From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 1997 8:43 PM
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"
Subject: BFP: Updates from Jerusalem
TO: Friends (and friends of friends) of Bridges for Peace
FROM: Clarence H. Wagner,Jr., International Dir. - Jerusalem
DATE: September 26, 1997
RE: News Update from Israel
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 eleven 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, the U.S., Canada, the
U.K., S. Africa and Japan.
To receive more information and our publications, or to receive this update
regularly, send your e-mail and postal mailing address to:
100274.2306@compuserve.com
We also invite you to look at our WEB SITE at:
http://www.bridgesforpeace.com
Feel free to forward this update information to anyone on your e-mail list.
Although this Israel News Update Service is free and will remain so,
subscribers who appreciate the bulletins and who can afford to do so, are
invited to help us cover our costs by sending a one-time or occasional
gift, or a regular donation. We are a non-profit organization. Please make
your check/money order to Bridges for Peace and mail it to: Bridges for
Peace, POB 7304, Jerusalem, Israel. A receipt will be sent.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 - ISRAEL WEEK IN REVIEW
1) FOUR SUICIDE BOMBERS IDENTIFIED
2) HAMAS USING TOURIST INCIDENT TO JUSTIFY MORE ATTACKS
3) GAZA IMAM CALLS FOR RETURN TO JIHAD
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1) FOUR SUICIDE BOMBERS IDENTIFIED
(Communicated by Israel Prime Minister's Media Advisor)
Israeli security services, aided by the Biology Laboratory of the
Forensic Medical Institute, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police,
have revealed the identities of four of the five suicide bombers in the
Jerusalem Mahane Yehuda Market and Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall attacks.
The security services evaluation is based on intelligence data and DNA
tests.
Their identities are as follows:
1. Mouai'a Mahmoud Ahmad Jarar'a - born in 1974.
2. Bashar Mahmoud Asad Zoualha - born in 1973.
3. Touwafik Ali Mahmoud Yassin - born in 1972
4. The identity of the fourth suicide bomber, Yosef Ahmad Shouli, born in
1974, is being checked.
All were residents of the village Azira Shamaliya, near Nablus.
The four were wanted by the GSS for questioning regarding their
involvement in the shooting attack at IDF vehicles at 'Ein Bidan near
Nablus in December 1996, during which an Army doctor and soldier were
wounded.
The four were arrested by the Palestinian Authority during the arrests
following the wave of terrorist attacks of February - March 1996.
In September 1996, the four escaped from the Palestinian prison in
Nablus and were wanted fugitives since then.
A demand for the four men's arrest as soon as possible was made to the
Palestinian Authority following their escape from Nablus prison, because of
the concern that they would carry out more attacks. It should be noted
that the four names were included in the list of 88 Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists
whose arrests Israel requested, which was given to the Palestinian
Authority during the trilateral meetings held after the Mahane Yehuda
Market attacks.
It must be emphasized that the security service's investigation is
continuing with the aim of uncovering the entire Hamas Izzadin al-Kassem
military infrastructure that lies behind the terrorist attacks in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market and
Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall.
Details of the investigation have been kept secret under a court order
banning their publication.
According to GSS, this terrorist infrastructure is dangerous because
of its ability to carry out additional attacks in the immediate future.
2) HAMAS USING TOURIST INCIDENT TO JUSTIFY MORE ATTACKS
This week, two Canadian tourists in Amman got into a fight with the
driver of the Khalid Mashaal, the head of the political bureau of the Hamas
Islamic fundamentalist group in Jordan, which plans the group's strategy.
The two tourists and the driver were injured.
Hamas claims that Mashaal, who was admitted to an Amman hospital with
dizziness and vomiting later in the day, was attacked by some "electrical
device" carried by the tourists. However, according to Samir Mutawae, the
Jordanian Minister of State, Mashaal was not even present during the
incident.
On this pretext, Hamas claims that this attack was an attempted
assassination of Mashaal by Israel. The Hamas military wing, Issadin
al-Kassam faxed a statement to Reuters news service, stating:
"The Zionist enemy will pay a river of blood for one single drop of
blood from one of our fighters. We consider this criminal act is the
beginning of the confrontation outside the borders of the homeland and
the real start of unmerciful war against the Israeli interests in various
places of the world. The coming days will show the nature of the
thunderous Kassam response to this condemned crime."
3) GAZA IMAM CALLS FOR RETURN TO JIHAD
The following is an excerpt from last Friday's speech by a Moslem imam
(preacher) in a Gazan mosque: "Allah decrees humiliation for those who
abandon the way of Jihad [holy war].... The Islamic nation has abandoned
the way of Jihad; I do not include the Palestinian nation, which has sacrificed more than
enough. The Islamic nation has brought humiliation upon itself... America
helps Israel against the Palestinian nation...
The Jews continue their settlements, and do not listen to the warnings
and the condemnations, because they are aware of the situation of the
Islamic nation, the result of its abandonment of the way of Jihad.
Therefore, our only answer must be that we will return to fulfill this
commandment. We must be united, and the PA must release the prisoners from
our prisons.
The [Palestinian] nation is [more important] to the PA than is
American and Israel. The PA must turn over a new leaf and return to
serious dialogue with the opposition."
On the same day, the following was broadcast on the Voice of
Palestine: "Our Palestinian nation will never forget Jerusalem, and will
sacrifice half of its number to sanctify the holy name of Allah for the
Arab, Palestinian, Islamic and Christian character of occupied Jerusalem."
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... AND NOW FOR THE HUMOR (thanks to others who send me lots of it!)
CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS
1) The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people
who are not afflicted with any church.
2) Evening massage - 6 p.m.
3) The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.
4) Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Please use the back door.
5) Ushers will eat latecomers.
6) The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical
accomplishment.
7) For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery
downstairs.
8) The Rev. Merriweather spoke briefly, much to the delight of the
audience.
9) Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The
pastor will then speak on "It's a Terrible Experience."
10) Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be
discontinued until further notice.
11) Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
12) The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the
church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend
this tragedy.
13) The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks
are due to the minister's daughter, who labored the whole evening at the
piano, which as usual fell upon her.
14) A song fest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday.
15) Today's Sermon: HOW MUCH CAN A MAN DRINK? with hymns from a full choir.
16) Potluck supper: prayer and medication to follow.
17) Don't let worry kill you off - let the church help.
18) Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.
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HAVE A GREAT SHABBAT AND A HAPPY ROSH HASHANA - Clarence Wagner