ISRAEL
- TOWARDS A STATE - A LOOK AT A DRAFT CONSTITUTION
- A committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
has just issued a draft for a constitution of the state of Palestine.
The text deals with most issues that relate to the founding and
nurturing of the new state. The articles of the proposed constitution
tend to be general and consistent with public declarations of
state officials around the world, such as guarantees of basic
freedoms, protections of civil rights, the environment, and human
rights.
- Two of articles, however, stand out as incongruent with constitutions
of modern states or with the guarantee of basic freedoms and
civil rights, or with declared Palestinian positions ever since
1937. These articles relate to religion.
- Article 32 relates to the refugees, though in an unrealistic
and inoperative way, at least from the standpoint of achieving
peace and allowing the creation of a state. I shall discuss articles
6 and 7 which relate to religion in this issue of AVP. In the
next issue I shall deal with the refugee question. Article 6
states: "Islam shall be the official religion of the state.
The monotheistic religions shall be respected."
- Article 7 says: "The principles of
the Islamic Shari'a are a primary source for legislation.
The legislative branch shall determine personal status law under
the authority of the monotheistic
religions according to their denominations, in keeping with provisions
of the constitution and the preservation of unity, stability,
and advancement of the Palestinian people."
- http://www.cephas-library.com/israel/israel_drafting_constitution_for_plo_statehood.html
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- QUARTET ROAD MAP SPELLS VICTORY FOR ARAFAT
- In April of 2003 it was believed in Israel that if the Quartet's
road map is accepted, Yasser Arafat will win the greatest victory
of his life. Despite the blatant violation of all his commitments
in the Oslo agreements and his responsibility for the murder
of more than 1,000 Israelis - nearly 800 of them during the last
two years of terror - he has not been punished. On the contrary,
he is holding on to the far-reaching concessions granted him
at Oslo and in addition will get what even Yossi Beilin and Shimon
Peres refused to give him: the establishment of a state, "independent,
viable, sovereign with maximum territorial contiguity,"
in principle, and without negotiation. That state is the main
goal of the map, resulting from a childish belief on the part
of the Quartet that the mere creation of the state will guarantee
peace. [ 4/7/03 IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il]
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- ANALYSIS: ISRAEL WEIGHING EU MEMBERSHIP
- UPI Chief International Correspondent - by Martin Walker
- 5/21/2003 Washington, May 21 (UPI) -- The visiting delegation
from the European Union was startled this week when Israel Foreign
Minister Silvan Shalom said his government was weighing an application
to join the EU. "It doesn't mean he is preparing the dossier
for applying tomorrow," an Israeli spokesman said. "In
principle, the minister thinks a possibility exists for Israel
to join the EU, since Israel and Europe share similar economies
and democratic values."
- Shalom broached the subject Tuesday, but there is no immediate
prospect of this happening, since under EU rules, new members
must have no outstanding border disagreements with their neighbors.
The incoming new members from Eastern Europe, particularly Hungary
and Romania, had to resolve long-standing disputes to clear their
path for entry. But if and when Israel does achieve a peace settlement
with Syria and Lebanon and the Palestinians (it already has peace
treaties with Egypt and Jordan), Israeli membership could make
a great deal of sense for Israel and the EU alike.
- The EU is already deeply, indeed inextricably involved in
the Middle East, and not just as a member of "the Quartet"
of the United States, EU, Russia and the United Nations that
have jointly drawn up the "road map" to a peace agreement.
The EU is one of the main customers for Middle Eastern energy
exports, and under the Barcelona Agreement, has forged a series
of trade and cooperation agreements with the countries that border
the Mediterranean Sea. http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030521-112245-2333r
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- RABBIS RELEASE "LETTER OF CAUTION" TO PRESIDENT
BUSH
375 REFORM, CONSERVATIVE & ORTHODOX RABBIS TAKE UNIFIED STAND
ON ROAD MAP IMPLEMENTATION
NEW YORK - 5/29/03 - The Interdenominational
Rabbinic Committee, coordinated by Amcha-The Coalition for Jewish
Concerns, released the text of the "letter of caution"
sent to President George W. Bush at a 10 am press conference
today in Manhattan. The letter was signed by 375 Congregational
Rabbis who serve hundreds of thousands of American Jews from
the three major branches of Judaism and represent the entire
religious and political spectrum of the Jewish community. Never
before have so many diverse Congregational Rabbis come together
to sign a letter of consensus on such an important issue affecting
Israel.
- 1) The PA must renounce the notion of a Palestinian "Right
of Return" to the Jewish State. This ostensible "right"
is a ploy to destroy the State of Israel. Were the millions of
Palestinians currently living throughout the world actually resettled
in Israel, the Jewish State would cease to exist.
- [ www.cjcamcha.org / www.imra.org.il ]
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- MURDERING ISRAELIS SHOULDN'T INTERFERE WITH THE ROAD MAP
- Murdering Israelis shouldn't interfere with the road map
when the 7th Israeli was murdered.
- WASHINGTON, June 8 - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
said on Sunday that a combined attack by three militant Palestinian
groups that killed four Israeli soldiers must not be allowed
to wreck President George W. Bush's road map for peace in the
Middle East. Murdering Israelis shouldn't interfere with the
road map when the 7th Israeli was murdered.[ http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters06-08-081804.asp?reg=MIDEAST
/ www.imra.org.il ]
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- BUSH ROAD MAP PLAN CALLS FOR CREATING PALESTINIAN ARAB STATE
BY DEC.2003, NOT IN 2005 AS SOME MEDIA HAVE REPORTED
- NEW YORK - July 21, 2003 NEWS EDITOR - Contrary
to media reports that the Bush Road Map proposes to create a
Palestinian Arab state in the year 2005, the Zionist Organization
of America (ZOA) points out that the plan, in fact, calls for
establishing such a state within five months, by the end of this
year. "Phase II" of the Road Map plan, which is defined
as ending in December 2003, includes "creation of an independent
Palestinian state with provisional borders". Those "provisional"
borders are to become "final, permanent" borders in
Phase III of the plan, which is defined as ending in 2005.
- ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: "Many media
reports have erroneously stated that the Bush plan is to create
a Palestinian Arab state in 2005. This has lulled some people
into a false sense of security, thinking that there will be two
more years in which Palestinian Arab actions can be assessed
before the final step of statehood is taken. In fact, the Bush
plan is to create a state by the end of this year-- long before
it will be possible to determine if the Palestinian Arabs are
sincerely fighting terrorism and ready to live in peace with
Israel. We urge the Bush administration, the Israeli government,
and the Quartet to postpone any decision regarding Palestinian
Arab statehood until at least 2005 so there will be time to see
if the Palestinian Arabs have really given up terrorism."
- The Zionist Organization of America, founded in 1897, is
the oldest pro-Israel organization in the United States. The
ZOA works to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations, educates the American
public and Congress about the dangers that Israel faces, and
combats anti-Israel bias in the media and on college campuses.
Its past presidents have included Supreme Court Justice Louis
Brandeis and Rabbi Dr. Abba Hillel Silver. [IMRA - Independent
Media Review and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il]
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- NETANYAHU BOYCOTTS AQABA SUMMIT
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA, 2 June 2003: Israel Radio reports
that Minister of the Treasury Binyamin Netanyahu informed Prime
Minister Sharon that he will not attend the Aqaba summit because
he opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. PM Sharon is
expected to proclaim his acceptance of a Palestinian state at
the summit. [http://www.imra.org.il]
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- NEW LAW RAISES OBSTACLES TO ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN MARRIAGES
- The New York Times, International - Jerusalem, July 31, 2003
— The Israeli Parliament voted today to block Palestinians
who marry Israelis from becoming Israeli citizens or residents,
erecting a new legal barrier as Israel finished the first section
of a new physical barrier against West Bank Palestinians... The
protesters threw paint on a 25-foot-high wall that runs along
the western side of Qalqiliya, and spray- painted slogans. A
fence brackets the other three sides of the town, with only one
exit, a heavily guarded Israeli checkpoint. "We are living
in a big prison," said Mahmoud Farahmeh, 46, a Qalqiliya
resident. The United States is pressing the Israeli government
to divert the planned path of the barrier so that it takes less
West Bank territory.
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- ISRAELI PARLIAMENT VOTED TO BLOCK PALESTINIANS WHO MARRY
ISRAELIS
- JERUSALEM, July 31, 2003 — The Israeli Parliament voted
today to block Palestinians who marry Israelis from becoming
Israeli citizens or residents, erecting a new legal barrier as
Israel finished the first section of a new physical barrier against
West Bank Palestinians.
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- U.S. MAY REDUCE AID TO GET ISRAEL TO HALT BARRIER
The New York Times - WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2003 — The Bush
administration, looking for ways to press Israel to halt construction
of a barrier separating its citizens from Palestinian areas,
is considering a reduction in loan guarantees for Israel that
were approved by Congress this spring, administration officials
said today...
Any such punitive step by the United States toward Israel would
mark a change in President Bush's longstanding efforts to avoid
any kind of confrontation with the government of Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon.
- Reiterating the guarded American criticism of the barrier,
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said today that a nation "is
authorized and it is within its rights to put up a fence, as
it sees the need for one," but that the Israeli barrier
created difficulties because of the peace negotiations.
- Speaking to Radio Sawa, an American government-owned radio
station broadcasting in the Middle East, Mr. Powell said the
United States was "concerned when the fence crosses over
onto the land of others." He said the United States was
in "discussions with our Israeli friends" to make sure
the barrier did not become a "hindrance" to the peace
efforts. But he made no mention of reducing assistance.
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- ISRAEL AGREES TO TURN OVER 2 CITIES IN WEST BANK, AIDING
PEACE PLAN
- IMRA - Jerusalem, Aug. 15, 2003 — Israel agreed tonight
to hand over control of the West Bank cities of Jericho and Qalqilya
and to allow Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, to leave his
wrecked compound for the first time in more than a year.
- Israeli and Palestinian officials said that tonight's agreement
gave new life to an American-led peace plan, which had floundered
in recent weeks.
- Today's pact also calls for talks to begin as early as Sunday
for the handover, within two weeks, of two more significant cities:
Tulkarm and Ramallah, the latter symbolic as the Palestinian
administrative capital and home of Mr. Arafat. Israel also said
it would allow greater freedom of movement for Palestinians around
the West Bank, provided that the Palestinian Authority did more
to guarantee Israelis' safety.IMRA [Independent Media Review
and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il]
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- DEATH IN JERUSALEM
Palestinian leaders have been promoting the illusion that Islamic
radical groups will ultimately transform themselves into peaceful
political parties. That fantasy was shattered on Tuesday along
with 20 innocent lives when a Hamas terrorist blew up a Jerusalem
bus. The bombing occurred at the very moment the Palestinian
prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, was meeting with Islamic radicals
in Gaza. If anything positive is to come from this latest atrocity,
it will be a conclusive realization by Mr. Abbas that organizations
like Hamas and Islamic Jihad have no genuine interest in cease-fire
agreements or two-state solutions and must be forcibly put out
of the terrorism business. Only then will the American-sponsored
road map for peace have a chance of delivering Palestinian statehood.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/21/opinion/21THU1.html?th
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- EHUD OLMERT: END OF ROAD MAP
Israel cannot afford Yasser Arafat's presence in its midst. The
Wall Street Journal, Monday September 15, 2003 - Jerusalem -
It is with tragic irony--the kind that only the Middle East can
produce--that Israel's cabinet has decided to expel Yasser Arafat
so near the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Oslo "peace"
Accords. As the latest American diplomatic initiative, the "road
map," is derailed by a resumed wave of suicide bombings,
we Israelis are painfully aware that we have achieved little
in these 10 years of direct negotiations with the
Palestinians. Indeed, in a week in which 15 of our families are
mourning their murdered loved ones and scores of others are pacing
our hospital wards awaiting news of the wounded, the promises
of the ill-conceived Oslo process seem as far off as ever. Mr.
Olmert is the vice prime minister of Israel and former mayor
of Jerusalem. [IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis :
www.imra.org.il]
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- "O GOD, DESTROY THE ENEMIES OF ISLAM, ZIONISTS AND AMERICANS",
YEMEN SERMON
- FBIS (US government service) Report - Friday sermon broadcast
by the official television station of the Republic of Yemen on
11 July 2003: [With thanks to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm
]
- YEMEN: Sanaa Republic of Yemen Television in Arabic, official
television station of the Republic of Yemen, at 0915 GMT carries
a 32-minute live sermon from the Grand Mosque in Sanaa.
- Shaykh Akram Abd-al-Razzaq al-Ruqayhi delivers the sermon.
He praises God, the messenger, and his companions and calls on
Muslims to carry out their religious duties as a way to salvation.
He also warns that those who have abandoned their religious duties,
particularly prayer, will face severe punishment in the Hereafter
and urges Muslims to seek God's forgiveness before it is too
late. The imam devotes his sermon to the need for Muslims to
carry out their religious duties.
- Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, help our
mujahidin brothers score victory. O God, destroy the enemies
of Islam, Zionists and Americans. O God, shake the ground under
them, instill panic into their hearts, and freeze the blood in
their veins. O God, destroy them, for they are within your power.
O God, close the ranks of Muslims and the faithful." [IMRA
- Independent Media Review and Analysis : www.imra.org.il]
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- SAUDI SERMON ON AMERICAN "TYRANNICAL ALLIANCE"
- FBIS Report - Friday sermons carried by the news media of
Saudi Arabia on 28 March 2003: Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
TV1 in Arabic, official television station of the Saudi Government,
at 0935 GMT carries a 25-minute live sermon from the holy mosque
in Mecca. "O God, destroy the aggressive tyrannical alliance.
O God, drown its soldiers in the seas and destroy them in the
deserts." Shaykh Salah al-Budayr, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia TV2 in Arabic, official television station of the Saudi
Government [ IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis Website:
www.imra.org.il]
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- "JEWISH EXTREMISTS DEFILE AL-AQSA COMPOUND," NAZIR
MAJALLY
- ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 27 Aug.'03: Asharq Al-Awsat - [IMRA: No
reference made to any action. Mere presence 'defiles'.] RAMALLAH,
West Bank, 27 August 2003 - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas yesterday slammed Israel's decision to allow "Jewish
extremists" to enter Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
as a recipe for more violence. "This inciteful policy is
a recipe for friction and violence," Abbas said in a statement.
"We all know the consequences of such action from previous
incidents in 2000," he added.
- [IMRA: The consequences followed Arab riot.]
- The Palestinian intifada, or uprising, erupted in September
2000 following a controversial visit to the mosque compound by
the then Israeli opposition leader and now prime minister, Ariel
Sharon.
- "At a time when efforts are channeled to contain a security
crisis and return to calm, the Israeli government is igniting
the most sensitive issue in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,"
Abbas added.
- [IMRA: Abbas who has only soft talk for Arafat and terrorists,
eagerly attacks Israel.] Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director [ IMRA
- Independent Media Review and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il]
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- SAUDIS CONSIDER NUCLEAR BOMB
- Ewen MacAskill and Ian Traynor in Vienna Thursday September
18, 2003 The Guardian: Saudi Arabia, in response to the current
upheaval in the Middle East, has embarked on a strategic review
that includes acquiring nuclear weapons, the Guardian has learned.
This new threat of proliferation in one of the most dangerous
regions of the world comes on top of a crisis over Iran's alleged
nuclear programme. A strategy paper being considered at the highest
levels in Riyadh sets out three options: - To acquire a nuclear
capability as a deterrent; - To maintain or enter into an alliance
with an existing nuclear power that would offer protection; -
To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free
Middle East.
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- POPULATION STATISTICS IN ISRAEL
- (Communicated by the Central Bureau of Statistics Spokesman)
May 05, 2003 - On the eve of Independence Day 2003, Israel's
population stands at 6.7 million. The Jewish population is approximately
5.4 million (counting for 38% of the world's Jews); the non-Jewish
population is approximately 1.3 million (82% of these are Muslims,
9% are Christians and 9% are Druze).
- Israel's population has grown more than eight-fold over the
15.5.48 population of 806,000. Since last Independence Day, the
population of the state of Israel has grown by 131,000, an annual
growth rate of 2%. [IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il]
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- PERES: BROWNING OF AMERICA SERIOUS PROBLEM
- Aaron Lerner Date: 5 August 2003 Labor MK Shimon Peres explained
his statement yesterday that America had a problem because it
started white and is now going brown. He explained in a live
interview today on Israel Radio's "It's All Talk" program
that in America it is recognized that the United States has a
"problem" that there are so many Hispanics in the U.S.
today.
- Peres explained that he had nothing to apologize for saying
that the changing in the racial composition of America is a problem
since Americans themselves write that they see a problem in the
change and there is even a book titled "The Browning of
America." Available used at Amazon.com. The latest book
equivalent is Brown:
The Last Discovery of America by Richard Rodriguez
or click on link for more information. [www.imra.org.il]
- http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0142000795/ichthusfasttrack
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- ISRAEL TO BUILD 600 HOMES IN A 3 SETTLEMENTS; US OFFICIALS
ARE CRITICAL
- Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2003 — Israel indicated on Thursday
that it intended to build about 600 new homes in three large
West Bank settlements, a move that Bush administration officials
in Washington said would undercut the Middle East peace plan
and could bring a reduction in American assistance to Israel.
- In the government decision on Wednesday, Ariel was one of
the settlements to be shielded by the new barrier.
- "We not only have the right to keep building, it is
the obligation of the Jewish state to help us build," said
Adi Mintz, director general of the Settlers Council, which represents
Israelis living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip settlements.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/03/international/middleeast/03MIDE.html?th
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- CASUALTIES OF TERRORISM
- IDF Spokesperson on 16 March 2003 - Statistics:
- 753 killed, 5,155 injured, 16,733 attacks 29 September 2000
through 15 March 2003
Comprised Killed: 523 Civilians + 230 Security Forces = 753 Total
Israeli Killed
Injured: 3,646 Civilians + 1,509 Security Forces = 5,155 Total
Israeli Injured
Total Attacks*: 7,355 West Bank + 8,701 Gaza Strip + 677 Home
Front =16,733 Total
- [Of those killed, 284 civilians (54.3%) and 30 security forces
(13.0%) were murdered by suicide bombers]
- * Does not include attacks with rocks or firebombs.
- ** "Israeli" includes tourists and foreign workers.
[IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il]
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ROMAN CATHOLIC PATRIARCH LAHHAM SENDS MESSAGES CONDEMNING US
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST SYRIA
- Damascus- April 23, 2003 (SANA-Official Syrian News Agency)
http://www.sana.org/english/headlines/23-4/patriarch_lahham.htm
- Patriarch of Antakia and all the East for the Roman Catholic
Gregorius Lahham III has sent messages to more than 50 ambassador
adopted in Syria condemning the US. accusations against Syria
that are not real.
- The patriarch indicated the important Syrian role in the
region in preserving peace and security in the world and extremism
in fighting terrorism and Iraq's Neighbors' Joint Declaration
rejects interference in Iraq's internal affairs
http://www.spa.gov.sa/html/archive_e.asp?srcfile=612253&NDay=19/04/2003&Ryes=3&wcatg=0
- When U.S. President George W. Bush turned the screws on Israel
for some photo-ops for his presidential campaign, the last thing
he thought he was doing was pressing for the creation of an integrated
Palestinian terrorist force armed and trained for the next round
of battle against the Jewish State. But that is what is happening.
- It is only a matter of time before the security experts roll
their eyes as they explain that it was obvious to anyone with
working gray matter between their ears that when you take the
highly motivated, ideologically driven, locally popular terrorist
heroes of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Tanzim and integrate them
into the PA forces that they will become the dominant force and
leadership in the united PA security force.
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- BUSH ISRAELI STRIKE IN SYRIA 'ESSENTIAL'
October 07, 2003 - President Bush on Tuesday said that Israel's
air strike in Syria was part of an "essential" campaign
to defend the country, and drew a parallel between U.S. policy
on terrorism and the actions being taken by Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon.
- Bush's supportive remarks toward Sharon, similar to comments
he made Monday, also came with a caution. He said he would continue
to press Sharon to be wary of creating "the conditions necessary
for" increasing, rather than reducing, the violence.
- "The decisions he makes to defend her people are valid
decisions," Bush said in answer to a reporter's question.
"We would be doing the same thing. This country will defend
our people. But we're also mindful when we make decisions, as
the prime minister should be, that he fully understand the consequences
of any decision."
- A Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility
for a suicide attack at a seaside restaurant in Haifa, Israel,
on Saturday that killed 19 people. Israel retaliated by sending
warplanes Sunday to bomb a suspected terrorist camp deep inside
Syria, northwest of Damascus.
- The Islamic Jihad has denied having training bases in Syria.
- "The prime minister must defend his country _ it's essential,"
Bush said. "This is a country which recently was attacked
by a suicider that killed innocent children, and women _ people
that were celebrating in a restaurant."
- The U.S.-backed "road map" to Mideast peace has
suffered a series of setbacks in recent months, with Israel building
homes in new West Bank settlements in defiance of the plan and
steady bombings by Palestinians.
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- PALESTINIAN TOWNS LOCKED DOWN BY ISRAEL
Associated Press Writer By Karin Laub - October 8, 2003 - Trying
to prevent another terror attack during the Jewish holidays,
Israel enforced an open-ended lockdown of Palestinian towns Wednesday
and ordered two more battalions into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The closure was extended as questions arose over the health of
Yasser Arafat after he appeared in public looking haggard and
disoriented. Advisers denied a report he has suffered a mild
heart attack, saying Arafat _ the leading champion of the Palestinian
cause over four decades _ is weak from a stomach flu.
- Over the weekend, the 74-year-old Arafat installed an emergency
Cabinet _ his main objective apparently being to block Israeli
action against him in reprisal for a suicide bombing by Palestinian
militants. New premier Ahmed Qureia was tapped by Arafat for
the job a month ago but has since struggled to form a Cabinet.
- On Wednesday, Qureia presided over the first meeting of his
eight-member emergency Cabinet, which in principle can govern
for one month. He said he would seek parliament approval Thursday
for the ministers, turning them into a regular Cabinet, and that
he hoped to broaden his government eventually.
- In the most recent attack, an Islamic Jihad bomber killed
19 Israelis in the port city of Haifa on Saturday. In response,
Israel on Sunday bombed what it said was an Islamic Jihad base
deep inside Syria.
- Al-Kurdi said after the checkup that Arafat was in relatively
good health. However, Arafat has not improved since that visit,
his aides said on condition of anonymity. Arafat continues to
pick at his food and requires a lot of rest.
- Arafat has been confined to his compound for nearly two years.
- Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled said Israel
"probably would" permit Arafat to leave the compound
if he needs to be treated at a hospital. "We're following
it (Arafat's health)," Peled said. "I wouldn't say
we're worried, or upset or anything. We're simply following it."
I. Israeli Cabinet Minister called for Israel to incinerate Damascus!
Of course, this action, when actually carried out, would fulfill
the End of the Age prophecy in Isaiah 17:1. Let us review the
news story first:
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