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Newsletter : 9fax1013.txt
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>Israel Faxx
>JN Oct. 13, 1999, Vol. 7, No. 189
Sheinbein Sentencing Oct. 24
By IsraelWire
The Tel Aviv District Court announced Samuel Sheinbein would be sentenced Oct. 24 for the murder of Alfredo Enrique Tello. Sheinbein agreed to a plea bargain agreement and will be sentenced to 24 years in jail for the murder and dismemberment of Tello in Maryland. The court on the 24th must officially approve the plea bargain arrangement.
Christian Sites in Israel May be Shuttered
By Meredith Buel (VOA-Jerusalem)
Israel and the Roman Catholic Church have failed to settle a dispute about the proposed construction of a mosque next to a major Christian holy site in Nazareth. Some local church officials say that unless the controversy is solved, Christian sites could be closed during millennium celebrations and the pope may reconsider his visit to the Middle East next year.
Israeli Public Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami and the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, met Tuesday in an effort to resolve a growing dispute about a proposal to build a mosque next to a major Christian holy site in Nazareth.
Muslim groups want to build the mosque near the Church of the Annunciation. Christian tradition says the church is on the site where the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus.
Many Christian leaders in the Holy Land firmly oppose construction of the mosque. Some have threatened to close Christian holy sites during millennium celebrations and others have suggested Pope John Paul may reconsider his planned visit to the region during the year 2000.
Muslims have erected a large protest tent on the site and use the enclosure for Friday prayers. The dispute sparked riots in Nazareth earlier this year on Easter Sunday and an Israeli government committee is trying to come up with a compromise. Israeli news reports say the government's proposed compromise would allow Muslim groups to build a small mosque on the site.
Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah is the highest-ranking Roman Catholic official in the Holy Land. After the meeting, the Patriarch said no solution to the dispute was found.
Ben-Ami described the atmosphere in the meeting as positive and said he presented the compromise proposal to church officials. "We will do our utmost, as we explained to the patriarch, to solve this particular question in a way that will increase social stability in Nazareth and inter-communal coexistence. This is vital because the city is, of course, very, very important to Christianity. There are also Muslims and we are trying to reconcile between these two elements."
Ben-Ami says he does not expect the controversy to have an impact on the pope's planned visit to the Middle East next year. "I am not aware of such threats of the Vatican to reconsider his trip to the Holy Land to Israel and holy places around. I think that the visit of the Pope is of an importance far beyond the particular question - however important the question may be. I am sure the millennial meaning of this visit is stronger than a particular case."
The Israeli public security minister is expected to present the government's proposed solution to the dispute in Nazareth to other Christian groups and Muslim representatives later this week. So far, leaders of both sides have not indicated a willingness to compromise.
SLA Troops Likely to Join Hizbullah
By IsraelWire
The commander of the Israel-allied Southern Lebanese Army, General Antoine Lahad, has expressed harsh criticism against Israel as it becomes increasingly clear according to the senior commander that Israel will unilaterally withdraw from the security zone and abandon the SLA forces.
Lahad lashed out at Israel for expecting SLA forces to endure attacks without responding because Israel fears an escalation would follow a military response.
"In the field, a scenario of turmoil exists and the situation is a sensitive one but no one has a true idea of what is going on. The IDF is already speaking of a unilateral withdrawal from the entire security zone but even if you fortify borders, fences and outposts, it will not be enough. I do not know what to tell my troops, many of whom are quite scared and concerned with many asking what will be if the IDF really pulls out of the zone.
"With the uncertainty and talk of a withdrawal, many of my troops are likely to move over to the ranks of Hizbullah. They realize that no one will be concerned with their fate and they are seeking a way to save themselves."
Lahad stated that if the IDF unilaterally withdraws, most of the SLA troops would have to establish their new homes abroad fearing Hizbullah reprisals against them and their families. He believes some will ask for permission to move to Israel while other will seek refuge in Lebanon. "There are those among you who speak too much. Some of my soldiers are very confused concerning their futures."
Lahad stated that despite a growing consensus in Israel to pull back to the international border, the government of Israel has an obligation to its SLA ally and cannot abandon them in any planned withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
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