To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Apr 27, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 08:14:48 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
7:00 PM Eastern
HIST - 20TH CENTURY - Guardians of the Gulf
8:00
PBS - NOVA - "Kaboom!" - The power of explosives is
seen in science, accidents, war and
terrorism.(CC)(TVPG)
DISC - ELITE CHOPPERS - The evolution of the attack
helicopter.(CC)(TVG)
HIST - THE ROMAN LEGIONS - Superior weapons and tactics
secure an empire and contribute to its ruin.(CC)(TVG)
9:00
PBS - FRONTLINE - "Spying on Saddam" - Former Marine
Scott Ritter discusses UNSCOM, Iraq and U.S.
intelligence.(CC)
TLC - 48 HOURS - "Devil on Main St." - Teen-age
suicide and satanic cults.(CC)
10:00
PBS - ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU WITH BILL MOYERS - The
humanitarian discusses South Africa, civil rights and
justice.(CC)
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today items (4/26/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 08:31:50 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Palestinians want to replace Oslo with UN Resolutions 181
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: For Zion's Sake Ministries
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- Since the signing of the Wye Agreement, the
Palestinian leadership has attempted to strengthen UN General Assembly
Resolution 181 the 1947 Partition Resolution. Over the last five
months, Resolution 181 has been transformed from a marginal demand
that was only discussed in local forums in the PA's areas, to the
centerpiece of Palestinian diplomacy in the UN and around the world.
MEMRI,(Middle East Media and Research Institute) the first to report
this change, revealed the PA's operative plan that aims at
implementing the 1947 Partition Resolution. The plan was presented
earlier this week in a Gaza press conference, by the PA Minister of
International Cooperation and member of the Palestinian negotiating
team, Nabil Sha'ath. According to Sha'ath , in his meetings throughout
the globe, Arafat reemphasizes that the Palestinians base their claim
for independence on the 1947 Partition Resolution: "in his tour
through most of the world's countries, the president spoke of the
right to a Palestinian state, a right that is based on Resolution 181
of 1947 and not on the resolution of the Madrid Conference and the
Oslo Accords.." Sha'ath revealed that according to the PA's diplomatic
plan, the PA will attempt to replace the Oslo Accords, which will
expire on May 4, 1999 and are based on the UN Security Council
Resolution 242, with General Assembly Resolution 181. By doing so, the
bilateral framework for the negotiations will be replaced by a UN
multilateral framework, which the PLO prefers. "If Resolution 181 is
applied," Sha'ath added, "all Palestinian land Israel occupies beyond
the Partition Resolution borders will be transferred to the UN,
including Jerusalem in its entirety, both East and West. The UN will
then act, and hold a referendum among the Palestinian people regarding
this land." The Palestinian leadership accepts the
internationalization of Jerusalem as a temporary act until it is
transferred to the Palestinians: "It is essential [first of all] to
release Jerusalem from the Israeli claws... If we conduct the
negotiations over the final settlement with the UN rather than Israel,
it will significantly help us reach a solution that is not imposed by
the Israeli occupation." (The MEMRI is an independent, non-profit
organization providing translations of the Arab media and original
analysis and research on developments in the Middle East.)
International support for Arafat
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- Palestinian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
Nabeel Amro said that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat obtained
during the diplomatic initiative he made during the last three months
confirmations from a large number of countries of support for the
Palestinians' right to self-determination and establishing their
independent state. Amro said "The Palestinian president's external
tours led to changing the European, Canadian and Japanese stances
toward this matter," adding that the US stance focuses on extending
the transitional period that ends on May 4. The meeting of the
Palestinian Legislative Council comes regarding declaring the
Palestinian state to make recommendations regarding the declaration of
the Palestinian state, which will be forwarded to the anticipated
meeting of the central council, to be convened between in Gaza
regarding the Palestinian state's declaration on May 4 or delaying
this declaration.
Europe fears another Chernobyl built on a tectonic crack???
Weekend News Today
By Staff Writer
Source: BBC
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania has
been described by the US department of Energy as one of the most
dangerous nuclear installations in the world and the European Union
are also demanding its early closure. To add to the safety worries,
the plant is built on a tectonic crack and last year alone Ignalina
experienced over 20 low-level accidents, four of which led to
temporary shut downs. But Ignalina also provides Lithuania with more
than 85% of its electrical power, making this small Baltic state the
most nuclear reliant country on the planet. Many Lithuanians argue
that closing down Ignalina to satisfy western safety concerns would be
a devastating blow to the country's fledgling market economy. The
Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant operates two Soviet-era RBMK-1500 water
cooled reactors - the most powerful nuclear reactors in existence.
They feed off the nearby Druksiai Lake and by returning heated water
to the lake, have raised its temperature by three degrees, prompting
concern from local environmentalists. But this is a minor worry
compared to some of the problems at Ignalina. The two reactors, both
of which are more powerful than the ones at Chernobyl, have no
protective containment shells. The plant's supporters say its water
piping control systems are just as safe, but none of this diminishes
from the general air of decay and neglect surrounding the plant.
Concrete walls and corridors are crumbling and cracked to the open
air, paint is peeling from nearly all the walls, while most of the
underpaid staff look lethargic and disinterested in their work.
Lithuania now has only a few weeks left to give a firm commitment to
the early closure of Ignalina or face exclusion from EU membership
talks at the very time the Baltic States are hoping to increase their
ties to western Europe. Lithuania's Prime Minister, Gedeminas
Vagnorious, says that closing Ignalina would cost Lithuania between
two and six billion US dollars, money the country simply doesn't have.
At the moment the situation is deadlocked and until a political
solution is reached, whatever the dangers, the reactors at Ignalina
will keep running - and they are 300 KM closer to western Europe than
Chernobyl.
Palestinian Legislative Council convenes extraordinary session
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- The Palestinian Legislative Council on Sunday
discussed in a special session in Ramallah the question of declaring
Palestinian statehood and the situation in the occupied city of
Jerusalem, as well as the policy pursued by the Israeli occupation
forces in confiscating Palestinian territories and enhancing
settlements. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat proposed before
members of the council various options concerning the declaration of
the Palestinian state, or postponing it to a set date in order to
submit appropriate recommendations to the Palestinian central council
during its session to be held on April 27. Erekat stressed that the
question of issuing the Palestinian state and the Palestinian people
self determination is only a Palestinian issue, and nobody has the
right to take a decision concerning it, Israel Radio reported.
Yeltsin sends message to Syria with Russin FM
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Saturday met
with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Present at the meeting were
the Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and the Russian
ambassador in Damascus, SANA reported. The Russian minister conveyed
to the president a message from Russian President Boris Yeltsin
"related to the development of bilateral relations." Talks dealt with
a number of international and regional matters of concern to both
sides, especially the Middle East peace process and the situation in
the Balkans. Bilateral relations and cooperation between the two
countries were also discussed. Ivanov stated that a lasting and
durable peace in the Middle East is not possible without Syria. The
Russian FM continued: "It is necessary that the Middle East peace
process be pushed forward on all tracks, including Syria's, that
negotiations are resumed from the point where the peace process had
stopped at and are based on UN Security Council resolutions, the
Madrid terms of reference, the land-for-peace formula and the return
of the Golan Heights to Syria." The Russian FM commended the
development of Syrian-Russian bilateral relations, reasserting that
decisions connected with bilateral relations are made by both sides'
agreement and that there are no obstacles hindering the growth of
these ties. He also asserted that all issues are usually settled in a
climate of friendship, cordiality and mutual confidence. For his part,
the Syrian FM said: "I am satisfied with the Russian stand which was
expressed by Mr. Ivanov now and during his Middle East tour,
especially the stand pertinent to the Middle East peace process and to
the resumption of talks from the point where they were broken off."
Mordechai visit with Abdullah angers Nentanyahu
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Ha'aretz
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- Jordan's King Abdullah hosted Center Party leader
Yitzhak Mordechai for two hours yesterday, with the two spending part
of the time alone. Jordanian officials refused to confirm the meeting,
but Israeli sources said Abdullah and Mordechai had discussed the
Arab-Israeli peace process and bilateral relations, as well as
Mordechai's relationship with the late King Hussein. The two were even
said to have reminisced over Mordechai's last phone conversation with
Hussein, which occurred a few days before the king's death. Abdullah
asked Mordechai to let Israelis know that the new king intends to
follow the example set by his late father, and said he plans to visit
Israel after the elections. Mordechai held a press conference after
his return to Israel, in which he refused to say whether Abdullah
would come to Israel no matter who wins the elections. But the
centrist said he believes Israel's relationship with Jordan is steady.
Mordechai and his wife, Kochi, began their trip with a visit to
Hussein's tomb. Abdullah has stressed recently that Jordan's
priorities had been rearranged, saying that relations with Israel
"will not at all be at the expense" of relations with Syria, Egypt and
the Palestinians. Mordechai is expected to visit with Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak today. David Bar-Illan, adviser to Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he could not comment on Mordechai's
visit - which, he said, had "implications for the election." Netanyahu
said, "No Arab leader - including Arafat, who really is getting
involved - none of them will determine [the election results]... the
people to determine will be the citizens of Israel. So it has been,
and so it shall be.
More Jewish families move into east Jerusalem
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arutz 7
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- MK Rabbi Benny Elon will preside over the next
stage in the renewal of the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood in eastern
Jerusalem tomorrow. Several Jewish families will move into their new
homes there, and Elon will take the opportunity to announce future
plans for the neighborhood - sometimes known by its Arab name Sheikh
Jarrah. Before 1948, dozens of Jewish families lived in the area,
located adjacent to the major artery connecting the Old City with the
northern Jewish neighborhoods of Ramat Eshkol and French Hill. Rabbi
Elon said yesterday that another family had moved in last week, and
that "Jews will now be able to get used to the fact that when they
cross Highway #1 from the Me'ah She'arim area into the Shimon
HaTzaddik neighborhood, they are still in Jerusalem, and not in an
Arab city where they have to beware of who's walking behind them...
Jerusalem is truly united, and I know that Netanyahu and even Barak
talk a lot about that - but someone has to actually do it." Students
from Beit Orot - which is active in reclamation efforts in the
neighborhood - maintain an advanced Torah learning program in one of
the Shimon HaTzaddik buildings, and the Yeshiva has organized the
purchase of some nine properties in the area. Chaim Silberstein,
Executive-Director of Beit Orot, said, "Despite consistent efforts by
Feisal Husseini to assert Arab sovereignty in Jerusalem and violate
the Oslo accords, we will maintain our efforts to redeem and inhabit
Jewish-owned property throughout Jerusalem." A large Lag BaOmer
celebration of the new Jewish presence will be held next Tuesday in
the neighborhood, which is only a few hundred meters away from the
Orient House.
New towns approved by Israeli government
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- The cabinet in its weekly meeting on Sunday
(April 25), voted to move ahead with plans for the establishment of
six new communities in the Negev in southern Israel and the Galilee in
northern Israel. Moves to block the establishment of the new
communities were rejected by the government.
Call for separation of religion and state in Israel
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- The leader of the left-wing Meretz Party, MK
Yossi Sarid, is calling for a national referendum on the issue of
separation of state and religion. The United Torah Judaism coalition
has already expressed its adamant opposition to the idea, as has the
left-wing Shinui Party. The moderate Orthodox Meimad Party has also
come out in opposition to the referendum, explaining that such a vote
would further divide the nation. A Meimad official explained the vote
would lead to a hardening of position rather than social change
Jerusalem PA official threatens violence
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsreaelWire
Mon Apr 26 , 1999 -- Speaking to the media on Sunday, Faisal Husseini,
who holds the Jerusalem portfolio in the PLO Authority (PA), warned
that if Israel moved ahead with its planned closure of the Orient
House, the move would spark a violent reaction in the Arab community.
Husseini spoke of the riots which followed the opening of the
Hashmonean Tunnel by the Netanyahu government three years ago,
pointing out that there were riots in eastern Jerusalem, as well as
throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The government maintains that the
continued operations in the eastern Jerusalem PA headquarters, AKA
"Orient House," is a blatant violation of the accords signed with
Israel, one the "undermines" Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem.
Husseini insists that he is a representative of the PLO and not the
PA, therefore, he is not in violation of the agreements. Husseini
stated that regarding last week's meeting with Gaza based diplomats
was not a violation. He explained that the meeting took place in a
Jerusalem restaurant and not in Orient House. Prior to an actual move
to shutdown the Orient House, a full investigation is expected by the
offices of the state prosecutor as well as the attorney general, to
determine if the activities going on in Orient House on a day-to-day
basis are indeed a violation of the law.
via: bible_prophecy-news@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Inside China Today items (4/27/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 09:55:56 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
AUTHORITIES AGREE TO LISTEN TO SECT
BEIJING -- The central authorities Tuesday agreed to listen to the
grievances of a religious sect which surrounded the government seat of
power in the most daring demonstration in Beijing in a decade.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042701.html?text
CHINA, ISRAEL AGREE TO KEEP HANDS OFF KOSOVO CRISIS
BEIJING -- China and Israel share common concerns over NATO's bombing
in Yugoslavia, but will maintain a hands-off approach to the crisis,
Israeli President Ezer Weizman said on Tuesday.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042702.html?text
INDIA, CHINA BEGIN TALKS ON DISARMAMENT
NEW DELHI -- India and China began talks on security and nuclear
disarmament issues on Monday, the Indian Foreign Ministry said.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042703.html?text
SECT PROTEST SHOWS CRACKS IN GREAT WALL OF DEPRESSION
BEIJING -- The 10,000-strong demonstrations before the government
headquarters in central Beijing has shown serious problems with a
Communist Party system of repression that has been in place since the
quelling of the Tiananmen democracy protests 10 years ago.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042705.html?text
CHINA-EU TALKS ON WTO DEAL ENTER SECOND DAY
BEIJING -- Chinese and European Union negotiators entered a second day
of talks on Tuesday to try to clinch a World Trade Organization (WTO)
deal, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
http://invest.insidechina.com/chinsight/busnews/1999042701.html?text
CHINA ADOPTS GENETICALLY MODIFIED COTTON
WASHINGTON -- China planted more than one million hectares of
genetically modified cotton during the past year to improve crop
yields, and is likely to boost that amount in the next planting
season, Monsanto Co. officials said on Monday.
http://invest.insidechina.com/chinsight/busnews/1999042702.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Wye River Memo - Status of Implementation as of April 1999
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 09:59:28 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Wye River Memorandum - Status of
Implementation as of April 1999
The Wye River Memorandum, signed in Washington on October 23, 1998,
sets out a series of specific obligations of the Israeli and
Palestinian sides to be implemented in a phased approach in accordance
with a detailed Time Line. The implementation of the obligations set
out in this Time Line was due to have been completed on 29 January
1999, but, as described below, most of the Palestinian obligations set
out in the Memorandum are still awaiting implementation.
Since the obligations listed within the Time Line are chronological,
Israel's obligations, which appear at the end of each stage, are
dependent on the fulfillment of the prior Palestinian commitments
within that stage. This chronological approach is both the clear
intention of the Time Line (for example in the period from week 2 to
week 6, the meeting of the PCC (weeks two to four) is listed before
the meeting of the PNC (weeks four to six)), and also the practice
adopted by the two sides to date (the first phase of the FRD was
implemented only after the Israeli Government confirmed that the prior
commitments of that phase had been fulfilled).
Despite the forthcoming elections in Israel, the Government of Israel
has reiterated its commitment to the Wye Memorandum in all its
aspects, together with all the other Israel-Palestinian agreements. It
has declared its willingness to negotiate all outstanding issues and
to implement its obligations on the basis of reciprocity.
The Palestinian leadership, on the other hand, has for the past three
months chosen to freeze almost every area of cooperation with Israel,
including the negotiating committees. This follows a strategic
decision made by the Palestinian side to try to generate international
pressure on Israel within the international community, and not to
engage in any cooperative activities that might undermine the
Palestinian assertions of Israeli intransigence. The Palestinian
leadership similarly has repeatedly rejected proposals that would have
brought immediate and practical benefits to the Palestinian people,
and obstructed the work of the joint committees, for fear that any
progress will help the current Israel government to be reelected.
Israel views this as unacceptable intervention within its internal
affairs, and a waste of valuable negotiating time.
Security obligations
Although there has been some security activity by the Palestinian
security authorities in the Gaza Strip, this has been sporadic and
focused on particular threats rather than uprooting the infrastructure
of terrorist organizations. Accordingly, significant Palestinian
security obligations are still outstanding. In particular, the
Palestinian side has not taken the necessary measures to "outlaw all
organizations (or wings of organizations, as appropriate) of a
military, terrorist or violent character and their support structure".
The Palestinian side has also failed to engage in "full bilateral
security cooperation" as required by the Memorandum, and to provide a
detailed security work plan for the fight against terrorism.
Also of grave concern is the continuation of the "revolving door"
policy whereby security offenders are subjected to token arrests and
almost immediately released. In addition, not only has the Palestinian
side not imprisoned the wanted terrorists that it undertook to arrest
in the Wye talks, but to the contrary, and in violation of the vetting
arrangements agreed at Wye, it continues to release terrorists from
within its custody.
Illegal weapons
Under the Wye Memorandum, the Palestinian side undertook to establish
a legal framework for the collection of illegal weapons, and also to
take significant steps to collect and dispose of illegal weapons.
Following these commitments, the Palestinian side issued a decree
against illegal weapons, but the Palestinian law on which this decree
is based violates the Israeli-Palestinian agreements in a number of
respects, including permitting the introduction and use of arms and
ammunition absolutely prohibited by the Interim Agreement.
In practice, there are literally thousands of illegal weapons freely
held in the areas under Palestinian jurisdiction, not only in the
hands of civilians but also in the hands of the Palestinian Police.
These weapons considerably exceed the numbers permitted by the Interim
Agreement and many of them, including mortars, mines and grenade
launchers, are totally prohibited by the Agreement. During the current
period, when the international community is witness to the importance
of supervision of weaponry and ammunition, these breaches must be
treated with particular gravity.
At the Wye talks it was agreed that the modalities for granting
weapons licenses, and the categories of persons to be granted such
licenses, would be agreed between the two sides in the Joint Security
Committee, as required by the Security Annex of the Interim Agreement.
This commitment was restated in a letter from Saeb Erakat to the
Israeli Cabinet Secretary, dated November 18, 1998. However, despite
Israeli requests to raise this issue in the Joint Security Committee,
the Palestinian side has refused to discuss it. In the meantime, the
Palestinian side continues to issue weapons licenses, in disregard of
its obligation under the Interim Agreement. Thus, not only is the
Palestinian side not fulfilling its obligation to confiscate illegal
weapons, but, by continuing to grant weapons licenses in violation of
the Agreement, it is actually exacerbating the situation.
Under the Wye Memorandum it was also agreed that a trilateral
committee would be established to deal with the unauthorized
introduction of weapons and explosive materials into the Palestinian
areas. According to the Time Line, this committee should not only have
met, but also have submitted its first report. However, although
Israel has appointed its representatives to this committee and
requested that it convene, it has still not met.
Palestinian Police
Under the Wye Time Line, the Palestinian side is obliged to fulfill
its outstanding commitment under the Interim Agreement and transfer a
list of Palestinian policemen to the Israeli side for its approval. In
doing so, it should ensure that the number of policemen does not
exceed 30,000, as prescribed by the Interim Agreement. The size of the
Palestinian police is currently considerably in excess of this number.
Notwithstanding undertakings by the Palestinian side that the list
will "shortly be transferred to Israel", only a partial list has been
received by the Israeli side. It should be recalled that the
Memorandum requires not only that the list be transferred but also
that the Monitoring and Steering Committee review the list and issue a
report.
Preventing Incitement
In the Wye Memorandum, the Palestinian side undertook to issue a
decree prohibiting "all forms of incitement to violence and terror"
and to establish a mechanism which would "act systematically against
all expressions or threats of violence or terror". A decree was
published by the Palestinian side on 19 November 1998, and although it
makes no reference to terrorism as required by the Memorandum, and
contains a number of legal inconsistencies, it was welcomed as a
positive step by the Israeli side. However, despite the decree, and
the meetings of the trilateral Anti-incitement Committee, incitement
to violence and terrorism continues, both by Palestinian officials and
in the official Palestinian media.
PLO Charter
Israel was pleased to note that at a meeting in Gaza on 14 December
1998, the PNC adopted a resolution amending the PLO Charter, as
required by its outstanding obligations from: the exchange of letters
between Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Rabin dated September 1993,
the exchange of letters attached to the Gaza-Jericho Agreement of May
1994, the Interim Agreement of September 1995 and the Note for the
Record attached to the Hebron Protocol of January 1997.
Unilateral Actions
The Wye Memorandum restates the prohibition established in the
previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements against initiating or taking
any step which will change the status of Judea and Samaria (the West
Bank) and the Gaza Strip. However, notwithstanding the obligation to
resolve this issue through negotiations, the Palestinian side has
repeatedly stated its intention to unilaterally declare an independent
state with Jerusalem as its capital. Such statements are inconsistent
with the provisions of the Wye Memorandum, with the Interim Agreement,
and with the undertaking in Chairman Arafat's letter of September 9,
1993, that "all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will
be resolved through negotiations".
Further Redeployment (FRD)
The Wye Memorandum provides for three stages of further redeployment
in the course of the Time Line. Each of these is listed at the end of
the relevant phase and is contingent upon the implementation of the
prior Palestinian commitments within that phase. Upon completion of
these commitments Israel is obliged to implement the FRD obligation.
Thus, at the conclusion of the second phase, ending week 2 of the Time
Line, Israel implemented the first stage of the FRD, transferring 2%
of Area C to the status of Area B and 7.1% of Area B to Area A.
At the conclusion of the subsequent phases, Israel was to have
implemented further stages of the FRD. However, as noted above,
significant Palestinian obligations required to be implemented prior
to these stages are still outstanding. Israel awaits implementation of
these commitments so that it can implement its FRD undertakings on the
basis of reciprocity.
Release of Prisoners
The release of prisoners by Israel was not specifically included in
the Wye Memorandum, but it was agreed that 750 prisoners would be
released in three phases. Israel has released prisoners in full
compliance with both the Wye understanding and the Interim Agreement,
and with Israel's clear statement at the Wye talks that it would not
release prisoners that were members of the Hamas or Islamic Jihad
organisations or who have blood on the hands. Although the provisions
of the Interim Agreement and the Wye understanding on this issue are
perfectly clear, the Palestinian side has raised new demands,
insisting on the release of terrorists with blood on their hands,
which have no basis in any of the agreements between the two sides.
Interim committees and economic issues
The Wye Memorandum provided that the parties would reactivate all
standing committees established by the Interim Agreement, and
specified in particular the Monitoring and Steering Committee, the
Joint Economic Committee, the Civil Affairs Committee, the Legal
Committee and the Standing Cooperation Committee. However, in the
light of the Palestinian decision to freeze all cooperative activity
for political reasons, all bilateral committees, with the exception of
the trilateral anti-incitement committee, have ceased to function.
Moreover, despite the agreement reached at the last meeting of the
Monitoring and Steering Committee that the two sides would make
special efforts to move forward in specific areas (Safe passage; Ad
hoc economic committee; Legal committee; People to People; Gaza Port;
Water desalination project; and Socio-economic projects for the
improvement of living conditions) the Palestinian side has frozen all
cooperation to make progress in these areas.
The current status of the various interim committees is as follows:
Gaza Airport Committee - completed
The Committee has completed its work. The protocol on Gaza Airport was
signed on 20 November 1998, and the airport was officially opened on
24 November 1998.
Gaza Industrial Estate - completed
Following the conclusion of the negotiations between the two sides,
the Karni commercial crossing point was opened on 14 December 1998.
There are currently 4 companies operating in the estate.
Gaza Port - negotiations frozen by the Palestinian side
Eight rounds of negotiations have taken place on this issue since the
signing of the Wye Memorandum. The key issues requiring resolution
relate to security responsibilities concerning incoming vessels and in
the port area. Although Israel has made a number of new proposals to
resolve these issues, negotiations have been frozen by the Palestinian
side.
Safe Passage - negotiations frozen by the Palestinian side
The two sides held five rounds of negotiations following Wye. The Wye
Memorandum provided that the two sides would make best efforts to
conclude the safe passage agreement in relation to the southern route
within a week of the entry into force of the Memorandum and start
operation of this route as soon as possible thereafter. But although
the protocol on safe passage is virtually complete, the Palestinian
side has gone back on a number of practical arrangements that were
agreed in the Wye talks and, in direct contravention of the Wye
Memorandum, insists on dealing with issues relating to the northern
route prior to the opening of the southern route. Currently
negotiations have been frozen by the Palestinian side.
Standing Cooperation Committee ("People to People") - Palestinian side
refuses to convene
Many practical projects designed to break down barriers between the
two sides are actually happening in the field but, despite repeated
Israeli requests, and in contravention of its undertaking in the Wye
Memorandum, the Palestinian side has refused to convene this
committee.
Joint Economic Committee - negotiations frozen by the Palestinian side
As provided by the Wye Memorandum, the JEC established an ad hoc
committee. It has held five rounds of talks to date, dealing with four
key issues as follows:
Car thefts from Israel to the areas under Palestinian jurisdiction - a
joint task force of the Israeli and Palestinian police has been
established to deal with this problem though its impact has not yet
been felt on the ground.
Repayment of Palestinian debts - Palestinian undertakings have been
received to repay a number of outstanding debts, but significant debts
remain unpaid.
Purchase tax - Israel has agreed to the Palestinian request for a
refund of purchase tax on Israeli products.
Expansion of the A1 list set out in the Paris Economic protocol -
Israel acceded to US and Jordanian requests to expand the list
relating to trade with Jordan, even in the absence of Palestinian
cooperation within the economic committee, and with no recompense.
However, even on this basis, the Palestinian side is not prepared to
sign the necessary agreement on expanding trade with Jordan, thus
undermining Palestinian economic development for political purposes.
Legal Committee - Palestinian side refuses to convene
Israel has received no response to its repeated requests to the
Palestinian side to convene the Legal Committee as required by Article
III of the Memorandum. From the legislation provided by the
Palestinian side to Israel, it is apparent that this is inconsistent
in many respects with the provisions of the Interim Agreement.
Trilateral anti-incitement committee - meetings continue
This committee, established by the Wye Memorandum to monitor and
prevent incitement, has met eight times to date. Very little of
substance has been achieved, primarily because of the insistence of
the Palestinian side on including discussions of settlements, prisoner
releases and other issues dealt with in other fora of negotiations.
The Palestinian side has yet to investigate or respond to any of the
many examples of incitement to violence provided by the Israeli side,
and despite Israeli concerns about frequent calls to Jihad and the use
of violence in Palestinian textbooks, refuses to discuss the issue of
incitement within schoolbooks.
The committee has held a special meeting at which newspaper editors
from the two sides participated in discussions on incitement, and has
agreed to hold a similar session with participation of officials in
the field of education.
Civil Affairs Committee and Civilian sub-committees - sporadic
operation
These committees operate sporadically to resolve issues arising from
the transfer of Israeli civilian responsibilities to the Palestinian
side. Meetings are held at the professional level to deal with such
issues as water, electricity and the environment, as well as the
population registry in the territories.
Source: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
via: The Prime Minister of Israel <pmr@pmo.gov.il>
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Entities/people born 1945-1949
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 13:36:39 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
There have been an awful lot of 50th anniversary celebrations lately.
This means that all of these entities were "born" around the same
time as Israel. I was curious to see what else had been birthed
around the same time and this is what I've come up with (keep in
mind that if they were born in 1945-1949 they were in their
rebellious teens in the 1960s early 1970s when I believe an
accelerated decline began):
1945
UN charter signed in San Francisco
Korea divided
International Monetary Fund formed
World Bank formed
Dropping of Atomic Bomb
End of WWII
1st music synthesizer
1946
Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan created
Syria given full independence
ENIAC formal dedication
(Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer, 1st general
purpose electronic computer)
People born in 1946:
Cher
William Jefferson Clinton
Robert Jarvik - inventor of artificial heart
Dolly Parton
Sylvester Stallone
Kenneth Starr
Oliver Stone
Donald Trump
Twiggy
Vladmir Zhirinovsky
1947
CIA founded
People born in 1947:
David Bowie
Henry Cisneros
Elton John
Stephen King
David Letterman
Dan Quayle
Arnold schwarzenegger
OJ Simpson
Steven Spielberg
1948
Israeli Independence
Republic of Korea proclaimed
Democratic People's Repulbic of (North) Korea proclaimed
Marshall Plan approved by US Congress
(sent 12 billion to devastated countries of Europe to help rebuild)
Nazi Reichsmark replaced with Deutsche mark
World Council of Churches formally inaugurated
Stalin expels Yugoslavia from Communist bloc
Women given full rights at Cambridge University
Velcro invented
UN Commission on the Status of Women established
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(1st major achievement of UN)
World Health Organization (WHO) established
World Citizen Movement
(on May 25, 1948 Garry Davis, a 26 year-old WWII bomber pilot
renounced his US citizenship and declared himself a citizen of the
world--"World Citizen Number 1"--millions since have done the same)
Asteroid Icarus discovered
McDonald's founded
People born in 1948:
Prince Charles
Hillary Clinton
Diane English
Al Gore
Bryant Gumbel
Richard Simmons
Cat Stevens (Yosef Islam)
Clarence Thomas
Garry Trudeau
1949
NATO formed
People's Republic of China proclaimed
People born in 1949:
Dr. Joyce Brothers
Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme
Richard Gere
Tipper Gore
Benjamin Netanyahu
Marilyn Quayle
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Infobeat News items (4/27/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 17:50:20 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
*** Arafat holds off on statehood
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Opening the PLO leadership's decisive
debate on statehood, Yasser Arafat Tuesday affirmed his people's right
to independence but - heeding a plea by President Clinton - said it's
wiser not to take action now. Arafat's remarks were the strongest
indication yet that he will prod the Palestinian Central Council, a
124-member PLO body stacked with his loyalists, to postpone a
unilateral declaration of statehood and extend peace talks with Israel
for a year. The council will make the final decision on whether to
declare a state next Tuesday - the original target date for a
permanent peace agreement with Israel - or agree to the U.S.-proposed
extension. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559333507-ba3
*** Japan OKs U.S. security agreements
TOKYO (AP) - In a major victory for Japanese Prime Minister Keizo
Obuchi, the lower house of Parliament endorsed bills Tuesday deepening
the country's military ties with the United States. Obuchi wanted to
get the bills approved before his departure Thursday for a May 3
summit with President Clinton, which was expected to focus largely on
Asian security issues. The new guidelines, the first update of the
U.S.-Japan military alliance since 1978, allow Japanese forces to
provide greater assistance to American troops in Asia and give the
United States greater access to Japanese airports and seaports. The
legislation's passage, which was guaranteed by a compromise with two
minority parties, was also seen as a test of Obuchi's administration.
See http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559333162-d38
*** China-Russia border disputes solved
BEIJING (AP) - China and Russia have completed an exhaustive
demarcation of their borders, resolving territorial disputes that
brought the neighbors to blows as recently as 30 years ago, a Russian
official said Tuesday. A Russian-Chinese border demarcation commission
was to disband Thursday after seven years of work that resulted in two
treaties and 175 detailed maps and supporting documents that together
weigh about 100 pounds, Russian delegation chief Genrikh Kireev told
reporters. All the documents have been delivered to the countries'
political leaders for their signature, Kireev said. He did not know
when the agreements would be made formal. Territorial disputes have
plagued Russian and Chinese relations ever since they signed their
first border agreement 300 years ago. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559332179-5fa
*** Russia overdue on debt payments
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia is overdue on $2 billion in foreign debt
payments and the money crunch will only worsen unless the debts are
rescheduled, the nation's top foreign debt agent said Tuesday. Russia
is eager to reschedule its roughly $150 billion in foreign debt, most
of which is leftover from the Soviet era. About $17.5 billion comes
due this year, and Russia has already said it cannot afford to pay all
of it. Russia has missed $2 billion in payments to the London Club of
commercial lenders and Paris Club of creditor nations, said Andrei
Kostin, chairman of Vnesheconombank, the bank in charge of Russia's
foreign debt, the Interfax news agency reported. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559332025-e84 ***
Also: Russia working on IMF loan details, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559320170-d54
*** Georgia joins Council of Europe
STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The former Soviet republic of Georgia
became Tuesday the 41st member of the Council of Europe, the
continent's leading organization promoting human rights and
democracy. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnardze attended a
ceremony at the council's headquarters in Strasbourg, where he
ratified the organization's statute, and signed the European Human
Rights Convention and an agreement on mutual assistance in criminal
matters. The Council of Europe was created in 1949 to promote
democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. It celebrates
its 50th anniversary next week with events in London and Budapest. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559331379-eca
*** Radioactive fruit found in Moscow
MOSCOW (AP) - Health inspectors in Moscow markets have found
radioactive cranberries, apparently infected by lingering radioactive
fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, a newspaper reported
Tuesday. A total of 1,450 pounds of cranberries were confiscated and
destroyed after inspectors said they contained highly radioactive
cesium, according to a report in the English-language Moscow Times.
The contaminated berries looked and tasted like normal fruit. Many of
the berries came from Ukraine and Belarus, the report said. Large
parts of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were hit by radioactive fallout
after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the world's worst nuclear
accident. ###
*** Buddhist monks accused of greed
TOKYO (AP) - You get what you pay for in life. But even in the
afterlife? Japan's Buddhist establishment is increasingly under
attack over the practice of charging bereaved and vulnerable
relatives huge fees for afterlife names given to the dead at their
funerals. The tradition is ancient, and began with names conferred
only on Buddhist priests. When temples began according afterlife names
to lay people, the names became something akin to a ranking system
reflecting the deceased's noble actions during life. Now, however, the
decision is based almost exclusively on money. And lots of it. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559332677-7ff
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Apr 28, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 08:31:13 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
8:00 PM Eastern
DISC - ELITE CHOPPERS - The evolution of the attack
helicopter.(CC)(TVG)
TLC - EXTREME MACHINES - "Flight of the Future" -
Unconventional aircraft designs and
technologies.(CC)(TVG)
9:30
TBN - JACK VAN IMPE PRESENTS
10:00
HIST - THINKING MACHINES: THE COMPUTER - The invention
revolutionizes the way people communicate, work and
live.(CC)(TVG)
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Goats clones with spider's gene can produce silk in their milk
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 08:31:13 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://www.nando.net/noframes/story/0,2107,42932-69231-501526-0,00.html
Goats cloned with spider's gene included can produce silk in their
milk
Copyright c 1999 Nando Media
Copyright c 1999 Agence France-Press
MONTREAL (April 27, 1999 10:29 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) -
Canadian researchers have succeeded in cloning goats capable of
producing spider's silk in their milk.
Three cloned goats were genetically engineered to carry the
silk-producing gene of a spider, according to the Montreal-based
company, Nexia Biotechnologies.
Spiders silk is used to produce Biosteel, a hardy fabric much in
demand in aerospace, engineering and medicine.
Nexia said its cloning success would pave the way for large-scale
production of the fabric, until now produced in limited quantities.
Previously, the spider's gene had to be injected into the nucleus of a
cell in an early stage goat embryo, a process that had only a five
percent success rate.
Cloning goats with the spiders gene has a 100 percent success rate,
the firm said, making the development of herds capable of producing
the silk in the milk faster and easier.
The three goats, Danny, Clint and Arnold, born last month, were cloned
using the same technology that created Dolly the sheep in Britain
three years ago.
via: isml@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Astronomers Debate Diamonds in Space
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 08:36:13 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
------------------------------------
ASTRONOMERS DEBATE DIAMONDS IN SPACE
------------------------------------
Most chemical elements in the Universe are produced in the stars, and
thus the stars' environments act as huge chemical factories. The
European Space Agency's infrared space telescope, ISO, has detected,
in the dust surrounding a star, the chemical signature of a mysterious
compound made of carbon, whose nature is being actively debated by
astronomers all over the world. While some say it could be a very tiny
diamond, others think it is the famous football-shaped molecule called
"fullerene" or "buckyball". If either of these hypotheses is confirmed
it will be interesting news for industry as well.
This is not the first time the intriguing carbonaceous compound has
been detected in space. A peculiar elite of twelve stars are known to
produce it. The star now added by ISO to this elite is one of the best
representatives of this exclusive family, since it emits a very strong
signal of the compound. Additionally ISO found a second new member of
the group with weaker emission, and also observed with a spectral
resolution never achieved before other already known stars in this
class.
Astronomers think these ISO results will help solve the mystery of the
true nature of the compound. Their publication by two different
groups, from Spain and Canada, has triggered a debate on the topic,
both in astronomy institutes and in chemistry laboratories. At
present, mixed teams of astrophysicists and chemists are investigating
in the lab compounds whose chemical signature or "fingerprint" matches
that detected by ISO.
Neither diamonds nor fullerenes have ever been detected in space, but
their presence has been predicted. Tiny diamonds of pre-solar origin
--older than the Solar System-- have been found in meteorites, which
supports the as yet unconfirmed theory of their presence in
interstellar space. The fullerene molecule, made of 60 carbon atoms
linked to form a sphere (hence the name "buckyball"), has also been
extensively searched for in space but never found.
If the carbonaceous compound detected by ISO is a fullerene or a
diamond, there will be new data on the production of these
industrially interesting materials. Fullerenes are being investigated
as "capsules" to deliver new pharmaceuticals to the body. Diamonds are
commonly used in the electronics industry and for the development of
new materials; if they are formed in the dust surrounding some stars,
at relatively low temperatures and conditions of low pressure,
companies could learn more about the ideal physical conditions to
produce them.
A textbook case
The latest star in which the compound has been found is called IRAS
16594-4656. Like the others, it's a carbon-rich star now in the
process of dying. It has been blasting out huge amounts of material
over the last thousand years, becoming enclosed within a shell of dust
hundreds of times larger than the Solar System --a structure called a
"protoplanetary nebula".
It was in this dust -- very cold and therefore invisible to
non-infrared telescopes-- that the Spanish group using ISO's SWS and
LWS spectrometers detected the signature of the carbonaceous compound,
in the form of a broad emission band at the wavelength of 21 micron.
"We searched for the compound in twenty candidate stars and only this
one had it. It is a real textbook case, with one of the strongest
emissions ever detected. It gets us closer to solving the mystery and
will help us to understand how the "chemical factories" of the
Universe work", says
ESA astronomer Pedro Garcia-Lario at the ISO Data Centre in
Villafranca, Madrid. His group published their results in the March 10
issue of the Astrophysical Journal.
They favour the fullerene option. Fullerenes would get formed during
decomposition of the solid carbon grains condensed out of the material
emitted by the star.
The Canadian group obtained high-resolution ISO spectra of seven other
stars in this class, and also detected a weak emission of the
carbonaceous compound in a new one. They present their data in the May
11 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"Diamonds, graphite, coal and fullerenes are different forms of
carbon. It is quite possible that the 21 micron feature arises from
any one of these forms, although not exactly like they are on Earth",
says main author Sun Kwok, at the University of Calgary. His group
detected the carbonaceous compound a decade ago, for the first time,
with the earlier infrared satellite IRAS.
Meanwhile, results from the French group led by Louis d'Hendecourt, at
the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, in Paris, are adding to the
debate. They isolated very tiny diamonds --a million times smaller
than a millimetre and thus called "nanodiamonds"-- from a sample of
the Orgueil meteorite, and then subjected them to infrared
spectroscopy. The researchers conclude that nanodiamonds of a certain
kind, defective ones in which some atoms of the lattice are missing,
have a "chemical signature" that matches the one detected in the stars
very closely.
---edit---
via: SEDSNEWS@listserv.tamu.edu
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Inside China Today (4/28/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 12:39:19 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
As China struggles to fight the Y2K problem, Millennium Meltdown
beckons in just eight months. But all is not doom and gloom. China=C6s
good old-fashioned abacus
(http://www.insidechina.com/china/special/abacus.html) might just save
the day.
U.S. BILL INTRODUCED TO LIMIT NUCLEAR LAB VISITS
WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee on
Tuesday introduced legislation to halt visits by scientists from
"sensitive" countries to U.S. nuclear labs in the wake of the Chinese
spying scandal.
http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042804.html?text
U.S. CULT MASTER "PLAYED NO ROLE" IN RALLY
WASHINGTON -- The U.S.-based leader of the Chinese spiritual group
that staged a huge and daring rally in Beijing last weekend was not
involved in planning the demonstration, a close associate said
Tuesday. http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042805.html?text
CHINA "CONCERNED" AT JAPAN-U.S. DEFENSE TREATY
BEIJING -- China expressed "serious concern" on Tuesday about Japanese
legislation that would strengthen defense ties between the United
States and Japan, but stopped short of condemning the controversial
pact. http://www.insidechina.com/china/news/1999042811.html?text
WESTINGHOUSE SWAPS NUCLEAR INFO WITH CHINA
BEIJING -- Westinghouse Electric Corp. of the United States has signed
an agreement with a Chinese institute to exchange nuclear technology,
the state China Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday.
http://invest.insidechina.com/chinsight/busnews/1999042801.html?text
WTO TALKS EXPECTED TO LAST ONE WEEK
BEIJING -- Chinese and European Union negotiators held a third day of
talks on Wednesday in a bid to close a World Trade Organization (WTO)
deal, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
http://invest.insidechina.com/chinsight/busnews/1999042802.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - NewsScan Daily items (4/28/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 12:48:37 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
MICROSOFT JOINS INTERNET2
Microsoft has signed on as the latest corporate partner of the
Internet 2 effort, which seeks to build a next-generation high-speed
worldwide computer network capable of operating 45,000 times faster
than the telephone modems most people currently use to surf the
Internet. Other participants include IBM, Cisco Systems and 3Com
Corp., as well as more than 150 universities nationwide. (Los Angeles
Times 28 Apr 99)
http://www.latimes.com/home/business/t000038059.1.html
SPEED
High-speed ("broadband") access to the Internet, at rates 10 to 80
times faster than phone dialup access, is now enjoyed by only a half
million U.S. households, but 10 to 16 million households are predicted
to have it by 2002. For a $35 to $200 a month, broadband
communications by DSL phone service or cable modem not only offer
Internet access at high speeds but allow the connection to be "always
on." What this means is that the Internet becomes useful in new ways,
from quick lookup of a phone number to the reading of the morning
newspaper. One happy convert to high-speed access says, "Broadband
has integrated the Internet into my life a hundred times more than it
was before. What happens is the Web starts to take over from other
resources." (New York Times 28 Apr 99)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/04/biztech/articles/28speed.htm
lm
JAPAN HI-TECH HOMES ASK: "HOW'S YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE TODAY?"
Matsushita and other Japanese consumer electronics companies are
wiring new homes with fiber optic cables that connect every room in
the house with each other and with the Internet, cable TV, hospitals
and travel agents. Some of the benefits? The toilet weighs you,
monitors body fat, and measures your blood sugar level; if you have a
medical question, you can type your query into the computer and your
doctor will make a diagnosis based on your complaint and your medical
history available from the household system. But there are few
secrets in the hi-tech homes, which will cost about 5% more than a
regular new home. The security system makes digital photos to monitor
all movements throughout the house. "Society and technology are
changing rapidly," says a Matsushita executive. (San Jose Mercury
News 28 Apr 99)
http://www.sjmercury.com/svtech/news/breaking/merc/docs/075740.htm
via: "NewsScan" <newsscan@newsscan.com>
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arutz-7 News (4/28/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 12:54:16 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
PALESTINIANS NOT HAPPY WITH CLINTON LETTER
Despite the official Palestinian announcements of satisfaction with
the letter written them by U.S. President Clinton this week, internal
Palestinian discussions reveal a different story. Arutz-7
correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that the Arabs are disappointed
that Clinton did not include a commitment to support a Palestinian
state in the future, nor does the letter employ the term
"self-determination." Another fault in the letter from the
Palestinian standpoint is the lack of a deadline therein for the end
of the negotiations, but rather a general recommendation to conclude
them within a year. The full text of the letter has not been
released.
Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon sees the Clinton letter as an
"achievement for the government." He said that the Netanyahu
government's unambiguous stand insisting that a Palestinian
declaration would violate the Oslo accords was that which led Arafat
to look for a way to back-track from his threats to declare a state.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's senior foreign press aide, David Bar-Illan,
also praised the Clinton letter. Opposition leader Ehud Barak,
however, claimed that the American message to Arafat promising that
the Palestinians will "one day be a free people in their own land" was
a "Balfour declaration for the Palestinians."
Correspondent Huberman added that senior Palestinian official Nabil
Shaath is working diligently to create a de-facto state, even if it is
not formally declared. For instance, passports will soon be issued
bearing the title "State of Palestine," and the minting of a
Palestinian coin is planned. Yasser Arafat has also toured Europe
extensively this past month, receiving assurances from many European
leaders that they would be willing to recognize their PLO embassies as
official embassies of 'Palestine.' "But all of this European support
is worth nothing to Arafat without the support of Washington,"
Huberman said. "Despite the strategic agreement between the Clinton
administration and Arafat, his letter reconfirmed that America's
traditional opposition to a Palestinian state has not changed, and
this worries the Palestinians."
P.A. RELIES ON U.N. FOR PARTITION, REFUGEES
The Palestinian Legislative Council essentially decided yesterday to
delay the date of the Palestinian state's formal declaration, probably
until after a visit to Israel by the Pope next year. Significantly,
however, the PLC defined the borders of the future state as based on
United Nations resolution #181 of the year 1947 - thus including
Tzfat, Be'er Sheva, Jaffa, Nahariyah, Ashkelon and dozens of other
Israeli localities within the Palestinian entity. Furthermore, as
David Bedein of the Israel Resource Review reports, the PLC affirmed
that the future Palestinian state would demand the enforcement of UN
resolution #194, calling for the repatriation of three million Arab
refugees to the villages they left in 1948.
Simultaneously, the UN Human Rights Commission passed a resolution in
Geneva yesterday, calling for the same things: Palestinian
self-determination on the basis of the UN partition resolution #181
and refugee-return resolution #194. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore
Gold said in response, "In the past, 181 and 194 have been referred to
in UN resolutions, but there has generally [also] been reference to
... a general commitment to the peace process. This time it is 181
and 194 alone. We see this as part of an orchestrated campaign by the
Palestinians to press [the old partition plan]."
WEIZMAN BREAKS JEWISH LAW IN CHINA
President Ezer Weizman will eat a non-kosher meal tonight in the
framework of his official visit to China. The President's office
apparently refused to arrange for a kosher meal, and proposals by
Chabad representatives to obtain kosher food were ignored also by the
Israeli embassy in Hong Kong. It has also been reported that the
President will desecrate the Sabbath while inaugurating the Israeli
booth in the international flower exhibition in Hong Kong. Hebrew
University law professor Eliav Shochatman told an Arutz-7
correspondent today that though there is no specific Israeli law
forbidding national figures from publicly violating Jewish law, "it is
an issue of long-standing tradition, possibly dating from the
establishment of the State of Israel, for high-ranking official
figures to publicly adhere to halachic norms." Article 20a of
"Israel's Basic Law: State President" permits the Knesset to remove
the President from his position if it finds that he acts in a way
"unbefitting his post."
BANKS TO TAKE LONG END-OF-CENTURY WEEKEND
All Israeli banks will be closed beginning Dec. 31, 1999, and will
re-open only on Monday, Jan. 3, 2000. The Finance Ministry's Banking
Supervisor, Dr. Yitzchak Tal, explained that the purpose of the
shutdown is to enable the financial institutions to properly prepare
for the new date, and to ensure that there are no Y2K-related bugs in
the computer system.
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, April 28, 1999 / Iyar 12, 5759 - Day 27 of the Omer
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - UNRWA May Run Out of Cash by August
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:37:06 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Wednesday, April 28, 1999: The News Channel
UNRWA May Run Out of Cash by
August
AMMAN (Reuters) -- The cash-strapped UN agency
helping millions of Palestinian refugees warned on
Wednesday it would run out of funds in August unless
donor nations pledged extra money and delivered
quicker.
"We expect to run out of cash in the third quarter of
1999.Even if we receive all (promised) contributions
we will not have cash in August," UNRWA comptroller
Sabhash Gupta told a meeting of the donor nations in
Amman.
Agency head Peter Hansen said UNRWA had already
slashed health and education services offered to 3.5
million registered refugees to meet its chronic cash
shortfalls.
He warned that any hint of further cutbacks would
trigger unrest among refugees.
"If we discuss further contingency plans we might run
the risk of creating much more unrest or unease among
the refugee population than we would want to," Hansen
told the donors.
"Let us not bring such contingency plans out in the
open." Gupta said the agency would spend $255 million
this year --down from an earlier projection of $322
million -- but expected income of only $247 million.
Last year the agency`s Palestinian employees staged a
one-day strike and threatened further action in
protest at cuts in services and salaries caused by
its cash-flow crisis.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/unrwa28.shtml
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arabia On Line items (4/29/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 10:10:39 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Chips Fall in Gaza
Statehood delayed: Hamas divided, Arafat benefits, Netanyhu claims
victory. http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/hamas_plo29.shtml
Israeli Election
Netanyahu minister compares Barak to Saddam Hussein.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/elect_isl28.shtml
Syria offers to Curb Hezbollah
In an unprecedented move, Syria made offer to prevent Hezbollah from
launching attacks on Israeli forces.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/arnoun29.shtml
Libya: Talks with US, Britain Now Possible
"We had always been ready for such contacts, but America and Britain
continued to refuse ," Gaddafi says.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/lockerbi.shtml
Gulf Arab Leaders to Meet on May
Gulf state plan to hold talks in Saudi Arabia on May 10 on economic
and political developments.
http://www.arabia.com/content/news/4_99/gulf29.shtml
Iraqi Oil Minister in Russia Energy Talks
Iraqi Oil Minister held talks in Moscow in a proposal to set out
Russia's role in rising Iraq's beleaguered oil sector
http://www.arabia.com/content/business/4_99/iraq_29.shtml
The day after Chernobyl
http://www.arabia.com/content/tech/4_99/chcov_28.shtml
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today items (4/29/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 10:10:39 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
AGENCIES: RUSSIA TO DEVELOP TACTICAL WEAPONS
MOSCOW -- President Boris Yeltsin, at a top-secret meeting on Russia's
nuclear arsenal, signed a decree on Thursday committing Moscow to
develop and deploy tactical weapons, Russian news agencies reported.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999042901.html?text
RUSSIA ENVOY HEADS FOR GERMANY
MOSCOW -- Russia's Balkans envoy, Victor Chernomyrdin, launched a new
wave of Russian diplomacy on Thursday and set off for Bonn, Rome and
Belgrade with concrete proposals to try to end the war in Yugoslavia.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999042902.html?text
BELARUS WOOS, RUSSIA UNSURE, DON'T TIE KNOT
MOSCOW -- Belarussian President Aleksander Lukashenko met President
Boris Yeltsin in the Kremlin on Wednesday in the hope of strengthening
a loose union with Russia but did not achieve any breakthroughs.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999042904.html?text
RUSSIA NEEDS $1B TO COPE WITH Y2K BUG
MOSCOW -- Russia needs about $1 billion to deal effectively with the
millennium computer bug, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bulgak warned
the government Wednesday, Itar-Tass news agency said.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999042907.html?text
LEBED: RUSSIA TO PLAY DECISIVE ROLE IN RESOLVING KOSOVO CRISIS
PARIS -- Russia is the only country that can negotiate an end to the
Kosovo war and allow the United States to "save face" in the crisis,
Russian general and presidential hopeful Aleksander Lebed (pictured in
archive photo) said Wednesday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999042909.html?text
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Apr 29, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 10:10:39 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
8:00 PM Eastern
A&E - BIOGRAPHY - "Nelson Rockefeller: Passionate
Millionaire" - Politician, philanthropist, businessman and
arts patron Nelson Rockefeller.(CC)(TVG)
DISC - BOMB SQUAD - Technological bomb squad weaponry
combats terrorism.(CC)(TVPG)
HIST - PROPHECIES - Civilizations seek their destinies
through prophetic visions.(CC)(TVG)
8:30
TBN - INTERNATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING - Hal Lindsey
9:00
DISC - THE LAST NEANDERTHAL? - Scientists explore
theories and evidence surrounding
Neanderthals.(CC)(TVG)
10:00
HIST - HISTORY OF TALL BUILDINGS - Money and technology help
build the tallest man-made structures.(CC)(TVG)
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today items (4/28/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 08:44:04 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Turkmenistan: Colonies of locusts found causing concern
Weekend News Today
By Staff Writer
Source: BBC
Wed Apr 28 , 1999 -- Colonies of locusts have been found in southern
Turkmenistan, causing concern that they could devastate surrounding
agricultural land if they mature. The authorities in the capital,
Ashkhabad, have introduced urgent measures to erradicate the colonies,
which are believed to have been established by winged locusts
migrating from neighbouring Iran. If the locusts reach maturity, they
could fly over extensive areas in search of plants for food.
Egypt: 3-day desert locusts conference opens
Weekend News Today
By Staff Writer
Source: BBC
Wed Apr 28 , 1999 -- An international conference has opened in Egypt
on the devastating effect of desert locusts on agriculture in Africa
and Asia and the threat the insects pose to food supplies. Delegates
from several countries bordering the Red Sea are taking part in the
three-day meeting in Cairo. Experts from the UN Food and Agriculture
agency, which is sponsoring the meeting, consider the desert locust
one of the most aggressive enemies of agriculture, capable of
devouring entire fields of crops in a few minutes. The meeting is
expected to concentrate on ways of combatting the locusts which are
not too costly for developing countries or detrimental to the
environment.
Israel Rejects Human Rights Commission Resolution by UN
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Wed Apr 28 , 1999 -- The Foreign Ministry released the following
statement on Wednesday (April 28th ): Israel completely rejects the
resolution taken by the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva yesterday
(April 27th ), at its annual conference. Israel is disappointed by the
position of those countries headed by the countries of the EU which,
while apparently supporting the Middle East peace process, passes a
resolution that essentially stands in direct opposition to agreements
between Israel and the Palestinians. The current decision, and similar
ill-considered statements, distance Europe from worthwhile and
acceptable involvement in the peace process. In addition, this
decision omits fundamental principles of the peace process such as
United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and the
principle of direct negotiations that has been the pillar of the peace
process from its beginning. At this time, great efforts are being made
again to get the peace process moving on the basis of principles and
agreements signed between the parties to the conflict. This unilateral
decision taken in Geneva can only weaken the level of Palestinian
commitment to direct negotiations and agreed upon solutions.
UN passes resolution of PA Self determination
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Wed Apr 28 , 1999 -- The United Nations Human Rights Commission on
Tuesday passed a resolution calling for Palestinian
self-determination. The resolution enjoyed the support of the European
community. The resolution passed on Tuesday was premised on the 1947
UN resolution 181 (partition plan) and resolution 194 (dealing with
the right of return for Palestinian refugees). Israeli efforts against
the vote or to modify the resolution were in vain, with the United
States being the only vote of the 53 participants to oppose the
resolution. (Israel may not vote - it is not a member). The Foreign
Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement expressing disappointment over
the vote and the support given by the European community, adding that
the move only serves to distance the European community from the
ongoing Oslo process and Israel. "In the past, 181 and 194 have been
referred to in UN resolutions, but there has generally been reference
to 242, 338, the Oslo agreements, or a general commitment to the peace
process. This time it is 181 and 194 alone. We see this as part of an
orchestrated campaign by the Palestinians to press 181," stated Dr.
Dore Gold, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations.Foreign Minister
Ariel Sharon has already announced on more than one occasion that
Israel declares resolution 181 "null and void," and it rejects any
attempt to "internationalize" Israel's capital, Jerusalem. Sharon was
responding to moves by the European Union in which it called for the
"internationalization" of the capital based on the 1947 UN resolution.
Clinton letter is low point in US-Israel relations
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Wed Apr 28 , 1999 -- IMRA interviewed Colette Avital, in English, on
April 27, 1999. Avital is running in the "One Israel" (Labor) list and
was formerly Israel's Consul General in New York. In interviews in the
Israeli media this morning, speaking from her 'professional'
background, she termed the Clinton letter to Arafat the 'low point in
Israel - US relations.' IMRA: I understand that you are saying that
the Clinton letter represents the low point in Israel-US relations?
Avital: "In a way, yes, because I think that until now there was
always coordination on issues relating to the peace process between
Washington and Jerusalem. It was our most treasured achievement in
foreign affairs that we could coordinate everything in the peace
process with the Americans. To the best of my knowledge, this letter
and this declaration given by President Clinton to Arafat, was not
something coordinated with Israel." IMRA: How would you compare this
as a low point to the six month period from March to September 1975
when the United States refused to sign new arms deals with Israel as
part of President Ford's 'reassessment'? Avital: "I think that the
period of 'reassessment' certainly was a low point. I think that you
have to figure out in comparison to what. Today we have certainly
reached a greater degree of intimacy when the United States recognized
Israel much later as a strategic partner. The United States has been a
full partner in the peace process from day one - or almost day one -
of the Oslo agreement, and has actually been involved more deeply by
the present government in the peace process because the previous
government had the possibility of talking directly much better with
the PLO. This government involved the United States much more. So if
you have to compare low points I think that you have to look at the
context. And the context is worse. Because we are going from a much
higher level.
via: bible_prophecy-news@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Public confession
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 08:44:04 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
A campaign in Britain is calling for the public confession of one
million sins. Roman Catholic Cardinal Basil Hume is among 70 leaders
who are supporting "Clean the Slate," an initiative to have members of
all religions confess in newspaper columns and on the radio.
Organizers are encouraging people to send a list of their sins from
littering to racism to violence to a post office box in Oxford. They
are also arranging for people to confess their sins and be reconciled
to others on call-in radio shows. Cardinal Daly, the Roman Catholic
primate of Ireland, and the bishop of London are also supporting the
effort, London's Daily Telegraph said.
via: Religion Today <editor@religiontoday.com>
News Summary for Friday, April 30, 1999
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Magog
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:32:07 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Pliny (Lib. v. cap. 23) as quoted in "A Commentary of the New
Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica" by John Lightfoot states:
"Coelosyria habet Apamiam Marsya amne divisam. A Nazerinorum
tetrarchia Bambycen, quae alio nomine 'Hierapolis' vocatur, Syris
vero 'Magog.'"
Which is roughly translated as:
"Assyria was divided into two sections: Apania and Marsya. Nazareth
was in the tetrarchy of Bambycen, also know as 'Hieropolis,' while
Syria was known as 'Magog.'"
[tetrarchy - government by four persons ruling jointly.
Pliny - I'm not sure which one this is, either the Elder who lived
around AD 23-79 or the Younger who lived around AD 61-113.]
For more on Gog/Magog, see:
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/g-001-01.htm
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Jack Van Impe: NWO
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 10:39:55 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
These are a few excerpts from the Jack Van Impe Presents program
shown on TBN on April 28, 1999.
Rexella: The new president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi,
pushes for a federal Europe and this is what he has to say: "Our plan
will fundamentally undermine the pillars of the nation states of the
European Union." In other words, he is pushing even more to integrate
that continent.
Jack: If one looks up the word 'federal government' in the dictionary
he'll learn that that means that that government controls all
states--like the USA; we have 50 states but we are controlled by a
federal government in Washington DC. Romano Prodi who will be the new
head of the European Union says that we will give up our individual
rights as nations to be controlled by a NWO, a one world government.
It's so near...we just picked up the most shocking statement I've
ever heard. I've preached this for 47 years now and here it is; we've
lived to see it and it just happened two nights ago.
Rexella: Be prepared for this statement that Prime Minister Blair
made. It is exactly word-for-word what he said. "'We are all
Internationalists now whether you like it or not.' In a talk entitled
'Doctrine of the International Community,' Mr. Blair hinted at a new
role for NATO turning it into the military arm of a new world order."
...This has been the goal of so many throughout the centuries. In
1871 Victor Hugo said "We look for the United States of Europe." And
Lord Salisbury wanted it and Winston Churchill said: "We look forward
to that day when all Europe shall be joined together." Well, here is
Mr. Blair, many years later, many decades following Winston
Churchill, saying: "We are the new Internationalists, like it or not"
and he goes on to say that we [NATO] are the military arm for the
NWO. Do you know that this is the army that is going to meet in the
Middle East in Daniel 11:43? Do you know that this is the army that
is going to gather at Armageddon in Revelation 16 even attempting to
stop the return of Christ...
...I was amazed recently that the Archbishop at the Easter service in
Yugoslavia stood in his great church and said: "NATO will become the
seven headed beast of the NWO." That's Revelation 12:3, 13:1,
17:3,7,9. And he called it "The Final Apocalypse" because the
catholic people and the orthodox call the book of Revelation "The
Apocalypse." That's why we have the term "The Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse." But get this, Barry Goldwater was opposed to the Council
on Foreign Relations as are many and Samuel Blumenfeld just said,
this is another shocking statement: "What we are now seeing is the
uniting, backed by the Council of Foreign Relations,
Internationalists to create the final world government," the NWO.
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today items (4/30/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 10:49:03 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
IRAQ'S AZIZ MEETS WITH RUSSIA'S ZHIRINOVSKY
BAGHDAD -- Russian ultra-nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky met
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz on Thursday, voicing his
party's solidarity with Iraq and condemning "U.S.-British aggression."
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999043009.html?text
YELTSIN'S MEMOIRS HIT THE SHELVES IN RUSSIA
MOSCOW -- The first volume of Russian President Boris Yeltsin's
three-volume memoirs hit stores in Russia Thursday, the Interfax
agency said.
http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999043013.html?text
SHEVARDNADZE SAYS GEORGIA WANTS TO JOIN NATO
TBILISI -- Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said on Thursday his
former Soviet republic was now openly seeking membership of NATO and
that he had asked alliance chief Javier Solana to speed up the
process. http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/news/1999043017.html?text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - "God Speaks" billboards
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 21:43:03 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Here's an update to the "God Speaks" billboards post from February.
"The signs are part of a national campaign...advertisements with
black backgrounds and stark white lettering and 18 different
slogans." There are only 17 here.
Let's meet at my house Sunday before the game. -God
C'mon over and bring the kids. -God
What part of "Thou Shalt Not..." didn't you understand? -God
We need to talk. -God
Keep using my name in vain, I'll make rush hour longer. -God
Loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage. -God
That "Love Thy Neighbor" thing... I meant it. -God
I love you and you and you and you and... -God
Will the road you're on get you to my place? -God
Follow me. -God
Big bang theory, you've got to be kidding. -God
My way is the highway. -God
Need directions? -God
You think it's hot here? -God
Have you read my #1 best seller? There will be a test. -God
Do you have any idea where you're going? -God
Don't make me come down there. -God
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
Please be advised that this domain (Philologos.org) does not endorse 100 per cent any link contained herein. This forum is for the dissemination of pertinent information on an end-times biblical theme which includes many disturbing, unethical, immoral, etc. topics and should be viewed with a mature, discerning eye.