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Newsletter : 9fax1231.txt
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>Israel Faxx
>JN Dec. 31, 1999, Vol. 7, No. 240
No Early Warning Stations for Golan
By IsraelWire
Israel's suggestion for establishing early warning radar stations in the Golan, after a Golan withdrawal, was turned down in favor of an air and satellite surveillance system - according to a report in the Arabic al-Kadar newspaper published in Paris, which quoted a senior Syrian source in Washington. According to the periodical, the system will include a series of satellites and the use of American spy planes. According to their source, Syria refused all suggestions of early warning stations on Mount Hermon, and Prime Minister Ehud Barak accepted their claims that land-based systems are less effective than air systems. The article also discussed the plan for the establishment of an Arab confederation in the Middle East that would include Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, and said that Israel and the US did not oppose the plan.
Christians: End of the World at Armageddon
By Meredith Buel (VOA-Megiddo)
For thousands of years, legendary leaders including King Solomon, the pharaohs of Egypt, and the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, fought over Megiddo - which is located in modern-day Israel. Scholars say Megiddo is the place the New Testament calls Armageddon - where the Bible says the end of the world will occur.
Travel to the ancient hilltop called Megiddo - where countless warriors died over thousands of years in some of the world's greatest battles - and it is somewhat hard to imagine this tranquil, peaceful place is where the end of the world is predicted to occur.
But people who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible point out that the Apostle John, believed to be the author of the New Testament's Book of Revelations, wrote (16:16) the final battle will occur in the -- place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Dror Ben Yousef is a biblical archeologist who graduated from Tel Aviv University. "According to the New Testament, the final battle should happen here, in the area of Megiddo - Har Meggedon - which means Armageddon. The good powers - the powers of light would win over the powers of darkness here in Megiddo. When that would happen we do not know but this is the place it should happen. I know that some people believe it might happen at the end of the second millennium. We sure hope it will not happen, but I know that some extreme groups coming from the United States believe it should happen here."
Megiddo today is a popular tourist site about 18 miles southeast of the port City of Haifa. Huge battles involving tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of horse-drawn chariots took place here, making Megiddo one of the most famous military theaters in history. The strategic hill - about 60-meters above the valley - is at a great crossroads between the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Scholars believe the first battles were fought here as many as 7,000 years ago. The fighting continued through both World Wars and did not end until 1947 when Israeli soldiers defended the new Jewish State. For the first time, Israeli police have recently been stationed at Megiddo to make sure no violence occurs here around the millennium.
The FBI gave the name Project Megiddo to a study of millennial threats of violence. The FBI's report expressed concern that extremists belonging to cults may commit mass suicide because they see themselves as playing a role in the battle of Armageddon.
Thousands of mainstream pilgrims are visiting Megiddo at the millennium to reflect on history and predictions for the future.
Gary Bowlin is a Christian evangelist from the United States. "I have been coming to Israel for 23-years and every time I come to Megiddo the thing that grabs hold of my heart above everything else is the vastness of the Jezreel Valley - the valley of Armageddon where the last great battle will be fought. To think we are nearing, in my opinion, those climatic days and it is just kind of awesome. Also, to remember that whoever through the centuries has controlled that valley has controlled the whole Middle East and it is still going to be that way until the end of time. It kind of brings eternity into focus when you come here."
So, some people here in the Holy Land will be watching Megiddo early in the new millennium to see if predictions of Armageddon will come true. But the vast majority of visitors here do not expect to personally witness the end of time and are taking a more positive view of what the world can expect during the New Year.
Shas Admits Memorial Law Was a Gimmick
By IsraelWire
Following stern objections to a proposed law by the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, Shas officials admit the entire ordeal was a gimmick to prove a point. Shas put forward a bill which would require Israelis to wear a yarmulke when the Memorial Day sirens are sounded. They also demanded Israelis be compelled to recite Psalms and other scriptures.
Now, following the objections from fellow legislators, Shas MKs admit the bill was introduced to highlight the absurdity of those who insist that persons who do not feel compelled to stand silently during the siren, be compelled to do so. Shas MKs explained that if one is not accustomed to standing for sirens that is not a sign that one does not honor those who have fallen.
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