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Newsletter : 8fax0915.txt
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>PD
>Israel Faxx
>JN Sept. 15, 1998, Vol. 6, No. 165
One Per Thousand in World is Israeli
By Arutz-7 News Service
The population of Israel stands today at 6 million people, 1/1000
of the world's population. The annual national statistical
yearbook, released Monday, shows that almost 80% of Israel's
population is Jewish, while 15% are Muslims and 2% are Christian.
Other interesting findings: the average age of bridegrooms is 26,
while their brides are some two years younger. Men have a life
expectancy of 76, while women live an average of 80 years.
Successful anti-Missile Missile Launch
By Arutz-7 News Service
A successful test launch of Israel's new Arrow II missile was held
Monday. The experiment, which lasted 97 seconds, was observed by
Israeli and American officials, and was termed a success. The
rocket hit its simulated target - an air-borne missile - with the
help of an Elbit radar system.
The launch, from a military base on the coast south of Tel Aviv,
was the first time the Arrow's three components -- the missile, the
radar designed to track incoming missiles and the fire control
system - had been tested together. The missile-killing missile did
not carry out an actual interception but "acquired and destroyed"
a simulated target, Israel Radio said.
Palestinian Casino will Lure Israelis
By Mark Lavie (VOA-Jerusalem)
Just outside the West Bank town of Jericho, in the steaming desert of the Jordan River Valley, a huge casino opens today. It is a joint venture of the Palestinian Authority and an Austrian company.
It is no accident that the casino is named "Oasis." Still under
construction, the large, rectangular building jumps out of the flat
desert landscape like a haven...Or perhaps like a bandit from
behind a rock.
Its style is European mixed with local; its colors blend in with
the desert. The project has already provided about 600 badly needed
construction jobs for Palestinians. Norbert Steiger, the head of
the Austrian casino company and a former Austrian deputy prime
minister, says 600 jobs is just the beginning.
"We will try to play our role as investors -- that is, we will help
the whole region, of course together with the Palestinian
authorities, to create jobs, which is the first step for all
people here to live in peace."
Inside, rows of slot machines surround gaming tables. There is
room here for 1,500 gamblers at a time. Israelis, tourists -- but
not Palestinians, who are banned from entering to try their luck.
That is the first indication that this is not just another
casino. This one is in the mostly Muslim West Bank. Gambling is
forbidden by Islamic law.
Nearby Jericho, an ancient oasis town in the blistering desert,
stands to gain the most from a tourist boom here, but there is
opposition to the casino.
The Akbat Jaber Palestinian refugee camp, a collection of dried-mud
huts and shacks, is across the street from the casino. Many of the
construction workers come from the camp. But the Sheikh Shaker
Amara, the imam, or religious leader, of the mosque at Akbat Jaber,
condemns the casino.
He declares the casino is a mark of shame on each and every
Palestinian family. He is unhappy with Palestinian chief Yasir
Arafat for approving the project. But many here see the casino as
an economic boost for their sleepy town. Tawfik Manasra sells beer
and liquor in a small shop on Jericho's main street.
He says the casino will mean several-hundred jobs for the people
here, and that means supporting several-hundred families. He
says that is good in a situation facing the West Bank today,
since the economy is so depressed.
The owners hope people who come here to play blackjack like this
will be insulated from the conflicting views outside. But this is
a part of the world where religious extremists sometimes do more
than complain, sometimes they blow things up, and even before the
casino opens there are vague threats of violence in the air.
Request for Helipad Near Grave of Aaron
By IsraelWire
Chareidi (ultra-Orthodox) Community leaders have made a request to
the Jordanian Minister of Tourism to set up a helicopter landing
pad on the Jordanian mountain which is the site of the grave of
Aaron the High Priest, so that the site will be accessible to those
wishing to visit the grave.
The request is being presented by the Betar Elite Religious Council
and the Path of the Just Association. The groups met recently with
the Jordanian minister of tourism and discussed the tourism
potential of chareidi visitors to the site of Aaron's grave.
According to tradition, Aaron, the brother of Moses, is buried not
far from Petra, Jordan.
The group of rabbis who met with Minister of Tourism Aakel Baltaji
asked to take into consideration the difficulty in reaching the
grave site, which is currently possible only by donkey. They
suggested building a helicopter pad, a cable car, or a convenient
access road.
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