Subject: Israel in the News: Week ending June 19, 1998 Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 23:47:14 +0000 To: "Arutz-7 List"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
>From Bridges for Peace (100274.2306@compuserve.com) To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: [BFP-UPDATE] Update from Jerusalem TO: Friends (and friends of friends) of Bridges for Peace FROM: Clarence H. Wagner, Jr., International Dir. - Jerusalem DATE: June 19, 1998 Week Ending: June 19, 1998 1) ARAFAT OFFERS HAMAS CABINET POSITIONS 2) PA PREPARING FOR VIOLENT STRUGGLE WITH ISRAEL 3) NETANYAHU CLARIFIES POSITION ON FINAL STATUS TALKS 4) ARAFAT NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE DELAYED 5) POPE MEETS ARAFAT ON MIDEAST PEACE 6) NETANYAHU DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM THE PINCHASI ANTI-MISSION BILL 1) ARAFAT OFFERS HAMAS CABINET POSITIONS PA/PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat has asked Hamas to join his cabinet as part of a reshuffle, PA/PLO Secretary-General Tayeb Abdul Rahim announced. Arafat's decision came on the eve of a planned Palestinian Legislative Council meeting with PLC members threatening a no-confidence vote against the PA/PLO because of its failure to deal with corruption. Gaza Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said the movement's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, would return to Gaza and would decide on Arafat's offer after his return. Meanwhile, Hamas terrorist Sheikh Yassin said from Cairo that he plans to return to Gaza before the end of the week, "to continue the path of the Jihad." Yassin has rejected Arafat's offer to join him in the Palestinian leadership, saying that such a thing is totally out of the question. According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Arafat's offer was a "blatant violation and ridicule of the Oslo accords, as the Palestinian Authority is obligated to "systematically fight against all expressions of violence and terrorism" - not invite them into their government." 2) PA PREPARING FOR VIOLENT STRUGGLE WITH ISRAEL - Gen. Dayan Major General 'Uzi Dayan, the outgoing commander of the Central Command, stated that the Palestinian Authority [PA] is getting ready for a violent struggle with Israel. Our correspondent Yoram Kohen reports that Maj. Gen. Dayan told journalists, "The Palestinians, through guidance from above, are getting ready for a long-term struggle with Israel in which they will use force." Maj. Gen. Dayan stressed that although their preparations are primarily aimed at a defensive struggle, they also pose a threat to the Jewish settlements in the territories. (Israel Television Channel 1 Network in Hebrew -Murray Kahl) 3) NETANYAHU CLARIFIES POSITION ON FINAL STATUS TALKS "First of all, you should know that we are not talking about an agreement on the second redeployment only. We are discussing the second redeployment, the third redeployment, reciprocity and the conditions for entering the permanent settlement. This is a complete package, and we hope that it will bring about a permanent settlement, or negotiations for a permanent settlement. No one can butt in here and say that we are promising to achieve a permanent settlement; we hope that it will be achieved within a year, and we must be prepared for all possibilities. Therefore, this package agreement is an agreement of fateful importance for the State of Israel. Therefore, we are investing every effort in it. The effort focuses on two of these four issues. I think that we have made progress on two of them more than the others, but when the package is completed, and with Palestinian goodwill, it will be completed, we can present it in an orderly manner to the press as well...Nothing will make me deviate from my obligations to Israel's security and the achievement of real peace - peace with security." (Communicated by Prime Minister's Media Advisor) 4) ARAFAT NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE DELAYED The Palestinian Legislative Council accepted President Yasser Arafat's request that it delay a no-confidence motion and give him 10 days of grace to form a new cabinet. The 88-member self-rule body had set a Monday deadline for Arafat to shake up his government in order to stamp out alleged corruption or face a possible no-confidence vote for the first time since Palestinian elections two years ago. ``The special session...will be postponed for the requested period to be held on Thursday June 25,'' Council speaker Ahmed Korei told reporters after a majority of lawmakers voted to accept Arafat's request for a 10 day delay. (Daniel Sternoff) 5) POPE MEETS ARAFAT ON MIDEAST PEACE The sixth meeting between the pope and Yasser Arafat lasted a quarter of an hour. Their talks focussed on peace in the Middle East, on the accords that need to be complied with, and on the situation in Palestine. We have this report from Fabio Zavattaro. "The peace process is threatened from all sides and the Palestinian people's situation is tragic: Yasir 'Arafat was visiting the pope for the sixth time. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls underscored this aspect of the private talks -- 13 minutes in all -- between Pope John Paul II and the Palestinian leader. He added that the pope reiterated to Arafat the Holy See's support for the peace process that must go on with the good will of all the sides involved; for compliance with commitments made; and for respect for international law. In other words, the Vatican is concerned over what is happening in the Middle East, over the increasing number of new obstacles being strewn in the path of peace. Hence the pope's words appealing for a renewed effort for an increasingly effective dialogue and for a process capable of leading to true peace. All this, against the backdrop of a long-awaited trip by the pope to the Middle East and to Jerusalem, and also to Bethlehem where John Paul II was invited to go by Arafat at the end of their previous conversation in December 1996." [Rome RAI Uno Television Network in Italian -- state-owned television network] 6) NETANYAHU DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM THE PINCHASI ANTI-MISSION BILL Last month the Prime Minister and his coalition partners voted in favor of a preliminary bill which called for three years imprisonment or 50,000 NIS ($14,000) fine to anyone "exhorting" another to change their religion. Both Jews and Christians expressed dissatisfaction with such an anti-democratic piece of legislation that would limit freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. The following is a letter from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Mr. Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League [ADL], describing his position on this bill. Dear Abe, Thank you for your letter. I fully understand your concern about the anti-missionary bill. The bill passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset. These preliminary readings are usually declarative and practically inconsequential. Bills introduced by coalition members are usually voted for, almost automatically, by all coalition members present. Then they go to the relevant committee for deliberations. This bill is different from the previous one, but it is also unacceptable to us. Coalition leader MK Meir Shetreet has pledged that it will die in committee. Let me assure you again that Israel will pass no laws which limit freedom of religion and contravene the international conventions to which it is signatory. With kindest regards, Sincerely, Benjamin Netanyahu -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 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, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., S. Africa, Japan and Brazil. To receive more information and our other publications, 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 WEEKLY UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Feel free to forward this update information to anyone on your e-mail list. To receive it, all they need to do is simply send an e-mail message that only says: subscribe bfp-update <your name>. Send to listproc@grmi.org To unsubscribe, simply send the message: unsubscribe bfp-update to the same address. It is been our goal to send you news items to help you more effectively pray for Israel in accordance with Psalm 122:6. Therefore, in addition to the news items, we are adding PRAYER FOCUS, where applicable, so that you can pray along with us for Israel. We will also continue to intersperse positive news items so that our message is not just crisis oriented. We don't want to be just another news service provider, but send an interpretative message ultimately focusing on prayer for Israel. Although this Weekly News Update and Prayer Focus from Israel 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, charitable 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, which is tax-deductible in the US and Canada. Thanks to Becky Brimmer, Glen Haines, and Martha Farmer for their assistance in this week's review. ********************************************************************** From: "Pam Staley" <daystar@i1.net> To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: ARAFAT DUMPS OSLO FOR HAMAS "THE NATIONAL UNITY COALITION FOR ISRAEL" The Largest Coalition of Pro-Israel Jewish and Christian Organizations in the USA Convened by Voices United for Israel 3965 W. 83rd St. #292, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208 Phone 913-432-7900 Fax: 913-432-7997 Web site:http://www.mindspring.com/~voicesunited email: voicesunited@mindspring.com OP-ED ARTICLE JUNE 22, 1998 CONTACT: ESTHER LEVENS =============================================================== ARAFAT DUMPS OSLO FOR HAMAS What is Arafat's commitment to the Middle East Peace Process? His invitation to Hamas, reported in the June 14 Jerusalem Post under the banner headline "Arafat invites Hamas to join PA cabinet", prompts us to examine his intent and his historic Oslo record. As part of the peace contract Arafat agreed to fight terror, prevent radical Islamic groups from developing military capability, and eliminate terrorist activities from territories under his control. The agreement amounted to a renunciation of violence, a willingness to dismantle terrorist networks and destroy the terrorist infrastructure. The Israeli contract negotiated by Prime Minister Rabin has generated criticism because it lacks oversight and guarantees for fulfilling commitments. Chairman Arafat's most important promises, to eliminate terrorism in Palestinian-ruled territories and formally eliminate terrorist incitement from the PLO Charter, are contradicted by his actions in the years following Oslo. Rather than punishing terrorists and eliminating terrorist infrastructure, Arafat has legitimized terrorist organizations and included leaders in his government who espouse terrorism. At every level of the Palestinian government representatives continue to promote terrorism and Arab Rejectionism. The reality of Arafat's actions makes a painful joke of the position he assumes in the peace process. Areas under Arafat's control have become massive breeding, recruitment and training grounds for radical Islamic and secular Arab terrorist organizations. Palestinian military intelligence and police force incorporate, or are in active collaboration with, terrorist organizations. For example, on June 13, 1998 in an interview given by Palestinian Preventive Security Services head, Col. Jibril Rajoub to Radio Algiers said "Naturally, we the Palestinian Authority and in the Fatah movement consider Hamas to be part of the process of national Palestinian liberation." These remarks on national radio by a high-level government official are contrary to Oslo and send a very clear message in support of Hamas and terrorism. More Israelis have been killed by acts of terrorism after the initiation of the Peace Process than in a comparable period since the formation of the state. These murders indicate that Israelis are still regarded as the enemy, rather than co-sponsors of mutual peaceful goals. It is impossible for the Israeli police to stop the bombings and murders because Arafat's territories are terrorist havens. Instead of pursuing and convicting those who commit crimes against Israelis and pro-Israeli Palestinians, the terrorists find safety in Palestinian-ruled territories and live there freely. In their safe haven, terrorists obtain weapons which are then exported or smuggled to other terrorists. In addition to his public inflammatory rhetoric, by refusing to extradite known terrorists back to Israel, Arafat reveals both tacit and overt support for terrorist activities in direct violation of the Oslo Accords. Other overt and covert abrogation's of Oslo flourish under Arafat's leadership: anti-Semitism abounds in educational curricula, textbooks, TV, and radio, in the PLO Charter, governmental acts, and public speeches. The Palestinian Authority (PA), Arafat's governmental arm, supports Iraq and its terrorist acts against Israel and her allies. For proof of Arafat's rejection of peace, one need look no further than a speech by Arafat himself dated April 16, 1998 on the anniversary of Abu-Jihad's martyrdom. "Let us see more revolution. Therefore, more escalation of our blessed intifadah; more steadfastness, firmness, and faith; and more great epics with the souls of our righteous martyrs and the pure blood of our wounded. Let us turn the land into a flaming fire under the feet of the invaders [Israel]. It is the will of the free and the honorable, and it is the will of our children, women, men, and aged to press the wound and embrace heaven in martyrdom or victory." And still President Clinton continues to push Israel to give up at least 13 percent more of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinians, ignoring Arafat's violations of the Oslo Accords and his lack of commitment to the peace process. We at the National Unity Coalition for Israel strongly object to this imposed pressure for Israel to vacate more precious land, until Arafat demonstrates a true commitment to peace. The goals of the Oslo Accords and those of Hamas are not compatible. As long as terrorism and Arab Rejectionism flourish under Arafat and the PA (and remain unchallenged by President Clinton) further land concessions simply reinforce the Arab objective of eradicating Israel. The Clinton policy of supporting Arafat without eliminating Arab Rejectionism from Palestinian principles and practices endangers Israel in the present, and sows the seeds of her destruction in the future. This is the belief of the National Unity Coalition for Israel. ========================= The National Unity Coalition for Israel is an alliance of 200 Christian and Jewish organizations representing 40 million Americans, the largest pro-Israel network in the U.S. *********************************************************************** Friday, June 19, 1998 25 Sivan 5758 The Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition Jewish groups blast pope's plans to meet antisemitic envoy By ELLI WOHLGELERNTER and KARL PFEIFER JERUSALEM (June 19) -- Jewish groups are outraged over Pope John Paul II's plans to meet today with a professor of theology who has accused the Jews of ritual murder. The pope's three-day visit to Austria is to include a meeting with the Vienna-based diplomatic corps, whose members include Dr. Robert Prantner, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Knights of Malta. In a December 5 article in the Austrian publication Zur Zeit Prantner argued that rather than the Catholic Church apologizing to the Jews for centuries of antisemitism, the Jews should apologize for "their deplorable crimes... against Catholic children like the holy martyr-child Anderl von Rinn, against adults in the days before Easter... and for the blood of murdered Christians, spilled by Jewish hands, which cries to heaven, too." Efraim Zuroff, head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Israel office, said "this theologian, Prantner, is basically saying that the blood libel is true - we're in 1998 for God's sake! This is outrageous. This is taking us back to the Middle Ages. This guy is the antithesis of everything the present pope has worked on in terms of Catholic-Jewish relations and is a dark stain on the Austrian church unless this person is totally condemned by their leadership." The Knights of Malta is a Catholic lay order. While Prantner is not a diplomat, he is an employee of the Vatican, according to Rabbi David Rosen, director of the Israel office of the Anti-Defamation League. "The Knights of Malta is a lay order in which he serves as their ambassador," Rosen said, "and which still has status within the Catholic Church, and therefore it's certainly within the power of the Catholic Church to tell the Knights of Malta to clip this fellow's wings." Prantner was a lecturer at the theological seminary at the Heiligenkreuz monastery, a member of Engelwerk, a right-wing Catholic organization, and is a former director of studies at the political academy of the Oesterreichische Volkspartei. "He has some significant credentials within the Catholic Church," Rosen said. "In certain areas of academic specialization, as well as diplomatic representation, he might be perfectly competent. But that doesn't in any way detract from the fact that he has publicly on record made some of the most outrageous antisemitic comments - and has not been publicly chastised by either the local church or the Vatican, despite letters that we have sent to the headquarters of the Knights of Malta in Rome." The blood libel accusing Jews of the ritual murder of Anderl von Rinn took place in the 17th century and was used to incite pogroms against the Jews. It was condemned in 1985 as a falsehood by Innsbruck Bishop Reinhold Stecher, who also banned pilgrimages to the Church of Rinn, which had become a shrine as the purported place of the ritual murder. ********************************************************************** Friday, June 19, 1998 25 Sivan 5758 Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition Israeli Mission trying to block PLO upgrading status at UN By MARILYN HENRY NEW YORK (June 19) -- The Israeli Mission to the UN is scrambling to meet with up to 40 ambassadors by the week's end to block support for a General Assembly resolution that would upgrade the PLO's status at the UN. It appeared yesterday that the debate in the General Assembly, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, might be canceled because support for the resolution was uncertain. The resolution was sponsored by the Arab states. There also were complaints yesterday that the Palestinians had reneged on vows to the US to stop using the UN as a forum to vex the Israelis. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke Wednesday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and was told that the European Union was unlikely to support the Palestinian status change, a high-ranking Israeli source said yesterday. A senior Israeli official said yesterday that, in 1996, Palestinian deputy leader Abu Mazen promised US ambassador Madeleine Albright, in the presence of then foreign minister David Levy, that he would tell the PLO observer to stop raising Palestinian-Israeli issues at the UN. Last December, according to the official, Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat made a comparable commitment. Those pledged were unfulfilled, the official said, adding: "If we made a commitment like that and didn't come through, the world would come down on us like a ton of bricks." Elli Wohlgelernter adds: Netanyahu reacted harshly yesterday to reports of the planned effort by the PLO to upgrade its UN status, saying this constituted a violation of the Oslo Accords. "Well, we're well aware of this effort, and it's not a new one. It happens to be a violation of the basic agreement that we have with the Palestinians. And there is an agreement that final status issues are not going to be determined unilaterally but will be determined in a negotiation," he told reporters in his office yesterday. "Now if the Palestinians say we don't care, we push for status in the UN, that will immediately say that we have to respond." Netanyahu added: "I think this would be a complete subversion of any possibility of achieving an agreement. We communicated this yesterday with the American government, I talked to Prime Minister Blair yesterday on this, and I'm going to speak to other European leaders today, because I think that they obviously speak of peace, they want peace, this will be a tremendous blow to peace." ***********************************************************************