To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Israel Bombing Model Syria Airports
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 08:27:33 -0400

Israel Bombing Model Syria Airports

JERUSALEM (AP) -- The Israeli air force has trained its pilots by having
them bomb life-sized models of Syrian airfields, even as the two nations have
struggled to resuscitate peace talks, an air force publication reported Sunday.

Full Story:
http://www.newsday.com/ap/international/ap369.htm

Link via:
http://www.newsviewtoday.com

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Assad stroke brings fear of power struggle
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 12:25:06 -0400

ASSAD STROKE BRINGS FEAR OF POWER STRUGGLE The ailing
President of Syria, Hafez al-Assad, has suffered a stroke that has paralysed
his regime and delivered a further blow to the stalled Middle East peace
process, The Telegraph has learnt from Western diplomats in Damascus.
The 69-year-old dictator, already seriously ill with a history of heart problems,
failed to deliver his traditional address to the nation on April 7, the
anniversary of the founding of his ruling Ba'ath party. He also missed
Independence Day celebrations 10 days later. Although Mr Assad has been
written off before, American intelligence experts now believe that he has only
months to live. Diplomats say that Mr Assad suffered the stroke at the
beginning of the month, leaving him completely incapacitated and with
double vision for several days. His public appearances are extremely limited
and only possible with heavy medication. He received heavy doses of
steroids before his meeting with President Clinton. Mr Assad's failing health
looks set to deprive Mr Clinton of his last chance of securing a breakthrough
in the Middle East before he leaves office. More significantly, it could
threaten the government of Mr Barak, who is committed to pulling Israeli
troops out of southern Lebanon by July. After his death, Syria will face a
vicious power struggle - and probable bloodbath - between his younger
brother, Rifaat, and his son and chosen heir, Bashar. Both men have lived in
Europe and are seen as more pro-Western and pro-reform than President
Assad, a long-time foe of America. However, whoever emerges victorious will
lack the power base to win backing from anti-Israel hardliners in the Syrian
secret police and military for the compromises required to forge a peace
accord over the Golan Heights. Hopes that Mr Assad might be persuaded to
back down to bequeath peace to his successor have been undermined by
news of his latest health problems. If he dies soon, an interim president is
likely to be appointed from the Ba'ath leadership, while Bashar, 35, a British-
trained opthamalogist is groomed for office. However, Rifaat, who attempted
a coup against Hafez in 1983 when his older brother suffered a heart attack,
is expected to make another attempt to seize power by force. After his
eldest son, Basil, died in a car crash, President Assad made Bashar his heir
apparent. But Rifaat remains a powerful figure who could still rally support
within the regime. Bashar, in turn, is viewed by some as weak and
inexperienced, lacking the guile of his father. One Syria-watcher said:
"Damascus is basically run on the lines of a medieval court. Rifaat is the
equivalent of the king's brother and that gives him a power base. Bashar is
certainly his father's choice, but that does not rule out Rifaat." (The Sunday
London Telegraph)

The Daily
WORLD AFFAIRS REPORT
ISSUE #170

From: MICHAEL TURNER [mailto:mykelturner@airmail.net]
Sent: Tuesday, 2 May 2000 1:31 AM
To: ALLYALL
Subject: THE DAILY W.A.R.

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - (Fwd) Arutz-7 News: Monday, May 1, 2000
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 12:29:30 -0400

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 01 May 2000 18:39:46 +0300
To: arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, May 1, 2000
Send reply to: netnews@a7.org

Arutz Sheva News Service
 <www.ArutzSheva.org>
Monday, May 1, 2000 / Nissan 26, 5760 - 11th day of the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. NRP TO QUIT OVER ABU DIS
  2. ELON MOREH EVACUATION
  3. THE OUTSPOKENNESS OF RON, ELDAD, AND RAVID
  4. ISRAELI NEGOTIATOR RECOGNIZES PALESTINIAN STATE
  5. IRANIAN JEW REPORTED AS HAVING "CONFESSED"
  6. JUDGE RULES: MK IMMUNE AGAINST CHAMISH SUIT
  7. AUSTRALIAN PM IN ISRAEL
  8. KACH IN UM EL-FAHM
  9. KOSHER FOR PASSOVER IN ETHIOPIA
  10. HOLOCAUST DAY
  11. BIBLE CONTEST

1. NRP TO QUIT OVER ABU DIS
The National Religious Party decided today that it would resign from the
government coalition if and when the government decides to withdraw from
Abu Dis. Party leader Housing Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy said that the
party had planned to remain in the government until the holding of a
referendum on the final-status arrangements, but that a decision to give
away Jerusalem-area neighborhoods forces it to resign sooner. Jerusalem
Mayor Ehud Olmert accompanied Rabbi Levy and Yisrael B'Aliyah leader
Natan Sharansky in a visit to Abu Dis this afternoon. A bodyguard of the
mayor was lightly injured when dozens of Arabs threw rocks at the
procession of cars. Olmert said there, "Jewish history will not forgive
Prime Minister Barak for giving away these areas."

MK Marina Solodkin told Arutz-7 today that party leader Sharansky had told
Barak of Yisrael B'Aliyah's objections to the Jerusalem decision, but that
Sharansky had not delivered the message in the form of an ultimatum.

Barak and Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, Shas spiritual leader, met last night for
the first time in months. Shas leaders continue to insist that Barak's
decision to transfer 50 million shekels to the party's educational network
will have no effect on Rabbi Yosef's position on the planned withdrawals
from Yesha. They refuse to say, however, what their mentor's position is.
Most of Shas' MKs and ministers, not to mention an overwhelming majority
of the party's supporters, object to the transfer of neighborhoods around
Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority. The Cabinet meeting that was to
decide on the withdrawal has been postponed, due to the uncertainty
surrounding Shas' position on the issue.

Shas MK Ofer Hugi told Arutz-7 today that Rabbi Yosef wished to hear
Barak's explanation and details of the plan to give the neighborhoods
away.
 "The other Torah Sages of Shas also attended the meeting," he said.
"Today or tomorrow the Sages will convene and decide whether to give over
Abu Dis or not. Other rabbinical bodies are also discussing this issue at
present, and the decision will likely be agreed upon by all." United
Torah Judaism leader MK Meir Porush expressed strong opposition yesterday
to any plan involving the abandonment of neighborhoods around Jerusalem.
Hugi said that the 50 million shekels is not a "gift" to Shas: "They cut
back our school-bus budget from 18 million shekels to 6 million, so if
they now restore it to 18 million, is this a present?" he asked
rhetorically. Arutz-7's Haggai Segal said, "How can you say that there
will be no connection between the 50 million and your party's vote on the
withdrawals? Finance Minister Shochat said clearly last week that he has
to give the money to Shas because the government needs Shas' support for
the process!" Hugi answered, "Shas receives consideration because of its
Parliamentary strength - we have 17 MKs [the 3rd largest faction in the
Knesset]."

The Knesset interrupted its Passover recess today for a special session,
called by the Likud, on the government's intention to transfer
Jerusalem-area neighborhoods Abu Dis and Azariya to Palestinian control.

2. ELON MOREH EVACUATION
Residents of Elon Moreh, in the Shomron, placed two caravans (mobile homes
without wheels) at one of the entrances to their community yesterday, but
were evacuated this morning by the army. Ten residents were detained for
questioning by the police, and were later released. Yesha leader Benny
Katzover said that this is the proper Zionist response to the terrorist
attack that was launched at the same spot last week; one woman was lightly
injured in the attack when a bullet grazed her head.

Katzover was asked if the "set up a mini-settlement and then get
evacuated" routine is not already a worn-out ritual that no longer
impresses anyone. "If these activities continue to remain on this small
level," he responded, "then maybe you're right. But I believe that an
awakening is finally beginning now, and I have confidence that there is a
real commitment to continue to do this again and again, and that these
activities will have their effect... We are all to blame that the public
was asleep up until now, but I believe that this is changing now."

Relating to yesterday's calls by settlement leaders for violent resistance
to attempts to remove people from their homes, Katzover said, "First of
all, whoever gives such an order to remove people from their homes, this
is an evil, illegal decree. Israel would be the first country in the
world to order the removal of citizens from their homes. Those who would
issue such orders are more to blame than those who would carry them out."
MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman (NRP) said today that violence must not be used
against soldiers under any circumstances. He emphasized, however, that
the Rabbinic ruling issued several years ago calling on soldiers to refuse
to carry out orders to evacuate Jews from their homes is still in effect.
Rabbi Druckman called upon Prime Minister Barak not to send IDF soldiers
to evacuate citizens from their homes.

3. THE OUTSPOKENNESS OF RON, ELDAD, AND RAVID
Public Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami rebuked Northern Police Commander
Alik Ron for the latter's harsh words against Israeli-Arab leaders and
their incitement yesterday. Ron said that anti-Israel extremism in the
Israeli-Arab sector is increasing, and is led by Arab MKs and municipal
leaders and the Islamic Movement. Several Knesset Members have come out
in defense of Ron, including Tzvi Hendel, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yisrael
Katz.

In a related item, outgoing Chief IDF Medical Officer Brig.-Gen. Aryeh
Eldad delivered an unusual departing address last night:
 "This is my final charge to you: that you should all jointly bear the
responsibility for the security and the very existence of Israel. Even in
such difficult days when it seems as if the state, or a portion of its
sons, say to us that they just don't want to - that they are tired of
treading a path that requires sacrifices; [difficult] days in which we
turn orchards into real estate lots, and in which we are stripped of our
national holdings, from the inheritance bequeathed us by our ancestors;
days in which the Zionist vision has become fuzzy; days in which the
municipal authorities collect property taxes from the IDF for use of army
outposts; days in which every effort to learn and to teach how to save a
soldier's life is no longer viewed as sacred, is low on the list of
priorities, considered less important than the holiness of corpses and the
lives of pigs and dogs; days in which soldiers can feel that they and the
war they fight are [vital] even if they have been taken captives, while
those entrusted with the task of ruling justly seem to be living in
another land, or [even] another planet, distant and removed from here;
even in days such as these, our sense of mission and responsibility guide
our path, and we are commanded to be both believers and optimists..."

The above speech was delivered only hours after Alik Ron's remarks, and
only hours before the publication in Ma'ariv today of the following short
piece by Mossad veteran and Intelligence Unit Commander Lt.-Col. (res.)
Ya'ir Ravid:
 "In the framework of my position, I accepted a request by residents of
Southern Lebanon to help them protect themselves against enemies who were
also the enemies of the State of Israel. I took part in organizing a
military force there that became the basis of the Southern Lebanese Army.
I now wish to express my apology to them for not having informed them that
the staff on which they wish to depend is a rickety one, and that in the
course of time, they would be abandoned to die... I therefore suggest to
the residents of the north to learn from this reality, and not to be too
impressed by the [governmental[ declarations regarding their future. If a
situation of battle and fire develops on the northern border, and if,
Heaven forbid, people die, politicians will arise, under the pressure of
such organizations as "Four Grandmothers" will call for a retreat to new
borders, because the present ones are 'dangerous for the children.'"

4. ISRAELI NEGOTIATOR RECOGNIZES PALESTINIAN STATE
Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinians, Oded Eran, said this
morning that the result of the current round of talks would be a
Palestinian state. He said this at the opening of the second day of talks
in Eilat with the Palestinians. The Prime Minister's Office published a
"clarification" soon after, explaining that if a Palestinian state is
established, it will be the result of the negotiations. A furious Likud
response called upon Barak to fire Eran for "recognizing a Palestinian
state even before the achievement of a permanent-status agreement."

In a related item, it appears that the Labor Party is now prepared, for
the first time, to recognize a Palestinian state. A draft resolution
calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state resulting from the
current negotiating process will be brought before the Labor Party.

5. IRANIAN JEW REPORTED AS HAVING "CONFESSED"
A senior Iranian judicial official said that one of 13 Iranian Jews
accused of spying for Israel confessed today. Although Israel Radio
reported that it was the defendant's attorney who reported that he had
confessed, AP reported it in the name of Hossein Ali Amiri, the provincial
judiciary chief. The defendant who allegedly admitted that he had
received a salary from the Mossad is Dani Tefilin. Israel has dismissed
the charges against the 13 suspects as baseless, and several nations have
condemned the arrests. Amiri said that the trial of all 13, in a non-jury
revolutionary court where the judge also serves as prosecutor, should be
over within weeks. Tefilin could face a death sentence if found guilty.

6. JUDGE RULES: MK IMMUNE AGAINST CHAMISH SUIT
The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court determined today that the parliamentary
immunity of Labor MK Ofir Pines-Paz renders him immune to the suit brought
against him by best-selling author Barry Chamish. Pines wrote a letter in
October 1999 to the Steimatzky chain store, calling for the removal of
Chamish's book, "Who Killed Yitzchak Rabin?" from its shelves. Pines
harshly condemned Chamish's conspiracy theory regarding Rabin's mysterious
death. Pines said at the time, "This book is so full of lies that it
represents a blow to democracy, the rule of law, and everything else that
is connected with this..." Chamish then sued Pines for libel and
interference with a contract, accusing him of violating the principle of
freedom of speech.

Pines' defense was that he had parliamentary immunity, and that the letter
he wrote to Steimatzky was part of his official duties as a Knesset
member.
 Judge Okun did not initially accept this claim, and ordered Pines to
submit a formal response to the charges. He sharply rebuked Chamish,
however, by asking rhetorically, "After you attacked the court system [a
reference to the Shamgar Commission that investigated the Rabin
assassination], now you come to ask the court system to protect you?!" He
said that he would not allow Chamish to use the trial to promote his
conspiracy theories.

Atty. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, representing Chamish, today said, "We
insist that Pines was not acting within his official duties when he
independently sought to interfere with an Israeli author's freedom of
expression. No one appointed him to be the 'thought police' for the
nation. The Israeli public has the right to hear all views concerning the
troubling events and machinations that led to the former prime minister's
death." After the final ruling, Leitner said that her client would
appeal, and "we are on strong legal ground. An MK can only claim immunity
in the case of after-the-fact, such as if he says something by mistake -
but not in a case where he specifically goes about doing something for
which an ordinary citizen would be liable."

7. AUSTRALIAN PM IN ISRAEL
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, visiting Israel this week, met with
Ehud Barak yesterday for a discussion on the diplomatic process with the
Palestinians. An announcement by Barak's Media Adviser indicates that
Barak spent a considerable amount of time convincing his guest of the
importance of Israeli concessions to the Palestinians. Barak told Howard
why the Palestinians must have territorial congruity, that the villages
Azariya and Abu-Dis are not part of holy Jerusalem, and how the transfer
of these areas would "strengthen Jerusalem and Israel's determination to
maintain united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty as its capital."

The meeting also dealt with the Maccabiah disaster in which four
Australian-Jewish athletes - Greg Small, Yetty Bennett, Elizabeth Sawicki,
and Warren Zines - lost their lives. Five Israelis were found guilty of
negligence last month for their role in building the bridge that collapsed
when the athletes attempted to cross it at the opening ceremony of the
July 1997 games. The five will be sentenced this month. Barak expressed
his hope that the Australian Jewish community would retract its decision
not to attend future Maccabiah Games.

8. KACH IN UM EL-FAHM
Former Kach members will visit the Israeli-Arab city of Um el-Fahm,
between Hadera and Afula, next week - with a police permit. HaKol
MeHashetach news agency reports that following Baruch Marzel's petition to
the Supreme Court, the authorities announced that they were cancelling
their earlier objections to the visit. Marzel and five friends, who wish
to see the extent of illegal construction in the city, will be allowed to
visit for 90 minutes, accompanied by police officers. They will not be
allowed to carry signs or give speeches.

9. KOSHER FOR PASSOVER IN ETHIOPIA
The firm intervention of General Gad Navon, the Chief Rabbi of the Israel
Defense Forces, saved many IDF warehouses full of food from becoming
unkosher last week. HaModia reported on Friday that when Israel decided
to send planeloads of food to famine-plagued Ethiopia during the week of
Pesach, the original list of supplies included "crackers, cookies, and
biscuits" - all to be taken from the strictly non-Passover army
warehouses.
 The warehouses and their contents of chametz (leaven, which is forbidden
to be eaten or owned on Passover), had been sold to a non-Jew in order to
avoid the chametz prohibition.

Rabbi Navon immediately issued an order forbidding the opening of the
warehouses. If food is to be sent out on Pesach, Rabbi Navon said
forcefully, it must be Kosher for Passover, such as matzot and special
Passover cookies. Opening the warehouses would void the sale of the
chametz, and would render the chametz forbidden for consumption even after
Pesach. Rabbi Navon made sure to emphasize that this was not a
life-threatening situation, since Kosher for Passover foodstuffs could
just as easily be sent to Ethiopia. Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha'ul Mofaz
decided, however, in a surprising and unprecedented move, to override
Rabbi Navon, and ordered the chametz flown to Ethiopia. Rabbi Navon,
unfazed, relayed the following message to Mofaz: "The moment that one of
the warehouses that were sold to a non-Jew is opened, all the food in all
the army's warehouses will be forbidden for consumption even after
Passover. Do as you please." Mofaz backed down, and several tons of
matzot, Pesach cookies, meat, and vegetables were sent to the starving
Ethiopians.

10. HOLOCAUST DAY
Holocaust Remembrance Day begins tonight with a public ceremony at Yad
Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, with the participation of President
Ezer Weizman and Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Chief Rabbis Yisrael Meir Lau
and Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron will recite Kaddish and Psalms, and former
Knesset Speaker Shevach Weiss will speak as representative of the
survivors of the Holocaust. The theme of this year's commemorations is,
"The Jewish Family in the Holocaust." Tomorrow morning at 10 AM, two
minutes of silence will be observed while a siren is sounded across the
country. The "Every Person has a Name" ceremony will begin at 10:30 in
the Knesset, during which the names of the Holocaust victims will be read
aloud. Other memorial ceremonies will be held tonight and tomorrow.

11. BIBLE CONTEST
The International Bible Contest for Diaspora Students will be held this
Thursday in Netanya. Some 60 Jewish youth from 35 countries will take
part, including, for the first time, two from Zimbabwe. The youngest
participant is Malia Shulman, 13, from the United States. The top-scoring
participants will take part in the International Bible Contest on
Independence Day (May 10) in Jerusalem. The young contestants are
visiting Yad Vashem today, and will meet with Israel's Chief Rabbis,
President, Prime Minister, and Chief of Staff during the course of the
week.

Hebrew News Editor: Haggai Segal
English News Editor: Hillel Fendel

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - (Fwd) Pesach 5760 (2000 C.E.) Sacrifice and Pilgrimage to the
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 12:30:09 -0400

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 01 May 2000 18:47:24 +0300
To: tmf-list@templemountfaithful.org
From: Temple Mount Faithfull <gershon@templemountfaithful.org>
Subject: Pesach 5760 (2000 C.E.) Sacrifice and Pilgrimage to the
Temple Mount

Pesach 5760 (2000 C.E.) Sacrifice and Pilgrimage to the Temple Mount

Pesach Sacrifice

This year the Pesach sacrifice was again not performed on the Temple Mount
but on the Hill of Hananiah overlooking the Temple Mount and the Holy of
Holies. The efforts of The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful
Movement and others to perform the sacrifice on the Temple Mount faced the
opposition of the Israeli authorities who were scared of the Arab
reaction. They were afraid that the Arabs would create a riot and they
preferred to close the gates of the Temple Mount despite that so many
Israelis have a deep desire to see it performed on the Temple Mount which
will open a new page in the era of redemption through which Israel is now
passing.

In any case we decide to continue with the sacrifice on the Hill of
Hananiah and in this way to fulfil the commandments of the G–d of Israel
at a time when He expects of Israel to behave according to the prophetic
Scriptures which called on Israel in the redemptional end-times to renew
their life as it was in the Biblical times and to know that we are the
continuance of the Biblical Israel and the heritage of our forefathers. At
the same time the purpose was to awaken Israel and its leadership to
understand the significance of the special time in which we are now living
in Israel and that Israel cannot merely be another materialistic regular
nation in the world but to be what G–d dedicated her to be: a holy nation,
a kingdom of priests and an example and treasure for all the nations.
(Ex19:5-6) We decided to perform the sacrifice as a symbolic godly event
that despite the fact that we could not perform it on the Temple Mount
because of the week and negative decision of the authorities, we would
direct the eyes of all the Israelis and everyone in the world to the right
place, the hill of G–d on the Temple Mount, and to bring to their
attention the deep need to rebuild the house of G–d on the Temple Mount
and bring the G–d of Israel and the Universe into the life of Israel and
all mankind and to make the desires and the end-time commandments of G–d a
reality in our lifetime. "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw
concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last
days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the
top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all
nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, Come, and let
us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for from
Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he
shall judge among the nations, and shall decide for many people; and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning
hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn
war any more. O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the
Lord." (Isaiah 2:1-5) This great godly vision which will completely change
the life of Israel and all the nations at a terrible materialistic and
ungodly time when most of mankind puts our great and righteous G–d and His
important and wonderful principles and laws in the corner, was the basis
and main goal of our activities this Pesach on the Temple Mount and in
Jerusalem.

On the 19th April at 9:30 AM, a young goat was brought from Judea and was
sacrificed exactly according to the Word of G–d in the Torah except that
it was not performed on an altar because it can only be performed on an
altar on the Temple Mount. (Please read Exodus 12). Everyone who
participated in this special event could feel the great significance of
this moment and the presence of G–d and the wind of history at this
special moment. Many redemptional events are being performed by G–d at
this special redemption time in Israel but this was one of the most
exciting events that one day, when the history of this time is written,
the historians will appreciate and understand its deep meaning for all the
coming generations. The sacrifice was performed by a priest with special
prayers and the Word of G–d to Moses, Aaron and Israel was heard again in
the city of G–d, Jerusalem. The eyes and hearts of everyone were lifted
and directed towards one place - the hill of G–d, the Temple Mount, which
we could see so clearly, so close and so dear to our hearts. Friends from
outside Israel, Zionist lovers of the G–d and people of Israel,
participated in this exciting event. We could see the deep excitement on
their faces. They were messengers of so many others all over the world who
had decided to stand together with Israel and to give their love to the
people of G–d at a time when it is so needed and to make the prophetic
Word of G–d a reality in their own lives (Isaiah 49). To all of them we
say that we deeply appreciate and love them as brothers and sisters.

At the end of the ceremony everyone took a piece of the sacrifice to eat
at their Pesach Seders in the evening. The sacrifice had to be eaten
together with their families before midnight according to the Word of G–d
(Exodus 12) exactly as our forefathers did in the Temple times.

Many TV, radio and other journalist who participated in this special
event, shared it with everyone in Israel and all over the world.

We shall continue our historical campaign until the moment that the temple
is rebuilt and the vision of the prophet Isaiah becomes a reality in the
lifetime of all of us. We shall do everything in the legal ways which G–d
gave us to accomplish this.

Pesach Pilgrimage

The Pesach pilgrimage was held at a very critical time in the life of
Israel and very close to the time that all of us feel when the redemption
of Israel will be accomplished. The special significance of this time had
a strong impact on the events which took place in our pilgrimage and march
to the Temple Mount.

On the morning of 21st April, the members of The Temple Mount and Land of
Israel Faithful Movement drove to the fields of Israel to cut the omer of
the harvest which had to be brought as an offering to G–d on the Temple
Mount. This special event which again renewed the Word of G–d in the life
of Israel was done in the beautiful Spring season in Israel when the view
over all the fields of the holy land of Israel was holy, beautiful and
exciting. We felt that we were in the same place where our fore fathers in
Biblical time did the same. We cut the harvest and at the same time prayed
and rad the Word of G–d from Leviticus 23:4-14 and the presence of the G–d
of Israel, history and the special significance of this moment was in our
midst. The songs from the Psalms were heard in the fresh fields and we
felt privileged to do it in such a unique time in the life of Israel and
the nations. One of our friends from the United States who was with us had
decided to see with his own eyes what exciting events G–d is performing in
Israel at this special time of redemption and to share it with his
friends. He could not contain his excitement and continually said how
privileged he felt to be a part of such a godly event.

On the morning of Sunday 23rd April, The Temple Mount and Land of Israel
Faithful Movement and many Israelis and guests from abroad made the
pilgrimage and march to the Temple Mount. The omer were carried by
Israelis who gave it to the priests and carried to the western gate of the
Temple Mount. Some of the pilgrims entered the Temple Mount in very small
groups because of the pressure of the Arabs on the Israeli authorities not
to allow their entry. The main event was held near the western gate and
everyone knew that perhaps they could temporarily physically block the
people of G–d from making a full pilgrimage but they could not stop our
sprits and hearts which were together with G–d on the Temple Mount. We
felt the presence of G–d in our hearts and spirits saying that for not too
long the enemy will continue to desecrate His and our holy mountain and
all the land of Israel and that soon all His prophetic promises will be
fulfilled.

Close to the western gate of the Temple Mount, exactly as our forefathers
did when the Temple Mount and Jerusalem was robbed from them, we swore
eternal faithfulness to the Temple Mount and Jerusalem. "If I forget you,
O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember
you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not set
Jerusalem above my highest joy.' (Psalm 137:5-6) This was after hundreds
of priests at the Western Wall had blessed the people: "And the Lord spoke
to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, On this wise you
shall bless the people of Israel, saying to them, The Lord bless you, and
keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. And they
shall put my name upon the people of Israel; and I will bless
them.(Numbers 6:22-27)

Then close to this holy gate we prayed from the Psalm of the gates of
Jerusalem: "A Song of Maalot of David. I was glad when they said to me,
Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand inside your
gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city which is bound firmly
together; There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed
for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones of
judgment were set there, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the
peace of Jerusalem; those who love you shall prosper. Peace be within your
walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For my brothers and companions'
sakes, I will now say, Peace be within you. Because of the house of the
Lord our God I will seek your good." (Psalm 122) and we felt the presence
of the spirit of the greatest king and messiah of Israel who consecrated
Mt. Moriah to be the site of the house of G–d.

This unique event came to its climax when, in a special ceremony, we
renewed the eternal covenant between the G–d of Israel, the people of
Israel and the land of Israel. "In the same day the Lord made a covenant
with Abram, saying, To your seed have I given this land, from the river of
Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates;" (Gen15:18) "And the Lord
said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes,
and look from the place where you are to the north, and to the south, and
to the east, and to the west; For all the land which you see, to you will
I give it, and to your seed forever. And I will make your seed as the dust
of the earth; so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then shall
your seed also be counted. Arise, walk through the land in its length and
in its breadth; for I will give it to you." (Gen13:15-18) In front of the
G–d and people of Israel we swore and promised faithfulness to this
eternal covenant, to the G–d of Israel, to the Temple Mount, to Jerusalem,
the eternal capital of Israel, to all the land in the same boundaries G–d
defined in this covenant which appears in the land of the Faithful
Movement, and to the eternal Word of G–d in the Tenach. People had tears
in their eyes at this stage of the event and we felt like Abraham himself
was together with us at that moment on the place where G–d made the
covenant with him and promised him: "That in blessing I will bless you,
and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven,
and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess
the gate of his enemies; And in your seed shall all the nations of the
earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice." (Gen 22:17-18)

Later the pilgrims and many Israelis who joined them started the march in
the Old City and circled the Temple Mount and marched to all of its
gates. Along the way, and especially near the gates, we blew the shofars
exactly as Joshua ben Nun did at Jericho when he destroyed the walls of
the enemies of Israel at Jericho. Before the gates, we prayed the Pesach
prayers and the Hallel Psalms. Near all the gates we placed parts of the
omer. The Israeli flags in our hands and the songs of the Levites with
their musical instruments were heard and seen again in the Old City of
King David and in the Temple Mount.

A very special moment was in front of the Eastern Gate which is also
called the Mercy Gate or Golden Gate. This is the gate through which,
according to our Biblical heritage, Mashiach ben David will enter the
temple to redeem Israel. Near this gate everyone felt the presence of the
Shekinah so strongly. This beautiful gate which was closed by the Moslems
many years ago because they knew this Jewish heritage and they believed
that in this way they could stop Mashiach ben David from coming through
this gate to the Temple Mount and to redeem Israel from the long foreign
occupation and desecration of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem and the land of
Israel. For this reason they even located a Moslem cemetery in front of
the gate to prevent Mashiach ben David from walking through it to the gate
because he is holy. Such a stupid illusion! They never learn from their
own history especially over the last hundred years that they can never
stop the G–d of Israel and Mashiach ben David or block the prophetic plans
of the G–d of Israel to redeem Israel, the Temple Mount, Jerusalem and the
land of Israel from their long negative imperialistic occupation and from
the desecration of His holy site.

It was so exciting when we placed a part of the omer in front of the gate
and prayed from the 13th of Maimonides' 13 principles of Judaism: "I
believe with perfect faith in the Messiah and even if he tarries, I will
daily wait for his coming." On the gate we still found the message of one
of the Israeli soldiers who liberated the Temple Mount in the Six-Day War
of 1967 who wrote: "Mashiach ben David will definitely come!" before
leaving this gate to complete our circular march around the Temple Mount,
we prayed Psalm 126: "A Song of Maalot. When the Lord brought back the
captivity of Zion, we were like men who dream. Then our mouth was filled
with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then they said among the
nations, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great
things for us; we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O Lord, like the
streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who
goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come back with
shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

All the participants in the march moved back to the western gate of the
Temple Mount with great excitement and tears in their eyes that G–d had
given them the privilege of being a part of such a special moment in the
life of Israel. Near the western gate all of us sang the national anthem
of Israel - Ha Tikvah (The Hope) - and promised everyone in Israel to come
back again soon to this place and especially to a great event on the day
of the liberation of Jerusalem which will be on the 1st June, 2000 and to
continue this historical godly Israeli campaign until the moment that we
see the liberation of the Temple Mount and every part of the land which
G–d gave to Israel and the rebuilding of the house of G–d on the Temple
Mount which we shall sacrifice everything in our lives to make it a soon
reality in the life of this generation.

In G–d we trust and He will be with us.

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