To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Hate crime against Christian a first
From: owner-bpr@philologos.org
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 11:31:51 -0000
Tue 9-Jan-2001
Hate crime against Christian a first
By Dan Wilson
Post-Crescent staff writer
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/010901-10.html
In a case believed to be a first of its kind since the inception of
the Wisconsin hate crimes law, three area young men have been charged
with a hate crime for singling out a Christian.
Daniel C. Lewis, 18, N529 Klemp Road, Fremont, is facing trial Feb. 7
on a felony charge of using mace against another person and a
misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Both carry the hate crime
penalty enhancer for a maximum of three years' incarceration.
Two alleged accomplices, Sam R. Chartier II, 17, Larsen, and Patrick
B. Corey, 17, 709 Violet Lane, Little Chute, have already been
charged with misdemeanor offenses and convicted of using mace in a
hate crime.
According to the criminal complaint, the three were driving in the
Kaukauna area early Sept. 16.
Lewis carried a can of pepper spray and the three were looking for a
victim. They stopped at two houses and knocked on doors, but no one
answered.
They drove around some more until they found a house with a sign in
the front yard which stated: "You think you got it all? Got Jesus?"
According to the complaint, Lewis told the others he would pepper
spray the occupant of that house because "he was sick of all the
Christian religious talk and how he was raised by his parents."
He also said the victim would probably be forgiving because of his or
her Christian beliefs, the complaint said.
Corey was quoted as saying he and Lewis approached the Kaukauna home
about 6 a.m. and knocked on the front door. When a man answered,
Lewis allegedly yelled, "Jesus is a fag," and pepper-sprayed the man
in the face. They then ran to the car where Chartier was waiting and
fled.
The victim told police he answered a loud pounding on the front door
to find two young men wearing dark clothing, necklaces and what
appeared to be a Satanic symbol on the person described as Lewis.
The victim alleges Lewis said, "Satan rules, Jesus will not prevail,"
and sprayed him in the face.
The victim said he experienced an "unbearable burning to his eyes and
face."
He yelled to his wife to call 911 and Kaukauna police arrived within
minutes.
According to Lt. Kevin Shepardson of the Kaukauna Police Department,
investigators canvassed the neighborhood, which included a local
residence known to be frequented by young people the night before the
incident.
"We obtained some information from these kids and this led to a
series of interviews with other kids who knew the suspects," said
Shepardson.
Lewis was arrested a few days later and the other two shortly after
that.
On Dec. 20, Chartier was convicted of being a party to the use of
mace as a hate crime. He was placed on probation for two years and
ordered to pay $70 in court costs by Outagamie County Circuit Judge
John Des Jardins.
Des Jardins also sentenced Chartier to 15 days in jail, but provided
an alternative which he could use to lop seven days off the sentence.
Des Jardins gave Chartier the option of wearing a sign stating, "I'm
convicted of a hate crime against a Christian," which Chartier
accepted.
He wore the sign on Dec. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. at the corner of
Oneida Street and Prospect Avenue in Appleton and 1 to 5 p.m. in
front of the nearby Outagamie County Justice Center.
Corey was convicted of a similar charge on Nov. 14 by Judge Dee Dyer,
who placed him on probation for one year, assessed $70 in court costs
and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service. The
sentence will be removed from Corey's record after one year.
According to the Office of Justice Assistance, a division of the
Wisconsin Department of Administration, this case appears to be the
first since the hate crime statute was passed in 1991 where the
victim was singled out because of his or her Christian beliefs.
The OJA tracks all state hate crime incidents for statistical
reasons. Those statistics include the reason the victim was targeted.
According to Tom Everson, coordinator of the crime reporting program,
from 1991 to 1999, there were 27 incidents of hate crime in which the
victims were targeted because of their religious beliefs. Of those 27
incidents, 22 were Jewish victims, one was Muslim and four
categorized as other.
The state hate crime statute extends to race, ethnicity, religion and
sexual orientation.
Wisconsin averages about 50 hate crimes per year.
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Criticism of PLO and Arab Policy in the UN
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:47 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 23:57:59 -0800
To: memri@erols.com
From: MEMRI <memri@erols.com>
Subject: Criticism of PLO and Arab Policy in the UN
Special Dispatch - Israel
January 12, 2001
No. 176
Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
P.O. Box 7837, Washington DC, 20038-7837=20
Phone: (202) 955-9070=20
Fax: (202) 955-9077=20
E-mail: MEMRI@erols.com=20
Website: www.memri.org
[MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be cited
with proper attribution.]=20
Criticism of PLO and Arab Policy in the UN
Raghida Durgham, Al-Hayat's political analyst and correspondent in New York=
,=20
criticizes PLO and Arab policy in the UN, following their failure to bring=
=20
about the establishment of an international observer force in the=20
Palestinian territories. Following are excerpts from the article: (1)
UN not the "Wailing Wall"
"What happened in the Security Council on the issue of an international=20
observer force in the occupied Palestinian territories should serve as a=20
lesson for Arab diplomacy=85 the time has come to think of a different way =
of=20
using the UN, whether the Security Council, the General Assembly or the=20
General Secretariat. This means stopping the use of the UN as a sort of=20
'Wailing Wall=85' Likewise it must be understood that the UN has lost much =
of=20
its status as the shrine of international legitimacy or moral authority..."
Unrealistic Arab Decisions=20
"Arab leaders must understand that they must cease issuing [international]=
=20
political communiqu=E9s whose sole purpose is to neutralize domestic=20
criticism... Arab Summits have the tendency to adopt evasive positions.=20
=85They unload the burden on Arab ambassadors to the UN and demand that the=
y=20
carry out a policy that is totally detached from the political reality and=
=20
therefore unfeasible... This is a dangerous method. In the past it was=20
simply meaningless. Today, however, it has become detrimental to the Arab=
=20
strategic goals and to their integrity... The time has come for the Arab=20
leaders to stop delegating tasks to their ambassadors that are harmful both=
=20
to the issues themselves and to the UN=85"
"Regarding the Palestinian issue, the resolutions of the Cairo Arab Summit=
=20
and the Qatar Islamic Summit, focused on two unrealistic programs on the=20
international level: a 'protection' force for the Palestinian people and th=
e=20
establishment of an international court for the those 'war criminals' from=
=20
among the Israeli leaders. So far, no action has been taken concerning an=20
international court. As for the idea of 'protection,' it was later=20
transformed into 'surveillance,' and then to 'observers', and eventually,=20
was gone with the wind..."
"Justifiably or not, the Security Council would under no circumstances allo=
w=20
the prosecution of Israeli leaders as war criminals. The US would not agree=
=20
to such a thing even if the Likud leader, Ariel Sharon, himself owned up to=
=20
being a war criminal."
"In addition, a substantial and unprecedented development has occurred in=20
UN-Israeli relations [following the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon=20
according to Security Council Resolution 425 and the Israeli positions in=20
Camp David], which precludes the possibility of anything that might harm=20
these relations, and certainly precludes the idea of a 'war crimes court.'"
"Against the backdrop of this qualitative development in UN-Israel=20
relations, Secretary General Kofi Annan makes sure to protect Israel."
Unrealistic Palestinian Approach in the UN
"Despite his role, Annan is a small player compared to the Security Council=
=20
whose key players, as was proven, are its permanent members=85 These countr=
ies=20
generated fundamental disagreements [among the rest of the Security Council=
]=20
regarding the Palestinians' strategy and obstinacy in bringing the=20
resolution proposal to a vote, despite its inevitable failure... The result=
=20
was that seven countries abstained, the US did not have to use its veto, an=
d=20
the support of important countries like Russia, France and England, for the=
=20
Palestinians diminished..."
"After following several delays in the Security Council voting, each time o=
n=20
a different pretext, Palestinian representative to the UN, Nasser Al-Qidwa=
,=20
stated that 'This foot-dragging must stop.' The Palestinian leadership=20
'cannot back down' from this resolution, he said, 'and therefore we have=20
decided to vote so that responsibility will be on the Security Council.' He=
=20
spoke of 'intimidation' in the UN by American pressures, British=20
'maneuvers,' French 'withdrawals,' and Russian deception, since 'Russia all=
=20
too clearly changed its position.'
Criticism of PA Strategy=20
"A few Arab ambassadors criticized the Palestinian delegation's obstinacy i=
n=20
bringing the proposal to a vote despite its inevitable failure. One of the=
=20
ambassadors described it as 'political naivete' and 'a big mistake.' He cas=
t=20
the responsibility on Arab leaders and on the Arab bloc in the UN. The=20
leaders, in both the Cairo and Qatar summits, adopted unfeasible=20
resolutions. 'The Arab bloc in the UN should have notified the Arab League=
=20
that this resolution is not currently feasible, instead of dragging the=20
resolution proposal to the Security Council for it to fail=85' According to=
=20
this Arab ambassador, 'The Arab bloc in the UN should fulfill more than jus=
t=20
a technical role. It must think politically, discuss and advise its capital=
s=20
instead of marching towards a certain failure.'"
"Reliable sources behind the scenes spoke of disagreements and=20
contradictions within the Palestinian leadership. Some Palestinians agreed=
=20
that the proposal should be put off until after the American-mediated=20
Palestinian-Israeli talks in Washington. Others claimed that the British=20
wickedness went too far, as did Russia with its ill-intentions and France=20
with its imaginary pretexts."
The Resolution Proposal
"The order to bring this proposal to a vote came from the highest=20
Palestinian leadership. Yasser Arafat claimed, in a letter to the UN dated=
=20
November 29, 2000, that sending an international force was a necessary step=
=20
and a prerequisite for the resumption of political negotiations. Since the=
=20
decision to renew the political process was made last week, without this=20
prerequisite being fulfilled, he had to bring the resolution to a vote...=20
and shift the responsibility for its failure to the Security Council..."
"Critics of the Palestinian strategy oppose the use of the UN as a means of=
=20
temporarily bypassing problems in the bilateral Palestinian-Israeli process=
.=20
They fear that this may reduce the authority of the UN, as well as the=20
international support [for the Palestinians]."
"But precision is required. The UN must not be used as a means to embarrass=
=20
this or that country, or as a tool for neutralizing [domestic] criticism.=20
Essentially, there are judicial, political and practical factors that make=
=20
the Palestinian effort to establish an international force impossible, at=20
least at this stage."
A Pointless Confrontation Between the Palestinians and the Security Council
"As to 'embarrassing' [the permanent members of the Security Council], the=
=20
Palestinian diplomacy erred when it chose to confront the Security Council=
=20
and make it 'assume the responsibility.' The Palestinians currently owe a=20
[diplomatic] debt with a high interest rate to the non-aligned countries an=
d=20
to China [who voted in favor of the proposal]. They should not have taken=20
this loan."
Endnotes:=20
(1) Al-Hayat (London-Beirut), December 22, 2000. The editor has added the=20
subheadings.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent,
non-profit organization providing translations of the media of the Middle=20
East and original analysis and research on developments in the region.=20=20
Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information,=
=20
are available upon request.
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Daily World Affairs Report items (1/11/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:47 -0500
MUSLIMS RAMPAGE AFTER ECLIPSE
Rampaging Muslims burned down scores of hotels and bars in a northern
Nigerian city in reaction to the lunar eclipse, which they blamed on sinners,
residents said yesterday. Paramilitary police fought gangs of Muslim youths
in the streets of the largely Islamic city of Maiduguri for hours on Tuesday
night. Residents said at least 40 hotels or drinking places were set alight.
"The immoral acts committed in these places are responsible for this
eclipse," police quoted a youth leader as saying. (The London Telegraph)
CATHOLIC BISHOP COMES UNDER ISRAELI GUNFIRE
A car carrying a Catholic bishop came under fire from Israeli soldiers at a
checkpoint on the West Bank on Wednesday. Bishop Giacinto-Boulos
Marcuzzo, a Jerusalem auxiliary, was traveling from his residence in
Nazareth to the village of Zababdeh, in the Israeli-occupied territories. He
was riding in a car clearly identified as a diplomatic vehicle, flying the
Vatican flag, as he approached an Israeli military checkpoint. There, the
soldiers refused to let them pass.
Father Elie Kurzum, the bishop's secretary, was driving the vehicle. He
reports that when he was turned away from the checkpoint, he stopped by
the side of the road, hoping to talk with the soldiers and convince them to let
the car pass. Instead, a soldier shot at the bishop's car. When Father
Kurzum shouted at him to hold his fire, the priest reported: "He answered
me, 'Go away or I'll put a bullet in your head.'" Father Kurzum says that 2
more shots were then fired at the car, as he accelerated away from the
checkpoint.
Bishop Marcuzzo immediately went to another nearby military post and
complained to the commanding officer there. The officer apologized, and
agreed to accompany the bishop back to the first checkpoint, so that they
could pass without further incident. The officer also agreed to tell the
soldiers that the bishop would be returning within an hour, and should be
allowed to pass through the checkpoint once again.
However, when Bishop Marcuzzo returned after visiting the sick priest, the
soldiers again stopped his vehicle at the same checkpoint, and leveled their
guns at the car. This time the driver immediately reversed his tracks,
without attempting to talk to the soldiers. The bishop eventually returned to
Nazareth by another, more circuitous route. No one was hurt in the
checkpoint incident. However the bishop's secretary, Father Kurzum,
remarked: "It's just to tell that the Israeli soldiers-- they use very easily their
guns."
A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem observed that
the incident was a clear violation of the right of freedom of movement. He
added: "If this happens now, with such a high-ranking personality, what
could happen every day and night to our simple common people?" (Catholic
World News)
CENTRAL ASIA CRISIS TALKS OVER ISLAMIC "INVASION"
Central Asian leaders have held an emergency summit to try to prevent
chaos in the region after an Islamic warlord, backed by the terrorist Osama
bin Laden, arrived in Tajikistan from his base in Afghanistan to launch an
offensive. Juma Namangani, military commander of the Islamic Movement
of Uzbekistan, has deployed an international force of about 300 extremists
in the latest attempt to export Islamic revolution to Central Asia. He has
about 2,000 fighting men in northern Afghanistan. They have been given
sanctuary by the Taliban movement and are financially backed by bin
Laden.
Central Asian officials and Western diplomats confirm that Namangani
crossed the Amu Darya river, on the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan,
at the end of December and had set up camp in the Tavildera district near
Dushanbe, the Tajik capital. Last year, the Clinton administration declared
the IMU a terrorist organisation because of its involvement with bin Laden
and the drug trade. Namangani, 33, has launched guerrilla attacks for 2
years running to try to capture the Ferghana valley, straddling Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Namangani has vowed to set up an Islamic state
in the Ferghana valley and overthrow the regime of President Islam
Karimov of Uzbekistan.
Last summer there was heavy fighting in all 3 republics when their armies
tried to dislodge IMU guerrillas. Russia, China, America and European
countries flew in military equipment to help the ill prepared and untrained
armies of the 3 states to deal with the threat. A senior Western diplomat in
Central Asia said: "There is a sense of growing panic in Central Asia and
the regimes have already asked the big powers to send emergency military
aid." Namangi's forces were better armed and more determined than
before, he said. Last week, China flew 3 planeloads of military equipment
to Kyrgyzstan.
Namangani's secret arrival in Tajikistan prompted an emergency meeting of
4 Central Asian leaders in the Kazakh capital, Almaty, on Jan 5. Without
publicly disclosing his arrival, they promised to co-ordinate efforts to
confront the Taliban. Mr Karimov said after the meeting: "In 1999 and 2000
we were the objects of aggression, but we must not let this happen again."
There are growing suspicions about possible Russian involvement in the
return of Namangani. The Amu Darya is heavily guarded by Russian
troops, but Namangani has never had any difficulty crossing it. Some
Central Asian officials say Russia is using him to force the Uzbek regime to
toe the Russian line. (The London Telegraph)
MICHAEL TURNER
(mykelturner@airmail.net)
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Anti-Israel Statements by the President of Syria
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:48 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 00:41:36 -0800
To: memri@erols.com
From: MEMRI <memri@erols.com>
Subject: Anti-Israel Statements by the President of Syria
Special Dispatch - Syria
January 12, 2001
No. 177
Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
P.O. Box 7837, Washington DC, 20038-7837=20
Phone: (202) 955-9070=20
Fax: (202) 955-9077=20
E-mail: MEMRI@erols.com=20
Website: www.memri.org
[MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be cited
with proper attribution.]=20
Anti-Israel Statements by the President of Syria
Following are excerpts from President Bashar Al-Assad's remarks following=20
his meeting with the new president of Pakistan:
"We, in Syria, remember with great appreciation Pakistan's positions toward=
=20
Syria and the Arab nation throughout the Arab-Zionist conflict, a conflict=
=20
that stems from Israel's aggression on Arab land. We especially appreciate=
=20
Pakistan for refraining from recognizing Israel and from relations with it=
=20
at the expense of the Arab nation."
"We stand by Pakistan in its just cause and hope that it will find proper=20
solutions to its regional problems and challenges. The Arab Syrian people=20
followed developments in Pakistan [i.e. the recent coup] with great empathy=
,=20
in the hope that the Pakistani people - our brothers - will gain the power,=
=20
the regional and international importance, and the prosperity to which they=
=20
aspire. We hope that they will continue to support and defend the causes of=
=20
the Islamic nation, and especially the sites that are holy to Islam and=20
Christianity on the dear Palestinian land, and first and foremost, Jerusale=
m."
"The Arab-Zionist conflict is a struggle between truth and falsehood;=20
between the spirit of tolerance and peace of Islam and the Zionist path of=
=20
racism and aggression, as represented by Israel=85 It is a struggle between=
=20
the desire for a peace based on justice and the granting of rights to their=
=20
lawful owners, on the one hand, and the Israeli criminal aggression and=20
barbaric crimes, on the other. Israel has been committing [these crimes],=20
ever since it was [a bunch of] racist gangs; and it still commits them [now=
]=20
that it is a state based on loathsome racist values and hatred towards Arab=
s=20
and Islam."
"The Arab nation believed in resolving the conflict by a just and lasting=20
peace based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the principl=
e=20
of land for peace. According to this principle, Israel will withdraw from=
=20
the Arab-Syrian Golan to the June 4, 1967 lines, complete its withdrawal=20
from Lebanese lands, free the Arab prisoners, and fully recognize the right=
=20
of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Holy=20
Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of Palestinian refugees to return t=
o=20
their homeland."
"But Israel responded to this position with deception, evasion and even wit=
h=20
aggression and crimes, as we saw and still see on Palestinian lands. They=20
threaten with aggression and evade the commitments they made to the=20
international community."
"Threats will not divert us from the struggle for the liberation of the=20
occupied lands, the return of stolen rights and the striving for a=20
comprehensive and lasting peace. Never again will we fall into the trap of=
=20
false and empty promises." (1)
Endnotes:
(1) Syrian News Agency [SANA], January 7, 2001. Bashar Al-Assad said almos=
t=20
the same thing following his meeting the Chinese deputy foreign minister. =
=20
Al-Safir (Lebanon), January 11, 2001.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent,
non-profit organization providing translations of the media of the Middle=20
East and original analysis and research on developments in the region.=20=20
Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information,=
=20
are available upon request.
------- End of forwarded message -------
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: Left's answer to largest demo in history
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:48 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 01:07:30 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: Left's answer to largest demo
in history for Jerusalem - where were the other
millions of Israelis?
Ha'aretz: Left's answer to largest demo in history for Jerusalem - where
were the other millions of Israelis?
[THIS IS NOT A PARODY! This note is actually how the Ha'aretz reporter came
to grips with the fact that the rally in Jerusalem was without dispute the
largest gathering in Israel's history (the famous 400,000 against the war in
Lebanon was always seen as a symbolic rather than true figure as it would
have required the participants in Rabin Square to have been circus
performers - standing three high, but in this case the streets were choked
with people through the center of the city).
Missing persons
Arie Caspi Ha'aretz Magazine 12 January 2001
.Even if we accept the estimate of the organizers of Monday night's
right-wing demonstration in Jerusalem that 300,000 people turned out for the
event, we still have to ask what happened, at this fateful hour, to the
other 4.7 million Jews who live in Israel.
It turns out than only 6 percent of the country's Jewish inhabitants were
ready to brave the Jerusalem cold for at least one evening. Even if we
assume that for every person who attended the event, another person was on
guard in a settlement, or was sick in bed, or was in Ma'asiyahu Prison, but
wanted to come, that still means that for 87 percent of the country's Jews,
their right hand will forget its cunning, their tongue will cleave to the
roof of their mouth - they voted with their feet and opted to watch Avri
Gilad on Channel Two instead of going to the demonstration. It's hard to
believe, but Ilana Dayan's "Fact" program had a higher popularity rating
than Jerusalem. While masses of people sacrificed their bodily warmth for
the sake of Jerusalem, even larger masses were watching Ilana Dayan and MK
Ilan Gillon from the Meretz party.
Yet we are talking about our holy city that was joined together, the same
city that is made even more sacred by a squad of Jewish cops in the police
station at the entry to the Temple Mount. And this was no spontaneous
demonstration, it followed a massive advertising campaign, which was hard to
avoid. Apparently, though, despite the inflammatory rhetoric, Jerusalem too
has become one more variation in the political debate that has been raging
here for the past generation, and apparently most of the public is tired of
it.
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: Analysis/A two-part test of Palestinian intents
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:48 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 01:15:23 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: Analysis/A two-part test of Palestinian
intents
Ha'aretz: Analysis/A two-part test of Palestinian intents
By Ze'ev Schiff Ha'aretz 12 January 2001
The test for a drop in violence in the territories and security cooperation
between the Palestinians and Israel will be based on two principal criteria:
The willingness of the Palestinians to quickly reimprison individuals who
were involved in serious terror attacks against Israel, together with the
time it takes to witness a significant reduction in the number of shooting
incidents and terror attacks. If the security test is a success, it will
increase the chances for a political initiative to achieve a framework
agreement between the parties.
The two criteria for the security test were determined by the heads of the
Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service and the list of
individuals who should be reincarcerated in order to prevent terror
activities and violence was supposed to have been handed over to the
Palestinians yesterday. However, despite the relatively practical and quiet
meetings between the parties that took place at the initiative of the United
States, which saw the security route as an opportunity to return to the
political track, the Israeli defense establishment doubts the chances of
success of such a move.
The attitude among Israeli security officials is that "we have already been
in this scenario," when the Palestinians promised a drop in violence, but
did nothing about it in the field. The violence can be reduced to a minimum
and immediately rekindled again, security sources say, just as the IDF's
counter measures, such as lifting the closures imposed on Palestinian
communities and opening the border crossings, can also be temporary.
A senior IDF official likened the present situation with the Palestinians to
that of a couple involved a difficult divorce who are called in for another
meeting to work out an interim agreement. Of one thing the Israeli side is
absolutely certain: Arafat is the one who can bring about a drop in the
violence. The differences of opinion center on the length of time it will
take him to realize his promise.
This is not only a leadership test for Arafat, but first and foremost, it is
a test of his true desires and plans. Some in the Shin Bet believe that we
are dealing with a lengthy process and that some of Arafat's associates will
certainly breach his instructions and perhaps even misinform their leader.
If Arafat were to feel that by issuing instructions to stop the Intifada, he
would lose his legitimacy as a leader, he might back out of his promises, as
has happened before. One should note that this time, Israel is not insisting
that Arafat himself make the call to stop the violence.
Israel, for its part, has undertaken to soften its counter measures in the
territories, primarily in the Gaza Strip, but in the West Bank too. Israel
will allow the flow of goods from both areas; it will permit the opening of
some of the border crossings and the Dahaniyeh airport; and it will reopen
the main road that runs through the Strip.
In the West Bank, Israel will lift the closures imposed on Palestinian towns
and villages, provided that shooting incidents do not take place in such
areas; and it will remove the restrictions on the flow of goods across the
international borders in the hope that the Palestinians do not try to
smuggle in ammunition and explosives.
The test is first and foremost a trial for the Palestinians because Israel's
actions are essentially reactions to acts of violence.
--------------------------------------------
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: Jordan wants Israel to stay in Jordan Valley
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:49 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 01:16:14 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: Jordan wants Israel to stay in
Jordan Valley
Ha'aretz: Jordan wants Israel to stay in Jordan Valley
Worthwhile advice from Jordan
By Ze'ev Schiff Ha'aretz 12 January 2001
In President Clinton's bridging proposal for a fundamental agreement between
Israel and the Palestinian Authority, there is a big question mark
surrounding one of Israel's neighbors: Jordan. What kind of future does the
United States foresee for the Hashemite Kingdom and its prospects for
coexistence with a Palestinian state? What has awakened this question is the
debate over the fate of the Jordan Valley: Who will control it and what will
relations look like between Palestine and Jordan?.In his bridging proposal,
Clinton states that Israel must withdraw from the Jordan Valley within 36
months. Over the next 36 months, an IDF force will remain there, under the
aegis of an international force stationed in the region. Clinton added that
if security improves, Israel will be able to pull back more quickly. Nothing
is said about what will happen if the situation deteriorates.
If intelligence reports from Amman are correct, the Jordanians are very
concerned about Clinton's idea of transferring the Jordan Valley to the
Palestinians and moving the IDF out as soon as possible. This will open a
broad border between Jordan and the emerging Palestinian state, thereby
exposing Jordan to political and demographic pressure, as well as subversive
activity.
It is doubtful that the Americans have paid sufficient heed to the
implications of such a move. Perhaps the Clinton administration is not
convinced that Hashemite Jordan will be around in the long run. That fits in
with what former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu once heard Clinton say
about the future of Jordan. Even if Netanyahu misinterpreted what he heard,
it is important that Israel bring up the issue of Jordan as soon as possible
in meetings with the advisers of U.S. President-elect George Bush. These
advisers give the impression of being quite open-minded on the subject of
Jordan. The fact is, Israel has had a special interest in Jordan's survival
for a long time, and King Abdullah knows it, too.
Before the death of King Hussein, I had two opportunities to discuss the
Jordan Valley with top Jordanian officials. In terms of Jordan's strategic
interests, I asked, was it better for the Jordan Valley to be in Israeli or
Palestinian hands? My interlocutors were not anxious to reply, even though
we were speaking off the record. I came back to the question repeatedly
until I finally received an answer: Israel, they said, but only on condition
that it did not annex the Jordan Valley, because this was a move Jordan
would have to oppose. Another condition was that Israel make no claims about
holding onto the Jordan Valley in order to protect the Hashemite kingdom.
Amman would object to any such idea, as King Hussein did when he heard that
Ariel Sharon had used such an argument in conversation with Sandy Berger,
Clinton's national security adviser.
The senior Jordanian official to whom I spoke also offered an important
piece of advice: Israel must not commit itself to a specific date for
withdrawal from the Jordan Valley. Instead, it must insist on withdrawal
only when the security situation allows for it. Israel is prepared to
discuss security arrangements with both the Palestinians and Jordan.
When Yossi Beilin approached Shimon Peres in 1995 with the details of what
is now known as the Beilin-Abu Mazen plan, Peres refused to support it for
two reasons. One was that it did not offer a practical solution for the
problem of Jerusalem. The other was that it called for automatic Israeli
withdrawal from the Jordan Valley after a period of 12 years.
Today, the Palestinian leadership officially rejects the Beilin-Abu Mazen
plan, although both sides and the U.S. government have adopted many of its
principles. In the same way that the Palestinians are demanding changes in
the Clinton bridging proposal, Israel should be demanding changes in the
clauses having to do with the Jordan Valley
--------------------------------------------
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) GAMLA: Another Israeli Drama ...
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:49 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 02:32:06 -0500 (EST)
Send reply to: GAMLA Staff <email@gamla.org.il>
Subject: GAMLA: Another Israeli Drama ...
***********************************************************************
GAMLA: NEWS AND VIEWS FROM ISRAEL
***********************************************************************
Volume 2 Issue 5 Jerusalem, Israel
17 Tevet Cheshvan, 5761 * * January 12, 2001
Inside:
1. Just another Israeli drama (soap?)
2. Washington Doesn't Trust Arafat
========================================================
Gamla HomePage: http://www.gamla.org.il/english
Want to subscribe? : http://www.gamla.org.il/english/sub.htm
=======================================================
Here is the report from the Jerusalem Post:
Ben-Ami, Israel's chief peace negotiator with the Palestinians, returned
dramatically from Paris last night, cutting short his trip and canceling
meetings scheduled with French President Jacques Chirac and with US
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Israel Radio reported that Barak
met him at the airport, where they held consultations.
And NOW - here is what happened (according to Yoni Ben-Menachem, Israel
Radio this Friday morning):
Ben-Ami was in Paris for high level talks (as reported above). He received a
message from Israel that Shimon Peres was planning on meeting with Yassir
Arafat in Gaza that evening. He fumed at the fact that the minute he left
the country, Peres was trying to outstage him, and he returned.
His return, last night, caused a lot of excitment in the Israeli media, with
all these talks about the new "peace talks" that have started. Especially
since it was learned that Ben-Ami was in *such* a hurry that in absence of
any way to get back *fast* enough, the French president *gave* him a plane
to fly back on.
As written above, rumours ran high when it was reported that Barak had come
to the Tel-Aviv airport in order to meet with Ben-Ami there...
In the *meantime*, Yasser Arafat spoke with reporters in Gaza, and when
asked about his upcoming meeting with Peres replied that he didn't know
what
they were talking about and that he was not meeting "anybody" from the
Israeli side.
NOW - after *this* - read on the DebkaFile report:
Washington Doesn't Trust Arafat
*******************************
DEBKAfile's American sources, commenting on the spectacle of a quickened
Israel-Palestinian thrust for a peace framework deal, emphasize that
Washington has completely lost faith in Arafat and does not expect the
new initiative to go any farther than previous attempts.
They were careful to place the accent on "Washington", not just the
White House, to indicate they were representing the outgoing and incoming
administrations' sentiments alike. Perceived from the US capital,
the Palestinian leader has done everything in his power to bring
about the downfall of America's most faithful Israeli ally, Ehud
Barak. Now that his work is done - and Barak's credibility at
home is thoroughly undermined - Arafat wants to cover his tracks
by showing willing for a limited and conditional
accommodation.
According to those sources, the Americans have
no faith in any of his apparently positive steps holding up long,
any more than they did in the past. "Arafat had better
understand," said the source, "that Washington holds him
responsible for the current crisis and he need not expect to escape
the consequences of his acts after George Bush moves into the
Oval Office."
DEBKAfile's Washington sources say they have never seen
administration officials so furious. To crown it all, in the last ten
days Arafat actually banged the telephone down on the US
President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
- and more than once - an unheard of affront!
The Americans were already simmering over the way in which the
Palestinians, at the Cairo meeting last Sunday, Jan. 7, of
Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs, systematically rebuffed
every effort by CIA director George Tenet's to forge agreement on
quid pro quo steps for reducing Palestinian-Israel violence. His
proposals were sharply turned down by the Palestinian side.
Those proposals, for a phased slowdown in Palestinian violence
and terrorism in return for an easing of Israeli restrictions, were
re-introduced by Israeli Tourist Minister Amnon Shahak in
Tuesday's meeting of military chiefs at the Erez checkpoint of the
Gaza Strip.
Early on Thursday, Jan. 11, to keep its side of the bargain, Israel
began easing security restrictions against Palestinian areas: the
Allenby and Rafah border crossings were reopened, as was the
Karni freight checkpoint into the Gaza Strip, while the army lifted
its closure of the two West Bank towns of Kalkilya and Jenin.
Nonetheless, two hours later a bag dropped in a dumpster in the
West Jerusalem ultra-religious Mea Shearim neighborhood of
Jerusalem turned out to be a large bomb made up of two mortar
shells and a cell phone. Moshe Bik, 36, opened the bag and
disconnected the cell phone from the explosives thus averting a
major catastrophe.
Later Thursday, amid veiled hints of secret diplomatic moves
afoot, Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami cut short his trip to
Paris and flew home to join Shahak and prime minister's bureau
chief Gilad Sher in late-night talks in Gaza with Palestinian
negotiators Abu Alla, Saeb Arikat and Yasser Abd Rabo Ben
Ami was criticized in Jerusalem for unnecessarily leaving Paris
and dramatizing a meeting that was intended only to pave the way
for resumed negotiations on a framework accord. Negotiations
would not begin in earnest, according to the prime minister's
office, as long as Palestinian violence continued.
Senior Minister Shimon Peres decided at the last minute not to join
the meeting; would only talk to Arafat himself at a later stage. While
Ben Ami voiced high hopes of a framework accord before Clinton's
departure from the White House on Jan. 20, Palestinian
spokesmen declared grimly they would only be satisfied with a
detailed agreement - or at least a mapping out of further Israeli
concessions on the thus far irreconcilable Palestinian refugees and
Jerusalem sovereignty issues. The prime minister's office
accordingly threw cold water on any high expectations of the
latest flurry of peace diplomacy.
"Gamla" is Looking for Sponsors
*******************************
Caling all comercial concerns! The "Gamla" staff is begining important
activities both on the web and in Israel both fighting the dangerous moves
by the Israeli government and in working to bring about a change.
We are about to set up special "Sponsor Pages" on our Web site. While not
allowing banners on the site i still something we adhere to, we will be
putting up special pages for sponsors and their companies to let our users
know just who is helping out.
For more information, please email now to:
sponsor@gamla.org.il
and we will get back to you promptly.
It may be - "Now or Never!"
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) IDF Spokesperson: Denial of Claims
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:49 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 08:27:51 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: IDF Spokesperson: Denial of Claims that the
IDF uses Ammunition Containing Depleted Uranium
against the Palestinians
IDF Spokesperson: Denial of Claims that the IDF uses Ammunition Containing
Depleted Uranium against the Palestinians
11 January 2001
IDF Spokesperson strongly rejects the claim by the Chairman of the
Palestinian Authority that the IDF uses depleted uranium against the
Palestinians.
The IDF has never used ammunition containing depleted uranium against a
civilian population.
Ammunition of this kind has been used by the Israel Navy only in the air or
against expendable targets at sea, and its usage was discontinued over half
a year ago.
The IDF does not use ammunition of this kind.
--------------------------------------------
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] BNI.Priority News 5,1 (1/11,12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:34:50 -0500
1. No injuries in shooting attack against passenger bus=09
2. Convoy attacked by firebombs in southern Gaza=09
3. Milo to resign from the government=09
4. IDF position attacked by gunfire in Gush Katif=09
5. Motorist escapes injury in shooting attack near Kiryat Sefer=09
6. At least 8 Temple Mount activists arrested=09
7. Oslo process continues at Erez Thursday night=09
8. Mevo Ofra ordered shutdown=09
9. Taking to the streets demanding the release of Yoram Skolnik=09
10. Chief Rabbi Lau calls upon hunger strikers to call it quits=09
11. Hizbullah to continue efforts to kidnap soldiers=09
12. Motorist attacked with a firebomb in Hawarah=09
****************************
11-JAN-01 =96 9:16pm
****************************
1. No injuries in shooting attack against passenger bus
(BNI-JAN.11) At 5:45pm, a Dan Company 101 Bus was attacked by gunfire
between the community of Har Bracha and the IDF=92s Number 3 base. Shots=20
did
strike the bulletproof bus. No injuries.=20=20
++++
2. Convoy attacked by firebombs in southern Gaza
(BNI-JAN.11) Firebombs were thrown at a vehicular convoy traveling in
southern Gaza near the Rafiach border crossing to Egypt. There were no
injuries in the Thursday night attack.=20=20=20
++++
3. Milo to resign from the government
(BNI-JAN.11) Health Minister Roni Milo announced that he was planning to
submit his resignation to the government at Sunday=92s cabinet meeting. The
Center Party minister announced his intentions to step down over one-week
ago but delayed his decision following appeals to do so by members of
Israel=92s medical community.
Milo told reporters earlier in the week that he was unable to remain in
the cabinet and be part of a government willing to give away the Temple
Mount. Milo added that one who does recognize one=92s roots and the past
would ensure that we do not have a future.=20=20
++++
4. IDF position attacked by gunfire in Gush Katif
(BNI-JAN.11) An IDF position near Gadid, in Gaza, was attacked by gunfire
on Thursday night. There were no reported injuries. Soldiers returned
fire.=20=20
++++
5. Motorist escapes injury in shooting attack near Kiryat Sefer
(BNI-JAN.11) An Israeli vehicle was targeted by gunfire on Thursday night
between the communities of Nili and Kiryat Sefer. Gunfire did hit the
target vehicle but there were no injuries.=20=20
++++
6. At least 8 Temple Mount activists arrested
(BNI-JAN.11) At least eight Temple Mount activists were placed under
arrest as demonstrators on Thursday evening attempted to enter the Temple
Mount compound.
At 5:00pm, activists participating in a =91Zo Artzeinu=92 organization prot=
est
stopped their vehicles for two minutes in protest of government policies,
bringing traffic to a halt.=20
Crowds at the Western Wall and Mughrabi Gate entrance to the Temple=20
Mount
in Jerusalem engaged police in a shouting match and after a short time,
police were ordered to distance the demonstrators, using force. It was at
that time the order was given to begin placing persons under arrest as
some activists attempted to defy police and make their way to the Mount.
Israel TV News reported on Thursday that the Moslem Waqf Authority
following the month of Ramadan, has resumed illegal construction on the
Mount, resulting in the Israel Antiquities Authority is calling
archeological destruction,=94 with experts explaining heavy equipment
continue to remove tens of truckloads of earth without any regard to
artifacts dating back to the First and Second Temple eras. Some explain
the Waqf Authority is doing its utmost to remove any Jewish traces on the
Mount to support Islamic claims to the holy area.
Due to the security situation, aircraft may not fly over the Mount at an
altitude under 6,000 feet, eliminating the possibility of aerial
photography of Islamic activity without specialized sophisticated
photography equipment.=20=20=20
++++
7. Oslo process continues at Erez Thursday night
(BNI-JAN.11) Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, who cut short a European
tour, and Minister Shimon Peres, are leading an Israeli delegation to meet
at Gaza=92s Erez Checkpoint on Thursday night at talks between Israel and
the PA resume.
Most persons involved with the ongoing Oslo process have indicated an
agreement would be most unlikely prior to President Bill Clinton stepping
down from office on Jan. 20, but they are hopeful to arrive at an
agreement =96 permitting Clinton to announce joint declarations that would
serve as a basis for future talks.=20=20
Security officials pointed out Thursday seems to have passed with relative
quiet, perhaps a sign that PA Chairman Yassir Arafat was working to reduce
violent and potentially fatal attacks.
Senior analyst Ehud Ya=92ari reported that Arafat would do his utmost to
return calm to Yesha area, not wishing to have PA autonomous areas ablaze
when US President-elect George W. Bush is takes the oath of office.
++++
8. Mevo Ofra ordered shutdown
(BNI-JAN.11) Resident of Mevo Ofra were ordered to leave the area and
closedown the makeshift community established about two weeks ago near=20
the
site of the murders of Rabbi Binyamin Ze=92ev Kahane and his wife Talia. Th=
e
new community was set up as a continuation of the community of Ofra, in
Samaria.
IDF Battalion Commander Colonel Gal Hirsh, presented the order to the
residents of the new hilltop encampment.=20=20
++++
9. Taking to the streets demanding the release of Yoram Skolnik
(BNI-JAN.11) A demonstration is scheduled for Friday morning in front of
the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem, demanding the release of Yoram
Skolnik. Skolnik was scheduled for release on good behavior for the second
time and for the second time, the interference of the High Court has
prevented his release from prison, despite the decision by a prison parole
board.
As reported earlier, Dr. Aryeh Bachrach, whose son Aryeh was killed in a
terror attack, has petitioned the High Court to remain uninvolved in the
Skolnik release as the court has opted to do in the past when petitioned
to block the release of Arab terrorists.=20=20=20
Skolnik, whose wife and children live in Kochav Yaakov, in Yesha, was
found guilty of the murder of an Arab terrorist immediately after the
terrorist was taken into custody.=20
++++
10. Chief Rabbi Lau calls upon hunger strikers to call it quits
(BNI-JAN.11) Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau on Thursday visited
the hunger strike tent in Jerusalem=92s Safra Square, calling upon strikers
in their 13th day to stop their action.
As reported earlier, the hunger strikers are protesting the government=92s
continued negotiations with the PA despite not having a mandate in the
Knesset and while Israelis are targeted in daily shooting attacks.=20=20
Hunger strikers told the Chief Rabbi that his request would be given
serious consideration.=20
++++
11. Hizbullah to continue efforts to kidnap soldiers
(BNI-JAN.11) Officials of the Hizbullah terror organization on Thursday
stated efforts to kidnap IDF soldiers would continue in the future.
Addressing the families of three kidnapped soldiers, a senior terrorist
leader stated the government of Israel was doing nothing to obtain their
release and if government did not meet Hizbullah criteria to have the
three set free, the price for their freedom in the future would be higher.
On October 7, 2000, IDF soldiers Sergeant Adi Avitan from Tiberias,
Staff-Sergeant Avraham Binyamin from Bnei Brak, & Staff-Sergeant Omer
Suaed from the village of Salma (Near Carmiel), were kidnapped from Har
Dov by Hizbullah and are currently being held prisoner in Lebanon.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz stated on Wednesday the three were
taken prisoner due to a military blunder, explaining their being taken
captive should have and could have been avoided.=20=20
Parents of the soldiers have been outspoken in their criticism of the
Barak administration which they accuse of not doing enough to obtain the
release of the hostages from Hizbullah captivity.=20
++++
12. Motorist attacked with a firebomb in Hawarah
(BNI-JAN.11) A resident of Har Bracha, in northern Samaria, was attacked
with a firebomb a short time ago in the Arab village of Hawarah, north of
Tapuach Junction in Samaria.
The incendiary device did ignite but the occupants of the vehicle did
manage to extinguish it. There were no immediate reports of casualties. =
=20
---------------
1. Erez meeting continues at this time=09
2. NYC mayor calls upon President Clinton to move embassy=09
3. P=92sagot attacked by gunfire on Thursday night=09
4. Three killed in MVA on Ashkelon/Kiryat Gat road=09
5. PA military court sentences collaborator to death=09
*************************
12-JAN-01- 6:04am
*************************
1. Erez meeting continues at this time
(BNI-JAN.12) Israeli and PA negotiators are at this time still meeting at
the Erez Checkpoint in Gaza =96 attempting to move ahead in stalled
negotiations and bring an end to daily shooting attacks throughout Yesha.
Israeli security officials acknowledged that Thursday was among the
quietest days in past weeks but quickly warned there were still shooting
attacks and the situation may not be measured by one day. Senior
commanders indicated that after several days of relative quiet, one may
then assume that PA Chairman Arafat has indeed ordered a cessation or
reduction in violent attacks.=20=20
++++
2. NYC mayor calls upon President Clinton to move embassy
(BNI-JAN.12) In a pro-Jerusalem media event, New York City Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani stated that the last act that outgoing President Bill Clinton
should take in office related to Jerusalem is the implementation of
Congress=92 decision to move the nation=92s embassy from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem.=20
At the event, the mayor issued a call that Jerusalem was to remain the
undivided eternal capital of the Jewish people.=20
Attending the event in the =91Big Apple,=92 were Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmer=
t,
Ron Lauder, the head of the Presidents Conference of Major Jewish
Organizations, MK Natan Sharansky, who heads the Yisrael B=92Aliyah Party
and Center Party Minister of Health Roni Milo, who announced he was
submitting his resignation from the cabinet at Sunday=92s meeting, an
announcement that was received with a standing ovation.=20=20
++++
3. P=92sagot attacked by gunfire on Thursday night
(BNI-JAN.12) The community of P=92sagot, in Samaria, was attacked by gunfir=
e
on Thursday night. There were no reported casualties.=20=20
++++
4. Three killed in MVA on Ashkelon/Kiryat Gat road
(BNI-JAN.12) Three persons were killed, two women and a man, in a head-on
collision on the Ashkelon/Kiryat Gat road during the night. One man was
seriously injured and two others sustained moderate injuries in the
accident.=20
The injured were transported to the trauma unit of Beersheba=92s Soroka
Medical Center and Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.=20=20
++++
5. PA military court sentences collaborator to death
(BNI-JAN.12) A PA military court on Thursday sentenced a Rafiach resident
to death after he was found guilty of spying for Israel. It was
established that the defendant did act as an informant for Israeli
security agencies.
The court established that information provided to Israel by the defendant
led to the assassination of several Fatah members.=20=20
++++
++++
News items published by BNI (=93BreakingNews-Israel=94) and/or =93BNI.Elect=
ion=94
lists, may be distributed, copied, posted providing the websites and other
forums carrying the stories display the footer below instructing readers
how to subscribe in plain view on the same page with the news.=20=20
++++
1. To subscribe to the BreakingNews-Israel list, send a blank email
message to 44828-subscribe@listbot.com=20=20=20
2. To subscribe to the BNI.Election list, providing election coverage,
send a blank email message to=20
BNI.Election-subscribe@listbot.com=20
3. To subscribe to the BNI.PriorityNews list, providing news of
importance, send a blank email message to=20
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4. To contact the owner of BNI lists, send an email to
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Pressure Grows for GMO Free Zones in Europe
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:39:40 -0500
Pressure Grows for GMO Free Zones in Europe
BRUSSELS, Belgium, January 11, 2001 (ENS) - A campaign to create a
network of areas in Europe free of genetically modified (GM) crops was
launched in Brussels today at an international conference on the legal and
technical issues behind the concept.
Organized by the Green and European Free Alliance parties in the European
Parliament, the conference was called to highlight frustration among
proponents of GM free zones that GM crops cannot currently be banned at
local level even where there is public support for such a move.
"It should be up to regional and local authorities to decide whether they want
to refuse the growing of GMO crops in their own territories - higher bodies
like national governments or the EU Commission should not have the power
to overrule such a decision," said Green Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) Paul Lannoye.
The European Commission is currently battling to lift a de facto European
Union moratorium on new GM crop approvals. The commission is opposing
unilateral moves by some member states to ban crops already given the
green light by European Union authorities.
Late last year the European Union's scientific committee on plants backed
its case against bans on approved GM maize (corn) varieties introduced in
Austria and Germany. The disputes may have to be settled by the European
Court of Justice.
Genetically modified corn (Photo courtesy
the Prince of Wales)
Conference organizers called on European Union governments to create GM
free zones by using a clause in the newly revised "deliberate release"
directive which allows them to put conditions on marketing consents for
genetically modified products.
According to a draft declaration circulated today, participating authorities
would forbid all cultivation of genetically modified crops on their territory and
the sale of GM derived foods in outlets under their control.
Signs would be erected to inform visitors of an area's status, the draft says.
Politicians from Italy, the Basque country, Wales and Tasmania, Australia,
told the conference of their experiences in creating GM free areas.
Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans of Wales said it was a "mockery" that while the
Welsh assembly had voted to ban all GM crop experimentation in the
principality, European Union and national rules meant it could not prevent
commercial cultivation.
{Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily, Europe's choice for
environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd, London. Email:
envdaily@ends.co.uk}
http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2001/2001L-01-11-02.html
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Arutz-7 News (1/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:59:06 -0500
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Jan. 12, 2001 / Tevet 17, 5761
Arutz Sheva Radio Reports by Phone. Premiering in New York area codes
http://www.mobilee.com/cgi-bin/arutz7/arutz_entry1.pl
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SKOLNICK FAMILY IS OPTIMISTIC
2. TIME IS RUNNING OUT
3. SHARON LEADS BARAK
4. BURG FOR JERUSALEM
5. HERZOG QUESTIONED
6. TRAFFIC-STOPPERS AND OTHER PROTESTS
7. DESPERATE WEEK-LONG CAMPAIGN FOR POLLARD
*** QUOTE OF THE WEEK
1. SKOLNICK FAMILY IS OPTIMISTIC
The Supreme Court heard arguments this morning as to whether or not to
free
Yoram Skolnick from prison. After almost eight years in prison, two
reductions in sentence, one successful suit against a Parole Board-approved
release six months ago, and the current petition against the latest Parole
Board-approved release, Skolnick's supporters reacted with groans when the
ruling was handed down: No decision until next week.
Yoram Skolnick was convicted of killing a tied-up Arab terrorist in 1993
during a severe wave of terrorist attacks against Israelis. The GSS had
objected to his release six months ago, but removed its objections this
time, in light of the decision that Skolnick, his wife, and three small
children would not be permitted to live in Judea and Samaria. The story
with Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein, however, was different: The
Justices noted that he had objected to the release last time, and
criticized him for his unclear position this time. In response, Rubenstein
duly added his name, once again, to those petitioning against the
release. However, Yoram's father Fred Skolnick told Arutz-7, "the position
of the Attorney-General and the State Prosecution is not hard-line. The
issue here is deterrence, according to the petitioners [who claim that
releasing him could encourage other murders], and the Prosecution is
willing to accept the position that if Yoram is made to live in a closed
community, such as a yeshiva, this will solve the matter of
deterrence... If the matter is returned to the Parole Board, I think we
will be OK." Yoram himself spoke most impressively in the courtroom,
according to other observers, asking, "What deterrence are we talking
about? There are only six Jews in prison in the whole country for crimes
of this nature [killing Arabs for nationalistic or security motives]..."
The Supreme Court also heard this morning five petitions against the
government's conducting of negotiations on Jerusalem and other territorial
matters during the election campaign.
2. TIME IS RUNNING OUT
Shimon Peres waited all morning, but Yasser Arafat did not call to arrange
today's scheduled meeting between the two. Peres and other Israeli,
American, and Palestinian figures expressed pessimism as to the chances
of
reaching an agreed upon "declaration of principles" before Clinton leaves
office next Saturday. Last night's hours-long Israeli-Palestinian meeting,
for which Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami interrupted his visit to Paris in
order to attend, ended with no results. It was reported in the early
afternoon that Peres and Arafat would meet tomorrow night.
The Palestinian Authority's airport in Dahaniye, Gaza was reopened this
morning, in accordance with the new Israeli-Palestinian security
understandings. The encirclement of Jericho and Bethlehem will be removed
today, and Palestinian sources said that joint patrols would also continue
soon. This, despite shooting that rained down from Palestinian sources on
Psagot last night, and severe clashes between rioting Palestinians and IDF
soldiers at the Ayosh Junction.
3. SHARON LEADS BARAK
The Likud's candidate in the Prime Ministerial election - to be held in 25
days - says he is not afraid of Shimon Peres. Ariel Sharon, who leads
Prime Minister Barak in polls published today by some 15 to 20%, trails
Peres by 2%. Sharon said today that he could "beat both Barak and
Peres." Supporters of Peres and Barak clashed in Tel Aviv today; one Peres
fan reportedly assaulted a television cameraman.
4. BURG FOR JERUSALEM
Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg visited the hunger strikers at Safra Square
in
Jerusalem today. They have been striking for 13 days in protest of the
government's conducting of negotiations while their "peace partners"
continue their violence, and against its intention to divide
Jerusalem. Burg declared today that Israel must not cede its sovereignty
over the Temple Mount, the Old City, and the Mt. of Olives.
5. HERZOG QUESTIONED
Cabinet Secretary Yitzchak Herzog underwent yet another police
interrogation today for his part in the Barak-Labor campaign funding
scandal. Herzog, who has maintained a right to remain silent during
previous questioning sessions, is suspected of collecting funds for welfare
organizations but later using them for Barak's campaign in 1999. Two other
scandal suspects - Shmuel Levi and Tal Silberstein - have received top jobs
in the current Barak campaign.
6. TRAFFIC-STOPPERS AND OTHER PROTESTS
Under the theme, "Barak, Stop!" hundreds of cars blocked many main
arteries
throughout Israel yesterday afternoon in an act of civil protest designed
to demonstrate that continued negotiations on the future of Jerusalem will
not "go over quietly." Moshe Feiglin, founder of Zo Artzeinu [This is Our
Land], organized yesterday's country-wide event - at which motorists
stopped at 5 PM wherever they were for two minutes, honked their horns,
and
then proceeded at a 30-kph pace to Jerusalem where they were to hold a
silent 30-minute vigil outside the Temple Mount. Convoys of cars set out
from Ashkelon, Shilo, Petach Tikvah, Kedumim, Haifa, from several locations
within Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and from many other places. The police used
extreme force against several participants, including members of the Temple
Mount Faithful who attempted to enter the Temple Mount.
Feiglin, who emphasized that press reports that he had attacked a
policeman
were totally without basis, said that he was arrested at the Hemed
interchange and held for several hours for traveling slowly along the main
Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. "The purpose of yesterday's event," Feiglin
told Arutz-7 today, "was to signal any future government that the style of
our struggle against any decision to give away the Temple Mount will not be
a rally by hundreds of thousands of people who then go home quietly. We
will simply not allow the daily routine to continue normally while the
government - any government - conducts negotiations over our eternal
capital."
Other protest activities:
* In Pisgat Ze'ev, close to 1,000 residents gathered under the theme of
"Warning Before Cut-Off!" to protest the encirclement of their
neighborhood, dictated by the Clinton-Barak Jerusalem division
plan. According to the arrangements approved by the Barak transition
government, the 70,000 people of the northern neighborhoods of Pisgat Ze'ev
and N'vei Yaakov would be surrounded by the Palestinian areas of Shuafat,
Beit Hanina, Hizme, and Anata.
* The grass-roots Cities of Israel movement reports on pro-Yesha vigils
last night outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv (manned by the
Rishon LeTzion chapter) and in Rehovot. Today, ten junctions in the Tel
Aviv and Haifa areas were manned by COI activists, and yet another rally
will be held tomorrow night at the Ra'anana Junction.
* Residents of Psagot - a Binyamin community between Jerusalem and
Beit
El/Ofrah, adjacent to Ramallah - took a day off from school and work today
to march along their approach road, demanding that illegal Palestinian
construction there be stopped. "New buildings are being built along what
was designed to serve the Jewish citizens as a bypass road," the residents
claim, "and they present a new life-threatening danger to us."
In New York:
* Mayor Rudy Giuliani hosted a large rally yesterday in which Jerusalem
Mayor Ehud Olmert, Health Minister Roni Milo, Knesset Members Uzi
Landau
and Natan Sharansky, and Presidents Conference Chairman Ronald Lauder
took
part. Milo took advantage of the opportunity to announce his resignation
from the Barak government, because of its acceptance of the plan to divide
Jerusalem. "Without the Temple Mount we have no right to be anywhere,"
he
said. "No Israeli government can neglect the past without giving up the
future of the Jewish people."
* On Sunday, also in New York, a march-and-rally will be held across the
Brooklyn Bridge to protest the FBI raid of Hatikvah Jewish Identity Center,
and the resultant breach of freedom of speech and religion, only days after
the double terrorist murder of Rabbi Binyamin and his wife Talia
Kahane. For information, see <"www.kahane.org">.
7. DESPERATE WEEK-LONG CAMPAIGN FOR POLLARD
Avi Farhan and Yisrael Medad have initiated the following call on behalf of
Jonathan Pollard:
"There are eight days left for U.S. President Bill Clinton to use his
constitutional authority to grant clemency to Jonathan Pollard. If
everyone sent but one letter, e-mail or snail, to the White House, with a
simple and respective request that Clinton do so use that power, it may or
may not have an effect - but we will have done at least part of our
share. This effort is being organized as a humanitarian gesture - Jonathan
Pollard has served longer than anyone else convicted of a similar crime; he
has expressed remorse; he has used all other legal avenues; his case was
unfairly dealt with by the prosecution and in his federal appeal, the
rejection was technical with one judge expressing severe doubts that
justice was done. For further background, see
<"http://www.jonathanpollard.org/">. To email the White House, go to the
following site and use the simple form:
<"www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html">, or email to:
"president@whitehouse.gov" or mail to The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500"
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"[The late Prime Minister Yitzchak] Rabin said that there is an entire
army regiment in Hevron, where there are only a few dozen Jewish families,
and another one in Netzarim, where there are even fewer Jewish
families. Then he added, 'And I am telling you that they will stay there.'
"I told him that if he authorizes us to say these things in his name, or
if he makes them public himself, the tension [in the Jewish communities of
Yesha] will disappear overnight... But he said it cannot be made public,
because the next morning, the left would be angry with him."
- Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz of Yeshivat Birkat Moshe in Ma'aleh
Adumim,
quoted in Nekudah; with thanks to Cities of Israel. Rabbi Rabinowitz added
his opinion that it is no accident that Rabin said these things so close to
his death [which occurred three days later]: "This should be regarded as
his legacy, that we should not leave Hevron and Netzarim."
Correction of Clarification:
Regarding the dates given in Wednesday's report about the Temple
Mount: The Mount became holy during the Binding of Isaac in the year 2085
to the Creation of the World, while the Al Aksa mosque was built on the
Temple Mount shortly after the inception of the Islam religion, in 711
C.E., or 4471 to the creation of the world - almost 2,400 years
later. That is to say, the Mount has been holy to the Jews for almost
3,700 years, or about three times longer than the Al Aksa mosque has been
standing there.
Hebrew News Editor: Haggai Segal
English News Editor: Hillel Fendel
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Year 2001 of Chinese Golden Snake Year
From: "Moza"
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 10:01:22 -0500
Year 2001 of Chinese Golden Snake Year
Year 2001 is a Chinese Golden Snake Year. Why do the Chinese name year
2001 as the Golden Snake Year? Chinese calendar uses the Stem-Branch
system to count the day, month and year. There are 10 Stems and 12
Branches in the system. Stems are named by the Yin-Yang and Five
Elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth). The Stem sequence order
is Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, Yang Earth, Yin Earth, Yang
Metal, Yin Metal, Yang Water and Yin Water. Branches use the animal
names. The Branch sequence order is Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon,
Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Pig.
Stem and Branch are used together to form a cycle of 60 counting systems
which begin from Wooden Rat and end with Water Pig. You can see the
entire sequence from the Chinese New Year's page. From Year 1924 to Year
1983 is a complete cycle. Year 2001 is Yin Metal Snake, the 18th of the
Stem-Branch in the system. The Chinese use the same Chinese character
for Gold and Metal, and as Gold sounds more valuable, the Chinese like to
call year 2001 the Golden Snake rather than the Metal Snake.
The Chinese New Year day is on January 24th. 2001. because this is the
new moon day, the first day of the first Chinese lunar month in the Chinese
Lunar Calendar system. Chinese will add one year to their Chinese age on
this day. If a baby is born on January 23rd. 2001, it is born in the year of
Dragon. This baby will be two years old on the Chinese New Year day,
because the Chinese count a baby as one year old when it is born. The baby
will then add one year to its age on each the Chinese New Year day.
In China, the first day of the Golden Snake Year is February 4th. 2001 in the
Fortune-Telling Calendar system, because February 4th. 2001 is the first day
of Tiger month and the Tiger month is the first month of a year in Chinese
Fortune-Telling Calendar system.
In the Chinese Fortune-Telling calendar, the first day of the first month, Tiger
month, is called "Start of Spring", which is when the sun enters 315th degree
on the tropical zodiac. In the China time zone, the time of Start of Spring is
at 02-04 02:29. So the first day of the Golden Snake year 2001 is on 02-04-
01. For USA the time of Start of Spring is on 02-03 at 10:29 PST and on 02-
03 at 13:29 EST. Therefore we can say that the first day of the Chinese
Golden Snake year is February 3rd. 2001 in USA.
The Year 2001 (Golden Snake) is the 4698th Chinese year. The Chinese
believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (he was not the first
emperor of China who completed the Great Wall). The Yellow King became
king in 2697 B.C., therefore China will enter the 4698th year on February 4th.
2001. Also, the Chinese Year uses the cycle of 60 Stem-Branch counting
systems and the Golden Snake is the 18th Stem-Branch in the cycle. Since
4698 = (60 *78) + 18, therefore this Golden Snake Year is the 4698th
Chinese Year.
Some web sites say the year 2001 is the 4699th Chinese year. If you cannot
find the explanation from there, here is a possible answer for you. The Yellow
King's inauguration was held in the spring of 2697 B.C.. But the calendar of
Yellow King used the winter solstice day as the first day of the year. So the
first winter solstice was on around December 23rd. 2698 B.C.. Today's
January 1st means nothing to Yellow King. If we count that extra eight days
in 2698 B.C. for a year, then year 2001 is the 4699th Chinese year.
White Snake
Year 2001 is the year of Golden Snake or Metal Snake. Year 2001 is also
called the Year of White Snake, because Metal is equivalent to White in the
Five Elements system.
Many Chinese would prefer to say year 2001 is the year of White Snake,
because there is a thousand-year-old Chinese love story about a man and a
White Snake that has been adapted to comics, cartoons, novels, opera and
movies so many times. If you are interested, please click here to read the
White Snake page.
[...]
Forecast
Chinese fortunetellers like to use the theory of Five Elements to predict
people's fortune. If you want to know if you are lucky or not in the year 2001,
you must know your lucky element from the Chinese Fortune-Telling
Calendar page first.
Year 2000 is a year of Golden Dragon. Chinese say people cannot see the
Dragon's head and tail at the same time. So the Dragon is unpredictable and
untouchable. The Golden Dragon year 2000 was really an unpredictable year.
Year 2001 is a year of Golden Snake. The Dragon year is the ending year of
Wood cycle (Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon), The Snake year is the beginning
year of Fire cycle (Snake, Horse and Sheep). That means the Snake is in
the Fire Group. The Golden Snake is a Metal on the top of the Fire. The
Metal is in trouble and has to fight with the Fire. That gives the hint that year
2001 will have many disagreements and arguments. Fortunately, the Snake
contains Fire and Earth (Soil). The Earth will act as a compromiser between
the Metal and the Fire, according the relationship of Five Elements.
Therefore, there will always be a solution or helper when things go wrong.
When you feel unlucky in year 2001, then think about Lady White fought to
save her marriage in the the story of White Snake.
[...]
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2001.htm
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Bridges for Peace items (1/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 10:04:56 -0500
ISRAEL'S POPULATION GROWS TO 6.4 MILLION
Israel's population stands at roughly 6.4 million people, a 2.4% increase over
last year, the Central Bureau of Statistics announced on December 31,
2000. The Jewish population -- including approximately 225,000 non-Jewish
immigrants -- is roughly 5.2 million, 81.4% of the total population. Arabs
comprise 18.8% of the total, at 1.2 million people. The population grew by
approximately 149,000 in 1999, a rate slightly less that 1998's 2.7%
increase but still higher than the international average. The slowdown is due
mainly to the decrease in new immigrants. Israel absorbed 61,000 new
immigrants last year, down from 77,000 in 1998.
Similar to the past several years, the overwhelming majority of new
immigrants came from the former Soviet Union. Since 1990, 870,000 of the
approximately 1 million new immigrants came from the Former Soviet Union.
The next largest group was Ethiopians, totaling 42,000 through that period.
During the 1980s, Israel's population grew slowly, mainly through natural
increase. (Jerusalem Post Staff, January 1, 2001)
ISRAEL FLORA, FAUNA DATABASE ON INTERNET
A unique database of Israeli flora and fauna has been developed as an
Internet site by a team of researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
headed by Dr. Ronen Kadmon, chairman of the Department of Evolution,
Systematics and Ecology.
The database, the first of its kind in Israel, called BioGIS, is a geographical
information system providing advanced tools for querying, analyzing,
modeling and visualizing patterns of species distributions in Israel. It is
expected to be of particular value to researchers as well as to
conservationists. BioGIS, currently in an early stage of development, can be
accessed at www.biogis.huji.ac.il.
The BioGIS database compiles records of plant and animal species from
herbaria and museum collections, as well as from surveys carried out by
academic institutions, individual scientists, governmental bodies and non-
governmental organizations in Israel.
Also in the database is information on a wide range of ecological factors,
such as precipitation, temperatures, rock formations and soil. In addition,
there is information available related to environmental issues, such as the
location of nature reserves, roads and populated areas.
"The BioGIS project has placed Israel on the world map of computerized
ecological information," said Dr. Kadmon. For the first time, not only
researchers but decision makers as well as members of the general public
can gain access through the Internet site to valuable information about the
flora and fauna of Israel that has been gathered by various researchers for
more than a century. This integration of material as well as the interactive
tools provided in the site make BioGIS one of the most advanced systems of
its type in the world, said Dr. Kadmon. For further information: contact Jerry
Barach, Dept. of Media Relations, 972-2-588-2904. (Hebrew University,
January 9, 2001)
http://www.bridgesforpeace.com
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) IDF Spokesperson: Briefing of the IDF Chief of Staff
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 18:51:22 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 08:26:31 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: IDF Spokesperson: Briefing of the IDF Chief of
Staff and Senior Members on the IDF General Staff on
October Soldier Kidnapping Incident in Northern Israel
IDF Spokesperson: Briefing of the IDF Chief of Staff and Senior Members on
the IDF General Staff on October Soldier Kidnapping Incident in Northern
Israel
11 January 2001
The Briefing was conducted by the Chief of the IDF General Staff, Lt. Gen.
Shaul Mofaz, GOC Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and Maj. Gen.
(Reserve) Yossi Peled
The Chief of the IDF General Staff:
The IDF appointed an investigation team headed by Maj. Gen. (reserve) Yossi
Peled and with the participation of Brig. Gen. (reserve) Giora Zorea and
Brig. Gen. (reserve) Meir Khalifi to investigate the abduction that occurre=
d
on October 7th and all its aspects.
The conclusions of the investigation were presented earlier today before th=
e
families of the three soldiers who were abducted: SSGT Omar Souad, SSGT
Avraham Binyamin and Sgt. Adi Avitan.
The soldiers were abducted by the Hizbullah while on a patrol along the
northern border fence, in the area of Mount Dov. This is a severe event and
the IDF and the state of Israel must use every effort to return them home. =
I
share the families' pain.
Several investigations were conducted and I conducted the final
investigation, which I presented before the families of the soldiers today.
The investigations focused on two main questions:
a. Did the IDF have any information that could have prevented the
kidnapping?
b. Were all the necessary operational measures taken in order to prevent
such an event?
Following the IDF's exit from Lebanon the Hizbullah deployed along the
border with Israel, this makes IDF activity in the area difficult.
This event constitutes a severe operational error as the investigation find=
s
that we had information on intentions to kidnap soldiers. The information
was not specific but was nevertheless available.
The situation in the field did not reflect our awareness to and
understanding of the threat.
The location of the kidnapping was defined a weak point, especially
vulnerable for such an event. Two weeks before the event, an exercise of th=
e
forces for a kidnapping incident was conducted on the field. Lessons were
derived but they were not followed on the field.
Investigations prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the patrol arrived a=
t
the point from which they were abducted on a daily basis as a part of their
patrol, so the question of why the patrol passed through that location is
irrelevant. I express my sadness to the families of the soldiers for the
things said in the past.
It is unclear whether the higher commands knew that this is how the patrols
are carried out. We train our soldiers to act swiftly and with determinatio=
n
while taking risks to prevent kidnappings. The investigation does not
conclude that the outcome of this event could have been changed. There was
no intelligence failure, but an operational one.
To summarize:
=B7 There was a gap in the level of awareness between the command and the
field ranks.
=B7 The soldier approached the point of the abduction without proper securi=
ty
measures.
=B7 Too much time was wasted between the beginning of the event until force=
s
were moved.
As far as we know, the Hizbullah used UNIFIL emblems and tried to cover thi=
s
up. There is no information regarding cooperation of UNIFIL in the event.
Conclusions:
Action to prevent kidnappings took place in the Northern Command, in all th=
e
command levels, but mistakes were done as well.
At the battalion level - not all-possible lessons were derived from the
exercises.
At the division level - lacking listening coordination.
At the field command - the sector line between the two divisions was
incorrect. The operational response between the two divisions cannot be
different.
Command level steps will be taken at a later time because more time is
required.
We must prevent such events from reoccurring. Lessons should be derived,
taught and distributed. I directed the distribution of lessons in the IDF b=
e
changed - distribution to the entire IDF.
We are with the families and we hope the efforts to return the soldiers wil=
l
be fruitful.
Maj. Gen. (reserve) Yossi Peled
We interviewed dozens of IDF soldiers of all ranks and patrolled in the
area. This is not an intelligence failure but a severe operational failure.
There is a lack of cooperation between the forces on the field. Some of the
commands did not internalize the change in sector following the IDF exit
from Lebanon.
Maj. Gen. Gabbi Ashkenzi
The parole arrived at point 590, parallel to the fence gate. Two explosions
occurred. A large explosive device was detonated near the patrol car and
there is no doubt that the soldiers were instantly injured. Another
explosion broke through the gate, the soldiers were loaded onto a vehicle
and were taken to Lebanon. During the event there was gunfire throughout th=
e
Hermon sector, Mount Dov until the village of Rajar.
After about 17 minutes the company commander arrived at the scene and saw
the burning patrol car. Special orders for deployment in an event of
kidnapping were enacted and we continued in pursuit, including on foot, int=
o
Lebanon, but to no avail.
--------------------------------------------
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Infobeat News items (1/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 18:55:22 -0500
*** Labs to check e-mail
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Department of Energy plans to start
inspecting all electronic mail entering or leaving four national
laboratories, in a pilot program designed to prevent spying. DOE
officials issued a notice Monday establishing the "Electronic Mail
Analysis Capability." According to the notice, a computer will sift
through the e-mail, forwarding anything suspicious to a
counterintelligence analyst. The e-mail inspection project is aimed
at testing whether monitoring e-mail is an effective way to deal
with espionage threats to nuclear weapons laboratories.
Full article at: http://www.infobeat.com/fullArticle?article=405803281
*** Clinton contributor to pay $8.6 mln
LOS ANGELES (AP) - In a record-setting plea bargain, Indonesian
billionaire James Riady agreed to pay an $8.6 million fine and plead
guilty to using foreign corporate funds to back Bill Clinton's 1992
presidential campaign, the Justice Department announced. Riady, a
key figure in the Democratic campaign finance scandal, is set to
plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the United
States, prosecutors said. He will surrender and come to this country
even though Indonesia has no extradition treaty with the United
States. He was scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Los
Angeles on Tuesday, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S.
attorney's office.
Full article at: http://www.infobeat.com/fullArticle?article=405804076
*** Troops storm Muslim rebel camp
COTABATO, Philippines (AP) - More than 1,500 soldiers backed by light
tanks, helicopter gunships and artillery stormed a Muslim rebel
headquarters after a five-day offensive in a southern Philippine
jungle, the military said Friday. Soldiers found 10 dead rebels
Thursday as they entered the sprawling camp of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front some 540 miles southeast of Manila in Mindanao
region, local army spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando said Friday. The army
said six soldiers were wounded. However, rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu
told a local radio station that the army only took part of the camp
and said the rebels killed 10 government troops and injured at least
15.
Full article at: http://www.infobeat.com/fullArticle?article=405802811
*** Cloned ox, from rare species, dies
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An endangered ox called an Asian gaur, named
Noah, cloned and gestated in the womb of a cow in a scientific
first, was born Monday at TransOva Genetics in Sioux Center, Iowa,
and died from common dysentery Wednesday, scientists announced
Friday. Scientists claimed bittersweet victory in the experiment
that used technology they hope can be used to shore up the numbers
of endangered animals. It was a project that united the technology
of cloning and with that of an interspecies birth. Noah was the
first animal to gestate in the womb of another species and survive
through the late stages of fetal development. Five other cows that
became pregnant with cloned gaur fetuses spontaneously aborted the
fetuses.
Full article at: http://www.infobeat.com/fullArticle?article=405802109
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] NewsScan items (1/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 18:57:15 -0500
KEN STARR JOINS LEGAL TEAM OPPOSING MICROSOFT
Prominent Washington attorney Kenneth C. Starr, best known for his
investigation of the Monica Lewinsky and other political scandals, has been
engaged by ProComp, a trade group that advocates the breaking-up of
Microsoft and that includes AOL, Sun, and Oracle. Another lawyer working
on
that effort is Walter Dellinger, an ardent Gore supporter. Starr and
Dellinger have both served as U.S. Solicitors General under different
administrations. Microsoft's team of lawyers with credentials in the public
arena include former White House Counsels Lloyd Cutler and C. Boyden
Gray
and former Attorneys General Griffin Bell and Nicholas deB. Katzenbach.
(Washington Post 12 Jan 2001)
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49171-2001Jan11.html
WHAT DOES "TRESPASS" MEAN IN CYBERSPACE?
Recent court cases have used the ancient law of "trespass" to rule against
companies that used software robots to search the public Web sites of other
companies to capture sales leads for mass marketing purposes. However,
the
original idea of trespass is that trespasser causes some kind of harm (such
as crashing the site being trespassed upon). But what if there is no harm -
crash or traffic gridlock or anything else? The recent decisions do not
seem to require that a plaintiff allege real harm, and some legal observers
are concerned that the decisions will have bad unintended consequences.
Dan
L. Burk, a University of Minnesota law professor, warns: "If I don't like
your linking to my site, or searching my site, even though it is open to
the public, and I say, 'Stop,' you have to stop... whether you are actually
hurting me or not." (New York Times 12 Jan 2001)
http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/01/12/technology/12CYBERLAW.html
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Weekend News Today items (1/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 19:03:37 -0500
Hague to back US upgrading of missile warning system=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Guardian Unlimited=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- William Hague will today set out his pre-election claims=
to=20
global statesmanship by pledging a Conservative government to support=20
President-elect George W Bush's plans for a "star wars" national missile=20
defence (NMD) system in the same way that Margaret Thatcher once=20
embraced the deployment of US cruise missles at Greenham Common. The=20
Tory leader's promise, to be made to a meeting in London of fellow=20
conservatives from Europe and the US, comes 24 hours after he had claimed=20
that his own brand of Eurosceptic realism is better-placed to protect Brita=
in's=20
interests in Europe - and to revitalise the EU - than Tony Blair's "heart o=
f=20
Europe" strategy.=20=20
Both propositions are controversial. But Mr Hague's endorsement of NMD will=
=20
put him at odds with the very European allies he courted in Berlin yesterda=
y.=20
They fear that, if Britain allows the US to update its early warning radar=
=20
system at Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, it will allow America to acquire=
=20
unilateral protection from missile attack by "rogue states" like Iraq or No=
rth=20
Korea.=20=20
US warns of terrorist threats in Israel, Palestinian Authority=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: AFP=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- The United States on Friday warned Americans not to=20
travel to Israel or the Palestinian territories due to increased terrorism =
threats=20
as officials in Washington expressed deep pessimism over the Middle East=20
peace process. "The US government has indications that there is a=20
heightened threat of terrorist incidents in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza,=
"=20
the State Department said in a statement. "In light of several recent terro=
rist=20
bombings in Israel and continuing violence in Gaza and the West Bank,=20
American citizens should exercise extreme caution and avoid shopping=20
areas, malls, public buses, bus stops as well as crowded areas and=20
demonstrations," it said.=20=20
Around the world, a slowdown in the U.S. blows a chilling wind=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: International Herald Tribune=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Los Angeles auto layoffs in Mexico, shuttered=20
semiconductor plants in Taiwan, slumping air and ship cargo demand across=20
Asia: All are early signs of a wave of financial dislocation that has begun=
to=20
work its way across the globe as the powerful U.S. economy slows down.=20
Whether these overseas retrenchments prove to be a temporary setback for=20
the world's most vulnerable countries or spiral into a worldwide recession=
=20
depends to a large degree on whether the United States can avoid a serious=
=20
contraction.=20=20
Yet given the huge stake the world has in a positive outcome, overseas=20
experts appear almost sanguine about the threat, a far cry from the feveris=
h=20
climate that engulfed the world's economies in the wake of the 1997 Asian=20
financial crisis. One reason is that the U.S. downturn so far appears cycli=
cal=20
and normal, not triggered by some crisis. Another, analysts say, is that th=
e=20
technology driven expansion of recent years has left the global economy in=
=20
better shape to weather a U.S. downturn.=20=20
Still, even a brief contraction in the U.S. economy, which consumes 30=20
percent of the world's total output, will have worrisome repercussions=20
thousands of miles away thanks to the increasing interdependence linking=20
Mexican assembly-line workers to Detroit automakers and Taiwanese=20
chipmakers to Silicon Valley computer companies. Particularly vulnerable=20
are Canada, Mexico, Japan and those around the world who have tied their=20
fortunes to the technology bandwagon - from Ireland to Singapore. Also at=20
risk is the global network that supports American manufacturers of=20
automobiles, airplanes and other capital-intensive products most likely to =
be=20
deferred in tight times.=20=20
The least vulnerable region is Western Europe, where most trade is=20
conducted within its own borders and the 12-nation euro zone, experts say,=
=20
is probably strong enough economically to shrug off trouble elsewhere. The=
=20
good news is that a global, wired economy transmits information so rapidly=
=20
that modern corporations can catch early signs of retrenchment and adjust=20
their production and inventory levels more quickly. Likewise, central banke=
rs=20
can theoretically adjust interest rates earlier in a slowdown cycle. But th=
at=20
does not prevent the sudden turns in attitude and confidence among=20
consumers and business owners that can throw an economy into reverse.=20=20
EU pledges millions toward next-generation Internet=20=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: Nando Times/AFP=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- The European Union will donate 9.8 million euros ($9.3=20
million) over three years toward the development by the European Laboratory=
=20
for Particle Physics, CERN, of a successor to the World Wide Web, the=20
Geneva-based body said Friday.=20=20
The DataGrid project will aim to produce a system able to handle vast=20
amounts of data and will build on emerging technologies to create a new=20
worldwide network on a scale not attempted previously, CERN said in a=20
statement. "As the World Wide Web is exploited by more and more people,=20
its limitations in dealing with the huge amounts of data involved become=20
more apparent," CERN, which developed the World Wide Web, said. The=20
funding formally was signed last December, it added.=20=20
"The DataGrid project will provide scientists around the world with flexibl=
e=20
access to unprecedented levels of computing resources and will initiate a=20
new era of e-science," it said. The DataGrid will link supercomputers,=20
processor farms, disks, major databases, information systems, collaborative=
=20
tools and people in a high speed network. The project, being developed in=20
collaboration with five other European partners, will help to coordinate=20
national grid projects, many of which are already under way, CERN said. =
=20
=
=20
Matter 'seen' disappearing into black holes for first time=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: CNN=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Orbiting telescopes found the strongest direct evidence =
yet=20
for the existence of black holes by measuring the release of energy from=20
space matter spiraling at an ever increasing speed into the bottomless maw=
=20
that marks the edge of a black hole.=20=20
When an X-ray nova contains a dense neutron core, the matter pulled toward=
=20
the center gets continually brighter, then flares in a final burst of X-ray=
s. But=20
when an X-ray nova contains a black hole, the energy spiraling inward=20
theoretically would disappear suddenly, without the final burst of energy.=
=20
Researchers said Thursday they have found at least four examples of energy=
=20
streams reacting as expected around a black hole.=20=20
Editor's Note: Judgement day for this Christ rejecting world is coming soon=
.=20
Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering=20
stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.=20=20
Pentagon to allow National Guard and Reserves to serve on elite nuclear=20
forces=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: AP=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- The Pentagon will again allow members of the National=20
Guard and Reserves to serve on teams of elite strategic nuclear forces. The=
=20
decision means thousands of citizen soldiers will be able to join the highl=
y=20
screened forces that guard and control the nation's nuclear weapons. It wil=
l=20
also enable the Air Force and Navy to consider new ways to use reserve=20
troops and guardsmen for jobs that are becoming increasingly difficult to f=
ill=20
due to declining military enrollment.=20=20
=
=20
Clinton says Mideast deal is up to Bush=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Reuters=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- President Bill Clinton, appearing to concede that a fina=
l=20
Middle East peace agreement was beyond his grasp, said today that getting=20
a deal would be up to his successor George W. Bush and the winner of=20
Israel's Feb. 6 vote. "Whatever happens will be the responsibility of the n=
ext=20
administration and the winner of the Israeli election, whoever that may be,=
"=20
Clinton said in an interview aboard Air Force One. Clinton was speaking as=
=20
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators scheduled further talks in their effort=
to=20
curb violence.=20=20
=
=20
Palestinians reject signing any partial deal=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: UPI=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said=
=20
Friday that the Palestinians would reject any partial agreement based on th=
e=20
proposals recently put forth by President Clinton. Abed Rabbo told=20
Palestinian radio that any final treaty with Israel must be based on the fu=
ll=20
implementation of the international resolutions related to ending the Israe=
li-
Palestinian conflict. "Any ideas or proposals less than the Palestinian=20
demands will be immediately rejected," said Abed Rabbo.=20=20
=
=20
Barak 'happy' for Putin to visit Mideast=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Reuters=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday he would=20
welcome a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Middle East,=20
saying both Russia and the United States could help resolve the current=20
crisis. "President Putin is a serious politician who has a deep understandi=
ng=20
of Middle East issues, and we will be very happy if President Putin visits =
the=20
Middle East," he said on Russia's state-run ORT television.=20=20
The Kremlin and foreign ministry were not available to comment on any plans=
=20
by the Russian leader to visit the region, although the Middle East News=20
Agency last month quoted Egypt's ambassador to Moscow as saying Putin=20
could visit in the spring. Israel and the Palestinians have urged Russia to=
=20
take a more active role in the search for peace, after playing second fiddl=
e to=20
the United States for years.=20=20
=
=20
Billion-dollar data cable will link U.S., Europe=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: TechWeb.com=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Plans for the world's most advanced transatlantic teleco=
m=20
cable were unveiled Friday by Britain's Cable & Wireless PLC. The 13,000-
kilometer cable, known as Apollo, is designed to carry Internet and data=20
traffic and will have 25 percent more capacity than other systems. The fina=
l=20
cost will be around $1.2 billion, with project financing from France's tele=
com-
equipment maker Alcatel. C&W said it has already sold a quarter of the=20
cable's capacity to a large U.S. carrier. The cable is due to begin service=
in=20
the summer of 2002.=20=20
=
=20
EU's Prodi Urges Maghreb Integration=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: Yahoo News/Reuters=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- European Commission President Romano Prodi told=20
Maghreb states on Friday their integration is a must for boosting cooperati=
on=20
with the European Union.=20=20
"Bilateral cooperation with the European Union is not enough. I came here t=
o=20
explore with officials the possibility of broadening the cooperation with t=
he=20
region," Prodi said. He flew to Algeria on Friday after two days in Tunisia=
and=20
will travel to Morocco at the weekend in a bid to give a new impetus to=20
Europe's relations with the region. "I'm visiting the region to prepare a s=
trong=20
regional policy with the Maghreb countries and to send a strong message=20
that cooperation with the south Mediterranean area is a priority for Europe=
,"=20
Prodi told a news conference.=20=20
His tour is the first official trip to the Maghreb region by a president of=
the=20
European Union's executive body. Tunis, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and=20
Mauritania set up the Maghreb Arab Union in 1989 to integrate their foreign=
=20
and economic policy but it has been dormant since 1995 due to a rift=20
between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara conflict.=20=20
Editor's Note:The Old Roman Empire (ORE) encompassed the area from the=20
British Isles all the way down to countries in North Africa and the=20
Mediterranean. Prodi is spearheading the EU's desire to unite with the othe=
r=20
two arms of the ORE.=20=20
=
=20
Egypt's Baz doubts Mideast will be Bush priority; decreased involvement=20
could open door for other countries=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Reuters=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- A senior political adviser to Egypt's President Hosni=20
Mubarak said Friday that he doubted the new U.S administration would=20
make Middle East peace efforts a top priority, Egypt's official Middle East=
=20
News Agency said. Osama al-Baz, a political veteran and long-time adviser=20
on international affairs including the Middle East, told MENA that decrease=
d=20
involvement by the United States under George W. Bush could open the door=20
for greater participation by others, primarily Egypt.=20=20
"Baz pointed out that the U.S. role would naturally be marginal and that th=
e=20
importance of other parties could increase, primarily the role of Egypt, as=
=20
well as the role of Europe, Russia and other Arab, Islamic, Asian or Africa=
n=20
countries," it said. Many Arab countries have accused the United States of=
=20
maintaining a pro-Israel bias in its Middle East peace efforts, and have ca=
lled=20
for greater involvement by Europe and Russia.=20=20
=
=20
Laser-equipped 747 designed to blast ballistic missiles=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: CNN=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- With its unmistakably equine nose and giant wingspan,=20
the Boeing 747 is a worldwide symbol of a workhorse that has been bearing=20
people and cargo around the globe for three decades. The new millennium=20
could give the old plane a newer, meaner image.=20=20
Engineers are making plans to change the gentle giant into a hot-blooded=20
killer with a swiveling nose-cone laser beam theoretically capable of=20
destroying enemy missiles hundreds of miles away.=20=20
=
=20
Lebanon sees bleak future if Sharon elected=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Reuters=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- The Lebanese government predicted Friday an ominous=20
future for the Middle East if Ariel Sharon won Israel's general elections n=
ext=20
month. Sharon, who opposes making concessions to the Palestinians, is=20
one of the most despised Israeli figures in the Arab Middle East, and=20
especially in Lebanon since he lead the Israeli invasion of the country in =
the=20
summer of 1982.=20=20
Financiers say a Sharon victory would discourage investment and hurt=20
Lebanon's chances of economic recovery. Dealers say pressure on the=20
Lebanese pound, which was heavy last year, could resume if Israel became=20
belligerent under Sharon. "This is the stage when we are in dire need of Ar=
ab=20
unity, especially with what is happening in Israel, especially if the next =
Israeli=20
election ends with the arrival of Sharon, the perpetrator of Sabra and Shat=
ila,"=20
said Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.=20=20
=
=20
The future of hydropower could mean bad news for U.S. rivers=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: CNN/ENN=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- As the pressure increases for utility companies to stay=
=20
competitive, some environmentalists believe that the health of rivers will =
also=20
be jeopardized.=20=20
More than 2,300 hydroelectric dams currently harness U.S. rivers to provide=
=20
nearly 11 percent of the country's total energy supply. Producing power fro=
m=20
rivers might seem benign because there are no billowing smokestacks. But=20
hydropower can increase water temperatures, change levels and eliminate=20
natural river flow.=20=20
It's profitable for companies to hold water behind dams until demand peaks=
=20
and electricity prices are the highest, and then let it rush through. That =
ability=20
is what makes hydropower particularly valuable in a deregulated market. But=
=20
it's also what is most destructive to rivers. Fahlund compares the process =
to=20
turning a faucet off and on full-blast. It blows fish downstream, scours ri=
ver=20
beds and smothers habitat with sand and silt.=20=20
=
=20
High Court hears petitions against negotiations=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Jerusalem Post=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Likud MK Limor Livnat blasted the government today for=20
conducting talks while Palestinian violence continues, Israel Radio reporte=
d.=20
Livnat said Israelis are likely to pay a heavy price for the decision to ea=
se the=20
closure on the territories during the talks. Meanwhile, the High Court of=20
Justice continued hearing petitions today questioning the authority of the=
=20
government to conduct negotiations during an election campaign.=20=20
=20
Peace talks to continue tomorrow night=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Jerusalem Post=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Peace negotiations are to continue tomorrow night in two=
=20
meetings: one between Regional Cooperation Minister Shimon Peres and=20
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and the second between the=20
negotiating teams, Israel Radio reported. The Israeli team will be headed b=
y=20
Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami and chief negotiator Gilead Sher, while the=
=20
Palestinian team will be led by Arafat's deputy, Mahmoud Abbas. Peres said=
=20
this afternoon that so far there has not been substantive progress in the t=
alks=20
and he finds it hard to believe that the remaining gaps can be overcome=20
before US President Bill Clinton leaves office next week.=20=20
=
=20
Israel's new Field Intelligence corps favored in war against PA=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Middle East Newsline=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Israel's military plans to give funding priority to its =
new=20
Field Intelligence corps amid the current mini-war with the Palestinian=20
Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Military commanders said the=20
new corps -- established last year -- has produced impressive results durin=
g=20
the more than three months of fighting in the guerrilla war between Israeli=
=20
troops and Palestinian fighters. They said the corps has been vital in=20
identifying targets for Israeli troops as well as providing alerts for Pale=
stinian=20
attacks. Israeli commando forces have killed about 30 Palestinian revolt=20
commanders in what PA officials said is an assassination campaign by the=20
military. The targets have been both Palestinian and civilian leaders of th=
e=20
revolt.=20=20
=
=20
Turkish military officials fear missile threat from Iran, Iraq and Syria =
=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Middle East Newsline=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- The United States and Turkey disagree over whether=20
Ankara faces the prospect of an enemy missile attack. Turkish military=20
officials said the threat is becoming dire as Ankara's neighbors are=20
developing intermediate- and long-range surface-to-surface missiles. These=
=20
include Iran, Iraq and Syria. The dispute centers around Turkey's request t=
o=20
participate in U.S. missile defense programs. These include the Arrow=20
system -- which is being developed with Israel -- and the Patriot Advanced=
=20
Capability or PAC-3.=20=20
Officials said the United States has agreed in principle to allow Turkey to=
join=20
the Arrow program, but said the Pentagon wants this delayed for several=20
years. U.S. officials said Ankara should focus on conventional weapons=20
systems. This includes proceeding with Turkish plans to coproduce attack=20
helicopters, airborne early-warning and control systems and main battle=20
tanks.=20=20
=
=20
5.8 earthquake in Canada...=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: faith=20
Source: USGS=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- On January 11th, a 5.8 magnitude quake rocked=20
Vancouver Island, a region of Canada. Also on the same day, a 5.5=20
magnitude quake rumbled through the Fiji Islands, east of Australia.=20=20
Today, a 5.0 hit the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and a 5.4 hit near the co=
ast=20
of Peru.=20=20
=
=20
Iran steps up weapons shipments to Hizbullah as Syria approved attack=20
expected any day=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Kelly=20
Source: Middle East Newsline=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- Iran has increased the shipment of weapons to the=20
Lebanese Hizbullah as the militia prepares for renewed fighting with Israel=
.=20
Israeli military sources said Iran has increased delivery of such arms as=20
mortars, rockets and anti-tank weapons. Iran has also trained Palestinians =
to=20
infiltrate Israel with handgliders. The military sources said Hizbullah has=
=20
increased its presence along the border with Israel. They said a Hizbullah=
=20
attack, approved by Syria, is expected any day.=20=20
=
=20
China calls on U.S. to scrap plans to build an anti-missile shield=20=20
Weekend News Today=20
Lead: Leo=20
Source: MSNBC=20
Fri Jan 12,2001 -- "We hope the United States will seriously heed the wise=
=20
appeals of the international community and abandon as soon as possible the=
=20
NMD plan,=94 the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to=
the=20
U.S. proposal to build a National Missile Defense.=20=20
The statement was issued in response to comments on Thursday by=20
Defense Secretary-designate Donald Rumsfeld which strongly endorsed the=20
NMD plan, conceived to intercept ballistic missiles from hostile states suc=
h=20
as Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Bush has promised to deploy a NMD system=20
as soon as possible despite opposition from Russia and China and fear=20
among U.S. allies in Europe that it would destroy the Anti-Ballistic Missil=
e=20
(ABM) treaty, jeopardizing all arms control pacts. Beijing has steadfastly=
=20
opposed NMD and last year spearheaded a U.N. resolution in support of the=20
ABM treaty.=20=20
http://216.219.160.226/cgi-
bin/readnews.cgi?day=3D01_01_12&item=3D#979340812
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] FBI taps into takeovers
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 19:07:02 -0500
FBI taps into takeovers
By Peter Spiegel
Published: January 10 2001 22:41GMT
During the three months set by US regulators for public debate on Deutsche
Telekom's planned $45bn acquisition of wireless provider VoiceStream, there
was intervention from an unlikely source - the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
The agency asked the Federal Communications Commission to hold off
approval of the merger until it resolved national security concerns over a
foreign company buying US phone licences.
The FBI wants to be sure it can tap phone calls originating or ending in the
US and to be able to detect any foreign surveillance of US radio waves.
"Granting the authority requested by the parties in this transaction could
present significant impediments to the ability of our government to meet its
obligations...to preserve the national security, enforce the laws and protect
the public safety," the agency argued.
The intervention is not expected to scupper the deal, although it may still
face opposition in Congress - indeed, both Deutsche Telekom and
VoiceStream joined in the FBI's filing asking for the deferment.
But it points to an important trend. As the number and range of foreign
acquisitions of US companies grows, federal agencies and, increasingly,
leading members of Congress, are raising national security objections to
deals.
Last week, ASM Lithography, a Dutch company that makes components for
chip manufacturers, was forced to delay its $1.6bn acquisition of California-
based Silicon Valley Group (SVG) when Utah Senator Robert Bennett wrote
to regulators requesting a detailed investigation of the national security
implications of the deal.
Tinsley Laboratories, an SVG subsidiary, makes special mirrors and lenses
used in American spy satellites, a technology opponents argue is unique
and should not be allowed to pass into foreign hands. Last summer,
Japanese phone giant NTT Communications was almost forced to scrap a
$5.5bn deal to acquire Colorado-based internet service provider Verio when
the FBI raised national security objections, arguing it should be able to tap
Verio's internet backbone without the Japanese government - which owns
NTT - finding out.
Much of the debate has focused on a once-obscure Treasury Department
panel, the Committee for Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), which was
formed in 1988 to review all cross-border deals for security dangers.
For much of the last decade, CFIUS has been a quiet agency - of the more
than 1,300 deals investigated in its history, only one has been blocked and
only seven withdrawn - that has largely limited itself to defence-related deals.
But security analysts who have been following the CFIUS process said the
NTT-Verio deal was a watershed, moving the agency into the spotlight and
encouraging politicians on Capitol Hill to get involved in its decision-making
process.
"Any time you have a process in this town that gets that kind of exposure, it
is bound to get politicised," said Brett Lambert, a security expert with DFI
International. "Which is unfortunate, since it was one of the only processes
in Washington that has actually worked in the last decade."
Until now, CFIUS reviews have been a secretive process, with committee
members forbidden from even revealing whether an investigation of a merger
was under way.
But experts said its growing role in foreign deals may force the incoming
Bush administration to rethink the committee's structure. A report from the
General Accounting Office argued that CFIUS's review process, even as it
grows, is still not wide-ranging enough, allowing deals to fall through the
cracks. It is as yet unclear where President-elect George W. Bush will come
down on the issue. In his campaign rhetoric, Mr Bush has been a strong
advocate of lowering trade barriers and reducing regulations imposed on
mergers, but he has also been highly critical of the Clinton administration's
handling of security-related matters.
Whichever way Mr Bush decides to move, he will also have to deal with an
increasingly restless Congress. In addition to Mr Bennett's efforts to raise
security concerns in the ASM deal, Senator Ernest Hollings, top Democrat
on the powerful Commerce Committee, is expected to reintroduce legislation
to hold up Telekom's acquisition of VoiceStream on security grounds.
Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican respected for his national security
expertise who ordered the GAO report on CFIUS, may introduce legislation
to broaden the committee's reach.
http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3II3RITHC
&live=true&tagid=ZZZOMSJK30C&subheading=US
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Report Warns of Space Threats
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 19:08:56 -0500
Report Warns of Space Threats=20
NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, Jan. 12, 2001=20
WASHINGTON (UPI) =96 Holding a device as small as a pack of cigarettes, a=20
person can scramble the signal from the Global Positioning System, which=20
the airlines, military and Coast Guard all depend on for navigation, target=
ing=20
and search and rescue, warns a new report on national security and space. =
=20
The device is made in Russia and is commercially available worldwide. It=20
works at up to 120 miles, according to the Commission to Assess United=20
States National Security Space Management and Organization, which=20
released a report that culminated more than a year of work.=20=20
The commission listed a host of threats to U.S. satellites and space-
dependent systems upon which the military and civilian worlds are=20
increasingly reliant, and made a series of recommendations on how the=20
government can reorganize itself to better protect and defend those interes=
ts.=20
=20
"We know from history that every medium =96 air, land and sea =96 has seen=
=20
conflict. Reality indicates that space will be no different," states the re=
port.=20
"Given this virtual certainty, the U.S. must develop the means both to dete=
r=20
and to defend against hostile acts in and from space."=20=20
"The U.S. is an attractive candidate for a 'Space Pearl Harbor,' " states t=
he=20
report. "The question is whether the U.S. will be wise enough to act=20
responsibly and soon enough to reduce U.S. space vulnerability. =85 We are=
=20
on notice, but we have not noticed."=20=20
"The United States is very dependent on space in ways we don't recognize,"=
=20
Adm. David Jeremiah said at a news conference Thursday to introduce the=20
report. "But the U.S. government, particularly the Defense Department and=20
CIA, is not very well arrayed or focused to meet national security space=20
needs for the 21st century."=20=20
The panel conducting the study was led by Donald Rumsfeld, President-elect=
=20
Bush's designee to be defense secretary.=20=20
Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday that the=20
vulnerability of satellites would be one of his concerns if he is confirmed=
for=20
the job.=20=20
"We do know that commercial capabilities in this area have for the most par=
t=20
no ability to survive mischief and attacks. We also know that, properly in =
my=20
view, the U.S. government and military are using more and more commercial=20
capabilities ... for a variety of things," Rumsfeld said.=20=20
Roughly 90 percent of the Defense Department's communications use=20
commercial systems, but it has a limited number of nuclear-hardened, jam-
resistant satellites if they are needed.=20=20
Threats range from attacking ground stations with conventional explosives t=
o=20
jamming signals, using tiny satellites to attack larger ones in orbit, or=20
detonating low-yield nuclear weapons in space to damage space assets with=20
radiation with little threat to human life.=20=20
Despite these vulnerabilities, the commission has recommended the military=
=20
use space even more heavily to transform its operations, especially in=20
intelligence collections. It recommended a series of reforms to streamline=
=20
budgeting, improve government coordination and speed responsiveness when=20
problems in space arise.=20=20
The commission sees space as an emerging area of conflict =96 not just in=20
attacks on satellites, but also as a political minefield as nations try to=
=20
regulate space, said Jeremiah.=20=20
It recommends promoting government and commercial investment in=20
research and technology so the United States retains its competitive edge=20
over the rest of the world.=20=20
It would put the Air Force in charge of "organizing, training and equipping=
" for=20
space operations. It already spends about 85 percent of the $7 billion=20
allocated by the Pentagon for that purpose every year. However, the=20
commission has warned that the Air Force historically does not treat space=
=20
operations with the same attention it lavishes on air operations.=20=20
If it gets this role, the Air Force "must take steps to create a culture wi=
th the=20
service dedicated to developing new space system concepts, doctrine and=20
operational capabilities."=20=20
The panel recommended more money for space operations =96 launch=20
capabilities, new space-based radars, lasers and sensors =96 but did not sa=
y=20
how much.=20=20
It also lamented that Congress has six committees with oversight of space=20
programs, creating a potential logjam if the government tries to streamline=
=20
and rationalize its space budgeting and operations.=20=20
It recommended that the defense secretary and director of central=20
intelligence meet regularly to discuss space "policy, objectives and issues=
"=20
and that the Pentagon elevate its intelligence office from assistant secret=
ary=20
to undersecretary level.=20=20
Copyright 2000 by United Press International. All rights reserved.=20=20
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/1/11/170041.shtml
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Russia: Presidential Veto Outlaws Alcohol
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 19:12:05 -0500
Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001. Page 1=20
Presidential Veto Outlaws Alcohol
By Lyuba Pronina=20
Staff Writer=20
Alcohol producers and wholesalers
awoke with a serious hangover New
Year's Day after President Vladimir
Putin made them outlaws with a
late-year veto that shocked the
industry.
"All alcohol that is now being
produced and sold on the territory of
Russia is technically illegal," said
National Alcohol Association head
Pavel Shapkin. "Any store can now
be shut for selling it."
The journey toward prohibition began
in August when Putin signed into law
four chapters of the second part of
the Tax Code, which included strict
new alcohol regulations that were
slated to become operational Jan. 1.=20
Among other stipulations, the code calls for excise duties on=
=20
alcohol to be split evenly
between producers and wholesalers, whereas previously the=20
producers bared the full
burden. Instead of a single stamp from just the producers, a=
=20
second, regional stamp
from the wholesalers is now needed. As a result, the excise t=
ax is=20
now split evenly
between federal and regional budgets.
In order to implement the new system, traders were to receive=
the=20
status of "excise
warehouses," where inspectors from the Tax Ministry, accordin=
g to=20
the plan, would
ensure the orderly use of special regional excise stamps and =
help=20
to rid the industry of
its estimated 40 percent to 70 percent bootleg production.
The legislation even stipulated that special tenders be held =
to=20
choose the companies
that would make the stamps.
It all sounded good. But in November, realizing that virtuall=
y nothing=20
had been
accomplished to turn the legislation into reality, the State =
Duma=20
voted to give the
government more time and delay the operational date of the ne=
w=20
system to June 1.=20
Meanwhile, Putin kept quiet and waited until less than three =
days=20
before the weeklong
holiday to inform Duma deputies in a letter that he had vetoe=
d their=20
extension and that
they would have to face the consequences for slow work.
"The failure by the government to take necessary measures for=
the=20
creation and
realization of regional special excise stamps =85 and the=20
mechanism of excise payments
by excise warehouses =85 is no foundation for delaying [the=20
implementation] of the
second part of the Tax Code," Putin wrote.
Putin's veto shocked producers and dealers alike. With no sys=
tem=20
in place, after Jan. 1,
all production and sales of alcohol became technically illega=
l.=20
Some producers stopped producing altogether out of fear. Many=
=20
decided to continue
business as usual and hope for the best.
Whatever the outcome, the effects are already taking their to=
ll=20
nationwide. And the
volumes involved are staggering. In the first 10 months of 20=
00,=20
Russia produced 950
million liters of alcohol, with preliminary forecasts for 200=
0 set at=20
1.2 billion liters, said
Shapkin of the National Alcohol Association.
All 10 distilleries in the Kemerovo region have stopped selli=
ng,=20
Shapkin said. Most
wholesalers in Tomsk have done the same, as have some in=20
Moscow.
"I am outraged with what happened," said Yelena Kondratyeva,=
=20
chief accountant at
Soyuzpromimpeks, a wholesaler with more than 1,500 retail=20
clients. "We have been left
to live as we choose, no one knows what to do, there are no=20
explanations or
instructions.
"We all are violating the law now, hoping not to be punished,=
"=20
Kondratyeva said.
Yury Molokin, deputy sales chief at the Moscow-based Topaz=20
distillery, said one of
his company's regional wholesale dealers had already suspende=
d=20
an order.
Alexei Yegarmin, deputy general director for Moscow's=20
Serebryanoprudsky distillery,
said his company wasn't altering its production. "We are work=
ing=20
as before," he said.=20
Regardless of their different strategies for dealing with bei=
ng in legal=20
limbo, however,
both producers and wholesalers wasted no time blaming the Tax=
=20
Ministry for being
slow with providing documents and instructions.
"By all means this is due to sluggishness of the Tax Ministry=
," said=20
Yegarmin. "The
required stamps have not been produced. The method for workin=
g=20
with the excise
warehouses are not worked out. With a later deadline they [th=
e=20
ministry] relaxed and
was not prepared [for Putin's veto]," he said.
"Tax officials themselves say they know nothing," said=20
Soyuzpromimpeks'
Kondratyeva.=20
When contacted by telephone Wednesday, a Tax Ministry=20
spokeswoman said the
ministry wasn't prepared to comment. The spokeswoman said the=
=20
ministry would hold
a press conference on the issue at the end of the month.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2001/01/11/001.html
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