BPR Mailing List Digest: 03/12/01

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
March 12, 2001

Digest Home | 2001 | March, 2001

To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] Syrophoenicians and other nations
From: Sam O
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 15:43:22 -0500

Try the following website:
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/phenicia.html

On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 03:28:03 -0800 rubyrock1@juno.com writes:
Can anyone recommend a good book or web site that discusses the culture
and location of the Syrophoenicians and the other nations that surrounded
the Jewish people?

I would like to study them all at some depth, but I am particularly
interested in the Syrophoenicians and the Gibeonites at the moment.

Thanks
In Jesus the Lord

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Spread the Word Ministry
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To: messynews@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Purim Fun
From: Stafford's Mail <simmonds@freeuk.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 14:42:42 GMT

Shalom Friends,
The following was sent to me by a Israeli friend for Purim (Esther)
Blessings, Stafford.

The story of Purim is an international tale.

King Achashverosh was Finnish with his disobedient wife Vashti.
"You Congo now!" he ordered her. After she had Ghana way, the king's
messengers went Roman the land to find a new queen. And India end,
the beautiful Esther won the crown.

Meanwhile, Mordechai sat outside the palace, where the Chile Haman
would Czech up on him daily. "I Haiti you because you refuse to bow
to me!" Haman scolded Mordechai.

"USA very stubborn man. You Jews are such Bahamas! If you keep this
up, Denmark my words! I will have all your people killed! Just Kuwait
and see, you Turkey! " Mordechai went into mourning and tore his
clothes-a custom known as Korea. He urged Esther to plead with the
king. The Jews fasted for three days and grew very Hungary. Esther
approached the king and asked, 'Kenya Belize come to a banquet I've
prepared for you and Haman?" At the feast, she invited her guests to
a second banquet to eat Samoa.

The king asked, "Esther, why Jamaica big meal like this? Just tell
me what you want. Unto half my United Kingdom will I give you."
Esther replied, "Spain full for me to say this, but Haman is Russian
to kill my people." Haman's loud Wales could be heard as he carried
Honduran this scene. "Oman!" Haman cried bitterly. "Iraq my brains
in an effort to destroy the Jews. But that sneaky Mordechai - Egypt
me! " Haman and his ten sons were hanged and went immediately to the
Netherlands. And to Sweden the deal, the Jews were allowed to Polish
off the rest of their foes as well. "You lost your enemies and
Uganda friend," the king smiled.

And that is why the Purim story Israeli a miracle. God decided to
China light on His chosen people.

So now, let's celebrate! Forget all your Syria's business and just
he happy! Serb up some wine and Taiwan on! Happy Purim!!!

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Stafford's Mail <staffordsimmonds@ntlworld.com>

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To: "David Elphick" <elphick@gohip.com>, <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Re: antichrist
From: "John
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 10:47:00 +1300

Hi David,
The trinity idea and Satan is informative.

Just as there is a Divine Trinity so there is a satanic trinity - but
interpreters often make the wrong connections in my opinion.

Often the satanic trinity is identified as Satan (Rev 12), the
Antichrist/beast (Rev 13) and the False Prophet (Rev 13). I think this is
the wrong connection - at least the false prophet is.

I think the satanic trinity is the 3 seven headed beasts of Revelation 12,
13 &17. I.e satan, the antichrist/beast and the beast of ch 17 - which is
clearly distinguished from the beast of ch 13 in 17:8.
"the beast that was and is not...." refers to the beast of ch 13 (refers
back to 13:3).

The beast of ch 17 is different - it is the spirit of antichrist /
lawlessness that Paul says "is already at work" (2 Thess 2). It consists of
seven fallen angelic princes, each one of which has spawned a world empire,
or in biblical symbolism, seven mountains (Rev 17:9) - Babel, Assyria,
Babylon, MedoPersia, Greece ("5 have fallen") and Rome ("one is" - true at
the time of writing) and the Revival of the 10 horns at the end of the age
("one is to come"). Each of these empires were personified in their kings -
Nimrod, Sargon, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander, Caesar as was normal in
ancient times.
Thus John can write "the seven heads are seven mountains (i.e. empires) and
they are seven kings" i.e. the 7 heads are seven empires personified in
their kings.

The seventh head of the beast of Rev 17 has 10 horns but notice 17:16 which
indicates that the 10 horns/kings exist at the time of the beast of ch 13,
the antichrist, i.e. all the 10 horns are on the 7th head. This ties in with
Daniel 2 - the 10 toes and other prophecies relating to the end time
empire.

But Rev 17:11 indicates that the beast/antichrist is actually "an eighth"
that is his empire is not to be counted as one of the seven empires of this
beast. But "he is of the seven" this can only be taken to mean that the
seven evil spirits that make up the 7 headed spirit of Antichrist here
actually come together in the final manifestation of evil.

Now think on this. The empires listed above in history were horrendously
evil - but each one was only the result of one fallen angel driving it. What
then will be the evil of the 8th empire if it is driven by the whole seven
evil angels together?
It doesn't bear thinking about. But we should think.

Now Daniel 10 is interesting here as it tells us of the "Prince of Persia"
and the "Prince of Greece" which are apparently fallen angel princes which
were the driving forces behind those empires. It is permissable to suggest
that each of the seven empires I have listed will thus have a driving fallen
angel behind it. Thus in my view the 7 of them make up the spirit of
Antichrist /lawlessness. Which Paul says is "already at work" (2 Thess 2) as
it was and had been since Babel and before.

The story of Babel is fascinating as it is the original evil empire and sets
the model for those that follow. There is a principle of scriptural
interpretation called "the law of first mention" wherein the first mention
in scriptureof any theme or doctrine sets the apttern for that doctrine
throughout scripture. Thus Hislop's book "the Two Babylons" is required
reading for any student of prophecy and is availabel off the net. I do not
agree with ihs i.d. of babylon with the Roman Catholic church - that is too
simplisitic and I don't want to enter that debate, but his analysis of the
system of Babylon as originating at Babel is a monumental work or
scholarship.

Daniel 10 then has something else interesting to instruct us on.

In Dan 10 these fallen angel princes are being restrained by another
archangel who for a period is replaced by Michael (an archangel) so the 1st
archangel can proceed to Daniel, after which he was going to go back to
continue the fight so Michael could get on with other business. Careful
study of Daniel reveals this 1st archangel to be Gabriel.

This would lead me to suggest that when we look over into 2 Thess 2 where we
find the spirit behind the appearance of Antichrist, i.e. the spirit of
lawlessness/antichrist is being restrained by some unidentified force who is
obviously on Gods side and is personal, the Restrainer, we should take the
lead from Daniel 10 and identify the restrainer with Gabriel.

This has implications on other theories - namely that at the pretribulation
rapture (should there be such a thing) the Holy Spirit is removed from the
earth because he is the restrainer. If we i.d. the restrainer with Gabriel
this doctrine falls. And there is no reason to i.d. the restrainer with the
Holy Spirit. And there is no supporting evidence that the Holy Spirit will
be removed from the earth at any stage. But if the restrainer is to be i.d.
with the angel of Daniel 10, Gabriel, then the problems are solved.

Anyway have a happy think time.
Johninnz
----- Original Message -----
From: "David
To: <jmbrough@ihug.co.nz>
Cc: <norm_lists@bigfoot.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 12:20 PM
Subject: RE: antichrist

> Hello John,
>
> I agree with you. Satan appeared physically at the beginning and I think
therefore he will appear physically at the end in some form or other.
>
> On the Trinity, I see it clearly described in Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. We have
God said: and we know Jesus is the Word, so that is two of the three. In
Gen. 1:2 we have the holy spirit at work.
>
> I hope you don't mind my forwarding this email onto Norm.
>
> Cheers,
> David
>
> >From: "John
> >To: "David Elphick" <elphick@gohip.com>, <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
> >Subject: antichrist
> >Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 09:38:16 +1300
> >
> >Hi again,
> >Your analysis of "antichrist" is good. Agreed that the use of it in Johns
epistles is general and means Someone who is against Christ" and refers to
many people - John says so - and not to an individual at the end of the age.
> >
> >It is difficult that the name is not directly applied in scripture to a
personage at the end of the age. This identification has been made by the
church - rightly or wrongly.
> >
> >But even if we abandon the title "antichrist" there is still strong
evidence for a person at the end of the age who will oppose Christ and will
in the fullest sense be "Antichrist". It is this evidence that has lead the
church to attribute the name "Antichrist" to the son of Perdition", "The
beast" and so on. I.e. there are many "antichrists" but at the end of the
age there will be "THE Antichrist". It would be hard to interpret 2 Thess or
Matt 24 in any other way but to acknowledge the existence of such a person
whether we want to call him Antichrist or not.
> >
> >For me it is a bit like the term "Trinity". Which is one step further
back than "Antichrist" because it has not actual scriptural usage. But the
elements that make up the doctrine of the Trinity are clearly in the Book so
I am happy to accept the title. In the same way the elements of the doctrine
of Antichrist are in the Book and so if we give it a title "Antichrist" like
we have given the Trinity the title "Trinity" then thats OK by me. It is
really helpful to have a shorthand way of referring to the doctrine of God
and it is just the same with the Antichrist.
> >
> >However whether or not there is an antichrist at the end of the age
really does not prove or disprove the existence of a millenium - they are
separate issues.
> >
> >As for "bound"
> >
> >Yes your dictionary definition is helpful - but there are degrees of
binding. The dictionary only tells us about the total effect not if there is
only a binding in a particular way. Satan is bound by the work of the
cross - but the question is "In what way?" "Is it in the same way that Rev
20 Means?" "The fact that Satan still works - what does that mean to the
idea of him now being bound?" "Is he bound hand and foot? or is he gagged as
well? or is he trussed up like a mummy?"
> >
> >The normal understanding is that Satan lost his legal rights over mankind
and the earth gained through sin because of the work of Christ on the cross.
But the redemption of the purchased possession cannot yet be reclaimed even
though the price has been paid because the original owner (mankind) have to
agree to the redemption by their kinsman Jesus. Thus we have the gospel age
where we are trying to tell men that the redemption has been paid and we can
accept it. This age comes to an end when every man, woman and child who
canunderstand who is alive at that point of time has heard the gospel and
either accepted or rejected it. Until the corporate fallen Adam has heard
Christ cannot return - it would be a legal wrong for him to do so. Satan
would have a legal argument for not being judged. While there are unreached
people groups and individuals in the world Christ will not come to bring an
end to this gospel age. The Gospel shall be preached to all men - and then
the end shall!
> come. Jesus said so.
> >
> >Johninnz
> >
> ><< msg2.html >>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Free Movies at http://www.gohip.com
>
>
>

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Theme Park�s Anti- Charismatic Stand Criticized
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:15:35 -0500

March 11, 2001

Theme Park92s Anti- Charismatic Stand Criticized

(CHARISMA) -- A month after opening to criticism from Jewish leaders, a
multimillion-dollar Christian theme park is again embroiled in controversy
--
this time for its policy against hiring charismatic or Pentecostal Christia
ns.

According to "The Orlando Sentinel" today, Marvin Rosenthal, founder of The

Holy Land Experience (HLE) in Orlando, Fla., said charismatics need not
apply for any positions at the attraction, including selling hot dogs at it
s
restaurant. Prospective employees must sign a Christian "doctrinal
statement" of belief -- which excludes charismatics and Pentecostals - to
work at the $16 million, 15-acre "living biblical museum."

The attraction near Universal Studios hit the headlines last month, when
rabbinical leaders criticized HLE92s concept and plan to proselytize Jews.

Rosenthal, an independent Baptist minister, defended the park92s mission
then - and has now said that hiring charismatics would be "hypocritical."
"We are not charismatics," he told the "Sentinel." "We love them. We
appreciate them. But we would not offer them a job."

However Gregg Halteman, HLE92s director of marketing and public relations,

said the park already employs some charismatics. Rosenthal told the
Charisma News Service (CNS) that current charismatic employees will not
be terminated. "No one will lose his or her job," he said.

Clark Whitten, senior pastor of Calvary Assembly of God in the Orlando area
,
said he became concerned with HLE92s anti- charismatic hiring policy after
a
couple of people from his congregation told him they were refused jobs at t
he
park. "Anyone that holds to the stance that Rosenthal does about
charismatics, in my opinion, wouldn92t hire the Apostle Paul to work with
him
or work for him," Whitten told the "Sentinel." "Paul was a charismatic, as

were many others in the New Testament."

Whitten, however, told CNS that he was not planning to ask his 6,000
members not to visit the attraction, as had been reported. "What I said was
I
am not going to raise this issue to my people," Whitten said today. "I have

no plans to advocate a boycott of the theme park."

Despite the latest controversy, business at the park is booming. According

to the "Sentinel," HLE reaches its 1,200 capacity almost daily, often by
noon. Rosenthal said charismatics and any paying customers were
welcome. "We welcome everybody," Rosenthal told the newspaper.

HLE has a policy against "disruptive behavior" for the park92s visitors,
however, that Halteman said could include exuberant forms of worship, such

as speaking in tongues. "The policy is pretty standard for a public facilit
y,"
he said. "We92re not targeting people from exercising their spiritual gift
s. It
could just be a 5-year-old trying to climb up on top of a tomb. We want to

make sure folks don92t do things that make people wish they were
somewhere else."

Halteman said he thought Rosenthal92s remarks had been overemphasized. "I

don92t know if I would term this as a black eye for us," he said "Some
Christians just believe one way and some another. We serve the same God.
When you really boil it all down, that really is the important issue."

A9 2001 charismanews.com

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/01a/20010309a.shtml

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Shelter Criticized For Turning Down Homosexual Donation
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:17:17 -0500

March 11, 2001

Shelter Criticized For Turning Down Homosexual Donation

(CHARISMA) -- A Christian-run homeless shelter in Albuquerque, N.M., has
been criticized for turning down a $1,200 donation from a local homosexual

group. Joy Junction declined the gift after being told that the money had b
een
raised at a drag show - and was 'blasted' for its stand, said executive dir
ector
Jeremy Reynalds.

He defended the decision, saying it had been made in the light of 93biblic
al
concerns about the homosexual lifestyle.94 An administrator for the minist
ry
had telephoned the group concerned to thank the members for the offer and
93respectfully94 decline the gift.

93Sadly, whenever a group such as ours makes a stand like this it becomes
a
very controversial issue,94 Reynalds said. Last year the Gospel Rescue
Mission in Tucson, Ariz., came under fire after refusing to allow a gay
Republican congressman to help serve Thanksgiving dinners on the grounds
that his views were in opposition to what the ministry stood for.

The Memphis Union Mission has recently declined further deliveries of free

meat from the U.S. Department of Agriculture after being told it would have
to
drop its compulsory chapel service before meals to continue receiving the
government help. Between January and July last year, the department had
given 10 tons of meat - worth $30,000 - to the program.

A9 2001 charismanews.com

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/01a/20010309b.shtml

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Fetal cell implants yield `disastrous' side effects
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:19:26 -0500

Fetal cell implants yield `disastrous' side effects
Source: Times Union Albany, NY
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Arrival time: 2001-03-09

A carefully controlled study that attempted to treat Parkinson's disease by
implanting cells from aborted fetuses into patients' brains not only failed
to show an overall benefit but also revealed a disastrous side effect,
scientists report. In about 15 percent of patients, the cells apparently
grew too well, churning out so much of a chemical that controls movement
that the patients writhed and jerked uncontrollably.
The researchers say there is no way to remove or deactivate the transplante
d
cells.

On their advice, the six patients who enrolled in the study but who had not
yet had the operation have decided to forgo it.

The results, reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine, are a
severe blow to what had been considered a highly promising avenue of
research for treating Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other
neurological ailments. The study indicates that the simple solution of
injecting fetal cells into a patient's brain may not be enough to treat
complex diseases involving nerve cells and connections that are poorly
understood. Some say it is time to go back to the laboratory and to animals
before doing any more operations on humans.

The findings also may fuel the debate over whether it is appropriate to use
fetal tissue from aborted fetuses to treat diseases. Despite their
disappointment, some researchers said they hoped that the results would not
bring fetal cell research to a grinding halt.

"This is still our one great hope for a cure," said Dr. J. William Langston
of The Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Parkinson's disease occurs when cells of the substantia nigra in the base o
f
the brain die for unknown reasons. The hope was that fetal substantia nigra
cells might take over for them. But, the study showed, in older patients th
e
operation had no benefit and in some younger patients, the transplants
brought on nightmarish side effects.

"They chew constantly, their fingers go up and down, their wrists flex and
distend," said Dr. Paul E. Greene, a neurologist at Columbia University's
College of Physicians and Surgeons and a researcher in the study. "And the
patients writhe and twist, jerk their heads, fling their arms about. For
now, Greene said, his position is clear: "No more fetal transplants."

Publication date: 2001-03-08
A9 2000, YellowBrix, Inc.

http://newsreal.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id3D18804307
&ID
3Dnewsreal&scategory3DInternet

via: isml@yahoogroups.com

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Congress Questions FDA on Human Cloning
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:20:47 -0500

Friday March 9 5:41 PM ET
Congress Questions FDA on Human Cloning

By Kate Fodor

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Following a spate of high profile news reports
about research aimed at cloning human beings, Congressman James
Greenwood
(R-PA) has asked the US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites)
(FDA) to outline its plans for regulating trials of the controversial
technology.

Greenwood, who is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations, sent a letter this week to Dr. Bernard
Schwetz, acting principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, informing him
that
``the subcommittee is examining the adequacy of federal oversight'' of human
cloning research.

The congressman cited recent news articles--including a Time magazine
cover
story published late last month--reporting that some scientists are nearly
ready to begin attempts at human cloning.

``The very fact that at this moment, the research is proceeding underground,
unaccountable, poses a real threat,'' his letter states.

In addition to safety concerns and the potential for scams aimed at bereaved
parents and infertile couples, ``the immediate risk is that a backlash
against renegade science might strike at responsible science as well,'' the
congressman maintained.

In 1998, the FDA issued a statement asserting its jurisdiction over human
cloning trials. The agency stressed that sponsors of such trials, like
sponsors of other medical research on humans, must receive FDA approval
before beginning their research.

To gain such approval, sponsors must convince the agency that the studies
are reasonably safe--a feat that seems unlikely in the near future, as it is
generally agreed that the current technology carries unacceptably high risks
of miscarriages and birth defects.

In his letter, Greenwood asked the FDA to elaborate on the ''full extent of
the agency's claimed legal authority,'' how it has exercised that authority
and whether it perceives ``gaps in statutory or regulatory authority'' that
could make human cloning difficult to control. The congressman also has
requested that the agency report on any human cloning research of which it
is aware and detail the contact it has had with the scientists involved.

The FDA has been asked to reply to the letter by March 19, as well as to
participate in a briefing to discuss the issues in depth with members of the
subcommittee.

Pete Sheffield, a spokesman for the House Energy and Commerce
Committee,
told Reuters Health that the committee has ''total jurisdiction over the
Food and Drug Administration'' and has followed the cloning issue closely
since the birth of the cloned sheep Dolly.

``We're trying to collect detailed information to get a better sense of how
the FDA has proceeded in this field,'' he said. ``At this point, it's kind
of a fact-finding mission--we want to get a sense of how things have
proceeded at FDA since their 1998 proclamation--and from there I think you
could expect an evaluation of the procedures and guidelines that FDA
follows.''

But while Congress seems intent on defining the agency's role in overseeing
human cloning research, the effort may have few practical effects.
Researchers are almost certain to conduct their human cloning projects
outside the US in countries where regulatory oversight tends to be more lax.

The Raelians, the Canadian cult at the center of the recent media frenzy,
has established a for-profit cloning company in the Bahamas, while a
scientific coalition founded by fertility experts Drs. Panos Zavos and
Severino Antinori plans to conduct its human cloning efforts in an unnamed
Mediterranean country.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010309/hl/cloning_1.html
via: isml@yahoogroups.com

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Hundreds Volunteer for Clones, Scientists Say
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:22:38 -0500

WIRE: 03/09/2001 12:33 am ET
Hundreds Volunteer for Clones, Scientists Say

ROME (Reuters) - Hundreds of couples have volunteered for an experiment to
create the first cloned children despite strong religious and scientific
opposition, a team of scientists said Friday.

Since the international team said in January it would work to produce the
first human clone, between 600 and 700 couples have put themselves forward
and the number is rising rapidly, U.S. doctor Panayiotis Zavos said.

"Interest has come from all over, from Japan to Argentina, from Germany to
Britain," he told reporters after saying his team was ready to start cloning
in the next few weeks, principally to help infertile couples bear children.

"Being infertile is like a stop sign. You face the deficiency and ask God
'Why me? Why do I have to go and get sperm cells from someone else in
order
to have a child?"' he said after a cloning conference at a Rome university
hospital.

And he deflected mounting criticism of his plans, saying people would
eventually get over opposition to human cloning.

"Historically this is normal but once the first baby is born and it cries,
the world will embrace it," he said.

"Now that we have crossed into the third millennium, we have the technology
to break the rules of nature."

But the proposal has come under fire from mainstream scientists and
religious groups. Friday, Father Gino Concetti, a moral theologian whose
views are thought to reflect those of Pope John Paul, reiterated the
Vatican's stance.

"These proposals contradict the truth of mankind, man's dignity, man's
rights ... especially the right to be conceived in the human way," Concetti
told Reuters.

Italian team member Severino Antinori, who gained notoriety by helping a
62-year-old woman give birth, also sought to dispel the flood of
disapproval.

"Cloning may be considered as the last frontier to overcome male sterility
and give the possibility to infertile males to pass on their genetic
pattern," he told a packed auditorium of scientists and journalists.

"Some people say we are going to clone the world, but this isn't true... I'm
asking all of us to be prudent and calm. We're talking science, we're not
here to create a fuss."

WAVE OF OPPOSITION

Bishop Elio Sgreccia, head of the John Paul II Institute for Bioethics at
Rome's Gemelli hospital, said human cloning raised profoundly disturbing
ethical issues.

"Those who made the atomic bomb went ahead in spite of knowing about its
terrible destruction," he told Reuters Television before the cloning meeting
started. "But this doesn't mean that it was the best choice for humanity."

"The forecasts (about human cloning) sadden us but don't scare us," he said,
adding it would be a betrayal if the Roman Catholic Church's voice was not
heard in the debate.

Scientists have also slammed the plan. A director of Rome's La Sapienza
university wrote a letter disapproving of the cloning conference being held
in one of its halls.

"I consider it disgraceful... and I dissociate myself from the meeting,"
Professor Ermelando Cosmi wrote.

Scientists have warned that 97 percent of animal cloning attempts have been
unsuccessful and that those embryos which survive to birth are often
deformed.

Dr. Ian Wilmut, who created Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, said it
had taken 277 attempts to get it right.

Zavos said that might not be the case with humans, firstly because they were
a different species and secondly because the embryos would be scrutinized
for any deformity.

The team said they would start work within weeks but would not say where
they will set up their cloning laboratory for security reasons. When the
team announced their plans in January, they said they would work in a
Mediterranean country.

Zanos added they had "unlimited funds" from private donors but again would
not elaborate.

"We have plenty of money, I can assure you. There are no financial
restrictions," he said.

GOVERNMENT IN OR OUT?

Zavos said he was determined governments should develop further legislation
on human cloning to keep it under control but at the same time said his
experiments should not be subject to government scrutiny.

"We don't want the government involved in this project," he said. "This is a
high-tech, serious project and we're not going to bring in the technocrats
if they are not needed."

Last year, Britain proposed allowing human cells to be cloned for research
purposes while other European countries including Spain and France have
banned human cloning altogether.

Predominantly Roman Catholic Italy has looked into the therapeutic cloning
of stem cells in order to combat degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and
Alzheimers.

"The genie is out of the bottle. We need to make sure it is bottled and
disseminated responsibly," Zavos said.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20010309_2155.html
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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Invisible asteroids might endanger Earth
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:29:00 -0500

Invisible asteroids might endanger Earth
Friday, 9 March 2001 13:44 (ET)

Invisible asteroids might endanger Earth

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 9 (UPI) -- Invisible asteroids and other
cosmic bodies made of a new form of matter may pose a threat to Earth,
asserts a noted Australian physicist.

Robert Foot of the University of Melbourne claims a meteorite composed of
mirror matter -- a form of the invisible dark matter that many say makes up
over 95 percent of the universe -- could impact the Earth without leaving
any fragments.

Indeed, he told United Press International, asteroids made of mirror
matter may have been responsible for such cataclysmic events as the
so-called Tunguska blast, which destroyed acres of Siberian forest in 1908.

While scientists generally attribute this explosion to a meteorite, no
traces of such an object have ever been found.

However, "mirror matter would be undetectable in our ordinary matter
surroundings," Foot told UPI in a telephone interview.

Foot believes mirror-matter asteroids might be a greater danger than
normal asteroids.

"These objects may pose an overall greater risk than space bodies
composed
of ordinary matter," Foot said. "An approaching space body made of pure
mirror matter would not be detectable -- only after impact with the
atmosphere would its effects be observable, but then it would probably be to
late to do anything."

Mirror matter, Foot claims, arises naturally from two apparent symmetries
of nature. One says matter is unchanged whether it moves forward or
backward
in time; the other, that nature doesn't distinguish between right- and
left-handed orientations.

"These particles must exist if the symmetries exist," Foot said.

In the invisible universe of mirror matter, Foot explained, space and time
are reversed. Time moves backward and right-handed spatial coordinates
have
been interchanged with their left-handed counterparts.

Something in the visible universe that is sitting at 50 degrees north and
20 degrees west as the clock ticks toward the future would have an
invisible, identical counterpart at 50 degrees south and 20 degrees east as
the clock ticks toward the past, according to Foot's theory.

Invisible forms of matter that preserve symmetries are nothing new to
physicists. Nobel Laureate Paul Dirac predicted that anti-matter must exist
to preserve certain symmetries of matter. His prediction was borne out with
the discovery of positrons, the anti-matter form of electrons.

Princeton physicist Howard Georgi is skeptical of Foot's claims, however.

"Robert Foot's ideas are interesting," Georgi told UPI. "They are also, of
course, extremely speculative."

Georgi also believes that invisible asteroids are not a top priority of
physics research.

"Foot's ideas have not attracted a huge following in the community that
cares about these things, perhaps because the problems they solve, while
interesting, are not the most critical puzzles that we are wrestling with,"
Georgi said.

(Reported by UPI Science Writer Mike Martin from Columbia, Mo.)

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Iraqis Start Military Training to Aid Palestinians
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:36:04 -0500

Saturday March 10 1:34 PM ET

Iraqis Start Military Training to Aid Palestinians

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Several thousand Iraqis began military training on
Saturday to enable them to fight alongside Palestinians in their uprising
against Israel, the Iraqi News Agency INA reported on Saturday.

President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), in an open letter to the Iraqi
people on February 17, ordered the formation of 21 military divisions.

``The first group of volunteers went on Saturday to training camps in
Baghdad and the provinces after an appeal by President Saddam Hussein to
fight for the liberation of Palestine and al- Quds from the racist Zionist
occupation,'' INA said.

According to official figures nearly seven million Iraqis have volunteered to
fight with the Palestinians against Israel.

INA also quoted Saddam as urging Arab leaders to ``render financial support
as quickly as possible to the Palestinian uprising.''

Saddam made his appeal during a meeting with top Iraqi leaders including
Vice-Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council Izzat Ibrahim,
Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan and Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz.
Saddam decided to set up the new army divisions a day after U.S. and
British
warplanes raided targets near Baghdad.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010310/ts/mideast_iraq_dc_1.html

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Human clone lab is in Caesarea; Expert denies
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:42:33 -0500

2 Articles, Human clone lab is in Caesarea, from Ha'aretz News,
http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?mador14&datee03/11/01&
id
112970

Expert denies report Israel will produce cloned infants,
from The Jerusalem Post,
http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/03/11/News/News.22718.html
-
Sunday, March 11, 2001

Human clone lab is in Caesarea

The first cloned human baby is supposed to be born in Israel, says a Der
Spiegel report to be published tomorrow. Italian gynecologist Severino
Antinori, who has helped post-menopausal women conceive, is leading a
team
in Caesarea working on the human cloning project. Antinori has said a human
would be cloned within a year.

The Israeli member of the team, Dr. Avi Ben-Avraham, told the German news
magazine that, "Unlike Catholicism, Judaism does not rule out cloning." He
said, "It's time to set the laws of nature aside." He refused to name the
project's investors, according to the French News Agency (AFP).

Meanwhile, yesterday in Rome, a day after researchers met and vowed to
clone
babies, Giovanni Bianchi of Italy's Popular Party condemned the team as
"Frankenstein doctors" and urged Italy's parliament to ratify an
international pact banning human cloning. A prominent Catholic cardinal and
head of Italy's national committee on bioethics also condemned the team.

Italy has no law against human cloning. The international ban, ratified by
the Italian Senate, is part of a protocol to the European Council's
Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine. The Council calls the protocol
the first and only binding international pact on cloning. Five of the
council's 43 member nations have ratified it.

---------

Sunday, March 11 2001 07:43 16 Adar 5761

Expert denies report Israel will produce cloned infants
By Judy Siegel

JERUSALEM (March 11) - A senior Israeli fertility expert last night
dismissed a report in the German Der Spiegel weekly that Israel is likely to
be the first country in the world to produce cloned infants.

Italian Prof. Severino Antinori, who a few years ago made it possible for a
63-year-old woman to give birth, told the magazine that within two years he
will "start cloning babies in Israel," where the controversial project is
"legal." The article stated that a group of Israeli researchers at the
Abaclon company in Caesarea was already at work on the project, using
techniques developed to create the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep.

But Prof. Neri Laufer, a senior obstetrician and fertility expert at
Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem and former head of
the
Israel Fertility Society, denied the report, saying that a private member's
bill presented by Hagai Merom and passed in the Knesset set a
five-year-moratorium on the cloning of babies for procreation.

"Cloning is permitted in Israel only for therapeutic use," said Laufer. "We
must be very careful about human cloning, as Dolly and other cloned
animals - coming from adult cells - are showing signs that they are aging
faster than normal. Just because a technique may be technically possible
does not mean that it is biologically beneficial," he said.

The Der Spiegel article quoted Israeli scientist Dr. Avi Ben-Avraham as
saying "money played no role" when declining to name the program's
investors, and as stating that "Jewish belief does not oppose cloning in the
same way as the Catholic Church... [it is] "time to move beyond the laws of
nature."

Ben-Avraham was in the 28th slot on the Likud list in 1999 under Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and was one of five on the list who felt they
had been placed in unfairly low slots and threatened to take their case to
court.

Antinori said at a Rome press conference that the procedure would involve
taking cells from an infertile father and injecting them into an egg, which
would then be implanted in the mother's uterus. The resulting offspring
would have the father's physical characteristics, he said. "Cloning is the
last frontier, giving [an infertile] man the chance to transmit his genes
and become a father," Antinori said.

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Arutz-7 News (3/11/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:45:43 -0500

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Mar. 11, 2001 / Adar 16, 5761

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. ARAFAT REFUSES TO END INTIFADA
   2. CONTACTS CONTINUE, DESPITE P.A. ACTIONS AND INTENTIONS
   3. AND NOW THE DETAILS
   4. HEVRON VIOLENCE AND CELEBRATIONS
   5. ISRAEL WON'T CLONE PEOPLE
   6. TOUGH ISRAELI MEASURES SEND PALESTINIANS COMPLAINING
TO U.N.
   7. WATER DECREES
   8. THE PURIM SPIRIT
   9. IRAQ DRAFTS THOUSANDS INTO 'JERUSALEM ARMY'
***SPECIAL INSERT: The Sharon government

1. ARAFAT REFUSES TO END INTIFADA
Yasser Arafat's failure to call for an end to Palestinian violence last
night, during his speech at the opening session of the Palestinian
Legislative Council, was not a fluke; he told a Saudi Arabian newspaper
outright that he would not "give in" to Sharon's demands to stop the intifa
da.

During Arafat's address to the PLO Council in Gaza yesterday, he barely
mentioned the issue around which the entire Israeli-Palestinian
relationship has been revolving for the past half-year: the Palestinians'
mini-war against Israel. Arafat said, "We fully understand [Israel's] need

for security and stability85" - but did not call upon his people to stop
attacking and terrorizing Israeli citizens. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
has repeatedly emphasized that negotiations would not resume while the
violence continues.

Despite this, Arafat did not hesitate to call on Israel to resume
negotiations, and even said that the Clinton proposals must be the starting

point for such talks. Clinton himself, as well as ex-Prime Minister Ehud
Barak and Prime Minister Sharon, have all said that those proposals are no

longer relevant.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that Arafat's clear remarks to the Arab
media, to the effect that the intifada will continue, prove that Arafat
will not be able to achieve peace. "Arafat has total control over his
security agencies, and most of the terrorism is carried out by Arafat's
men, including his personal Force 17 guard," said Sharon today.

Even Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that negotiations cannot
proceed under the current state of violence. Peres said, however, that he

would suffice with a "continued decline" in aggression by terrorist groups

- and no violence at all by the PA. The Foreign Minister, who many suspect

is waiting for an opportunity to resume talks with Arafat behind Sharon's
back, said that "it would have been preferable" for Arafat to have called
for an end to violence. President Moshe Katzav, too, was disappointed with

Arafat's speech, saying, "Arafat will have to decide if he is a terrorist
or a partner."

Palestinian-affairs correspondent Roni Shaked of Israel's largest daily,
Yediot Acharonot, told Arutz-7 today:
"Arafat has not changed. His language yesterday was softer, his speech
was filled with words of peace - but there was absolutely no change in his

positions. He still has the same demands: the Camp David and Taba
concessions, etc. This was a speech directed to the U.S., as if laying the

blame on them, and to Israel, signaling that he would like to resume talks

- but only if based on Clinton's proposals. He did not say a word about
stopping the intifada. Why should he? From his point of view, he thinks
it's not terrorism, but a war of independence, etc. and he hasn't yet
gained one substantial thing from it. The truth is, he has made some small

gains from it: He sees how Holon called off its Purim celebrations in a
concession to terrorism - and I hope that you will give Holon's mayor a
black mark for this... Arafat has not lost control, as some people think,

and we should stop saying so; he is still Arafat, a very important symbol,

very popular, etc. It will be more difficult for him to control the
violence, and he may not be able to control every individual attack, but he

still has overall control..."

MK Gideon Ezra (Likud), formerly the Deputy Chief of the General Security
Service, agreed: "Arafat can end the violence, but he doesn't want to."

2. CONTACTS CONTINUE, DESPITE P.A. ACTIONS AND INTENTIONS
"Contacts," but not "negotiations," are continuing with the Palestinians,
despite the ongoing Palestinian violence against Israel. Uri Shani, head
of the Prime Minister's Bureau, clarified today that it is important to
keep up a continuous connection with the Palestinian Authority - but that,

in keeping with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's promise and policy, Israel
would not conduct negotiations with the PA until the violence ceases.

The PLO has disseminated a call to murder any Israeli journalist entering
Palestinian-controlled territories. PA Preventive Security Chief Jibril
Rajoub recently called up a Druze reporter for Israeli TV, Kaid Zahar, and

personally threatened to murder him. PLO terrorist Tanzim leader Marwan
Bargouti said on Friday that any Israeli journalist entering PLO-controlled

areas would not leave alive.

The Unified Intifada Leadership of the Intifada has decreed that this
coming Wednesday and Friday will be "Days of Rage." The first day will
express rage at the closure, and Friday will be a day of fury on behalf of

"Arab Jerusalem." The leadership calls on Arabs throughout Judea and
Samaria to arrive at the Temple Mount for Friday prayers.

An internal Fatah organization journal writes, "There is no alternative to

a long-term armed conflict between the Palestinian Authority and the Sharon

government." The paper states, "The two sides differ on all the issues,
the gaps are great, and there is no chance to bridge them85 Israel is
acting to liquidate all that which was achieved in Camp David and
Taba." Fatah proposes that the Palestinians support a long-term popular
war, which is the best option for us to fight Sharon. We must use the
intifada in the proper way in order to defeat the Sharon government."

3. AND NOW THE DETAILS
Palestinians shot this morning from Khan Yunis towards the Jewish town of
Gadid in Gush Katif. No one was hurt, and IDF soldiers returned
fire. Last night, Arab terrorists fired at an IDF post in Rafiach in
southern Gaza, while south of Shechem, others fired at the IDF base on Mt.

Gerizim. IDF forces returned fire in both incidents. Heavy fire between
IDF soldiers and Palestinian terrorists continued into the evening last
night at Ayosh Junction, between Ramallah and Beit El.

IDF forces destroyed a Palestinian Authority para-military outpost in the
northern Gaza Strip yesterday. The IDF Spokesman explained that the post
was used as an observation point and a site from which terrorists activated

explosive devices against IDF troops.09090909

IDF troops and General Security Service agents have apprehended Hamas
terrorist Muhammad Dirawi, 23, of the Nuseirat refugee camp. Dirawi
confessed to involvement in a series of shootings, roadside bombs, and
attacks against IDF soldiers and settlers in recent months. Members of
Dirawi's terror cell recorded their attacks with a video camera, and aired

the tapes on various Arab television stations.09
09090909
4. HEVRON VIOLENCE AND CELEBRATIONS
Leaders of the Jewish community of Hevron have called on Prime Minister
Sharon to keep his election promise and restore security to the area. They

were responding to the shooting of a Jewish man in the leg in Hevron's
Gross Square amidst heavy Palestinian shooting yesterday at the Jewish
neighborhood there. Eighteen-year-old El'ad Paas, a resident of Petach
Tikvah who was visiting his brother for Shabbat, was shot by Palestinian
terrorists in the Abu Sneineh Hills, overlooking the Avraham Avinu
neighborhood. Paas was standing with a group of Hevron youths near the
entrance to the neighborhood when the sniper began shooting. Many
children
reported bullets flying past them or hitting the street in front of
them. Paas was taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem, and is now
listed in satisfactory condition.

This morning, the Jews of Hevron sang, danced, and marched through the
streets, in the Purim "Adloyada" celebrations. Children and adults came
out in full costume, in accordance with Purim tradition. The army decided

to allow the march, and imposed a full curfew on the Arab residents of the

parts of Hevron that are under Israeli control. Hevron spokesman Noam
Arnon, who was dressed as Shimon Peres, later told Arutz-7,
"Thank G-d, it's never boring here in Hevron even for a minute. There
were several shootings at the Jewish Community yesterday, but only one
person was hurt - lightly, thank G-d. Yesterday's violence started the
same way it has many times over the past months - with murderous attacks
from Palestinian positions in Abu Sneineh towards us."

Arnon agreed that the pictures shown on television yesterday featuring Jews

breaking Arab car windshields were not positive, and explained,
"Some of the people got a bit out of hand, due to both the intoxication of

Purim and the pressure-cooker atmosphere in which they live, but this is
far from the norm of Jewish behavior here. The army commanders here have
all said that our restraint and behavior is most admirable. It's well
known that the photographers are Arab, and take pictures only of that which

is convenient to them. They never show the Jewish victims, but only the
Jewish reactions that finally come after nothing else works. Just like in

Netanya last week, after the terrorist bombing in which three Jews were
killed, the pictures concentrated on the angry reaction of a few people who

beat up an Arab... CNN is clearly a hostile network: when Jews are
killed, they barely pay it any attention, but if Arabs undergo some
suffering in response, they devote many minutes of coverage... Even on the

Voice of Israel I was cut off when I tried to say that the photographers
are in cahoots with the terrorists; they often have advance word of
attacks, and they themselves are a provocation, and this is why the Jewish

residents don't want them here..."

5. ISRAEL WON'T CLONE PEOPLE
In light of concern that genetic cloning might begin in Israel, the Health

Ministry has issued a comforting announcement. "The Health Ministry will
not permit genetic duplication on humans in Israel, as it is forbidden by
law," said Ministry Legal Counsel Miriam Hibner this morning. It was
reported earlier that a group of Israeli and Italian scientists were
planning a cloning in a Caesarea laboratory.

6. TOUGH ISRAELI MEASURES SEND PALESTINIANS COMPLAINING TO
U.N.
The PA is looking for more United Nations intervention. It announced today

that it would turn to the UN Security Council and ask it to intervene in
what the PA called the "siege that Israel has imposed on the villages in
the Ramallah and Jerusalem areas." The IDF has instituted a strong
encirclement around these areas, including dozens of new checkpoints and
groups of soldiers patrolling the exits from the villages. Similar means
have been in force along the Gush Etzion-Jerusalem highway for the past few

days. The Palestinians claim that such a level of encirclement has not
been seen since the days of the Six-Day War, but the army says that the
measures are necessary in light of the many terrorist attacks perpetrated
by terrorists from these areas.09

Furthermore, the PA recently turned to the UN with a demand that 2,000
armed international observers be sent to areas of conflict in Judea,
Samaria, and Gaza. Israel Radio reported that Israel's UN Ambassador
Yehuda Lankri believes that the demand is likely to be approved by the
Security Council, forcing the United States to veto the proposed resolution
.

The European Union, for its part, is exerting heavy pressure on the
Palestinian Authority to cease its violence upon Israeli targets from the
areas under its control. The Union has made it clear that it will not
transfer monetary aid if the violence continues.

Israel, in turn, rejects the PA's claims that it has no money to pay
salaries. Prime Minister Sharon told Newsweek that for the time being - in

light of the continued Palestinian Authority violence and its debts to
Israel - Israel has no intention of remitting designated tax-monies to the

PA. Sharon rejected the United States request on the matter, saying "They

have property worth over a billion dollars all over the world."

7. WATER DECREES
In light of the severe water shortage, the National Infrastructures
Ministry is planning to publicize a new series of water-conservation
decrees. The use of hoses will be forbidden for the washing of cars and
floors, and no new public gardens will be planted; what to do with existing

public gardens has not yet been decided. A new system of enforcement and
fines is under consideration, said Ministry Dir.-Gen. Yaakov Efrati.

8. THE PURIM SPIRIT
Several organizations worked together on Friday in a joint project to
distribute some 300 Mishloach Manot [food packages for Purim] to needy
families throughout Jerusalem. The Welfare Offices in the Jerusalem
neighborhoods of Bucharim, Shmuel HaNavi, Reches Shuafat, Mekor
Baruch, and
N'vei Yaakov helped organize the project. Students of the Ra'yah Girls
High School and Bnei Binyamin Boys High School - both in Beit El - packed
and distributed the cheery packages. HaTzofeh's Chani Luz reports that
soldiers stationed nearby were scheduled to help out as well, but were
unable to because of the heavy security demands placed upon them.

9. IRAQ DRAFTS THOUSANDS INTO 'JERUSALEM ARMY'
In response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's call for volunteers to
liberate Jerusalem, thousands of Iraqis enlisted in the so-called
"Jerusalem Army" yesterday and today. Crowds of volunteers chanted,
"With
our blood and souls ... we sacrifice for Saddam" as they left for military

training with their wives and children cheering them on. The official
Iraqi News Agency says that more than seven million men and women -
nearly
a third of Iraq's population - have vowed to "liberate all of Palestine."
0909090909
***SPECIAL INSERT:
The Ministers of the Sharon Government - the 29th Government of the State
of Israel

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (Likud)
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres (One Israel-Labor)
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (One Israel-Labor)
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom
Justice Minister Meir Shetreet (Likud)
Communications Minister Ruby Rivlin (Likud)
Education Minister Limor Livnat (Likud)
Public Security Minister Uzi Landau (Likud)
Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi (Likud)
Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh (One Israel-Labor)
Industry and Trade Minister Dalia Itzik (One Israel-Labor)
Science, Culture, and Sport Matan Vilnai (One Israel-Labor)
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simchon (One Israel-Labor)
Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yeshai (Shas)
Labor and Welfare Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas)
Health Minister Nissim Dahan (Shas)
Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ochana (Shas)
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Eli Suissa (Shas)
National Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union -
Yisrael Beiteinu)
Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi (National Union - Yisrael Beiteinu)
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah)
Social Coordination Minister Shmuel Avitan (One Nation)

Ministers Without Portfolio:
Danny Naveh (Likud)
Tzippy Livni (Likud)
Salah Tarif (One Israel-Labor)
Raanan Cohen (One Israel-Labor)

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

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] BNI.Priority News 1,1 (3/10,11/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:51:24 -0500

1. Hebron residents calling upon PM Sharon to keep his word
(BNI-MAR.10) Following the injuring of an Israeli by gunfire over the
weekend in Hebron, community leaders on Saturday night issued a
statement
calling upon Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to keep his campaign promise to
94restore security94 to the area. Hebron leaders pointed out that the
shooting attack and subsequent injury was the first in the city since
Sharon assumed office last week and they were now holding him to his word.

The statement released called upon Sharon to make good on his promise to
restore security to Israel in all area, including Hebron and to bring an
end to 93ineffective IDF responses94 seen to date in dealing with the dai
ly
PA warfare and attacks.

An Israeli was shot in his leg and lightly wounded on the Sabbath at
Hebron92s Gross Square. He was transported to the Shaare Zedek Medical
Center in Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses to the shooting explained it was a
miracle that others in the area were not injured by the PA gunfire.

****
2. UNRWA calls upon international community to assist PA residents
(BNI-MAR.10) The United Nations UNRWA relief agency on Saturday issued
a
call for assistance to the international community to come to the aid of
residents of PA autonomous areas in light of closures placed on those
communities by Israel.

Following a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,
UNRWA
leader Peter Hansen called for a total of $37 million in urgent aid,
pointing out the increase in PA unemployment, placing the blame of
prolonged closures of PA areas by Israeli security forces.

****
3. Body of possible bomber found near Erez
(BNI-MAR.10) The body of a dead Arab male was found on Saturday morning
near the Erez Crossing in northern Gaza. According to conflicting reports
originating within the PA, the man was killed when a bomb he was placing
in the area exploded, destroying his face and killing him. Other reports
stated he was killed by IDF gunfire.

****
4. Arab motorist injured by IDF gunfire in Samaria on Friday
(BNI-MAR.10) An Arab motorist who failed to slow down at a military
checkpoint near the PA autonomous city of Ramallah was shot and injured
according to PA officials.

According to the PA report, the injured motorist, was shot on Friday by
IDF forces and transported to a local PA hospital. The extent of his
injuries is unknown.

****
5. Tanzim terrorist leader threatens Israeli journalists
(BNI-MAR.10) Marwan Barghouti, the leader of the PA92s Tanzim terrorist
force, on Friday issued a statement that any Israeli journalist entering
into PA autonomous area would not leave alive.

The terror leader also called upon PA residents not to cooperate with
members of the Israeli press, threatening they faced harm if they opted to
ignore the warning.

****
6. Arab motorist injured by IDF gunfire near Ramallah
(BNI-MAR.10) IDF soldiers shot at an Arab motorist who failed to slow down
near a checkpoint in the Ramallah area on Friday afternoon.

According to PA sources, a wounded man was taken to a hospital in the PA
autonomous city of Ramallah. The condition of the wounded motorist is
unknown.

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

1. No injuries in Gaza shooting attack
(BNI-MAR.11) PA gunfire was directed at IDF soldiers at the Erez
Industrial area in northern Gaza. There were no casualties. Soldiers
returned fire.

****
2. Sharon: IDF will not enter into PA autonomous areas
(BNI-MAR.11) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that IDF forces would not
enter into PA autonomous areas; areas designated as 93A94 under the Oslo
Accord, adding the situation was 93irreversible,94 Israel Radio reported.

Some thought that Sharon might send Israeli forces into areas under total
PA control in an effort to bring an end to the daily warfare and terrorist
attacks.

****
3. Hod HaSharon man dies in diving accident
(BNI-MAR.11) A 24-year-old diver from the Hod HaSharon area died of
injuries from a Saturday diving accident. The diver was in critical
condition as a result of an accident off the Village Coast, and was
transported to Eilat92s Yossef-Tal Hospital where he died several hours
later.

The cause of the fatal accident is under investigation.

****
4. IDF position attacked by PA gunfire Saturday night
(BNI-MAR.11) IDF soldiers in northern Samaria near Mount Eval were
attacked twice by PA gunfire on Saturday night. There were no reports of
casualties. Soldiers returned fire towards the PA city of Nablus, the
source of the gunfire.

****

5. IDF closes PA areas of Hebron
(BNI-MAR.11) IDF commanders in Hebron during the night placed a curfew
over areas of the city under Israeli control, limiting the movement of the
area92s Arab community. The move come following shooting attacks during th
e
night which followed a Sabbath shooting attack that left one Israeli
wounded in his leg near Gross Square.

PA officials insist that area Jewish residents attacked local Arabs
without provocation and the violence was a result of the attacks. One PA
official stated that the local Arabs are no longer able or willing to
endure the actions of the area92s Jewish community, describing some of the
m
as 93hoodlums94.

IDF officials destroyed orchards used for cover by Arabs to launch
attacks, setting off the renewed violence on Saturday night. There were no
reported injuries to IDF forces in late-night gun battles with PA forces.

****
6. Attacks in southern Gaza
(BNI-MAR.11) IDF forces in southern Gaza were attacked by PA gunfire on
Saturday night. There were no reported injuries. Soldiers returned fire.

****
7. Soldiers attacked by PA gunfire on Mount Greizim
(BNI-MAR.11) IDF forces in northern Samaria were attacked by PA gunfire
near Mount Greizim on Saturday night. There were no reports of injuries.

****
8. PA position near Netzarim destroyed by IDF forces
(BNI-MAR.11) IDF forces on Saturday afternoon destroyed a PA military
outpost near the Gaza Jewish community of Netzarim. The decision to
demolish the outpost came after a bomb was detonated in the area near the
PA position earlier in the day. There were no reported injuries in the
blast.

****

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Daily World Affairs Report items (3/10/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 18:02:28 -0500

VATICAN REACTION TO INVITATION TO POPE TO VISIT
GREECE

The Holy See has responded with satisfaction to the news that the Greek
Orthodox Church has cleared the way for a visit by Pope John Paul II to
Greece. "The dates for a trip by John Paul II to Greece are still uncertain
,"
said papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. But the Vatican official
indicated that the Pope's visit would be a step in "the pilgrimage that wil
l
also take the Pope to Syria and Malta." Plans are already in place for a
papal trip to Syria in May.

"This is a historic moment for the Catholic Church and the Orthodox
Church, because for the first time a Pope is visiting a Hellenic land," sai
d
Archbishop Paul Fouad Tabet, the papal nuncio in Athens. Speaking on
Vatican Radio, he added: "This is the choice of the Orthodox Holy Synod in

favor of ecumenism and Christian unity." He stressed that the decision by
the Orthodox body was made possible by the fact that the papal visit would

"have the character of a pilgrimage, and a purely spiritual significance."

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church, which on Wednesday announced
that the Pope would be welcome in Greece, revealed that the decision to
accept a papal visit had been unanimous. The Synod called upon the faithful

of the Orthodox Church to "have confidence in your hierarchy," and greet
the Pope's visit "with affability, serenity, and a calm spirit." The Synod

added that the Orthodox bishops are discussing how, "in accordance with
our sacred laws and traditions," the Orthodox Church can participate in the

events associated with the Pope's trip.

The decision by the Holy Synod represents a distinct change in the public
attitudes of the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. In September 1999, the same
body rejected the prospect of a papal visit, explaining that the decision w
as
a reaction against "the imperial tendencies shown by the Pope toward other

Christians," and the Vatican's alleged strategy of aggressive proselytism i
n
traditionally Orthodox lands. In 1981, the Holy Synod had said that the Pop
e
should not be allowed to "contaminate Greek soil" by his presence.

In light of such rejections, Archbishop Nikolaos Foscolos had told the Pope
,
in October 1999, that there was little likelihood he could travel to Greece
.
"We will hope against hope," he said at that time. As recently as November

of last year, Archbishop Foscolos had said that there would be "many
difficulties" standing in the way of a papal visit. (Catholic World News)
0E

ZHIRINOVSKY OBJECTS TO "CATHOLIC EXPANSION," PAPAL
VISIT

Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the Liberal Democrat party and vice speaker of the

Russian Duma has announced plans to investigate Catholic activity in the
country and Pope John Paul II's visit to Ukraine. The RIA Novosti agency
said that the Duma, the Russian parliament -- pressured by Zhirinovsky --
has charged a Committee on International Affairs to request information
about measures being taken to prevent the expansion of Catholicism in the
territory of Russia and other primarily Orthodox states, to sound out
Moscow's reaction to the Pope's planned visit to Kiev, as well as to
discover the reasons for the meeting between Prime Minister Mikhail
Kasjanov and the Pope during a visit to Italy in February.

Zhirinovsky also prepared formal authorization for the Duma Committee of
Culture and Tourism to request information from the Ministry of Culture of

Russia about measures being taken to return the icon of Kazan Mother of
God, now located in the Vatican, to its native city. Catholic priests in Ru
ssia
say Zhirinovsky's instructions are not surprising. Although it is easy to
suspect that he has some secondary personal interests or that he is
concerned with his own political reputation, his actions are in keeping wit
h
the state doctrine which sees nationalism and the Orthodox religion as a
glue for a disintegrating society.

In February, Zhirinovsky met with the chairman of the Department of
External Church Relations of Moscow, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and
Kalingrad. They discussed a wide range of questions including the Pope's
visit to Ukraine and the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox schism. The
Duma vice-speaker suggested the organization in Ukraine of a unique
"agitation train" to explain to the Orthodox faithful the error of the
autocephalous schism and the importance of fidelity to the canonical
hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate. (Catholic World News)

VATICAN OFFICIAL HOPEFUL AT DIALOGUE WITH IRAN

After a 4 day visit to Teheran, the Vatican's top foreign-policy official h
as
indicated that the climate is ripe for dialogue between the Holy See and th
e
Islamic government of Iran. Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Vatican's
Secretary for Relations with States, returned on Wednesday from a visit
during which he spoke with officials of the Iranian government about "the
participation of the Catholic Church and her institutions in the society of

Iran."

The archbishop said that his visit had no particular object, other than "to
get
to know today's Iran better, and to observe the conditions that face the
Catholic Church there." But he returned impressed with the prospects for
"dialogue between civilizations and cultures," saying that the Islamic
government itself is committed to that process.

Archbishop Tauran traveled to Iran at the invitation of the country's
government and the Catholic bishops' conference. He was following in the
footsteps of Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna, Austria, who visited

Teheran for a Christian-Muslim theological seminar in February. In
speaking to reporters about Archbishop Tauran's trip, Joaquin Navarro-
Valls -- the head of the Vatican press office -- said that the Vatican offi
cial
would also study the possibility of a papal visit to Iran.

Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Iranian government
have remained intact for the past 20 years, despite the Islamic revolution

that brought a new regime to power in Teheran in 1979. In March 1999,
Iran's President Mohammad Khatami met privately with Pope John Paul II
at the Vatican, in the first visit by a leader of the Islamic republic to t
he
Holy See. At the time the Pope had described that meeting as both
"important" and "promising." There are only about 160,000 Christians in
Iran, among a population of 65mn. The majority of those Christians are
Orthodox; only 23,000 are Catholic. (Catholic World News)0E

THE HISTORY OF MOTHER'S DAY

Modern Mother's Day started in America but its roots are British
Mother92s Day as we know it started at the beginning of the last century i
n
America, Susan MacDonald writes. The death of her mother in 1907
affected Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia so deeply that she launched a
campaign to convince the church, business people and politicians that a day

should be set aside to honour all mothers.

In the UK, Mother92s Day in mid-Lent has evolved from Mothering Sunday,
although the mothering, it seems, originally referred to churches rather th
an
women. It was the day when local churches honoured their mother church
and also an excuse for a little spree during the long period of abstinence

running up to Easter. By the 17th century this had evolved into a holiday f
or
young people in domestic service to return home to their mothers, bearing
small gifts 97 perhaps flowers picked along the way.

Around that time the day was also known as Wafering Sunday, after the
wafer cakes offered by children to their mothers, and Furmety or Frumenty
Sunday after a dish of hulled wheat, milk and cinnamon which should not,
according to custom, be eaten until some words of wisdom have been
uttered. This is also when simnel cakes, the treat most associated with
Mothering Sunday, became popular.

And so to the 20th century. The US President of the time, Woodrow
Wilson, finally agreed to Jarvis92s idea of a special day for mothers in 1
914
with the words: 93The flag is never used in a more beautiful and sacred
cause than when flying above that tender, gentle army 97 the mothers of
America.94 It was this attitude towards mothers, often associating them
purely with fecundity and cooking and housework abilities, plus the growing

commercialism of Mother92s Day, that caused a '70s rebellion by women.

The leader of the National Housewives Association said it had become a
festival for shopkeepers and manufacturers to sell rubbishy gifts to small

children. In France women took to the streets to protest against a day that

they said concealed the exploitation of women in the family. The role of
mothers has certainly moved on since then 97 but the need to honour them
with a special day continues. (The London Times)

HOLY LAND FRANCISCAN WELCOMES NEW ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT

A leading Franciscan expert on Israeli-Holy See relations pronounced the
new Israeli government announced on Wednesday as opening the door to
progress in the pursuit of peace. Father David Jaeger, an Israeli Francisca
n
said of the opening speech made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the
Knesset in Tel Aviv: "Moderate, open, possible. Gen. Sharon seems to have
put aside former rhetoric. Let us hope words will be followed by facts."
Father Jaeger hailed the new Israeli executive with the Jewish greeting,
"Shalom, Peace!", hoping for concrete policies to achieve a just and lastin
g
peace between Israel and its neighbors, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.

The Franciscan said the best path is through the Madrid Conference for
Peace in the Middle East region. "To re-launch the peace process, the new
government will need massive encouragement by both Europe and the
United Sates. Ten years after the inauguration of the Madrid Conference,
seeing attempts to sidestep it have failed, the most promising path is to
return to Madrid." The Conference, he said, should also resume the double
presidency of Russia and the US, with the participation of Europe and the
UN, for coordinated progress on 2 fronts: Israel-Palestine and Israel-Syria
-
Lebanon. "There is no time to lose. Any delay in resuming the peace
process will only intensify armed conflict and terrorism."

From the Christian point of view, he said it is to be hoped that the new
government will be committed to guaranteeing religious freedom. "Everyone
in Israel was shocked when General Stern, head of the army education
service, voiced doubts about the patriotism of Israeli Christian solders,
urging them to change their faith. Further progress must also be made in
Holy See-Israel relations. The Church is anxious to provide spiritual
assistance for Israeli Christian soldiers."

Another delicate point, Father Jaeger said, is the question of the mosque a
t
Nazareth. "We are waiting for the new government to cancel the previous
decision to allow the building of a mosque on the door step of the
Annunciation Basilica in Nazareth. This step is decisive for Christian-
Jewish relations, and for relations between Israel and the Holy See."
(Catholic World News)

GAZA SNIPER TARGETS ISRAELI DEFENCE MINISTER

A Palestinian sniper opened fire on the new Israeli defence minister,
Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, yesterday amid renewed clashes in the Middle East.
Army radio said that a shot was fired at Mr Ben-Eliezer as he surveyed
Palestinian areas from the roof of the Israeli divisional headquarters in t
he
Gaza Strip. Officers hustled him away, but as he was walked to his car,
shielded by security agents, another shot rang out. He was not hit. Contrar
y
to standing regulations, the minister - a former commander of Israeli force
s
on the West Bank - was wearing neither a flak jacket nor helmet. Shootings

in Gaza are a daily occurrence but this is the first time in the 5 months o
f
the Palestinian Intifada that such a senior figure has come under fire. (Th
e
London Telegraph)0E

MICHAEL TURNER 0F
(mykelturner@airmail.net)

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Sharon set to legalise torture
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 18:06:19 -0500

[No url was provided with this story.]

Sharon set to legalise torture
Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv

THE government of Ariel Sharon, meeting today for the first time, is to urge
Israel's parliament to approve a law that would allow the security service to
torture Arab detainees.

The use of "moderate physical pressure" during interrogation has been
oulawed by the high court and Yossi Beilin, the former Labour justice
minister, resisted demands by Shin Bet, the domestic security service, for
its reintroduction.

Political sources said Sharon's administration, which was sworn in on
Wednesday, was sympathetic to the demand and had enough support to
push the measure through the Knesset.

Shin Bet officers say force is justified in "time bomb" cases when a prisoner
is thought to have knowledge of a terrorist act that is about to be carried out.

"We interrogate hundreds of Palestinians every day, all supected of
terrorism," said one Shin Bet source. "Last month we arrested a girl who
lured an Israeli boy via the internet to Ramallah, where he was brutally
murdered. It took us 30 days to get a confession out of her.

"If we had been allowed to apply physical pressure she would have
confessed after a couple of hours. Physical pressure saves time and
sometimes life." Force was routinely used by the security services until
1984, when two Palestinians were murdered during a Shin Bet investigation.
A commission of inquiry forbade further torture, but the continued use of
"moderate physical pressure" was permitted until September 1999.

Political sources say the nation's mood has been changed by the tense
military situation and the government would probably succeed in pushing the
measure through. At least 343 Palestinians, 65 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs
have been killed since the beginning of the Palestinian uprising five months
ago. The move has come despite signs that the first meeting will soon take
place between Sharon and Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader. Sharon's
son, Omri, met one of Arafat's senior advisers secretly in Tel Aviv last week,
apparently to discuss the violence. The Palestinian cabinet later said it was
extending the hand of peace to the new Israeli government - but also called
for an end to what it called Israel's policy of "siege and destruction".

In a concession, the Israelis yesterday allowed the Palestinian parliament to
hold its first full session since the beginning of the uprising. Two members
were barred from attending on the grounds that they had incited violence
against Israel.

In a speech to the parliament, Arafat called for renewed peace talks - but
only on the basis of "existing agreements and understandings".

via: End_Times_News@yahoogroups.com

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To: messynews@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Jerry Golden's new web site
From: Stafford's Mail <simmonds@freeuk.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 09:35:29 GMT

Shalom to all

Many have appreciated Jerry Golden's reports from Israel. His new
website is worth looking at as it contains many items of interest as
well as some special articles and pictures of his family.

There are even some recipes as well as the archives of recent reports.
You will also have the opportunity to place a note for prayer in the
Wall and Jerry promises to deliver this for you.

I commend Jerry's website to you.
You will find it at: http://thegoldenreport.com/

Blessings Stafford
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Stafford's Mail <staffordsimmonds@ntlworld.com>

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: Assad may be ready to meet Arafat
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 09:02:18 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 01:37:40 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: Assad may be ready to meet Arafat

Ha'aretz: Assad may be ready to meet Arafat

By Daniel Sobelman Ha'aretz Correspondent Ha'aretz 12 March 2001

The Arab Monitoring Committee established after the recent summit of Arab
leaders in Cairo to discuss the situation in the Palestinian Authority,
convened yesterday, and is expected to recommend a $40 million transfer to
the PA to help prop up the Palestinian government. Meanwhile, Syria
indicated that President Bashar Assad may be ready to meet with PA Chairman
Yasser Arafat.

The committee, including the foreign ministers of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan,
Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Morocco and the Palestinian Authority, met to
discuss the upcoming Arab summit on March 27 in Amman. They drew up a draft
proposal for the summit calling for an international court to judge Israeli
"war crimes," and a call for a United Nations investigative committee to
look into the events involving Israel and the Palestinians.

Concerning Syria and Lebanon, the committee will recommend that Arab leaders
express their support of the two Arab countries, in view of the "threats" by
Israel against them. The threats, they will say, are "an attack on the Arab
nation" as well as to the stability of the region.

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Shara said yesterday that a summit between
Syrian President Bashar Assad and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
Arafat might be held even before the upcoming Amman summit. He added that
such a summit could also be held during the Amman summit, on condition that
the results are favorable to the interests of the Palestinian and Syrian
nations. The Palestinian leader has been trying in recent years to warm
relations with the Syrian leadership, but without success. If Arafat
succeeds in this effort, it will be a notable achievement for him, because
it will be interpreted as the formation of a united Palestinian-Syrian front
against Israel.

--------------------------------------------
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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Daily World Affairs Report (3/11/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 09:02:18 -0500

CROWN PRINCE RECEIVES YUGOSLAV CITIZENSHIP

In the suite of rooms in Claridge's where he was born into exile in 1945,
Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia will tomorrow be presented with
the birthright he was denied then: the citizenship of his homeland. The
emotional ceremony follows the repeal by the Yugoslav parliament of a
communist decree that stripped the royal family of its citizenship and its

palaces. Prince Alexander and his Greek wife, Princess Katherine, intend
to move permanently to Belgrade within a few months, swapping their
home in Knightsbridge for the splendours of the 19th-century Old Palace.
The younger White Palace, which stands in the same compound, was the
official residence of Slobodan Milosevic until he was toppled 5 months ago.

Their imminent return reflects the remarkable transformation in Belgrade
since the overthrow of Milosevic, of whom Prince Alexander was an
outspoken critic. The prince and his wife cannot disguise their excitement

about the chance to help rebuild their shattered country. He intends to dra
w
on his royal name and experience in the financial world in London, New
York and Chicago to attract investment for his impoverished homeland; she
will continue her role as the new government's co-ordinator for
humanitarian aid as she works to resurrect the stricken public health servi
ce.

President Vojislav Kostunica, Milosevic's successor, is a royalistand his
government is anxious to cast off relics of the communist past, so it may n
ot
be long before Crown Prince Alexander becomes King Alexander II. In the
process, Yugoslavia would become the first country in eastern Europe to
restore the monarchy. For now, however, his thoughts are focused on
tomorrow's presentation when Zoran Zivkovic, the Yugoslav interior
minister, hands certificates of citizenship to Prince Alexander and his
family.

The crown prince and Princess Katherine, 57, will be joined by Philip and
Alexander, his 19-year-old twin sons by his first marriage to Princess Mari
a
da Gloria of Orleans Braganza. His third child, Peter, 21, is studying in t
he
United States. The ceremony will be staged, with an appropriate nod to
history, in Suite 212 where the crown prince was born on July 17, 1945. His

parents, King Peter II and Queen Alexandra, who fled German forces in
1941 and subsequently led their government-in-exile from Greece, Palestine

and Egypt, were living in the hotel at the end of the war. Winston Churchil
l
declared the suite Yugoslav territory for the day so that the heir to the
throne would be born in his own country.

Although the prince intends to move to Belgrade as soon as feasible, he
handles questions about the possible restoration of the monarchy with a
diplomat's tact. "I think a constitutional monarchy is a fine system and th
ere
is no better example than Britain. I also respect republics. It is up to th
e
people and politicians to choose. Our immediate goal is to restore prosperi
ty
not monarchy. The priorities are jobs, services and investment."

His previous visits to the country have attracted huge crowds, and
supporters of the monarchy cite the precedent of Spain, where King Juan
Carlos's return played a key role in unifying the country after Franco's
dictatorship. Should he find himself as the head of a constitutional
monarchy, he knows that he can turn to Buckingham Palace for advice -
the Queen is his godmother. Indeed, he has already sought her guidance.

The Sandhurst-educated Prince Alexander will maintain his position "on a
few boards" to fund his family and their homes as he knows there is no
question of the equivalent of a civil list. English is his mother tongue bu
t he
says his Serbian is "coming on well". He may face a dispute with his cousin
,
Princess Elizabeth (mother of the Hollywood actress Catherine Oxenberg),
over the White Palace, although the prince says the property clearly
belongs to his line of the family. (The London Telegraph)0E

SHARON SET TO LEGALISE TORTURE

The government of Ariel Sharon, meeting today for the first time, is to urg
e
Israel's parliament to approve a law that would allow the security service
to
torture Arab detainees. The use of "moderate physical pressure" during
interrogation has been oulawed by the high court and Yossi Beilin, the
former Labour justice minister, resisted demands by Shin Bet, the domestic

security service, for its reintroduction. Political sources said Sharon's
administration, which was sworn in on Wednesday, was sympathetic to the
demand and had enough support to push the measure through the Knesset.

Force was routinely used by the security services until 1984, when 2
Palestinians were murdered during a Shin Bet investigation. A commission
of inquiry forbade further torture, but the continued use of "moderate
physical pressure" was permitted until September 1999. Political sources
say the nation's mood has been changed by the tense military situation and

the government would probably succeed in pushing the measure through.
(The London Times)0E

ISRAEL FORGES CRUCIAL ALLIANCE WITH GERMANY

Half a century after the Holocaust, Germany has become Israel's largest
trading partner after the United States and its prime ally in its drive to

strengthen economic and political ties with Europe. Israeli officials see
German support as vital to efforts to win a formal European Union
declaration of their nation's "special status" - particularly at a time whe
n the
Jewish state's human rights record is under fire in other European capitals
.

Since the German presidency of the EU in 1994, Israel has enjoyed special
status in its relations with the Union. The aim now is to have that
declaration, which was merely an agreement in principle, formalised. If
successful, Israel would be granted important privileges for free movement

of capital, goods, people and services on a par with countries such as
Switzerland and Norway.

The project is being pursued by the Israel-EU Forum, comprised of Israeli
politicians, economists and academics. The forum - its members include
Shimon Peres and David Klein, the governor of the Bank of Israel - has
drawn up plans and is seeking early talks with the EU. The forum's
chairman, Avi Primor, a past ambassador to Germany, said that Helmut
Kohl had defined Germany as "Israel's locomotive" in the project. "We've
been told personally by the current German chancellor and foreign minister

that they will lead the initiative on our behalf. Who can convince the Fren
ch
or British of our cause better than the Germans?"

Close German support for Israel in this initiative is a natural development

for a country that has forged ahead of its EU counterparts in nurturing
closer economic, political and security co-operation with Israel. Germany
has overtaken Britain in the past 2 years to become Israel's 2nd-largest
trading partner. Bilateral annual trade is now worth more than
£2.9bn, while Israeli firms are investing increasingly in Germany.

Noam Katz, an Israel foreign ministry official, said: "My mother was born i
n
Berlin and, for many years, she refused to use German products. This is
understandable from people who survived the Holocaust. But today things
are different. We have come together with the Germans to work as
partners in building our country. There are only a few minor sections of th
e
population who resist this closer relationship."

While Jews of the Diaspora may still harbour hostile feelings towards
Germany, these are not always shared by all Israelis - many of whom
regard the country as having atoned for past sins. Today, Germans and
Israelis talk effusively about a "special relationship" which, paradoxicall
y, is
rooted in the Holocaust.

There are, however, those within the EU who have expressed misgivings
about some aspects of the special relationship - particularly the way
Germany has taken an uncritical approach towards Israel's handling of the
Palestinian uprising. The Germans appear unabashed by the criticism.
Reinhard Wiemer, the press attache at the German embassy in Tel Aviv,
said: "We are the closest advocate of Israel within the EU. We are seen as

the moderating influence and important in keeping the Israeli point of view

in mind within the EU." (The London Telegraph)0E

ISRAEL ACCEPTS GERMANY AS ITS FRIEND & ALLY

Avi Primor, a former Israeli ambassador to Germany, travels regularly to
the United States to tell American Jewish groups how good Israeli-German
ties have become. "Their reaction," he said, "is often one of shock, pain a
nd
indignation. They want to preserve Germany in their minds as a negative
nation." From the ashes of the Holocaust, a curious friendship has been
born: 56 years after the fall of Hitler's Reich, and 36 years after the
establishment of diplomatic relations, Germany has become Israel's most
important ally outside the US, providing critical support in the military,

intelligence, political and economic fields.

But this rapprochement, not widely advertised, but growing, has largely
eluded the relationship between Germany and American Jews. Indeed, as
memory of the Holocaust looms large in American life, and wrangles
persist over compensation for Jewish victims of the Nazis, the American
Jewish view of Germany often seems mired in the Nazi past alone.
"American Jews have always been a step or 2 behind Israel in
understanding Germany's postwar evolution," said David Harris, executive
director of the American Jewish Committee. The result is an odd disparity.

In recent years, Germany has intensified its ties with Israel, quietly
providing 3 submarines, as the difficulties between American Jews and
Germany have multiplied and the feeling has spread among Germans that
they are the objects of a "Holocaust industry."

The first Israeli passports, issued after the state's creation in 1948, dec
lared
themselves valid "for all states except Germany." But, long before
diplomatic relations were established in 1965, the first rapprochement
occurred with the 1952 accord on German reparations reached between
David Ben-Gurion, the Israeli prime minister, and Chancellor Konrad
Adenauer of Germany. The reparations would involve the payment of more
than $50bn, to individual Israelis and to the state of Israel.

Because some reparations were paid in kind - machinery, industrial
investment, spare parts, ships, locomotives - they brought postwar Germans

and Israelis together in a way that has scant equivalent with American
Jews. Israelis had to learn from Germans how to use the machinery and
ships - and friendships were formed. Most Israelis gained the feeling that

the financial consequences of the Holocaust were settled, hence their
indifference, even irritation, at the recent American Jewish push for
compensation from German industry.

By contrast, Germany's relationship with American Jews has often suffered
from distance, bitterness and what sometimes looks to Germans like an
American Jewish fixation on a traumatic past. With the Cold War over, the
last generation of Holocaust survivors dying, and other sources of Jewish
identity weakening, the Holocaust has become a crucial touchstone.
American Jews used to identify with Israel as a plucky, isolated Jewish
state, and with the plight of Soviet Jewry. But now Israel has become a
regional power whose policies in the occupied territories are, for some at

least, hard to defend, and the Soviet issue has disappeared.

Today, an investigation in Germany and Israel suggests, German support is
central to Israel's security, even if it is kept quiet partly because of Ge
rman
concerns about the reactions of the Arab world and domestic public
opinion. Relations between theit countries' intelligence services are
particularly intense, officials said.

Germany provides Israel with extensive information on the Arab world, and
Israel reciprocates with intelligence on Eastern Europe and Russia where,
in the words of one informed Israeli, "we have people with a lot of
understanding." Germany, for example, is acting quietly to secure the
release of 3 Israeli soldiers kidnapped last October by Hezbollah, the Shii
te
Muslim militant group based in Lebanon. Germany is also Israel's 2nd-most-
important military partner, after the US, working together on development
of some weapons, providing technology and giving Israel 2 highly
sophisticated submarines (while splitting the cost of a 3rd) as a gesture
after the Gulf War.

Germany has become Israel's 2nd-largest trading partner, after the US, and

sends more tourists to Israel than any country except America. As for
politics, Germany "is now our mainstay and chief advocate in Europe," said

Reuven Merhav, a former director-general at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
In effect, European Middle East policy is largely determined by Germany's
role in counterbalancing France's stance as the most forthright supporter i
n
Europe of the Palestinian cause.

The annual human rights report of the German Foreign Ministry contains no
reference to Israeli actions in the occupied territories, in contrast to th
e
criticism of extrajudicial Israeli killings of Palestinians in the equivale
nt
American report. "Relations between Germany and Israel are special and
must never normalize themselves in the sense that we have normal relations

with Holland or the United States," said Rudolf Dressler, the German
ambassador to Israel. "We feel co-responsible that the existence of Israel

be guaranteed, and the political consequence is that, when in doubt, we sid
e
with Israel, because that is our unique duty."

Born in 1940, the son of a German who resisted Hitler, Mr. Dressler said
he felt that he could legitimately ask himself what responsibility he bears
for
the Holocaust and for safeguarding the Jewish state. "Of course I ask, how

could the Nazis do this, and what do I have to do with what they did? But
they did it, and we have to live with it. There is no time limit for what t
he
Germans did. And so we help Israel."

Bernhard Steubing is 21, a volunteer who has shunned military service to
work for Aktion Suhnezeichen - literally, Action Sign of Atonement - a
group that has brought hundreds of young Germans to Israel since the '50s.

He helps handicapped people and Holocaust survivors. "I felt it was
important to do something because of the past, and while Holocaust
survivors are still alive. I feel close to Israelis, although sometimes it
is
strange to find myself in this very nationalistic country, having refused t
o go
to the German Army because I am against nationalism."

Germany and Israel are indeed an odd couple in this sense - the most
postnational of European states allied with one of the most nationalistic
states anywhere. But their closeness has grown steadily past what once
seemed the impenetrable wall of Hitler's annihilation of European Jewry. In

Germany, the immediate postwar years were marked by an attempt to bury
the past, to find the elusive closure on the Holocaust for which many
Germans still quest today.

In Israel, the initial reaction was also evasive because the Holocaust
provoked a sense of humiliation on which the country preferred to turn its

back. "We were raised as the better, proud Jews who could fight back,
unlike our brothers who went like sheep to the slaughter," Mr. Primor said.

"We thought, wrongly, that the victims humiliated us. They were insulted as

the 'Sabonim' - the Jews gassed and turned into soap by the Nazis."

Over decades, Germany came to terms with its Nazi past and Israel
adopted the view that Hitler's victims were lured and coerced to their fate
.
"The coming-together was a long and painful process," said Mr. Merhav,
the retired senior diplomat who is himself the son of German immigrants to

Israel. "But postwar Germany won over the body politic of Israel through a

constant policy of friendship. American Jews, of course, were never
exposed to this sort of practical friendship, and I suspect their anger at

Germany is also anger at themselves, for they were very late to realize
what was going on in Europe." (Int'l Herald Tribune)

ITALY'S RIGHT-WING CHALLENGES E.U.

The head of Italy's populist Northern League (NL), Umberto Bossi,
threatened last week to "shut down" the European Unionif sanctions were
imposed on the country following a right-wing victory in the May elections.

Louis Michel, the Belgian foreign minister, has called for EU sanctions if

the league comes to power in a conservative coalition led by Silvio
Berlusconi, the flamboyant media baron and former prime minister.

European commission sources said Chancellor SchrF6der and Lionel Jospin,
the French prime minister, had both privately expressed concern about
Bossi. They have likened his views on immigration to those of JF6rg Haider
,
leader of Austria's far-right Freedom party. In an interview after a torch-
lit
anti-immigration rally in the northeastern town of Conegliano, however,
Bossi said Italy's importance meant that the EU could not treat it in the
same way as Austria. "You cannot touch a member country with such
powers (as Italy). Italy has great power in Europe. They are afraid of that

power."

Bossi rejected claims that his movement had embraced racist views. The
league, he insisted, merely wanted to introduce strict controls against ill
egal
immigration. Asked why immigrants stayed away from rallies, he said:
"That is not true. Last night at a rally in Bergamo there was a group of li
ttle
negroes who are members." Victory for Berlusconi is regarded as almost
certain. However, Jonathan Faull, an EC spokesman, played down the
prospect of conflict between Brussels and Rome. He said he had "no
reason to believe a democratically elected Italian government would not
want to respect the fundamental values of human rights and the protection
of minorities". (The London Times)0E

YUGOSLAVIA GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO FIGHT ALBANIANS

Yugoslavia is preparing to use forces from the Kosovo war against ethnic
Albanian radicals inside a NATO buffer zone - threatening to escalate the
conflict spreading across the Balkans. The move emerged as Albanian
militants intensified raids on 2 fronts despite ceasefire talks sponsored b
y
the alliance. The guerrillas snubbed the talks and launched attacks on
Serbian forces in the Presevo Valley from the haven of the security zone
along the Kosovan frontier. Another Albanian faction clashed with
Macedonian troops on Kosovo's southern border.

Against this backdrop, a specially-created Yugoslav task force will soon be

sent into the buffer strip at the Serbian-Macedonian border. A senior
Yugoslav official has told The Telegraph that the force will contain units

from the anti-terrorist police force, members of the old Pristina army corp
s
and sections of the infamous 7th battalion formerly based in Montenegro. It

could be deployed within days.

A pan-Slavic coalition force involving Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Bulgaria -
possibly backed by Greece - may also be formedto combat a co-ordinated
Albanian guerrilla campaign. Bulgaria last week sent 10 truckloads of
weapons to Macedonia and offered troops. Milovan Coguric, Yugoslavia's
assistant secretary of defence, said: "These terrorist actions have gone wa
y
overboard. I see two options: either KFOR will take the responsibility to
handle the situation or, together, Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Greece will
finish the job."

Intensified attacks by the Albanians have brought the region to the brink o
f
another Balkan war. NATO's senior commander in Kosovo, the Italian Gen
Carlo Cabigiosu, flew to the area to meet the Serb deputy prime minister,
Nebjosa Covic, to discuss ceasefire proposals. The Albanian rebel leader
Shefket Musliu told Gen Cabigiosu on Friday, however, that his rebels
"would fight to the last man" against Serb forces. International officials
in
Kosovo fear that NATO's efforts to clamp down on the Albanians might
lead to the West's worst-case scenario in the province: Albanian weapons
trained on KFOR, their former saviours. (The London Telegraph)

MICHAEL TURNER 0F
(mykelturner@airmail.net)
.

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Couples "adopting" frozen embryos
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 09:07:00 -0500

COUPLES "ADOPTING" FROZEN EMBRYOS
Agency in California Aims to Save Lives in Limbo

NEW YORK, MAR. 11, 2001 (Zenit.org).- A Christian adoption agency has
begun a program allowing couples to "adopt" unwanted frozen embryos, The
Telegraph newspaper of England reports.

As many as 100,000 human embryos are frozen -- and largely forgotten -- in

fertility clinics across the United States. Yet the pioneering Snowflakes
project in California has allowed at least seven babies to have been born t
o
parents as if they were their own children.

The program was designed to help couples who had embryos "left over" after

undergoing fertility treatment but could not bring themselves to have the t
iny
human lives destroyed or handed over for medical research. JoAnn Davidson,

the organizationB4s director, says: "These are children who would have bee
n
destroyed or left in limbo. This program gives them an opportunity to live.
"

The agency, which also handles regular adoptions, matches parents who
want to secure a future for embryos that they no longer need to couples who

want to raise them. It says that it has been flooded with applications in
recent weeks.

The exchange is not technically an adoption. Instead, both couples agree to

a contract based on a transfer of property, as with a house or car, making

the "adopting" parents the legal owners of the embryos. With minimal
publicity, until recently, Snowflakes has so far matched 50 pairs of adopti
ng
parents and 47 pairs of genetic parents during its first full year of opera
tion.

The couple hoping to give birth agree to pay medical expenses for implantin
g
the embryos. At present, five women are pregnant under the scheme. One
reason why the idea has proved so popular is that couples with spare
embryos are able to investigate the prospective parents of their potentiall
y
unborn children and, if they wish, can also meet them.

Most of those taking part also have deep ethical and religious objections t
o
seeing their embryos destroyed or used for medical research. One infertile

couple in Virginia have adopted 12 frozen embryos from Bob and Susanne
Gray, of Georgia. The chances of successfully implanting a frozen embryo
are about one in five.

Bob Gray, who has four children, said he was "hopeful and excited, in a
strange way" at the prospect of what he calls an "extended family." The
other couple involved has previously been unsuccessful in three in-vitro
fertilization attempts.

There are no laws in the United States governing how long frozen embryos
can be kept, unlike in Britain where they are destroyed after five years un
less
parents are granted an extension. The American Society for Reproductive
Medicine advises clinics that they can destroy embryos after five years if

they can prove that they have attempted and failed to contact former
patients.

Although a figure of 100,000 frozen embryos is widely quoted, there are no

official numbers. One survey found that there could be as many as 25,000 in

the Boston, Massachusetts, area alone.

Medical researchers have depended heavily both on unwanted embryos and
aborted fetuses as a crucial source of stem cells, which might one day be
used to cure a range of diseases from ParkinsonB4s to AlzheimerB4s, and e
ven
regenerate spinal cord injuries.

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops has called the use of human
embryos for medical research "immoral and illegal." Before his election,
President George W. Bush promised pro-life groups that he would block
government grants to any institutions experimenting on stem cells, provokin
g
a flurry of protests from the scientific world. He reiterated his oppositio
n
within two weeks of taking office.

ZE01031120

ZENIT
is an International News Agency.
http://www.zenit.org

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] Easter / Lent Articles--Another explanation
From: Syksteven
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 11:05:37 EST

In a message dated 3/11/01 5:32:47 PM, kanen@aptalaska.net writes:

<< So we need to rejoice at Easter, the estrus of the earth! Our Creator has
caused the pagan to recognized and celebrate this truth even in their
perversions with fertility symbols of eggs and rabbits; even as He has
caused them the adorn the world at Christmas with lights and songs of joy
even in their unbelief. If the world doesn't rejoice at the appearance of
the Savior even the stones (people dead as a rock to God's Word) will cry
out in praise. Our God is not powerless to restrain evil in the world or in
His church. We just have not seen the reality clouded by all the
perversions. Susan Kanen >>

Hi Susan,
How do you and other readers see Deut. 12: 30-32? Does it apply only to
Israel of that day, or should it have some application to Christians today?

Personally, I decided about 4 yrs ago that it does apply to me. My wife and I
have not celebrated Christmas or Easter since. We do congregate/celebrate
with a few like-minded friends on Passover, last day of unleavened bread
week, pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and we schedule our
vacation time during The Feast of Tabernacles. I can't explain to you what
a HUGE sense of JOY and peace I get knowing that we are attempting to live by
every word of GOD, just as His Son Jesus did.

Do we make sacrifices?.......NO as Jesus already did this for us. We do keep
them as Sabbaths and do no servile or ordinary work on these days, and we do
hold a "holy" convocation or meeting with liked minded friends on these days.

All the instructions are outlined in Lev. ch 23. You will note that offering
sacrifices were only part or 1/3 of GOD's instructions for HIS feast days.
As noted earlier Jesus Christ has already paid or made the ultimate sacrifice
for us. The other 2/3 of GOD's instructions for each "Holy day or Holiday"
was to make the day a Sabbath, to do no ordinary work, and to hold an "holy
convocation" or meeting on these days. Also please note all through this
Chapter that GOD refers to them as "HIS" feast days......not "your National
or Jewish" feast days.

I am by no means saying it is a sin not to do as I do. But I am saying GOD
meant HIS "Holy" or "Holi-days" to be meaningful, enjoyable, and in most
cases, to be festive.

Before, my wife & I had 2 "supposedly Christian" Holidays to remind us of
the love and salvation our Lord has for us. Now we have 7 "Holy" holidays,
two of which are a week long, to show and demostrate to us the wonderful
love, mercy and plan of salvation our Creator has offered us. They are truly
wonderful, joyous, special occassions for us, and there are no former pagan
rituals/customs to distract us from HIS purpose.

I do not view these Holy Days as a "Salvation issue", but as an opportunity
to celebrate, rejoice, and draw closer to our wonderful FATHER and HIS SON.

In His peace & Love,

Steven Sykes

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Arutz-7 News (3/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 17:38:24 -0500

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Mar. 12, 2001 / Adar 17, 5761

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. IDF RAMALLAH-CLINCH FOILS TERRORIST ATTACK
   2. PALESTINIANS DISAPPOINTED BY INTIFADA
   3. TERRORIST ATTACK AVERTED, WAR CONTINUES
   4. SHARON'S FIVE PALESTINIAN POLICY POINTS
   5. SHARON TO ASK BUSH TO PARDON POLLARD
   6. GROCERY STORES IN SUPPORT OF MARGALIT HAR-SHEFI
   7. YESHA COUNCIL MEETS DEFENSE MINISTER
   8. ORR COMMISSION CONVENES AGAIN
   9. RIVLIN IN FAVOR OF ARUTZ-7

1. IDF RAMALLAH-CLINCH FOILS TERRORIST ATTACK
The strong IDF measures - specifically, the encirclement of Ramallah and
neighboring villages, as well as other areas - are the big news
today. Druze Minister Salah Tarif and Minister Matan Vilnai, both of
Labor, said that the government must not impose collective punishment. The

Israeli media, too, waged a heavy campaign against it; radio television
stations interviewed many residents of the affected areas and asked them
about their suffering (see below). The Central Command reported this
morning that a terrorist cell was caught yesterday on its way to carrying
out an attack, thanks to the stronger measures. Specifically, warnings
were received of a car-bomb on its way from the Ramallah region towards
Jerusalem, and several of the terrorists involved have already been arreste
d.

The Prime Minister's Media Advisor stated this morning, "Prime Minister
Sharon's policy is to ease sanctions everywhere, but to act against
localities from which terrorist activity is to be perpetrated. This is
part of his policy of foiling attacks and combating both the attackers and

those who dispatch them."

The Yesha Council congratulated the government on its new policy. Council
Secretary Shlomo Filber said, "This is what the army should have done in
the very first week of the killing, and many lives would have been saved."

Arutz-7's Kobi Sela noted that the closures are particularly effective this

time, as evidenced by the strong demonstrations against them. Palestinian

riots outside the village of Surda, north of Ramallah, have led to one
Palestinian dead and five wounded in clashes with Israeli soldiers. The
Arabs attempted to fill in the trenches dug nearby by the army. "The
villages are hermetically sealed, and only food and medicines are allowed
in and out," Sela reported. "Even people on foot are not allowed out in
some cases, while sometimes traffic in allowed into the villages but not
out."

Much of the Israeli media has enlisted in the effort to bad-mouth the
closure. Popular Voice of Israel talk show-host Dalia Ya'iri interviewed
this morning a "typical" Arab suffering from the closure - but was
surprised to learn what "typical" really means:
Q: How long does it usually take you to get to work?
A: About 25 minutes [from Anata to Ramallah].
Q. And now, you can barely get there at all?
A. Yesterday, it took me 3 and 1/4 hours85
Q. What is your line of work?
A. I work for the PLO.
(silence)
Q. A Tanzim activist?
A. Yes.
Q. Ah-ha85

Yesha Council Yehoshua Mor-Yosef sent a fax to Voice of Israel this
morning
in response to the one-sided coverage. Read aloud on the air, it stated as

follows (courtesy of IMRA):
"To provide your listeners with a complete picture of what is going on in

Yesha, it would have been appropriate to broadcast interviews with
residents from Negohot [south of Hevron], a community from which for the
past half-year the residents have been forced to drive several hours to
reach work, instead of the quarter-hour required before Arafat decided to
fight Israel. The residents of the Dolev-Talmonim bloc of communities west

of Ramallah have to circle halfway around the country in order to reach
their jobs in Jerusalem just because Arafat's representatives have decided

to murder Jews.
"With all the pain and understanding for the suffering of the Arabs of
Ramallah, all one has to do is to watch the funerals carried out there from

time to time for 'shahid' [martyr] terrorists in order to see that those
same 'innocent' masses choking under closure are also those who chant the
slogan, 'With blood and fire we will redeem Palestine.'"

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer announced late this afternoon that
the closure would be removed from the towns of Tulkarm, Bethlehem,
Kalkilye, and Hevron. The encirclement of Ramallah would remain in full
force, at least until tomorrow.

Arab MK Issam Mahoul said that placing 200,000 Arabs in Hevron under
siege
in order to allow "a handful of settlers to celebrate [Purim] is illogical

and reminiscent of the Nazis." Mahoul also compared the encirclement of
Ramallah to Nazi-tactics. Shinui MK Modi Zandberg said that Mahoul's
statements are "incitement against the State of Israel, that cast doubt
over Mahoul's eligibility to be a part of Israel's Knesset." A Hevron
spokesman explained, however, that "lions have to be put in cages, and
people who act like lions and attack other people have to be contained and

restrained, in order to allow others to live."

2. PALESTINIANS DISAPPOINTED BY INTIFADA
Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a lecturer in the Arabic Department in Bar Ilan
University and a researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic
Studies, told Arutz-7 today,
"Arafat's popularity in the Palestinian Authority is declining
significantly, compared to his popularity at the beginning of the current
intifada. A poll by the PA's Birzeit University of last month shows that
Arafat now has the support of only 28%. In addition, 38% of the
Palestinian youth are interested in immigrating abroad. They see that the

fruits of the intifada are not exactly what they expected: it has led to
something they dread, namely, a national-unity government, and not only
that, it is headed by their nightmare, Ariel Sharon85 In many areas this

intifada has brought them nothing but trouble, and so they want to send
their leaders back to square one. At first the intifada looked good for
them: the Israeli government was giving them more and more concessions,
and PA Security Chief Dahlan said outright that the intifada was helping
the negotiations along - but now these achievements have all gone down the

drain for them..."

Arutz-7's Haggai Segal noted that IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe

Ya'alon has said that there is no longer a popular intifada, that the
masses are no longer on the streets, and that they have withdrawn their
support for it. Kedar agreed:
"Yes, we can clearly see that this is true. The intifada has died down on

its own, and this is why I think that the government erred in demanding
that Arafat call outright for an end to violence, because it's happening
anyway and this merely humiliates him, which is something they cannot
take85" As Kedar wrote in HaTzofeh this week, "There is no one in the PA

who can stand up and admit openly that the leadership made a mistake, that

it chose the wrong strategy, for this would bring upon them the worst thing

that a person or group can bring upon themselves in the Arab world: shame."

3. TERRORIST ATTACK AVERTED, WAR CONTINUES
Kol Rina News Agency reported early this evening that the police stopped an

Arab car a kilometer away from the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, from the
direction of Beit Shemesh, on its way to carry out a major terrorist
attack. The car was carrying gas canisters, and the driver had left his
home a few hours earlier after telling his family that he was on his way to

perpetrate an attack.

Palestinian terrorists shot late this morning at a police van south of
Shechem, and a grenade was hurled at an IDF outpost along the
Israeli-Egyptian border. No one was hurt.

Last night: PLO forces fired at an Israeli army observation post on Mount
Gerizim near Shechem, at Israeli cars near Jericho, and 12 times at Israeli

targets in Gaza, including N'vei Dekalim and Netzarim. On the Israeli
-Egyptian border, near Rafiach, an Arab threw a grenade towards an Israeli

army position. There were no injuries in any of the attacks.

Three Jews were lightly wounded last night when Arabs threw large rocks at

their car on the Husan bypass road, west of Bethlehem. They were taken for

treatment to Hadassah Hospital in the capital. IDF soldiers searched for
and found a unit of Palestinian soldiers suspected of violent activity
against Israel. The Arabs were arrested and are being interrogated.

4. SHARON'S FIVE PALESTINIAN POLICY POINTS
The new government convened for its first meeting this morning. Prime
Minister Sharon, known for his punctuality, made sure to begin exactly on
time, even before some of the ministers had arrived. Former Police
Commissioner Rafi Peled officially took over from Yossi Kucik as
Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting.

Sharon described the five principles of his policy vis-a-vis the
Palestinians:
* A sense of security for Israeli citizens must be restored;
* Palestinian violence must cease, without thereby allowing the
Palestinians diplomatic gains;
* The danger of internationalizing the conflict with the Palestinians must

be reduced;
* The chances for regional deterioration [leading to war] must be reduced;
* All chances for returning to negotiations after the cessation of violence

must be maintained.

Sharon asked the ministers to show up for meetings on time, to speak
politely at the meetings, and to speak out only on their own ministries'
affairs. He mentioned some of his pet projects, including desalination and

aid to young couples for the purchase of homes. Six ministerial committees

were decided upon: The defense-security committee will be headed by
Sharon, and will include four ministers from each of Likud and Labor, three

from Shas (unless the NRP or the Center party joins the government), and
Rehavam Ze'evi and Natan Sharansky. A three-or-four man mini-security
cabinet will also be formed. The other committees formed today include the

economic-social committee, headed by Sharon; the legislative committee
headed by Justice Minister Shetreet; one on personal legislative proposals,

and another for economics, both under Finance Minister Shalom; and the
Audit Committee, headed by Minister Tzippy Livni.

Minister Livni told Arutz-7 after the meeting that the most interesting
part of her first government meeting was hearing the briefing by IDF
Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Malka. Malka said that the Palestinians

have not succeeded in turning their violence into a diplomatic achievement,

and that a further escalation is foreseen. He also said that the
Palestinians want to open channels of dialogue while continuing the
intifada at the same time. As far as the Bush Administration is concerned,

Malka said, talk of a final-status agreement in the coming months is simply

not relevant. U.S. President George Bush said yesterday that Arafat
apparently does not want to make progress towards a final-status settlement

with Israel. He told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish

Organizations that he will make it clear to Arafat that he must
significantly reduce the level of violence in Judea and Samaria. Bush said

that he accepts Prime Minister Sharon's principle of "no negotiations under

fire."
09
Minister Livni said that regarding the closure, "there was really no
argument [among the government ministers]. It is not a new idea, and
everyone agreed that we should try to ensure that the civilian population
does not suffer more than is necessary." She said that it was interesting

to hear the different extremes, "from Avigdor Lieberman suggesting that the

government cut off all contact with Arafat until the intifada ends, and try

to seek out other local leaders instead, while Peres said other
things..." Lieberman, of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, also said at the

meeting that the many roads that have been closed to Jews should be
re-opened.

5. SHARON TO ASK BUSH TO PARDON POLLARD
Prime Minister Sharon told CNN yesterday that he would ask U.S. President
Bush to pardon Jonathan Pollard when the two leaders meet next
week. Sharon and Bush will meet in Washington for the first time since
taking their respective offices. When asked if he will use the opportunity

to seek Pollard's release, Sharon said, "I'll do that... I think that it
will be very, very important if Jonathan Pollard is freed after so many
years in prison." AP reports that Sharon's spokesman Ra'anan Gissin said
that the agenda of the Sharon-Bush meeting had not been finalized, but that

the Pollard issue will undoubtedly be on it. "It's a moral obligation to
fight for someone who served the state of Israel,'' Gissin said.

6. GROCERY STORES IN SUPPORT OF MARGALIT HAR-SHEFI
For the second Monday in a row, many dozens of women stood outside the
President's Residence in Jerusalem, demanding that Mr. Katzav pardon
Margalit Har-Shefi. They maintained that her conviction of knowing in
advance of Yigal Amir's intention to murder Yitzchak Rabin and of not
stopping him is a perversion of justice.

The women say that Har-Shefi's own claim that she did not know of Amir's
plans must be given as much weight as the judges' feeling that she did
know. They further note that the General Security Service head at the time,

Carmi Gillon, himself said that he and others could not conceive of a Jew
"getting up and killing the Prime Minister."

The campaign for a Presidential pardon for Margalit Har-Shefi has even
reached the grocery-store level. One of the mini-markets in Har-Shefi's
hometown of Beit El includes a note on the bottom of each receipt declaring

Margalit's innocence. Another Beit El supermarket went one better, capping

off each purchase with a reminder to fax Pres. Katzav and ask that Margalit

be pardoned. The receipt even includes the presidential fax number:
02-561-1033, but does not mention that faxes may also be sent to Justice
Minister Meir Shetreet at 02-628-5438.

7. YESHA COUNCIL MEETS DEFENSE MINISTER
Yesha Council leaders met with Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer this
afternoon. He promised to deal with terrorism "in a totally different
manner than has been in force until now - although not in a one-shot
deal." He emphasized that he has no interest in oppressing the Palestinian

population, but only in separating between the population and the
terrorists. Ben-Eliezer specified the Tunnels Highway between Gush Etzion

and Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley Highway, and the Modiin Highway as
routes
on which he would make sure to improve security.

Maaleh Adumim Mayor and Yesha Council head Benny Kashriel spoke with
Arutz-7 today before the meeting, and said:
"We think that the encirclement of Arab villages is an important measure,

but even more intense actions must be taken. For example, suicide
terrorists who fear nothing from a personal point of view must be deterred

in other ways, such as having their homes destroyed and their families
exiled... The pressure on the Palestinians must be increased until they
refuse to allow any terrorists to act from within their areas, until we are

able to travel freely on the roads."

Kashriel was asked how he responds to arguments by Minister Matan Vilnai
and others that these measures simply cause more Palestinians to join the
ranks of the terrorists. He responded, "It's very interesting that all
those who did not succeed in containing the terrorism while in Barak's
security cabinet, and who failed in all security matters, now have
criticism of these new measures. Let them now give Sharon and others a
chance to implement a different system85"

8. ORR COMMISSION CONVENES AGAIN
The Orr Commission on the Israeli-Arab riots of last October, in which 13
Israeli-Arabs were killed in violent clashes with the police and other
Israelis, resumed its sessions today. Border Guard Commander Bentzi Sau
testified about the dangers the police and civilians faced from the Arab
rioters. He insisted not on using dry numbers and statistics, as did other

testifying officers before him, but rather described what he called "the
pogrom:"
"The photographs that you can see here show the results of a pogrom.
When
looking at them, you might not think that they are from Israel, but rather

from other places in the world where there is no law and no order85 One o
f
our men was hit in the face by a rock shot from their homemade launchers,
and we tried to get to him under a hailstorm of rocks... We were in
genuine danger of our lives." In the riots about which Sau testified, two

Arabs were killed, 24 policemen and 150 Israeli cars were injured and
damaged, and 1,000 dunams [250 acres] of forest were burnt.

9. RIVLIN IN FAVOR OF ARUTZ-7
Communications Minister Ruby Rivlin told Arutz-7's Haggai Seri in the
Knesset today that he supports allowing the completion of Arutz-7's
licensing process. "Arutz-7 from its very inception never violated the
law," Rivlin said, "and it should be fully licensed in order to respond to

the needs of an entire segment of the population."

In February 1999, the Knesset legislated a law granting Arutz-7
broadcasting rights. The law's implementation has been held up for two
years in the Supreme Court's High Court of Appeals, and still awaits final

adjudication. In the interim, Arutz-7 continues not to violate Israeli law

by broadcasting from a ship located outside of Israel's territorial waters.

Rivlin further added that radio stations affiliated with the Shas party
operate illegally from within the country, and therefore should be
dismantled and rebuilt legally at a later date.

*** EXCERPTS FROM A LETTER BY A LABOR PARTY ELECTION
OBSERVER
A man named Yahav Katzir, of Kibbutz Sdot Yam near Hadera, was sent by
the
Labor Party to be an election observer in Gush Katif last month. In a
letter to the residents of Gadid, where he was stationed, he explained that

he was originally very apprehensive about his job: "I was first of all
afraid of Arab terrorist attacks, and second of all I was afraid of you. I

thought that you are extremists and unpleasant, because this is how the
media describe you. I didn't understand at the time that this could be one

big fabrication of the reality."

Katzir's letter to the residents of Gadid continues,
        "I got on the bulletproof bus [that morning], and my stomach started
churning. I asked myself, 'Why do I need this? It's so dangerous! I have

a family, why should I endanger myself?' And so on and so forth for the
rest of the trip... The army escort left us at the Gefen checkpoint. This

scared me... I looked outside and saw that it was [safer than I
thought]. As we traveled, I saw a stunningly beautiful area, with a
pristine landscape. I became excited. But I kept on worrying about the
meeting with you, the residents. Then we reached N'vei Dekalim, and I saw

warm and friendly people around me. I began to feel a sense of
security... At this point, my opinion about you, the residents, changed
from one extreme to the other: I understood that in this area live people

who are warm and pleasant, who would love to change the stigma which
others
have unjustifiably stuck to them. I was amazed that you even thanked us
for coming... I am very happy about the decision to send me to you...
        "As a kibbutznik and a farmer... I understood that your connection to the

land is so strong, and for this you struggle so hard to remain in the Gush

even beyond Zionism and politics. I very much admire people like you. As

the day passed, I realized that your social lives are very developed, and
everyone knows everyone else and supports everyone else. It is very moving

to see such interaction.
        "Towards the end of the day, the desire to come and live with you came
strongly over me, to join you despite all the fears I had at the
beginning. The quiet, the people, the landscape - all this attracted me
greatly.
        "In short, you succeeded in making me realize that what I had thought
was
based on unreliable sources, and that my stubbornness "not to cross to the

other side" was not justified... Despite my left-wing views, I believe
that one day, if Gush Katif still exists, I will come and join you in order

to live in this beautiful place, with the good people in the area.
        Thank you very, very, very much,
        Yahav Katzir, Sdot Yam

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

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) IDF Spokesperson: The Removal of the Encirclement
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 17:40:58 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 16:33:53 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: IDF Spokesperson: The Removal of the
Encirclement around Tul Karem,
Hebron, Bethlehem, and Kalkiliya.

IDF Spokesperson: The Removal of the Encirclement around Tul Karem, Hebron,
Bethlehem, and Kalkiliya.

12 March 2001

The IDF removed this afternoon the encirclement that was imposed upon the
cities of Tul Karem, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Kalkiliya. The removal of the
encirclements was made possible in the areas in which there was a relative
decrease in the levels of violence, and is intended to enable the
Palestinians residents in the area to resume their normal daily life.

The IDF Spokesperson emphasizes that the IDF does not intend to burden the
Palestinian residents.

The fact remains that the Palestinian Authority does not prevent terror from
its territory but rather encourages it, which hurts first and foremost the
Palestinian population itself. In the event that violence and terror attacks
are resumed the necessary steps will be taken.

--------------------------------------------
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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Tech Titans To Build 'Supercomputer on a Chip'
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 17:43:16 -0500

Monday March 12 02:09 PM EST

Tech Titans To Build 'Supercomputer on a Chip'

By Tim McDonald, www.NewsFactor.com

IBM, Toshiba Corp. and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced an
alliance on Monday aimed at advancing computer chip technology that will
enable consumers to buy electronic devices that will be more powerful than
IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer within five years.

The companies said they will commit US$400 million to develop a
"supercomputer on a chip" -- processors that will operate at low power and
that will be able to access the Internet via broadband at ultra-high speeds.
"The processor platform that people have only been able to imagine is now
going to become a reality," said Ken Kutaragi, president and chief executive
officer of Sony CEI.

Code-named 'Cell'

Officials for all three companies said at the announcement in Tokyo that the
new microchips, code-named "Cell," will use the world's most advanced
research technologies and chip- making techniques.

As for what types of electronic devices will use the chips and be available for
widespread use by consumers, plans are still uncertain, Sony's Chris
Andrews told NewsFactor Network. "It really remains to be seen exactly
where [the chips will be used], but it will be computing devices that
consumers will use to connect to and interact with the Internet," Andrews
said. "They will essentially be more powerful than some of the most
advanced supercomputer chips," Andrews told NewsFactor, "but will find
their way into more consumer applications, in addition to servers and high-
end applications."

IBM To License Technology

The project will employ 300 chip designers and computer architects at its
peak, all working toward the goal of developing a "teraflop-class" consumer
processor. A teraflop is one trillion floating point operations per second Under
the agreement, IBM will license to Sony its 0.10 micron processing
technology, which reduces the size of circuit features and enables smaller
chips to run at faster speeds. The fastest current microchips are produced at
0.11 microns or 0.13 microns. Production on a commercial scale at a sub-
0.10 micron level -- 10,000 times thinner than a human hair -- has not yet
been achieved.

Officials for Sony, the world's second-largest consumer electronics maker,
said the technology will allow the company to build more advanced
production lines in Japan for the microprocessors used in its line of
PlayStation game consoles. Sony was plagued last year with shortages of
the new PlayStation2, particularly in the U.S. where demand was great.

New Wave of Devices

The three high-tech companies, which will share a development center to be
housed within an IBM facility in Austin, Texas, said the agreement calls for
all three firms to manufacture the product for "a new wave of devices." With
built-in broadband connectivity, ultra-high speed networks will be expanded
and become more closely linked, in effect forming one unified "super-
system," the companies claimed.

"Just as biological cells in the body unite to form complete physical
systems, 'Cell-based' electronic products of all types will form the building
blocks of larger systems," Kutaragi said. IBM also announced on Monday
that it is joining the efforts of a computer chip industry group studying ways
of coming up with smaller circuit patterns on semiconductors for the purpose
of boosting their speed.

The consortium is experimenting with extreme ultra-violet light as a means of
printing the increasingly complex circuits on next-generation processors.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nf/20010312/tc/8100_1.html

via: transhumantech@yahoogroups.com

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Investigation call over human-pig hybrid experiment
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 17:44:25 -0500

Investigation call over human-pig hybrid experiment

There are calls for an investigation into claims of illegal human cloning
experiments being carried out in Australia.

It has been reported that a cell containing human DNA was transplanted into
an empty pig's egg.

A government watchdog claims the case it was not an example of human
cloning, but a human hybrid.

The embryo survived for 32 days before being aborted, reports Australia's
Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Health minister Michael Wooldridge says there are no plans for an official
investigation although the police have to make their own decision.

Last updated: 10:07 Monday 12th March 2001

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_239351.html

via: isml@yahoogroups.com

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Weekend News Today items (3/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 17:53:59 -0500

Sharon initiating war says PA

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Israel National News

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- PA Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said in
response to the recent increased security measures taken by the IDF that
Prime Minister Sharon was effectively initiating a war against the
Palestinians. He further claimed that the trenches that have been dug around
the vicinity of Ramallah have "paralyzed the lives of some 700,000
Palestinians."

Fatah official: blockade will spark severe escalation

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- Fatah leaders were to meet Monday to discuss ways to
fight the tightened IDF blockade over Ramallah and other West Bank cities,
amid warnings by the organization's West Bank secretary that the measure
would spark even greater escalation of the violence in the territories. Israeli
Arab MK Mohammed Barakeh called the blockade "a hothouse for creating
the next terrorist attack ... a recipe for the explosion to come."

Citing thwarted Jerusalem terror strike, Sharon rushes to stem criticism of
IDF choke-hold ringing Ramallah

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, rushing to implement
international damage-control Monday in the wake of a crushing army
blockade of the West Bank cornerstone city of Ramallah, said Israel would
ease to a "maximal" extent the plight of the Palestinians, while continuing to
hunt down militants and their commanders. The blockade was not a signal of
a tough new Israeli policy, but rather a "local" action taken to forestall a
major terror strike at Jerusalem, the prime minister said.

N. Korea ready to send missiles to Middle East

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Middle East Newsline

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- North Korea is preparing to send missile components to
the Middle East amid difficulties in Pyongyang's development programs, U.S.
officials said. The first shipment is leaving from a port along the west coast of
North Korea and is believed to contain components for Scud B and Scud C
missiles. The North Korean preparations come amid intensive efforts by
Washington to stop the exports.

The officials said the shipment is expected to reach one of several Middle
East clients of North Korea. The most likely customer, they said, is Libya.
The Washington Times reported that the shipment contain fuel tanks,
propulsion gear and components for chemical warheads on the Scud
missiles. The Scud B has a range of more than 300 kilometers and the Scud
C has a range of 500 kilometers.

U.S. sells anti-tank missiles to Arab allies

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Middle East Newsline

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- The United States plans to sell anti-tank missiles to its
Arab allies. The Bush administration has approved plans to sell thousands of
missiles to such countries as Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia in a sale that
is estimated at more than $50 million. The sale is expected to be approved
by Congress. A Pentagon statement said Raytheon Co., based in Tucson,
Ariz., has been awarded a $62 million contract for the supply of Tube
Launched-Optically Tracked-Wire Guided [TOW] missiles. This contract
calls for the supply of TOW 2A missiles and practice missiles to Jordan,
Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Russia hopes to sign huge Iranian arms deal in May

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Middle East Newsline

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- Russia hopes to sign the first of several huge weapons
deals with Iran in May. Officials said Iran and Russia have already drafted a
contract for both weaponry and training. They said this would allow for the
first delivery of weapons to Teheran by early next year. Russian defense
sources said Teheran is negotiating for the sale of the Russian S-300 anti-
aircraft missile system, Mi-17 helicopter and Sukhoi-25 fighter-jets. Last
month, Iran's ambassador to Moscow said Teheran could buy up to $7 billion
worth of Russian weapons.

Israeli Border Police establish reserve units

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Jerusalem Post

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- For the first time in its history, the Border Police has two
companies of reservists. The units began three days of maneuvers today.
The Border Police called up 180 IDF reservists who had previously served in
the Border Police. Only seven of the reservists opted not to serve their
reserve duty in the Border Police, Israel Radio reported.

Iran, Tajikistan discuss military cooperation

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: World Tribune/ Middle East Newsline

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- Iran and Tajikistan are discussing the prospect of
military cooperation and weapons sales. The discussions are taking place
during the current visit by Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani to
Tajikistan. Shamkhani arrived in Dushanbe on Thursday as head of a high-
ranking delegation to discuss military and security issues.

Shamkhani said his goal was to explore with Tajik officials "defense, political
and security issues, especially finding formulas for the establishment of
lasting security in Central Asia." The Iranian minister said Teheran has the
ability to equip the Tajik miltiary. The two countries have already signed
accords that provide for Iranian weapons sales to Dushanbe. Tajikistan is
regarded as one of the Islamic republics of the former Soviet Union with the
closest relations with Teheran. The two countries are already said to have
economic and defense ties.

Senate report urges arms for Taiwan

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Washington Times/World Tribune

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- A new Senate staff report concludes that Taiwan
urgently needs advanced weaponry, intelligence warning data and joint
exercises with U.S. forces to counter the growing military threat from China.
"It is time to admit that continuing our current policy toward Taiwan will
guarantee the destruction of that island democracy by China's rapidly
expanding military forces," the Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff
concludes.

China's government opposes all U.S. weapons sales, and Chinese Vice
Premier Qian Qichen is due in Washington next week. The staff report calls
for setting up direct communications between Taiwanese and U.S. militaries,
including hot lines or video-conferencing between the Pentagon, the Hawaii-
based Pacific Command and Taiwan's Defense Ministry.

Russians restart Mir's main computer preparing for its splashdown to Earth

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: BBC news

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- Russian ground controllers have restarted the main
computer aboard the space station, Mir, in preparation for the craft's
splashdown in the Pacific later this month. Mir's computer is now answering
commands from Earth - an essential step before the station's re-entry
rockets can be fired. The computer switched itself off on 18 January after
problems with Mir's batteries, causing the space station to lose balance and
forcing the operation to bring it back to Earth to be postponed. Russian
space officials say that Mir is scheduled to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere
over a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean sometime between March 20
and 23. Mir will be directed to plunge to Earth with three rocket thrusts. The
first two will correct its orbit, and the third will send it into a lower orbit where
it will enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up.

The station should be largely destroyed on descent but around 1,500 pieces
of debris, about 20 tonnes in weight, are expected to fall into the South
Pacific between New Zealand and Chile. The space platform, launched in
1986, is being brought to Earth since Russia has found that it is unable to
finance its commitment both to Mir and to the new 16-nation International
Space Station.

Middle East most dangerous since 1973

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: Kelly
                         Source: Reuters/ABC News

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- The Arab-Israeli conflict is at its most dangerous point
since the 1973 Middle East war, former U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations Richard Holbrooke warned on Monday. Holbrooke, who left office in
January, said the new U.S. administration of President George W. Bush
could not afford to ignore or disengage from the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Nor
should Russia, France and China underestimate the danger from Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein, he said. "The Middle East is on the brink of the
most explosive crisis it has faced since 1973," Holbrooke told an annual
conference of the Trilateral Commission, a network of political and business
leaders.

He said Saddam's pledge to send thousands of volunteers to fight alongside
Palestinians in their Intifada (uprising) against Israel could create "the most
serious threat to peace since the Cuban missile crisis" in 1962. Many Middle
East experts argue that war is unlikely in the Middle East because no Arab
army has the capacity to match Israel's military might, and there is no longer
a rival superpower to challenge U.S. dominance in the strategic, oil-
producing region. But Holbrooke spoke of a "clear and present danger that
the most dangerous situation in the world today -- the Middle East -- and Iraq
could metastasize into a single fireball."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser and chief Kremlin
spokesman on Chechnya, told the conference that the West was not taking
seriously enough what he depicted as a threat from an "Islamic international
terrorism movement" out to break up Russia and destabilise the wider world.
The same Islamic guerrillas, trained in Afghanistan, who were backing
Chechen separatists and trying to spread the Chechnya conflict to
Daghestan in Russia's northern Caucasus were "aiming to impose their will
on the whole world," he said.

God's wrath in postmodern times

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: UPI

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- Today's students say: "What the Nazi's did to the Jews
would be wrong if they did it here; but I really can't say that it was wrong for
them to do it there. They have their own culture they were trying to protect."
The Rev. David Whitford, a teacher of Religion and Philosophy in SC
explains: I used to think statements like that were the creations of over-the-
top columnists or academics with an agenda. No longer! I've taught two
years of Introduction to Ethics since then. College students really do have a
hard time condemning the Nazis. It's not even their fault, sadly. They've been
taught and fed a steady diet of postmodernism's only absolute: that truth is
just situational and relative. My students, and those like them around the
country, are simply demonstrating that they really did learn something in
high school.

Does the church -- does Christ -- have anything to say to a college student
who can't condemn the Nazis? I think it does, but to do so will require
recapturing a long forgotten attribute of God: wrath. Just the word sounds
strangely incongruent when thinking about God. We've been taught and told
that God is Love. While this is undoubtedly true, there is much to be learned
from a reinvigorated understanding of God's anger. Simply put, without wrath,
there is no judgment. Without judgment, there is no hope. Wrath became a
very unpopular attribute of God somewhere in the 19th century, when Hegel
and Friedrich Schleiermacher (in very different ways) both attempted to keep
Christianity relevant to the emerging "scientific/modern" mindset. For the
sake of relevance, however, they sacrificed integrity. It was argued that God
could not be both loving and wrathful at the same time. Today, we continue
to operate largely under the same very false presupposition that was added.

As a second-year seminarian serving a large suburban Philadelphia
congregation as an intern, I was asked to preach at one of the noontime Holy
Week services. The scripture lesson for the day was Jesus' cleansing of the
temple. I had given the lesson to the church secretary, and had prepared to
preach on that lesson. When I arrived, however, a new lesson was in its
place. My sermon title was gone, and I was asked politely to choose
something else. The pastor read an innocuous lesson. Brashness being a
gift of the young, I stood up and preached my original sermon anyway. It was
on wrath and anger. I preached that sermon because I believed then, and
believe still, that we have much to learn from God's anger taught throughout
the Scriptures. Contrary to popular opinion, wrath and judgment are integral
to any profound love. God is not indifferent. God is loving, and that love
sometimes demands righteous anger. Righteous anger is, indeed, a very
necessary attribute of God, and an attribute worth emulating.

The story of Jesus in the Temple is important. In fact, it is so important that
all four evangelists record the event. It is important because it runs so
contrary to the meek and mild image of Jesus we are usually fed. It is
important because it reminds us that God does get angry. Jesus got angry
when he saw the Temple being turned into a flea market. God always gets
angry when we turn gifts into perversion. When human beings turn love into
lust, when we turn a living into an obsession, when we turn churches into
country clubs, God gets angry. God's righteous anger judges the powerful
when they abuse the weak. When those with money hoard and turn a gift
into greed, God is not indifferent.

What does Jesus have to say to postmodernity's fascination with everything
is relative type thinking? Simply, that there are limits and there are things
worth being angry about. God want us to use and appreciate and even be
thankful for His gifts. He wants us to enjoy each other in fellowship. But
when these gifts are turned on their heads and perverted into ways to take
advantage of others, God does get angry -- and we should as well. Jesus
came to us to show us what being in relationship with God is all about.
Righteous anger at injustice is a part of that relationship. As human beings,
we ought to emulate that aspect of God's relationship to us among
ourselves. God's anger is not rage, and it is not rash. It is righteous and it is
purposeful. It is not abusive, but it does set limits.

Righteous anger is something my college students still need a dose of. If
you are a parent and your child is doing drugs, that is a time to be angry, the
righteous type of burning anger that will make sure that rules are set and
obeyed, that help is sought, and drug abuse is overcome, out of love.
Righteous anger can teach us much today. It can remind us that, as God
has created all people, they are worthy of just and humane treatment. It can
remind us that some things, no matter when and no matter where, are wrong
and must be resisted. What the Nazis did to the Jews would be wrong here,
but it would also be wrong anywhere. Postmodernity still needs to learn that
lesson.

New advanced technology could interfere with Global Positioning System

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: UPI

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- A technology that could be used for new, more capable
radar systems, detection devices and communication networks may interfere
with the key satellite signals many public safety systems depend on,
according to a government study released Friday. Ultrawide Band, or UWB,
is a technology that transmits bursts of radio frequency energy for only
picoseconds to a few nanoseconds. UWB systems are capable of sending
vast amounts of information quickly and have the potential to share
frequencies without interfering with existing systems. There is intense
commercial and military interest in the new technology -- but government
regulators must first decide if the system substantially interferes with faint
but vital signals from the Global Position System (GPS).

GPS is a worldwide constellation of 24 satellites, beaming down highly
accurate positioning and timing information. Police, rescue services and
mariners use the system to find their way. Airlines and air traffic controllers
increasingly rely on GPS for safe operations. Computer networks use the
system to time transmissions for smooth operations. Farmers, hospitals,
and many companies are finding it very helpful. Though developed by the
Department of Defense, a large commercial sector has also sprung up
around GPS technology. Perhaps the greatest use of GPS will come as a
whole new list of geo-located services develops around wireless phones.

Some UWB companies hope to avoid confrontation with GPS interests by
operating above the GPS band. But Time Domain, a company based in
Huntsville, Ala, has invested in a propriety chip the sends UWB signals
across the contested frequencies. The chip combines communication, radar
and positioning information and has a myriad of potential military and civilian
uses. The FCC exempts such products from regulation because of their low
potential to cause interference.

No. 1 Health Problem - Substance Abuse

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: ABC Health News

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- As the Academy Award-nominated film Traffic has
America debating the toll of substance abuse, a new report out calls it "the
nation's number one health problem," with a quarter of all deaths attributable
to alcohol, drugs or tobacco. Substance abuse costs American society more
than $410 billion per year, according to the report's analysis of health care
and justice records. There also are social costs: Roughly half of all serious
crimes are committed by people under the influence, the report finds, citing
prison surveys and data on arrests.

"The tentacles of this problem reach every aspect of our lives and the costs
are much higher than we generally think," says Foster, vice president and
director of policy research and analysis for the National Center on Addiction
and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The data shows abuse of
drugs, alcohol and tobacco spans social and age groups.

Bush quoted as saying Arafat unwilling for peace progress

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: Ha'aretz Israeli News

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- U.S. President George W. Bush was quoted Monday as
saying that Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat "apparently" does not
want to make progress in the peace process and the reach a final-status
agreement, Army Radio reported. In a meeting with the Conference of
Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, Bush added that his
administration intended to make clear to Arafat that he must try to
significantly reduce the level of violence in the territories. Bush was quoted
as saying his administration accepted Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's principle
rejecting any negotiations under fire.

3 Moderate Earthquakes Rock Taiwan

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: Yahoo/AP

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- 3 moderate earthquakes struck central Taiwan on
Monday. No immediate damage or injuries were reported. A 4.8-magnitude
tremor was centered 12 miles southeast of Yunlin at 2:24 a.m. and was
followed hours later by a 4.6-magnitude quake. Yunlin is about 125 miles
south of the capital, Taipei. Late Monday, a third quake of measuring
magnitude 4.1 struck 6 miles west of Tainan city, about 185 miles south of
Taipei.

Thousands of aftershocks and small tremors have hit the island since a 7.6-
magnitude quake killed about 2,400 people and left thousands homeless in
September 1999. A 4-magnitude quake can cause moderate damage.

Science teachers trying to stay current with the constant scientific advances

                         Weekend News Today
                         Lead: faith
                         Source: Yahoo news/AP

Mon Mar 12,2001 -- These days, advances in science seem to arrive as often
as the morning newspaper. Whether it's a rough draft of the human genome
or a smooth landing on the asteroid Eros, scientific breakthroughs are
making life tough for science teachers. Only an enterprising few manage not
only to stay abreast of the latest developments, but to bring them alive in the
classroom. ``That is one of the struggles I have - how to stay current,'' Tweed
said. ``The information is coming out so rapidly, so if you don't have some
means of staying current ... you're going to be outdated very quickly.''

``It's just the same way as a doctor who has to keep up on the latest
medical techniques,'' said Tidmore. The standard school textbook, once a
staple in science class, can't be relied upon anymore, since it takes about
five years to develop and publish one. ``It is already outdated by the time it
hits the classroom, even if it's brand new,'' Eisenkraft said. Many textbooks
now come with special markers that guide students to Web sites containing
the most up-to-date scientific information, he said.

http://216.219.160.226/cgi-
bin/readnews.cgi?day01_03_12&item#984420327

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Split over pope as universally accepted spokesman for all Christianity
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 17:58:22 -0500

Lutherans split over Pope's role

Sunday, 11 March 2001 14:00 (ET)

Lutherans split over Pope's role
By UWE SIEMON-NETO, UPI religion correspondent

PARIS, Mar. 11 (UPI) -- Lutheran bishops in Germany are split over whether
the pope could act as a universally accepted spokesman for all Christianity,
according to "Idea," a Protestant news service.

Hans Christian Knuth, presiding bishop of the United Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Germany, suggested that Protestants might recognize the pontiff
in this role. Johannes Friedrich, Lutheran bishop of Bavaria, seconded
Knuth's suggestion. Friedrich is also in charge of his denomination's
relations with the Roman Catholic Church.

But Margot Kaessmann, Lutheran bishop of Hanover, vehemently rejected
her colleagues' proposal, calling it an illusion that was not evangelical. Said
Kaessmann, "We don't need a Pope."

She said that according to Lutheran confessional writings "the church exists
where Christians gather to hear the Gospel, and where the sacraments are
properly administered."

The Catholic understanding of the papacy was incompatible with the
Protestant concept of a priesthood of all believers, she said.

Kaessmann, a member of the World Council of Churches central committee,
explained that the "priesthood of all believers" implied direct communication
between the individual and God.

The bishop, a mother of four, also emphasized the Vatican's refusal to
recognize the ordination of Protestant clergy, and particularly of female
pastors.

Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation in
Geneva, reacted more cautiously to Knuth's and Friedrich's suggestion. He
told "Idea" that Lutherans could certainly look to the Pope "as a spiritual
leader in the word."

But, Noko said, "One cannot disassociate his spiritual role from his place as
primate of the Roman Catholic episcopate."

The Lutheran leader then asked, "Does globalization really call for a global
spokesman for all Christians?"

On the other hand, the Karl Cardinal Lehmann, chairman of Germany's
National Catholic Bishops Conference, said he welcomed the two Lutheran
bishops' proposal. Bishop Paul-Werner Scheele, this Catholic body's
ecumenism officer commented that only a generation ago Protestants
regarded the Pope as the Anti-Christ.

http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID167101

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Zenit items (3/12/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 18:10:10 -0500

QUEENB4S VATICAN TRIP BLAMED FOR DISASTERS

LONDON, MAR. 12, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Foot-and-mouth disease hasnB4t done
much to lift a Scottish denominationB4s ecumenical spirit.

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland says the recent cases of foot-and-
mouth disease, floods and train crashes are the result of the Queen
ElizabethB4s visit to the Vatican last October, according to The Times
newspaper.

The church, popularly known as the "Wee Wee Frees," has pointed an
accusing finger at the monarch for traveling to the Vatican and meeting the

Pope.

Since then, the Scottish church notes, Britain has suffered a variety of Ol
d
Testament-style punishments. A national day of humiliation and prayer
should be called by the Queen to end the plague, it adds. "Since Your
MajestyB4s visit to the Vatican, our nation has passed through difficult t
imes
and, for our part, we cannot but see the hand of God, for instance, in the

floods that have caused so much distress in the areas affected, in the trai
n
crashes and the lives lost as a result of them and, not least, the present

epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease with so many animals slaughtered."

The letter is written by John MacLeod, clerk to the Outer Isles Presbytery
in
Stornoway. The pastor has sent a similar rebuke to Henry MacLeish, the
First Minister, about his meeting with the Pope at the Vatican in December.

MacLeish was reminded that the Scottish Parliament in 1649 ratified the
Westminster Confession of Faith identifying the pope as "that Antichrist."

Buckingham Palace responded: "The QueenB4s meeting with the Pope has
been extremely well received with much positive comment from a wide range
of opinion. However, the Queen listens carefully to all approaches made by

individuals and groups and, if appropriate, would forward views on to
Government for consideration."

ZE01031221

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

--------------------------------------
Interview
--------------------------------------

VATICAN AIDE EVALUATES VISIT TO IRAN
Archbishop Tauran Pleased With Dialogue

VATICAN CITY, MAR. 12, 2001 (Zenit.org).- From March 3-8, Archbishop
Jean-Louis Tauran made the most important visit of a Vatican representative

to Iran since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

The Vatican secretary for relations with states met with the highest offici
als
of the country, including President Mohammad Jatami.

TehranB4s new ambassador to the Vatican, Mostafa Boroujerdi, told the
international agency Fides that this visit constitutes a historic opportuni
ty to
promote the "dialogue between civilizations," supported by President Jatami
.

In opposition to Samuel HuntingtonB4s thesis, which predicts a great
confrontation between civilizations in the future, especially between the
Islamic world and the West, the diplomat said: "The dialogue between
religions is the highest expression of the dialogue between civilizations.
If we
take religion away from civilization, nothing remains. Religion has always

played an important part in the edification of man. Therefore, I believe th
at its
role is very important in the dialogue between civilizations."

On his return to the Vatican, Archbishop Tauran was interviewed over
Vatican Radio.

--Q: What was the atmosphere of this very special visit?

--Archbishop Tauran: My meetings were characterized by a climate of
cordiality and mutual knowledge. We addressed the problems of the region,
especially those of the Church in Iran, in a precise and peaceful manner, w
ith
Iranian President Jatami and the Foreign Affairs Minister.

--Q: It is the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution that a Vatican

personality of such rank visits that country. What was the reason? What has

the trip fostered?

--Archbishop Tauran: First of all, I want to clarify something. After the G
ulf
War, a humanitarian mission led by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray visited Iran.

However, the visit was kept at a lower level than the present one, as Cardi
nal
Etchegaray was not received by the stateB4s highest authorities.

Mine was undoubtedly a mission of a diplomatic character. It is the first t
ime,
since we began to have diplomatic relations with Iran in 1953, that someone

from the State Secretariat goes to Tehran. Therefore, this is an important

event, a positive sign.

--Q: What made this trip possible?

--Archbishop Tauran: Well, I would say that the opportunity arose with
President JatamiB4s 1999 visit to the Vatican, and that of the Iranian For
eign
Minister, who invited me at the time to visit the country. This invitation
was
renewed several times. I waited for circumstances that would allow me to
respond to the invitation.

--Q: You have said that you discussed the Middle East in your meetings.
What role can relations between Iran and the Vatican have for peace in the

region? Is there agreement between the two in this thorny field?

--Archbishop Tauran: We have seen that we are in agreement on the
fundamental principle: The force of law must prevail over the law of force
in
the Middle East. As President Jatami and the Foreign Minister can explain,

we have the great fortune of being able to make use of an arsenal of juridi
cal
dispositions that allow us to find solutions to virtually all the problems
that
are still in the air.

What is lacking is the political will to apply international law, to apply
it
always and everywhere. I believe that, in this respect -- to make the
moralization of international life be an ever more concrete reality -- Iran
and
the Vatican are in perfect agreement.

--Q: This visit to Iran has also enabled you to meet the countryB4s small

Christian community. What is its situation? Does it enjoy religious liberty

and is there hope for it to obtain juridical status?

--Archbishop Tauran: A mission of the Vatican secretary for relations with

states always has an ecclesial dimension. As I often repeat, pontifical
diplomacy is at the service of the pastoral life of the local Churches. I h
ave
had numerous contacts with the bishops, who have invited me several times.

On Sunday I celebrated Mass in St. Joan of Arc Church.

Of course, you are right. It is a very small community, made up of only
10,000 Catholics who feel Iranian and wish to stay in Iran. As regards
religious liberty, I would say they have freedom of worship. This is precis
ely
the point I addressed in my conversations with the Iranian personalities.
There must be a move from freedom of worship to religious freedom: from the

purely liturgical dimension to the social dimension of faith, because faith

always has a social dimension.

In this connection, in my conversations I was also able to address the
problem of the juridical status of the Catholic Church. Now, the two
diplomatic [powers] must begin to work to find concrete solutions to
everyday problems.

ZE01031206

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

VATICAN PREPARING "ETHICS IN INTERNET" DOCUMENT
Council for Social Communications Holding Plenary Assembly

VATICAN CITY, MAR. 12, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Participants of the plenary
assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications are working
this week to prepare a document on "Ethics in Internet."

Archbishop John P. Foley, council president, told Vatican Radio that
Internet, like other means of communication, raises ethical concerns. The
current initiative is part of a series of documents published by this ponti
fical
council, which began with "Ethics in Advertising" (1997), and was followed
by
"Ethics in Communications" (2000).

During the meeting, which began today and will end Friday, the participants

also will analyze the mediaB4s role in the celebration of the Jubilee Year
.
Moreover, Archbishop Foley explained that the meeting offers the opportunit
y
to study the way in which the media can respond to John Paul IIB4s call in

"Novo Millennio Ineunte," to look ahead.

"We must enter all the means of social communication to evangelize in two
ways: to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in and through the media,"
Archbishop Foley said. "We must also think of our own media, as well as of

a program for the formation of persons, within the media in general, to obt
ain
a more comprehensive view of human life and its end -- not the consumerist

view, spread throughout the world today, but [one] inspired by the values o
f
the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

ZE01031202

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

ISRAELI ARMY BLOCKS PATRIARCH FROM VISITING PARISH

VATICAN CITY, MAR. 12, 2001 (Zenit.org).- The Israeli army last Friday
impeded the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem from visiting a parish in the West

Bank, patriarchate sources said.

His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, who was received by John Paul II today in the

Vatican, called for the immediate lifting of restrictions imposed in the Ga
za
Strip and West Bank, in force for more than five months. "Israel cannot
control the will of a people calling for liberty," the patriarch said in a

statement.

Patriarch Sabbah, a Palestinian, was detained by members of the army
when he was going by car to Ein Arik, a locality north of Ramala, to presid
e
over a Lenten liturgy. The previous day, for similar reasons, he was also
unable to visit a church in Bir Zeit, a university town north of Ramala.

The patriarch stated that, by impeding his pastoral visit to the parish, th
e
Israeli army violated the diplomatic agreement on freedom of worship, signe
d
with the Holy See in 1994.

The Israeli army and Foreign Affairs Ministry have made no comment. Israel

justifies the blockade to avoid Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Over
the
past five months of conflicts, 423 people, most of them Palestinians, have

been killed.

ZE01031209

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

UNIVERSITIESB4 ICON OF VIRGIN MARY ARRIVES IN UKRAINE

KIEV, Ukraine, MAR. 12, 2001 (Zenit.org).- After visiting Greece, Russia an
d
Spain, the university studentsB4 icon of the Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom,
has
arrived in Ukraine.

The icon is the gift John Paul II made to the worldB4s universities during
their
special Jubilee last Sept. 10. The image will visit academic institutions
worldwide. It is a marble, ceramic and metal mosaic, made by artist Marko
Ivan Rupnik, who wished to blend elements of the artistic tradition of East
ern
and Western Christianity.

After being exhibited in Kiev, the image will go on pilgrimage to Odessa,
Donezk, Lvov and other Ukrainian cities. The Pope is due to visit Ukraine i
n
June.

ZE01031203

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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Official Fatah editorial threatens to undermine moderate Arab states with popular revolt
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 18:17:59 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 18:04:51 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Official Fatah editorial
           threatens to undermine
           moderate Arab states
           with popular revolt, calls
           on Israeli Arabs to help
           bring Sharon down

Official Fatah editorial threatens to undermine moderate Arab states with
popular revolt, calls on Israeli Arabs to help bring Sharon down

Towards a Comprehensive Arab Intifada
http://www.fateh.net/e_editor/01/280201.htm

We do not talk about the intentions of Sharon's government which has already
targeted Tehran and Aswan as two cities to be bombarded by the Israeli
extreme right. It is our responsibility as Palestinians, represented by the
PNA and the PLO, to confront the Israeli aggression plans and to protect
Muslim and Christian holy sites. To do so, we should be aware not only of
our strengths and weaknesses, but also of those of our enemy.

One of the strengths of Israel lies in its relations with its strongest
ally, the U.S. which has some of its most vital interests in the Arab world.
On the other hand, one of the strengths of the Intifada is its Arab and
Islamic dimension. Turning Israel's strength into a weakness will not be a
big deal if we know how to influence U.S. interests so that we can introduce
a much more balanced relation with the U.S.

The U.S. has three vital interests: keeping Israel as the strongest military
power in the area, securing Arab oil, and ensuring that its Arab allies are
not threatened. These countries are Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf
area, and Morocco. Influencing the second vital interest, it should be
known, depends on how we deal with the third interest. The question remains
as to how we can make U.S.- Arab relations more balanced and to be governed
by a mutual interest without fearing U.S. reaction.

It was back in 1973 when Arabs used their oil as a weapon in their national
battle against Israel and its allies. It is true that much has happened
since then, but one important thing will never change: Arabs cannot maintain
their dignity unless they are united and can not be blackmailed. Arabs have
to eliminate the U.S. arrogance that stands behind the feeling that the U.S.
can use Arabs against Arabs and end any kind of solidarity that may develop
among them. This arrogance was reflected in a report written by some U.S.
Zionists about U.S. policy towards the Middle East. The report which was
entitled "Sailing Across Turmoil" asserts that American military presence in
the Gulf area has become a routine matter. In other words, this presence has
become satisfying for both the U.S. and its allies there, and it has its
price fully paid.

It was the Intifada that revealed the positive transformation in the Arab
world and removed the U.S. veto, which prevented the Arabs from holding the
summit conference. Countries that participated in the aggression against
Iraq are now calling for an end to the American blockade on Iraq. The last
Arab summit conference in Cairo showed to what extent the U.S. policy
towards the Arab world has been damaged. In many demonstrations that took
place in most Arab countries in support of the Intifada, U.S. flags were
burned as a sign of public anger against the chief ally of Israel.

Some Arab countries failed to appease the angry masses and, at the same
time, maintain good relations with the U.S.. In fact, certain governments
tried to quell demonstrations that called for boycotting Israel and ending
normalization.

The U.S. felt it was in real trouble especially after the collapse of Barak'
s government and the return of Sharon who is known for his undesired
adventures. It was in 1982 when Reagan was forced to dismiss Alexander Haig,
the then-Secretary of Department, who supported Sharon in his invasion of
Lebanon. The U.S. considered that a peace agreement that ends the Israeli
Arab conflict will help Israel in maintaining the American hegemony over the
Arab world as a basic feature of the new hegemony order. This is what George
Bush thought of during his reign. Despite the many changes that happened
since then, his son, George W. Bush, is trying to force the area back under
the American influence.

It has become clear that the Palestinian position which is based on
international legality attracts a broad consensus in the Arab and Muslim
world. This position has not changed despite the Israeli violations of the
sovereignty of international law. Even the U.S. State Department could not
overlook these violations which included the use of U.S. made but
internationally banned weapons and the unjustified assassinations of
Palestinian leaders.

The current confrontation has emphasized the legality of the Palestinian
position. It has also alerted Arab countries to the crisis that will occur
if they continue to view the Palestinian position as a routine question. The
Arab masses took to the streets as a reaction to the U.S. support of Israel'
s criminal practices. These masses made it an imperative for Arab
governments to support the Intifada. Unfortunately, the U.S. has used its
influence to stop this support claiming that it encourages Palestinian
'violence'.

If Arab regimes persist in their position, Arab masses will eventually
demonstrate against those who will be accused of accepting American diktat.
The Arab people will confront governments that are under a psychological
blockade. A comprehensive Arab intifada will erupt then as a firm response
against U.S. support of Zionist threats which include, among other things,
the reoccupation of PNA-controlled territories. The arrogance these threats
represent reminds us of crucial confrontations Israel lost in Jordan
(al-Karama battle, 1967) and in Beirut when Sharon earned his reputation as
the Sabra and Shatila killer.

Most Israelis feel the need for peace to prevail, especially after they
enjoyed the blessing of peace when agreements were respected. Palestinians
expect the Israeli society to quickly perceive the aggressive nature of the
government they voted in office. Also, Palestinian Arabs living in Israel
have an important role to play in bringing down Sharon's government that
advocates hegemony at the expense of freedom and democracy.

Who can brush aside international legality to negotiate interim issues that
have already been negotiated? Nobody can do this after Sharon rejected
Clinton's proposals and the outcome of Taba and Camp David negotiations.
This Israeli position urges us to prepare for one of the harshest
confrontations with the Israeli generals. Arabs and Muslims who will be
rising against American strategic interests in our region will support us to
regain our dignity and self-respect. After all, it is al-Aqsa intifada.

Revolution Until Victory.

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To: <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Fw: The Message of God TV
From: "Sunday"
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 21:14:50 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: The Belfast Berean News
To: List Member
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 5:51 PM
Subject: The Message of God TV

The Belfast Berean News - http://www.belfastberean.co.uk

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The Real Message and Motivation behind the 'God' Christian Channel Europe!

$$$$$$ - MONEY - $$$$$$

On the'god' Christian Channel Europe the teachers who appear claim they
are not "lovers of money", but why is it that most of the time they are
talking about money, and how you can get money! The Scriptures warn about
such teachers who will creep into the 'church' in the latter times.

The Apostle Paul warns... "In the last days....men shall be...covetous
[literally, lovers of money],....having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

The Apostle Paul warns... "If any man teach otherwise and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing,
but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from
such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For
we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drowned men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some
coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves with
many sorrows."(1 Tim. 6:5-10).

Brian Houston "Money.....You'll learn why you need more money....You'll
learn how to get more money....You'll learn to become a money magnet...."

Creflo Dollar "I am telling you, money is trying to get into your hands
right now even as I speak....but you don't think it is a part of God's
recovery. You don't think it is a spiritual thing. Somebody said, "oh I
did not come here to hear about money, I came here because I need some
peace",....you need some money or you will never know no peace....its
about money."

Frederick K.C. Price "The whole point is I'm trying to get you to see--to
get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and the disciples were
poor and then relating that to you- thinking that you, as a child of God,
have to follow Jesus. The Bible says that He has left us an example that
we should follow His steps. That's the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce.
I'm following Jesus' steps."

John Avanzini "Jesus was handling big money because that treasurer He had
was a thief. Now you can't tell me that a ministry with a treasurer that's
a thief can operate on a few pennies. It took big money to operate that
ministry because Judas was stealing out of that bag."

John Avanzini "John 19 tells us that Jesus wore designer clothes. Well,
what else you gonna call it? Designer clothes--that's blasphemy. No,
that's what we call them today. I mean, you didn't get the stuff He wore
off the rack. It wasn't a one-size-fits-all deal. No, this was custom
stuff. It was the kind of a garment that kings and rich merchants wore.
Kings and rich merchants wore that garment."

Kenneth Copeland even encourages believers to pull a imaginary level and
cry three times "money come up to me now!"

Is there really one passage in the New Testament were Jesus Christ or his
Apostles taught their disciples how to get more money or how to become
money magnets? Yet many faith teachers like Kennerh Copleland, Brian
Houston, Creflo Dollar and John Bevere make the strange claim that Jesus
Christ spent most of his ministry talking about money and how to get
money!

The truth however is Jesus Christ taught the very opposite. [Luke
12:33-34, Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 19:23, Matthew 8:20]

Why did Peter in Acts 3:6 state to the crippled man "Silver and Gold have
I none!"?

Why did Paul write "Even until this present hour we both hunger and
thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling
place" [1 Cor 4:11]?

Again Paul tells us "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is
for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of
the same sufferings which we also suffer: or wether we be comforted, it is
for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast.
knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of
consolation. For we would not, brethren, have ye ignorant of our trouble
which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above
strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence
of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God
which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth
deliver; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;" [2 Cor 1:5-11]

Paul writes again "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss
for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things that I may win Christ......That I may know
him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." [Phil 3:7-10]

Paul writes again "Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to abound
every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me." [Phil 4:11-13]

Often when at a church meeting you would hear a testimony of how someone
came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. However on the
Christian Channel Europe we have a different kind of testimony! Yes,
amazingly we have testimony's given of how one got money, and how their
going to get more money! The wonderful Salvation passage of Romans 10:9-10
is perverted by Creflo Dollar who claims it is not really talking about
Salvation as we would all like to think! No thats not what it says; and he
then tells us what it is really all about! What does it really mean?
....getting prosperity, houses, cars ..etc. Creflo Dollar turns Salvation
into accumulation.

$$$$$$ - FALSE FAITH - $$$$$$

On the 'god' Christian Channel Europe a false concept of faith is often
taught! Faith is a force, and words are the containers of the 'force', and
through the power of words one can create their own reality! According to
Kenneth Copeland faith is a force that both man and God use. God used this
force called faith, which is invisible and spiritual to create the world.
Copeland claims "I have the same faith in me that God used to create this
planet." So faith is a force, words are the containers of the force, and
through the power of words man can create his own reality.

Charles Capps : "Faith is the substance, the raw material....Faith is the
substance that God used to create the universe, and He transported that
Faith with His words....Faith is the substance of things, but you can't
see faith. Faith is a spiritual force."

Taffi Dollar writes "When God spoke the worlds into existence, the power
of the Word manifested what he had spoken. God made everythng with his
mouth. This is precisely how we can frame our world. We can speak the Word
over our situation until we can see what we have said.... Therefore, we
have the power and authority to speak our worlds into existence as He
did....our words frame our world....Whatever you say with your mouth is
what you are going to frame."

Kenneth Copeland : "Faith is a power force. It is a tangible force. It is
a conductive force."

Charles Capps : "He framed the world with His words. You can't build
without substance. He took words--faith-Filled words were God's substance.
Here, essentially, is what God did. God filled His words with faith. He
used His words as containers to hold His faith and contain that spiritual
force and transport it out there into the vast darkness by saying 'Light
be!' That's the way God transported His faith causing creation and
transformation."

Charles Capps "God filled His words with faith to cause the things He said
to come into manifestation. There was an image inside Him. He expressed it
in words."

The truth is however that God is God he does not use faith, he does not
activate faith because He is God! God is the object of faith! Our trust
should be in the Almighty God and this trust comes by reading & obeying
His Word! Jesus Christ taught "Have Faith in God" Mark 11:22, 'Faith'
teachers twist this around and say it really means 'Have the faith of
God'.

Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar among others teach that whatever they
say goes, because they are "little gods", and because Jesus Christ is the
apostle & high priest of his words! Man is a little god who speaks things
and they come to pass! Kenneth Copeland even believes he is equal with
God. "Let this mind be in Kenneth Copeland, Oh my goodness, Ah! that
thinks its not robbery to be called equal with God."

$$$$$$ - YE ARE GODS - $$$$$$

Rory Alec "This represents the fact that Jesus, when you partake of this,
this represents that his blood has wash you clean of all sin. And
therefore you are gods, you have been purchased by the blood of Jesus."

Kenneth E. Hagin "Originally, God made the earth and the fullness thereof,
giving Adam dominion over all the works of His hands. In other words, Adam
was the god of this world."

Paul Crouch, speaking to Kenneth Copeland, said "Somebody said--I don't
know who said it--but they claim that you Faith teachers declare that we
are gods. You're a god. I'm a god. Small 'g' now, but we are the gods of
this world. . . . Well, are you a god--small 'g'?" To this, Jan Crouch,
referring to Copeland, enthusiastically exclaimed: "He's gonna say, 'Yes.'
I love it."

Paul Crouch "He [God] doesn't even draw a distinction between Himself and
us. . . . You know what else that's settled, then, tonight? This hue and
cry and controversy that has been spawned by the Devil to try and bring
dissension within the body of Christ that we are gods. I am a little god!
. . . I have His name. I'm one with Him. I'm in covenant relation. i am a
little god! Critics, be gone!"

Kenneth Copeland and Paul Crouch "Man was created in the God class....We
are a class of gods....God Himself spawned us from His innermost being."

Kenneth Copeland "God spoke Adam into existence in authority with
words....These words struck Adam's body in the face. His body and God were
exactly the same size."

Kenneth Copeland "God's reason for creating Adam was His desire to
reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself, and in the Garden of
Eden He did just that. He was not a little like God. He was not almost
like God. He was not subordinate to God even. . . . Adam is as much like
God as you could get, just the same as Jesus. . . . Adam, in the Garden of
Eden, was God manifested in the flesh"

Kenneth Copeland "Adam was made in the image of God. He was as much female
as he was male. He was exactly like God. Then God separated him and
removed the female part. Woman means 'man with the womb.' Eve had as much
authority as Adam did as long as they stayed together"

Charles Capps "We were created to be gods over the earth, but remember to
spell it with a little "g"."

Benny Hinn "When you say, 'I am a Christian, you are saying, 'I am
mashiach' in the Hebrew. I am a little messiah walking on earth, in other
words That is a shocking revelation.... May I say it like this? You are a
little god on earth running around."

Kenneth E. Hagin "Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and
Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was
Jesus of Nazareth."

The lie of Satan in Genesis 3:5 has been repacked and resold by faith
teachers 'ye shall be as gods'. It was a lie then, and it is still a lie
today!

The only true and living God says "I am the first, and I am the last; and
beside me there is no God....Is their a God beside me? yea, there is no
God; I know not any." [Isa 44:6-8] and again "I am the Lord, and their is
none else, there is no God beside me....I am the Lord, and their is none
else....and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour;
there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of
the earth: for I am God and their is none else" [Isa 45:1-22] and again
"Remember the former things of old: for I am God; and there is none else;
I am God and there is none like me;" [Isa 46:9]

According to the faith teachers we are not to say "Lord thy will be done",
instead according to Creflo Dollar, Jesus Christ is the High Priest and
apostle of our confessions, and He wants to obey our confessions! We are
to command him to make us rich, Jesus is ready and willing to obey our
commands! We just have to say it and to speak it just like the lady in the
'testimoney' above, and it will come to pass! Because Jesus is obliged to
obey our confessions! [Hebrews 3:1] is used to support this false teaching
of Jesus having to obey our commands! The context of the passage in
Hebrews 3 shows that Jesus Christ is Superior to Moses, and yes that Jesus
Christ is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession! However our
profession of faith is in Jesus Christ and his Finished work! This passage
does not teach in any way that Jesus Christ obeys our commands! The
Scriptures clearly teach that we as Christians obey Jesus Christ and keep
his commands! Faith teachers have it the wrong way round, but sadly it get
worse!

Kenneth Copeland "As a believer, you have a right to make commands in the
name of Jesus. Each time you stand on the Word, you are commanding God to
a certain extent because it is His Word."

$$$$$$ - YOU ARE THE PROPHET OF YOUR OWN LIFE - $$$$$$

Kenneth Copeland like Creflo Dollar teaches that God is no longer in
charge of your life it is you! You are the prophet of your own life
"...You are right now were you said you would be..." Your words in your
life decide your future! Now it is official God is no longer in charge of
your life the facts are you are and acoording to Copeland this is the way
God ordained it to be. Creflo Dollar explains to his followers how Jesus
Christ is the 'apostle and high priest of our confession' and demonstrates
how this all works, and of course money is at the centre of this teaching
and Jesus Christ really has no choice in this matter as Dollar states
"Jesus is obliged to obey our confessions!"

$$$$$$ - WE DO NOT PRAY GOD92S WILL - $$$$$$

Frederick K.C. Price "When I first got saved they didn't tell me 1 could
do anything. What they told me to do was that whenever I prayed I should
always say, 'The will of the Lord be done.' Now, doesn't that sound
humble? It does. Sounds like humility, it's really stupidity. I mean, you
know, really, we insult God. I mean, we really do insult our Heavenly
Father. We do; we really insult Him without even realizing it. If you have
to say, 'If it be thy will' or 'Thy will be done'--if you have to say
that, then you're calling God a fool because He's the One that told us to
ask. . . . If God's gonna give me what He wants me to have, then it
doesn't matter what I ask. I'm only gonna get what God wants me to have.
So that's an insult to God's intelligence."

Paul Crouch says "We do not even have to pray God's will" its whatever we
say that goes! Jesus must wait until we say it, and it is that spoken word
that we speak! Crouch states "speak that thing, decree that thing and it
shall come to pass..... You got to say it, you got to speak it, you got to
decree it, you decree the think you pay your vow and He [Jesus] brings it
to pass"

$$$$$$ - FALSE JESUS - $$$$$$

The apostle Paul warns "I earnestly wish ye could bear with me a little in
my folly: and indeed bear with me.For I am jealous over you with godly
jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you
as] a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the
serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh
preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive
another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye
have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." [2 Cor 11:1-4]

The Christian Channel Europe through many of its preachers demote the Lord
Jesus Christ to a Spirit filled man, who never claimed to be God, [Romans
1:21-23] and who could of sinned!

Kenneth Copeland (through whom Jesus allegedly delivered the following
prophecy) "They crucified Me [Jesus] for claiming that I was God. But I
didn't claim I was God; I just claimed I walked with Him [the Father] and
that He was in Me."

Benny Hinn teaches that if it was not for the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ
would of sinned! Benny Hinn also teaches that without the Holy Spirit
Jesus did not have the power to rise again from the dead! Sadly Hinn like
others on 'god' channel, overlook the clear fact that Jesus Christ is God,
and did claim to be God! [John 9:56-59; John 10:30-33] Jesus Christ said
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I
might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father."

As it is written of Jesus Christ "That which was from the beginning, which
we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life (For the life was
manifested, and we have seen it, and testify, and show to you that eternal
life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;) That which we
have seen and heard we declare to you, that ye also may have fellowship
with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ.And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.
This then is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

So the truth is that Jesus Christ could never of sinned as He is God! Yes
he was tempted, but the tempetition had no effect on Him as He cannot sin
BECAUSE HE IS GOD!

$$$$$$ - FALSE GOSPEL - $$$$$$

The gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified is rejected and replaced.
Jesus Christ did not pay the debt of sin on the cross! It was not the
physical death of Jesus Christ on the cross that paid the price for sin,
and when Christ cried "it is finished", it was not finished. What is
taught is that Jesus Christ was dragged into hell by Satan and there he
suffered the punishment for three horrible days and nights and His
emaciated, poured out, little, wormy spirit was born again. Every demon in
hell tortured Him beyond anything that anybody has ever conceived. For
three days He suffered everything there is to suffer in Hell, however
Satan didn't realize that he took Jesus illegally because He did not sin.
Satan though he had Jesus destroyed, but God started talking and Jesus
Christ's emaciated, poured out, little, wormy spirit was born again. Jesus
Christ therefore became the first born again man.

Kenneth Copeland "It wasn't the physical death on the cross that paid the
price for sin...... anybody could do that....Every prophet that walked the
face of the earth under the Abrahamic covenant could have paid the price
if it were a physical death only"

Frederick K.C. Price "Do you think that the punishment for our sin was to
die on a cross? If that were the case, the two thieves could have paid
your price. No, the punishment was to go into hell itself and to serve
time in hell separated from God. . . . Satan and all the demons of hell
thought that they had Him bound. And they threw a net over Jesus and they
dragged Him down to the very pit of hell itself to serve our sentence."

Kenneth Copeland "Every demon in hell....tortured Him beyond anything that
anybody has ever conceived. For three days He suffered everything there is
to suffer. Some people don't want to believe that. They want to believe
that after his death, Jesus just stayed in the upper region of Sheol that
the Bible calls paradise - where the saints waited for redemption. But
they're mistaken! If He had simply stayed there, there would have been no
price for sin. What then would have been the use of shedding His precious
blood?"

Kenneth Copeland "He [Jesus] is suffering all that there is to suffer.
There is no suffering left apart from Him. His emaciated, poured out,
little, wormy spirit is down in the bottom of that thing [hell]. And the
Devil thinks he's got Him destroyed."

Kenneth Copeland "That Word of the living God went down into that pit of
destruction and charged the spirit of Jesus with resurrection power!
Suddenly His twisted, death-wracked spirit began to fill out and come back
to life. He began to look like something the devil had never seen before."

Joyce Meyers "God rose up from His throne and said to demon powers
tormenting the sinless Son of God, 91Let Him go.92 Then the resurrection
power of Almighty God went through hell and filled Jesus ... He was
resurrected from the dead the first born-again man"

Joyce Meyers "There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they
believe this truth I am presenting. You cannot go to heaven unless you
believe with all your heart that Jesus took your place in hell"

Kenneth Copeland "I can't understand Christians that refuse to believe
that Jesus went to hell. I want to tell you something, if he didn't go
your going to have to."

Kenneth Copeland "Its Staggering to consider just how much it cost Jesus
to buy us back from sin. He went all the way to Hell and back to pay the
price of it all"

$$$$$$ - THREATS - $$$$$$

Threats are issued to those that would dare question the teachings above.
However Jesus Christ & His apostles warn throughout the whole of the New
Testement for Christians to be on their guard and to "prove all things;
holding fast to that which is good..to test the spirits to see if they are
from God...to beware because many false prophets are gone out into the
world..to beware as in the last days many false prophets will come
claiming to be "anointed" and will decieve many...Wolfs in sheeps
clothing"

Those on the 'god' channel do not like those who do what God commands and
check their teachings against the Word of God. Threats such as "God will
shoot you if I don92t", "Your Children will suffer", "You will drop dead i
n
your pulpit92, "I wish God would give me a Holy Ghost machine Gun and I
blow your head off"

They do not like their teachings being questioned! Threats and warings are
issued such as "touch not the Lord's Anointing" and "Judge not lest ye be
Judge!" Often [CCE] teachers will quote...

"Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." (1 Chron 16:22)

"Judge not lest ye be judged" [Matt 7:1]

"Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he
standeth or falleth: and he shall be held up: for God is able to make him
stand." [Romans 14:4]

These verses have been clearly lifted out of their context. The first
saying is from King David who could of killed Saul but he said "I will not
lift up my hand against the Lord's Anointed" We are not to do any physical
harm to the Lord92s chosen, but this did not stop David from rebuking Saul
and for pointing out his sin before God!

We as Christians are not to judge people as hypocrites, or are we too
judge according to appearance but we are to "judge righteous judgment."
[John 7:24] Their is a righteous judgement, and this is the judgement that
we as believers are to judge by!

The final quote from Romans is ALSO OUT OF CONTEXT and is about judging
one in meat and drink and reguarding Holy days! Death threats are also
issued to those who would dare question what they were doing was from God!
It is written in Scripture "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you and persecute you;" [Matthew 5:44]

$$$$$$ - FALSE PROPHETS - $$$$$$

Jesus Christ warned that many false prophets would arise deceiving many!
Rory Alec a co-founder of 'god' channel has made a number of prophecys on
television of which one has clearly failed which proves he is a false
prophet! Rory Alec a co-founder joined the false prophets hall of fame in
proclaiming on a Christmas 1996 'Good Morning Europe' telecast that
prophetically speaking [CCE] was going to go from 7 hours a day to 24
hours a day carrying 5 languages in 1997. This was clearly not Rory Alec's
will but God the Father's will!

THIS PROPHECY DID NOT COME TO PASS!

Rory's error was in proclaiming on a Christmas 1996 'Good Morning Europe'
telecast [rather excitedly], that prophetically speaking [CCE]' was going
to go from 7 hours a day to 24 hours a day carrying 5 languages in 1997.
This was not Rory Alec's will but 'God the Father's will' and that it
would happen. This prophecy has totally and utterly failed! In fact CCE
had gone from broadcasting 7 hours a day to only 6 hours per day before
they went 24 hours a day in mid 1999. In the OT God commanded that such
prophets should be put to death! [Deut 13:1-5; Deut 18:20-23] The 'god' of
the Christian Channel Europe is therefore not the God of Scripture who in
fact proves his existence and vindicates His word by telling through His
prophets, what will happen in the future and watches over history to make
sure that it does. [Isaiah 42:8-9, 42:9-10, 48:5]

$$$$$$ - FALSE ECUMENISM - $$$$$$

'GOD TV' is a bridge back to Rome. The Pope is often praised as a great
man of God on the 'god' channel and doctrinal issues are often played
down. Rory Alec proclaims it does not matter wether you believe the wine
is actually the body and blood of Christ or not.. Tell that to the
thousands of people who were burned at the stake for saying that it did,
and that the wine and bread were only symbols!

Our prayer is that those that use & support the 'god' channel, would
repent and forsake these false teachers and turn to the true God of
Scripture! We pray this from our heart!

The Belfast Berean, 54 Bloomfield Parade, Belfast, BT5 5AS, Northern
Ireland

Telephone 02890 593672 or 02890 209536

Web Site : http://www.belfastberean.co.uk

E-Mail : belfastberean@ntlworld.com

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To: Chris Alfvegren <chrisalf@netscape.net>, bprlist <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Fwd: GAMLA: Arafat plans to hide out in Iraq confirmed
From: "Patt A."
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 23:13:34 -0800 (PST)

GAMLA Staff <email@gamla.org.il> wrote:
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 02:01:25 -0500 (EST)
From: GAMLA Staff
Reply-to: GAMLA Staff
To: chrispatt@yahoo.com
Subject: GAMLA: Arafat plans to hide out in Iraq confirmed

***********************************************************************
GAMLA: NEWS AND VIEWS FROM ISRAEL
***********************************************************************
Volume 2 Issue 15 Jerusalem, Israel
18 Adar, 5761 * * March 13, 2001

Inside:

1. Arafat has $20m. Iraqi escape plan
2. Palestinians want to undermine "moderate" Arab States, Israel

Gamla HomePage: http://www.gamla.org.il/english
Want to subscribe? : http://www.gamla.org.il/english/sub.htm

Shalom from "Gamla Shall Not Fall Again"! Our editor is now back in
place after a week in the IDF. Many of you have written about our last
newsletter on the future plans of the IDF under Sharon's government.
This report was under no means "giving away secrets". If the information
is out - there is a reason for it. Many times it is good for our enemy
to know what is awaiting them, if it is done in a discreet manner. We do
not wish to elaborate on this.

In this issue, we bring you two reports. The first is from today's
Jerusalem Post. The "veterans" among you will see that this is the same
report we published here a couple of months ago. This still does not
mean that Arafat will be running off to Iraq in the near future or at
all, but the plans are there. Those who need to know this, know it.
Those who read our newsletter also know it ....

The second report is straight from "the horses mouth" - the PLO web
site. The Palestinians are getting hot under the collar and slashing out
at all sides. The pressure is on, and we will all be seeing hot events
before things die down.

The GAMLA Staff

Arafat has $20m. Iraqi escape plan
**********************************
By Margot Dudkevitch (Jerusalem Post)

JERUSALEM (March 13) - Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat, over the years, has put aside
$20 million which he has deposited in a Swiss bank
account, a nest egg which Israeli security sources believe
he has now offered Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in
exchange for a safe haven if forced to leave the
Palestinian areas, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

An Israeli security official said yesterday that Arafat
began preparing his latest fallback plan shortly before the
outbreak of the intifada last September and sent a
delegation, headed by West Bank Fatah leader Abbas
Zakki, to Baghdad to clinch the deal. The $20 million is
in addition to other funds he is believed to control.

"He wanted to ensure his future before initiating the
violence," he said. "He continues to portray the
Palestinians as the victims of Israeli occupation, and yet a
lot of the funds received have gone into his own pocket,
instead of to his people."

Palestinians want to undermine "moderate" Arab States, Israel
*************************************************************

Official Fatah editorial threatens to undermine moderate Arab states with
popular revolt, calls on Israeli Arabs to help bring Sharon down

Towards a Comprehensive Arab Intifada
http://www.fateh.net/e_editor/01/280201.htm

Revolution Until Victory.

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We are now looking to find sponsors for this newsletter.

For more information, please email now to:

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The GAMLA Staff

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To: bprlist <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Fwd: ICEJ NEWS MARCH 12
From: "Patt A."
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 23:31:55 -0800 (PST)

Meid <meid@icej.org.il> wrote:
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 01:32:33 +0200
From: Meid
Subject: ICEJ NEWS MARCH 12
Reply-to: meid@icej.org.il

ICEJ NEWS SERVICE FROM JERUSALEM

News and comment on Middle East affairs, compiled by journalists at the
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, publishers of the monthly Middle
East Digest.

PLEASE VISIT OUR SITE:

See below for subscription and other details.

PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO SUBSCRIBE

MONDAY, 12 MARCH 2001

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."
Isaiah 55:6

FEATURE STORIES
1. SHARON UNMOVED BY ARAFAT'S "PEACE" OVERTURE
Using rhetoric which used to delight proponents of the Oslo peace process,
PLO chief Yasser Arafat renewed his call for a "peace of the brave" on
Saturday, but new Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was unimpressed,
saying there needs to be concrete actions aimed at halting Palestinian
violence before such talk can be taken seriously.

2. SHARON CLAMPS DOWN ON RAMALLAH AFTER ARREST OF TERROR CELL
New Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the IDF to tighten its
blockade of Ramallah over the weekend, following the arrest of members of an
active terrorist cell in the area and specific intelligence that other
members of the cell are still at large.

NEWS BRIEFS
3. DONORS BALK AT FUNDING PA CORRUPTION
4. TALIBAN CRUSHES STATUES DESPITE PLEAS OF FELLOW MUSLIMS
5. LIVNAT TO DROP PALESTINIAN POET FROM SCHOOL CIRRICULULM
6. ARABS MIFFED BY POWELL REMARKS ON JERUSALEM
7. ARAB PRIEST SOUR ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS
8. IRAQIS TRAINING TO "LIBERATE JERUSALEM"

*****

SHARON UNMOVED BY ARAFAT'S "PEACE" OVERTURE

Using rhetoric which used to delight proponents of the Oslo peace process,
PLO chief Yasser Arafat renewed his call for a "peace of the brave" on
Saturday, but new Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was unimpressed,
saying there needs to be concrete actions aimed at halting Palestinian
violence before such talk can be taken seriously.

In a speech in Gaza City on Saturday marking the opening of a new session of
the Palestinian Legislative Council, Arafat said, "Our hearts are open and
our hands are stretched out for the peace of the brave... We are ready to
move forward in the negotiations with the Israeli government."

Arafat continued, "The peace option... is the strategic option supported by
a strong will and a clear vision... This peace can be achieved and can be a
real actual alternative to the state of daily killing imposed on us."

Arafat also expressed an "understanding" of Israel's need for security, but
made no effort to call for an end to the five-and-a-half month old
Palestinian intifada. He also repeated charges that the IDF was using
"forbidden weapons" and a "policy of threats, siege and hunger" to counter
the uprising. Additionally, Arafat called for the full "right of return" for
Palestinian refugees and urged the United Nations to send international
forces "to reinforce the peace of the brave."

While Arafat's speech got plenty of positive spin in the media, Sharon and
his new government were cautious and critical in their reaction, with even
dovish Foreign Minister Shimon Peres troubled by the lack of a call for an
end to Palestinian violence. Israeli officials made clear they had already
rejected Arafat's demands - stated earlier in a congratulatory letter to
Sharon last Thursday - that Israel resume peace talks immediately from the
point where they left off at Taba in late January.

In a series of interviews with American press ahead of his visit to
Washington next week, Sharon doused speculation he was ready to meet with
Arafat beforehand, especially with the violence continuing. Speaking to FOX
NEWS and CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Sunday, Sharon said that Arafat has yet to
issue a call in Arabic to his people to stop the violence. He also accused
the Palestinian Authority of orchestrating the bulk of recent attacks,
fingering in particular Arafat's "closest presidential guard [Force 17]."

Sharon told FOX NEWS he was "disappointed Arafat in his speech did not call
for cessation of hostilities." He then cited an interview in which Arafat
also told a Saudi newspaper that "terror will continue." Sharon reassured,
"This government will not be negotiating under fire."

On CNN, Sharon signaled for the first time that he would shake Arafat's hand
if and when they do eventually meet, something he has refused to do in
previous encounters, but conditioned it on an end to hostilities. Sharon
told Blitzer his government will not negotiate with the Palestinians as long
as violence continues, but added he recognized the suffering of the
Palestinian people and wanted to lessen it.

"He [Arafat] should make every effort to reach peace. He did not leave
terror," Sharon insisted. "In our region, terror is a strategic issue. Most
of the wars in the Middle East started as a result of terror... Peace should
be peace for generations."

In a separate interview published yesterday in THE WASHINGTON POST and
NEWSWEEK, Sharon ruled out the possibility of re-entering PA-ruled
territory, but added, "That doesn't mean that Israel will not take steps
against people who find shelter there." He also claimed he has a plan under
which Palestinians will be able to travel from north to south in
Judea/Samaria without encountering Israeli checkpoints.

While in Washington on March 19-21, Sharon will meet with US President
George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell,
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, CIA chief George Tenet, National
Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and leaders of Congress. On his last day
in the US, Sharon will meet in New York with leaders of Jewish organizations
and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Sharon is expected to detail for Bush his plans for dealing with the
intifada. He already set out for Powell last month his conditions for
lifting economic sanctions: Arafat must come out with a clear declaration in
Arabic calling for an end to the violence, put an end to the incitement in
the PA-controlled media, and renew security cooperation between Palestinian
and Israeli security officials.

While both Sharon and the new American administration want to work to reduce
regional tensions ahead of the Arab League summit in Amman at the end of
March, Bush reportedly told the Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish Organizations it is his view that Arafat is uninterested in advancing
the peace process and reaching a permanent agreement with Israel. According
to ARMY RADIO, Bush said he will continue to press Arafat to reduce the
violence, and he accepts Sharon's position that Israel should not be forced
to negotiate under fire.

On Monday, Sharon held the first meeting of his broad 26-member Cabinet to
approve the composition of the 13 members of the "inner security cabinet."
Most of today's lively discussions dealt with the tight IDF blockade around
Ramallah, which Sharon explained was imposed due to specific intelligence on
planned attacks by terror cells operating from the area. Sharon set out five
principles to govern policy moves with the Palestinians:

1. Granting security and a sense of security to Israelis.
2. Halting Palestinian violence and preventing achievements gained through
violence while forestalling escalation.
3. Reducing the danger of internationalizing the conflict with the
Palestinians.
4. Reducing the possibility of regional deterioration.
5. Safeguarding all possibilities for resuming peace talks with the
Palestinians, but only after cessation of the violence.

In interviews in the Palestinian press Sunday, Arafat rejected the new
Israeli policies and preconditions, vowing that the intifada would continue.
Arafat also called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session
to discuss the strict Israeli closures on Palestinian towns. The PLO
representative at the UN has begun pushing again for a resolution calling
for an armed force of 2,000 international observers to be deployed around
Palestinian areas. Israel's UN Ambassador Yehuda Lancry says that although a
similar initiative was stymied last December, this time Israel will have to
fight hard to defeat it once more.

According to opinion polls, a majority of Palestinians still favor attacks
against Israelis, but there are many indications the Palestinian public is
frustrated with the lack of any real gains so far from months of violence.
Arafat's speech on Saturday may be a sign he is looking for a face-saving
way out of the armed confrontation with Israel. PA officials were riled by
the way the Sharon government "humiliated" the PLO leader by dismissing his
speech as "nothing new," but several suggested that if Israel took the first
step by lifting the closure and economic sanctions, they would respond by
resuming security cooperation.

Meanwhile, three senior PA officials traveled to Egypt for today's meeting
of foreign ministers in preparation for the Arab League summit on March 28.
The PA is angry that Arab League states have held up over $350 million in
aid, citing corruption within the PLO. The Arab foreign ministers pledged to
provide $40 million per month to the Palestinians for the next six months.
They were also considering a resolution calling for Israeli officials to be
tried for war crimes.

*****

SHARON CLAMPS DOWN ON RAMALLAH AFTER ARREST OF TERROR CELL

New Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the IDF to tighten its
blockade of Ramallah over the weekend, following the arrest of members of an
active terrorist cell in the area and specific intelligence that other
members of the cell are still at large.

In recent days, the IDF has cut off Ramallah from Jerusalem and prevented
Palestinian vehicles from using roads leading to the city and surrounding
Arab villages. The army also has dug deep trenches, blocked access roads
with boulders, and set up additional roadblocks and deployed tanks in the
area. Palestinians claim similar tactics have been implemented in and around
Jericho and near Jenin.

The IDF closure tightened further on Sunday, in the wake of specific
information regarding a terrorist attack to be carried out from Ramallah,.
The information came from several Arabs who were arrested before they could
take part in the attack, planned for Jerusalem. Israeli security sources say
they believe a major terrorist attack was prevented by the closure.

In a desperate bid to break the closure, several Palestinians driving
tractors tried to break through IDF earthen barricades near the villages of
Surda and Bir Zeit on Monday. IDF soldiers fired rubber bullets to disperse
the group. Palestinian sources are reporting that a 27-year-old was killed
in the clashes. IDF sources denied using live ammunition, saying they used
rubber bullets and tear gas in the skirmish.

The PA announced Sunday that it would turn to the UN Security Council and
ask it to intervene in what the PA called the "siege that Israel has imposed
on the villages in the Ramallah and Jerusalem areas." The PA is renewing its
demands at the UN for a 2,000-man armed international force to be deployed
in Palestinian areas.

Sharon responded Monday that the Palestinians are responsible for the
tightening of the closure. "If they really wanted to make things easier for
their citizens, they would simply deal with the network of terror, as they
obligated themselves to do in all agreements they signed to date," he said.

At today's cabinet meeting, Sharon directed new Defense Minister Binyamin
Ben-Eliezer to examine ways to tone down the closure in Palestinian areas
where there is no terrorist activity. Ben-Eliezer said he does not
understand why there is such an uproar over the closure on Ramallah,
particularly since it does not represent a change in Israeli policy.

Late this afternoon, Ben-Eliezer reportedly called for an easing of the
closures on the cities of Tulkarm, Kalkilya, Bethlehem and Hebron. IDF
sources indicated that the strict closure on Ramallah would be eased as soon
as the security situation permitted and according to assessments by military
intelligence.

In other areas today, Palestinians hurled hand grenades and opened fire at
IDF position near Rafiah in the southern Gaza Strip. There were numerous
bombing and shooting incidents throughout the Strip over the weekend.

There was also lots of activity in Hebron on Saturday and Sunday. An Israeli
citizen was shot in the leg Saturday by an Arab sniper, amidst heavy
Palestinian shooting at the Jewish neighborhood. The next day, while Purim
parades were cancelled in other parts of the country, Jewish residents of
Hebron participated in the annual march to the Cave of the Patriarchs under
a heavy police and IDF guard.

In isolated incidents in Jerusalem and Hebron on Sunday, police arrested
several Jews suspected of assaulting Arabs and Israeli police during the
Purim revelry. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert on Monday condemned attacks on
the capital's Arab residents.

Israeli security forces have apprehended Hamas terrorist Muhammad Dirawi,
who confessed to involvement in dozens of shooting and bombing incidents in
the Netzarim area in recent months. Members of Dirawi's terror cell recorded
their attacks with a video camera, "imitating" the Hizb'Allah, and aired the
tapes on various Arab television stations. Dirawi said that all the Hamas
marches and parades in recent months had been coordinated with the PA.
Israeli security now believes that Hamas is growing stronger in the Gaza
Strip and is a potential threat to supplant the PA there.

The IDF and GSS arrested another four Palestinian activists Sunday, as
suspects in shooting incidents against Israelis. At least one, a Kalandia
man, is considered a leading activist.

Meanwhile some 5,000 Palestinians illegally trying to enter Israel were
detained in a massive sweep carried out Sunday along the old Green Line. Two
hundred were detained for questioning and over one hundred were arrested and
handed over to security officials for further investigation.

*****

DONORS BALK AT FUNDING PA CORRUPTION

United Nations and European Union officials increasingly fear that the
worsening economic conditions in the Palestinian Authority will only
increase poverty and lead to more violence. But for the first time, the EU
is seriously threatening to withhold further funding unless the PA starts to
combat terrorism and adopts a revised and "transparent" budget plan.

The highest-level EU delegation to visit the region in over a year was set
to arrive on Monday for talks with the PA and Israel, with discussions
expected to focus on the severe economic crisis in the PA. The delegates
will address Israel's role in the troubled Palestinian economy, while also
relaying to PA officials that millions of dollars of European economic aid
will be released to them only if they present a new budget that is open to
review. The EU reportedly is also exerting heavy pressure on the PA to stop
targeting Israelis if it wants to receive more monetary aid.

The EU, a large provider of economic assistance to the Palestinians, has let
it be known since Sharon's election that it is "deeply concerned" about the
deteriorating economic situation in the PA resulting from the closure of the
territories and Israel's unwillingness over the last few months to transfer
VAT levies to the PA.

Since the end of November, the Europeans have given some $52.5 million in
emergency aid to the PA to pay salaries, with another $55.3 m. already
allocated for the same purpose. However, at a meeting last month of EU
foreign ministers, it was decided that this money would be released only on
condition that the PA present a revised, "transparent" budget, and that the
transfer of funds be part of an overall effort by international donors that
included Arab states. But most potential international contributors,
especially the Arab states, are wary of handing more money over to Arafat's
corruption-riddled regime.

The Arab League decided at an emergency summit in Cairo last October to
transfer some $1 billion to the PA to alleviate the suffering of the
Palestinians brought on by their violent uprising. Over $350 million of that
sum has been collected, but has yet to be sent to the PA. The contributing
Arab countries and the banks through which the money was to move demanded
that Arafat show complete transparency in the funds transfers and give a
detailed report on how it was spent. Because the PA evaded these demands,
the money has been frozen in a Saudi bank.

Palestinian representatives to the Arab League called on the Arab nations
Sunday to release the monies earmarked for the PA, and said that the same
norms of "transparency" fitting for a private company cannot be expected of
a nation at war.

But the Arab and EU demand for accountability comes as a consequence of
Arafat's long record of financial impropriety. Nearly half the money sent to
the PA in recent years, especially from Europe, the United States and Japan,
did not reach its intended destination. Through the collection of
arbitration fees, monopolies and numerous other schemes, a large proportion
ended up in the private bank accounts of PA officials, including Arafat,
himself, and his economic advisor, Muhammad Rashid.

Meanwhile, Palestinian officials vow to continue the violence, claiming that
the difficulties of the Israeli blockade will not discourage their efforts.
"The Israelis have to understand that we won't make a deal based on security
for bread," Fatah militia leader Marwan Barghouti was quoted as saying in
THE NEW YORK TIMES. "Security for independence - that is what we are looking
for."

But UNRWA chief Peter Hansen said Sunday that Palestinian endurance under
the Israeli blockade and the resulting economic breakdown may be reaching
its limits. The PA's economic growth rate and gross domestic product have
plummeted, farm production has dropped 74% since October, and the average
per-capita income for Palestinians has dropped from $1,400 to $1,000 in the
"West Bank" and $800 in Gaza.

Sharon has repeatedly promised that Israel will relieve its economic
pressure on the PA if Arafat comes out with a clear declaration in Arabic
calling for an end to the violence, ends incitement in the PA-controlled
media, and renews security cooperation with Israel.

*****

TALIBAN CRUSHES STATUES DESPITE PLEAS OF FELLOW MUSLIMS

Despite universal outrage and even widespread condemnation from leading
Muslim circles, the ruling Taliban faction in Kabul has proceeded with the
destruction of non-Islamic statues in Afghanistan.

The repressive Islamic militia Taliban, which rules most of Afghanistan,
took a break during the Muslim feast of Al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice),
but then continued over the weekend with orders to destroy ancient
non-Islamic religious relics scattered throughout the mountainous country.
Despite international pleas for their preservation, a Taliban spokesman in
the southern town of Kandahar said demolition of the two towering rock
carvings of Buddhas - 53 meters (175 feet) and 38 meters high - was nearly
complete by Sunday. International aid workers said they had reports from
witnesses that the two Bhuddas in the remote Bamiyan valley were completely
demolished by yesterday.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan accompanied a delegation of scholars from
the 55-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) for talks with
Taliban officials on Sunday about salvaging the historic cultural relics,
but later admitted it was probably too late to save the giant Bhuddas at
Bamiyan. Annan met in Islamabad, Pakistan with Taliban Foreign Minister
Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil and afterwards told a press conference that
Muttawakil, "confirmed that all movable statues have been destroyed and the
destruction of the two (Bamiyan) statues had begun."

The high-level OIC delegation was led by Qatar Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Zaid al-Mahmoud, and included Egypt's top cleric,
the Mufti Nasr Farid Wassel, and other renowned Muslim figures. But
Muttawakil said he made clear to Annan and the group of Islamic scholars
that the Taliban would not halt the destruction of what they see as heathen
idols. "We do admit all these statues were the cultural heritage of
Afghanistan," Muttawakil said. "But we will not leave the part which is
contrary to our belief."

The destruction has triggered world-wide alarm, as most countries see the
move as an assault on world heritage and countries with Buddhist populations
consider the smashing of the statues an act of religious bigotry. And Muslim
leaders as well are embarrassed by this latest black mark on the image of
Islam.

Jeff Jacoby, columnist for the BOSTON GLOBE, noted in an article on March 8
that nothing in Islam requires the demolition of the Bamiyan statues and
that Muslim voices were being heard to say so. "The government of Pakistan,
one of the few that recognizes the Taliban regime, has condemned the
assault," wrote Jacoby. "The Iranian president, Mohammad Khatamai, describes
it as 'inhumane, violent.' UNESCO's Arab contingent calls it 'savage.' The
towering Buddhas are 'just a recording of history,' the grand mufti of Egypt
says, without 'any negative impact on Muslims.' The president of the Islamic
Center of New Delhi points out that the statues are older than Islam itself
and labels the Taliban's actions 'barbarian politics.'"

A Muslim man from London insisted in a letter to the INTERNATIONAL HERALD
TRIBUNE published last Friday that, "the destruction of artifacts is in no
way mentioned in the Koran... The Kabaa [black veiled box], Islam's holiest
site in Mecca, predates Islam and was thus evidently built for a non-Islamic
purpose. Would the Taliban ordain its demolition?"

The international and Muslim outcry over the Taliban actions continues to
stand in sharp contrast to their pronounced silence over the Islamic Waqf's
deliberate pattern of destruction of ancient Jewish, Christian and Muslim
artifacts on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

*****

LIVNAT TO DROP PALESTINIAN POET FROM SCHOOL CIRRICULULM

Israel's new Education Minister Limor Livnat has shown early resolve to
restore teaching materials on Jewish and Zionist history and values to the
country's school system, beginning with a decision to drop the works of
nationalist Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish from school curricula.

In one of her first moves as education minister, Livnat indicated Sunday
that she favors dropping Darwish from school lessons. The poems of Darwish
are noted for their emphasis on Palestinian suffering and longing for a
homeland. Former Education minister Yossi Sarid of the leftist Meretz party
first introduced works by Darwish to school literature programs a year ago.
Members of Livnat's Likud Party spearheaded opposition to the plan and moved
no confidence in the government at the time.

"I am fearful for the future of the Jewish people," unless more about Jewish
heritage is taught in the schools, said Livnat, who has served in the
Knesset since 1992. Teaching about the nation's heritage, "in my eyes, is
crucial to the foundation of Israel's existence, and therefore it is of
utmost importance; it is no less important than security," Livnat said.
"It's the basis of our spiritual and existential security, as the state of
the Jewish people and a democratic country."

When asked about what her top priority would be as education minister,
Livnat alluded to a recent controversy over a ninth-grade history textbook
introduced by the ministry into some schools that discusses the 20th century
with only scant references to the Holocaust and the Zionist movement. Livnat
replied that she plans "to inject Jewish, Zionist values into the education
system, to counter the anti-Zionism and the post-Zionism and the new
historians who have gained a foothold."

Livnat also pledged to seek greater equality among the various sectors of
society - secular, religious, and Arab - in the school systems.

*****

ARABS MIFFED BY POWELL REMARKS ON JERUSALEM

US Secretary of State Colin Powell's "accidental" reference to Jerusalem as
the capital of Israel in a hearing before Congress last Thursday made waves
among Arab states, who called the statement a "dangerous" and "antagonistic"
violation of international agreements.

Iran, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar issued
statements of protest in response to Powell's comment. The Saudi-based
Muslim world league even declared that Powell's remarks were based on "the
falsification of history and denial of facts by claiming that al-Quds
[Jerusalem] is a Hebraic city."

Powell had told Congress that while there is no immediate plan to relocate
the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv, President George W. Bush is
committed to moving it "to the capital of Israel, which is Jerusalem."

"These comments are dangerous, constitute a deviation from declared US
policy and are in flagrant violation of international resolutions," the
official Emirates News Agency quoted the foreign minister, Sheik Hamdan bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, as telling US Ambassador Theodore Kattouf. "The position
declared by the secretary of state takes away the credibility of the United
States in the Middle East. This position represents a clear bias toward
occupation and aggression," Hamdan said.

Syria's state-run newspaper Al-Thawra, which reflects government thinking,
called Powell's statement "a new and dangerous stand... [and] provides new
evidence that the American bias toward Israel and support for it... is a
strategic and fixed principle of US policy."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi condemned Powell's
remarks as representing "one-sided support for the Zionist regime and a
phase-by-phase denial of the rights of the Palestinian nation," the official
Islamic Republic News Agency reported. He also warned that moving the US
Embassy to Jerusalem would "escalate tension in the region."

In 1980, the United States abstained when the Security Council passed a
resolution that said Israel could not declare Jerusalem its capital. But in
1995, the US Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act, which
declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel and mandated moving the American
Embassy there. However, former US President Bill Clinton used a presidential
waiver authority provided by the Act to delay the embassy move there every
six months.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said Thursday that Arab countries
object to recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital without also
recognizing east Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

The 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference called last November
for member countries to sever relations with states that move their
embassies to Jerusalem.

*****

ARAB PRIEST SOUR ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS

Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on March 7 that "a
prominent Christian leader in Palestine has warned of the dangers to
Christianity posed by those 'who bear Christian names and have Zionist
hearts,' a reference to Jewish-financed Christian Zionist groups."

Father Atallah Hanna, a spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem,
described Christian Zionist groups as being "not really Christian" and "only
serving the Zionist regime that is illegally occupying Arab land." Speaking
to reporters in Jerusalem, Hanna asserted that the Orthodox Church "doesn't
recognize these groups which are foreign bodies to Church of Christ and
which have an office in al-Quds [Jerusalem] known as the Zionist Christian
embassy." He claimed that "these suspicion-arousing groups have nothing to
do with the Orthodox Church, the Catholic and Anglican churches." Hanna
warned that world Zionism is "making strenuous efforts to penetrate
Christianity in order to corrode true Christianity which rejects the Zionist
theology and Zionism's crooked interpretation of the Bible."

Hanna's comments apparently came in response to the convening of the Fourth
International Christian Congress on Biblical Zionism in late February,
sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Nearly 700
participants from over 25 countries worldwide attended the Congress, which
recognized God's eternal covenant with the Patriarch Abraham that bequeathed
to the Jewish people the Land of Canaan as an everlasting possession as part
of his redemptive purposes for the whole world.

*****

IRAQIS TRAINING TO "LIBERATE JERUSALEM"

Two large groups of Iraqi volunteers began military training this weekend in
preparation for fulfilling their vows to liberate "all of Palestine."

Last October, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein called for volunteers for his
"Jerusalem
Army," to join the Palestinian intifada. On Sunday, the second group of
several thousand recruits bid their families emotional farewells in Baghdad
as they left for military training. The throngs of volunteers chanted, "with
our blood and souls, we sacrifice for Saddam," before kissing their wives
and children goodbye.

The first batch of thousands of Jerusalem Army volunteers left Baghdad on
Saturday for training in a nationally-televised send-off similar to
yesterday's event. The official Iraqi News Agency says more than 7 million
men and women - nearly a third of the 22 million population - volunteered
for the force.

*****

SOURCES: THE JERUSALEM POST, ISRAEL LINE, HA'ARETZ, REUTERS, CNN, ASSOCIATED
PRESS, ARUTZ 7, ISRAEL WIRE, IMRA, IBA NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES,

This bulletin was compiled and written by David Parsons, Rashel Gibbs and
Amanda Ruth Thomas.

*****

ICEJ NEWS SERVICE
Editor: David Parsons

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