To:            arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@arutzsheva.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Thursday, November 25, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.arutzsheva.org>
Thursday, November 25, 1999 / Kislev 16, 5760
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. REGIONAL VIOLENCE FORESEEN
  2. RABBIS' PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED

1. REGIONAL VIOLENCE FORESEEN
The prestigious Washington Institute for Near East Policy foresees
trouble ahead for Israel and its neighbors.  A delegation of experts
from the Institute, just back from a fact-finding mission to Israel,
has found that a danger of armed violence exists with the
Palestinians, Syria, and along the Lebanese border.  The experts feel
that Israel will be taking a great gamble by withdrawing unilaterally
from southern Lebanon.  Hizbullah will continue to attack even after a
withdrawal, in accordance with Syrian and Iranian objectives: Syria
will want to ensure that Israel realizes it is still not exempt from
leaving the Golan, while Iran is investing great resources into
heightening terrorism against the diplomatic process. 

Arutz-7's Haggai Segal asked Rachel Ben-Dor, of the Four Mothers
movement - which has been in the forefront of the campaign for an
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon - about the pessimistic predictions.
"Evaluations [such as these] that border on paranoia and on scaring
the public are usually not well accepted," she answered.  "We have to
evaluate the chances and dangers in each situation, and thus determine
our course."  In light of reports that the northern towns will be
intensely fortified with high fences, guard towers, and the like, she
said, "The lives of the residents will be easier, not harder, after a
withdrawal - at least there won't be the uncertainty that there is
now."  Despite what Segal called the "recent improvement in the
security situation in Lebanon because of intense Israeli air attacks
on Hizbullah targets," Ben-Dor said that the decision has already been
made to withdraw, "so why should we go backwards?"  Segal also noted
that since Israel's entry into Lebanon in 1982, there has been no
terrorist penetrations from there; Ben-Dor said that this phenomenon
is unrelated to Israel's presence in Lebanon.

It was reported late this afternoon that Prime Minister Barak promised
that a withdrawal from Lebanon would take place "by July 2000 after
agreements are reached." 

The Washington Institute experts say that Prime Minister Ehud Barak is
not likely to be able to sign a permanent-status agreement with the
Palestinian Authority within a year, as he plans, and that a violent
conflagration will erupt before such an agreement is signed.  Some of
the experts feel that another round of war may be "necessary" before
peace is achieved. 

2. RABBIS' PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED
Only minutes after Kabbalist rabbis landed from their rain-beseeching
flight around Israel yesterday, rain began to fall in various places
throughout the country.  The rabbis had rented the plane for a
three-hour flight, during which they encircled the country three
times, sounded the shofar, and recited special prayers.  Rain is
expected intermittently for the next three days. 

In a related item, it appears that Israelis will soon turn on their
taps to imported Turkish water.  Although transporting the water by
balloon or underwater pipe has been shown to be impractical, tankers
can be used to transport 250,000 cubic meters of water per trip.


QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The issue of education is the first, primary, and most important
issue for the NRP, and if we do not receive satisfactory answers
regarding the terrible budget cuts that were made in areas of
education, we will not be partners [to this coalition]." - MK Sha'ul
Yahalom (National Religious Party), yesterday.

**************************************************************************
To:            arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, November 26, 1999
Reply-to:      netnews@a7.org

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.arutzsheva.org>
Friday, November 26, 1999 / Kislev 17, 5760
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. BEIT EL FOREVER
  2. TEL AVIV ARAB OFFICIAL TELLS JEWS TO GET OUT

1. BEIT EL FOREVER
The talks with the Palestinians on the next withdrawal continue to be
stalled.  The Palestinians do not wish to accept the withdrawal as
determined by Israel, despite the fact that the agreements specify
that Israel is to be the sole arbiter of such.  The PA specifically
objects to receiving area in the Judean Desert, instead of area near
Shechem or Jerusalem.  Prime Minister Ehud Barak has also refused to
grant area near Bir Zeit to the Palestinians, although Binyamin
Netanyahu had been willing to do so.  Yesha Council leaders feel that
this is in keeping with Barak's promise to keep neighboring Beit El
under Israeli sovereignty forever.

Over 1,000 visitors are expected to arrive in Beit El this Shabbat, to
take part in festivities marking the 22nd anniversary of the town's
founding. They will be hosted in private homes as well as in the
dormitories in Beit El's four high schools and yeshivot.  A symposium
entitled, "The People of Israel: Headed Where?" will be held tonight,
with the participation of Beit El's Rabbis Zalman Melamed, Shlomo
Aviner, and MK Benny Elon, and Mayor Uri Ariel.

2. TEL AVIV ARAB OFFICIAL TELLS JEWS TO GET OUT
Yet another mosque is drawing objections - this time from Jews.
Moslems in Jaffa wish to re-open an old mosque located in the middle
of the artists' quarter, prompting an outpouring of objections from
Jewish residents there.

 The latter have submitted a petition to the Supreme Court, in which
they claim that opening the mosque will endanger their security and detract
from their "quality of life."  The artist-residents ask why Moslems
must come and pray exactly in the middle of a Jewish neighborhood.
Ahmed Balha, a member of the Tel Aviv municipal council, accused the
complainants of racism, and said, "Whoever doesn't want to see a
mosque next to his home - should get out."

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