum residents gathered to express their anger, and chanted slogans denouncing Israel. The first vice president denounced Israel while addressing this crowd.

Guest, Male #2 (Ali Othman Mohamed Taha, First Vice President of Sudan)
If they think that by striking the ammunition factory and our military industry they can hurt our pride, we say no, a thousand nos. If they think they can undermine our sovereignty-- no, a thousand times, no. If they think they're going to make us shift our principles, our message and our calling, no, a thousand times, no.

Reporter, Male #1
Sudanese newspapers wondered how to put an end to what they called Israel's repetitive attacks. They described what occurred as Israeli arrogance in regards to Khartoum, and published pictures of the strike's victims. Some residents insisted on the need to respond to Israel, while others focused on the need to remove military installations from residential areas.

Guest, Male #3
We have to strike back the same way they hit us. Even if we're not going to win, we still have to strike. The battle has a winner, and a defeated.

Guest, Male #4
I don't really have an opinion about the Israeli aggression on Sudan. But, by God, this area is very dangerous for the residents. I ask the government to move these military facilities from residential areas.

Reporter, Male #1
During our tour of the damaged areas, we found out that the residents are still in shock. This citizen, whose store was destroyed, is looking for identification papers and his store's license after everything got burned.

Reporter, Male #1
The reaction of the Sudanese people is clear: they want retaliation against Israel, and to take revenge. At the same time, they are calling on the government to move military facilities from the cities. Ammar Ajoul, Al Jazeera, al-Khartoum.

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Myanmar violence forces more Rohingya Muslims to flee homes [Press TV, Iran]

Fresh deadly violence forces Rohingya Muslims to flee to emergency camps. At least five Muslims have been killed, and around 80 others injured, since October 21 in Rakhine State. Government officials, however, say 20 people have died in the region. Hundreds of Rohingya homes have also been torched in different cities.

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Two American soldiers killed in Afghanistan insider attack [Press TV, Iran]

Two American soldiers died in a "green-on-blue" attack in Afghanistan's Uruzgan Province. Other reports say that an Australian soldier has been killed in the province. These insider attacks have left scores of foreign forces dead in recent months. At least 365 US-led foreign soldiers have been killed so far this year; most of the slain troops are American.

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Both US presidential candidates pledge to continue drone assassinations [Press TV, Iran]

Despite their differences, President Barack Obama and rival Mitt Romney agree on the use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, which has dramatically increased under President Obama, while Romney says that he would not change Obama's drone policy if he were to be elected president. Press TV takes a closer look at the presidential candidates' foreign policy statements regarding the Air Force's use of drones, which have also killed civilians, including women and children. They also interview anti-drone activist Medea Benjamin of the Code Pink Movement.

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PA, EU approve five-year plan on bilateral relations [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
The Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Dr. Salam Fayyad, announced a new action plan that will set out the objectives of bilateral relations with the European Union. The announcement came after Fayyad held negotiations with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton. The plan aims to specify the relationship between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority for the next five years.

Reporter, Female #2
During her Middle Eastern tour, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton headed to Ramallah. Ashton concluded her negotiations with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Dr. Salam Fayyad, by agreeing to a new action plan that aims to determine the bilateral relations between the European Union and Palestine for the next five years.

Guest, Male #1 (Dr. Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority)
This plan represents our quest for a strategic partnership with the European Union. Palestinians view this partnership as very important to attaining just and durable peace in our region, which includes the establishment of a fully sovereign, democratic, and viable Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Reporter, Female #2
Fayyad took advantage of the opportunity to express his deep gratitude for the European Union's support of the Palestinian Authority. Ashton viewed the plan as a new phase in a partnership she described as distinct. Ashton added that such a plan reflects the European Union's response to the changes in the region.

Guest, Female #3 (Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs)
We believe in a two state solution, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and a safe Israeli state. We will continue to work towards this goal in the coming days.

Reporter, Female #2
The new plan includes funds and economic development aid to sustain the Palestinian Authority. The action plan also provides a work program between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority in various sectors, including internal affairs, trade, energy, water and transportation. The first similar agreement between the two sides was signed in 2005. It was renewed until a new action plan was drafted. Janay Boulos, BBC.

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EU foreign policy chief Ashton holds talks with Israel, Palestinian Authority [IBA, Israel]

EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton continued her visit in the Middle East, and held talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. In Jerusalem, Ashton and Peres discussed sanctions on Iran and its nuclear program, and also spoke of the latest round of violence between Israel and Hamas on the Gaza border, and the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. In Ramallah, Ashton and Fayyad focused on the peace process, as well as new European policy action plan, which sets up the objectives of the EU-PA bilateral relations for the next five years.

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Egyptian intelligence official brokers unofficial truce to end Gaza border shelling [IBA, Israel]

Quiet returned to southern Israel after an unofficial cessation of fighting orchestrated by Egypt. Palestinian officials say that Egyptian intelligence official Major General Nader al-Aasr mediated a truce between Israel, Hamas, and other groups, bringing rocket fire to a halt. Israel denies that there is any official truce in place. Five Israelis were wounded during yesterday's shelling, and IBA says that six terrorists were killed following Israeli air strikes.

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Israeli police stay away from computers after cyberattack threats [IBA, Israel]

Following an intelligence warning of possible hackers, Israeli police officers were ordered to turn off their computers and refrain from using disks on the central computer system. Officials report that there was no specific threat, but a general warning had been received by computer security officers. They also report that there was no fear of a cyberattack, but rather a new, unidentified virus that could compromise police computers.

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Sderot mayor on hunger strike over government funding for his city [IBA, Israel]

The mayor of Sderot has launched a hunger strike in a move aimed at getting the government to return much-needed funding to his city. Sitting in a tent in front of the Finance Ministry, Sderot Mayor David Buskila told IBA that his town would collapse without the 70 million shekels that the government promised as part of a recovery program, but never followed through on. An Interior Ministry spokesman said that the government was withholding 67 million shekels to pay for the town's debt because the municipality has not yet met the terms of the recovery package.

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Israeli plan to build more than 660 new housing units in East Jerusalem [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
The so-called Israel Land Administration announced the appropriation of 660 plots of land to establish settlement units in the settlements of Pisgat Ze'ev and Ma'ale Adumim in the eastern part of occupied Jerusalem.

Reporter, Male #2
The race to plan and quickly implement the procedures is ongoing from all directions. As soon as one settlement project is executed, another one follows. Six hundred sixty plots of land in occupied Jerusalem are now targeted by settlement construction, scattered between the two so-called settlements of Pisgat Ze'ev and Ma'ale Adumim that are located in the eastern part of the occupied city.

Guest, Male #3 (Wasid Abu Youssef, PLO Executive Committee Member)
This colonization through settlements continues. Settlements are being built and expanded, and also new settlements are also being created. This comes within the framework of the full aggression carried out by the right-wing government against the Palestinian people. The aggression, including judaizing the city of Jerusalem, ethnic cleansing, expelling citizens, and violating Muslim and Christian holy sites.

Reporter, Male #2
The so-called Ministry of Housing, in cooperation with the Israel Land Administration, also appropriated 5,000 pieces of land for settlement centers. The settlement decision includes areas inside the Green Line. This is done through the appropriation of 370 plot of land in Be'r al-Sabaa, 290 in Ma'alot, 150 in Tzur Hadassah located near the Beitar Illit settlement in western Bethlehem, and 100 pieces of land in the area of Rishon LeZion.

Guest, Male #4 (Shahin Khalil, Political Analyst)
There is a continuous Israeli attack on Palestinian land, and through it the Netanyahu government is trying to solidify a final solution built on its vision. This vision is based on establishing settlement centers in the largest clusters, including Gush Etzion, Ma'ale Adumim, and also Pisgat Ze'ev. But, we must also note that this extremist Israeli government is dealing with the entire West Bank as a large settlement.

Reporter, Male #2
Since the beginning of the year, Israel cordoned off more than 30,000 plots of land, which it allocated for building in different areas inside the Green Line and in the northern provinces.

Reporter, Male #2
These constructions require the confiscation of thousands of donums, destruction and displacement. At the time of this report, more schemes are being planned and barely an inch of the holy city is not being targeted by Israel with plans to steal it. From in front of the Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the eastern part of the occupied city, Ali Dar Ali, Palestine TV.

Presenter, Male #1
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that an undivided Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, and that Tel Aviv has the full right to build there. During Netanyahu's visit to the Gilo settlement in occupied Jerusalem, he said his visit is confirmation that the Israeli government's policy to continue building settlements in the city of Jerusalem has not changed.

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Clinton to visit Algeria as military intervention looms in Mali [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading to Algeria next week in an attempt to ease the fears of officials there from participating in the African Force set to intervene in northern Mali. For its part, the African Union announced yesterday that it froze Mali's membership. It confirmed that the African plan for military intervention in northern Mali will be ready within weeks.

Reporter, Male #1
In only a matter of weeks, the military plan of the Community of West African States will be ready to intervene in northern Mali. It aims to retake the north from the armed groups that seized control of it seven months ago; the groups had taken advantage of the military coup in Bamako to announce the secession of the north from the south. While the military intervention was requested by West African nations known as ECOWAS, Algeria and Mauritania oppose the plan and rule out participating in the military campaign. However, France, the former colonial power, waged a campaign for military action at the Security Council, and succeeded to drag the United States of America along with it. This made the military option in northern Mali an inevitable event.

Reporter, Male #1
Through this action, France will provide military assistance and support to the African Force. Both Paris and Washington are insisting that Algeria participate in the intervention because of its extensive experience in fighting armed groups. The Algerian leadership said that it is a role it does not want to play in fear of the implications of a war that could quickly turn into a war of attrition, especially in the aftermath of the influx of a large number of gunmen into the area. In addition, it says the war could cause human losses among civilians, and that could transform border areas into a land of refugees with over half a million people.

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At least 3.5 million Hajj pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
In a few hours, Hajj pilgrims at the sanctified house of God will return to Mina to stone the devil.

Presenter, Female #2
Nearly 3.5 million pilgrims are now seeking to collect stones from Muzdalifah, and to remain there for a few hours before heading to Mina on the morning of the first day of the blessed Eid al-Adha. The pilgrims at the house of God took steps this morning to stand on Mount Arafat after having spent the day of Tarwiyah in Mina yesterday. Groups of pilgrims continue to arrive amid strict security measure imposed by the Saudi authorities offering services and organizing vehicular traffic and pedestrian access.

Presenter, Female #1
Muzdalifah is the fourth stop in the Hajj journey after Tawaf, or circumambulation. It is preceded by Sa'y at the holy mosque, spending the day of Tarwiyah in Mina, and standing on Mount Arafat that is located between Mina and Arafat. The pilgrims spend the night there and perform Maghrib and Isha prayers, collectively and partially, and they also collect pebbles to stone the devil.

Presenter, Female #1
The pilgrims will stay the night in Muzdalifah until Friday morning to mark Eid al-Adha. They will then return to Mina to perform the stoning ritual, known as the great Jamrah of Aqaba, and to slaughter the sheep. Afterward, they perform the Ifada Tawaf around the Kaaba, which is followed by the Say between Safa and Marwah, marking the beginning of the three days of Tashriq, where the pilgrims stone the three Jamrats while reciting "God is great" before performing the farewell Tawaf.

Presenter, Female #2
The pilgrims at the sanctified house of God stood on Mount Arafat while they prayed and thanked God for helping them perform the fifth pillar of Islam.

Guest, Male #1
God willing the situation in the Arab and Muslim world will calm down, and may the Muslims be guided. We hope the situation in Syria calms down.

Guest, Female #3
Today is the best day because it's the great Hajj.

Guest, Female #4
Thank God, I finally came here to perform Hajj; I feel that our world is nothing compared to this.