BPR Mailing List Digest: 07/23/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
July 23, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | July, 2000

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Tzemach News Service items (7/22/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 09:40:17 -0400

Week Ending: 22 July 2000 / 19 Tammuz 5760

Please feel free to forward to a friend or colleague

"If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do
not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy." (Psalm 137.5-6)

** NOTICE ** NOTICE **

REDEMPTION IN THE END-TIMES PROPHECY CONFERENCE

We at Tzemach Institute and Fellowship Church believe that these are the
"last days" predicted millennia ago by the Hebrew prophets. Therefore, it
seems timely for us to convene a conference to explore ways of promoting
cooperation in the redemption process between leaders of the faith
community of Israel and Christian Zionists in America. Those Israeli and
Christian leaders participating in this conference are prepared to
discuss, in frank terms, real areas of cooperation that have been tested
and proven fruitful over the past several years. We invite you to come and
join us with others in this endeavor. We are sure that you will return
home truly blessed and with a fresh vision for godly righteousness burning
within you.

Conference presentations include:

* The redemptive process as seen from an Israeli perspective and a
Christian perspective.
* The importance of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in the redemption
process.
* International response to the redemption process.
* Spiritual warfare in the midst of the nations.

Conference participants include Gershon Salomon, leader of the Temple
Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement; Yohanan Ramati, Chairman of
the Jerusalem Institute for Western Defense; Ken Garrison, Pastor of
Fellowship Church and Director of the Tzemach Institute for Biblical
Studies; and a leading rabbi from the settlement movement to be
announcement later.

The conference will take place January 31 - February 2, 2001 at the
Sheraton Orlando North Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

Information may be found on our website located at: http://www.tzemach.org
or email us at: conference@tzemach.org

IN HIS OWN WORDS . . . : "No Jew is at liberty to surrender the right of
the Jewish Nation and the Land of Israel to exist. No Jewish body is
sanctioned to do so. No Jew alive today has the authority to yield any
piece of land whatsoever. This right is preserved by the Jewish People
throughout the generations and cannot be forfeited under any circumstance.
Even if at some given time there will be those who declare that they are
relinquishing the right, they have neither the power nor the jurisdiction
to negate it for future generations to come. The Jewish Nation is neither
obligated by nor responsible for any waiver such as this. Our right to
this land, in its entirety, is steadfast, inalienable and eternal. And
until the coming of the Great Redemption, we shall never yield this
historic right." David Ben-Gurion, Speech to the 21st Zionist Congress,
1937 Basel, Switzerland.

RAISING CHILDREN . . . PALESTINIAN STYLE: "Yesha settlers corner an
Arab
farmer in his home, demand his land, and when he refuses to give in they
beat him to death. With his last breaths, the Arab begs his son to protect
his land from the Yesha settlers" The above did not actually occur, but is
rather a scene from a play produced by a Palestinian girl's summer camp
and broadcast on Palestinian television last week. Itamar Marcus, of
Palestinian Media Watch, says it is typical of the message being given to
the Palestinian public. "This is not a lone incident," he told ARUTZ-7,
"but one that reflects the ongoing educational message fed to Palestinian
children and youth. Furthermore, these cultural activities complement
actual military training provided to Palestinian youth."

Meanwhile, as PA/PLO sources close to the Camp David talks released
statements of optimism, PA/PLO officials in Gaza continue training Arab
youth in the use of Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles, a move PA/PLO
officials insist is only defensive, explaining that if the talks result in
failure, PA/PLO residents may be required to defend themselves. Close to
2,000 youths are participating in the Fatah camps, being sponsored in Gaza
and in other areas under PA/PLO control. There are six camps in Gaza. The
program, called "Fighting Youth Course" is being run in cooperation with
PA/PLO paramilitary commanders and forces.

Recently a film was made by Peace for Generations (Shalom L'Dorot) called
"Jihad for Kids." The video covers official Palestinian TV and summer
camps infusing hatred toward Jews. The film was paid for, in part, by the
US Congress. The film can be seen online at:
<http://www.israelnationalnews.com/english/video/Gallery/fGallery.htm>.

SUGGESTED READING: An excellent book that details the "Jewish-Arab
Conflict" is "From Time Immemorial," by Joan Peters, Harper & Row, New
York, 1984. The book is out-of-print, but is available from The Freeman
Center for Strategic Studies. The website is located at
<http://www.freeman.org/books.htm>.The author provides literally hundreds
of references. It is a well- researched book revealing the lies and
manipulations used by the Arabs, as well as the rest of the world, to try
to justify the Palestinian lie regarding Israel and the Jewish people.

UNIFIL TO DEPLOY IN SOUTH LEBANON BY MONDAY: The United
Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is expected to begin the long-awaited deployment
of its forces throughout south Lebanon as far as the border with Israel
Sunday or Monday, according to the Foreign Ministry. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Aviv Shiron said Saturday night that the Lebanese government
was
also expected to send detachments of its army and police to the region in
the coming days. A report confirming that Israel had rectified
UN-determined violations of the withdrawal line was apparently submitted
to Secretary-General Kofi Annan over the weekend and was expected to be
approved by the Security Council. Lebanon had been using Israeli
infringements of the withdrawal line -- some of them relating to only a
few meters of land -- as a pretext for delaying acceptance of the UN's
confirmation of the IDF's pullout from south Lebanon.

REPORT FROM THE DEMONSTRATION:
A UNITY OF MULTITUDES, by Evelyn Hayes, July 17, 2000

I had just arrived in Israel and was really jetlagged. I didn't feel up to
going to this rally, but when many of my committed friends said they had
other obligations, I felt it was my duty. I spoke with many tourists who
came because of responsibility. The masses were breathtaking. It was more
like a million than six hundred thousand. About 1200 busses, vans, cars,
an unending ocean of hiking pedestrians just kept coming even after Rabin
Square was beyond overflowing in all directions for blocks and blocks
further than the eyes could see.

Busses had signs from Kokav Yair, Barak's hometown. They came from the
north, the Golan, from Eilat, the Negev, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheva, Beit
Shemesh, Alon Shvut, Neve Yaakov, Ariel, Beit El, Netanya, Haifa,
Jerusalem, Hadera, Afula, Pardes Chana, everywhere.

They were our youth, grandparents, parents, infants, toddlers, students,
old pioneers, new immigrants, Ethiopians. They were bare headed, knitted,
black, white kipots, black hats and baseball caps. There were signs in
Hebrew, Russian, English, Spanish, Italian, French.

Many times when I lobbied in Washington, Senators and Congressmen would
agree that terrorism was rampant, there was corruption, there were
infraction and incitement and war reparation under Arafat's defiant
attitude under Oslo, but would always ask,"Where are the Jews? Why are
they not taking a stand?" Well this was the Israeli Parade in New York
fifty times over. I never saw so many Jews and wondered how so many were
here after so many wanted to be but had so many obligations. Barak has no
mandate. His nation was abundantly against him. Man, woman and child was
taking a stand together and so peaceful in Tel Aviv against the Summit in
Camp David. So many normal families were gathered against the insanity,
immorality, illegality, irrationality, injustice of this incomprehensible
peace with the terrorist who was terrorizing on even at this time in
Hebron and even attacking busses on the way to the rally.

Ariel Sharon gave a message to Barak, "Pursuing negotiations would make
him a loser." Ehud Olmert said that from one Ehud there was this promise
to not divide Jerusalem. Not only was it being divided. It was being
carted away. A young blond haired boy represented the youth and spoke to
thundering applause, "Didn't you promise we have a future here? Are you
ignoring all the children. Won't you protect us and leave us a country?
Out future includes the Temple Mount, our holy sites, our parents homes,
our homes, the Judean Hills, the Jordan Valley, Samaria, Golan, Negev, the
Galillee. Our future includes our past and Israel is that past.

One poster of the thousands was especially cute -- Clinton cradling tiny
baby Barak in his arms. A passerby wondered if this was because Israel was
becoming a protectorate. Another commented that this was child abuse,
abandoning the protectorate to seven years of violence without a thaw in
sight.

This was surely a hafganah to remember and to remind. The people are
against being put to the stake for the sake of a false peace where Arafat
is in default of all the disguises of peace even with all the bribes of
what was never his due. Why doesn't he return to his native Egypt and
concern himself with the poverty of his people? Why doesn't Barak get out
of the Oslo trap instead of entrapping his nation more? How is Clinton so
concerned with a democracy when he would pressure Israel to deport its own
citizens.

Listen to the people. Israel is a unity of multitudes against surrender to
this piece of war called Oslo. The magnitude of this rally should be the
consideration of the government, not the politics of pleasing for
appeasings sake.

RECOMMEND WEBSITES: <http://www.iris.org.il>
<http://www.responsiblespending.org>

THIS WEEK IN JEWISH HISTORY:

18 July 1290: Edward I (England), pressured by his barons, the Church and
possibly by his mother, announced the expulsion of all the Jews. By
November approximately 4,000 had fled. The Jews had to pay their own
passage, mostly to France. They were allowed to take movables (i.e.
clothing). A number of Jews were robbed and cast overboard during the
voyage by the ship captains. The Jews did not return to England until
1659. This was the first national expulsion of the Jews.

20 July 1933: Cardinal Pacelli issued a concordant known as the "Hitler
Concordant". It was described by Hitler as "unrestricted acceptance of
National Socialism by the Vatican." Cardinal Pacelli later became Pope
Pious XII. In its spirit all teaching priests were to greet their students
with "Heil Hitler, praised be Jesus Christ."

21 July 1947: The Exodus, a refugee ship with 4,500 refugees on board, was
turned back by the British and returned to Germany. The ship had tried to
run the British blockade unsuccessfully. The British forcefully boarded
the ship killing three Jews and wounding over 100. The pictures of the
refugees being forcibly unloaded in Germany was a critical blow to world
public opinion and helped force the British out of Eretz Israel.

This material has been adapted from "Beyond Time and History" by Eli
Birnbaum

Tzemach News Service - http://www.tzemach.org/fyi

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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - When prophecy fails
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 12:04:28 -0500

via: freemanlist@lists.io.com

The Jerusalem Post
July 23,2000

When prophecy fails

(Religious Zionist theologians are scrambling to reinterpret the
times)

By David Weinberg
(The writer comments on current affairs)
--------------------------------------------------------

For many religious Zionists, a diplomatic process
which abandons much of Judea and Samaria, not to mention
parts of Jerusalem, is theological cataclysm. An earthquake
with far-reaching ideological ramifications.

After all, it wasn't supposed to be this way. God's
own redemptive hand had returned us to our biblical
birthright! Not surprisingly, religious Zionist thinkers
are scrambling to reinterpret the times. A quick survey of
opinion among several leading philosophers and rabbis
reveals utter confusion and deep disagreement within the
religious Zionist ideological camp.

Start with MK Rabbi Haim Druckman (National Religious
Party), head of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva and Yeshivat Or Etzion,
one of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook's most profound disciples.
Based on Rabbi Kook's teachings, Rabbi Druckman has been
speaking for 30 years about the unstoppable "messianic
process" of redemption under way; an inexorable process
which runs according to a "messianic clock" that can't be
turned back.

The return of Jewish life to Judea and Samaria was
part of this unassailable process, according to Rabbi
Druckman and his colleagues in Gush Emunim. Kedumim, Beit
El and united Jerusalem were proof that we were on a one-
way journey, with no layovers, to even more complete
redemption.

So where do the Oslo and Camp David withdrawals fit
into this messianic process? Well, the messianic process it
is still alive, insists Rabbi Druckman, but it going
through a corrective phase. Basing himself on the medieval
Jewish philosopher Abravanel (Yeshuot Meshicho chapter
five) and some kabbalistic writings, Rabbi Druckman now
posits the need for the messianic "vessel" (the state and
society of Israel) to undergo a "cleaning-out" process
before the "vessel" gets filled with the ultimate Judaic
content of the full messianic era.

In Rabbi Druckman's words, "the abandonment by Israeli
society of core Jewish and classical Zionist values,
including the grave deterioration in appreciation for the
Land of Israel" is part of a theologically-mandated dark
period, a purgatory and cleansing interval, on the road to
better times.

This frightening, knotty thesis of "required ruin
before reconstruction" has been picked up by Rabbi Shlomo
Aviner and other prominent thinkers in Rabbi Kook's
messianic camp. Funny how none of them spoke of "required
ruin" before Oslo.

ON THE far opposite side of the philosophical spectrum
is Yoske Ahituv, ideologue of the Religious Kibbutz
Movement. Ahituv, an expert on Maimonides, a prolific
writer and a religious-secular dialogue activist, rejects
Rabbi Druckman's "illusionary messianic Zionism"
altogether.

"God didn't bring us back here in 1948; God didn't
give us Jerusalem in 1967; and neither God nor some
'messianic process' is taking Judea and Samaria away from
us now," proclaims Ahituv. "History has no meta-physical
meaning; good things happen in Jewish history because good
Jews act appropriately - that's all. It is folly for human
beings to attempt to identify Divine processes in history."

"I believe that the State of Israel has the potential
to be part of the promised ultimate redemption," continues
Ahituv. "But my vision of redemption involves more than
Israeli sovereignty over land, however biblically attached
we are to that land. Redemption involves the creation of a
moral Jewish society, a light unto the nations. Changes in
our borders out of political necessity does not affect or
impair my belief in Judaism or God one whit."

"Both Druckman and Ahituv speak utter nonsense,"
thunders yet another leading Religious Zionist thinker,
Rabbi Yoel Bin-Nun (one of the founders of Gush Emunim and
Ofra, now a maverick supporter of the peace process).

"Both unforgivably strip God out of the equation.
Rabbi Druckman says that everything happening is terrible
and evil, therefore God has to step out of the picture
while the laundry is done or discarded, creating darkness.
Ahituv denies the role of Divine Providence in Jewish
history.

"Neither knows how to read the Bible," counters Bin-
Nun. "The Bible teaches us that Jewish history has ups and
downs, successes and setbacks, even with God hovering in
the background. The crises we experience don't wipe away
the grandeur of God's Providence. The Israelites (in the
books of Joshua and Judges) suffered many defeats at the
hands of the Philistines. But this does not erase the
reality of the Exodus from Egypt, the law-giving at Sinai
or the miraculous conquering of Canaan. So too with the
establishment of Israel and the victory of 1967."

Bin-Nun, who once wrote that Oslo was a miracle just
like the Six Day War, goes one gigantic theological step
further.

"The Heavens are awakened by human action and accept
what the majority of the Jewish people in Israel decide.
And the majority here seems to support continuation of a
peace process. Ipso facto, this desire becomes God's will,
too. So the peace process is a Divinely-confirmed decree.
We can participate in it and help shape it, but not fight
it," says Bin-Nun.

"And one more thing: how dare the messianic rabbis
preach doom and gloom to our community!"roars Rabbi Bin-
Nun. "Is everything today in the State of Israel really so
terrible, compared to the pre-1948 or 1967 years? Was there
not even greater anti-religious hatred and division back in
Brenner's time? Did we not build magnificent communities in
Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem, most of which will stay
ours, even under Barak's terms for peace? Did we Religious
Zionists not build ourselves up through the settlement
effort and contribute greatly to broader Israeli society?"

"Indeed we did. We are not at an apocalypse because of
Oslo or Camp David. Not at all," concludes Bin-Nun.

(Next week: Additional, very different perspectives
from Rabbis Sirlow, Riskin and Lichtenstein.)
(c) Jerusalem Post 2000

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

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today (7/23/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 18:14:04 -0400

Yesha Council: We're not budging

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: Arutz-7

Sun Jul 23,2000 -- The Yesha Council is holding yet another emergency
meeting this afternoon - this one on "preparing for life under
Palestinian sovereignty." The Council issued a statement that said, "The
residents of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza will never leave. We will remain
in our homes in every eventuality and under all circumstances... We will
never abandon the communities that we built legally and in accordance
with all the governments of Israel... We will not fear or be deterred by
the threats of our enemies. We are confident that the spirit of the
People of Israel is strong and will not surrender to the threats of its
enemies."

Jews buying more land in E. Jerusalem

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Sun Jul 23,2000 -- Right-wing nonprofit organizations, which have for
years been organizing the purchase of houses and land in East Jerusalem,
are making accelerated negotiating efforts to close a number of deals.
The property deals, concentrated mainly in the Old City and along the
seam between East and West Jerusalem, are intended for Jewish
settlement. The activity spurt comes in the wake of reports from Camp
David according to which the existing situation in East Jerusalem is to
be defined as a status quo in which all purchase, construction or
occupation of buildings by Jews will be frozen.

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert strongly attacked Prime Minister Barak over
the weekend, saying that the American bridging proposal, as it has been
published, is a formula for the disintegration and division of the city,
and that the Israeli government is a partner to this division. Olmert
also drew attention to the fact that only two weeks ago Barak stood on
the Knesset podium, "looked directly into the eyes of the members and
promised that he would never cooperate in giving up on Jerusalem. Has
Barak suddenly discovered something at Camp David that he didn't know
before, or do we have here a terrible, harsh, provocative and cynical
defrauding of the people of Israel? Never in my wildest dreams did I
imagine that it would be Arafat who would lead the struggle for
Jerusalem, and not Barak, and that the Israeli government would shake
with fear and lack of confidence."

Palestinians push for UN membership

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Sun Jul 23,2000 -- The Palestinians are lobbying for full United Nations
membership for the state of Palestine, regardless of whether an accord
is reached with Israel. The UN General Assembly is scheduled to convene
on October 6, one week before Chairman Yasser Arafat is expected to
declare Palestinian statehood. The efforts to win recognition by the UN
and other international organizations, such as the EU, are intended to
offset Barak's threats of dire consequences in the event of a unilateral
declaration of independence by the Palestinians.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) won observer status at the
UN in 1974 and this status was upgraded in 1988 after the Palestinian
National Council issued a declaration of statehood. Since 1988, the
Palestinian movement has been referred to as "Palestine" by the UN's
institutions. In 1998, the General Assembly decided on an additional
upgrading of the Palestinians' status, which gave the delegation
practically all of the rights of a member state except the right to
vote. Palestinian sources say that they are confident that Palestine
will be welcomed as a full member of the UN by a large majority of
member states.

Barak not ruling out emergency government

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Sun Jul 23,2000 -- Senior aides to Barak report that the prime minister
is not ruling out the establishment of an emergency government with the
participation of the Likud opposition party in the event the Camp David
II summit results in failure. Barak made his comments in a telephone
conversation Saturday with Yisrael B�Aliyah leader MK Natan Sharansky,
who resigned as minister of the interior in objection over the Camp
David summit. Sharansky told the prime minister, that if he makes land
concessions in Jerusalem, regardless where, he would become the first
Jewish leader in 3,000 years that gave away portions of the capital of
the Jewish people.

http://www.upway.com/cgi/readnews.cgi?day=00_07_23&item=#964358891

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

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Threatens Norway Over Radar Base
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 18:17:29 -0400

Russia Threatens Norway Over Radar Base; Says Base Targeted With
Nuclear Missiles

Tomas Valasek
Monday July 24, 2000

The controversial Vardo X-band radar site in Norway has been targeted by
Russian nuclear missiles, Norwegian press reported this past week, quoting
Russian sources. Moscow has previously alleged that the radar is a part of
the U.S.-proposed national missile defense (NMD) system, and as such
violates the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. X-band radars play a
crucial role in NMD architecture, tracking missile trajectories and
discriminating between warheads and decoys. Norway claims the Vardo
radar's purpose is to monitor space debris.

General Leonid Ivashov, the head of the Defense Ministry's Military
Cooperation section, also warned the same day that Russia would take
unspecified measures "unless Norway closes the radar during Russian
military
exercises."

The Vardo radar, even if not connected to the NMD system, could be used to
monitor Russian tests and gather information on the radar signature of
Russian missile launches -- information that can be used to improve
performance of the NMD system.

In response, Norway's Defense Minister Sigur Frisvold suggested that Norway
be included in a U.S. missile defense program, ostensibly to protect against
threats from "terrorist nations."

However, the timing of the request a day after the Russian threat to target
Vardo with nuclear missiles makes it abundantly clear that Norway desires
protection from a possible Russian nuclear strike against the Vardo radar.

The Vardo X-band radar was manufactured by Raytheon in the early 1990s. It
operated for three years at Vandenberg Air Force base in California before
being dismantled and moved to Norway.

Although the NMD system plans to use two Europe-bases X-band radars in
its latter stages (in Denmark-administered Greenland and in Great Britain),
Vardo does not appear in U.S. plans. The Norwegian government maintains
that the radar's sole purpose is to monitor space debris. "We have an
exceptionally clear agreement with the Americans.

If they wish to use the radar for another purpose than space surveillance,
the whole agreement [on the use of the radar by the United States] has to be
renegotiated," said the project leader for the Vardo radar, Tom Rykken, in
an interview with the Norwegian daily Bergens Tidende.

However, the radar's unique technical capabilities and its proximity to
Russia -- 40 miles from the border -- aroused suspicions of foul play in
Moscow. "In the opinion of our analysts, the [Vardo radar] station will
function as part of the anti-missile system [NMD]," said General Ivashov.

Russian President Vladimir Putin named Norway alongside Britain and
Denmark when warning the European countries against cooperation with the
United States on NMD. "Washington needs European help, above all from
Britain, Denmark, and Norway. These states risk being drawn into a process
that will lead to an unpredictable destruction of strategic stability," he said.

The Russo-Norwegian dispute appeared to die down in early summer 2000.
After unsuccessfully requesting access for its experts to the Vardo station,
Russia softened its criticism of Norway. General Vladimir Yakovlev played
down Vardo's role in NMD. "Judging by its technical characteristics, that
radar is not an element of an [anti-ballistic missile defense] system," he
said.

However, he added, "the information obtained by the radar station could be
used to develop and improve the anti-ballistic missile system as it is able
to [monitor] routes and sites for space vehicle launches in the North Sea."

But the crisis flared anew in July, inflamed by suggestions in the United
States to switch from destroying enemy missiles in their final, re-entry
phase, as currently planned, to so-called "boost phase" intercepts. The
latter concept relies on hitting ballistic missiles with intercepts shortly
after they take off when the missiles are still attached to boosters (thus
presenting a much larger and hotter target) and moving considerably slower.

A boost-phase intercept system, however, would require placing interceptor
missiles and radars close to likely launch sites, on land or on U.S. Navy
ships. Norway has ordered five Aegis-class radar and missile launch systems
from the United States.

According to the U.S. Navy, the Aegis system could serve as a backbone of
a boost-phase intercept missile defense system. Russian officials again
sounded warning signals.

"If this [Vardo] station works jointly with the radars of cruisers with
guided missiles, which Norway will receive and which can be hypothetically
armed with Aegis anti-missile systems, the systems can be used to liquidate
our missiles at the boost stage," said General Yakovlev.

http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/7/23/134906

via: Third_Watch@egroups.com

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

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Jerusalem mufti issues fatwa against compensation for Palestinian refugees
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 18:31:50 -0400

Jerusalem mufti issues fatwa against compensation for Palestinian refugees

JERUSALEM, July 23 (AFP) - The top Palestinian Islamic leader of
Jerusalem said Sunday he has issued a religious decree forbidding
Palestinian refugees from accepting compensation if they do not return to the
homes they lost during the creation of Israel 52 years ago.

Mufti Ikrima Sabri told AFP that his fatwa was based on a similar decree by
Islamic authorities in the 1930s strictly forbidding any sale of the land of
Palestine.

"Because all of Palestine is holy land, any acceptance of compensation
would be regarded as selling the land and against Islam. Those who do not
want to return have no right to compensation, whatever their reasons," he
said.

The fate of the some 3.7 million Palestinian refugees and descendants made
homeless after 1948 is one of the toughest issues facing negotiators at the
Camp David peace summit in the United States.

"The right of return and compensation should be linked. Palestinian refugees
have the right to return to their homeland and to get compensation for their
own suffering and that of their children and grandchildren," Sheikh Sabri said.

UN Resolution 194 adopted in December 1948 calls for refugees wishing to
return to be allowed to do so "at the earliest practical date" and calls for
compensation to be paid for the property of those who choose not to return.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has repeatedly rejected the right of return
for the 1948 refugees.

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

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Vast majority of Israelis oppose east Jerusalem handover: polls
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 18:34:51 -0400

Vast majority of Israelis oppose east Jerusalem handover: polls

JERUSALEM, July 21 (AFP) - A vast majority of Israelis will not accept a
peace deal that involves handing any part of east Jerusalem to the
Palestinians, according to two opinion polls published Friday.

Seventy percent of respondents to a poll by Israel's top-selling daily
newspaper Yediot Aharonot said they opposed any deal to end their decades-
old conflict with the Palestinians that involved giving up land in occupied east
Jerusalem.

Only 27 percent of the 525 Israeli Jews surveyed said that a final peace deal
with the Palestinians was worth handing over "any part" of east Jerusalem.

Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the
1967 Middle East war and its fate is one of the most difficult issues being
discussed at the Camp David peace summit.

Israeli cabinet minister Michael Melchior told public radio Friday that Prime
Minister Ehud Barak backed a US proposal for joint Israeli-Palestinian
sovereignty over parts of east Jerusalem.

Sixty one percent of Israelis said they did not think that a "true peace" could
be achieved with the Palestinians, according to the poll, which has a 4.5
percent margin of error.

Israelis were split on Barak's performance at the Camp David summit with
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, with 10 percent describing it as very good,
14 percent as very bad, 39 percent as good and 30 percent as poor.

Barak is leading the negotiations without a parliamentary majority following
the defection of three right-wing and religious parties from his year-old
coalition government.

A second poll, carried out on behalf of state television and published Friday
evening, showed results very similar to the Yediot Aharonot survey.

It showed that 68 percent of those questioned were opposed to any
concessions over Jerusalem, even if that meant forgoing a peace accord with
the Palestinians.

Among those people who had voted for Barak, 50 percent were opposed to
concessions. Among ultra-Orthodox and other religious Jews, that figure
rose to 84 percent.

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

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Christian patriarchs to meet Israelis, Palestinians on Jerusalem concerns
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 18:35:46 -0400

Christian patriarchs to meet Israelis, Palestinians on Jerusalem concerns

JERUSALEM, July 23 (AFP) - The Jerusalem patriarchs of the Roman
Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches have set aside two days
with both Israeli and Palestinian officials to lobby for the Christians' role in
any settlement on the holy city, a Catholic official said Sunday.

"The three patriarchs are going to meet Monday and Tuesday with
Palestinian and Israeli ministers following their open letter last week to
participants of the Camp David summit," said Rahed Abu Sahlia, secretary
to Roman Catholic Patriarch Michel Sabbah.

In the letter, the three patriarchs called for "a system of international
guarantees" to protect religious communities' rights in the city and asked
that church representatives be present at Camp David.

The letter, addressed to US President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, also stressed that
Christian quarters of Jerusalem's Old City should not be split up in any deal
reached on the status of the city.

Jerusalem is home to the Holy Sepulcher, where Christians believe Jesus
was crucified before resurrecting. The city also holds the Wailing Wall, the
holiest site in Judaism, and Islam's third holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque
and its environs.

The three patriarchs -- Diodoros I, patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church;
Torkom II, Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church, and Sabbah -- wrote
the letter after Israeli press reports that Barak was willing to transfer
Christian and Muslim parts of the Old City to the Palestinians, with the
Armenian and Jewish quarters remaining under Israeli control.

Sabbah's spokesman did not specify which Israeli and Palestinian officials
would meet with the church leaders.

The Jerusalem issue is perhaps the most difficult as Israel and the
Palestinians try to reach a final agreement designed to end their conflict.

In Italy, Pope John Paul II also called Sunday for Christian sites to be
protected in any settlement.

"I invite the two sides not to forget the importance of the spiritual dimension
of Jerusalem with its holy sites and the presence of all three monotheistic
religions," he told thousands of pilgrims outside his summer residence south
of Rome.

"The Holy See still thinks that only a special status with international
safeguards can effectively preserve the most sacred parts of the Holy City
and guarantee religious freedom for all the faithful in the region and the world,
who see Jerusalem as a crossroads of peace and unity," the pontiff said
following morning prayers.

The Vatican signed an agreement in February with Arafat's Palestine
Liberation Organization condemning "unilateral decisions and actions" on the
holy city and calling for a "special statute" that confirms "the equality before
the law of the three monotheistic religions and their institutions."

The Vatican has never signed an accord on Jerusalem with Israel. In
common with the rest of the international community, it does not recognize
Israel's control over east Jerusalem, nor does it recognise west Jerusalem as
Israel's capital.

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