-
ISRAEL
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 LIVINI ON TIME'S
[TIME MAGAZINE] 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL LIST
- ‘Tzipi’s strength to endure, indeed to excel, in
what were difficult, often heartbreaking, conditions was a testament
to her character,’ Condoleezza Rice writes in special column
for magazine. Olmert, Bush omitted from list
- Yitzhak Benhorin Published: 05.03.2007, Israel News ynetnews.com
- WASHIGTON – Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is among the
newsmakers on Time magazine's list of 100 people who shape the
world. Shockingly, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President
George W. Bush are not included.
- Other figures include Pope Benedict XVI, the commander of
US forces in Iraq General David Petraeus, California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and
Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama.
- Queen Elizabeth II, Democratic speaker of the US House of
Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senator Hilary Clinton, US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice and German Chancellor Angela Merkel
also appeared on the list. Livni is also among the 21 people
defined by the magazine as “leaders and revolutionaries”,
along with Saudi King Abdullah, al-Qaeda ????? leader Osama bin
Laden and Iran’s Supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
- Rice wrote a passage about Livni for the magazine’s
special edition in which she said, “It was late summer in
1999, and I was in Israel. President Bush was still Governor
Bush, and I was traveling as his foreign policy adviser. In a
meeting with Ariel Sharon, I met one of his advisers - a confident
and impressive woman, roughly my age (well, actually a little
younger), named Tzipi Livni.
- “Little did I know how intertwined our lives and work
would become. Last May, Tzipi, like me, became the second woman
ever to hold her nation's top foreign policy job. Those early
months were anything but easy: violence in Gaza, a war in Lebanon,
a radical President in Iran.
- “Tzipi's strength to endure, indeed to excel, in what
were difficult, often heartbreaking, conditions was a testament
to her character. Tzipi and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have the
foresight to know that a Palestinian state is in Israel's greatest
interest, and that they must pursue the cause of peace with their
Arab neighbors. President Bush and I deeply share this goal.
And for Tzipi and me, it is now the focus of our work together,“
she wrote. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3395551,00.html
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- PRAISE THE LORD FOR BRIAN'S FAMILY WHO ARE MISSIONARIES IN
ISRAEL
- Shalom Dear Friends and Family,
God is good all the time and all the time God is good. I can
really say this with true meaning, even with all the trials and
hardships we face here every day. The Word continues to Go forth
through us here in Israel. I will start off this update with
some exciting things regarding Israel and her 59Th Birthday
and then share with you some personal family and ministry news.
Israel at 59
Israel's population increased by 121,000, or 1.8 percent, since
last year's Independence Day, reaching a total of 7,150,000.
Prophecy, being fulfilled right before our eyes! Hallelujah!
Some 148,000 babies were born in 2006, and 18,400 new immigrants
arrived. Yeah!
According to the latest CBS figures, out of 24,000 Israelis who
left the country in 2004 for a period of more than 12 months,
10,000 have returned. We are proud to say that we are part of
this figure as we came back almost 9 months ago after being out
for 2 years. Yes, Home sweet home.
Please remember Israel's fallen, as our thoughts go especially
to the 233 families who have joined the circle of bereavement
over the past year, including 119 families who lost soldiers
in the Second Lebanon War. Since 1860, - 22,305 men and women
have died in the establishment and defense of the Jewish state.
The most exciting news, this year in Israel, the Lord opening
up the window of opportunity for Brian and Racheli to serve Him
full time in ministry. Sharing the Good News really is the Best
News for Israel as it turns 59. Thanks for your prayers.
These facts and statistic's were compiled by, The Jerusalem Post-Monday,
April 23, 2007 - 5 IYAR 5767 and the heart of Brian Slater on
April 24, 2007- Israel Independence Day - 59.
Now for some Slater Ministry news: Since the last time I wrote
an update, so much has happened that I could not fit it all in.
I will start off by saying that the God of Israel is doing wonderful
things through us and to Him be All the honor, glory and praise.
I will share a few details, as I know I can't keep your attention
all day. Racheli, spent 3 days during Passover vacation serving
and teaching at a Messianic Passover camp at the congregation
for the children. Much fruit, fun and festivity was had by all.
Many kids were really touched by the Lord. Racheli has also been
witnessing and building relationship with a neighbor of ours
named (Malka), please pray for her as you think of it and another
lady named Leah. Racheli has also been spending much time volunteering
to watch neighbor's kids and helping them with homework.
I have been getting together with a friend in ministry, (David),
in Tel Aviv where I do alot of outreach and we have been praying
together weekly. This has been very encouraging and faith building
for us both. One day, when we were doing outreach together on
the streets of Tel Aviv, the Lord put into our hand an Arab/Israeli
women, (she is homeless and sells herself in order get the drugs
that she is in-slaved too), that we had the chance to give her
a coffee, give her new clothing, a Bible in Arabic and pray for
her. She was crying almost the whole time all this was happening
and when we prayed for her, she said"she felt a heavy weight
being lifted from her and she felt free and filled with joy".
We shared with her about Yeshua and how He can change her life.
She cried and said that "she felt like she was in paradise".
- In a different occasion and setting, I traveled up to Eilat,
on the Red Sea and a small world event happened when I met a
cleaning lady in the kibbutz we stayed in. She just happened
to be from the same town and same high school I grew up in, in
Los Angeles. I was able to witness to her in a powerful way and
comfort her as her husband was abusing her at the time.
- The volunteer work I am involved in, at the soup kitchen
in Tel-Aviv that serves up to 150 homeless has been on a few
weeks break as they are expanding the building, in order that
it may serve the growing needs of the homeless. I have also been
going down weekly to give bible studies at a men's recovery home
in Jaffa. This past week I spoke to them on Satan's lies and
God's truth. It was received well, walls where broken down and
lives were changed. Baruch ha Shem-Praise the Lord!
These, are just a few examples of how the Lord is using Racheli
and myself. We cannot do this without your prayers and support.
The battle truly is the Lord's and we trust Him in all we do.
We come under heavy spiritual attack at time's and towards our
family and kids. Please stand with us here. We need YOU!
The kids are doing great at the moment thanks be to God and your
prayers. Amichai, being in the hospital during Passover was very
difficult. He eventually bounced back. Please continue to pray
for him. He tests the boundaries every opportunity he gets. Raz,
is excelling very nicely in school, being at the top of her class
in math, English and helping her teacher in her 1st grade class.
As we continue to serve with Chosen People Ministries we continue
to walk in faith, that we will have your prayers and support.
We still, currently have to work 2 extra jobs in order to pay
our basic necessities. We appreciate your support, so that we
can reach more for Him!
With all our heart in service to Yeshua, Laman Yeshua!
Brian Racheli Raz and Amichai - Saving Lives in Israel - Hebrews
12:1
Bless you! "For the grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No"
to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled,
upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11,12
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-
- U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZA RICE SHAKINGS HANDS WITH
PA AUTHORITY
- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shaking hands with Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in Amman,
Jordan in March. (AP)
- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/855602.html
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- EMBATTLED OLMERT REACHING OUT TO SYRIA?
- Struggling for power, PM wants negotiations with Damascus
- May 10, 2007 - Aaron Klein - WorldNetDaily.com - Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert (PBS.org)
- JERUSALEM – Embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, facing
devastatingly low poll numbers and calls from the public and
senior officials to resign, has directed staffers at Israel's
Foreign Ministry to conduct preparation work for the possibility
of talks with Syria, WND has learned.
- The talks would aim for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan
Heights, strategic mountainous territory looking down on Israeli
and Syrian population centers twice used by Damascus to launch
ground invasions into the Jewish state.
- The information comes after a government-appointed committee
last week released a report slamming Olmert's decision-making
process during last summer's war against the Lebanese Hezbollah
militia. The report prompted mass demonstrations and widespread
calls for Olmert to step down, including from the prime minister's
own deputy, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. But some analysts speculated
Olmert's ratings could rise if he reached out to his leftist
base and conducted negotiations with the Palestinians or Syria.
- According to top diplomatic sources, Israel's Foreign Ministry
has been conducting staff work to prepare for possible negotiations
with Syria. The sources said Israeli intelligence agencies have
been asked to submit reports on the status of Syria's military
and the likelihood of a Syrian military attack against the Jewish
state. Livni has held talks with senior Ministry staffers to
outline Israel's interests during any negotiations with Syria,
said the sources. Continued: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55634
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- NEW ISRAELI LEADER WITHOUT ELECTIONS?
- Party pressuring Olmert to resign so it can retain control.
[Ednote: The US government wants Olmert to stay.] - WorldNetDaily.com
By Aaron Klein - May 2, 2007 - JERUSALEM – Senior members
of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party today are attempting
to persuade the Israeli leader to resign to smooth the way for
a top member of his party – either Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni or former Prime Minister Shimon Peres – to immediately
assume leadership, according to political sources here. The report
comes in spite of claims by Peres that Kadima ministers backed
Olmert at a party meeting today. If Olmert steps down as Kadima
head, the party's new leader – chosen in a vote by Kadima
lawmakers – would become prime minister and could serve
the remainder of Olmert's term in office without any public elections
being held.
- The diplomatic maneuvering follows the release yesterday
of an interim report slamming Olmert's handling of last summer's
war in Lebanon against the Hezbollah militia. The report has
prompted a flurry of demands from around the country for Olmert
to resign. A rally planned for tomorrow, which some say may be
historic, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands calling for
Olmert to step down. .. If Olmert resigns before a no confidence
motion is passed by the Knesset, the new head of Kadima would
automatically become prime minister since the party possesses
the largest number of Knesset seats. Both Livni and Peres are
expected to vie for head of the Kadima faction. Should the new
Kadima leader take Olmert's place, that politician could fill
out the remainder of Olmert's term in office if a majority of
Knesset members are persuaded against voting for new elections.
- "I think that general elections would be a mistake,"
Livni told reporters today. "Israel needs stability. If
the prime minister decides to resign, the Knesset can put together
[another] government. I believe that we need a broad government
that can cope with the challenges ahead." According to a
key political source, Peres told Olmert in a private meeting
if he stepped down, Peres would ensure against Olmert's prosecution
in a number of corruption scandals, one in which Israel's state
comptroller recently recommended criminal charges. Although never
elected to Israel's highest office, Peres served twice as prime
minister, once following the assassination of Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin and another time in an unusual deal in which he
led a rotating unity government for two years. Peres was a key
player in the 1993 Olso Accords, which established a quasi-state
for PLO leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
.. For the whole story: .. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55494
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- FOREIGN MINISTER TZIPI LIVINI SPEAKING TO PRIME MINISTER
EHUD OLMERT DURING A KNESSET SESSION ON WEDNESDAY
- 12/05/2007 - FM: Creation of Palestine requires West Bank
exit - By Haaretz Service and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
- Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Saturday that the founding
of a future Palestinian state will require Israel to make withdrawals
from the West Bank.
- In an interview to Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper, Livni was
quoted as saying that "the pullout from the Gaza Strip was
not the last withdrawal."
- However, the foreign minister maintained that the peace process
has been slowed because of moderate Palestinian leaders' inability
to control the violence in the territories, and not because of
Israel.
"Israel does not want to rule over the Palestinians,"
Livni said.
- On Thursday, Livni met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
in Cairo for two hours and discussed the diplomatic process with
the Palestinians and the Arab peace initiative. The foreign minister
also met with her Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and
their visiting Jordanian colleague, Abdelelah al-Khatib.
- The meeting came hours after the Arab League decided to dispatch
a delegation comprising of the foreign ministers of Egypt and
Jordan to visit Israel in the coming weeks to discuss the Arab
peace initiative.
- The two Arab ministers pledged that they would not present
Israel with any preconditions or ultimatums during their meetings,
but they also stressed that the Arab League delegation is not
an alternative to direct contacts between Israel and the Palestinians.
A senior Israeli government source concurred, warning that "the
process on the new regional track will not move forward if there
is no progress on the Palestinian track."
- The impending visit by the Egyptian and Jordanian foreign
ministers is a continuation of the decision made at the Arab
League summit in Riyadh in March, under which the two Arab countries
with whom Israel has full diplomatic relations would be responsible
for advancing the Arab peace initiative. The initiative, a revival
of a similar proposal made at an Arab League summit in Beirut
in 2002, calls on Israel to relinquish all territories captured
in 1967 and agree to a negotiated settlement of the refugee problem.
In exchange, it would receive normalized relations with all 22
league members.
- There had been some rumors that the two ministers' visit
would be delayed because of the political crisis in Israel, but
Mubarak stressed that the visit would not be postponed. Livni
and Mubarak also discussed the precarious security situation
in the Gaza Strip, the smuggling of arms into Gaza from Sinai,
the Qassam rocket attacks on southern Israel and the growing
strength of Hamas. Livni said that "the current situation
in the Gaza Strip is unacceptable." She also emphasized
that Israel expects the Arab world to support and grant legitimacy
to moderates in the Palestinian Authority, in order to bolster
their ability to show flexibility on the diplomatic level and
"reach more agreements with Israel." Continued:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/858521.html
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- SHIMON PERES TO REPLACE OLMERT?
Party members in backdoor meetings call for PM's immediate resignation.
- May 1, 2007 - By Aaron Klein - WorldNetDaily.com
- SHIMON PERES
 JERUSALEM – Members of Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party held a confidential meeting
today discussing whether they will ask Olmert to resign, with
some urging the Israeli leader be immediately replaced with either
Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres or Foreign Minister Tzippy
Livni.
- The meeting follows the release of an interim report yesterday
slamming Olmert's handling of last summer's war in Lebanon against
the Hezbollah militia. The report has prompted a flurry of demands
from around the country for Olmert to resign. A rally planned
for Thursday, some are calling historic, is expected to draw
hundreds of thousands calling for Olmert to step down.
- Avigdor Yitzhaki, a member of the opposition Labor party
and chairman of Olmert's government coalition, today held a meeting
with top Kadima lawmakers in which the replacement of Olmert
was discussed. Olmert's Kadima party last year forged a unity
government with Labor.
- According to sources familiar with the contents of the meeting,
Kadima ministers in attendance were in agreement Olmert must
immediately resign. The lawmakers discussed the formation of
a group of Kadima ministers who would approach Olmert together
and ask him to resign. Most Kadima officials at the meeting agreed
Livni should replace Olmert as head of Kadima until new elections
are held. Many recent polls here showed former Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party would trounce any new
elections.
- Whole story: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55473
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IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMDINEJAD SAYS WON'T BOW TO SANCTIONS
OVER ATOMIC WORK
 By Reuters - 12/05/2007 - Iran
will not be pushed by sanctions to suspend work on its disputed
nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday,
two days after six world powers met to discuss Iran's defiance
of UN demands.
- Senior officials from the United States, Britain, France,
Russia, China and Germany met in Berlin on Thursday to discuss
Iran's refusal to halt its uranium enrichment work, as demanded
by the UN Security Council. Some diplomats said the Americans
had been eager to discuss possible language for a new sanctions
resolution during the Berlin talks.
" ... without even retreating one step or giving in to sanctions,
threats and the psychological war of Islamic Iran's enemies,
we will move on the path of (nuclear) progress," the semi-official
Mehr news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
- The United Nations has imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran
since December over its refusal to freeze enrichment -- a process
that can be used to make atomic warheads. The West believes making
atomic bombs is Iran's ultimate goal, but Tehran insists its
nuclear programme is solely peaceful aimed at generating electricity.
"We are at the last stage of becoming 'nuclearised' and
nuclearisation means proving that Iran is worthy of becoming
a free, independent and honourable model for other nations,"
Mehr quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a group of students. He did
not say what the final stage was but Iran has been pressing ahead
with plans to expand its nuclear work to produce its own fuel
for a planned network of atomic power plants, although the first
such plant is still under construction.
- Ahmadinejad is not the most powerful figure in Iran, where
the last word lies with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
But his comments echo previous comments by Khamenei who has vowed
no retreat. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani also
stressed on Friday that Tehran would not stop its atomic activities
and said Western powers should not "waste their time".
- Larijani is expected to meet the European Union foreign policy
chief Javier Solana later in May to resume talks on Iran's nuclear
programme though the exact place and date have not been announced.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/858523.html
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- JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH VISITING THE KINGDOM'S RURAL AREAS
LAST MONTH
 Reuters 12/05/2007 - Palestinian
gov't officials deny Abbas will meet Olmert in Petra - By Haaretz
Service and News Agencies - Senior Palestinian government officials
denied on Saturday reports of an expected three-way meeting in
Jordan between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah II, maintaining that
Abbas does not intend to come to Petra.
- Earlier Saturday, Jordan's Ad-Dustour newspaper had reported
that the three leaders were expected to hold a meeting next week
at the Jordanian ancient city of Petra, at a Nobel Laureates
conference on May 16 in the city.
- Olmert's office confirmed he would visit Jordan to attend
the Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates, honoring Nobel Laureate
and Vice Premier Shimon Peres, and meet King Abdullah.
- Their talks are expected to touch on the Arab League peace
initiative that calls for normalized ties between Israel and
the Arab world in return for a full Israeli withdrawal from lands
captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.
- On Sunday, Abdullah is due to visit Ramallah for talks with
Abbas, officials in the PA chairman's office said on Friday.
A Palestinian senior official said that the king would arrive
by helicopter, and would hold a short visit in Ramallah with
Abbas. The official said that the two would discuss the political
situation in the region, and Arab countries' efforts to promote
regional peace, including the Arab Peace Initiative.
- Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora also called on Israel
to adopt the Saudi peace initiative, writing in an opinion piece
published Friday in The New York Times. Vice Premier Shimon Peres
called the initiative 'historical,' and said Friday that "if
the Arab side comes with a declaration such as that of the Saudi
king, Israel will willingly come with an offer for serious talks
in order to find common ground."
- Nasser Judeh, a Jordanian government spokesman, said that
Abdullah's plans to hold talks with Abbas in Ramallah came within
the framework of His Majesty's efforts to activate the peace
process by direct contacts with the concerned parties.
- Judeh said the visit reflects the king's continuous and well
known position and efforts to push all the sides to the negotiation
table and his full support for the establishment of a Palestinian
state. Abdullah has visited Ramallah once before, a brief stopover
to see then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2000, soon after
Abdullah ascended to the throne. In 1999, he visited Arafat in
the Gaza Strip.
- The visit comes as foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and
Israel on Thursday held the first-ever talks on a 2002 peace
initiative, which was relaunched at the Arab League's March summit
in Riyadh and offers comprehensive Arab recognition of Israel
in return for a full withdrawal from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
An Arab League delegation is also due to pay an unprecedented
visit to Israel to discuss the plan, the sides announced Thursday.
Three weeks ago, Israeli and Jordanian officials said Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert had invited Abdullah to make a historic visit to
Jerusalem in mid-May and the king was weighing the invitation.
But Abdullah would not include Jerusalem in Sunday's trip, Olmert's
spokeswoman, Miri Eisin said. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/858499.html
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- A UN PEACEKEEPER MONITORS THE ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER NEAR
THE VILLAGE
 OF MARWAHEEN .
- Photo: AP [file] - May 12, 2007 - Tension felt between IDF,
German troops - By JPOST STAFF AND AP
In the past two weeks, three incidents have taken place in southern
Lebanon between UNIFIL's (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)
navy and IDF forces, a spokesperson for the German security forces
in Lebanon said Friday evening.
In addition to the IAF flyby, the spokesperson said that on April
30 an IDF ship approached a German naval ship near the coast
of Lebanon. Because the IDF ship did not announce itself, the
German ship began battle procedures. One day earlier, a similar
incident occurred, where an IDF ship approached a Swedish ship
which was also part of the UNIFIL force.
- Complications between IDF forces and UNIFIL forces are nothing
new. In October, Israeli jets fired in the air over a German
intelligence-gathering ship off Lebanon's coast...
- Soon thereafter, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologized to
German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the incident and thanked
Germany for its contribution to the international force in southern
Lebanon.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1178708580619&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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- LATEST MIDDLE EAST NEWS: MAY 2007
- Baghdad, Iraq - As the death toll of U.S. personnel killed
in Iraq approaches the 3,400 mark, six more U.S. servicemembers
were killed on Wednesday. At least 2761 died as a result of hostile
action, and about 11,270 servicemembers were wounded and not
returned to duty, according to the U.S. military.
For the latest on the number of soldiers killed check the U.S.
Dept of Defense website at the following link, http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf.
- The number of U.S. soldiers and personnel killed or wounded
in Iraq has been disputed by many U.S. informed sources and generals.
According to them, the real number is about 20,000.
- According to two independent and reliable U.S. studies, over
650 thousands Iraqi civilians and military have been killed
since the invasion in 2003.
Baghdad, Iraq -- US. Vice president and the Iraq war primary
planner and God father of the war has left Iraq after a surprise
visit, but not before experiencing a surprise attack on the green
zone. A huge bomb hit central Baghdad, its shock waves were felt
by the unwelcomed visiting dignitary, with the message that the
war he helped initiate is raging on with no stop, including the
killing of innocents men, women and children. A reminder that
his tarnished legacy is that of blood and tragedy. And only repentance
and troop withdrawal will help end the suffering of the Iraqi
people.
- http://www.middleeastnews.com/
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PA, JORDAN DENY CONFEDERACY RUMORS
JPost.com » Middle East » Article - By KHALED ABU
TOAMEH - May. 12, 2007 - On the eve of Sunday's summit between
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King
Abdullah II, PA and Jordanian officials denied rumors according
to which the kingdom is interested in a confederation with the
Palestinians. The summit, which will be held in Ramallah, marks
the monarch's first visit to the PA territories since 2000. "Rumors
about a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation are completely untrue,"
said Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat. "We must not relate
to these rumors at all. The Palestinians are working toward establishing
an independent Palestinian state."
- Erekat said the Abbas-Abdullah talks will focus on ways of
reviving the Middle East peace process. "The Jordanian king
has long been involved in efforts to revive the peace process
and oblige Israel to the pre-1967 borders so that the Palestinians
will be able to establish their own state with Jerusalem as its
capital," he added. "The two leaders will discuss
all possible ways to resume peace talks [with Israel] on the
basis of United Nations resolutions, the Road Map and the Arab
Peace Initiative."
- Jordan's Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit also dismissed reports
to the effect that his country was about to revoke its 1988 decision
to disengage from the West Bank. Then, Jordan announced that
it was cutting off its legal and administrative relations with
the West Bank to pave the way for the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state there and in the Gaza Strip. The Jordanians
were hoping that the move would put an end to calls for turning
the kingdom, where more than 70% of the population is Palestinian,
into the future Palestinian state.
- "It's premature to talk about a confederation or federation
with the Palestinians because this might harm the interests of
both countries," Bakhit said during a meeting with a group
of Palestinians from the Wehdat refugee camp near Amman. He said
Jordan's main goal was to establish an independent Palestinian
state. It would be possible, Bakhit added, to talk about the
nature Jordanian-Palestinian relations after the establishment
of a Palestinian state.
- Regarding Jordan's disengagement from the West Bank, Bakhit
stressed that this was a pure Jordanian decision. "It's
impossible to retract it and in the meantime disengagement is
not on the table," he said. "You can find it only in
the minds of some people."
- In Amman, government sources said Abdullah will discuss with
Abbas international efforts to jump-start the peace process based
on the Arab peace plan first launched in Saudi Arabia in 2002
and revived at a summit in Riyadh two months ago. The Arab League
has mandated Egypt and Jordan - the only Arab countries with
peace treaties with Israel - to promote the offer to Israel.
Jordanian government spokesman Nasser Judeh told The Associated
Press that Abdullah's visit ``reflects the king's continuous
and well known position and efforts to push all the sides to
the negotiation table and his full support for
the establishment of a Palestinian state.''
- Sunday's summit comes amid increased calls for dismantling
the PA because of its failure to deliver and the continued international
sanctions on the Palestinians. Many Hamas and Fatah leaders have
expressed support for the idea, saying this would create pressure
on the international community to resume financial aid to the
Palestinians. Nabil Amr, a senior advisor to Abbas, dismissed
the calls as unrealistic. "The only way to resolve the current
crisis in the Palestinian Authority is by having representatives
of all Palestinian factions set around one table to search for
a suitable solution.
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- BEHIND THE IRAN CRISIS: THE ISRAEL LOBBY'S CAMPAIGN FOR WAR
Scott Ritter, an American who served as a senior United Nations
weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998, says in his new
book, Target Iran: "The Bush administration, with the able
help of the Israeli government and the pro-Israel lobby, has
succeeded in exploiting the ignorance of the American people
about nuclear technology and nuclear weapons so as to engender
enough fear that the American public has more or less been pre-programmed
to accept the notion of the need to militarily confront a nuclear
armed Iran." Ritter also writes: "Let there be no doubt:
If there is an American war with Iran it is a war that was made
in Israel and nowhere else."
- An attack against Iran by the United States, or Israel, would
be, in the absence of an imminent threat, an illegal, unilateral
act of war. If undertaken by the US without a formal congressional
declaration of war, such an attack would be unconstitutional.
A war against Iran would serve only Israeli and Zionist interests.
For everyone else, war against Iran would be a catastrophe.
- For many years now, American political leaders of both parties
have declared themselves staunchly committed to Israel and its
security. This unparalleled devotion to Israel, which is an expression
of the Jewish-Zionist grip on America's political and cultural
life, seems to have reached an apex in the current administration..
Full story: ihr.org http://www.ihr.org/news/0704_weber.shtml
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- ISLAMIC MOVEMENT INITIATES EFFORT TO FLOOD TEMPLE MOUNT
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
 IsraelNN.com - Sheikh
Raad Salah, the head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement,
has been working hard to ensure that thousands of Muslims will
arrive in Jerusalem's Old City every day to pray in the Al-Aksa
mosque, located on the Temple Mount. Salah has been talking with
Arab clan leaders from Jerusalem and its environs in an effort
to convince them to take turns bringing their entire extended
families to the mosque. Salah also said that he plans to see
to it that Jerusalem mosques are closed on Friday, the Muslim
day of rest, in order to force all those who wish to take part
in group prayers to travel to the Al-Aksa mosque. He has talked
to Muslim leaders in other parts of Israel, asking them to tell
their followers to visit the Jerusalem mosque in order to demonstrate
a strong Muslim presence there. Such a presence, Salah is telling
local Muslims, Salah also said that he plans to see to it that
Jerusalem mosques are closed on Friday. is the best defense against
"Israeli aggression."
- Salah expressed his conviction that Jerusalem will fall into
Muslim hands by "Heavenly promise." He also said that
in such a conquest, no sign of a Jewish presence will remain.
Several months ago, Jerusalem police initiated an investigation
of Salah for incitement-filled, anti-Israel speeches he made
in Nazareth and Wadi Joz. Earlier, he was banned from Jerusalem
for several days after inciting violent mobs against Israeli
policemen. Salah claimed that Israel was trying to destroy the
mosques on the Temple Mount. He was also accused of attacking
a police officer during the anti-Israel demonstrations. The Islamic
Movement is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, as is Hamas.
Group members call Salah the leader of the "1948 branch."
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122410
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- TORRENTIAL RAINS KILL FOUR YOUNG HIKERS
JPost.com - May 12, 2007 By JPOST.COM STAFF - The bodies of three
men and one woman, all in their 20s, were found on Saturday afternoon
near Nahal Qumran, located north of the Dead Sea following hordes
of torrential rain, police said. A doctor announced two of the
deaths at the scene. The four were part of a group of eleven
Israelis that despite week-long weather warnings, decided to
go abseiling in the area.
- Civilian rescue forces including the Megilot rescue unit,
Ma'ale Adumim police volunteers and Magen David Adom, accompanied
by IAF helicopters, located seven of the group's members alive,
and were searching for over an hour for the remaining hikers
whose bodies were found separately early in the evening. Forces
were on their way to an additional group of 14 hikers experiencing
trouble due to the harsh weather in Nahal Hatzatzon, also near
the Dead Sea. None of the group's members were harmed.
- Several roads north of Ein Gedi have been closed due to the
flooding, police said. http://www.JPost.com
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- FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER ENTERS LION'S DEN
 Despite criticism, his book is
work of a true patriot. - Chicago Tribune - By Paul Findley -
February 7, 2007 - At the age of 82, Jimmy Carter entered the
lion's den. With the publication of his latest book, "Palestine:
Peace not Apartheid," he did what a patriot would do: rally
Americans to vigorous debate of a critical issue that affects
our future. He deserves a hero's praise. Instead, he has been
attacked and defamed... Carter points out in his book, Israel
endows Jewish settlers living on Palestinian land with full rights,
while denying those rights to the Palestinians living on their
own land. If these issues were debated openly, U.S. policymakers
would have to hold Israel accountable and demand that our financial
and diplomatic support be contingent upon Israel upholding American
values and policy positions. Yet there is silence. Critical discussion
of Israeli policies is non-existent in Congress. Rather than
conducting vigorous committee hearings, as happens with other
issues, members of Congress compete to outdo one another in statements
of support for Israel. And American tax dollars keep flowing
uninterrupted to Israel. Our unconditional support of Israel
damages our credibility on the world stage. It deprives us of
potential allies in the Arab and Muslim worlds. It allows Israel
to remain intransigent and condemns Palestinian and Israeli children
to decades more of conflict. Open discussion, where all perspectives
are debated, leads to good policy. Carter took a stand for what
is right: for Americans, for Palestinians and for Israelis. It
is time for a sitting president and members of Congress to do
the same. Whole article: http://www.cephas-library.com/israel_carter_enters_lions_den.html
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- MORE DELAY OR MORE WAR?
 From the time the
Israelites left Mount Sinai until the time they crossed the Jordan
River and entered the Promised Land was exactly 14,000 days.
(You can go to this link to see how this was calculated:
http://wonderful1.com/wst_page3.html)
- In the 20th Century, the day Jerusalem was recaptured was
7 Jun 1967. Interestingly, when turned into numbers, you get
6/7/67. This was provided by Greg Herrin and he pointed out it
shows that the number falls short of the number 7 or "completion/perfection."
On this date the Jewish nation won back the Temple Mount which,
if kept, would have allowed the rebuilding of the Temple and
the end of the 'times of the Gentiles,' but because they "fell
short" the 'time of the Gentiles' was extended.
Jewish tradition says the following events occurred on Rosh Hoshanna:
Adam was created; the flood waters dried up; Enoch was raptured;
Sara, Rachel and Samuel were all conceived; Egyptian slavery
of the Hebrews ended; Job contracted leprosy. The one about Enoch
is an eye-opener, eh? So many parallels....
Jerusalem recaptured 7 Jun 1967 until Rosh Hoshanna 4 OCT 2005
= 38.8 years, or 14000 days EXACTLY. What could be the significance
of this? Well, the Israelites that saw God's glory on Mt. Sinai,
lacked the faith to go in and take possession of the Promised
Land:
"Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the
glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who
saw My Glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and
in the desert but who disobeyed Me and tested Me ten times--not
one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their
forefathers. No one who has treated Me with contempt will ever
see it." Numbers 14:21-23.
Because of this God made them wander aimlessly in the wilderness
until that generation had perished.
Again, they later saw God's Glory in the physical manifestation
of Jesus Christ. However, they mistakenly rejected Him as their
King and were dispersed 14,000 days or 38.8 years later (if this
date is the correct date for the resurrection.)
Then again in 1967, the Israeli people saw God's glory demonstrated
as he handed them their promised possession of Jerusalem - including
the gem on the crown - the Temple Mount. This battle was won
despite overwhelming odds. But instead of accepting control of
the Mount and having confidence in God to protect them and their
regained land, the Temple Mount was handed back to their enemies.
This showed a lack of faith on their part and has resulted, I
believe, in another 38.8 year generation to work through, ending
on Rosh Hoshanna 2005. -- 14000possibilities@Wonderful1.com
More Delay or More War?
...at the end of the 14,000 days in the Tanakh (the Old Testament),
the Israelites were taken "into the promised land."
Second, it was immediately followed by 7 years of war...(a picture
of the coming "Great Tribulation?")
- Is this pattern about to happen again? Will Israel
lose their confidence once again and hand back the Temple Mount
to appease their enemies, and by so doing, anger God, thus
incurring another punishment of delay? Or, will they keep
it, and like the Israelites entering the Promised Land the first
time, incur 7 years of war? Stay tuned . . . Source:
http://wonderful1.com/wst_page3.html
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- RANDALL PRICE ASKS: "WHAT IS THE CASE AGAINST THE CLAIM
THAT THE TOMB EXCAVATED IS THE TOMB OF JESUS?
- 1.. On March 28, 1980 in the neighborhood of Talpiyot, a
Jerusalem suburb, construction workers accidentally uncovered
a first-century burial cave containing ten ossuaries. An ossuary
is a burial box used to store bones. Six of the ten ossuaries
had names on them: "Jesus, son of Joseph; Maria; Mariamene;
Matthew; Judas, son of Jesus; and Jose, a diminutive of Joseph.
The excavators published a report of the find, archaeological
magazines and journals wrote articles about it, the cave was
closed, the bones were re-buried according to Jewish law, and
the ossuaries were stored in a warehouse run by the Israeli Antiquities
Authority. .....
- What is the Case Against This Claim?
1.. The Israeli archaeologist who excavated the site (Amos Kloner)
and the anthropologist (Joe Zias) who examined the ossuary remains
in 1980 have stated categorically that this tomb has nothing
to do with Jesus of Nazareth and that the claims the authors
and producers are making is nonsense.
- 2.. Jesus (or Joshua) was one of the most popular names among
Jews of the first-century. James Charlesworth of Princeton Theological
Seminary says he has a first-century letter "written by
someone named Jesus, addressed to someone else named Jesus and
witnessed by a third party named Jesus." The New Testament
also mentions a "Bar-Jesus" (Acts 13:6). In fact, all
of these names on the ossuaries make the top ten lists of popular
first-century names. First century names in top ten lists = 2,625
males and/or ossuaries: Joseph 218/45, Judah (Judas) 164/44,
Jesus 99/22, Mathew 62/17. Of 328 occurrences: Mary/Mariamne
70/42 (21% of Jewish women were called Mariamne/Mary), Martha
20/17. The chance of the people in the ossuaries being the same
individuals mentioned in Gospels is very slight.
3.. The statistical analysis is untrustworthy. The statistical
analysis is only as good as the numbers that were provided to
the statistician. He couldn't run numbers he did not have. To
get the high numbers given in the book and on the program, all
the assumptions that have been made about the identifications
and relationships of these names have to be put into the numbers
pot, including Matthew, a name simply called "consistent
with the family." There is no sound basis for doing this
(see below).... [see
9 more points] ,,
- "In light of all the incredible number of problems with
the recent claim that Jesus' grave has been found, the time-honored,
multi-faceted evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus is
more convincing than ever. Even the early opponents of the Christian
message acknowledged that Jesus' tomb was empty. And the evidence
for Jesus' bodily resurrection appearances has never been refuted."
- Dr. Gary Habermas (expert on the resurrection of Jesus and
author of The Case for the Resurrection).
- http://www.cephas-library.com/israel_randall_price_responds_to_the_tomb_of_jesus.html
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- BACK TO SQUARE ONE - TIMELINE FOR TERROR * Plain and Clear
*
- May 12, 2007 - The United States has submitted a document
to Israel and the PA, setting tight deadlines for both sides
to implement confidence-building steps. Israel must enable opening
of two key Gaza Strip passages - the Rafah border crossing with
Egypt and the Karni goods crossing with Israel. The US also wants
Israel to remove roadblocks in the West Bank by mid-June, and
completely remove restrictions on Palestinian travel in the Jordan
Valley, in the eastern West Bank, by May 15 and to set up a long-awaited
bus convoy between the West Bank and Gaza by July 1. Abbas, for
his part, must develop a plan against the firing of Gaza-made
Qassam rockets into Israel, and deploy forces in the Gaza Strip
tasked with curbing the rocket fire by June 21.
- Some of the measures, notably the removal of key roadblocks,
if implemented would make it harder for Israel to foil suicide
bombings and shooting attacks. More ominous, Israel will be forced
to provide arms, ammunition and equipment to PA security forces
in an "immediate and ongoing" manner.
- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert already tentatively agreed last
week to comply with America's latest laundry list, according
to the Reuters news agency. In spite of the fact that Israel's
security establishment emphasizes that these moves would dramatically
endanger an already vulnerable Israeli civilian population constantly
facing missile launchings from Gaza, suicide bombings, and other
terrorist attacks.
- Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said it clear: "We in the
Hamas movement will not accept any solution that would deny us
our rights or detract from our principles.... I will not accept
an agreement saying that at the end of the day, Haifa, Jaffa,
and Acre are Israeli cities, and part of the Israeli land....
I will not accept any solution that prevents any future Palestinian
generation from acting to liberate and regain the rest of the
Palestinian land."
- Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said it clear: "We in the
Hamas movement will not accept any solution that would deny us
our rights or detract from our principles.... I will not accept
an agreement saying that at the end of the day, Haifa, Jaffa,
and Acre are Israeli cities, and part of the Israeli land....
I will not accept any solution that prevents any future Palestinian
generation from acting to liberate and regain the rest of the
Palestinian land."
- PM Olmert last Monday that Israel would "respond severely"
to continuing Qassam rocket fire from Gaza. He said that the
attacks "threaten civilian lives in the northern Negev".
"The Qassam attacks constitute a tangible threat to Israel".
"Israel cannot show restraint forever." Muslim extremists
(terrorists) in long white robes attacked a children's festival
at a UN-run primary school with guns and homemade bombs Sunday,
killing a politician's bodyguard and also leaving seven people
wounded in plain view of terrified youngsters.
- Both Hamas and Hizbullah have issued statements in support
of former Arab-Israeli MK Azmi Bishara. He is accused of treason,
aiding the enemy in a time of war and money laundering. He has
been on the run ever since lying to investigators. Hamas has
issued a call for Bishara to return to Israel to "share
the burden of supporting the Palestinian homeland. Hizbullah
has also come to Bishara's defense and also announced that Hizbullah
is ready for another round of warfare with Israel.
- 'Peace Now' leader Yariv Oppenheimer said that most of the
group boycotted the huge protest rally against the Olmert administration.
Oppenheimer explained that he prefers that Prime Minister Olmert
remains in office if he continues to negotiate with the Palestinian
Authority. Email by Steven Shamrak
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