From: Eddie Chumney
To:      heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: News of Interest


                          News of Interest
                     July 19 - July 25, 1998


TEMPLE MOUNT

A STATUS CHANGE FOR THE HOLY PLACES?
Lee Underwood's F.Y.I.- Israel in the News - 7/18/98

The Ministerial Committee on Legislation and Law Enforcement
recently discussed a bill NRP [National Religious Party] Knesset
Member Hanan Porat plans to present, which will substantially
change the legal status of the holy places in Israel and the
territories by annulling "the king's word in his council",
legislation dating to the British Mandate which covers all the
Jewish, Muslim, and Christian holy sites in Israel and over the
Green Line  If it is approved, Israeli law will cover the holy
places of all three religions, which will significantly change
the status quo at these sites and the government's ability to
apply special criteria based on security and other sensitive
needs. Approval of the bill will make the holy places
"subservient" to Israeli law.

OLAM HABAYET: TEMPLE WORLD IS HAPPENING
Joseph Good, Hatikva Ministries Summer 1998

The proposed project to construct a Temple theme park just
outside of Jerusalem is underway. I am currently working with a
team in Israel on this project. We are now working on the
business plan and drawing up all the architectural plans for the
site. Construction could actually begin before the end of the
year. My job is to raise the funds for Temple World.

This park will feature a life size model of the Second Temple and
its inner courtyards. It will be a place where visitors learn of
the Temple and its ceremonies as re-enactments of the services
are viewed. Special displays that bring the scriptures to life
are planned in addition to the model. This project will help to
raise Temple awareness among Jews as well as non-Jews.

Ideally, construciton details will be worked out in order to
facilitate the building of the actual Temple on Mount Moriah at
the appointed time. Also, Temple World will be a major training
ground for the priests, Temple personnel, and the population at
large as to procedure in the Temple.


PREPARATION FOR WAR

ISRAEL: REPORTED IRANIAN MISSILE TEST NOT IMMEDIATE THREAT
July 23, 1998  By Jack Katzenell, Associated Press  Jerusalem
(AP)

Israel's defense minister said today he was concerned about
reports that Iran has tested a medium-range missile, but said
this did not pose an immediate threat to Israel.  Israeli
officials said they did not have immediate independent
confirmation of U.S. newspaper reports today that Iran this week
successfully tested a missile with a range of 800 miles, which
meant it could hit Israel or Saudi Arabia.

Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said he did not believe the
missile could reach Israel, but that the reports in The New York
Times and The Washington Times that missiles are being tested by
Iran were a "very serious matter.''  Government spokesman Moshe
Fogel said Iran's neighbors should also be worried about the
Iranian missile program.

"The potential threat to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States and
Western interests, particularly those of the United States, is as
great as the threat to Israel, if not greater,'' Fogel told The
Associated Press.

PROPOSAL FOR PENTAGON ELITE TO TRAIN CHINA'S ARMY
South China Morning Post 7/18/98 Simon Beck in New York and
Agencies

The Pentagon's elite Special Forces soldiers will train PLA
troops under a plan being considered by Washington. The
possibility was confirmed by Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon
after US Special Operations chief General Peter Schoomaker said
he hoped to see such links.  Although both forces are tentatively
developing ties - observing one another's drills - any move
towards training with the PLA could prove controversial in
Washington.  General Schoomaker's command includes the Green
Berets and Navy SEALS. Their forces conduct training missions -
sometimes covertly - in more than 100 countries. He said the
training proposal was "desirable".


APOSTASY AND ECUMENISM

UNITED RELIGIONS WORKS TOWARD GLOBAL CHARTER
(ENS) 7/17/98

The United Religions Initiative (URI), a San Francisco-based
movement "to bring religions and spiritual traditions to a common
table," recently gained support and is developing specific
strategies, according to Bishop William Swing of California.

The initiative -- founded by Swing during the 50th anniversary
for the United Nations in 1995 -- will create "an oasis of
hospitality,  and arena of diplomacy" for world religions.  The
intent is to form a "permanent, daily, global assembly" where
"they will seek to make peace among religions so they might work
together for the good of all life and the healing of the earth,"
Swing said in January.

URI currently is working toward the signing of a global charter
in June 2000, which would lead to creation of United Religions,
"a new global organization with the potential to change the
course of human history," Swing said.  Last June, 200 advocates
assembled at Stanford University to begin writing the charter,
and leaders are planning regional conferences in Cairo, Nairobi,
Brussels, New Delhi, Venezuela, and New Zealand.

The URI also intends to call the world's religious and spiritual
communities to commit to 24 hours of non-violence on December 31,
1999, as a "time of reflection, repentance, and resolution to
offer the deepest values of their faith as a gift for a better
world," Swing said. (Information about the URI can be found at
the website www.united-religions.org) --Based on a report by Bob
Williams, communications director in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

JERUSALEM BISHOP GETS WORKED UP OVER BIBLICAL TERMINOLOGY
London Times 7/22/98 via & edited by Int'l Christian Embassy
Jerusalem

The Arab Anglican bishop of Jerusalem yesterday walked out of a
world gathering of bishops in the UK, upset by a reference in a
play to the Biblical name for parts of what is now called "the
West Bank". Riah Abu El-Assal, who was later persuaded not to
leave the conference, described the play as deeply offensive to
Christians in the "Holy Land", the TIMES reports today.

Almost 800 bishops meeting at Canterbury, along with many
spouses, watched a play called "Wrestling with Angels", written
especially for the conference and performed by a professional
Christian drama group. Bringing a message of reconciliation, the
play depicted Jacob's struggle with God, which ended with God
renaming him "Israel".

Then, in a scene from the book of Ezekiel, the play showed two
sticks, representing the biblical kingdoms of Israel and Judah,
joined together. At this point El-Assal walked out, incensed
because part of the area today known as "the West Bank" (of the
Jordan River) is called by its historic and Biblical name of
"Judea and Samaria" by those who support Israel's ancient claim
to it.

The TIMES quotes El-Assal as saying: "The least I can say about
it is that I was greatly disturbed. If it was done intentionally
it is a catastrophe. Judah in political terminology stands for
the West Bank, the occupied West Bank. I would have thought they
would have been more sensitive to the way people would understand
the presentation  "

The play's director, Paul Burbridge, said the focus had not been
a political one. "I did not want to talk about Israel today. We
were talking about unity in the church world. I had no idea that
the West Bank is known by some people as Judea."

The leader of the Anglican Church, Archbishop George Carey, later
apologised and prayed with El-Assal, whom he said had been "very,
very angry". "I said sorry to him, and said we did not mean it.
No offence was intended."

El-Assal is an Arab Israeli citizen, who once stood for the
Knesset as a candidate for a left-wing political party.

(FYI: The word "Judah"/"Judea" appears in the Bible -- Tanakh and
New Testament - 877 times, "Samaria" appears 123 times, and
"Israel" appears 2405 times. "Palestine" doesn't appear at all.
"Philistia", appears 10 times, and refers to the area occupied by
the Philistines, a non-Arab people who moved into the area from
present-day Greece/Crete in the 12th century BCE.)

RALLY FOR ISLAM II- Witness Christian Embracing Islam At
Trafalgar Square - London
Jul 21, 1998, 11:09 PM

The following is uniquely revealing for those who have little
insight or understanding of the nature of Islam. This letter
below was mailed to Queen Elizabeth and the royal family in
England.

>From The Muslims In Britain, On Behalf Of The Final Messenger
Muhammad (SAW),

To Elizabeth The Queen Of England, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A
1AA

Peace be upon those who follow the true guidance

We call on you to embrace Islam the way many kings and presidents
have embraced Islam [in the past] such as the  king of Abysinnia,
the king of Persia, Caesar of the Romans  and the kings of
Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen. Accept Islam and you will be safe from
Hell-fire, your previous sins will all be forgiven, you will have
peace, the almighty God will reward you and He will admit you
into paradise, for God  says:

"If only the People of the Book had believed and been righteous,
We should indeed have blotted out their sins and admitted them
into paradise." [EMQ 5:68]

We pray to the almighty God that He opens your heart and mind to
embrace Islam which confirms all previous messengers from the
time of Adam through Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph,  Moses, Jesus
to the Final Messenger Muhammad may the peace of God be upon all
of them.

Embrace Islam which states that there is only One God, Supreme,
Eternal, all Powerful and Who has no partner, parents or children
nor is He needy for food, rest or a son and give up the false
ideas of trinity and anthropomorphism.

Embrace Islam and reject the evil ideologies which man has made,
like Monarchies, Capitalism and Communism, and their evil
concepts such as secularism, liberalism, nationalism, patriotism
and the rule of the people i.e. democracy which have led to the
destruction of man's life, honour, dignity and wealth.

Embrace Islam the supreme religion, faith, ideology and way of
life with its unique ruling system which is based on the
principle that sovereignty and the supremacy belong to none but
the almighty God and which protects the creed of man, his wealth,
mind, honour, and the life of the people, regardless of their
race, colour and origin.

But if you reject, know that on you are your sins, the sins of
your people and those of your children and grandchildren.  Be
witness that we are Muslims.

And the almighty God says: "Say Oh people of the Book! Come to
common terms as between us and you; that we worship none but
Allah, that we associate no partners with Him, that we erect not
from among ourselves any Lords or patrons other than God.' If
they then turn back say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims." [EMQ
3:64]

Oh God! We have delivered your Message, Oh Allah, be our
witness.

Signed by: Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, The Judge of The  Shari'ah
Court of The UK 0956 920006 Br. Makbool Javaid, The  Chairman of
The Society of The Muslim Lawyers 0976 919596  Br. Anjem
Choudary, The Secretary of The London School of  Shari'ah 0956
600569


PERSECUTION AND ANTI-SEMITISM

BIBLE-BURNING IN INDIA
Weekend News Today Source: CWNews.com/Fides Fri Jul 24 , 1998

About 300 copies of the Bible are said to have been burned in
Rajkot, in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat, by about 100
Hindu activists. Reports from India suggest that Hindu groups
allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party confiscated the
Bibles from schoolgirls, who in turn had received them through
the Gideon Society. The Hindu groups forced their way onto the
grounds of a school run by Christian missionaries, seized the
books, and burned them on the school playground, while chanting
anti-Christian slogans. Hindu activists have charged that
missionaries are seeking to convert their students to
Christianity. Police in Gujarat denounced the incident, and
promised to investigate.

U.S. CONDEMNS EXECUTION OF IRANIAN BAHAI
Reuters July 24, 1998  Washington

The United States condemned the execution by Iran of a member of
the Bahai faith, saying such human rights violations could affect
the prospects for a dialogue between the two nations.  State
Department spokesman James Rubin said Thursday the Iranian
authorities hanged Ruhollah Rowhani two days ago, having charged
him with converting a Muslim to the Bahai religion.

"The United States strongly condemns the execution of Mr.
Rowhani for the exercise of his freedom of conscience. We call on
the government of Iran to protect the lives of the 15 other
imprisoned Bahais, seven of whom are sentenced to death on
charges of apostasy and so-called Zionist Bahai activities,''
Rubin said. "The president and Secretary (of State Madeleine)
Albright have made it clear  that the issue of freedom of
conscience and belief is a central component of our  human rights
policy in Iran and around the world.   "Our concerns about
restrictions on the practice of religion will play an important
role in any future dialogue with the government of Iran,'' Rubin
said.

JEW EXECUTED IN IRAN
Bridges for Peace 7/24/98 from Hotline, July 17, 1998

An Iranian Jew accused of assisting Jews to leave the country was
hung in Teheran recently, presumably by the police. The man,
about 60 years old, was known in the Jewish community as one who
helped Teheran Jews in emergency situations. After the man
disappeared, his family searched for a month before authorities
informed of his execution, without providing any details of the
circumstances.

Since the Iranian revolution 19 years ago, 14 Jews have been
executed, the majority either because of their Jewishness, or
because of their connections, no matter how minor, with Israel.
Israeli Prof. Menashe Amir, an expert on Iran, hypothesized that
this most recent execution may indicate that the Iranian police
have again begun to embitter the lives of the Jews within the
borders of Iran.

An estimated 25,000 Jews still live in Iran, within a total
population of 65 million. Anti-Jewish sentiments abound there,
and official publications make regular use of anti-Semitic
propaganda such as the fabricated "Protocols of the Elders of
Zion" and Holocaust denial literature.


MARK OF THE BEAST

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO CREATE HEALTH DATABASE
July 20, 1998  Washington (AP)

The Clinton administration is unsure whether it should implement
a 1996 law creating a national database to track individuals'
medical histories.  The database would assign every American a
computer code called a "unique health identifier'' to track them
as they change doctors and health insurance companies. Lauded by
public health researchers, it has privacy advocates frightened
that personal information could be misused.

Rather than issue regulations and ask for public comment on them,
HHS will publish a notice declaring its intent to write
regulations. But it will be at least two months after that before
the department publishes a plan of its own.

CONGRESS WON'T DELAY MEDICAL IDS
By Laura Meckler Associated Press Writer  July 22, 1998
Washington (AP)

Prompted by questions about patient privacy rights, House
Republicans considered -- but rejected -- delaying a program to
give every American a computer identification number to track
health care from birth to death. The ID numbers are meant to aid
insurance companies that need to track medical histories as
patients move from one plan to another, and to help health
researchers by providing unprecedented data about the effect of
treatments over a lifetime.

Members of Congress did not recognize the privacy implications of
what they had done until media reports about the issue came out
this week, said a Republican congressional aide who worked with
the House leadership in considering a delay. Leaders considered
putting the plan on hold while they looked at it more carefully,
the aide said. But in a meeting late Wednesday afternoon, they
decided to let the law stand.

MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL PROBES GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADERS ON SMART
CARDS AND 21ST CENTURY LIFESTYLES
Experts Log on to Discuss New Technology and Impending Changes to
Our Daily Lives Purchase, N.y., July 22 /PRNewswire/

MasterCard International hosted today an online forum with
thought leaders from global business, government and research
organizations to discuss lifestyle changes that will occur as
smart card technology gains acceptance over the next five years.
Representatives from IBM, Hitachi, British Telecommunications
plc, the U.S. federal government's General Services
Administration, The Tower Group and Emerge Online participated in
the roundtable, which was moderated by Richard Phillimore, Senior
Vice President of MasterCard's Chip Card Business unit.

"Five years from now, multi-application smart cards will be an
established technology in the payments business," Phillimore
said. "As the benefits of multi-application smart cards are
proven in the marketplace, the conversion from magnetic stripe to
chip-based payment cards will be very rapid. By the year 2010, we
expect all of MasterCard's credit and debit cards and terminals
will be chip-based."

Smart cards will deliver increased consumer value and utility to
today's credit cards, Phillimore added. "Chip technology will
enable cardholders to use their cards for many more purposes,
such as electronic ticketing, loyalty programs, and secure remote
shopping -- a true Lifestyle Card that can be tailored to meet
the unique needs and preferences of a single individual."

The panel also addressed the use of smart cards for
identification purposes. Many agreed that identification was the
"killer application" that would encourage adoption of smart card
programs. Kotaro Yamashita, COO of Financial Services at Hitachi,
Ltd. said, "We see identification applications issued by
governments as being big in many places outside of Asia, for
example Central America." However, Marty Wagner, Associate
Administrator of the Office of Government wide Policy at the U.S.
General Services Administration (GSA) cautioned that, "national
identity card programs could run into trouble in the US due to
privacy concerns."

A full transcript of the session, as well as a biography and
smart card white paper from each chat participant, can be
accessed at http://www.golinharris.com/mastercard   Source:
MasterCard International Contact: Troy Rutman,
trutman@shandwick.com or Paul Vertucci, both of Shandwick
International, 212-697-9191

THE MARK: CREATIVE ADVERTISING
Docile Singapore is finding it needs a dose of creativity
By Imbert Matthee, P-I Pacific Rim Reporter Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, March 30,1998 Singapore

Last week, the Singapore Straits Times ran a photograph in its
lifestyle section showing a man with a computer chip implanted
under the skin of his forehead.  The accompanying article about
the chip, which eventually could be used to scan an individual's
immigration status, driver's license, insurance documents and
home address, didn't make any mention of its health risks or
potential abuse by government authorities. It simply featured the
personal transponder, which may be available in about a decade,
as a convenience.

"You walk into an airport and clear customs and immigration in
minutes because all your personal information will be processed
by computers instead of humans," according to the story.

If touting human bar code technology without discussing its
potential Orwellian downside sounds like poor journalism, the
story should come as no surprise in Singapore. After more than
three decades of living under a benevolent dictatorship,
Singaporeans have come to expect this kind of reporting from a
flagship newspaper "guided" by the government.

The government here has begun a campaign to build a
knowledge-based society so it can gear up to capture a piece of
the world's fast-growing information technology industry. As is
traditional in this tightly controlled island nation of 3 million
people, government departments, businesses, educators and the
media are falling in line behind the campaign. Technology is hot
right now.

What's more unsettling about the way Singapore media are jumping
on the technology bandwagon is the unquestioning nature of their
coverage. The 32 years in which Singapore rose from commercial
obscurity to center stage in the global economy under the
guidance of Lee Kuan Yew have created a society in which its
citizens follow any shift in direction without much criticism or
creative debate.


Y2K COMPUTER PROBLEMS

COMPANIES ENCOUNTER UNEXPECTED Y2K PROBLEMS
07/21/98 By John Soat, InformationWeek

While America's large businesses are facing the year 2000 problem
head-on, according to the most recent results of an ongoing Cap
Gemini survey released Monday, many are running into unexpected
difficulties and delays. And many are turning to short-term
contingency-planning to deal with those difficulties, says the
survey of IT managers at 128 of the nation's largest businesses.

Eighty-six percent of the companies surveyed have launched a
"full-fledged strategy" to deal with year 2000 issues, up from 20
percent last December. However, the number of companies focusing
on contingency-planning rose to 72 percent from only 3 percent in
April, reflecting unexpected problems encountered in year 2000
work, according to Cap Gemini.

The incidence of year 2000-related failures increased from 7
percent in December, to 37 percent in April, to 40 percent this
month. Types of failures included processing disruptions (87
percent), financial miscalculation or loss (62 percent),
logistics or supply-chain problems (44 percent), and customer
service problems (38 percent).

The percentage of companies that underestimated year 2000 costs
increased from 82 percent to 87 percent since December, and only
2 percent described their cost estimates as "on target." And more
companies are falling behind schedule. The percentage expecting
to have more than half their systems compliant by the end of this
year declined from 85 percent in April to 81 percent. The
percentage of companies missing year 2000 "milestones" rose from
78 percent to 84 percent over the same period.

The Cap Gemini year 2000 poll of IT directors and managers in 12
business sectors has been conducted since March 1995. The poll is
conducted for Cap Gemini America by Rubin Systems.

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

To educate, train and equip for study both the Jew and
Non-Jew in the Rich Hebraic Heritage of our Faith.

Please visit the Hebraic Roots Global Network
Web Site located at:

http://www.hebroots.org/


                          HEBRAIC ROOTS SEMINAR

Hebraic Heritage Ministries is having a Hebraic roots seminar in
Houston, Texas,  September 11-13, 1998. For more info, see the
Website:

http://www.hebroots.org/houston.html

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l