BPR Mailing List Digest: 08/09/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
August 9, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | August, 2000

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Aug 9, 2000 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 08:22:06 -0400

8:00 PM Eastern

DISC - ON THE INSIDE - "Hurricane X" - Many scientists
foresee a cycle of violent weather
patterns.(CC)(TVG)

HIST - SECRET PLUNDER: GI LOOTERS - American troops take
priceless treasures from war-torn Germany.(CC)(TVG)

TLC - EXTREME MACHINES - "Ultimate Space Machines" - The
International Space Station tests the limits of
technology.(CC)(TVG)

9:00

A&E - AMERICAN JUSTICE - "When a Child Kills" - A
sixth-grader is the youngest American tried as an adult for
murder.(CC)(TVPG)

DISC - EGYPT UNCOVERED - "Pyramids: Resurrection Machines" -
Archaeologists investigate the purpose of the
pyramids.(CC)(TVG)

TLC - SPACE: THE FINAL JUNKYARD - Spent rockets and
other fragments litter our solar
system.(CC)(TVG)

9:30

TBN - JACK VAN IMPE PRESENTS

10:00

A&E - INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS - "The New Skinheads" -
Organized hate groups attract some '90s
teens.(CC)

DISC - EGYPT UNCOVERED - "Mummies: Into the Afterlife" -
Scientists discover older strains of modern diseases in the
organs of the dead.(CC)(TVG)

TLC - EXODUS EARTH - Our planet may someday be
destroyed.(CC)(TVG)

_________________________
To subscribe to BPR send a message to bpr-list@philologos.org
with the word "subscribe" in the subject. To unsubscribe send a
message to the same address with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Perseid meteor shower
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 08:34:13 -0400

NASA Science News for August 08, 2000

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12,
2000. This year the bright, nearly-full Moon
will outshine the Perseids most of the night, but
for an hour between moonset and sunrise on
Saturday morning, star gazers could witness a
brief but beautiful meteor shower. The setting
Moon may put on a show of its own Saturday.
Wildfires and dust storms have filled parts of
our atmosphere with aerosols. A low-hanging Moon
seen through such dusty air can take on a
beautiful pink or orange hue.

FULL STORY at

http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast08aug_1.htm?list

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Environment News Service (ENS) items
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 08:44:00 -0400

BIG RUSSIAN WATERBOMBER REFUSED BY EMBATTLED U.S.
FOREST SERVICE

By Neville Judd
BOISE, Idaho, August 8, 2000 (ENS) - Faced with some of the worst forest
fires in United States history, why would those in charge of fighting the
fires not want the best waterbombers in their arsenal? That is the question
Tom Robinson has yet to have answered by anyone in the seven firefighting
agencies in three U.S. state departments represented at the National
Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/aug2000/2000L-08-08-11.html

FORMER U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS SITES MAY BE RADIOACTIVE
FOREVER

WASHINGTON, DC, August 8, 2000 (ENS) - The majority of America's
current and former nuclear weapons sites will never be cleaned up enough to allow
public use of the land, says a new report by the National Research Council.
The study, released Monday, also warns that plans for guarding permanently
contaminated sites are inadequate.
For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/aug2000/2000L-08-08-07.html

CLEANER AIR NOT YET REACHING ALL AMERICANS

WASHINGTON, DC, August 8, 2000 (ENS) - Last year, 62 million Americans
lived in areas that had unhealthy levels of at least one of six major
pollutants, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its
annual air quality report issued Monday.
For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/aug2000/2000L-08-08-06.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Beware Lieberman by Barry Chamish
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 08:10:03 -0500

--- forwarded message ---

From: BSaphir@aol.com
Date sent: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 07:20:47 EDT
Subject: BEWARE LIEBERMAN by Barry Chamish
To: freemanlist@lists.io.com

BEWARE LIEBERMAN
by Barry Chamish

VP Candidate Joseph Lieberman is a member of the Council On
Foreign
Relation (CFR), as are Dick Cheney, and Al Gore. The only candidate
not on
the members list is G.W. Bush Jr. who is a member by proxy. His
grandfather Prescott was a CFR pioneer, while dad, George Sr. was an
executive of the accursed cult whose aim is a one world government.
With
only 3000 members, it is clear that only CFR members and loyalists may
become President. Last time around the figures were the same, Gore,
Dole
and Clinton were CFR members. The story has been similar for the past
two
generations.

Rabbi Marvin Antleman has been fighting the CFR for three
decades.
In 1972, he submitted a proposal to the Rabbinical Council of America
to
condemn the CFR and prevent its members from infiltrating Jewish
institutions. In 1974, his book To Eliminate The Opiate was published.
Long considered a classic in many circles, the book exposed the CFR's
program to wipe out Judaism by planting its members throughout Jewish
media, charitable and educational institutes.

He called last night to tell me that, "I just went through the
CFR
roster. Lieberman's name is on the membership list. We're being sold a
bill of goods again."

The CFR's Middle East Task Force Report of July 1996 spells out
the
organization's position in no uncertain terms; Israel must return to
its
undefendable 1948 borders and Jerusalem is to be divided into two
national
capitals. Rabbi Antleman thus doubts the authenticity of Lieberman's
commitment to Orthodox Jewry. "How can you be Orthodox and belong to
an
organization which promotes the division of Jerusalem and which, in
the
past, has financially backed such irreligious movements as communism
and
nazism?" he asks. "The CFR's purpose is to promote and arm violent and
disruptive national movements in order to upset the world's status
quo and
replace it with their alternative world order. There is no place
within
for a religious Jew unless he is dangerous window dressing."

What that will mean for Israel is more suicidal concessions
with
American Jews unable to accuse the administration of being
anti-Israel.
The same trick was used in 1972 when CFR executive Henry Kissinger was
named Secretary of State. Equally proud of Kissinger as they are of
Lieberman today, the Jewish community could not accuse the
administration
of deliberately trying to eliminate Israel in the Yom Kippur War of
1973,
nor could they find sinister motives for the isolation of Israel in
the
peace process which followed it.

This time around, not only does the current "peace" process
get a
boost, so does the Hillary Clinton campaign for a New York senatorial
seat. And the Jews, so excited by Lieberman's nomination, as usual,
do not
suspect how cynically they are being set up.

The signs are there for anyone to see. Last year Lieberman
welcomed
Arafat to America and even prayed for the success of his mission. And
he
initiated a publicized letter to President Clinton nixing any chance
of
CFR victim Jonathan Pollard's release from prison. As the Jerusalem
Post
noted, Pollard's website has long accused Lieberman of being "a
willing
tool of the CIA."

Sooner of later Lieberman's possible dual allegiance to
America and
Israel will become a debating point. Observes Antleman, "And that will
miss the real issue, which is Lieberman's allegiance to the CFR. It
will
prove stronger than all his sentimental ties to America, Israel and to
Judaism itself."

Briefs:

A reader writes to correct me on a vital point. I have assumed that
Shabak
officer "Yud" or "Y," who the Shamgar Commission of inquiry called the
"security chief" of Rabin's last rally, was Yoram Rubin. Shamgar
condemned
his performance and recommended his suspension from the service.
Rubin was
head of Rabin's immediate security detail but says the correspondent,
Yud
was someone else named Yuval. The writer's friend served in Golani at
the
same time as Yigal Amir and Yuval was their commander during an
intensive
training course, another vital tie to setting up Amir as the patsy
for the
assassination which I will attempt to nail down in time.

Another correspondent notes that the government has lost all
restraint and
is exacting revenge on all who stand in its way. Hence the suspension
of
seven David Levy appointees and the police investigation of Moshe
Katsav's
brother. He warns that vengeance is now policy.

***

To acquire a copy of Rabbi Antleman's To Eliminate the Opiate, write
him
at impy@netvision.net.il The Zionist Book Club reports that
pre-orders
for my upcoming book The Last Days Of Israel have been highly
encouraging.
Write perkins@netvision.net.il

Please visit http://www.webseers.com/rabin

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Ice Age star map discovered
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 08:18:44 -0500

9 August, 2000, 01:00 GMT 02:00 UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_871000/871930.stm

Ice Age star map discovered

The star map gives insight into our ancestors' minds

A prehistoric map of the night sky has been discovered on the walls of
the famous painted caves at Lascaux in central France.

The map, which is thought to date back 16,500 years, shows three
bright
stars known today as the Summer Triangle.

A map of the Pleiades star cluster has also been found among the
Lascaux
frescoes.

And another pattern of stars, drawn 14,000 years ago, has been
identified in a cave in Spain.

According to German researcher Dr Michael Rappenglueck, of the
University of Munich, the maps show that our ancestors were more
sophisticated than many believe.

Scientific heritage

The Lascaux caves, with their spectacular drawings of bulls, horses
and
antelope, were painted 16,500 years ago.

Discovered in 1940, the walls show the artistic talents of our distant
ancestors. But the drawings may also demonstrate their scientific
knowledge as well.

The caves could be a prehistoric planetarium in which humanity first
charted the stars.

The sky map has been found in a region of the Lascaux caves known as
the
Shaft of the Dead Man.

Painted on to the wall of the shaft is a bull, a strange bird-man and
a
mysterious bird on a stick.

Summer triangle

According to Dr Rappenglueck, these outlines form a map of the sky
with
the eyes of the bull, birdman and bird representing the three
prominent
stars Vega, Deneb and Altair.

Together, these stars are popularly known as the Summer Triangle and
are
among the brightest objects that can be picked out high overhead
during
the middle months of the northern

Around 17,000 years ago, this region of sky would never have set below
the horizon and would have been especially prominent at the start of
spring.

"It is a map of the prehistoric cosmos," Dr Rappenglueck told BBC News
Online. "It was their sky, full of animals and spirit guides."

Seven sisters

But the sky map is not the only evidence that prehistoric m the
Lascaux
cave complex is a magnificent painting of a bull.

Hanging over its shoulder is what appears to be a map of the Pleiades,
the cluster of stars sometimes called the Seven Sisters.

Inside the bull painting, there are also indications of spots that may
be a representation of other stars found in that region of sky.

Today, this region forms part of the constellation of Taurus the bull,
showing that mankind's identification of this part of the sky
stretches
back thousands of years.

Northern Crown

Dr Rappenglueck has also identified a star map painted on the walls
of a
cave in Spain 14,000 years ago.

The Cueva di El Castillo cave, in the mountains of Pico del Castillo,
contains a region called the Frieze of Hands.

At the end of this remarkable section can be found a curved pattern of
dots.

"Nobody paid much attention to it," said Dr Rappenglueck. "But, it is
obviously a drawing of the constellation we call the Northern Crown.
It
is remarkable."

The archaeologists who have looked at Dr Rappengleuck's conclusions
have
so far agreed that they are reasonable and that he may have uncovered
the earliest evidence of humanity's interest in the stars.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Group Lists 20,000 Questionable Doctors
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 08:23:56 -0500

Selected items from:

T H E M O R R O C K N E W S D I G E S T

Fast, free and independent
http://morrock.com

TUESDAY :: AUGUST 8, 2000 :: EMAIL EDITION

* GROUP LISTS 20,000 `QUESTIONABLE' DOCTORS: The
consumer group Public Citizen announced Tuesday a list
of more than 20,000 "questionable" U.S. doctors,
including some who have been disciplined by medical
organizations and some who have been convicted of
crimes. The list appears in a book published by the
group. "It is unconscionable that as consumers we have
more comparative information about the used car we
purchase or the snack foods we eat than the doctors
in whose care we entrust our health and well-being,"
a spokesman said. The American Medical Association
opposes release of the list -- drawn from the National
Practitioner Data Bank, which is not open to the
public -- saying that the database lists malpractice
lawsuits filed against doctors but no explanatory
information that could show there was no medical
negligence involved. . . . One of the incidents cited
by the group was that of Dr. Frederick E. Reed Jr. of
Charleston, S.C., who was fined and reprimanded for
taking an amputated human foot and using it for bait
in a crab trap.

* NETSCAPE USERS WARNED OF SECURITY HOLE: A
recently discovered security problem in Netscape's Web
browser has already caused trouble for about 1,000
computer users. The security hole, nicknamed "Brown
Orifice," allows Web sites to view a visitor's
computer directory and run and delete files there.
Netscape said it is working quickly to come up with a
remedy. In the meantime, experts said Netscape users
should disable the Java portion of their browsers --
even though many popular sites use Java. . . .
Netscape said business users who operate behind
network firewalls are not vulnerable, nor are users
of the newest Netscape browser, version 6.0. . . .
Meanwhile, Microsoft is working on a fix for a new
security hole discovered Monday in its Word and Excel
programs -- it, too, could give a hacker free run of a
victim's computer. (Thanks, John David Powell)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Mutant virus to safeguard crops
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 08:41:55 -0500

Mutant virus to safeguard crops
Deutsche Presse-Agentur

http://www.insidechina.com/frames/frames.php3?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hk-imail.
com%2Finews%2Fpublic%2Farticle_v.cfm%3Farticleid%3D5275%26intcatid%3D2

BEIJING: China plans to use a genetically modified virus to protect crops
from harmful insects as an alternative to chemical insecticide, state media
reported yesterday.

Scientists at Wuhan University in central China created the virus by
combining genes from two existing viruses that attack the caterpillars of
several moth species, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The virus was ``environmentally friendly and able to kill 80per cent of
sugar beet noctuids, minor vegetable moths and dark-green moths within two
to three days,'' the agency quoted head scientist Qi Yipeng as saying.

Mass production of the virus was likely to begin soon, Mr Qi said.

Use of the virus would eliminate the need for chemical insecticide, which
pollutes rivers, but would not attack natural enemies of the moths, he said.

Scientists reportedly have also developed a genetically modified potato
capable of protecting people against the hepatitis B virus.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Recent earthquakes
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 09:44:09 -0400

00/08/05 4.7Mb A SAKHALIN ISLAND, RUSSIA
00/08/05 5.3Mb A BANDA SEA
00/08/05 4.6MB A NORTHERN PERU
00/08/05 5.3Mb A BANDA SEA
00/08/06 4.9Mb A NORTHERN PERU
00/08/06 7.2Mw A BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
00/08/06 4.2Lg <OTT> SOUTHERN QUEBEC, CANADA
00/08/06 4.5Mb A VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
00/08/07 2.8Lg C OHIO
00/08/07 5.1Mb A SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
00/08/07 5.1Mb A SOUTHEAST OF RYUKYU ISLANDS
00/08/07 4.8Mb B BANDA SEA
00/08/07 6.4Mb A BANDA SEA
00/08/07 5.4Mb B SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
00/08/07 3.3Lg B TEXAS PANHANDLE REGION
00/08/07 3.0Lg <SPEC> TEXAS PANHANDLE REGION
00/08/07 4.6Mb B ANDREANOF ISL, ALEUTIAN IS.
00/08/07 3.0Lg C TEXAS PANHANDLE REGION
00/08/08 4.9Ms A ICELAND REGION
00/08/09 6.4Mb A VANUATU ISLANDS
00/08/09 6.4Ms A MICHOACAN, MEXICO

http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/bulletin.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - FW: [Bioweekly Email]
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 08:49:47 -0500

Now is the perfect time for your organization to take the
next step towards Biometrics. For several years now,
industry observers have been predicting an explosion of
Biometric applications, which will forever banish the card
and PIN.

The idea of using physical attributes - fingerprints, a
voiceprint, or any of several other characteristics to prove
identity - has a lot of appeal. Applications that are
preparing to accept Biometric data include computer
networks, ATMs, cars, cellular phones, and dozens of other
types of embedded systems.

The Biometrics 2000 Summit is designed to give you the
chance to examine the practical application of
Biometrics-users, systems designers, and developers of
Biometric security technologies.

By attending this conference, users of Biometrics should be
able to develop a viable action plan for implementing and
adopting Biometrics. Vendors, developers and integrators
should be able to plan future efforts and resources to best
serve the market and, of course, this makes a great training
resource.

"The Fall 2000 Biometrics Summit" is packed with best
practice case studies from companies who have already faced
the challenges and identified solutions for implementing
Biometrics. In addition, this conference will provide you
with a clear understanding of key Biometric objectives, and
let you see how these objectives can be met.

Hear, first-hand, how the US ARMY is establishing a
Biometric technology and information initiative. LOURDES
HOSPITAL and NEC TECHNOLOGIES are advancing patient care
with the help of Biometrics. O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
and SECURCOM are increasing the safety of employees and
passengers by using advanced Biometric technologies.

Our speaker platform will provide you with the insight you
need to tackle even the toughest technical and political
issues-and move forward. Learn from forward-thinking
organizations how you can build a reliable foundation for
implementing Biometrics in your own organization.

This event is the ideal forum for you to share your
experiences and challenges with others, and more
importantly, to take home a series of proven methods,
processes and approaches for achieving desired results from
your Biometric initiatives.

Benchmark with our wide variety of case studies and experts.
Call, toll-free, 888-362-7400 or register here online.
<http://www.aliconferences.com/conferences/biometrics_oct2k.htm>

Register yourself and a group of key people today! I look
forward to seeing you at this important industry summit in
October! The attached file is a list of the current
speakers along with who should attend.

Get all the details for this exciting technology source in
the attached Adobe .PDF file. While most PCs have Adobe
Acrobat available, some do not. If you do not have Acrobat,
you can download it FREE at
<http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html>

--
Bill Rogers
Publisher, Biometric Digest
P.O. Box 510047
St. Louis, MO 63151-0047

Tel: 314-892-8632
Fax: 314-487-5198
E-mail: wrogers@anet-stl.com
Biometric Digest: <http://www.biodigest.com>

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - "Churches are trying a variety of tactics..."
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 11:26:45 -0500

C U R R E N T N E W S S U M M A R Y
by the Editors of ReligionToday

August 9, 2000

[.. snipped ..]

Churches are trying a variety of tactics - including cash prizes --
to fill the pews. Pastor Rod Loy held a "Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire" game at First Assembly of God in North Little Rock,
Ark., according to The Christian Science Monitor (see link #3 below).
Two winners took home $1,000 each when they answered biblical
questions. Loy has brought tigers, camels, and elephants to the
sanctuary for Christmas pageants to attract new members. "It's
important to keep things visual because people remember it," he said.

..Other churches send visitors gift baskets filled with fresh bread
and fruit, or offer them gift certificates to restaurants, according
to the newspaper. The Fellowship of Las Colinas in Texas concludes
its Sunday services in time for Dallas Cowboys football games, which
are shown on a big screen outside the church. Rick Sebastian pays $10
to people (see link #4 below) who come to his Bryan, Texas, church
aboard his bus, the Monitor reported. Other pastors have created
games, fancy food courts, or glitzy games to fill pews.

..Opinions vary about these tactics. Some ministers say the
enticements are worth it if they bring people into contact with the
Bible. Others say the tactics cheapen church. "Our influence over men
must not be human manipulation, but divine inspiration," Joseph
Chambers of Paw Creek Ministries in Charlotte, N.C., told the
Monitor. Flavil Yeakley, director of church growth at Harding
University in Searcy, Ark., said, "These days it's about building a
relationship with each other as opposed to a higher being, which is
often secondary."

3: http://www.csmonitor.com/

4:
http://www.religiontoday.com/Archive/NewsSummary/view.cgi?file=2000071
8.brf.html

-----------
News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com.
Content may be reproduced provided proper credit is
given to religiontoday.crosswalk.com. Please go to
http://www.crosswalk.com/info/copyright to be sure you
meet all legal requirements.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Stratfor: Palestinian National Authority - Peace Process
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 11:29:07 -0500

Date sent: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 20:30:47 -0500 (CDT)
From: <alert@stratfor.com>
To: redalert@stratfor.com
Subject: Palestinian National Authority - Peace Process

Stratfor.com's Global Intelligence Update - 9 August 2000
_________________________________________

Know your world.

Korea: Pouring Old Wine into a New Barrel
http://www.stratfor.com/asia/commentary/0008090103.htm

Moscow Tackles Military Corruption
http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/0008090027.htm
_________________________________________

Arafat Seeking Sanctuary in New Summit

Summary

Despite the failed summit at Camp David, Palestinian National
Authority leader Yasser Arafat announced on Aug. 8 that another
summit in the United States is possible after the Democratic National
Convention later this month. Arafat's claim to leadership is tied to
the peace process and depends upon securing a final deal. With this
announcement, however, Arafat is gearing up for another potential
failure. Hard-line Palestinians will now mount a serious challenge to
the longtime Palestinian leader's power.

Analysis

Yasser Arafat has announced that another peace summit may occur in
the United States after the Democratic National Convention on Aug.
17. His announcement was most likely intended to give him some
political maneuvering room, maintain the appearance to his
constituency that peace talks are not dead, and more importantly,
signal to the United States that he is anxious to pursue a final
settlement.

After all, Arafat's legitimacy as leader of the Palestinians is
deeply rooted in his claimed ability to negotiate a final settlement.
But there is more here than meets the eye. By announcing the
possibility of a summit and setting dates, Arafat may be trying to
prevent the loss of his tenuous grip on the Palestinian leadership.

The Palestinian leader's specific mention of the Democratic
convention offers insight into Arafat's deep dependence on Israel and
the United States. Arafat recently demonstrated his dependence on
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak by publicly urging Israelis to
support him. Now he is revealing his dependency on President
Clinton's administration. There was a sense of urgency in Arafat's
announcement. It was as if Arafat wanted to get back to the
negotiating table so badly that he is willing to take a back seat to
a party convention.

Indeed, he may feel that his hold on power will not wait the five or
six months it will take to determine the next American president and
put him in the White House. Arafat has tied his continued leadership
to the peace process with Israel. He must get results from his
concessions to Israel or he loses justification for his leadership.
Hamas, a hard-line Palestinian faction opposed to the peace process,
gains domestic support whenever peace negotiations break down. Hamas
has used these failures as fodder for political attacks against
Arafat to challenge his leadership.

Since the failure of the Camp David summit in July, rhetoric opposed
to peace has risen in volume within Hamas; the group's militant wing
appears to be preparing for activity. An Aug. 3 poll conducted by the
independent Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
indicated that two-thirds of Palestinians - the most in six years -
support violence against Israel. Palestinian police have broken up a
Hamas bomb factory in the West Bank, confiscated explosives and
arrested four people. On Aug. 6, a Hamas militant in Gaza City was
injured while handling a small homemade bomb, according to
Palestinian authorities.

The rift between Arafat and Hamas appears to be growing. Hamas
actually congratulated Arafat after the failure of Camp David and
praised him for not compromising. But immediately after the summit,
Arafat hinted at a resumption of peace talks. Palestinian police
loyal to Arafat arrested a top Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi in
his home in Gaza on July 29. In an apparent effort to pressure
Arafat, a Hamas spokesman insisted on Aug. 6 that the Palestinian
leader disclose the details of his negotiations with Israel,
especially regarding the fate of refugees and the status of Jerusalem
- two controversial issues on the table of any new summit.

If a new summit does take place, it is likely to fail just like Camp
David did on July 25. Not enough time has elapsed to solve the most
difficult issues, which include Jerusalem, refugees and water rights.
Moreover, Barak's coalition crisis does not leave him with the
domestic support necessary to make concessions on critical issues.
The only way for Arafat to secure a peace deal would be to make heavy
concessions, which in turn would jeopardize his position as
Palestinian leader.

____________________________________________

For more on Israel, see:
http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/countries/Israel/default.htm

For more on the Palestinian National Authority, see:
http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/countries/Palestinian/default.htm
____________________________________________

Now Arafat faces a dilemma. A successful summit - the least likely
outcome - is what he needs most to maintain his grip on power. But
the concessions he will have to make to strike the deal may turn his
people against him. The other possible outcomes are a failed summit
or none at all.

In either of these latter cases, Arafat is left to make good on his
pledge to unilaterally declare Palestinian statehood on Sept. 13. But
if he declares statehood without an agreement, and attempts to
exercise control of all the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza
Strip, Israel may respond with violence.

If violence erupts, Arafat will have effectively handed over the
reins of power to Hamas to proceed with holy war. Officials of the
Palestinian Authority have already said that Arafat may delay the
date for the declaration of statehood. Unfortunately for Arafat, he
cannot delay indefinitely. Arafat appears reluctant - and possibly
too insecure - to await the outcome of the U.S. elections.

In contrast, Hamas is more than ready to take the lead. Another
highly publicized failure of the peace process is exactly what Hamas
needs to fuel its rhetoric and spark violence. Arafat is desperately
trying to achieve the desired results without violence; he wants to
secure a fair and comprehensive peace deal.

But by attending another summit that is likely to fail, he may be
effectively setting himself up for a fall. If two summits fail
back-to-back, hard-line Palestinian factions may gain the public
support and legitimacy they need to finally wrest leadership away
from Arafat.

_____________________________________

For more on the Middle East, see:
http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/default.htm
____________________________________

(c) 2000 Stratfor, Inc.
___________________________________
SUBSCRIBE to the free, daily Global Intelligence Update. Click on
http://www.stratfor.com/services/giu/subscribe.asp
UNSUBSCRIBE by clicking on
http://www.stratfor.com/services/giu/subscribe.asp
___________________________________
Stratfor.com
504 Lavaca, Suite 1100 Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-583-5000 Fax: 512-583-5025
Internet: http://www.stratfor.com/
Email: info@stratfor.com

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Real World News - 08/09/00
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 11:33:19 -0500

Selected items from:

REAL WORLD NEWS 08/09/2000

Visit Real World News online at http://www.realworldnews.net

U.S. FREEZES TIES WITH PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
The United States has suspended relations with the Palestinian
Authority. PA officials said the freeze relates to bilateral meetings
meant to discuss U.S. aid to the Palestinians or an upgrade of
diplomatic relations. They said the freeze began last month during
the Camp David summit and is meant to pressure PA Chairman Yasser
Arafat to make concessions to Israel. "We are undergoing an
uncomfortable period [with the United States] from the diplomatic
perspective," PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath
said. "We hope this crisis will pass."
http://www.worldtribune.com/index-two-text.html

PENTAGON STILL UNDER ASSAULT FROM HACKERS
Defense Department pleas to computer hackers to quit mischief-making
appear to be falling largely on deaf ears, making spotting potential
national security threats more difficult, a top Pentagon expert said
Tuesday. Despite recent appeals, "we're not seeing any diminishing"
of the pace of attacks on Defense Department systems, said Richard
Schaeffer, who heads the cyber-security office. Last year, a total of
22,144 "attacks" were detected on Defense Department networks, up
from 5,844 in 1998,
http://news.excite.com/news/r/000808/15/tech-cybersecurity

LIKUD STEPS UP BID TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENT
New elections will "probably" take place in the near future, former
foreign minister David Levy predicted yesterday after meeting at a
Tel Aviv hotel with Likud chairman MK Ariel Sharon, who said he is
making "immense efforts" to topple the Barak government. A source
said three options are being explored, including gathering 61 MKs
willing to vote no confidence in the prime minister.
http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2000/08/09/News/News.10690.html

RUMORS FLY OF ANOTHER SUMMIT BY SEPTEMBER
In a repeat of the rumor-filled lead-up to July's failed Camp David
talks, there is growing speculation over when and if US President
Bill Clinton might convene a new trilateral summit to try to wrap up
a landmark Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Palestinian Authority
chairman Yasser Arafat said on Monday it will happen before his
September 13 deadline for declaring statehood, but sources in the
office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak responded that such a
meeting was still a long-shot unless the Palestinians altered their
demands on Jerusalem.
http://www.lifelinenews.net/jonline/j-online1/j-online1.html

MENINGITIS OUTBREAKS IN RUSSIAN SOUTH AND FAR EAST
Nearly 350 children have contracted meningitis in Russia's Far East,
and scores have been hospitalized due to the potentially fatal
disease. Twenty-three children were hospitalized Monday in the city
of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, about 3,900 miles east of Moscow, the
Emergency Situations Ministry said, according to the ITAR-Tass news
agency. Earlier, 127 children were hospitalized with the infection,
which strikes the linings of the brain and spinal cord. An additional
198 children have been treated and released, ITAR-Tass said.
http://www.nandotimes.com/healthscience/story/0,1080,500237155-5003472
02 -502006040-0,00.html

EURO WITHIN SIGHT OF RECORD LOWS
The euro continued its slide on Wednesday morning in Europe, hitting
an intraday low of $89.63 against the dollar - 1.2 cents away from
its lowest-ever level in May. By 1000 GMT the single currency was
trading at $0.8975 against the dollar, �0.5981 against the pound and
Y96.99 against the yen.
http://markets.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3A5G
EU OBC&live=true

STRICT ISLAMIC LAW SPREADS IN NIGERIA
A seventh Nigerian state has announced plans to introduce sharia law,
heightening tension between the Muslim north and the predominantly
Christian south of the country. Four more states, Buachi, Borno,
Gombe and Kebbi, are expected to introduce the code - which includes
punishments such as amputation, stoning to death and flogging. This
year, more than 2,000 people have been killed in rioting linked to
the sharia issue between Muslims and Christians in the northern city
of Kaduna and the south-eastern town of Aba.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=001136033854542&rtmo=fqqYl3as&atmo=kk
kk kkku&pg=/et/00/8/9/wshr09.html

LIEBERMAN: PREMATURE TO MOVE EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM
Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman said on Tuesday after being named
as Al Gore's vice presidential running mate that he backed moving the
U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. But Lieberman, the first Jew to
run on the presidential ticket of one of the two major parties, said
it would be premature to act now while there was still a chance of a
Middle East peace accord.
http://www.virtualholyland.com/channels/israel_n/reuters.htm

LIEBERMAN BRINGS GOD SQUARELY INTO CAMPAIGN
God, and Jesus, have already made several appearances in the 2000
U.S. presidential race but Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman brought
religion to the very center of the campaign on Tuesday. Thanking
Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore for selecting him as his
vice presidential running mate, Lieberman said: ``Dear friends, I am
so full of gratitude at this moment. I ask you to allow me to let the
spirit move me as it does to remember the words from Chronicles,
which are to give thanks to God. To give thanks to God and declare
his name and make his acts known to the people."
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000808/pl/campaign_religion_dc_1.htm
l

CLINTON TO SPEAK AT CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Less than two weeks after his last visit to Illinois, President
Clinton plans to return on Thursday to take part in a conference for
Christian leaders sponsored by one of the country's most influential
evangelical groups. Clinton will speak to the Willow Creek
Association's leadership summit in an interview-style session with
Bill Hybels, chief pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church in
South Barrington, Ill., the White House said Monday.
http://www.lifelinenews.net/candm/candm4/candm4.html

RELIGION CAN'T BE DISCOUNTED IN CAMPAIGN
Prejudice: From anti-Semitism to fear of "Popery" to embracing the
"born-again," presidential politics is in no way blind to creed.
http://www.sunspot.net/content/news/story?section=news&pagename=story&
st oryid=1150410204665

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Muslim fury burns strong over Hindu 'conversion'
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 12:02:41 -0500

Muslim fury burns strong over Hindu 'conversion'

Preaching to the converted

http://www.scmp.com/News/Comment/Article/FullText_asp_ArticleID-200008062246
18532.asp

AZIZUR RAHMAN

Incense burned and hymns reverberated inside a temple at a closed-door
ceremony in Calcutta last month as a Hindu priest welcomed a Muslim man with
his wife and four young children into the Hindu religion.
In the secret conversion ceremony on July 2, the priest washed their feet
with water from the Ganges, then asked the family, clad in new clothes given
by the temple, to offer ghee to the holy fire after their foreheads had been
smeared with sandalwood paste.

Afterwards, the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) - a Hindu fundamentalist
organisation - circulated a press release breaking the news of the
"voluntary conversion" of a Muslim family. Despite pressure from the media,
the VHP officials did not present the "converted" family to the public or
disclose their identity because they said they were worried about the safety
of a now-Hindu family living in a Muslim-dominated area.

But when, with the help of Muslim organisation Jamiat-e-Ulema, the family
was tracked down to a ramshackle hut in the village of Mollachak, 50
kilometres south of Calcutta, a different story emerged. And the resulting
dispute has led a prominent group of Muslims from across the country to
threaten nationwide protest if the government does not act against the VHP.

The family claimed that the VHP had offered them money and that they had
never been told the ceremony was for conversion. Abdul Mannaf, the father of
four children and wearing the Muslim cap, was thunderstruck at the
suggestion. If the ceremony was for conversion, he had been deceived into
attending, he said. "I never became a Hindu - I was born Muslim and still I
am Muslim. See, I am just back from my afternoon prayer at the village
mosque. I cannot understand why you are all after me," Mr Mannaf told the
media throng.

His wife Jainab broke into tears. "I thought they were moved at our poverty
and that is why they gave us new clothing and 10,000 rupees [about HK$1,750]
in aid. They said to me that they would try their best to get my husband a
job.

"From the age of 14 I have been praying five times a day - how can I think
of leaving Islam?"

Mr Mannaf earns a meagre wage as a factory labourer. He said his
brother-in-law Keshab Arya, a Hindu who works for the VHP, had suggested
that his organisation could get him a job in the city, so he went with Mr
Arya to the ceremony to be introduced to the group. He had no idea of the
significance of the rituals, he said.

"As a true Muslim I hold all other religions in high respect. So at that
function we simply followed what other Hindu brothers were doing - we wanted
everyone around to feel good," he said. "They said that because we were from
another religion, we were their guests. So they needed to welcome us in a
traditional way. I had no inkling that they were trying to change our
religion."

Once Mr Mannaf knew of the VHP proclamation of the conversion, he complained
to the police that the family had been deceived into changing their
religion. A police investigation led West Bengal's state minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharya to make a statement in the state assembly, accusing the VHP of
duping the family by offering money. However, VHP denies any force or
deception was used.

VHP's explanation harks back to old India, when all Indians were Hindu.
"Twenty generations before, [Mr Mannaf's] forefather left Hinduism," said
Ajay Nandi, the state secretary of VHP in Calcutta. "He understood it was a
big mistake. Some months ago he expressed willingness to 'reconvert' to
Hinduism. We simply helped the family in this homecoming."

To escape discrimination by upper caste Hindus, many lower caste Hindus or
dalits - the oppressed - embraced Islam in medieval India. The arrival of
Western missionaries led many dalits to convert to Christianity in the 19th
century. Many Hindus still consider these Muslims and Christians, who
constitute almost 20 per cent of India's population today, traitors or at
least opportunists.

Prominent Muslim leaders held a closed-door meeting in Calcutta two weeks
ago at which they pledged to launch a nationwide action if the government
failed to act against the VHP leaders responsible for the conversion.

"VHP has been caught red-handed in this unlawful conversion for the first
time in the recent history of India. If the government cannot stop such
disturbing activities of VHP right now, we are afraid the whole country will
head for another communal disaster," said Maolana Siddikullah Chowdhury,
general secretary of Jamiat-e-Ulema.

He was referring to VHP's campaign against Christians in which churches have
been burned and Christians attacked. Ironically, the government explained
this as a reaction against Christian attempts to convert tribal villagers by
offering them money and land. Though this has not been proved, the
government is embarrassed to find its Hindu ally accused of a similar
practice.

Azizur Rahman is a journalist based in Calcutta.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arutz-7 News items (8/9/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 13:17:16 -0400

NETANYAHU PLANS COMEBACK
Former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu appears to have returned to
politics. He has met, over the past few days alone, with Shas leader MK
Eli Yeshai and National Religious Party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy. Rabbi
Levy proposed that Netanyahu not wait for the State Prosecutor to make a
decision on his possible indictment, but to announce his candidacy
immediately.

Former Yesha Council Secretary-General Aharon Domb, who strongly
opposed
toppling Netanyahu two years ago, accompanied Netanyahu to the meeting
with Rabbi Levy. He told Arutz-7 today, "I personally think that
Netanyahu should return, but as long as the State Prosecution has not yet
decided in his case, he will not make an official announcement either way.
If the Prosecution decides to indict him, then he will have a problem..."
Domb said that in principle, "I recommend to my friends that if they want
to prevent Jerusalem from being divided, then the one with the best
chances to unseat Barak is Netanyahu."

Domb dismissed claims that Netanyahu himself had made some hefty
concessions in Hevron and at Wye, saying, "This has long been my
argument
with some of my best friends. We want to keep all of Eretz Yisrael, but
we simply have to distinguish between what we want and what can be
attained. We have always been taught to want the absolute best - but it
was this type of thinking that got us Barak and his government."

MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) responded:
"It was not MKs of the National Union who toppled Binyamin Netanyahu. It
was rather the Likud, and Netanyahu himself at the helm, who toppled him.
We have nothing personal against him. When he made concessions, we fought
him, and when he did not carry out the concessions because of his famous
demand for reciprocity, we supported him. We have no problem with the
man, but just with the way." Hendel said that at present, "after Camp
David, it has to be obvious to every realistic person that the Oslo
process is dead. Arafat does not want peace with us, and Peres and Beilin
knew this in advance… I can't prove this, but if Rabin - who talked about
progressing [with the Oslo process] in stages, so that we could check our
progress - would have seen to what extent this process has deteriorated,
he would certainly have stopped it. If Barak would take the same
approach, the entire nation would be behind him, except for the fanatic
left-wing led by Peres and Beilin."

CLAIMS AGAINST ARAB COUNTRIES PUT ON HOLD
Justice Minister Yossi Beilin's decision to close the Department of Claims
against Arab States was based on "political reasons" according to a
senior official in the Ministry of Justice. The department consolidated
the thousands of monetary claims by Jewish immigrants from Arab states
that have been registered over the years. A top Justice Ministry official
said, "For 32 years, the office has prepared itself for the moment when it
will be able to file its claims against the Arab countries, and at the
very moment when this opportunity is close to arriving, the office is
closed down." Former government minister Mordechai Ben-Porat, director of
the Heritage Center for Baylonian Jewry, told Arutz-7 today that his
information is that "claims will continue to be dealt with, but the head
of the department has been let go, for budgetary reasons."

LIEBERMAN OPPOSES EMBASSY MOVE NOW
Senator Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic party's Vice-Presidential
candidate, opposes moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at
present. In an exclusive CNN interview last night, Lieberman said, "I
have been a supporter of moving our embassy to Jerusalem; it just seems to
me that in every other country in the world, we put our embassy in the
city that the country says is its capital... The piece of land which we
already have designated for the American embassy in Jerusalem is in a part
of Jerusalem that was Israeli back to 1948. So under no settlement would
that change. I must tell you right now, I think it would not be a good
idea to do that while there is still the flame of hope burning about the
Camp David [talks]... I agree with what [President Clinton] said a couple
weeks ago on Israeli television: Let's wait until the end of year, see
where we are, and then, before he leaves office, he will make a decision
about moving that embassy."

SHOE STOPS PLANE
The quick thinking and selflessness of a worker at Ben Gurion
International Airport was instrumental in saving a Boeing 737 jet plane
with 140 passengers from rolling out of control this past Monday. Avrush
Michaelov noticed a Lithuanian Airlines jet plane slowly rolling towards a
road filled with cars, and yelled for the pilot to stop it. The pilot
yelled back that his brakes were not working, and a catastrophe seemed
inevitable. Michaelov did not think so, however, and ran towards the
plane. He removed his special security shoe - "which contains a metal
piece that is designed to protect the foot in case of accident," he later
explained - and jammed it under one of the plane's wheels. He held his
breath - and the plane stopped. "I was a bit scared," he said, "but the
plane was full of passengers, and I thought of them more than I thought
about myself."

TISHA B'AV DIALOGUE
World Jewish Communities Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior will mark Tisha
B'Av tonight by hosting a public reading of the Book of Lamentations and a
religious-secular dialogue session in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. In
attendance will also be Absorption Minister Yuli Tamir, MK Nachum
Langental (NRP), MKs Naomi Hazan and Ilan Gilon (Meretz), Rabbi Yehuda
Gilad of Meimad, Rabbi Yonah Metzger and others.

Several organizations will be sponsoring a special Tisha B'Av walk around
the Old City tonight. Women in Green head Nadia Matar explained to Arutz-
7 today that, "Actually, this is not some new gimmick, but a re-enacting
of an old Jerusalem custom of walking around the Old City on Tisha B'Av.
Tonight, however, we will be marking not only the destruction of the Holy
Temples in the past, but also the intentions of our present leaders to
bring another destruction upon us, with their plans to divide Jerusalem
and give over parts of it and major parts of our Land to our enemies…"
The event will begin with an evening prayer service and the traditional
reading of Eichah [Lamentations], and the march will begin at 9 PM, with
the participation of Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. "We will have a short
memorial ceremony at Lions Gate for those who gave their lives in the
battle for Jerusalem 33 years ago," Matar said, "and then we will continue
to Dung Gate and the Kotel."

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000 / Av 8, 5760

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Undergrads Work On Physics That's Beyond Computers
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 12:25:54 -0500

Undergrads Work On Physics That's Beyond Computers

http://unisci.com/stories/20003/0808002.htm

Simulating even small systems in physics can seem impossible. Suppose
researchers want to study the magnetic properties of a ten-by-ten grid of
electrons. Assume further that each electron has two possible values of
spin, a property that helps determine its magnetic properties.
The ten-by-ten grid of those electrons has a whopping 2^100 possible
combinations of spin states. It would take a computer far longer than the
age of the universe to go through all of those possibilities.

Now undergraduate researchers are combining mathematical versions of such
tasks to slash dramatically the computational times for difficult
simulations of physical phenomena.

At the recent (July 29-August 2) summer meeting of the American Association
of Physics Teachers in Ontario, Shafiq Rahman of Allegheny College in
Pennsylvania discussed this computational approach, which he and some
undergraduates at Allegheny are using to study complex anti-ferromagnetic
materials.

The approach begins with the Monte Carlo simulation. Through the use of
random number generators, Monte Carlo determines a small but representative
fraction of possible configurations. In turn, this enables one to calculate
the average properties of the system.

Then, to get a good representation, the researchers use the Metropolis
algorithm, which flips the spin of some electrons in an attempt to generate
a wide variety of spin configurations.

But Metropolis fails in systems on the verge of a phase transition, such as
water turning to ice or a metal losing its magnetism. Such systems have to
go through many, many changes before arriving at another "independent"
configuration. So researchers instead identify clusters, or islands, of
identical spin states.

In this approach, researchers flip whole islands rather than individual
members to generate completely distinct states. This "cluster-flipping Monte
Carlo" approach, Rahman said, can cut computational time by orders of
magnitude, especially near phase transitions.

(Editor's Note: This story is adapted -- loosely -- from Physics News
Update, the American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News, Number
496, July 24, 2000, by Phillip F. Schewe and Ben Stein.)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arab fragile position puts Jerusalem at risk
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 15:59:05 -0500

Arab fragile position puts Jerusalem at risk :
A UAE daily
http://www.wam.org.ae/2000/Aug/07/286977.htm

Abu Dhabi, Aug. 7, 2000 (Wam) -- A UAE leading daily newspaper urged today
Arab countries to throw their heavy weight behind the Palestinians
negotiator at this critical stage of the Middle East peace process or face
the loss of Jerusalem. '' Are the Arabs standing beside the Palestinians in
the same manner as the U.S. did and is now doing with the Zionists ?. ''
With the exception of firm attitudes adopted by the UAE and few Arab
capitals in defence of Arab rights, the Arab reaction is, unfortunately,
passive towards what the Americans and Zionists want to impose on the
Paletinians at the final status talks'' the Sharjah-based + Al Khaleej +
said. '' U.S. President Bill Clinton has threatened to move the U.S. embassy
from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has fixed
the date for such a dangerous move, but what is shameful is that the Arabs
are still keeping their lips tight. '' Such a situation should prompt Arab
countries to hold an extraordinary summit through which a stern message be
issued to Clinton and others that Jerusalem is a red line and whoever dares
to trespass it will pay a dear price. '' The Americans are now busy with the
presidential elections and the situation towards the Arab will not change as
both presidential nominees Republican George W. Bush and and Democratic Al
Gore were racing to take anti-Arab positions so as to win Israel's favour.
''In Israel Barak's government ran into deep internal troubles while
political parties were struggling to deny the Palestinians their legitimate
rights and to judaize the holy city of Jerusalem. '' In between no one cares
for the Arab destiny and therefore An Arab summit is the only effective
means to protect Arab rights and to stop whoever tries to pose threats to
the Islamic holy shrines at his limits no matter who Washington or Tel Aviv
or both together. Leader of the Ultra-Orthodox Shas party Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
described the Palestinians as + snakes +. + If the Arabs were serious and
strong enough in defending their lands, rights and existence, no Israeli
Rabbi could have dared to utter such words. + If the Arabs did not move
before time is running out, another Rabbi would come to discuss how to pluck
up the rest of Arabs from the whole region as they did with the Palestinians
befor 50 years. + If the Arab collective action remained weak and impotent,
Palestine and Jerusalem would be sold to the Zionists.'' wam/tf

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Pope appoints Michel Camdessus to pontifical council
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 18:46:44 -0400

Pope appoints Michel Camdessus to pontifical council

VATICAN CITY, Aug 7 (AFP) - Pope John Paul II on Monday named former
International Monetary Fund managing director Michel Camdessus a
member of the pontifical council for justice and peace, the Vatican press
department said.

The council, created by Pope Paul VI in 1967, is mandated to promote the
Catholic Church's social doctrine, among other purposes.

It is headed by Vietnamese Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan
and is made up of laymen and clergy.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Harpazo News items (8/9/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 18:53:03 -0400

Assns To Hold 'Massive' Demonstration In October To Support Palestinian
Rights

Jordan's 13 professional associations will launch a massive demonstration
late October rejecting resettlement of Palestinian refugees in their host
countries and calling for their return, association leaders said on
Monday. The demonstration will be held in front of King Hussein Bridge,
linking Jordan to the West Bank, and is expected to gather more than
15,000 people, including political activists, parliamentarians, human
rights advocates and representatives of other civil societies, said Saleh
Armouti, head of the vocal Jordan Bar Association. “We call on all
Palestinians and Arabs to take part in the protest in order to send a
strong message to everybody that we have our red lines concerning the
future of the refugees,” Armouti told the Jordan Times. “The protest
reflects the pulse of Arab and Muslim streets.” “It will be under the
motto of the `return and the compensation' [of Palestinian refugees],”
Armouti. Protesters are expected to perform a Muslim prayer at the sight
and some activists will call on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to
make no concessions to Israel regarding the future of the refugees and
Jerusalem. Jordan Times

Asian Floods Kill About 170

Torrential rains triggered flash floods and mudslides in South Asia,
leaving about 170 people dead and millions homeless, officials said
Tuesday. The landlocked Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, wedged between India
and China, said at least 50 people died and hundreds are homeless there.
At least 11 high rise buildings in Tala collapsed because of the
unprecedented flash floods, according to Lynpo Khandu Wangchuk, Bhutan's
minister for trade, who spoke from Phuntsholing, 110 miles south of the
Bhutan capital of Thimphu. Wangchuk said rescue workers were still trying
to determine the exact death toll. Earlier media reports said 200 people
had died in the floods. Across the border to the south, in India's
northeastern Assam state, the death toll rose to 80 from drowning or
disease, government officials said. More than 2 million have been left
homeless in the remote northeast region. The floods also submerged a large
part of the Kaziranga National Park in India, home to 1,600 one-horned
rhinos and hundreds of elephants. AP

Quake Shakes New Zealand Island

A strong earthquake shook New Zealand's North Island early Wednesday,
rattling homes but causing no injuries, officials said. The Institute of
Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the magnitude-6 quake was centered
about 12 miles southwest of the town of Turangi. "We shook like anything
here,'' said Maureen Smith, a Hawke's Bay police constable. "My daughter
rang me to say `Mum, all the things have fallen off the mantelpiece and
smashed.''' Tuesday's quake was the largest since a magnitude 6.3
temblor on Oct. 26 last year. AP

http://www.harpazo.net/news.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

Philologos | Bible Prophecy Research | Online Books | Reference Guide

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.