Subject: Israel News: March 23-29, 1998
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 00:51:03 +0000
To: "Arutz-7 List"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
From: Eddie Chumney
Subject: Israel News: March 23-30, 1998
To: <HEB_ROOTS_CHR@geocities.com>
Israel News
March 23 - March 30, 1998
TEMPLE MOUNT NEWS
PASSOVER SACRIFICE IN JERUSALEM
Press Release of Temple Mount Faithful and Chai v'Kaiyam.
On the 10th April the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful
Movement, together with the Chai v'Kaiyam organization, intend to
hold a Passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount. This will be done
on an altar which is already prepared. This sacrifice can be
performed even before the Temple is built, just on an altar on
the Temple Mount.
The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement is
determined to hold this sacrifice whether or not the government
grants their permission. If permission is not granted to enter
the Temple Mount, then the sacrifice will be performed in the
City of David before the Southern gates of the Temple Mount, the
main gates used by the Israelites to enter the Temple Mount
during the time of the First and Second Temples. Even though the
Passover sacrifice has to be performed on the Temple Mount, we
shall sacrifice it in the City of David as a symbolic act and as
a first step for the fulfillment of this important commandment.
The City of David has a special and deep significance in the life
of the land of Israel. King David was the greatest king of
Israel who liberated Jerusalem, bought the Temple Mount, built an
altar to the honor of the G-d of Israel on this Hill and prepared
it for the building of the First Temple by his son, King Solomon.
This is the reason why we decided to hold this sacrifice in this
holy place. It will be done without an altar but exactly
according to all the details of G-d's commandment for the
Passover sacrifice. It is only on the Temple mount that
sacrifice can be performed on an altar. We hope that the Israeli
government will at least grant us the permission to perform the
sacrifice in this place. If not, we shall perform it on a hill
close to the Temple Mount and the City of David from where the
Temple Mount and site of the Holy of Holies can be clearly seen.
PILGRIMAGE TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT
Press Release of Temple Mount Faithful
On April 13, the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful
Movement together with many Israelis will make a unique
pilgrimage to the Temple Mount and march in the streets of the
Old City and around all the gates of the Temple Mount. Exactly
as it was done in Biblical times, before Passover we shall cut
the Omer, the first wheat, from the fields of Israel and bring it
to the Temple Mount as a thanksgiving sacrifice and offering to
the G-d of Israel.
PEACE PROCESS
ARAFAT TOLD ALBRIGHT; 30% MINIMUM
IINS News Service - Israel - 3/23
PLO Authority (PA) Chief Yassir Arafat told US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright, that his PA will not accept any Israeli
withdrawal under 30 percent. Arafat blames the stalled peace
process on Israeli procrastination and the government's failure
to comply with the Oslo Accords. Arafat has made it clear that
the proposed 13 percent withdrawal, as part of the new US
initiative, was unacceptable.
PEACE, TAKING ITS LAST BREATHS
IINS News Service - Israel - 3/25
In his opening address to the foreign ministers of the Arab
League yesterday, PLO Authority (PA) Chief Yassir Arafat stated
the peace process between Israel and the PA is "taking its last
breaths." Arafat once again called for the convening of an Arab
Summit to discuss Israel's unwillingness to comply with its
commitments as detailed in the Oslo Accords.
Arafat stressed that the problem is one affecting the entire area
and the entire Arab world and it must be dealt with in the
appropriate Arab forum. Arafat has been working on several
fronts in order to increase international pressure against Israel
and the isolation of Israel among the international community.
ALBRIGHT TO JEWISH LEADERS: U.S. DETERMINED TO END STALEMATE =
March 29, 1998 By Barry Schweid, Associated Press Washington (AP)
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told a coalition of
American Jewish leaders that Israel must realize the United
States is frustrated with the stalled peace process but
reaffirmed the Clinton administration is "very determined'' to
break the stalemate.
Albright made the observations in a conference call Friday to
more than 50 members of the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations. Malcolm Hoenlein, one of the
participants, disputed reports in Israel on Sunday that Albright
used the conference call to urge members to pressure Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hoenlein, executive vice president of the umbrella group, said
Albright noted that ending U.S. sponsorship of the peace efforts
remains a possible option in light of the stalemate but added
that the Americans instead are pushing ideas for bridging the gap
between Israel and the Palestinians.
U.S. ENVOY'S MIDEAST MISSION INCHES FORWARD
March 28, 1998 Jerusalem - AP
U.S. presidential envoy Dennis Ross's mission inched forward
Saturday with PLO officials saying Palestinians were leaning
toward accepting American ideas for reviving Middle East
peacemaking. But Israeli leaders remained adamant that a 13.1
percent withdrawal from the West Bank a figure said to be at
the heart of Washington's initiative was unacceptable.
Ross said Saturday his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
centered on modifications of the American ideas which he declined
to spell out.
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THE JERUSALEM POST DAILY INTERNET EDITION
Thursday, March 26, 1998
ISRAEL AGREES TO TWO-DIGIT PULLBACK
By JAY BUSHINSKY
JERUSALEM (March 26) - Israel will withdraw from 10.5 percent to 12%
of the West Bank in a bid to convince Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat the peace process can be put back on track, a senior
government official confirmed yesterday.
This proposal was attributed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by
The New York Times as part of a detailed analysis of the US mediation
effort and the positions being taken by the contending parties.
The official also verified the Times' disclosure that the areas to
be evacuated would be contiguous rather than scattered "pockmarks"
among which travel would be difficult and hazardous.
He attributed the contiguity to National Infrastructure Minister
Ariel Sharon and implied that Sharon is aware of the 10.5% to 12%
offer.
Netanyahu's support of these ideas evidently was expressed in a
letter he sent President Bill Clinton more than a week before their
two lengthy telephone conversations last weekend.
Well informed sources said the new chances of breaking the deadlock
with the PA prompted Clinton to instruct State Department peace envoy
Dennis Ross to fly to Israel along with his deputy, Aaron Miller.
Another official attributed the Times' disclosures to "briefings
conducted by American officials." He said they reflected "American
perceptions" and Israeli offers.
Ross may have been instructed to present a US plan - designed to
accommodate Israeli and Palestinian concerns - to Netanyahu and
Arafat. But this prospect evinced a bitter reaction from the senior
aide.
"What the Americans have done was to pour a bucket of cold water on
the principle of direct negotiations," he said. "Their mistake was to
tell the PA they would not intervene if progress was made, but would
intervene if there were a freeze."
The Times account contends that "Netanyahu is now talking of
withdrawals from areas that will leave Arafat in charge of a more
coherently formed area of land that would look more like an embryonic
state."
Hillel Kuttler adds from Washington:
According to the Times, the compromise proposal Netanyahu has sent
Clinton falls short of what the Americans proposed, but may be enough
to enable a deal to be struck.
The proposal accounts for the decision announced last week for Ross
to return to the region to meet with Netanyahu and Arafat, the paper
said. Ross is due to arrive today and could stay through Sunday. He
met last night in Miami with Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai
before heading to the region. According to Itim, Mordechai proposed
an 11% withdrawal to Ross.
Prior to receiving Netanyahu's letter and speaking with him twice by
telephone late last week, Clinton was leaning toward not sending Ross
back to the region, and instead presenting to Netanyahu and Arafat an
American proposal for a 13% redeployment, along with increased
Palestinian steps against terrorism, the Times reported, adding that
Secretary of State Madeline Albright was prepared to make the
American suggestions public in an upcoming speech.
Instead, Ross will arrive to ascertain from Netanyahu "how much of
this is real and how much of this is spin," the article quoted a
senior administration official.
In their White House meeting two weeks ago, Clinton asked King
Hussein to urge Netanyahu to make the serious decisions necessary to
advance the process, the Times said.
MARGOT DUDKEVITCH adds:
At a stormy emergency meeting of the Council of Jewish Communities in
Judea, Samaria, and Gaza last night, settlement leaders declared they
will return to the streets to protest further withdrawal from the
West Bank.
Council members will ask MKs to sign a letter by the Land of Israel
Front threatening to topple the government if any withdrawal from the
West Bank takes place. They also plan to intensify Knesset lobbying
activities to obtain a majority against any further withdrawal.
The settlers said they will also embark on a campaign to alert the
public of the dangers if the government goes ahead and grants
Palestinians land contiguity, claiming the government is ignoring the
total lack of Palestinian compliance with the Oslo Accords.
Council spokeswoman Yehudit Tayar said reports of a proposal that
Netanyahu is considering to grant the Palestinians land contiguity
and a possible 10% withdrawal are inconceivable.
"Each percentage point comprises 50 square kilometers of land and we
are against any kind of concession when compliance is nonexistent,"
she said.
Council members are to hold a protest vigil outside the Laromme Hotel
when Ross meets with Netanyahu tonight.
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THE JERUSALEM POST DAILY INTERNET EDITION
Thu, Mar 26, 1998
ANNAN CALLS FOR SYRIA TALKS
By JAY BUSHINSKY
JERUSALEM (March 26) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday
called for the "immediate resumption" of talks between Israel and
Syria, declaring that "without peace with Syria there can be no
comprehensive peace in the region."
He referred to his talks with Syrian President Hafez Assad last
weekend as having led him to the conclusion that "Assad wants to
resume the process from where it left off."
Although this proposal has been a non-starter as far as Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is concerned, Annan used diplomatic
language at his farewell news conference to imply a mite of
flexibility on Assad's part.
He elaborated on this theme in an interview broadcast on Channel 1.
"He will be ready sooner rather than later," he said.
Annan rejected the notion that the international community and
particularly the UN apply a "double standard" in dealing with Israel
and Arab countries, such as Iraq.
He said it was not true that Israel systematically and invariably
flouts UN resolutions. "The peace treaties between Israel and Egypt
and between Israel and Jordan were based on UN resolutions," he said.
Annan reiterated his willingness to help work out arrangements for
the IDF's prospective withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but his input
could begin only after UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426
are formally endorsed by the cabinet. Netanyahu hopes the cabinet
endorsement will be given at its next meeting on Wednesday.
In his TV interview, Annan gave strong backing to State Department
peace envoy Dennis Ross's latest mission. "I hope he puts something
on the table," he said, referring to an American plan for solving the
current phase of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. "The parties should
be able to look at it and discuss it."
But Annan said it would not be a good idea for the US plan to be
published in the local and international news media.
Elli Wohlgelertner adds:
Annan started his day meeting with Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert at the
King David Hotel. Olmert told Annan that Jerusalem must remain the
undivided capital of Israel, and detailed efforts being made by the
city to improve services for residents of eastern Jerusalem.
"I am happy to see the city develop," Annan said.
The issue of building on the controversial Har Homa site was also
discussed, with Olmert explaining that 70 percent of the land belongs
to Jews.
Afterwards, Olmert commented on Annan's planned meeting with
Palestinian Authority Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Faisal Husseini,
saying such meetings only lend support to Palestinians' claims to the
eastern part of the city as their future capital.
Husseini, Itim reported, said his meeting with Annan "proves that the
UN takes a balanced stand on Jerusalem. There are meetings with
Israelis in Jerusalem, so there must also be meetings with
Palestinians."
*********************************************************************
THE JERUSALEM POST DAILY INTERNET EDITION
Thursday, March 26, 1998
UN CHIEF SENDS TOUGH MESSAGE
By JEFF BARAK
JERUSALEM (March 26) - Speaking softly but wielding a tough message,
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday listed the world
community's grievances against Israel.
He also said he had found a "crisis of confidence" and skepticism
about "the good faith of the current Israeli government" among nearly
all the Arab leaders he had met on his present Middle East tour.
In a lecture to the Israel Foreign Relations Council at Jerusalem's
Laromme Hotel, Annan insisted there is no alternative to the Oslo
process, unless Israel wants "relations with your Palestinian
partners, and perhaps others, to regress and revert to the enmity of
old."
He did hold out an olive branch to Israel, however, pledging to usher
in "a new era of relations between Israel and the United Nations."
He described Israel's position as the only member state that is not a
member of a regional group - which prevents it from being elected to
one of the UN's main organs, such as the Security Council or Economic
and Social Council - as an anomaly which should be corrected.
"We must uphold the principle of equality among all UN member
states," Annan said, to warm applause.
But he reserved the final part of his speech for what he termed the
"most difficult message of my visit... Here is what the great
majority of the member states of the United Nations say: They regard
Israel as having been responsible, directly or indirectly, for
provocative acts that undermine goodwill and spark hostilities."
Annan said that in these countries' view, Israel has not abided by
Security Council resolutions. He said the majority of UN members feel
that Israel has been slow to fulfill its Oslo obligations and that it
has made its implementation "conditional in a way that the Oslo
Accords did not.
"They see that you have expanded old settlements, and started new
ones. They are concerned by the closures, roadblocks, and other
restrictions that aggravate the economic and humanitarian crisis
facing the Palestinians."
Annan insisted that a comprehensive peace settlement is possible,
based on the principles enshrined in Security Council resolutions 242
and 338 and reflected in the Oslo Accords.
"Land for peace," he said, "is the only principle that has a chance
of bringing peace to this land."
Annan said that at the same time, the UN is unequivocally committed
to uphold the right of all peoples to live in peace and pursue their
daily lives free from terror, threats, and acts of aggression.
Answering questions after his speech, Annan said he had delivered a
similarly tough and frank message in a meeting with Palestinian
Authority officials in Gaza earlier this week. He said he had called
on the PA to eschew violence and incitement and remain committed to
the peace process.
Annan added that "peace and security are two sides of the same coin.
You should not see them as a parallel process, because one reinforces
the other. In the search for peace, we should be very conscious of
this interrelationship."
David Bar-Illan, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's communications
director, said in response: "We fully agree with Mr. Annan that the
Oslo formula should be land for peace. But in the past four years we
have been giving away land and getting terrorism in return. I don't
think anyone has any doubt over who is to blame for this situation."
*********************************************************************
THE JERUSALEM POST DAILY INTERNET EDITION
Thu, Mar 26, 1998
KNESSET SPEAKER: UN NEEDS SHAKEUP
By LIAT COLLINS
JERUSALEM (March 26) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was greeted by
a red carpet and the full VIP treatment when he arrived at the
Knesset yesterday. But the red carpet treatment was swept away the
minute he entered the visitors' gallery, where he was given a
different view of the House.
Speaker Dan Tichon warned him that unless the UN changes its policy
on Israel, it will remain outside the diplomatic process. "Israel is
a longstanding member of the UN, but only on rare occasions is it
treated in a friendly way. Our country has seen attacks and
unbalanced condemnations. The strategy of isolating and legitimizing
Israel! will only go sour," he said.
"Progress towards peace cannot be achieved along the path the UN is
taking. If there is no dramatic turnaround in the UN's attitude
towards Israel, the organization will continue to be distanced
without being a real element in solving the dispute in our region,"
said Tichon.
In the ensuing uproar, the opposition immediately accused Tichon of
making political statements in his "greeting." Abdul Wahab Darawshe
(Democratic Arab Party), who spoke in Arabic when Tichon told him
English could not be used, as it is not an official language in the
Knesset, praised Annan and called on him to continue his efforts to
bring about a true peace.
Annan answered Tichon diplomatically at a festive meal in the House
later in the afternoon. He ended his speech by saying: "I would like
to appeal to the Israeli public to look anew at the United Nations. I
know that 'Oom-schmoom,' David Ben-Gurion's catchy rhyme, is used
from time to time by Israelis to dismiss a world organization that
some see as either irrelevant or hostile to Israel.
"I would hope that Israelis could instead make 'room' for 'oom,' that
they could open their minds to the prospect of a new era in relations
between Israel and the United Nations. Israel has much to offer, and
to gain, through the United Nations. We have put behind us some of
the worst chapters in our history; and Israel is on its way to
normalizing its presence at the United Nations. In the end I think
you will agree that in today's interdependent world, without 'oom' we
shall have 'kloom' nothing!."
Annan said the security of Israel and the region in general "are
abiding concerns of the international community," adding that when
the peace process in not moving forward it is sliding backward.
"I have come to the Middle East to listen, but also to deliver a
message: that it is long past time for Israelis and Palestinians to
make the difficult decisions needed to move the Oslo process forward
to a successful outcome. Progress on all other fronts is likewise
long overdue.
"We must move from an era of confrontation to one of cooperation;
from despair to development; from enmity to amity.
"What better serves Israel's interest: a mutually agreed peace with
your neighbors that gives both peoples the chance to realize their
aspirations for peaceful, prosperous lives or unilateral acts and
declarations by both sides that could throw the process completely
off course. At this time of profound uncertainty, I urge you not to
lose sight of the gains you have made thus far. Let us not lose the
momentum that has been built up so painstakingly."
By the time he arrived at the dinner, Annan had also met with members
of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, including chairman Uzi
Landau and Ze'ev Begin (both Likud), who took a similar approach to
Tichon, albeit behind closed doors.
His wife was hosted, more convivially, by the Committee on the Status
of Women.
Despite original doubts, Annan did begin his official visit to the
Knesset by laying a wreath at the monument to fallen soldiers. Tichon
had earlier said that if Annan refused to lay the wreath there, as is
the custom in official visits at this level, he would refuse to meet
with him.
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Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l