Elul, 5763/Tishri, 5764
(September/October, 2003)
(Please keep in mind that Jewish dates begin on the evening before.
This is a work in progress and will be updated as needed.)
16 Elul, 5763 (Sept 13, 2003) US stopped Israeli raid to seize Arafat
September 13, 2003 Tenth Anniversary of signing of Oslo Accords in 1993 (please see 27 Elul, 5763 [Jewish date])
Isabel's path (does it intensify when UN resolutions are pending and then decrease and change course after resolutions voted on?)
September 16, 2003 25th Anniversary of Camp David Accords
20 Elul, 5763 (Sept 17, 2003) US vetoes resolution!!!!
23 Elul (Sept 20, 20003) 911 anniversary (please see 26 Elul, 5763 "September 11, 3 B.C. -The great sign in heaven")
Tishri, 5764 (September/October, 2003)
14 Elul, 5763 (Sept 11, 2003) Secular Anniversary of 9/11/01 (please see 27 Elul, 5763)
While the U.S. mourns its 3,000 victims of 9/11 in New York,
Washington, and Pennsylvania, some Moslem groups are
celebrating. The United Kingdom-based Islamist organization
al-Muhajiroun is marking the anniversary of the horrific September
11, 2001 terrorist attacks with an event entitled "The Magnificent
19," after doing the same last year with "A Towering Day in
History."
Al-Muhajiroun was founded by Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, who
moved to London in 1986 after being expelled from Saudi Arabia. It
now claims 30 offices across Britain, and has branches in Pakistan,
Algeria, France and throughout the Middle East. British media report
that al-Muhajiroun was linked to attempts to recruit British Muslims to
fight in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and to British suicide bombers
who struck a pub in Israel this year.
Last year's Muhajiroun 9/11 event, held at Finsbury mosque in north
London, led to the removal of the mosque's religious cleric, Abu
Hamza. This year, the organization placed posters around
Birmingham with images of the Twin Towers aflame, a smiling
Osama Bin Laden, and the faces of the 19 hijackers who
perpetrated the attacks. The "commemoration," as the organization's
literature calls it, was to include "a public invitation to all non-Muslims
to embrace Islam so that they will be safe..." and will "examine the
driving force and motivation of the 19 men who partook in the [9/11]
operation..."
The event was suddenly postponed, according to an al-Muhajiroun
announcement, "due to unforeseeable difficulties, including
cancellations of venues..." Instead, the Islamists held an
"introduction to the Magnificent 19 Conference" last night elsewhere
in London.
(http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=49657)
14 Elul, 5763 (Sept 11, 2003) Cabinet Decides to Expel Arafat
(http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=49619)
Israel Decides to Expel Arafat - "In
Principle"
Though the decision was made "in principle" and not "in practice,"
as a senior government source emphasized today, it drew much
criticism from around the world and the PA, and by some in Israel.
U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer met with Defense Minister Sha'ul
Mofaz this morning, in an attempt to convince him not to implement
the expulsion. Mofaz told him, "Israel made a historic mistake by not
expelling him a long time ago. The entire world now knows that it
was he who caused the peace process to fail." Minister Mofaz said
last night that Arafat should be killed, not expelled - but Prime
Minister Sharon and others dismissed such talk out of hand.
The White House spokesman said that Arafat is a problem, but that
expelling him would not solve it. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,
who said yesterday that he would be willing to accept an expelled
Arafat "with open arms," says that he is against expelling him, "not
for Arafat's sake, but to ensure stability." The European Union's
position is that steps that will "lead to an escalation" must be
avoided.
IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said last night
that the military is ready with a plan to remove Yasser Arafat from
the Mukata and expel him. He said that the plan was devised and
rehearsed long ago, and that troops are ready to implement it upon
command.
Thousands of PA residents took to the streets in Ramallah last night
upon hearing the news of the Cabinet decision, demonstrating in
support of Yasser Arafat. Arafat, mincing no words, told them, "We
will march to Jerusalem with millions of martyrs!" He further said he
would not agree to be expelled, even at the price of his death.
Newly-appointed PA chief Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala), who has called
for Israel to make gestures *towards* Arafat, was sharply critical of
Israel's decision. PA terror organizations threatened a major terrorist
response if Arafat is expelled - while at the same time PA sources
said they would protest the Israeli decision in the United Nations
Security Council.
(http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=49654)
Abu Mazen Submits his Resignation
(IsraelNN.com) PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on
Saturday submitted his resignation, blaming Yasser Arafat and his
closest aides of intentionally sabotaging his government.
Israel has released a statement that the resignation is an internal PA
matter and Jerusalem will continue to monitor events. The statement
added Jerusalem would not tolerate a return of Yasser Ararat to the
helm of the PA.
16 Elul, 5763 (Sept 13, 2003) US stopped Israeli raid to seize Arafat
WORLD TRIBUNE.COM -- The United States has prevented Israel's military from
capturing the headquarters of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
U.S. government sources said the Bush administration sent a harsh message to
Israel to suspend plans to capture Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah over the
weekend. The sources said the had military planned to raid the so-called Muqata'a
on late Friday and capture Arafat.
Both Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza
Rice telephoned Israeli and PA leaders and warned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon to suspend the military plans, Middle East Newsline reported.
The U.S. sources said the Bush administration was alarmed by the Israeli entry into
Ramallah on Thursday. An Israeli military force captured a PA ministry about 300
meters from Arafat's headquarters and established a command post for the
capture of the Muqata'a.
At that point, the sources said, the administration was informed by the CIA that
Israel planned to imminently capture Arafat's headquarters and seize the PA
chairman. They said Israel planned to exile Arafat to a distant Arab country.
"The United States does not support either the elimination or the exile of Mr.
Arafat," Powell said. "It is not our position and the Israeli government knows this.
There would be rage in the Arab world and the Muslim world. And I don't see this
moving forward the roadmap."
Powell and Rice sent Israel a message, the sources said, that the United States
regards any move to exile Arafat as harmful to Washington's interests in the Middle
East, including the roadmap for a Palestinian state. At the same time, U.S.
ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer met Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and
warned of an international backlash to Arafat's exile.
The sources said the U.S. pressure worked and by Saturday Mofaz ordered the
withdrawal of the Israeli military force from Ramallah. At the same time, Powell
telephoned PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath and pledged that
Washington will continue to ensure that Arafat is not harmed.
18 Elul, 5763 (Sept 15, 2003) United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel's proposed deportation of Arafat to be voted on
20 Elul, 5763 (Sept 17, 2003) US vetoes resolution
Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan and Syrian Arab Republic: draft resolution
The Security Council,
Reaffirming its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002,
1402 (2002) of 30 March 2002, 1403 (2002) of 4 April 2002, 1405 (2002) of 19 April 2002 and 1435 (2002) of 24 September 2002,
Reiterating its grave concern at the tragic and violent events that have taken place since September 2000 throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel and the recent dangerous deterioration of the situation, including the escalation in
extrajudicial executions and suicide bombing attacks, all of which have caused enormous suffering and many innocent victims,
Reaffirming the illegality of the deportation of any Palestinian by Israel, the occupying Power, and affirming its opposition to any
such deportation,
Reiterating also the need for respect in all circumstances of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,
1. Reiterates its demands for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement
and destruction;
2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, desist from any act of deportation and cease any threat to the safety of the elected
President of the Palestinian Authority ;
3. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Quartet and calls for increased efforts to ensure the implementation of the road
map by the two sides, and underlines, in this regard, the importance of the forthcoming meeting of the Quartet in New York;
4. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
Security Council
SECURITY COUNCIL FAILS TO ADOPT TEXT ON PALESTINIAN LEADER'S
DEPORTATION, AS UNITED STATES CASTS NEGATIVE VOTE
The Security Council this afternoon failed to adopt a draft resolution by which it would have demanded that Israel desist from any act
of deportation and cease any threat to the safety of the elected President of the Palestinian Authority.
By a vote of 11 in favour, 1 against (United States) and 3 abstentions (Bulgaria, Germany, United Kingdom), the Council rejected the
text, which was submitted by Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan and Syria.
The representative of the United States said he had voted against the draft resolution because it failed to include a robust
condemnation of acts of terrorism or call for the dismantling of the infrastructure which supported terrorist operations. The United
States had already made it clear it did not support either the elimination of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat or his
forced exile.
Calling the draft "extremely balanced" and the United States' veto "highly regrettable", the Syrian representative expressed regret
that the Council had not been able to achieve the desired result. The fact that international law was being threatened and that the
Council had been unable to fulfil its task, in terms of safeguarding international peace and security, was also regrettable and had
complicated an already extremely complicated situation.
Similarly, the Observer for Palestine called the text "very moderate" and one that he thought would receive 14 votes in favour. The
United States delegation should have informed the Observer Mission of its intention, even as a courtesy, he said, adding that the
delegation had not proposed any direct amendments to the text. The long-held United States' position in favour of Israel had now
transformed into acceptance of Israeli positions to the extent that it could no longer play an honest role as mediator in the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
Asserting that the draft was "tragically lopsided", the representative of Israel said the text had not focused on the killings due to
terrorism or the clear responsibility of the Palestinian leadership to dismantle the terrorist structure. In fact, it had equated Israel's
counter-terrorism efforts with terrorism itself. What was needed was for both sides to commit themselves to the cause of peace,
without violence and incitement, which had been the tools of Mr. Arafat's leadership for a long time.
The meeting began at 4:25 p.m. and adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
Action
The draft resolution submitted by Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan and Syria was rejected following a vote of 11 in favour to 1 against
(United States), with 3 abstentions (Bulgaria, Germany, United Kingdom).
Explanations of Vote
JOHN D. NEGROPONTE (United States), speaking after vote, said he had stated yesterday that, while all parties had a
responsibility to bring peace to the Middle East, ending terrorism was the highest priority. Today's resolution was flawed as it failed
to include a robust condemnation of acts of terrorism, particularly an explicit condemnation of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and
the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, or to call for the dismantling of the infrastructure which supported those terrorist operations, wherever
they were located, consistent with Council resolution 1373 (2001). The resolution had not taken a clear stand against the actions of
those terrorist groups or called for decisive actions against them.
He said the Palestinian Authority must take action to remove the capacity of extremist groups to conduct such outrageous acts. In
addition, Israel must move forward to fulfil its obligations under the Road Map and the Aqaba Summit, including improving the daily
lives of Palestinians. The United States would not support any resolution that evaded the explicit threat to the Middle East peace
process posed by Hamas and other such terrorist groups and, therefore, opposed the resolution as it failed to do just that.
The Government of Israel was already aware of the views of Council members on the issue of Mr. Arafat, he said. Moreover,
Secretary of State Colin Powell had stated that the United States did not support either the elimination of Mr. Arafat or his forced
exile. While Mr. Arafat was part of the problem, the best solution would be through diplomatic isolation. For its part, the United
States and its Quartet partners would continue to work towards the implementation of President Bush's vision of a two-State solution
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as set forth in the Road Map to which it remained committed as the way forward towards the goal
of two States living side by side in peace, security and freedom.
STEFAN TAFROV (Bulgaria) said his delegation had abstained because of the lack of unanimity in the Council. Bulgaria appealed
urgently to the Palestinian Authority to stop suicide bombings, and to Israel to stop extrajudicial killings and threats against Yasser
Arafat.
GUNTER PLEUGER (Germany) expressed his disappointment with the vote, which would reinforce the view that the Council was
incapable of action on the issue. He called on the Israeli Government to rescind its decision on Mr. Arafat and on both parties to
exercise restraint and to follow the Road Map.
MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) said his delegation had sponsored the text and voted in favour of it because it was important to send a
message to all concerned that any contemplated deportation of Mr. Arafat would be illegal and inconsistent with the objectives of the
Middle East peace process. That message clearly had been transmitted yesterday in the open debate. The resolution enjoyed the
broad support of the Non-Aligned members and was sponsored by the Arab Group. The vote taken today reflected that it had also
enjoyed the support of the majority of Council members. Pakistan regretted that it had not been possible for the Council to move
forward in a united way, he said, adding that that would have implications for Council actions in other areas.
Noting that several Council members had tried until the last minute to evolve a text that would be acceptable to all sides, he
reaffirmed Pakistan's opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, anywhere in the world. That included State
terrorism. At the same time, the issue of terrorism should not be used to demonize political opponents and delegitimize legitimate
political grievances. States fighting various forms of unrest or insurgency were finding it tempting to abandon the slow, but
sometimes necessary, processes of political negotiations for the deceptively easy option of military action. He had advised all to act
with determination to address, and indeed solve, the political disputes and long-standing conflicts that bred terrorism.
Unfortunately, States were suppressing the right of a people to self-determination in the Middle East and South Asia; they were
joining together in an alliance against terrorism, but would more likely emerge as an axis of oppression. Pakistan strongly urged the
Government of Israel that, rather than resort to extreme actions, such as the deportation of Mr. Arafat, it should join in concerted
action to assist the Palestinian people to regain their rights and facilitate the end of their dispossession. Another unambiguous
message from yesterday's debate had been the need for the parties to rededicate themselves to the Road Map and to commence its
implementation in good faith, he said.
JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE (France) said that the draft expressed the general message of yesterday's meeting in a balanced
way that France could support. Today's vote was, therefore, a seriously counterproductive result.
HERALDO MUÑOZ (Chile) said his delegation had voted for the draft because it countered the removal of Mr. Arafat. He would have
preferred consensus on the issue and feared that the action would not help the situation in the Middle East. However, it was
necessary to return to the implementation of the Road Map and all relevant Council resolutions. With patience, it was hoped that
the Council could achieve an outcome that the people of the region deserved.
FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria) said it was regrettable that all efforts made by the Arab Group, in general, and the Syrian delegation, in
particular, had not enabled the Council to achieve the desired result. The draft had also been supported by the Non-Aligned
Movement and was extremely balanced. The majority of the provisions had been inspired by other texts adopted by the Council on
the situation in the Middle East, and it was highly regrettable that the United States delegation had vetoed the draft. The fact that
international law was being threatened and the Council had been unable to fulfil its task in terms of safeguarding international peace
and security was also regrettable and had complicated an already extremely complicated situation in the region.
He said he had made all efforts to reflect the discussions calling for an end to the Israeli destruction of the past few years and to the
violence, which had resulted in thousands of deaths. Israel had tried to expel the Palestinians from their land and build settlements
in Palestinian territories, and recently it had threatened to kill the Palestinian President or exile him, contrary to international law, the
United Nations Charter, and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Setting aside fact that the draft had not been accepted, the Council, in its deliberations yesterday, had stated its refusal of Israeli
actions and policies in that regard, he said. Israel was responsible for its illogical policy and for having "scuttled" the peace process
in the Middle East.
INOCENCIO ARIAS (Spain) said the vote was disappointing because the Council needed to send a strong message against the
decision of Israel regarding the leader of the Palestinian Authority. The draft contained, in addition, language demanding an end to
terrorism, and it should have been possible to create a consensus around it.
EMYR JONES PARRY (United Kingdom) said his country had made clear to Israel its opposition to the removal of the leader of the
Palestinian Authority. He urged the Council and the members of the Quartet to work for the full implementation of the Road Map,
which called on the Palestinian Authority to dismantle terrorist groups and called on Israel to desist from actions that would
undermine trust.
The United Kingdom had abstained, he said, because the current text was insufficiently balanced and unhelpful in the
implementation of the Road Map. It was regrettable, however, that a balanced resolution had failed to pass and make a strong
statement against the decision of Israel to remove Mr. Arafat.
NASSER AL-KIDWA, Observer for Palestine, questioned the procedure that had just been used in which he had not been permitted
to be present during the voting, whereas he had co-sponsored the draft with the Arab Group. The text was very moderate, and the
United States delegation had not declared that it would use its veto. It should have informed the Permanent Observer of its intention
as a courtesy. The United States delegation had not made any direct proposals for amendments to the draft, nor had it conducted
any discussions with the Permanent Observer. That raised a question about what had transpired.
He expressed regret that the United States' position had been biased in favour of Israel for so many years; now that had transformed
into acceptance of Israeli logic and positions to the extent that it had basically become "a long, dark shadow being cast on the
entire process". As a result, the United States had been unable to play an honest role as a mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict. As
for President Arafat and the Palestinian leadership, the Palestinian people had not accepted interference by outside entities,
particularly those that were considered unfriendly. The Palestinian people would not accept any interference in who would be
politically isolated or who would keep their positions.
Serious consequences might follow the use of the veto, for which the United States bore sole responsibility, he said. It remained
incomprehensible that the British and German delegations had abstained on the draft.
Mr. JONES PARRY (United Kingdom), speaking as Council President for the month, said the procedure used in the voting was in
conformity with established practices of the Security Council.
DAN GILLERMAN (Israel) said the draft was tragically lopsided and he commended those countries that did not support it. It did not
focus on killings by terrorists and the clear responsibility of the Palestinian leadership to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. It
focused, instead, on Israel's response to terrorism.
The draft, he said, also perversely equated the murder of civilians with counter-terrorism efforts and it would have harmed the peace
process by coming to the defence of a man who consistently stood in its way. What was needed was for both sides to commit
themselves to the cause of peace, without violence and incitement, which had been the tools of Mr. Arafat's leadership for a long
time.
Mr. AL-KIDWA, Observer for Palestine, said, in response, that today marked the twenty-first anniversary of the massacres at Sabra
and Shatila in Lebanon, and that he wished to remind the Council of that for the record.
(un.org)
21 Elul, 5763 (Sept 18, 2003) Palestinians trying to get UN General Council to pass resolution against Israel's plans to remove Arafat seeing resolution failed in Security Council (could meet as early as Friday). General Assembly resolutions are not binding.
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine: draft resolution
Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory
The General Assembly,
Recalling the previous resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session,
Recalling also Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002)
of 12 March 2002, 1402 (2002) of 30 March 2002, 1403 (2002) of 4 April 2002, 1405 (2002) of 19 April 2002 and 1435
(2002) of 24 September 2002,
Reiterating its grave concern at the tragic and violent events that have taken place since September 2000 throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel and the recent dangerous deterioration of the situation, including the escalation
in extrajudicial executions and suicide bombing attacks, all of which have caused enormous suffering and many innocent
victims,
Reaffirming the illegality of the deportation of any Palestinian by Israel, the occupying Power, and affirming its opposition
to any such deportation,
Reiterating also the need for respect in all circumstances of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 1
1. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terrorism, provocation,
incitement and destruction;
2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, desist from any act of deportation and cease any threat to the safety of the
elected President of the Palestinian Authority;
3. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Quartet, and demands that the two sides fully implement their obligations
in accordance with the road map, 2 and emphasizes in this context the importance of the forthcoming meeting of the
Quartet in New York;
4. Decides to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the current President of the General
Assembly to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.
(un.org)
Cape Hatteras
1. Stretched over 70 miles of barrier islands, Cape
Hatteras National Seashore is a fascinating
combination of natural and cultural resources, and
provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
Once dubbed the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for its
treacherous currents, shoals, and storms, Cape
Hatteras has a wealth of history relating to
shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the U.S. Lifesaving
Service. These dynamic islands provide a variety of
habitats and are a valuable wintering area for
migrating waterfowl. The park's fishing and surfing
are considered the best on the east coast. (http://www.nps.gov/caha/)
2. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the nation and
famous symbol of North Carolina...The beacon
from the light can be seen some 20-miles out to sea and
has warned sailors for more than 100 years of the
treacherous Diamond Shoals, the shallow sandbars which
extend some 14 miles out into the ocean off Cape
Hatteras.
It is said that the engineer who was originally assigned
the task of painting North Carolina's lighthouses, got the
plans mixed up and the diamond-shaped figures, suitable
for warning traffic away from Diamond Shoals, went to
Cape Lookout and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
received the spiral striping, thereby forever gaining the
nickname ''The Big Barber Pole.'' (http://www.hatteras-nc.com/light/)
lookout = watchman
22 Elul, 5763 (Sept 19, 2003) Bush has prayer put at Waililng Wall
A note with a prayer from US President George Bush and his wife Laura will
tomorrow morning (Friday), 19.9.2003, at 09:30, be inserted into the Western
Wall by Ruth Maizel, 81, a personal friend of the Bush family who is
currently visiting Israel. There will be a photo-opportunity. Ms. Maizel
arrived in Israel several days ago as a member of a multi-religious group
that also includes noted Anaheim, California minister Rev. Ralph Wilkerson.
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
22 Elul, 5763 (Sept 19, 2003) UN observance of Int'l Day of Peace in New York (please see 24 Elul)
19 September – Secretary-General Kofi Annan rang the
Peace Bell at United Nations Headquarters in New
York today to mark the annual International Day of
Peace, cautioning that for some, the direst threat to
peace was terrorism and weapons of mass destruction,
while for others it was poverty, disease, deprivation and
civil war.
...
Standing at his side as rang the bell, a gift from Japan cast from the pennies
donated by children from 60 nations, were five UN Messengers of Peace:
former world boxing champion Muhammad Ali, author and journalist Anna
Cataldi, film actor and director Michael Douglas, wildlife researcher and
conservationist Jane Goodall and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel.
...
For the first time this year, students participated in a pageantry of flags
representing the 191 UN Member States. The UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
in the Syrian Golan Heights and the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
joined in the Headquarters observance via satellite.
Following the ceremony, the annual student observance was held with the five
Messengers of Peace sharing experiences with young men and women visiting
from Kuwait and Rwanda, and by videoconference from Afghanistan and
Sierra Leone.
Other ceremonies were held at UN outposts throughout the world, including
cultural and sports events in the name of peace. In Somalia the UN called for a
suspension of all fighting; in Lebanon, the world body was giving eco-tourism
awards to rural and urban planners; in Guatemala, it was to inaugurate a
children's park; in Burundi, local leaders were meeting in round tables on how
to reach lasting peace; in Bougainville in the South Pacific weapons were to be
destroyed.
(un.org)
22 Elul, 5763 (Sept 19, 2003) UN General Council (NOT Security Council) votes 133-4-15 to censor Israel re: Arafat
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MEETING IN RESUMED EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION,
DEMANDS ISRAEL NOT DEPORT OR THREATEN SAFETY OF YASSER ARAFAT
Reiterating its grave concern at the tragic and violent events that have taken place throughout the occupied Palestinian territory since
September 2000, the General Assembly this afternoon demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, not deport or threaten the safety
of elected Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The measure was adopted by a vote of 133 in favour, to 4 against (Israel, United States, Marshall Islands and Federated States of
Micronesia), with 15 abstentions, as the Assembly resumed its tenth emergency special session on illegal Israeli actions in
occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied territories.
The emergency meeting of the Assembly was called by the Arab Group and non-aligned countries following the United States' veto
of a similar text in the Security Council on Tuesday. In a letter to the Assembly, the delegation of Sudan requested the meeting "in
the light of the inability of the Security Council to fulfil its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security due to
the exercise by one of its permanent members of the veto".
As well as enjoining any Israeli action against Mr. Arafat, the Assembly demanded the complete cessation of all acts of violence,
including all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement and destruction, and expressed full support for the "Road Map" peace plan.
The Road Map put forward by the "Quartet" -- United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation and United States -- calls for
parallel and reciprocal steps by Israel and the Palestinians leading to two States living side by side in peace by 2005.
"The situation in the Middle East has reached a new nadir with the Israeli Government's decision to remove Yasser Arafat", said the
Observer for Palestine, adding that the Security Council's failure to act had prevented the international community from addressing
the grave consequences that could ensue from that decision. "It is high time to admit that the central problem is the position of
Israel", he said.
He said the Palestinian Authority had condemned Israel's policy as "illegal and insane" -- an assault on the dignity of the Palestinian
people that, if carried out, would ultimately constitute a terrorist act. Emphasizing the suffering of the Palestinian people under
occupation, he called on the authorities to bring to justice those Israelis who had committed war crimes against the Palestinian
people, including Israeli Prime Minister Sharon.
Israel's representative said the Security Council had rejected a resolution that would have come to the defence of a man who "sought
to sabotage the Road Map and prevent the emergence of a new and empowered Palestinian leadership". He argued, however, that
the text introduced today in the Assembly, which failed to condemn the Palestinian leadership's abject refusal to dismantle the
terrorist infrastructure, treated with disrespect the thousands of lives devastated by Palestinian terrorism.
He said the decision of the Israeli cabinet, in principle, merely stated what world leaders had already recognized and what the Road
Map had affirmed, namely that Mr. Arafat was an obstacle to peace. "He is his own people's greatest tragedy", he said. While
Israel continued to hold out hope for a new Palestinian leadership that would live up to its obligations, it could not negotiate with
those in the Palestinian leadership that were more devoted to destroying the Jewish State than to creating a democratic and vibrant
Palestinian State.
The representative of the United States said that while he did not support the elimination or exile of Mr. Arafat, he had opposed and
had voted against the resolutions considered during the past week due to their imbalance and omission of certain elements, namely
a condemnation of acts of terrorism; an explicit condemnation of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs
Brigade; and a call for the dismantlement of the infrastructure that supported those terrorists operations.
Speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Malaysia's representative said that the Council, in failing to uphold the rule of law,
had left the Assembly as the last bastion of hope for the Palestinian people. The Security Council's action Tuesday failed to send
the correct signal to Israel. Even as the Non-Aligned Movement remained committed to the peaceful settlement of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, its members believed that the Assembly had an obligation to take a strong stand against any actions that
further undermined the peace process. The Assembly must show that the international community and the United Nations had not
abandoned the Palestinian people through strong support for the text.
Also speaking today were the representatives of Sudan (on behalf of the Arab Group), Cuba, Russian Federation, China, South
Africa, Venezuela, Iran, Guinea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Italy (on behalf of the European Union).
Speaking in explanation of vote were the representatives of Sudan, Turkey, Nauru, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, Canada, Japan, Syria,
Israel, Lebanon, Cameroon and Cuba.
The Observer of Palestine also spoke after the adoption.
The General Assembly will convene on Monday, 22 September, at 10 a.m. for a one-day, high-level plenary to follow up the outcome
of its twenty-sixth special session and the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.
Background
The General Assembly resumed its tenth emergency special session this morning to consider illegal Israeli actions in occupied East
Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied territories, at the request of the League of Arab States.
Tensions heightened last week after the 15-member Israeli Security Cabinet decided to remove Yasser Arafat, whom it accuses of
fomenting terrorism. But the decision did not include specific orders to move against the Palestinian leader. The cycle of violence
between the parties has steadily increased since the collapse a ceasefire between the Israeli Government and Palestinian groups in
late June.
Before the emergency session is a draft resolution on illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied
territories (document A/ES-10/L.12), which would have the Assembly demand that Israel, the occupying Power, desist from any act
of deportation and cease any threat to the safety of the elected President of the Palestinian Authority. It would also have the
Assembly reiterate its demand for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement
and destruction.
The tenth emergency special session dates back to 1997 when Israel began construction of a new settlement south of East
Jerusalem. The Security Council met twice on this issue, but failed to adopt resolutions. Using the "Uniting for Peace" formula, a
special emergency session of the Assembly was convened in April and again in July and November of 1997. It also resumed in
1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
In May 2002, the Assembly convened an emergency session and adopted a resolution which, among other things, requested the
Secretary-General to present a report on the events that took place in the town of Jenin and other Palestinian cities between March
and early May of that year.
Reconvening in August 2002 following the release of the report, the emergency session adopted a resolution demanding the
immediate cessation of military incursions and all acts of violence, terror, provocation, incitement and destruction in Israel and the
occupied Palestinian territories. The text was passed by a vote of 114 in favour, to 4 against, with 11 abstentions.
[Read Statements from individual countries at url provided]
(un.org)
24 Elul, 5763 (Sept 21, 2003) Galileo impacts Jupiter
Excerpt from Philologos Sky Signs 1999 file on Galileo:
November/December, 1999 Galileo drops plutonium in Jupiter? I've
seen dates between November 1st through December.
"According to many, the great pyramids were built to commemorate
and observe a supernova explosion that occurred in the year 4000
BC. Dr. Anthony Hewish, 1974 Nobel Prize winner in physics,
discovered a rhythmic series of radio pulses which he proved were
emissions from a star that had exploded around 4000 BC. The
Freemasons begin their calendar from AL, "In the Year of Light,"
found by adding 4000 to the modern year. Thus 1990+4000=5990
AL. George Michanowsky wrote in The Once and Future Star that
'The ancient Sumerian cuneiform...described a giant star exploding
within a triangle formed by...Zeta Puppis, Gamma Velorum, and
Lambda Velorum...located in the southern sky...[An] accurate star
catalogue now stated that the blazing star that had exploded within
the triangle would again be seen by man in 6000 years.' According
to the Freemason's calendar it will occur in the year 2000, and
indeed it will.
"The spacecraft called Galileo is on its way to Jupiter, a baby star
with a gaseous makeup exactly the same as our sun, with a load of
49.7 pounds of plutonium, supposedly being used as batteries to
power the craft. When its final orbit decays in December 1999,
Galileo will deliver its payload into the center of Jupiter. The
unbelievable pressure that will be encountered will cause a reaction
exactly as occurs when an atomic bomb is exploded by an
implosion detonator. The plutonium will explode in an atomic
reaction, lighting the hydrogen and helium atmosphere of Jupiter
and resulting in the birth of the star that has already been named
Lucifer...Simultaneously a vault containing the ancient records of
the earth will be opened in Egypt. The return of Lucifer and the
opening of the vault will usher in the millennium. A great
celebration has already been planned by the Millennium Society to
take place at the pyramids in Egypt."
Behold A Pale Horse, Secret Societies/New World Order by Milton
William Cooper
24 Elul, 5763 (Sept 21, 2003) UN Int'l Day of Peace
24 Elul (Sept 21, 2003) David marries Bathshebah
25 Elul, 5763 (Sept 22, 2003) Largest Arctic Ice Shelf breaks off
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 — The largest ice shelf in the
Arctic, a solid feature for 3,000 years, has broken
up, scientists in the United States and Canada said
Monday. They said the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, on
the north coast of Ellesmere Island in Canada’s
Nunavut territory, broke into two main parts,
themselves cut through with fissures. A freshwater
lake drained into the sea, the researchers reported.
26 Elul, 5763 (Sept 23, 2003) Autumnal Equinox
Please see Revelation 12 files.
27 Elul, 5763 (Sept 24, 2003) Tenth Anniversay of 1993 Oslo Accords
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Oslo Accords were a series of agreements negotiated between the Israeli government and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO, acting as representatives of the Palestinian people) in 1993
as part of a peace process between the countries, officially called the Declaration of Principles.
Despite the high hopes expressed in the Accords and in the subsequent agreements, that also
promised the normalization of Israel's relations with the Arab world, the problem has not been
resolved.
The talks leading to the agreement was initiated by the Norwegian government, who were at
reasonably good terms with both parties. Main architects behind the plan was Terje Rød-Larsen and
Mona Juul. The negotiations were undertaken in total secrecy in and around Oslo, and was signed on
August 20, 1993. There was a subsequent public ceremony in Washington D.C. on September 13,
1993 with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin.
The principles agreed were, in essence, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank and the Palestinian right to self-government within those areas through the creation of the
Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian rule would last for a five year interim period during which
permanent status would be negotiated (beginning not later than May 1996). Permanent issues such as
Jerusalem, refugees, Israeli settlements in the area, security and borders were deliberately excluded
from the Accords and determined as not prejudged. The interim self-government was to be granted
in phases. Until a final status accord was made, West Bank and Gaza would be divided into three
zones:
Area A - full control of the Palestinian Authority.
Together with the principles the two groups signed Letters of Mutual Recognition - The Israeli
government recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people while the
PLO recognized the right of the state of Israel to exist and renounced terrorism, violence and its
desire for the destruction of Israel.
In addition to the first accord, namely the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government,
other more specific accords are often informally known as Oslo. The Interim Agreement on the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip (also called Oslo 2), signed in September 1995 which gave the
Palestinians self-rule in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm, and some
450 villages.
Addition Israeli-Palestinian documents related to the Oslo Accords are the 1994 Cairo Agreement
on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area (May 4, 1994), the 1994 Washington Declaration (July
25, 1994), the Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities Between Israel
and the PLO (August 29, 1994), the 1997 Protocol on Redeployment in Hebron (January 15,
1997) and the 1998 Wye River Memorandum (October 23, 1998).
In 2000 USA President Bill Clinton sought to keep the "Oslo Peace Process" moving forward by
convening a summit between PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to
solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This Camp David 2000 Summit ended in failure, with no resolution
to the conflict. The al-Aqsa Intifada that started up in 2000 following the collapse of the summit added
to the crumbling of the credibility of the Oslo Accords, to the point that by 2003 the right wing in
Israel, and Palestinian Islamic groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah considered the accords to
be dead for all practical purposes.
27 Elul, 5763 (Sept 24, 2003) Mosque wall collapses on Temple Mount
One side of a wall in the Temple Mount compound - completely visible to
worshippers at the Western Wall - collapsed on Tuesday, uncovering an area
of some 40 square meters of dirt and fill. The wall belongs to the Islamic
Museum on the Temple Mount, a building to the right and above the
worshipers at the Western Wall, identified by a small gray dome.
Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, a member of the Committee to Prevent the
Destruction of Temple Mount Antiquities, said that the collapse is
connected with the illegal construction works being carried out on the
Temple Mount by the Moslem Waqf. Speaking with Yisrael Medad on Arutz-7's
"Freedom of Broadcast" program, Dr. Mazar said that these works have been
ongoing for many years without supervision by either the Planning and
Construction authorities or the Antiquities Authority.
"No one is concerned about preserving the ancient compound," she said, "nor
has anyone mapped, surveyed or buttressed the hollow areas under the Temple
Mount and under the mosques... It is frightening to think of this collapse,
and of what could happen in the future when many tens of thousands of
people visit the Temple Mount, and tractors and trucks - and all of this
atop hollow areas that have never been professionally checked. This
collapse should be a warning bell. If a catastrophe occurs, the whole world
will blame Israel."
She said that opening the compound to Jewish visitors is "just the
beginning; pressure must be exerted in order that the supervisory
authorities do what they are supposed to. The press must get involved in
this cause."
Photos of the collapsed wall can be seen at
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=50321
Arutz Sheva News Service
28 Elul, 5763 (Sept 25, 2003) Address by Silvan Shalom Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel to UN General Assembly
United Nations 58th General Assembly
25 September 2003 New York
Mr. Secretary General,
I would like to congratulate His Excellency, the Foreign Minister of St.
Lucia, upon his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly, and
wish him much success.
Mr. President,
The establishment of a new Palestinian government promised an end to terror
and a new beginning.
This glimmer of hope was darkened on August 19th by the extremists who blew
up a bus full of Jewish families on their way home from prayers at the
Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish religion. Twenty three people,
young and old, mothers and babies in their cradles, were slaughtered in this
attack. This attack was carried out by Hamas, a terrorist organization,
which under the Roadmap should have been dismantled by the Palestinian
Authority.
Failure to dismantle Hamas has brought our diplomatic efforts to a
standstill. Rather than acting to fulfill its obligation, the Palestinian
Authority has chosen the route of inaction, and complicity in terror.
We cannot allow this to continue. We must bring back the hope that we can
build a better future for our children. The infrastructure of terror must be
dismantled so that we can put our peace efforts back on track. There is no
other time. There is no other way.
Mr. President,
Today, it is not only Israel which mourns the loss of its loved ones, women
and children and babies, at the hands of the terrorists. We have sadly been
joined by peoples from across the globe - from Mombassa to Casablanca,
Moscow to Bali.
Even the United Nations, that for so many is a symbol of peace and goodwill,
is not immune.
Standing here today in New York, just two short years after September 11th,
the community of nations knows - that those who seek to advance their
political agendas through killing innocents, are ready to strike at anyone
or anything that represents the values of freedom and human life.
Terrorism has declared war on us all.
Israel has often stood alone in this battle. A country which has suffered
more than any other from terrorism, we have always understood the danger it
poses to democracy and freedom everywhere, even when others refused to see,
and condemned us for our actions. We have always understood that terrorism -
no matter what cause it claims to serve - seeks only to destroy, not to
build.
There can be no neutrality in the war against terrorism and there can be no
immunity for those who engage in it. Abstaining is not an option.
This is not a war of choice. Terrorism will not be eliminated until the
world unites against it. Our only choice is to win. Every member of the
international community must take concrete and proactive measures to cut off
all channels of financial, moral and political support to this common enemy.
States - members of this institution - that sponsor terrorists and give them
shelter, are accomplices in the acts of terror themselves. They must be held
accountable for their crimes. It is no coincidence that states that sponsor
terrorism like Iran and Syria, are also striving to acquire Weapons of Mass
Destruction. Their hostility to freedom and the rule of law puts the very
future of humanity in jeopardy.
Mr. President,
In the ten years since Arafat declared his commitment to Israel - and the
world - that he would no longer use terror, 1,126 Israelis have been killed
and thousands wounded in 19,000 separate Palestinian terrorist attacks.
In relative numbers, this would be the same as 11,000 French or 56,000
Americans dying from terrorism in the same period of time.
This carnage must stop. Its impact on both societies is devastating.
Yasser Arafat bears direct responsibility for this terrible suffering. He
has led his people on the path of terror - from hijackings to suicide
bombings - for more than thirty years. Always preferring Israeli pain over
Palestinian gain.
He has been - and he remains - the greatest obstacle to peace between our
peoples. For as long as he controls the levers of power - no moderate
leadership can emerge.
To vote for Arafat - like we saw in this Assembly just last week - is to
vote against the Palestinian people. When Arafat wins - terrorism wins, and
we all lose.
Instead of rallying around Arafat, the international community must rally
around the genuine interests of the Palestinian people.
They must do so now, before he leads them even further down the path of
terror and destruction.
Mr. President,
Israel is committed to the vision for Middle East peace laid out by US
President George Bush on June 24th, 2002.
Israel will not compromise on the safety of its citizens. But we will go
the extra mile - as we have proven before - to bring peace and security to
both our peoples.
We are ready to work with the Palestinians and the international community
to make this vision a reality. For this to happen, the Palestinian
leadership must take the moral and strategic decision to abandon terrorism
once and for all, and make peacemaking possible.
They must guide their people to build their own society, rather than seeking
to destroy ours. They, too, must understand that it is not poverty that
breeds terror but terror that breeds poverty.
Dear Colleagues,
This is particularly so in the Arab and Muslim world, where incitement
against Israel closes hearts and minds to the possibility of peace.
Leaders must guide their people away from the culture of hate, and replace
it with a culture of tolerance. Concrete expressions of cooperation and
exchange must be built - in media and government, education, science and
business - to reinforce the message of tolerance and acceptance.
For the sake of our collective future, voices of moderation must be heard.
Mr. President,
In the past, the United Nations has shown that it can play a positive role.
This Assembly was key in the founding of the State of Israel, fifty-five
years ago. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 are our guideposts,
to negotiations and peace.
To play such a constructive role in the future, the UN must reform. It must
move away from the partisan hostility that has taken over its Middle East
agenda.
For more than three decades, this Assembly has passed every year a litany of
resolutions designed to discredit Israel, challenge its interests, and
promote the will of its greatest enemies.
In my hand, I am holding a collection of the decisions of the 57th General
Assembly on the Middle East. One hundred and seventy five pages filled not
with hope, but with the negative agendas of the past.
No other country has suffered such unjustified attack and consistent
discrimination within the UN system. The time has come to end this campaign
of diplomatic incitement.
For the sake of Israelis and Palestinians - for the sake of the UN and peace
itself - I call on this body to rise above the tired politics of yesterday,
and adopt a new, courageous agenda for tomorrow.
I call on the General Assembly to abandon the automatic adoption of
anti-Israel resolutions, and to find ways of making itself relevant once
again, to the interests of the people it claims to serve. I call on this
Assembly to fulfill its historic mission and help promote what unites us,
not what divides us.
Mr. President,
Colonel Ilan Ramon embodied the spirit of our nation. A man of courage and
action, dedicated to the well-being of his people, just as he sought to
contribute to the advancement of his fellow man.
He met his death together with colleagues from the United States and India,
on a scientific mission in the name of humanity as a whole.
Israel's place in such endeavors of international cooperation and
accomplishment is no coincidence. In the fifty-five years since the State of
Israel was established, recognized, and welcomed into the family of
nations - our achievements in the fields of science and technology, the arts
and literature, agriculture and medicine, have come to rank with the best in
the world.
Our international cooperation program is celebrated in over a hundred
countries around the globe - sharing skills, experience and knowledge to the
benefit of millions of people.
We extend this hand of friendship to all the nations of the world. We
welcome our improving relations with Europe, just as we remain committed to
promoting closer ties with the nations of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Mr. President,
Our founders also made a promise not just to the people of Israel, but to
the people of the Middle East as a whole - to pursue peace and to work for
the common advancement of our region.
I know personally the profound meaning of this historic undertaking. I came
to Israel as a young refugee from Tunisia. I serve as one of hundreds of
thousands of immigrants to whom Israel has granted promise and protection,
freedom and opportunity, through the values and institutions of democracy.
I stand here today to reaffirm, before the nations of the world, the
commitment of my country to peace.
Peace for the people of Israel is both a moral and historic imperative.
"Shalom" - the word for peace in Hebrew - is central to our language and our
heritage. It is how we say Hallo and it is how we say Goodbye. It is a name
we give to our children. It is my own family name.
It was our prophet Isaiah, who brought this message of peace to the world
already centuries ago, when he said: "And they shall beat their swords into
ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more".
Israel's historic record is clear. Whenever a true partner for peace
emerged, he was met with Israel's extended hand.
This was true when President Anwar Sadat of Egypt came to Jerusalem in 1977
and it was true when King Hussein of Jordan signed the Peace Treaty with us
in 1994. The same is true today.
Israel stands ready to complete the circle of peace with all its neighbors.
Real peace. Not just peace for the headlines, but peace which brings an end
to violence and hostility, and positive change for the citizens of our
region.
From this great podium - a podium shared by all humanity - I call on the
leaders of Syria and Lebanon, of Iran and of the Palestinian people - to
abandon once and for all their hostility towards us, and join us in building
a better future for our children.
Mr. President,
According to our tradition, this is a time when G-d determines the fate of
each and every individual for the coming year.
These are days of reflection and prayer.
May all our prayers for peace and for life be answered.
And may the actions and deeds of all the states and peoples represented here
in this hall, bring to mankind - peace and security, and all the blessings
that life can offer.
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
29 Elul, 5763 (Sept 26, 2003) Roadmap meeting in NY
NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A
high-level meeting of the four mediators
in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
are planning to formally meet in New
York on Sept. 26, it was announced.
Fred Ekhard, official representative of
the U.N. secretary-general, told Novosti
news service the participants will include
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The
third member, the European Union, will
be represented by Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Foreign Minister
Franco Frattini and Javier Solana, High
Commissioner for EU foreign contacts.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan will
represent the fourth member of the
group, the United Nations, at the
meeting.
Ivanov said he is going to invite the
Quartet to work more vigorously to
regain its authority and get Middle East
peace talks back on course.
(http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030924-040734-7840r.htm)
29 Elul, 5763 (Sept 26, 2003) Powell Asking Europeans to Shun Arafat as a Failed Leader
Friday, September 26, 2003 Elul 29, 5763
Middle East mediators were meeting in New York on
Friday in an atmosphere of pessimism about the
prospects for Arab-Israeli peace because of
persistent violence, uncertainty in Palestinian
politics and preoccupation with Iraq.
High-level representatives of
the United States, the European
Union, Russia and the United
Nations gathered at UN
headquarters to take stock of
the stalemate in carrying out
the Middle East peace plan they
floated in April.
The meeting brings together U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and three European
officials led by foreign policy chief Javier
Solana.
Powell was expected to ask the other
participants to tell Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat that the time has come
to step aside.
Speaking ahead of his meeting with officials
from the United Nations, European Union and
Russia, Powell said that although the road map
was still alive, Washington was waiting on the
emergence of the new Palestinian cabinet.
"We believe firmly in the concept of the road
map," he said. "And it is still there."
But, he said, "We are waiting for the
Palestinian side to determine the makeup of its
new government so that we have a partner we can
work with."
The secretary planned to ask UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov and EU foreign policy
chief Javier Solana to make clear to Arafat
that he should "get out of the way" and cede
authority to security officials who intend to
dismantle terror groups.
French President Jacques Chirac offered a
different approach this week, saying, "We
believe we cannot simply let the road map
disappear because of the dramatic circumstances
there."
"A good method may be to move straight to an
international conference. We're in favor of
holding such a conference as soon as possible,"
Chirac said.
Diplomats say expectations from the Quartet
meeting are low because the last Palestinian
prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, has resigned,
and the prime minister-designate, Ahmed Qureia,
has not yet formed a new government.
Israel promises to consult with U.S. before
deciding on Arafat's fate
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom gave the promise
during talks in New York on Thursday with
Powell, the State Department official said.
Israel decided in principle earlier this month
to remove Arafat, who has been confined to his
headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah
for over a year.
Shalom said at the time of the decision that
Israel should ignore U.S. objections and expel
him.
"We are now in a situation that if we ask for
such permission [from Washington], it will be
virtually impossible to get it. But sometimes,
there are situations where you have to make
decisions independent of outside influence," he
said.
But the U.S. official, who asked not to be
identified, said: "The Israelis told us they
didn't intend to take action right away and
they would consult with us if they were moving
towards a decision on that. They would talk to
us."
The United States says it opposes expelling
Arafat because abroad he would have a larger
stage. It prefers to isolate him in Ramallah
and refuse to deal with him.
The official also said that he did not think the
long-standing disagreement over Arafat would be
a major issue.
"Arafat is a perennial but it's not a critical
issue. It's not an agenda item," he said.
Shalom said that Israel is waiting for Qureia to
announce the composition of his cabinet and
program of work before it would make a
judgement on whether to support him.
Israel and the United States have blamed Arafat
for obstacles to the implementation of the
Quartet's road map to Middle East peace, which
aims at establishing a Palestinian state by
2005. U.S. President George W. Bush last week
admitted that the road map has stalled, and
blamed the Palestinian leadership.
The 191-nation General Assembly last week
overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling on
Israel to stop all threats to deport Arafat.
That resolution failed in the UN Security
Council due to a veto by the United States. The
General Assembly resolution is not binding.
1997- Notes on Revelation
Moslem Group Celebrates 9/11
16:27 Sep 12, '03 / 15 Elul 5763
(IsraelNN.com) A decision was reached by the cabinet a short time
ago to expel Yasser Arafat. It is being reported that the decision
was made “in principle” and actual logistics pertaining to such a
move are not being discussed at this time.
15:43 Sep 12, '03 / 15 Elul 5763
00:17 Sep 07, '03 / 10 Elul 5763
U.S. stopped Israeli raid to seize Arafat
By WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sep 15, 2003, 10:05
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS AT TURNING POINT BETWEEN RECOMMITMENT,
DESCENT INTO MAJOR BLOODSHED, UN ENVOY TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL
Speakers Warn against Incalculable Consequences of Israel's
Decision 'In Principle' to Remove Palestinian Authority President
(un.org press release)
S/2003/891
16 September 2003
4828th Meeting* (PM)
SC/7875
17 September 2003
A/ES-10/L.12
21 Elul, 5763 (Sept 18, 2003) Isabel makes landfall
18 September 2003
Tenth emergency special session
Agenda item 5
Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and
the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Sept. 18, 2003 — The NOAA National Hurricane
Center in Miami, Fla [reports]...the center of
Isabel is expected to make landfall between
Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, N.C., within
the next couple of hours and move inland over
eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia
over the next 24 hours. (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s2085.htm)
21 Elul, 5763 (Sept 18, 2003) King Abdullah at Camp David
PRAYER FROM US PRES. BUSH PLACED IN WESTERN WALL
(Communicated by Tourism Ministry Spokesman)
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Annan rings Peace Bell, marking
International Day of Peace
General Assembly Plenary
Tenth Emergency Special Session
20th Meeting (AM)
GA/10152
19 September 2003
Launched via the Space Shuttle Atlantis on October 18, 1989, Galileo is now in its
13th year in space and its seventh orbiting the giant planet...To eliminate any potential that the spacecraft could someday contaminate
Europa, a moon that may harbor primitive life, Galileo will be directed to fall
into Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21, 2003, when it will plunge into the
Equatorial Zone at 48 km per second. [Approx. 107,000 mph]
(http://skyandtelescope.com/news/current/article_460_1.asp)
[For some reason NASA decided to have Galileo impact on the side away from us so that observation could not be made by any interested astronomers here on earth. This has led to the theory that NASA didn't want anyone to know that they just reprogrammed it to go on an extended orbit to check out and observe what seems to be coming into our solar system re: Planet X type scenario. (Please see Catastrophism/Planet X file for more info.)]
Established by the General Assembly in 1981, the International Day of Peace
was, until two years ago, observed each year on the opening day of the UN
General Assembly's session. In 2001, however, the Assembly called for the
Day to be observed on 21 September each year, as a day of non-violence and
ceasefire. (un.org)
Arctic ice shelf breakup reported
Largest ice shelf in region was solid for 3,000 years
By Maggie Fox
The point, presently lying in the constellation Virgo, where the Ecliptic crosses the Celestial
Equator. When the Sun passes this point, on about 23 September each year, nights begin
to grow longer than days, and continue to do so until the Winter Solstice in December. (In
the southern hemisphere, this situation is reversed).
(http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/default.htm?http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/concepts/autumnalequinox.html)
Oslo Accords
Area B - Palestinian civil control, Israeli military control.
Area C - full Israeli control.
WALL IN TEMPLE MOUNT COMPOUND COLLAPSES
http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 / Elul 28, 5763
Address by Silvan Shalom Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the State of Israel
Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Until just one month ago, every person in this hall and every member of this
organization joined us in the hope that the Middle East peace process might
finally be back on track, and that a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict might be on the horizon.
For many years it was thought that terrorism in the Middle East was Israel's
problem, not the world's. Today, the world knows otherwise.
I know that for many in this place Yasser Arafat is seen as the symbol of
the Palestinian struggle. Tragically - for his people and for ours - he is
one of the world's icons of terror.
When a responsible and empowered Palestinian leadership finally emerges - a
leadership ready to join the war on terror - it will find us a willing
partner for peace.
We cannot stop only at dismantling the infrastructure of terror. We must
also build an infrastructure of peace. It is up to political and moral
leaders, everywhere, to foster an environment which rejects extremism and
empowers the peacemakers.
This culture of peace must permeate not only the borders of the Middle East.
It must permeate the walls of the United Nations as well.
On the morning of February 1st of this year, Israel lost its first astronaut
in the Columbia-space-shuttle disaster - a skilled and courageous pilot whom
I knew personally, a child of Holocaust survivors, a national hero.
The Zionist vision of Israel's founders was to bring into the world a state
in our ancient homeland to serve as a haven for our people from persecution.
A place where the Jewish people could fulfill its right to
self-determination in the modern era. A bastion of democracy and opportunity
for all its citizens.
This evening I shall return to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish
people, to join with them in celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Website: www.imra.org.il
Mideast roadmap meeting
planned
Quartet meeting at UN; Powell to ask
members to shun Arafat
By Reuters and Haaretz Service
Israel has promised to consult with the United
States before deciding whether to expel Arafat
from the territories, a senior U.S. official
said Thursday.
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