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From: "Wayne Starsja"
Date: Tue Oct 3, 2000 3:06am
Subject: News from Israel

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This is what is happening in Israel. The Moslems here are now turning to their true feelings. Perhaps it is best for everyone to know they stand with the Palestians and have no wish to see the Israelis here in the middle east. We are seeing a hint of the fullfilling of Prophecy, All eyes are turned to Jerusalem and all nations are now aligning against the House of Israel. All of us in Israel are being warned about the possiblity of suicide bombers and we are to report all suspicious packages left at bus stops or public places. Now, as are sleeping where ever you are, I am out in my police car in uniform, patroling the residential areas just north of Haifa. We do not fear. We know G-d is standing beside us. He will honor His covenant with us. He has promised 10 will chase 1000.Pray for Israel and Jerusalem.

Yours in the service of Yeshua
Paul

Recap Monday News

Following the killing of an IDF soldier earlier in the evening near the PLO Authority (PA) autonomous city of Bet Sahour, it has been confirmed that an four other soldiers were wounded by gunfire, one moderately. They were transported to the trauma unit of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem. Earlier in the day, a soldier driving a military fuel tanker truck was shot in his head near Bet Sahour, south of Bethlehem. He was transported to the trauma unit of Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem.

2) KFAR KARA (WADI ARA) - Border police were fired upon, leading to a gun battle. The Israeli forces returned fire, wounding at least one local resident in his leg. There were no immediate reports of injuries among Israeli security personnel. Rioters are burning tires and continuing stone-throwing attacks against security troops.

3) KATZIR - Shots were fired in the area of Arara. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

4) BARKAI JUNCTION - An Egged bus was totally burned after being attacked near Um el-Fahm. Rioters beat the driver and the bus was totally destroyed.

5) ROSH HAAYIN - On the Rosh HaAyin/Kfar Saba road near Jaljulya, two Israelis sustained light injuries when their vehicle was bombarded with stones. The two were transported to a local hospital.

6) TUL KAREM - Three factories owned by Jews were torched on Monday night in the area of Tul Karem, near the "Green Line". Netanya firefighters were called to respond to the fire but the IDF commanders did not permit the fire apparatus to cross the Green Line. Fire Commander Moshe Yosef confirmed that a chemical plant, paper plant and LP gas factory as a result but there was no danger to local residents.

7) BAKA AL-GHARBIYE - Rioters burned a Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi and Postal Bank.

8) WESTERN GALILEE - Disturbances between Israeli Arabs and border police forces continue at this hour. Police and security officials are attempting to maintain their distance in the hope of not adding to the tensions in the area. There have been reports of "many injured" but no exact number has been mentioned. Police expect additional disturbances and injuries if the present situation continues.

9) HAIFA -The city is reported quiet at this time. Three of the six Arab residents who were arrested earlier in the day for throwing stones at police have been released.

10) NAZARETH - A SuperPharm pharmacy was damaged by youths. Four suspects were placed under arrest.

11) JAFFA - Sporadic stone-throwing attacks continue on Yefet Street. There have been no reports of injuries.

ROAD CLOSINGS -
7 Nahal Iron between Megiddo and Barkai Junctions remains closed.
7 The road between Movil and Tzomech Junctions.
7 Route 70 between Yavour and Tzomech.
7 Route 70 between Yavour and Misgav.
7 Tel Adashim Junction from Migdal HaEmek to Yaffiya .
7 Route 79 from Tzippori to Har Yona.
7 Route 79 between Tzomet HaMovil & Kfar Manda & Moreshe t.
7 Route 809 from Dirhana Junction to Harabi.
7 Between Kabri and Yaztif Junctions.
7 Trans-Samaria Highway between Ariel to Barkan in both directions.
7 Oranit Checkpoint in both directions.
7 Minharot road in both directions from Jerusalem to el-Hader.
7 Hebron to Okfim Junction.
7 Yosh Junction.
7 Yefet Street in Jaffa.
7 Maale Adumim/Jerusalem closed near Azariya.

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul "
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 11:51 AM
Subject: CTZ News update from Israel News Letter Oct. 6

COME TO ZION Ministry NEWS LETTER Located in the Galilee Israel

Just a note : Much of what you see and hear and read in the USA is Pro-Arab today. With careful omissions and even with assumptions and mistakes. I make every effort to bring you factual articles.

Paul

IDF braces for renewed violence today

A day after the Palestinians agreed in Paris to curb the uprising in the territories, violent street demonstrations appeared to have been reigned in, but shooting incidents in the West Bank and Gaza were still taking place. Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers at the Netzarim Junction in the Gaza Strip and a third was seriously wounded.

Security forces will be on high alert today as Muslims gather for Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Many Palestinian organizations have declared today as a "Day of Rage" against Israel, with demonstrations planned in overseas capitals as well as in Israel and the territories.

9,000 dunams burned in riots
Some 9,000 dunams (2,200 acres) of forest were burned in acts of nationally-motivated arson during the recent wave of violence, the head of the fire fighting commission said yesterday. The fire fighting forces in the north were significantly beefed up yesterday in fear that the fires would spread if the weather forecast, predicting dry conditions and easterly winds, holds true.

In a report submitted yesterday to Interior Minister Haim Ramon, chief firefighter Moshe Vardi outlined the widespread use of arson by Arab Israelis during the recent clashes. More than 200 incidents of arson were registered during the rioting, ranging from burning tires to setting fire to public buildings and forests. Vardi noted that in several cases, the firefighting forces were unable to reach the fires to extinguish them because the areas had been closed off by security forces.

Some of the biggest fires destroyed forests in the Jezreel Valley - near Iron and Kabri - and pasture lands around Gamla

IDF seals off West Bank, Gaza for 4 days
The Israeli Defense Force sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip early on Friday, saying it hoped to reduce the risks of confrontation with Palestinians through Yom Kippur. The IDF Spokesman said the closure was imposed at 4 a.m. (2:00 GMT) and will bar Palestinians from entering Israel through Monday night, the end of the holiday. "The closure ... is meant to prevent security risks at the weekend and on Yom Kippur," the Spokesman said, but added that entry to Israel would be allowed for humanitarian reasons. Food and medicines will be allowed into the Palestinian areas.

US closes embassies in region
Following the violence of the last week, as well as the stoning assaults on the US Embassy in Damascus on Wednesday, the US State Department announced that it was closing its embassies in the region - including the one in Tel Aviv - until October 10.

"Because of the unrest over the past week, and due to the potential for additional demonstrations against US facilities across the region, all of our embassies and consulates in the region will be closed for public business from Thursday, October 5, through the Columbus Day/Yom Kippur holiday on Monday, October 9," the statement read.

It added that the US Embassy has no information about threats against American citizens in Israel. The State Department instructed embassy employees in the region, except in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, to keep their children home from school. American employees and their dependents were also reminded that Gaza and the West Bank remain off limits, and that travel to the Old City and commercial east Jerusalem should be avoided. American citizens in need of emergency assistance should call the nearest US Embassy or consulate and ask for a duty officer.

Motorist who was beaten in Bet Jala identified as Rabbi Brovender

The Israeli motorist who lost his way and mistakenly drove into the PLO Authority (PA) autonomous area of Bet Jala on Thursday night has been identified as Rabbi Haim Brovender, the dean of the Hamivtar Yeshiva in Gush Etzion.

As reported earlier by ISRAELWIRE, as a result of the closing of the Minharot road from Gush Etzion to Jerusalem, Brovender was seeking an alternative route to the capital and mistakenly entered into Bet Jala, where he was stopped and then beaten by PA soldiers. A short time later, Arab residents joined in. The injured rabbi was then brought to the Bethlehem region IDF/PA District Coordinating Office and from there; he was transported to a Jerusalem hospital where he is reported in moderate condition.

American student injured in riots labeled Palestinian
An American student studying in Jerusalem was injured in riots in Israel last weekend. Tuvia Grossman, from Chicago, was in a taxi with two friends in the Old City of Jerusalem when their car was hit by a large cement block which crushed the windshield, causing the vehicle to halt The Jerusalem Post reported.

Tuvia's friends fled from the vehicle, but he was unable to get out of the car. A group of Palestinians approached the vehicle, continued to pelt Tuvia with stones and eventually dragged him from the car to a cliff. They continued to beat him and then stabbed him. He called out to an Israeli policeman he saw from afar. As the policeman
> approached Tuvia, an AP photographer snapped a picture of the bloody student and the policeman coming towards him. The picture that appeared in papers across the country, including the New York Times, the Boston Globe and the Daily News contained the following caption: "An Israeli policeman and a wounded Palestinian yesterday." The New York Times issued an apology on Wednesday blaming "an erroneous quotation" from AP as the reason for the mistake. The AP offices in Jerusalem accepted responsibility for the mistake, but refused to make any further comment on the matter.

Stone throwing on Temple Mount rekindles riots
Approximately 20,000 Muslim devotees gathered Friday at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, which had been secured by members of the Waqf. Palestinians began throwing stones at police and worshippers at the Western Wall below after prayers at the mosque finished Friday afternoon. The group dispersed and headed in the direction of the Lion's Gate in the Old City, where the stone-throwing continued. Hundreds of Palestinians tried to enter the small police station at the Lion's Gate. The policemen managed to leave the station, although ten of their number were injured and the station set alight. 150 Palestinians hurled stones at the road surrounding part of the Old City. Stone-throwing in the area of the Western Wall, which had required the Jews praying there to be evacuated, stopped shortly after it began and police allowed worshippers to re-enter the area. Police commissioner Yehuda Wilk said in a press conference held Friday afternoon that the police anticipated the riots on the Temple Mount and had more than 3000 policemen at hand. Wilk denied rumors that there were differences of opinion between police and political officials. Wilk referred to the setting on fire of the police station near the Lion's Gate and said that the police did not make a retreat, and that this scenario was anticipated by the police. He added that the area was evacuated to prevent injuries to police forces.

Riots resume in West Bank
Demonstrations resumed in several towns in the West Bank on Friday afternoon. Stones and Molotov cocktails were hurled at IDF soldiers and clashes involving gunfire were reported at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus; near Beit Tzahor; in Hebron; in Neveh Dekalim, near Gush Katif; in Elon Moreh, near Nablus, and in Jewish settlements near
> Jenin and Ramallah. In Netzarim, protestors threw a burning gas canister at an IDF post, but no injuries were reported. Molotov cocktails were hurled at IDF forces in Hebron and Neveh Dekalim. A Border Policeman was lightly injured in Hebron and an IDF soldier suffered minor wounds in El-Arub.

Four Palestinians were killed Friday in the violence according to Palestinian reports. The reports stated that one Palestinian died in riots in Nablus. Another Palestinian was shot and wounded by IDF forces in Kalkilya. The Norwegian Red Cross sent eight ambulances to the Palestinian Red Crescent, to assist with those injured in the demonstrations.

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From: "Wayne C Starsja"
Subject: Fw: CTZ News update from Israel A RUNDOWN ON THE LATEST CLASHES
Date: Saturday, October 07, 2000 4:34 AM

Subject: CTZ News update from Israel A RUNDOWN ON THE LATEST CLASHES

A RUNDOWN ON THE LATEST CLASHES ICEJ NEWS - 10/06/2000

Following a relatively quiet morning during which Israelis held their breath, Jerusalem's Old City and the Gaza Strip saw outbreaks of violence this afternoon as policemen narrowly escaped with their lives from a burning station at the Lion's Gate, and several thousand Arabs marched on IDF positions and Jewish settlements . Arabs threw stones onto the Western Wall plaza from the Temple Mount following Friday prayers today, which were attended by up to 20,000 Muslims. The stoning did not continue for long, and police allowed Jews to re-enter the area to pray. The mob of angry Arabs then headed in the direction of the Lion's Gate, where the stone-throwing continued between afternoon prayers. Shots were fired, and police were forced to use rubber bullets and tear gas. Hundreds of Arabs tried to enter the small police station at the gate, and set it alight. Ten policemen were injured, as well as a number of the rioters, as Israeli units tried to spring the detachment of police trapped inside. At least 150 Arabs hurled stones at the road surrounding the Old City, and inside the walls a few dozen Arabs stoned police on the Via Dolorosa. Police responded with rubber bullets. Later this afternoon, around 1,000 Arabs converged on the outpost at the now infamous Netzarim junction in Gaza, many of them hurling stones and firebombs, and some firing live ammunition. The Israeli army said Arabs also threw a flaming gas canister on the outpost, but no damage was reported. The soldiers returned fire. Earlier in the day, an Arab was injured when a bomb exploded in his hands as he was about to throw it at the IDF position. The junction has been the scene of trouble every day this week. In Rafah in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of Arabs marched on an IDF position and some fired at the soldiers, who returned fire. And near the Jewish settlement of Neveh Dekalim, Arabs fired shots at a sentry post. ISRAEL RADIO reported that thousands were converging on the site and that soldiers were firing in the air and using tear gas in an attempt to disperse them. Demonstrations were earlier held in several towns in Judea/Samaria, and stones and Molotov cocktails were hurled at IDF soldiers. In Hebron, soldiers were met with stone-throwing attacks, but in compliance with orders, did not take action. Two firebombs were also thrown harmlessly. In the north, two residents of Kfar Kana near Nazareth suffered light to moderate injuries after a firebomb was thrown at their vehicle. Palestinian Authority policemen beat up a local rabbi driving from Gush Etzion to Jerusalem last night when he mistakenly entered the Beit Jallah area as he looked for an alternative route to the closed Gilo tunnel road. A short time later, Arab residents joined in. The injured rabbi was transported to a Jerusalem hospital where he is reported in moderate condition. There were exchanges of fire for the second night in a row in the Hebron and Bethlehem areas. Shots were fired again from Beit Jallah at homes in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. The bullets hit the walls of several houses, but there were no injuries reported. Bullets fired from the direction of PA-ruled areas have entered four houses in the neighborhood so far, and vehicles have also been damaged. In Hebron in the late afternoon, Palestinians threw 34 firebombs at IDF troops and an explosive device was thrown at troops near Beit Hadassah. In two separate incidents yesterday, Israeli women were lightly hurt when their cars were stoned, one at a roadblock near Ramallah, and one near the Adam junction, in the Modi'in region. There were also clashes at Beit Sahour and the Ayosh junction near Ramallah. One senior IDF commander lamented the Palestinians' cynical use of children at the forefront of assaults on IDF positions, and suggested the PA was offering large sums of money to the families of those who would offer themselves as "martyrs." Another Israeli officer noted the repeated use of ambulances by Palestinian forces to ferry weapons and troops. Last night, IDF troops at the Netzarim junction spotted Palestinians using ambulances to smuggle weapons and firebombs to demonstrators. Tel Aviv police have arrested more than 60 residents of Jaffa, and nine have been charged for involvement in recent rioting. A demonstration by Jaffa Arabs turned violent Wednesday, wounding five people, including several members of television film crews.

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul "
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2000 7:04 PM
Subject: CTZ News update from Israel News Update
Sunday News Brief - 12:30-IST


(IsraelWire-10/8) METULLA - Families in Metulla were instructed a short time ago to enter into bomb shelters in anticipation of increased Hizbullah attacks during the night. Many Kiryat Shmona families have decided to follow the lead and are moving down into shelters even though they were not ordered to do so.


2) PM/DM BARAK SPEAKS TO FAMILIES OF KIDNAPPED SOLDIERS - (Communicated by the Defense Minister's Media Adviser) - "Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke by telephone earlier this evening OCT.7.2000, with the families of the three soldiers who were kidnapped along the Lebanese border.

"Prime Minister Barak told the families that the State of Israel will spare no effort to assure their safety and their return home. He added that the defense establishment will be in constant contact with them and will update them on developments."

3) MINISTER BEN-AMI - Minister of Internal Security Shlomo Ben-Ami stated that PLO Authority (PA) Chairman Yassir Arafat is not a "peace partner" at this time, adding, "Instead of spilling water on the
fire, he opted to throw gasoline."

4) TOMB OF IZZADIN EL-KASSIM - Burning tires were reportedly placed on the grave of Hamas terrorist Izzadin el-Kassim in Nesher. No reports of injuries.

5) SHOOTING ATTACK ON MINHAROT ROAD - A short time ago, an Israeli vehicle traveling on the Minharot road from Jerusalem to Gush Etzion was fired upon. No immediate reports of injuries.

6) HAR HOMA - A short time ago, shots were fired at IDF soldiers in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa. No reports of injuries.

7) UPDATE ON RAFIAH SHOOTING ATTACK - The shots fired at an IDF bus near the Rafiah Crossing came from the Yassir Arafat International Airport in Dahaniya. Israel Radio is now reporting eight injured, three serious and five lightly. The seriously injured victims are being transported to the trauma unit of Beersheba's Soroka
Hospital and ambulances will transport the others.

The area has been closed down by the IDF. As reported earlier, a gun battle ensued following the attack, apparently aimed at hampering rescue efforts. It remains unknown if there were casualties from that gun battle.

8) IDF OFIR BASE - The IDF Ofir Base in the Benjamin Regional Council of Samaria is under attack from the Arab village of Nahalin. No reported injuries.

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From: "Wayne C Starsja"

Subject: Fw: CTZ News update from Israel News Update

Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2000 9:26 PM
----- Original Message -----

Thursday News Brief (Recap) - 00:45-IST

(IsraelWire-10/12) Over the past hours, the number of shooting attacks throughout Yesha have increased dramatically following a day which security officials described as relatively quiet. Two soldiers and three civilians were injured by gunfire. Security establishment and intelligence community officials continue to issue warnings of imminent Islamic terror attacks. Friday has been declared "Rage Day II".

RECAP OF THE PAST HOURS
1) HALHOUL BYPASS - The IDF soldier injured by gunfire onWednesday night in the Halhoul bypass road area was transported by helicopter to the trauma unit of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem. He is currently undergoing emergency surgery and is listed in serious condition.
2) JERICHO - An IDF soldier was lightly injured in a stone-throwing attack.
3) HEBRON - Military ambulances dispatched to an accident came under attack with gunfire. The accident was the result of a Jewish motorist losing control of his car after it was hit with stones.

• Shots were fired at the Jewish Quarter.
• Shots were fired at Bet Hadassah.
• Bullets penetrated the caravans in the Admat Yishai (Tel Rumeida) neighborhood of the city.
• The IDF commanders of the Hebron area reported "heavy" fighting on Wednesday night.

4) NEVE TZUF - The Neve Tzuf resident who was attacked by gunfire near the Benjamin Regional Council community sustained light injuries from shrapnel and glass shards.
5) BUS FIRED UPON - Buses traveling in Gush Etzion (Judea) and near Luban al-Sharqiya (Samaria, north of Eli) were fired upon Wednesday evening. Bullets struck the vehicles. No injuries.
6) RACHELIM - Shot were fired at the community Wednesday night. No injuries. Rachelim is located south of Tapuach Junction in the Shomron Regional Council of Samaria.
7) BET SAHOUR - The shooting attack against the IDF base near the autonomous municipality of Bet Sahour, in the Bethlehem region, was carried out with automatic weapons. Despite the fact that the army base was fired upon, and last week one soldier was killed and several wounded by gunfire at the same location, the soldiers did not return fire.
8) BETAR ELITE - IDF and civilian vehicles near the community of Betar Elite were fired upon. No injuries. Soldiers returned fire.
9) GAZA - Sporadic gunfire is still being report in the Gush Katif area. On Wednesday night, there were two terrorist attacks involving two explosive devices and shooting. Soldiers were required to use should held rockets to repel attacks.
10) OFRA - An Arab motorist was seriously injured in a stone-throwing attack. Police report Jewish resident threw the stone. Police are investigating.
11) WED AM ATTACK AT ELI JUNCTION - Police are now reporting that the death of Eli resident Alon Zagari, 28, may not have been a terrorist attack as first theorized. Police now believe the victim, accompanied by other community residents, were throwing stones at Arab cars. One of the motorists hit in his head with stones lost control of his car, striking Zagari. A 40-year-old Eli resident is under arrest at this time and additional arrests are expected in the near future according to police. Police report they have eyewitness supporting their theory. The Arab motorist whose car struck Zagari remains in grave condition in Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital.
12) STONE-THROWING ATTACKS - Three Israelis were lightly injured in stone-throwing attacks. On the Givat Ze'ev-Modi'in road, a truck driver was stuck with a rock. On the Carmiel-Acre road three cars were hit with stones in which two persons were injured.
13) SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT MEETING - In light of the sudden escalation in attacks against Jews, Prime Minister/Defense Minister Ehud Barak has convened an urgent meeting of his security cabinet to assess the situation once again.
14) TUL KAREM - Soldiers opened fire on Arab rioters, killing one teenager who was involved in the attacks against security forces. The commander gave the order to open fire after seeing a deterioration in the situation and determining that his forces were under life-threatening danger.
15) FUNERAL OF RABBI LIEBERMAN - Two persons participating in the funeral of Rabbi Hillel Lieberman were injured by gunfire after the over 1,000 participants came under heavy automatic gunfire.

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COME TO ZION Ministry NEWS LETTER Located in the Galilee Israel
Vol 2. No. 3
Friday, October 20, 2000
Yom Sheshe, Tishri 21, 5761

IDF Soldiers Injured in Shooting Attack

IDF soldiers traveling in a bus that made a wrong turn, entering the area near the Arab village of Anabta in Samaria, were wounded by gunfire. According to the preliminary reports from the scene, five soldiers and the bus driver were wounded lightly by gunfire from PLO Authority (PA) soldiers. They soldiers are at this time being transported to hospitals in civilian emergency medical service ambulances. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. The bus was stopped at a check point and instead of being direcrted to turn around, the Palestinian soldiers opened fire. The attack was totally unprovoked and was in violation of the new cease fire agreement.

Anti-Semitism rises sharply worldwide, report finds
The quantity and nature of anti-Semitic incidents in the past three weeks - since the start of the fighting in the territories - have put anti-Semitism at the top of the Jewish agenda, even in Western countries, for the first time in a long while. At a press conference held in Jerusalem yesterday, researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which battles anti-Semitism throughout the world, presented a report listing anti-Semitic incidents from Rosh Hashanah until October 16. The researchers claim there were over 200 anti-Semitic incidents throughout the world during this two-week period, although their detailed list included only the "most serious incidents." Europe, and France in particular - probably because of its large Muslim-Arab population - is clearly the focal point of the incidents.
The events there include a large number of arson attacks, attempted arson and rocks thrown at synagogues, Jewish schools and kosher restaurants. Similar incidents were recorded in many other places.

Prominent incidents in Britain include the stabbing of yeshiva student David Myers on a London bus and the publication of a fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) calling for a jihad against the Jews.

In Belgium, in addition to a series of arson attacks, an Orthodox Jew was attacked near a Brussels synagogue. In Germany, several arson and physical attacks against Jews were recorded, as well as rock-throwing during a joint demonstration by Muslims and leftist extremists at a synagogue in Essen that also serves as a Holocaust memorial.

Only four incidents were recorded in the former Soviet Union, including a fire at a synagogue in Bukhara.

Incidents in the United States included arson and attempted arson against synagogues, and shooting aimed at a group of Orthodox Jews in Chicago.

In Montreal, Muslims at a demonstration on Yom Kippur chanted "Death to the Jews," while in Capetown, a Muslim radio station called for solidarity against the Jews and calls of "Death to the Jews" were heard at an African National Congress conference.

Sharm el-Sheik cease-fire agreement signed
Speaking at a live press conference from Sharm el-Sheik, US President Bill Clinton announced that a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the PLO Authority (PA) has been reached. Following are the main points of the agreement as explained by Mr. Clinton. The primary objective of both sides is to end current violence to resume peace efforts. The basic objectives are to end the violence and restore the area to it former status as it was prior to the violence which has been ongoing for twenty days. 1) Both sides agree to immediately issue public statements unequivocally calling for end of violence. 2) Both sides agree to take immediate action to end violence and incitement, maintain calm and repeat of recent events. 3) Both sides agree to act immediately to restore area as it was prior to recent warfare. According to the president, steps to be taken include a) Ending the IDF-imposed closure on Yesha, b) Opening the PA's international airport in Gaza, c) Ending aggression d) The United States, together with Israel, the PA and the United Nations, will establish a fact-finding committee to dissect the events of the past 20 days. The final report will be submitted to White House for publication. Both sides agree there must be a pathway to negotiations with the objective of reaching a final status agreement based on United Nations resolutions 338 and 242. As such, contact will be made by the sides within two weeks. Mr. Clinton announced the parties agreed the statements made would stand on their own and as such, the media was not permitted to ask questions. Following Mr. Clinton's remarks, the summit was adjourned.

Israelis Flee London in Light of Death Threats
Anti-Semitism is on the rise in London, as a result of the increased Islamic attacks in Israel. An Israeli couple which checked into the London Hilton Hotel was horrified to see the words "death to the Jews" written on a mirror in soap. The threat was written in both English and Arabic. The couple took it quite seriously and decided to check out and head for home the following day.

Officials report there were also swastikas written on the mirror. The couple also received a threatening telephone call from a person claiming affiliated with Hamas and Hizbullah.

The Israeli Embassy got involved and spoke with senior police commanders, demanding increased action in light of the new wave of anti-Semitism and distribution of hate literature. Meanwhile, London yeshiva student and terror victim David Meyers is recuperating from his serious wounds. He was attacked by Nabil Eddine on a bus earlier in the week, and stabbed over his entire body over twenty times.

Israel Radio reported that Eddine was indicted on Wednesday in a London court and is being held without bail.

Miracle in Gaza
A short time ago, a powerful explosive device was detonated in Gush Katif near a bus which was transporting area residents. The blast occurred near the "Tahane HaKemach". There was heavy damage to the bus but no one was injured. The Bus was carrying grade school children and mothers.

Attias recounted what happened:
"It was 6:30 PM, dark, and we had just passed the flour mill in Gush Katif before an army post, along our regular daily route. Most of the passengers were children, as usual, because what happens is that when a convoy of cars gathers, all the passengers of the cars board our bulletproof bus, leaving only the drivers to drive their cars behind the bus. I was heading a large convoy. Suddenly we heard a tremendously loud explosion. The doors opened, and then seconds later, there was a very heavy volley of gunfire, with smoke, you couldn't see a thing, things were flying in the bus, there were screams of kids and women, and there were shots - it was bedlam, but I couldn't pay attention because my only goal was to keep going and get out, the bus was rocking from side to side, and somehow I managed to go another 300 meters until the base and I realized that everyone was OK. The bulletproof windows were blown out, and so was the emergency door. The accompanying jeeps opened fire..."

'Foul-up' over tour ends in gun battle
Rabbi Binyamin Herling, 64, of Kedumim, was killed and four other Israelis wounded during intensive gun battles yesterday when Fatah activists and Palestinian security forces opened fire on a group of Israeli men, women, and children on a trip at Mount Ebal near Nablus.
Palestinians reported one dead and 11 wounded in the seven-hour shoot- out, in which IAF attack helicopters participated, before the settlers were rescued and taken to safety.

Calling the entire affair a serious foul-up, OC Central Command Maj.- Gen. Yitzhak Eitan said last night that an investigation is under way to determine who approved the trip, despite regulations imposed for barring all trips in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley.

IDF troops encircled Nablus last night as Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with top security advisers at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv to discuss how to respond to the incident. One option discussed was bombing the villages in the Nablus area from which the fire originated.

CIA chief George Tenet telephoned Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to ask him to do what he could to halt Palestinian gunfire at Israeli targets.

With the 48-hour deadline for implementation of the Sharm e-Sheikh cease-fire set to expire today, Barak last night stopped short of calling the understandings dead. However, he said the incident was a "flagrant violation" of the cease-fire.

"We didn't have any illusions when we went to Sharm e-Sheikh," Barak said in a statement after the security meeting. "We are sober about this and we know that this is a crucial hour. We are acting and will act with all our might." Barak criticized Palestinians for firing on the helicopters sent to rescue the wounded.

Eitan explained that as the group walked down the mountain facing the Iskar refugee camp, armed Tanzim and Palestinian policemen opened fire. The bus load of Jewish travelers included residents of surrounding Samaria communities and of Jerusalem and Kfar Sava.

Police prepare to counter possible terror attacks

The national police force is making urgent preparations to deal with the increasing possibility that terrorists will attempt an attack against Israeli targets inside the pre-1967 borders of the country. The defense establishment has received warnings of plans to attack major urban centers - such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem - with bombs, either placed in stolen vehicles or carried by suicide bombers on their bodies.

Police Chief Yehuda Wilk said Thursday that the warnings that have been received are general and do not include concrete information about specific terrorist cells operating within Israel proper. Wilk added that the public should continue its daily activities without too much concern, but called on citizens to be on the lookout for suspicious objects and individuals.

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Khouse eNews
For The Week Of October 24, 2000

MIDDLE EAST EDGES CLOSER TO WAR

Events have been changing rapidly in the Middle East, literally on an hourly basis. Our report today will provide a synopsis of the events which have transpired since last week.

The Palestinians are continually failing to uphold the cease-fire understandings reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh emergency summit last week. More violence ensued at the end of the week and during the weekend. Preparations for attacks, public incitement to violence, continued mass demonstrations, shooting incidents and a lack of security coordination by the Palestinian police have marked conditions in Palestine and inside Israel.

A 14-year-old Palestinian boy was killed in a clash between Israeli troops and 300 schoolchildren who were stoning an Israeli army base near the Nisanit Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. Sunday afternoon, Palestinians began shooting at Israeli soldiers north of Ramallah. Arab-thrown rocks near Shilo lightly injured two Israelis. Palestinians rioted near the Jewish neighborhood of Hebron and several Palestinians were killed in fighting with IDF soldiers. Palestinians have been shooting at Jewish homes in several cities. Cars and buses have been targets of gunfire in various locations. Close to 25 Israelis barely escaped being lynched by Palestinian mobs.

The Israeli Newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, ran a story on Sunday about a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report issued to President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Barak that President Arafat has determined that violence should continue until a Palestinian state is declared.

Meanwhile, terrorists previously released from Palestinian Authority jails are not being re-arrested as had been agreed at Sharm el-Sheikh. The terrorists were originally held by the Israelis and had been transferred to PA jails during an early part of the Oslo peace negotiations and agreements. Arafat released the terrorists in retaliation against Israel after the latest round of violence broke out following the collapse of the Camp David talks.

Rhetoric between Israeli and Palestinian leaders has been growing steadily more and more hostile. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called for a "timeout" in diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinians on Sunday, due to the "language of threats" which resulted from the Arab League Emergency summit in Cairo. Barak said the goal of the timeout "will be to reassess the diplomatic process in light of the events of recent weeks." Barak maintains the situation Israel faces is more complex and complicated than anything it has faced for some time." Barak indicated the timeout would last until the violence quits.

Arafat rejected the timeout saying, "My response is that our people are continuing on the road to Jerusalem, capital of the independent Palestinian state, whether (Barak) accepts or does not accept, let him go to hell."

The prime minister's timeout met serious opposition from some of his own government ministers, among them Shimon Peres. The opposition maintains that the government should remain engaged in the Oslo peace process, and that the prime minister cannot legally decide unilaterally on such an action.

Barak is calling for the formation of a national-emergency government. Mr. Barak (Labor Party) and Mr. Sharon (Likud Party) met two nights ago to discuss the option. Barak has ordered negotiators to meet with representatives from Likud, Shas, Meretz and other parties, and report back by the end of the week. Barak hopes to present the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) with his new coalition when they reconvene next week.

Earlier it had been anticipated that a resolution to dissolve the Knesset would be introduced as soon as that body reconvened at the end of its current recess later this month. This will be contingent upon how successful Barak is in his efforts to reform a coalition government. Discontent with the current government is high, and the dissolution of the Knesset would result in elections within 90 days to form a new government.

In addition, there were reports that Prime Minister Barak would begin issuing orders to implement a plan for physically separating the Israeli and Palestinian populations, establishing permanent barriers, sealing off Palestinian-governed areas with fencing, minefields, and tanks, and thus allowing only a limited passage across the border. Just the threat of this has infuriated the Palestinians. Palestinians fear an economic disaster, as thousands of their people would be prohibited from working in Israel if this were to come to pass.

Meanwhile, at the Arab League Summit, which took place in Cairo over the weekend, Yasser Arafat said that Israel should lift the siege on the Palestinian cities and withdraw from all Palestinian and Arab territories, including Jerusalem, which he said was the capital of their independent Palestinian state. He also repeated his call for the return of refugees based on U.N. Resolutions 181 and 194.

This is ironic, as U.N. Resolution 184 was the original 1948 resolution calling for the partitioning of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. The Arabs rejected this resolution at that time and subsequently attacked Israel, threatening to drive the Jews into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Arab League summit issued a call for peace and severely condemned Israel for the "slaughter of Palestinians." Some Arab speakers demanded that all ties with Israel be severed, but this proposal was not accepted.

Late last week, the United Nations came out in favor of the Palestinians and passed a resolution condemning "excessive use of force" by Israel against Palestinian civilians. The measure was adopted by a 92-6 vote (46 abstentions). It supported establishment of a U.S.-led inquiry into the origins of the violence and claimed, "Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, are illegal."

As the violence escalates between the Palestinians and Israelis, Yasser Arafat's position as the Palestinian leader becomes more and more shaky. A World Tribune report indicated that Arafat is being defied by gunmen from his own Fatah party as well as by his security chiefs. Unnamed sources inside the Palestinian Authority indicated Arafat feels he is losing support within his security forces and currently plans to replace several leading officials. Arafat believes the security chiefs have defied his orders to ensure their own popularity with Fatah and Islamic militants.

Fatah gunmen have ignored orders to cease attacking Israel, instigating instead a series of attacks; against Jewish settlers outside Nablus and on an Israeli bus containing 37 tourists at Mount Ebal. When Arafat ordered the Fatah gunmen cease-fire so that the injured could be evacuated and tourists could leave the area, Arafat had to order commando forces to intervene because his men wouldn't stop.

Arafat's "paranoia" may not be unreasonable. More extreme Palestinian terrorist groups such as Hizbollah and Hamas are seeking to capitalize on the failure of the peace talks to renew war against Israel. Any pretext allowing them to do so may find Arafat's control being swept aside. On Friday, as the Arab League summit met in Cairo, the Hizbollah called on the Middle East's Arab leaders to open their borders to anti-Israel militants, to supply Palestinians with weapons and to sever relations with the Jewish state. Hizbollah also called on Arab leaders to support the Palestinian uprising.

The situation now occurring was anticipated by our staff at the beginning of this year. It was recognized that once the niceties of the early Oslo negotiations were passed and the hardball issues got thrown on the table, neither side would be able to budge. At that point, they would all recognize that nothing more was to be gained by peaceful negotiations.

As always, the possibility of another war in the Middle East raises the specter of prophetic fulfillment. Certain prophecies, such as the total destruction of Damascus predicted in Isaiah 17:1, are still unfulfilled. However, Israel has been through five wars since it was established as a nation, and yet may not fulfill this prophecy even now. Whether the current situation will have prophetic significance remains to be seen.

Over the entire Oslo peace process, the Arabic language media have constantly been issuing inflammatory anti-Israeli rhetoric. Most of this is never picked up and translated by the largely English-language western press. This last week has seen no exception as calls for the destruction of Israel echo once more through the region. It would seem that despite all the "peace negotiations," attitudes have not changed, and the prospects for peace are further away than ever.