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To:            arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, June 14, 2000

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, June 14, 2000 / Sivan 11, 5760
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. SHAS LEADER YESHAI:  DECISION TO QUIT GOV'T IS 100% FINAL -  ALMOST
  2. THE SIX OPTIONS
  3.  GENERAL STRIKE IN YESHA

1. SHAS LEADER YESHAI:  DECISION TO QUIT GOV'T IS 100% FINAL - ALMOST
The security Cabinet met this morning in Jerusalem, with the new
post-Assad situation in Syria and Lebanon atop their agenda - but with
the coalition crisis hovering heavily in the background.  Shas leader
Minister Eli Yeshai was not in attendance; "I feel as if I am already
outside the government," he explained.  Yeshai further said today that
the resignation of Shas from the government is final, "although there
is a small crack left open for Ehud Barak to find a solution."  Atty.
Sinai Gilboa, who is very close to the main players in Shas, similarly
told Arutz-7 today, "Nothing in politics is final until it is
absolutely final."

The political situation continues to be in flux, as One Israel
persists in its attempts to placate Shas.  Finance Minister Avraham
Shochat admitted that the government has given in to all of Shas'
financial demands for its school system, thus that the only remaining
concrete difficulties are that of the Shas radio stations and the
control of Meretz Education Minister Yossi Sarid over Shas'
educational network.  At the same time, the opposition parties are
optimistic that they will be able to gather a majority to topple the
government; NRP and Yisrael B'Aliyah informed the Likud today that if
Shas in fact quits the government, they will too.  The Likud claims to
also have the support of MKs Maxime Levy (One Israel-Gesher) and Chaim
Katz (Am Echad).

Tension in the government continues along other avenues as well.
Several ministers were reportedly angered at Prime Minister Barak's
decision to allow 5,000 Arab "tourists" from other countries to remain
in the Palestinian Authority.  The Cabinet approved Barak's decision
to release three terrorists currently imprisoned in Israel, as a
"gesture" to the PA. The decision was met with disfavor by both the
Likud and the Palestinians: The Likud says that this is just one more
reason why the Likud could not join such a government.  "Instead of
fighting the terrorism infrastructure in the PA, Barak goes and
strengthens it by releasing more terrorists," the party said.  The PA,
on the other hand, said today that the release of three terrorists
"does not come close to meeting our demand for the release of
hundreds." 

Minister Amnon Lipkin-Shachak had harsh words for Barak for not
updating the ministers about developments on the Palestinian
negotiating track. "You assemble the cabinet to deliberate on the
release of three Palestinian prisoners," he objected, "but we have no
idea where we are going as far as the negotiations.  We each have to
get our information through private channels.  I don't want to be
updated by [Voice of Israel military correspondent] Carmela Menashe!"
Barak did not respond. 

On the other hand, the Cabinet revised its plan to transfer Abu Dis
and Azariyah to the Palestinians; a small hill overlooking the road to
Ma'aleh Adumim will not be abandoned, but will remain under Israeli
control

2. THE SIX OPTIONS
Arutz-7's Knesset correspondent Haggai Seri reported today that the
coalition can be headed in one of six different directions, in light
of the announcement by Shas that it plans to quit:

a.  Shas (17 MKs) leaves the coalition, but the NRP (5) and Yisrael
B'Aliyah (4) remain in the government, joined by Shinui (6), Bronfman
(2), and Am Echad (2) - for a somewhat stable government of 61 Knesset
seats. [The other coalition members are One Israel (26), Meretz (10),
and Center (6).]

b.  Shas leaves, as do NRP and Yisrael B'Aliyah; the above 10 join,
for a minority government of 52 seats, supported from the outside by
the 10 Arab MKs - some of whom have expressed open support for
Hizbullah and Hamas.  MK Collette Avital (One Israel) told Arutz-7
today that such a government is her "option of choice," if Shas quits,
but that it would not have a moral mandate to make far-reaching
decisions in negotiations with the Palestinians.

c. Same as option b, but with the Arabs as full-fledged members - 62
seats, but a very unrealistic option.

d.  Shas leaves the government, and the Knesset begins its countdown
towards new elections.  Knesset Law Committee Chairman Amnon
Rubenstein (Meretz) said that in such a case he would not stall the
legislative process on the bill to dissolve the Knesset, as "it would
be not moral" to hold up a bill that most of the Knesset wants.

e.  Shas remains, Meretz leaves, and United Torah Judaism (5) joins,
forming a relatively stable, center-right 63-seat government.

f.  The situation remains the same as it is now, after Barak yields to
all or most of Shas' demands, including that Sarid either leaves the
Education Ministry or at least surrenders control of Shas' El HaMa'yan
school system.

Atty. Sinai Gilboa, an important Shas figure, told Arutz-7 today,

"It must be understood that Barak has no realistic alternative other than
a coalition with Shas.  Shas has no interest in bringing about new
elections every year or two, but we do have an interest in advancing
the issues that we promised our voters.  These include the matter of
the radio stations, and our school system.  This latter is almost
finished, but Yossi Sarid was smart enough to stipulate that any
agreement is conditional upon the agreement of the Attorney-General.
This is unacceptable, because it means that any clerk or
Attorney-General can decide one day to nullify the entire agreement.
In addition, we demand to be treated as 'equals among equals' in the
coalition, such as not letting the 'cat' of Meretz watch over the
'cream' of our school system.  Sarid doles out hundreds of millions
via various organizations, but doesn't allow us an extra ten million
for our schools.  If Barak wants, he can even appoint Sarid as Defense
Minister - as long as he doesn't bother our school children."

3. GENERAL STRIKE IN YESHA
A general strike throughout Yesha - Samaria, Binyamin, Judea, and Gush
Katif - will be held this Monday.  Schools will be closed, residents
will not go to work, and a giant demonstration will be held near the
government offices in Jerusalem.  The inhabitants will protest the
government's plan to transfer over 90% of Yesha to the Palestinian
Authority and surround most Jewish communities there with
Palestinian-controlled area.

Menachem Tsabari, the Education Ministry's Binyamin region supervisor,
was asked today to explain the need for such a large-scale strike, and
why school children must be used for political purposes.  "Tens of
thousands of students are asking us daily, what is going on?" he said.
 "They are afraid, and they express this very sincerely and
frequently.  Our psychological staff reports that there are increased
fears among the children...  The children hear all sorts of words
lately - expel, abandon, leave us to the mercies of terrorists - and
it frightens them.  They have a right to receive answers - especially
after they recently completed commemorating Holocaust Day, and some
students are the children of Holocaust refugees, and they wonder what
connection there is between what they learn and their own daily
lives...  During the years of the intifada, we never missed one hour
of school!  But now, it's come to a point where we can no longer
teach!  Teachers sit with each other and discuss only the 'impending
transfer!'  How can anyone learn?!"

*************************************************************************

TORAH LEADERS CONTEMPLATING BOYCOTT OF HIGH COURT
 IsraelWire-6/1

The Council of Torah Sages is contemplating publishing a decision
calling for the Hareidi (ultra-Orthodox) population to boycott High
Court decisions, because of the increase in anti-religious decisions,
according to MK Moshe Gafne of the United Torah Judaism party.  Gafne
called the High Court justices "a pack of militant secularists that
wants to force their religious opinions and values on us.  They want
to uproot all the basic tenets of Judaism, and have become a branch of
the Shinui party".

MK Tommy Lapid, chairman of the pro-secular Shinui party, said in
response, "These are people who want to establish a government
according to Jewish law and take us a thousand years back in time".
MK Yossi Paritzky of Shinui, added, "The Torah leaders want to tear
the nation into two.  A decision to boycott could bring about civil
war".

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 TO: Friends (and friends of friends) of Bridges for Peace
FROM: Clarence H. Wagner, Jr., International Director - Jerusalem

Notice:  The Bridges for Peace newly designed website is located at
www.bridgesforpeace.com.  Tell your friends to check it out.  We are
your Israel Connection.


                  Lebanon Withdrawal. Assad's Death. What's Next?

        Hardly two weeks had passed since Israel had withdrawn from S.
Lebanon and feelers were being sent out once again to determine if
Israel's move would solicit any peace overtures from Lebanon and
Syria.  Then, on Saturday morning June 10th at approximately 11 am,
Syria's autocratic president of 30 years, Hafez  Assad died suddenly
at 69, after suffering from a heart condition for years.  He was in a
telephone conversation with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, when he
collapsed. 

        The Syrian parliament immediately changed the constitution
that required the head of state to be at least 40 years old, so that
Assad's eldest living son, Bashar, 34, could assume the presidency.

        What kind of a man was Hafez Assad?  What kind of a man is his
son, Bashar?  What are the implications for Israel, Lebanon, and peace in
the Middle East?

                                          Assad the Man

        It was only a few months ago that US President Bill Clinton
and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak were proclaiming a breakthrough on a
peace treaty with Syria, when both believed that Hafez Al-Assad was
ready to make a change in his lifelong commitment to never make peace
with Israel. But the whole deal fizzled, as Assad was unable to accept
Israel's very generous offer of the Golan Heights. Most people in
Israel were quite happy he refused the deal and they were not forced
to give up the Golan Heights for an empty promise of peace on a piece
of paper. Had Israel signed an agreement with Assad, his sudden death
could have changed the whole scenario of peace, since no one knows
what the next regime will respect. A legend arose that Assad was a
shrewd and wily negotiator. However, he never negotiated an agreement
with Israel or the West. His stoic silence, intransigence and
determination to never make a concession to Israel and the West did
not indicate shrewdness, but rather, his insecurity and cautious
suspicion of everyone around him. Since the fall of the Soviet Empire,
which propped up Assad militarily and economically, Syria has slipped
further and further into the abyss of world isolation and economic and
military decay.  Syria still owes Russia US$8 billion in unpaid
military equipment bills.  Assad's harboring of rejectionist terror
groups who perpetrated violent acts around the world, as well as his
massive trafficking of heroine grown in Lebanon's fertile Beka'a
Valley kept Syria isolated from the nations of the world. This has
kept the economy depressed and the people isolated, which is a setback
for the Syrian people who are hostage to this regime. Assad has held
tightly to his outdated belief  that the Arab would be united into a
pan-Arab state, destroy Israel, and expel Western influence from the
Middle East.  He could never really escape from this doctrine, forging
numerous alliances with other Arab and Moslem countries, like Libya,
Egypt and even Iran. Assad was from the minority Alawite tribe of
Moslems, which represents only 10% of the population of Syria.  They
were a poorer and less educated sect of Islam and Assad's dictatorial
strongman tactics put the military and secret police into the hands of
the Alawites. They controlled the majority Sunni Moslems, which
represent 85% of the Syrian population, and the Christian minority
represents 5% of the population.

        His people lived in fear as he oppressed them to hold onto
power.  In 1982, Assad and his brother Rifaat, who commanded the army, oversaw
the artillery and gas massacre of 20,000 rival Moslems in Hama.

        It is odd how death turned this ruthless and cruel dictator
into a "noble leader."  The condolences from world leaders and the commentary
by the foreign press shed crocodile tears as if a great statesman has
passed away.

        Meanwhile, Assad's son, Bashar, is now positioned to become
the new President of Syria in a succession that would suggest a monarchy, not
a republic.  Of course, Syria has been run by a dictatorial regime, as
the pretense of voting is meaningless in a one-party system.  Who is
this man?

        When Bashar's brother, Basel, died in a high-speed car
accident in 1994, Bashar was studying ophthalmology in Britain.  He was quickly
summoned back to Syria where he was put on a fast tract to become the
eventual head of state.  He was promoted through the military to the
rank of colonel within a year.  He was placed in charge of policy in
Lebanon and dispatched to meet the changed leadership of the Middle
East.  He also assumed his brother's roles, such as heading the Syrian
Computer Society, a position he used to promote nationwide computer
literacy and the Internet in Syria.  He has a reputation for honesty
and modesty among some people, while others believe he is as cunning
as his father.   Many hope that he can use this opportunity to seek
peaceful relations in the Middle East, the West, and particularly with
Israel.

        It is not known if Bashar will remain for long in his
position.  He does not come into it from a position of strength, having had very
little political or governmental experience.  And, his "home court" is
not all friendly. Before his father was buried, his uncle Rifaat who
was ousted as Vice-president two years ago, made a statement that
hinted that he'll try to overthrow Bashar.

                                               What's Next?

        Once the mourning period is over, it can certainly be expected
that shifts in power will take place.  Bashar has been pushed forward by
the Alawite-controlled Baath Party.  However, the majority Sunni
Moslem community is tired of playing second fiddle to a group that
only comprises 10% of the population.  Should this happen, they could
establish a well-armed mini-state in the northwest region of Syria
between Lebanon and Turkey, as they control the military and the
equipment.  The Alawites would not be welcomed in Lebanon either, as
it has been the Alawite-controlled Syrian army that has occupied
Lebanon to the advantage of Syria, not Lebanon. Rifaat will surely
challenge Bashar, as may Hafez Assad's brother-in-law who controlled
the growing and trafficking of drugs from the Beka'a Valley in
partnership with the Columbia drug cartel.  Twenty percent (20%) of
the drugs entering the US originate in the Beka'a Valley, grown and
distributed by Syria, sanctioned by the Assad regime. #Lebanon:# With
the recent Israeli withdrawal from S. Lebanon and the death of Hafez
Assad within the same month, there is now no reason for the 40,000-man
Syrian army to continue their occupation and exploitation of Lebanon.
Over one million Syrian workers find jobs in Lebanon, making more
money than they can in Syria. There is a growing movement to break
away from Syria and force the army out.  Already, the Christian
newspaper @an-Nahar@ broke the taboo on the subject with an editorial
calling for a Syrian withdrawal. Others in Lebanon are picking up the
chant in Lebanon. Hassan Zreib, 21, a political science student at the
American University of Beirut stated, "Syria must not stay in Lebanon
now. There is no other way."

    Others shared this opinion, but were afraid to give their names to
reporters. However, Syria, which has always seen Lebanon as an
integral part of Greater Syria (that they believe also includes Jordan
and Israel), is not about to budge without a fight.  #Iraq and Iran#
also have a vested interest in Syria with their own teams. Iran
finances terror from Syria and Syrian-held Lebanon against Israel.
Iraq will be watching carefully, as well, because it too has a Sunni
Moslem majority that are held in check with terror.  If the Sunni
Moslems of Syria rise up, then this may inspire the Sunni Moslem
majority in Iraq to do the same thing. #Israel# certainly needs to
move cautiously and not discount that miracles still occur in the
Middle East today.  A new regime may put aside the outdated,
intransigent positions of Hafez Assad's regime and seek peace. Bashar,
if he lasts, is certainly more forward and outward thinking than was
his father. A lasting peace could not have been reached with Hafez
Assad in a slap-dash fashion that was attempted before his death.  It
must be based on deep factors and powerful trends that can carry it
into the future. Bashar might be willing to make negotiated
concessions for peace that his father was unwilling, or unable to
make.  For this reason, the departure of Hafez seems more likely to be
beneficial.  In any case, a fragile new regime is less likely to
embark on foreign adventures, certainly not wanting to engage Israel
in any conflict they could not win.

       Obviously, there are many uncertainties in the near future for
Israel's northern border. The Hizbollah has taken over S. Lebanon and
the central Lebanese government and army have yet to take positions
there to stabilize the situation.  The Syrian scene needs to be
watched closely to see who ends up on top to better assess the
potential for peace or war from a neighbor well armed with chemical
missiles and a large army. One thing is for sure, there is never a
dull moment in Israel.  Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is not just
poetic language or a suggestion, but a daily mandate that only God can
accomplish.

                        - by Clarence H. Wagner, Jr.

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WHO ARE WE?

     For those who are new to the list, Bridges for Peace is a
Christian charitable organization, headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel. Since
1977, we have been working to build Christian-Jewish understanding and
support for the people and land of Israel. We do this through twelve
different aid projects to help the people of Israel, while
disseminating information about Israel and teaching Christians about
the Hebraic roots of Christianity. We have national offices in Israel,
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     To receive more information and our other publications, send your
e-mail and postal mailing address to: BFPISRAEL@CompuServe.com

        We also invite you to look at our WEB SITE at:
                   http://www.bridgesforpeace.com

********************************************************************

From: jvoice@idt.net
To: judean-voice@juno.com
Subject: Assad, Yimach Shemo

The following article is contributed as a service by the Judean Voice
in memory of the late Syrian leader Hafez Assad, who died last week:

Feel free to reprint and circualte this article and credit the Judean
Voice News and Commentary - jsid@dorsai.org

Clinton Mourns Assad:  " I Always Respected Him"

President Bill Clinton, saddened at the death of Hafez el Assad,
declared that, "we had our differences, but I always respected him."

What exactly does Bill Clinton respect?

Is it the fact that Syria was, and remains, one of the world's most
oppressive, brutal and totalitarian regimes?  Dissent was, and is,
never tolerated and 15 separate intelligence agencies monitor each
other and everyone else.  Torture and intimidation were the hallmarks
of an Assad regime that was able to garner 99.9 % of the "popular
vote."  Following a 1990 assassination attempt, 250 of Assad's
opponents were gunned down in their cells and a 1982 rebellion in Hama
was put down with artillery and aerial bombardment that led to over
10,000 civilian casualties and international condemnation.  The cult
of personality surrounding Assad was unrivaled anywhere in the world
except, perhaps, North Korea.  Assad's tight

control over modern technology eg. the internet, fax machines etc has
insured that Syria remains industrially and economically backward.

Is it Syria's decades long opium poppy and heroin production in Syria
itself

and in the Syrian controlled Bekka Valley of Lebanon?  Syria has long
been on of the world's leading exporters of hard drugs and until the
mid 1990's, Syria was consistently on the US State Department's list
of drug problem countries.  As a gesture of good will, Clinton removed
Syria from that list claiming that Syria was no longer a major
producer, but rather only operated

as a transfer station for the shipment of drugs.  Sen. Charles
Grassley , R-Iowa, then Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International
Narcotics Control called Clinton's actions a "blunder."

Is it Syria's sponsorship of a potpourri of terrorist groups?  Syria
continues to finance approximately a dozen terrorist groups whose only
common denominators are their commitment to the destruction of Israel
and the arms,

training, safe haven and money they receive from the Syrian
government.  Syrian sponsorship of terrorism has lead to countless
Israeli casualties and

while the Libyan connection to Pan Am Flight 103 has been made clear,
there is mounting evidence of Syrian involvement in this terrorist
attack directed at US citizens.

Is it Assad's commitment to international agreements or Assad's
trustworthiness?  Assad has demonstrated a long history of breaking
every agreement he has ever made.  He has reneged on agreements made
with Turkey, Israel, the United States and even those made with other
Arab countries.  As the Turkish Prime Minister recently warned Israel, "Don't be fooled by
Assad, he has signed 18 agreements with us and has broken every one."

Assad's death cannot alter a simple truth.  There is nothing
respectable about a ruthless dictator.  In death, as in life, Assad is
worthy only of contempt.  Those who seek to show respect for Assad,
only show disrespect for Assad's victims.  There is nothing anyone,
including Bill Clinton, can do to rehabilitate the legacy of Hafez el Assad.

***********************************************************************

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