To:            arutz-7@a7.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, August 11, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, August 11, 1999 / Av 29, 5759
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Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1.   SHOMRON COUNCIL HEAD: WYE TIES ARMY'S HANDS
  2.   LIKUD GATHERS IN SUPPORT OF THE GOLAN

1. SHOMRON COUNCIL HEAD: WYE TIES ARMY'S HANDS
Head of the Shomron Regional Council Bentzi Lieberman - who followed Sneh
on today's newsmagazine - seemed baffled by the Deputy Defense Minister's
approach: "Mevo Dotan borders on Palestinian Area A," Lieberman explained.
"The terrorist murderers leave Area A, shoot, return, and cannot be
touched. This was not the case prior to the Wye withdrawal from the
vicinity, when the army could respond by following the attackers' footsteps
back to local villages, and conduct the necessary checks. Now, even with
all of its good intentions, the army's hands are tied by government policy.
This was the reason for the terror attacks immediately after the Wye
withdrawal from northern Samaria, and it remains the key factor in last
night's murder attempt and Saturday's murder, which took place 5 kilometers
from here."

Lieberman also rebuffed Sneh's claim that the PA was efficiently fighting
terror, adding that from the Shomron Council's contacts with IDF officials,
"it is clear that they understand their own severe limitations." Lieberman
then challenged the pervading political theory that the closer Israel comes
to a peace deal, the fewer the attacks: "What do we see? The more we
appease Arafat, the more attacks there are. With the Arabs, it seems that
the more you give, the weaker you are perceived to be, and the greater the
Arab desire to strike at you to the bitter end."

In another incident last night, shots were fired from the PA autonomy in
the Gaza Strip towards a Jewish community adjacent to the Yigal roadblock.
No one was injured in the shooting.

2. LIKUD GATHERS IN SUPPORT OF THE GOLAN
The Likud Knesset faction gathered today for a meeting in the Golan Heights
community of Neve Ativ. The meeting concluded with a decision to establish
a committee that would prepare a basic law on a referendum relating to the
future status of the Golan Heights.  Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Seri
reports that Likud leader Ariel Sharon told Golan representatives today
that the Likud would lead the struggle to preserve the Golan. Former Prime
Minister Netanyahu recently confirmed that while in power, he had conducted
intensive talks with the Syrians on the return of large sections of the
Golan Heights in exchange for a peace deal.

In related news, Syrian sources expressed disappointment today with Foreign
Minister David Levy's offer to Syria to resume negotiations with Israel
"without any preconditions on either side." The country's official Tishrin
newspaper bemoans the fact that "the Barak government is continuing with
Netanyahu's policies." Another paper, Al-Baath, says that Levy's statement
casts doubt on Ehud Barak's readiness for peace. 

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

To:            arutz-7@a7.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, August 12, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999 / Av 30, 5759, Rosh Chodesh
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Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. NEGOTIATIONS WITH PALESTINIANS NOT BUDGING
  2. FUTURE OF OUTPOSTS TO BE DISCUSSED
  3. BURGER CONTROVERSY HEATS UP

1. NEGOTIATIONS WITH PALESTINIANS AT AN IMPASSE
Not much movement is evident of late on the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiating front.  Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and
Prime Minister Ehud Barak were slated to meet three days ago to
discuss the details of the pending Wye withdrawal.  The meeting -
initially postponed until the end of this week -was further delayed
after a meeting between Barak aide Gilad Sher and PA official Saeb
Erekat ended in an impasse.

Arutz-7 correspondent Yehoshua Mor-Yosef reports, however, that
sources in the Prime Minister's office are optimistic about a meeting
some time next week.  Foreign Minister David Levy echoed this view
when he assured Jordanian officials in Amman two days ago that Israel
and the PA "are on the verge of a deal."

One of the compromises in the offing is a postponement of the third,
and most extensive, Wye withdrawal for a period less than originally
hoped for by Barak.  Mor-Yosef notes that the PA plans to present the
delay not as a Palestinian concession, but as a necessary move to
permit the IDF time for an orderly retreat.  Barak aide Danny Yatom
said this morning that Israel may implement some of its Wye
commitments in the very near future if the talks continue
uninterrupted.  According to Yatom, upcoming concessions will include
the paving of at least the southern portion of the route from Gaza to
Judea and Samaria and an increase in work permits for Palestinian
laborers.

Yatom also indicated that the government may relax the criteria for
release of convicted Palestinian terrorists.  Though the Netanyahu
government was unwilling to free either terrorists "with blood on
their hands,"  or Hamas members, the Prison Authority has declared
that there are not 750 Arab prisoners matching these criteria.  As a
result, Palestinians who aided in murderous attacks - e.g. lookout
personnel - may be up for release. Victims of Arab Terror
International founder Shifra Hoffman has launched a nationwide
petition to halt the implementation of Wye.  The group has labeled the
release of terrorists "an insult to the memories of the innocent
Jewish victims and their families," and a plan that runs counter to
the government's stated policy of pursuing peace with security.

2. FUTURE OF OUTPOSTS TO BE DISCUSSED
The offices of Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak will
host initial deliberations tomorrow on the future of the various
civilian outposts established in Judea and Samaria since the signing
of the Wye Accords.  Ha'aretz newspaper reports this morning that a
legal opinion has been presented to the Prime Minister, allowing for
the uprooting of 30 of the 48 outposts, but that Prime Minister Barak
himself is leaning towards the removal of only four of the outposts.

3. BOYCOTT AGAINST ISRAELI WHOPPERS SUCCEEDING
The American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) distributed a statement today
from the executive offices of Burger King hinting that it would work
towards the closing of a new branch located in the Jerusalem suburb of
Maaleh Adumim. "Burger King is fully aware of the sensitivities
surrounding the opening of the Burger King restaurant in Maaleh Adumim
on the West Bank," says the statement.  "Burger King takes this matter
extremely seriously and is working diligently with its Israeli
franchisee to resolve the situation with the utmost sense of
urgency.''

AMJ Executive-Director Khalid Turaani was encouraged by what he
perceives as Burger King's imminent capitulation to the Arab-American
boycott, aided by Muslim demonstrations slated for next week.  Turaani
said today: "Burger King's decision to close the restaurant in Maaleh
Adumim will be one based on a business bottom line - potential loss of
profits.  We hope the community will continue its efforts to help
Burger King make the right decision with the right urgency."  In an
interview with Arutz-7's Ron Meir this past Monday, an AMJ spokesman
in Washington asserted that the Burger King store in Jerusalem's Malha
Mall is equally objectionable to the group, but that "the boycott had
to start somewhere, and Maaleh Adumim was chosen as the springboard
for the actions."

Late last week, AMJ announced an Arab-American boycott of Burger King
restaurants.  The company clarified its position to Arutz-7 in a faxed
statement declaring: "Burger King is a global brand and our policy is
to take the brand to its customers, and give them the opportunity to
enjoy the Burger King experience wherever they live.  It is not the
intention of either Burger King or its franchisees to enter into
political debate."  The statement added, however, that the company was
prepared to talk to Muslim groups "in order to reach a mutual
understanding on the issue."

Christian and Jewish organizations in the U.S. and Israel are just
beginning to respond.  The National Unity Coalition For Israel, a
group of 200 Jewish and Christian organizations representing 40
million Americans, released a statement which read in part: "Sadly,
the campaign to harm Burger King reflects the current mentality of
Israel's 'peace partners'. Their opposition to American corporations
doing business in Israel, is an attempt to further their own political
agenda at the expense of the free enterprise system in the Middle
East.  Because the settlements of Judea and Samaria are totally legal,
it is only through boycotts and intense Arab propaganda that these
thriving communities are being mislabeled 'obstacles to peace....'
This is a "red herring" intended to influence the uninformed."
American Friends for a Safe Israel (AFSI) Chairman Herbert Zweibon
remarked yesterday that the boycott "doesn't speak well for the peace
process.  In the new Middle East, where trade and commerce are
supposed to be the offshoots of 'peace,' it is an ominous sign that
American enterprise is thwarted with threats" because of a branch
location.

Zionist Organization of America Executive-Director Morton Klein
noted  "the broad consensus in Israel that Maaleh Adumim will always
be a part of the state, and that it will soon become part of the Jerusalem
Municipality in the near future."

A Spokesman for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem,
David Parsons, encourages Christians who support Israel to contact Mr.
Dennis Malamatinas, Chief Executive Officer for Burger King
Corporation (Tel: 305-378-7770, Fax: 305-378-7403, email:
<cedwards@whopper.com>) to support the company's original decision in
face of the Arab boycott. 

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

To:            arutz-7@a7.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, August 13, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org>
Friday, August 13, 1999 / Elul 1, 5759
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

  1. CLINTON PARDONS PUERTO RICAN TERRORISTS
  2. IN BRIEF

  * SPECIAL INSERT: ISRAEL IN PALESTINIAN TEXTBOOKS

1. CLINTON PARDONS PUERTO RICAN TERRORISTS       
The New York Times reported yesterday that, under continued pressure
from minority politicians and human rights activists, President
Clinton has agreed to commute the sentences of 16 members of a Puerto
Rican nationalist group - FALN.  The group, dedicated to the
independence of Puerto Rico, was involved in more than 100 bombings of
political and military installations in the United States some 15
years ago.  The Times quotes White House spokesman Barry Toiv as
saying, "The president feels they deserved to serve serious sentences
for these crimes but not sentences that were far out of proportion to
the nature of the crimes they were convicted for. Journalist Katharine
Seelye quotes White House officials who announced that Hillary
Clinton, "who has all but declared her candidacy for the Senate from
New York, had nothing to do with the commutation...However, the
decision could accrue to her political benefit by cementing her
relationship with New York's large Puerto Rican community."

Larry Dub, attorney for imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard,
responded to the news today: "It seems that everyone is getting
pardoned. Peurto Rican terrorists are getting pardoned, Israelis in
Cyprus are getting pardoned - everybody except for Jonathan Pollard.
If Clinton is interested in unfair sentences, he should examine the
grossly disproportionate sentence given to Pollard, who was sentenced
to life without parole for a crime (spying for a friendly country)
that normally carries a maximum of 2-4 years."

SPECIAL INSERT
ISRAEL AS PORTRAYED IN PALESTINIAN TEXTBOOKS
by Yoram Ettinger
(Excerpted.  For complete report: <yoramtex@netvision.net.il>)

Six years following the signing of the Oslo Accords, Arafat - a
mainstream leader and a recipient of annual US foreign aid -  is
intensifying the demonization of Israel, Zionism and Jews in the
Palestinian school system. PLO strategy is authentically represented
by its own education curriculum, which shapes long-term attitudes of
Palestinians and mirrors the ideology of its leadership.  Arafat's
refusal to expunge - from textbooks - systematic depiction of Jews and
Zionists as enemies of Arabs, Islam and humanity, has reaffirmed
concerns about Arafat's actual intentions and his harboring of Hamas
terrorists (including murderers of Americans).

Recurring themes in school textbooks within the PA educational system
educate Palestinian pupils to reject Israel, Zionism and Jews on
moral, political, nationalistic and religious grounds.  Jews and
Zionists are systematically depicted as enemies, deceitful,
treacherous, plunderers, aggressors and inhumane.  The heralding of
Jihad (Holy War) and legitimizing of martyrs/terrorists permeate both
PA textbooks and summer camps.  Martyrs are promised unique rewards in
Paradise, including unlimited sex with 70 virgins per martyr.

A few examples follow:

"The first words the young boy heard were the words Jihad, attack and
conquest...For him no joy equaled the participation in Jihad...Nothing
gave him more pleasure than the sight of the enemy lying dead on the
battlefield...Coming down on them, blow after blow, crushing their
skulls..." (The Conqueror of Africa, 6th grade, pp 6,7,43,93,96). 

"One must beware of the Jews, for they are treacherous and disloyal"
(Islamic Education, 9th grade, p.79).  

"Jihad and sacrifice are a duty...draw your sword, let us gather for
war with red blood and blazing fire...Death shall call and the sword
shall be crazed for such slaughter...Oh Palestine, the youth shall
redeem your land..." (Reader and Literary Texts, 8th grade,
pp.120-122).  

"The final and inevitable result [of Jihad] will be victory of the
Moslems over the Jews..." (Our Arabic Language, 5th grade, p.67).

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

To:            arutz-7@a7.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Sunday, August 15, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, Aug. 15, 1999 / Elul 3, 5759
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
  --- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

 TALKS CONTINUE
Prime Minister Barak briefed the ministers on the diplomatic
negotiations at today's government meeting. Israeli and Palestinian
negotiators, led by Gil'ad Sher and Saeb Ereket, met in Gaza this
afternoon.  Barak has asked the Attorney-General whether the Jews in
Tel Romeida, Hevron, can be forced to bullet-proof the buses in which
their children ride to school.  The residents are against defensive
measures of this sort, which, they feel, will increase their long-term
vulnerability.

Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that Barak has not yet
given up on his plan to delay the third stage of the Wye withdrawal,
while Arafat appears to be leaning heavily against it.  "In the end,"
Huberman estimated, "what appears to be happening is that the Wye
process will be carried out, but haltingly."  Barak has ordered the
security network to look into the status of the Palestinian
commitments: If by the end of September the Palestinian Authority will
have reduced the size of its para-military police force, collected the
thousands of illegal weapons circulating in its territory, and stopped
the incitement against Israel, Barak plans to begin transferring
administrative control of 5% of Yesha to the PA in October.  "This is
in precise accordance with the Wye Agreement, which stipulates that
the Palestinians must fulfill these and other commitments, while
Israel carries out the three withdrawals.  Staffers in the Prime
Minister's Office told me that they plan to be quite meticulous in
ensuring that the Palestinians carry out these commitments," Huberman
said.  "Barak would have been more 'generous' with the Palestinians,
had they agreed to his original proposal to go straight to the
final-status talks."

The 5% of Yesha that may be transferred to the PA has not yet been
determined.  The decision-makers in this regard lean towards spreading
it out over several different areas, so as to "minimize the dangers."
Huberman explained:  "The mistake made by the previous government in
carrying out the first Wye withdrawal all in one place [northern
Shomron] is now clear to all.  Terrorists can commit their crimes, and
then disappear into large Palestinian-controlled areas, as they have
done over the past two weeks.  In the event that the talks stall
again, Israel does not want to suffer from this same type of error."

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

FROM: Bridges for Peace
TO:       heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Israel in the News

                                 BFP: Israel in the News

1) ASSAD SKIPPED MOROCCO FUNERAL TO AVOID BARAK HANDSHAKE
2) ASSAD TELLS TROOPS "SYRIA WANTS PEACE WITH ISRAEL
3) IMAN CALLS FOR DESTRUCTION OF JEWS & CHRISTIANS ON PA TV
4) KINNERET (SEA OF GALILEE) REACHING DANGER LEVEL

1) ASSAD SKIPPED MOROCCO FUNERAL TO AVOID BARAK HANDSHAKE

         DAMASCUS (AP) - President Hafez Assad skipped the funeral of
Moroccan King Hassan II last week to avoid meaningless "handshakes"
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, which would have led to
deep-rooted agreements, an official newspaper reported.

         Assad canceled his trip to Morocco at the last moment after
Israeli officials expressed hope that the funeral of Hassan would
provide an opportunity for an impromptu meeting between the Syrian
leader and Barak to discuss peace.

        The Al-Thawra newspaper said, "Syria will never accept under any
circumstances or pressure less than a just and comprehensive peace,
which means full withdrawal" from all land captured by Israel in the
Six Day War.

      Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said if Assad insists on
such a precondition, this shows he is not truly interested in peace.
Beilin told the two official TV channels that the June 4, 1967 border
is not legitimate because Syria captured certain areas on the border
by force of arms after the end of the War of Independence.

   "If he demands that we undertake to return to the line of June 4,
1967, which in my view is not a legitimate line, as a condition for
renewal of the negotiations, in my view that means that this man is
not truly prepared to make peace with us," he said. (Jerusalem Post,
August 1, 1999)

2) ASSAD TELLS TROOPS "SYRIA WANTS PEACE WITH ISRAEL"

     DAMASCUS (Reuters) - President Hafez Assad told his armed
forces (August 1) Syria wanted peace with Israel and would do nothing
to hinder it.

    "Peace is a sublime target and a pressing need for the region
and the world," he said in a message marking Army Day. "We are not the
ones who hamper or delay the reaching of this aim and the realization
of this need...We have taken stands which confirm our seriousness in
working to realize a just and comprehensive peace.  We wait for the
others [Israel] to exchange with us faithful wishes to establish a
just and comprehensive peace...We in Syria are builders of a powerful
nation and advocates of real peace which brings good for us and our
nation and the region."

         Repeating Syria's demand for full Israeli withdrawal from the
Golan, Assad said peace "should lead to the return of the occupied
Arab Lands to their legitimate owners in accordance with UN
resolutions." Assad reiterated that Syria would not sign a peace
treaty with Israel until Lebanon is ready to do the same. "We confirm
to our brothers in Lebanon that Syria is firm in its commitment to
preserve the unity of the two tracks in the peace process," he said.

  Meanwhile, Balad MK Azmi Bishara, who arrived in Damascus at the
invitation of the Syrian government yesterday, warned Arab nations
they should not depend too much on Israel's new government to advance
the Middle East peace process.

  Bishara said while there has been a noticeable change in Israel's
policies toward the Arabs since Prime Minister Ehud Barak took office,
the Arab world "cannot depend on his goodwill" alone. He did not
elaborate.

 "There is activity in Israel's position concerning Syrian and
Lebanese land but that position is not enough. The security interest
remains Israel's chief interest, so one should not focus only on their
goodwill," Bishara said.

 Bishara met with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shara and other
Syrian officials for consultations on Israeli policies under Barak.
(Jerusalem Post, August 2, 1999)

3) IMAN CALLS FOR DESTRUCTION OF JEWS & CHRISTIANS ON PA TV

          "O Allah! Bless all true believers in their sacred Muslim
struggle against the wicked infidels. Help us to destroy the cursed
Jewish invaders who have stolen Muslim land, raped Muslim women, and
murdered Muslim babies.

          "Help us in our struggle against the Christian infidel
non-believers who place their disgusting idolatrous symbols on their
Satanic churches in defiance of the will of Allah, blessed be his
name. " [they seem to overlook the fact that the crescent moon
adorning their Mosques was the symbol of the moon god, Allah]

          "Help us defeat the cursed giant America, that nation of
Christian whores whose women are all prostitutes and whose children
are all pornographers.

          "The non-believers want to destroy your mosques and holy places.
          The infidels disrespect your holy Koran.  The Jewish devils and
          Christian crusaders have overrun the Muslim City of Al Kuds
          [Jerusalem].

          "Help us to regain control of all areas that the Jewish soldiers
have trampled upon.  Help us to regain control of the rest of Gaza
from the fascist hordes of Jewish settlers.  Help us to regain control
of the Negev, the Galilee and the Golan Heights.

          "Help us to defeat these Jewish infidel non-believers who are
your enemies.  These Jewish soldiers of Meir Kahane and Ehud Barak who
wish to tear down Mecca and Medina." (PATV, Palestinian Television,
July 23, 1999)

4) KINNERET (SEA OF GALILEE) REACHING DANGER LEVEL
 
    According to Tzvi Ortenberg of the Kinneret Water Authority, the
Kinneret will reach the red line of 213 meters (692 feet) below sea
level in about 50 days. It is believed the danger level will be
reached by October 1.( Some experts explain that permitting the water
level to drop below the red line would result in an ecological
catastrophe and it must be avoided at all costs. (IsraelWire, August
9, 1999)

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, Brazil and our Spanish
World office located in Puerto Rico.

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

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