BPR Mailing List Digest: 12/09/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
December 9, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | December, 2000

To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Environmental News items
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:16:40 -0500

PENTAGON REPORT VINDICATES ARMY CORPS WHISTLEBLOWER

By Brian Hansen

WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - An internal Pentagon
investigation has confirmed a whistleblower's allegations that high ranking
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials manipulated data in order to justify a
series of costly and environmentally injurious public works projects on the
Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2000/2000L-12-08-15.html

------------------

QUEEN'S SPEECH BEGINNING OF THE END FOR FOX HUNT

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - Just a couple of
weeks after being splashed across tabloid newspapers, wringing a bird's
neck during a hunt, Queen Elizabeth II has announced a government bill,
which could lead to a complete ban on all forms of hunting with dogs in the
UK.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/dec2000/2000L-12-08-10.html

--------------

TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORs:

Florida Republican Politics is Destroying a Crystal Clear River
According to Dr. Michael Samuels, M.D.

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Dec. 8 -/E-Wire/-- The following is being released by Dr.
Michael Samuels, M.D.: The same cast of characters that is involved in the
Presidential election battle -- Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris, House speaker
Feeney, and the Florida legislature and courts -- will decide the fate of the
crystal clear, pristine, Ichetucknee River.

/CONTACT: Scott Piro, 212-593-6439, piros@ruderfinn.comm, for Dr.
Michael Samuels/

For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Dec00/08Dec0004.html

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/_/_/976405029/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) DEC/9/00 [10] Shabbat recap
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:31:42 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: 9 Dec 2000 19:09:05 -0000
To: List Member
From: BreakingNews-Israel <BNI1@netvision.net.il>
Subject: DEC/9/00 [10] Shabbat recap

BreakingNews-Israel

BNI =96 December 9, 2000 =96 YeshaBB@netvision.net.il

**** Including Sabbath recap ****

1. Terror victim to be laid to rest on Saturday night=09
2. Second Friday terror attack claims third victim of the day=09
3. Shots fired at soldiers at Ayosh Junction Friday=09
4. Gilo attacked by gunfire on Friday night & Saturday morning=09
5. Soldiers attacked with gunfire near Enav=09
6. Disturbances and rioting on Hussan bypass road=09
7. Soldiers stationed at the Sufa outpost attack by gunfire=09
8. Shots fired at Ofer base on Saturday night=09
9. Arabs claim =93settlers=94 shot Arab teenager=09
10. Riots in Jenin on Saturday morning=09
11. Shooting into P=92sagot on the Sabbath=09
12. Kfar Darom attacked with anti-tank rockets on the Sabbath=09
13. Rioter killed in clashes at Rachel=92s Tomb Friday=09
14. One killed in violent clashes in Jerusalem=92s Old City on Friday
15. Border police attacked in Shuafat section of Jerusalem=09
16. Firebomb attacks in Jerusalem=92s Atarot neighborhood=09
17. Second stone-throwing attack on Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway=09
18. Israeli motorist injured in nail gun attack=09
19. PA: Five killed near Jenin by IDF on Friday=09
20. PA residents mark 13 years since the start of Intifada=09
21. Closure placed on autonomous areas by IDF=09
22. Two Hebron residents arrested on the Sabbath at Rachel=92s Tomb
23. Force of 200 on hand to remove Jews from building near Givat
HaCharsinah=09
24. PM announces 9:00pm press conference=09

1. Terror victim to be laid to rest on Saturday night
(BNI-DEC.9) Eliyahu Ben-Ami, 41, who was killed in a Friday morning
terrorist attack near Kiryat Arba, will be laid to rest on Saturday night
in the Rechovot Cemetery.

Ben-Ami, a resident of the Southern Hebron Hills community of Otniel, was
gravely wounded in the attack. Trauma physicians in Jerusalem=92s Hadassah
Hospital worked to save his life without success.

He leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

Rina Didovsky, the second fatality in the shooting attack, was laid to
rest on Friday afternoon in the Har Menuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem.

++++

2. Second Friday terror attack claims third victim of the day
(BNI-DEC.9) An IDF soldier was killed in a shooting attack on Friday
afternoon on the Jericho bypass road. The victim was a passenger on an
Egged public bus when shots rang out. The identity of the victim has not
yet been cleared for release.

A second person, the victim=92s girlfriend, sustained light wounds in the
attack and was transported to Jerusalem=92s Hadassah Hospital on Mount
Scopus.

++++
3. Shots fired at soldiers at Ayosh Junction Friday
(BNI-DEC.9) Shots were fired at IDF soldiers on Friday afternoon at Ayosh
Junction in Samaria. There were no reported injuries. Soldiers returned
fire.

++++

4. Gilo attacked by gunfire on Friday night & Saturday morning
(BNI-DEC.9) A burst of automatic gunfire was fired into the southern
Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo on Friday evening, on the Sabbath. There
were no reports of injuries. Soldiers did not return fire. The gunfire
originated in the nearby PLO Authority autonomous area of Beit Jala.

Shots rang out once again before dawn but this time, IDF forces returned
fire at Beit Jala.

++++

5. Soldiers attacked with gunfire near Enav
(BNI-DEC.9) IDF soldier operating near the Samarian community of Enav,
southwest of the PLO Authority autonomous city of Tul Qarem, were attacked
by gunfire on Friday evening. There were no injuries. Soldiers returned
fire.

++++

6. Disturbances and rioting on Hussan bypass road
(BNI-DEC.9) The Office of the IDF Spokesman reported disturbances and
riots occurred on the Hussan bypass road on Friday evening. IDF troops
dispersed the rioters. No reported injuries among IDF forces.

++++
7. Soldiers stationed at the Sufa outpost attack by gunfire
(BNI-DEC.9) IDF soldiers manning the Sufa outpost in southern Gaza were
attacked by gunfire on Friday night. Soldiers returned fire. No injuries.

++++

8. Shots fired at Ofer base on Saturday night
(BNI-DEC.9) Shots were fired into the IDF=92s Ofer base, west of Ramallah,
on Saturday night. There were no reported injuries. Soldiers returned
fire.

++++

9. Arabs claim =93settlers=94 shot Arab teenager
(BNI-DEC.9) Physicians in Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem on Saturday
evening report that 13-year-old Mansur Jaber is in serious but stable
condition following emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

According to Arabs in the Kiryat Arba area, the teenager was shot by local
Jewish residents in Saturday clashes. Police and the IDF are investigating
the incident.

++++
10. Riots in Jenin on Saturday morning
(BNI-DEC.9) IDF soldiers using rubber bullets dispersed demonstrators in
Jenin on Saturday morning. No injuries reported among Israeli forces.

++++

11. Shooting into P=92sagot on the Sabbath
(BNI-DEC.9) Shots were fired into the Benjamin Regional Council community
of P=92sagot in Samaria on Friday night. There were no reports of injures.

++++
12. Kfar Darom attacked with anti-tank rockets on the Sabbath
(BNI-DEC.9) The southern Gazan community of Kfar Darom was attacked on
Friday night with automatic weapons fire as well as two anti-tank rockets.
There were reports of damages to homes from the gunfire. There were no
reported casualties.

Friday night gunfire attacks were also reported in Gaza at Gush Katif and
Netzarim. No injuries. In once attack, an IDF jeep was attacked with
grenades. No injuries.

++++

13. Rioter killed in clashes at Rachel=92s Tomb Friday
(BNI-DEC.9) An Arab rioter was killed in Friday=92s violent clashes and
attacks against IDF forces stationed at Rachel=92s Tomb in the PLO Authorit y
autonomous city of Bethlehem.

++++

14. One killed in violent clashes in Jerusalem=92s Old City on Friday
(BNI-DEC.9) A 16-year-old Arab was killed in clashes with Israeli security
forces following Temple Mount prayer services on Friday afternoon.
Following the prayer services on the Temple Mount on the second Friday of
the Moslem holy month of Ramadan, rioting and clashes erupted in the Old
City. The victim was killed in the Via Dolorosa area.

Arab sources report at least another six persons were injured. Jerusalem
police report over twenty troops injured in the post prayer clashes
throughout the Old City including an assault on a police station that was
thwarted when troops opened fire with rubber bullets. Heavy damages were
reported in the police outpost that was attacked, including to closed
circuit television equipment. The station just underwent repairs and
refurbishing following a similar attack about six weeks ago.

In other attacks, rioters burned tires and hurled rocks, bottles and other
objects at security forces during the violence which lasted over three
hours.

Over 120,000 Moslem worshipers turned out for the prayer services in the
Al Aqsa Mosque.

++++
15. Border police attacked in Shuafat section of Jerusalem
(BNI-DEC.9) Border police units of Friday came under attack with stones
being thrown from the Shuafat refugee camp. There were no reported
injuries. Undercover units operating in the area arrested four masked
persons who were participating in the attacks.

++++

16. Firebomb attacks in Jerusalem=92s Atarot neighborhood
(BNI-DEC.9) Firebombs were thrown at Israeli forces in the northern
Jerusalem industrial area of Atarot on Friday afternoon. The firebombs
were thrown in the area of the Peleg Building for the fourth time over
recent weeks.

Responding forces used teargas.

++++

17. Second stone-throwing attack on Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway
(BNI-DEC.9) For the second time in several days, Israeli motorists
traveling on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway on Saturday were attacked with
stones. There were no reported injuries. At least one car was injured.

Earlier in the week, an ambulance responding from Jerusalem to Bet Shemesh
has its windshield blown out with stones thrown in the Shar Haggai area,
the same location as the Saturday attack.

++++
18. Israeli motorist injured in nail gun attack
(BNI-DEC.9) An Israeli female who was traveling with her daughter on
Friday, was lightly injured in a nail gun attack on Pierre Koenig Street
in southern Jerusalem. The victim was transported to the Shaare Zedek
Medical Center.

Police first believed the incident was the result of a work accident but
later in the day on Friday; there were two additional reports of nail gun
attacks in the capital. There were no reports of injuries in the other
attacks, one of which took place in a nearby Park.

++++

19. PA: Five killed near Jenin by IDF on Friday
(BNI-DEC.9) According to PA sources, five persons were killed near Jenin
on Friday afternoon when IDF forces opened fire with heavy armor. Three of
the dead were reportedly members of PA security forces.

PA officials reported that anti-tank rockets were used by the IDF in the
assault.

The IDF spokesman was quoted as acknowledging tank shells were fired at a
group of armed men in an area under total Israeli control.

++++
20. PA residents mark 13 years since the start of Intifada
(BNI-DEC.9) Residents of PA autonomous areas on Saturday marked another
=93Day of Rage,=94 with special emphasis being placed on the day observed a s
the anniversary of the Intifada which began in 1987. Nine funerals were
held in PA areas on Saturday, with five held in Jenin.

Israel Radio reports seven Arabs were killed in clashes on Friday and two
others died of wounds on Saturday, bringing the weekend death toll to nine.

++++

21. Closure placed on autonomous areas by IDF
(BNI-DEC.9) The IDF over the weekend reimposed a closure on all PLO
Authority autonomous areas with the exception of Qalkilya. As a result of
the move, residents of the areas will not be permitted to leave the areas
under PA control to enter areas under Israeli control.

++++
22. Two Hebron residents arrested on the Sabbath at Rachel=92s Tomb
(BNI-DEC.9) Two residents of the Hebron area were placed under arrest on
Saturday after having made their way into the military compound of
Rachel=92s Tomb in Bethlehem. The two were placed under arrest and driven
against their will to the Gush Etzion police.

The reaction by police sparked anger among the two and others, decrying
the reality that the two were placed inside a vehicle and forced to drive
on the Sabbath, a move that is prohibited in accordance with the Jewish
law.

(The two made their way to the area on foot, not by vehicle).

++++
23. Force of 200 on hand to remove Jews from building near Givat
HaCharsinah
(BNI-DEC.9) Following the shooting death of two area residents on Friday
morning near Kiryat Arba, local Jewish residents took over a building
which they stated was illegally built by area Arabs. They have maintained
their presence since.

The move coupled with roadblocks aimed again Arab motorists in the area
increased tensions. Clashes resulted on Saturday leading to the shooting
of a 16-year-old Arab rioter who was flown by an Israel Air Force
helicopter to the trauma unit of Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. He is
reported in serious but stable condition following emergency surgery.

At this time, security forces have been ordered to the area are removing
the Jews from the controversial structure. Police report one troop was
lightly injured in his face by a stone thrown by one of the persons in the
building. The Jewish residents report police whom are using unjustifiable
force have injured several persons.

++++

24. PM announces 9:00pm press conference
(BNI-DEC.9) The Prime Minister=92s Office has announced that Prime
Minister/Defense Minister Ehud Barak will be holding a 9:00pm press
conference on Saturday night.

Officials would reveal the issues to be addressed at the press conference.

At this time, hundreds of persons are demonstrating in front of the Prime
Minister=92s Residence in Jerusalem, demanding that Arabs not be permitted
in private vehicles on Yesha roads in response to the increasing number of
shooting attacks.

++++
++++

News items published by BNI (BreakingNews-Israel) may be distributed,
copied, posted providing the websites and other forums carrying the
stories display the footer below in plain view on the same page with the
news.

++++

To subscribe to the BreakingNews-Israel list, send a blank email message
to 44828-subscribe@listbot.com

To contact the list owner, send and email to BNI1@netvision.net.il

++++

BNI reports are now featured by:
The USA Jewish website - http://www.usajewish.com/
Israel News - http://www.morashanetwork.com/

++++

______________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe, write to 44828-unsubscribe@listbot.com

Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb

------- End of forwarded message -------

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/_/_/976405030/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) DEC/9/00 PM Barak resigns
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:32:03 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: 9 Dec 2000 19:37:56 -0000
To: List Member
From: BreakingNews-Israel <BNI1@netvision.net.il>
Subject: DEC/9/00 PM Barak resigns

BreakingNews-Israel

PM Barak announces his resignation
(BNI-DEC.9 =96 9:20pm) In a nationally televised press conference, Prime
Minister/Defense Minister Ehud Barak moments ago announced that on Sunday,
December 9, 2000, he would formally submit his resignation to President
Moshe Katzav. Mr. Barak stated that he would have preferred entering into
an emergency national unity government but since that is no longer a
reality, he has decided to step down and force new elections.

The prime minister listed his accomplishments while in office over the
past 18 months, and stated with confidence that he would be a contender in
the Labor Party primaries, confident that he would be elected to represent
the party in the upcoming national elections.

The law requires that national elections be held in sixty days.

The law bars former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from running in the
race since following the resignation of a prime minister, only Members of
Knesset are eligible to be contenders for the prime minister position.

++++

To subscribe to the BreakingNews-Israel list, send a blank email message
to 44828-subscribe@listbot.com

To contact the list owner, send and email to BNI1@netvision.net.il

++++

______________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe, write to 44828-unsubscribe@listbot.com

Special offer from Palo Alto Software, The Planning People

Kick start your business with Business Plan Pro. For a limited time
bCentral.com users can receive a free copy of Cash Plan Pro with
every order of Business Plan Pro.
http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/paloalto

------- End of forwarded message -------

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Russia Restores Soviet Anthem, Tsarist Flag
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:39:44 -0500

Russia Restores Soviet Anthem, Tsarist Flag

MOSCOW, Dec 8, 2000 -- (Reuters) Russia's parliament on Friday
overwhelmingly approved reinstating a Stalin-era anthem and a tsarist flag
and eagle as the country's post-Soviet state symbols.

The State Duma lower house pushed through the legislation at the request of
President Vladimir Putin in less than three hours, with the most controversial
proposal, the anthem, securing 381 votes to 51 against.

Voting against were liberal deputies, who called for a new anthem to break
with the excesses of the Stalinist past.

Measures to approve the red, white and blue tricolor and the double-headed
eagle coat of arms both secured just over 340 votes in the 450-seat
chamber.

Full Story:
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=228300

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/_/_/976405628/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] London and Moscow Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:42:01 -0500

London and Moscow Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement

LONDON, Dec 8, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Britain and Russia have
signed a defense cooperation agreement which will build on the joint work of
the two countries' navies to salvage the Kursk submarine, the British defense
ministry said on Thursday.

British Defense Minister Geoff Hoon and his Russian counterpart Igor
Sergeyev "discussed ways of improving cooperation in search and rescue
and further measures to reduce the risk of incidents at sea," the ministry
said in a statement.

At Moscow's request, Britain sent its LR5 mini-submersible to the Barents
Sea in August in an abortive attempt to rescue the 118 crew of the Kursk
nuclear submarine.

Sergeyev and Hoon also signed "a program of bilateral cooperation for 2001,
which includes a series of high level visits, further strengthening of naval links
and defense seminars," according to the statement.

"Discussions also covered defense reform and restructuring," it added. "The
ministers agreed that they should share their experience in this area."

Russia is committed to substantially reducing the number of people serving
in its armed forces.

Britain has already been helping to re-train Russian servicemen for civilian
life. About 10,000 officers have to date passed through the program and the
ministers agreed to extend it.

Sergeyev's visit to Britain was the first by a Russian defense minister for
eight years. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)

http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=228243

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/_/_/976405784/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Weekend News Today items (12/9/00)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:52:21 -0500

Taiwan forges historic ties with Egypt

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: UPI

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- After severing ties for more than four decades, Taiwan an d
Egypt will exchange representative offices to boost bilateral relations. Ta iwan
is set to form an economic and cultural office in Cairo as early as end of this
month, making it the island's first representative office in North Africa,
according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is a major progress for
Taiwan's foreign relations, because Egypt plays an important role in the
Arabic countries," Taiwan's foreign minister Tien Hung-mao told reporters.
Egypt, which cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1956, will still maintain i ts
ties with Beijing. The exchange doesn't mean Egypt is unfriendly or hostile to
China," the minister said.

Clinton wants to be mediator after leaving office

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: London Times

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- President Clinton's trip to Northern Ireland next week ma y
not be his last in the quest for peace. Mr Clinton, who regards his work in the
Province as one of the greatest achievements of his presidency, has told
advisers that he would be ready to help to drive negotiations over power-
sharing after he leaves office. He has indicated that he would like to foll ow a
similar path to that of Jimmy Carter, who has carved out a role as an
international mediator in the years since he left the White House.

Mr Clinton=92s national security adviser, Sandy Berger, said that Mr Clinto n
would be willing to continue his work in Northern Ireland or other trouble
spots where he believes he has had some success. =93I=92m sure the Presiden t
will have an abiding interest in peace in Northern Ireland, peace in the Mi ddle
East, peace in the Balkans and will always be available if it=92s necessary and
useful,=94 Mr Berger said.

Florida chief justice declares 'unprecedented constitutional crisis'

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: AP

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- The chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court on Friday
said the court's decision to order presidential election recounts ``propels the
country into an unprecedented and unnecessary constitutional crisis.'' Chie f
Justice Charles Wells wrote in a dissenting opinion that by ordering the
recount the four justices who did so created ``imponderable problems... ``I
have to conclude that there is a real and present likelihood that this
constitutional crisis will do substantial damage to our country, our state, and
to this court as an institution,'' Wells said.

The court's 4-3 decision reversed a trial judge's ruling that Al Gore was n ot
entitled to the hand recounts with which he sought to reverse the razor-thi n
lead by which George W. Bush was certified the winner of the presidential
race in Florida. The state's 25 electoral votes will settle the contest for the
White House.

France's bid to break deadlocked talks provokes hostility from EU leaders

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Reuters

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- European Union leaders bristled on Saturday at a package
of compromise proposals tabled by France in a bid to break deadlocked EU
reform talks. The draft document, put together by French EU presidency
officials overnight, drew a hostile response from leaders of both large and
small EU nations. An Italian diplomat said summit host French President
Jacques Chirac had told other EU leaders after a first round of talks on th e
proposed package that "no one is moving."

The meeting was continuing with a point-by-point discussion of the three
problems areas blocking an accord -- how far to extend majority voting and
abandon national vetoes, how to adjust the weighting of votes among
members and how to limit the size of the European Commission, the body
that initiates EU policy.

EU's largest countries to receive most voting power under French draft
proposal made at EU summit

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Reuters

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- Germany and France would retain voting parity in the
European Union's policy-making Council of Ministers under a draft proposal
made on Saturday by the Union's French presidency at a summit of EU
leaders. Under the draft proposal, to be discussed by the 15 leaders in thi s
French Riviera resort, the EU's larger countries, and especially Spain, wou ld
be the main beneficiaries.

Germany offered help in release of Israeli soldiers

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Reuters

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- Germany has sought to use its influence to help release
three Israeli soldiers seized by the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah in
October, Israeli President Moshe Katzav was quoted as saying on Saturday.
"The federal (German) government undertook a new initiative this week and
passed on the message that we are ready to make agreements to ensure
the welfare of the three soldiers," Katzav told Bild am Sonntag newspaper i n
an interview.

A government spokesman in Berlin noted Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had
promised Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak that he would do what he could
in the matter when the two met during Schroeder's tour of the Middle East i n
October. Schroeder pledged then that Germany -- which last year mediated
the release of five Lebanese guerrillas jailed without trial in Israel -- w ould
move "discreetly and emphatically." But he warned Berlin's influence should
not be over-estimated.

Britain, France, and U.S. seek compromise on U.N. Mideast observers

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Reuters

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- Britain, France and the United States scrambled on Friday
to rework a compromise proposal on sending U.N. observers to help calm
Middle East violence after both Israelis and Palestinians rejected it. If t he
divided 15-member Security Council fails to find an acceptable formula by t he
end of the day, Palestinians may push for a vote on a draft resolution
introduced last month that calls for a 2,000-member unarmed military
protection force in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.

So far Israel and the United States, its main ally, oppose the Palestinian as
well as the British-French compromise draft. Israel has said it will only
consider a third-party presence if Palestinians negotiate the terms directl y
with them. On Thursday, Britain and France presented an alternative text
that recommended an unspecified number of military and police observers
but would leave it up to Secretary-General Kofi Annan to work out the detai ls
in consultation with both Israel and the Palestinians.

IDF reinstates closure on territories after attacks

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- The Israel Defense Forces reinstated a closure on the
territories Friday evening, Israel Radio reported. The decision was made af ter
three Israelis were killed in two separate Palestinian attacks, one Friday
morning in Kiryat Arba and another in the evening on an Egged bus near
Jericho. There is currently no movement permitted into or out of Area A
(under Palestinian control) except for instances of supplies for humanitari an
needs

Kuwait impounds five ships suspected of breaking UN sanctions against Iraq

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: BBC

Sat Dec 9,2000 -- Iraq has warned Kuwait that it is playing with fire, afte r the
Kuwaitis impounded five ships suspected of breaking UN sanctions against
Iraq. Kuwaiti coast guards stopped the ships in Kuwaiti waters on Thursday,
confiscating the cargo of sheep, goats and dates. It was not clear what the ir
destination was. Fifty-one crewmen of various nationalities were arrested. An
Iraqi information ministry spokesman accused Kuwait of obstructing
commercial shipping in the Gulf, and said it was trying to act as a police
force for the United States and Israel.

http://216.219.160.226/cgi-
bin/readnews.cgi?day=3D00_12_9&item=3D#976399480

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/_/_/976406606/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Some quick observations about the Barak resignation
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 19:04:47 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 18:55:22 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Some quick observations about the Barak resignation

Some quick observations about the Barak resignation

Aaron Lerner Date: 9 December 2000

#1 Technical note about the elections

Under the current law Netanyahu, who is not an MK, cannot run in a
snap election for the prime minister. Netanyahu resigned his spot on
the Likud list of 120 candidates for the Knesset and even if an MK
were to resign they would simply be replaced by the next in line.

Only snap legislation can change this and while Barak said he would
support it, it is highly unlikely that the kind of support and
coordination required for such legislation to go through will
actually come together in the current Knesset.

#2 Barak's slogan "referendum for my policy"

"Let Ehud Barak reveal to the Israeli public what he offered at Camp
David." So said veteran Peace Now leader Tzali Reshef on Israel Radio
last week on his weekly program "On Right and Left" with Geula Cohen.

Ehud Barak said tonight that the elections will be a referendum to
support his policies but the public, and for that matter the
overwhelming majority of his own party and HIS OWN CABINET, does not
know what Barak's policies actually are.

Until now Barak's more moderate supporters have taken comfort in the
hope that reports of Barak's concessions at Camp David have been
exaggerated.

The challenge for Barak's opponents in the next 60 days is to turn
what has been defended as "constructive ambiguity" into an albatross,
with speculations offered of concessions even beyond what Barak may
have offered.

And it will not be easy for Barak to come clean.

Barak insisted that notes not be taken to record the Camp David
meetings where the concessions were offered. In fact, before they
broke off, the official Palestinian-Israeli talks were bogged down
trying to establish just what Barak offered at Camp David.

To make matters worse, Barak finds himself in the difficult position
that Arafat may challenge his description of the concessions as
understating their scope.

#3 What is the rush?

Barak had many reasons to pull the plug.

He locks out Netanyahu from the race.

It is far from clear that he can make a deal with the Palestinians
and dragging a stalemate situation only loses him support from the
Left.

Barak's snap elections make it very difficult for his opponents in
the Left to effectively field a challenger. Labor MK Haim Ramon's
savage attack this week left no doubt that such a challenge was only
a question of time.

He also drastically reduces the possibility that his candidacy be
voided as a result of the outcome of the police investigation of the
last elections. Until last week it appeared that Barak could count on
the snail's pace of the police investigation of illegal activities in
the Barak campaign to prevent it from interfering with his candidacy.
That assessment was dramatically revised when the police reacted to
MK Michael Eitan's no-news press conference on the matter by bringing
Barak's Cabinet Secretary and campaign bag man Isaac Herzog for
questioning. While the press did not force Barak and other Labor
politicians to take a stand on Herzog's refusal to answer questions,
even Israel Radio featured legal experts the next day who supported
forcing Herzog out if he would not cooperate with the investigation.
With the police showing that pressure can force them to work, Barak
had good reason to fear that the police might come out with something
before a May 2001 election day.

Barak's money sources are not loyal. His primary contributors are
from the radical left who believe in "peace (agreements) at any
price" and who would prefer an alternative candidate if one were
viable. And no one wants to put in money into a candidate already
facing charges for illegal campaign activities. The snap elections,
as already noted, dramatically reduces the possibility that there
will be a viable alternative candidate for wealthy contributors to
invest in or for a police report to interfere during the election
window.

#4 And the opposition?

There are viable alternative candidates to MK Arik Sharon, but they
are only viable if they gain broad recognition within the national
camp as the consensus candidate within an extremely short time frame
AND there is enough campaign money available to sell that candidate
up to election day.

The 60 day window leaves no time for bickering and second thoughts.
That means no time for grandstanding over how the candidate of the
national camp is to be chosen nor challenges once a candidate has
been selected by this process.

Regardless of the candidate, the availability of sources of big money
will play a crucial role in the success of the campaign. There
simply is not the time for grass roots fundraising within a 60 day
framework.

It should also be kept in mind that the Oslo War will significantly
increase the cost of the national camp's campaign. Residents of Judea
and Samaria made an important contribution of time and effort in the
1996 and 1999 campaigns. Today they would be literally putting their
lives on the line if they drove at night to help the campaign within
the Green Line.

The outcome of this election is far from a foregone conclusion.

It is important to keep in mind that Barak did not opt for snap
elections because he was certain of victory but rather because he saw
it as the best choice among bad alternatives.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-548-0092
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-digest-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-digest-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il

------- End of forwarded message -------

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/_/_/976407109/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

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.