From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 1997 12:22 AM
To: Arutz-7 List
Subject: Arutz-7 News: October 27-28, 1997
From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, October 27, 1997
Arutz Sheva News Service
Monday, October 27, 1997 / Tishrei 26, 5758
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. REFORM AND CONSERVATIVE REJECT "COOLING OFF" PERIOD
2. PM'S OFFICE SUSPECTS POLITICAL MACHINATIONS
3. CHRISTIAN SUPPORTERS REMAIN STEADFAST
1. REFORM AND CONSERVATIVE REJECT "COOLING OFF" PERIOD
The Reform and Conservative camps have rejected the suggestion to allow the
Ne'eman committee a 'grace' period of 2-3 months, during which their court
petitions, as well as the Orthodox-sponsored Conversion and Religious
Council Laws, would be placed on hold. The Reform leaders explained that
the Chief Rabbinate has given no concrete proof that it is willing to work
out a compromise.
The decision has caused a political storm:
* Leaders of the Third Way and Yisrael B'Aliyah parties expressed anger at
the decision, and said they would now vote for the Conversion Law, which
would forbid Reform and Conservative conversions in Israel.
* Minister Avigdor Kahalani (Third Way) said that the Reform/Conservative
decision displayed a lack of national responsibility.
* Minister Anatoly Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah) said that this was the
ruination of a chance for national conciliation.
* His party colleague Minister Yuli Edelstein said that a large Reform
convention is scheduled for Wednesday in the U.S., and that the decision
may only represent some "political posturing" by some of the members.
* MK Ofir Paz (Labor) said that he still hopes that the Reform will change
their mind, while his party leader Ehud Barak said that despite the
decision, Labor would still vote against the Conversion Law.
MK Shaul Yahalom of the National Religious Party announced that the Knesset
Law Committee, of which he is chairman, will convene next week to prepare
the Conversion Law for its second and third readings in the Knesset.
2. PM'S OFFICE SUSPECTS POLITICAL MACHINATIONS
The Prime Minister's Office released a statement this morning saying that,
"It is sad that despite the good will of the religious parties and the
entire coalition to reach a compromise and put off the consideration of the
Conversion and Religious Councils Laws, the Reform movement has decided
to choose the path of confrontation... Its rejection of the compromise
arouses the suspicion that political elements were involved, who are
interested in deepening the national chasm as a tool against the
government..."
3. CHRISTIAN SUPPORTERS REMAIN STEADFAST
The 18th annual Christian Feast of Tabernacles celebration, hosted by the
International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem last week, was attended by
more than 4,000 Christian supporters of Israel from 95 countries.
According to the event's organizers, bookings for this year's celebration
notably accelerated after the terror attacks, "demonstrating in this way
the participants' constant and firm love and support for the Jewish
people." They further noted the large proportion of first-time pilgrims
attending the event as a further indication of the growth of international
Christian support for Israel. Speaking on opening night, Communications
Minister Limor Livnat noted, "If history has taught us only one lesson, it
is that the righteous of the world must carry the burden, must fight the
battle, must hoist the flag of what is true and eternal. We all know that
the Lord blesses those who bless Israel and curses those who curse Israel.
By these criteria, I have the privilege this evening of being in one of the
most blessed auditoriums in the world."
******************************************************************************
From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, October 28, 1997
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NEGOTIATIONS FROZEN
2. REFORM AGREES TO TIME-OUT
3. PM "VOTES" TO RETURN TO HEVRON
4. PA HAS SHARP WORDS FOR AMERICA
5. MORDECHAI TO U.S.
* * * SPECIAL INSERT: The PA's Treatment of Christians
1. NEGOTIATIONS FROZEN
Israel has effectively frozen the negotiations with the Palestinians
regarding the opening of the Dahaniyeh airfield and further
withdrawals in Judea and Samaria. According to Israel, the
Palestinian Authority is doing nothing to curb the Hamas terrorist
organization. Foreign Minister David Levy's departure for the United
States to take part in such negotiations, which were to commence this
week, has therefore been put on hold. Israel refuses to permit the
opening of the Dahaniyeh airport unless the Israeli security services
are at least allowed to conduct spot checks at the airport to prevent
the entry of weapons and terrorists into the Palestinian-controlled
areas. According to Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman, Israel also
rejects Palestinian demands to install long-range radar equipment at
the airport. Israeli security sources fear that the Palestinians
would use this radar to track Israel Air Force movements in the Negev,
thus seriously compromising Israeli security.
2. REFORM AGREES TO TIME-OUT
Representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements have agreed
to postpone their appeal to the Supreme Court demanding that the State
of Israel recognize their conversions and allow Reform representatives
into the religious councils. They announced this change in their
stance this morning, after a meeting with President Ezer Weizmann.
Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, head of the Department for Conversions in the
Chief Rabbinate was also present for the discussion. The Reform
representative, Uri Regev, explained that his movement has decided to
give the Ne'eman Commission the three additional months it requested
in order to find a formula to solve the deadlock over the disputed
issues. The Knesset will therefore put on hold the Conversion and
Religious Council legislation currently under consideration.
3. PM "VOTES" TO RETURN TO HEVRON
An interesting Knesset vote by the Prime Minister was recorded last
night. He voted in favor of a parliamentary motion put forward by the
Moledet party, calling for the abolition of the Oslo Accords,
cessation of negotiations with the Palestinians, and returning the IDF
to Hevron. Likud spokesmen later explained that the vote for the
motion was only a "technical error."
4. PA HAS SHARP WORDS FOR AMERICA
The Palestinian Authority released a statement on Sunday using sharp
language to criticize the U.S. and Israel. "The American
Administration has lost credibility," the statement read. "Dennis
Ross and Co. are regarded as nothing but stooges for Netanyahu..."
The closing paragraph says, "Many Jews in Israel regard Netanyahu as
bad for them... Netanyahu is not just bad for the Jews, he is bad for
humanity."
5. MORDECHAI TO U.S.
Minister of Defense Yitzchak Mordechai, who became married earlier
this week, will depart next week for an official visit in the U.S. He
will present to the Americans the IDF plan for modernization, and
document the IDF efforts to preserve its qualitative edge over our
neighbors' armies.
SPECIAL INSERT:
The Palestinian Authority's Treatment of Christians in the Autonomous
Areas -- prepared by the Prime Minister's Office
The Takeover of Bethlehem
On taking control over Bethlehem in December 1995, the Palestinian
Authority changed the rules for Christians. The Church of the Nativity
and other sites of central importance to Christianity came under
Palestinian Authority control, giving Yasser Arafat leverage over the
heads of the Christian communities. Since then, the local Christian
leadership has toed the line of the Palestinian Authority.
The Latin patriarch, Greek Archbishop, Anglican bishop and Lutheran
bishop are all Palestinian Arabs. They have become effective
propaganda mouthpieces throughout the Christian world.
An example of Arafat's attitude toward the Christians was his decision
to unilaterally turn the Greek Orthodox monastery near the Church of
the Nativity in Bethlehem into his domicile during his periodic visits
to the city. This was done without prior consent of the church.
Treatment of Christians by the Palestinian Authority
On the social and religious level, the Christians remaining in
Palestinian Authority controlled areas are subjected to relentless
persecution. Christian cemeteries have been destroyed, monasteries
have had their telephone lines cut, and there have been break-ins to
convents. Nuns are afraid to report such incidents.
In August 1997, Palestinian policemen in Beit Sahur opened fire on a
crowd of Christian Arabs, wounding six. The Palestinian Authority is
attempting to cover up the incident and has warned against publicizing
the story. The local commander of the Palestinian police instructed
journalists not to report on the incident.
Palestinian security forces have targeted and intimidated Christian
leaders and Palestinian converts to Christianity. Recent incidents of
persecution of include the following:
* In late June 1997, a Palestinian convert to Christianity in the
northern West Bank was arrested by agents of the Palestinian
Authority's Preventive Security Service. He had been regularly
attending church and prayer meetings and was distributing Bibles. The
Palestinian Authority ordered his arrest. He is still being held in a
Palestinian prison and has been subjected to physical torture and
interrogations.
* The pastor of a church in Ramallah was recently
warned by Palestinian Authority security agents that they were
monitoring his evangelistic activities in the area and wanted him to
come in for questioning for spreading Christianity.
* A Palestinian
convert to Christianity living in a village near Nablus was recently
arrested by the Palestinian police. A Muslim preacher was brought in
by the police, and he attempted to convince the convert to return to
Islam. When the convert refused, he was brought before a Palestinian
court and sentenced to prison for insulting the religious leader. He
is currently being held in a prison cell with more than 30 people,
most serving life sentences for murder.
* A Palestinian convert to
Christianity in Ramallah was recently visited by Palestinian policemen
at his home and warned that if he continued to preach Christianity, he
would be arrested and charged with being an Israeli spy.
As a result of unceasing persecution, the Christians are forced to
behave like any oppressed minority which aims to survive. Christians
in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas have taken to praying in
secret. The wisdom of survival compels them to assess the "balance of
fear", according to which they have nothing to fear from Israel but
face an existential threat from the Palestinian Authority and their
Muslim neighbors. They act accordingly: they seek to "find favor"
through unending praise and adulation for the Muslim ruler together
with public denunciations of the "Zionist entity."
Emigration of Christians from Palestinian Authority territory
In the last census conducted by the British mandatory authorities in
1947, there were 28,000 Christians in Jerusalem. The census conducted
by Israel in 1967 (after the Six Day War) showed just 11,000
Christians remaining in the city. This means that some 17,000
Christians (or 61%) left during the days of King Hussein's rule over
Jerusalem. Their place was filled by Muslim Arabs from Hevron.
During the British mandate period, Bethlehem had a Christian majority
of 80%. Today, under Palestinian rule, it has a Muslim majority of
80%.
Few Christians remain in the Palestinian-controlled parts of the West
Bank. Those who can - emigrate, and there will soon be virtually no
Christians in the Palestinian Authority controlled areas. The
Palestinian Authority is trying to conceal the fact of massive
Christian emigration from areas under its control.
*****************************************************************************
From: newsdesk@iipub.com (MED News Desk)
To: headline@iipub.com (Mid-East Dispatch)
Subject: MED Daily Headline News --- (Oct 27, 1997)
Reply-to: newsdesk@iipub.com
THE MID-EAST DISPATCH
DAILY HEADLINES NEWS REPORT
** 1 PA: No Point in Meeting Levy
** 2 Airport Compromise Possible
** 1. PA: NO POINT IN MEETING LEVY
Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet with Foreign Minister David Levy
this morning to discuss Levy's upcoming trip to Washington and
meetings with Abu Mazen. Issues such as the proposed "time-out" in
settlement building will be decided upon.
Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized the PA yesterday for the "marked
deterioration" in their efforts to fight terror. Political sources in
Jerusalem said this is causing the deadlock in the peace process.
Palestinians say there is no point to the Washington meeting unless
David Levy has a clear mandate and is able to make decisions. PA
executive Yasser Abed Rabbo said the Palestinians had lost faith in
Prime Minister Netanyahu. {KOL ISRAEL 10/27 H}
** 2. AIRPORT COMPROMISE POSSIBLE
The Palestinian Authority is prepared to come towards Israel regarding
Dahaniyeh airport security cooperation measures, albeit only for an
interim period.
It is a response to an Israeli compromise proposal, according to which
the Palestinians would conduct the security checks themselves,
observed by Israeli security officers behind a one-way mirror, such
that the passengers would not see the Israelis.
Israel would be permitted, at its sole discretion, to carry out spot
checks and to make arrests. Similar arrangements are in effect at the
Rafiach and Allenby crossings. Until now, Israel had remained firm
that no compromise could be possible concerning security supervision
of persons and goods entering Gaza. {ARUTZ 7 10/26 H}
**********************************************************************
From: newsdesk@iipub.com (MED News Desk)
To: headline@iipub.com (Mid-East Dispatch)
Subject: MED Daily Headline News --- Oct 28, 1997
Reply-to: newsdesk@iipub.com
THE MID-EAST DISPATCH
DAILY HEADLINES NEWS REPORT
** 1 Eilat-Aqaba Committee Meeting
** 2 US Disappointed over Levy Delay
** 1. EILAT-AQABA COMMITTEE MEETING
The Eilat-Aqaba Committee met today, on the third anniversary of the
peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. Jordanian Committee Chairman
Dr. Fayez Tarawna opened the event with good wishes from King Hussein
and a declaration of Jordan's commitment to the peace process.
He said that from Jordan's perspective, the peace with Israel is a
long-range strategic goal for the coming generations.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting were:
1. Establishing a land-sea rescue system.
2. Sponsoring a joint sea project which will include ecological
protection of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba.
3. Handling sewage purification and mosquito and other insect
eradication
4. Cooperation to encourage joint development of the Eilat-Aqaba area.
5. Cooperation in the fields of sport and culture, including sailing
competitions and bicycle races. {FOREIGN MINISTRY 27/10 H}
** 2. US DISAPPOINTED OVER LEVY DELAY
US officials are reportedly "disappointed" over delays in the
departure of Foreign Minister David Levy for Washington talks with
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Palestinian official Abu
Mazen. A State Department spokesman said it was "frustrating" to waste
so much time.
He noted, however, that the Administration was aware of the Israeli
government's efforts to determine guidelines to be presented at the
three-way talks, but added that the political process should not be
halted just because of those discussions. {KOL ISRAEL 10/28 H}
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To educate, train and equip for study both the Jew and Non-Jew
in the Rich Hebraic Heritage of our Faith.
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l