Following are excerpts from an Al-Manar TV show between two Lebanese journalists discussing the situation in Syria. The show aired on February 8, 2012.

March 8-affiliated journalist Salem Zaharan: I know you have a problem bringing first-class guests from the March 14 Alliance, so you end up bringing…

TV host: No, he is first-class. You are both first-class guests, and I won’t allow such talk.

[…]

TV host: Could you possibly shake hands, so we can start afresh? Go ahead, shake his hand.

Salem Zaharan gets up and extends his hand

March 14-affiliated journalist As’ad Bishara: No, I won’t.

I’m sorry, but I won’t.

TV host: Now you’re disappointing me.

As’ad Bishara: No, what are we – little children?

TV host: Now you’re out of line.

As’ad Bishara: My apologies to the viewers.

TV hos: Shake hands with him.

Salem Zaharan: In the 2006 war, he stayed in the same Al-Ashrafiyya Hotel as Ariel Sharon [sic]. He met with the Americans and kissed Condoleezza Rice’s hands and feet, but he won’t shake hands with an honorable man like me. He recruits collaborators for Israel.

TV host: If this was true, he wouldn’t be sitting here.

[…]

Salem Zaharan: When I talk about Syria, I know what I’m talking about…

As’ad Bishara interrupts

TV host: That’s enough, As’ad. Let him finish.

Salem Zaharan: You’re hollow…

As’ad Bishara: I feel like I’m being interviewed by Al-Dunya TV…

Salem Zaharan: Al-Dunya TV is more honorable than you.

TV host: Salem, please…

Salem Zaharan: It’s my turn to talk. You, keep on collaborating with the Israelis.

TV host: Salem, that’s enough.

Salem Zaharan: You can’t string two sentences together.

TV host: Salem, that’s enough.

Salem Zaharan: I have here reports from international sources, and he’s just sitting there, like an idiot, who doesn’t know…

As’ad Bishara emits a curse

TV host: Stop it!

Salem Zaharan throws two cups of water at As’ad Bishara. TV host gets up to hold Bishara back.

As’ad Bishara: You son-of-a-bitch…

TV host: Stop it!

[…]

TV host: Okay, c’mon, smile now.

Salem Zaharan smiles

As’ad Bishara: My apologies to the dear viewers.

What, do you think we’re about to shoot one another now?

TV host shakes hands with Bishara, then turns to Zaharan

TV host: Salem?

They shake hands

Salem Zaharan: Good job.

TV host turns to Bishara, and tries to get the two guests to shake hands with one another

TV host: Well? Wait a moment, do me a favor… For me… No, for me… Go ahead…

The guests grudgingly shake hands

TV host: Okay? This is for real, it’s not just for show. You’ll see, after the show they will celebrate together.

Thank you for watching.

[…]