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Newsletter : 0fax0322.txt
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>JN March 22, 2000, Vol. 8, No. 54
Purim Spiel
By Arutz-7
The Palestinian Authority has expanded its casino in Jericho to include a Las Vegas-style "shotgun wedding chapel," where visiting couples can avoid the restrictions and waiting periods so as to quickly marry, hassle-free. Shotguns are provided free by the PA paramilitary police, and then are not later collected. PA Minister of Casinos Abu Mazel declared the PA plans to permit Reform and Conservative rabbis to perform marriages and divorces. "It's not up to Muslims to decide who isn't a rabbi."
Palestinians, Israelis Meet in Washington
By Kyle King (VOA-Washington)
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have opened a new round of talks at an Air Force base in Washington, where they hope to narrow some of the most difficult issues standing in the way of a peace agreement. The latest round of talks began behind the gates of Bolling Air Force Base with a working lunch hosted by mediator Dennis Ross.
U.S. officials have been careful to play down any expectation of a breakthrough at the talks, which bring together lower level officials and not the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
State Department spokesman James Rubin described the opening session as a chance for the two sides to sit down in private and exchange ideas on some of the most difficult issues they face.
"A time in which they can explore these most profound issues, Jerusalem, borders, water, refugees, Palestinian statehood. These are profound issues that we believe can only be resolved with a renewed and redoubled effort, and a full exploration at a site away from the limelight, away from the media, where the two sides can talk and we can talk to them."
Rubin, whose remarks were made to a Jewish organization meeting in Washington, said the Israelis and Palestinians face an ambitious schedule. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators had hoped to reach a framework agreement on so-called final status issues by Feb. 15, and a final peace agreement by September.
But the talks broke down earlier this year, and officials acknowledge it will be a challenge for the two sides to stick to the September timetable. Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has said he will unilaterally declare a Palestinian state if a peace agreement with Israel is not reached. Although U.S. officials say they do not expect any breakthroughs this week, they are hoping the talks will accelerate the peace process.
John Paul Lands at Ben-Gurion Airport
By Meredith Buel (VOA-Jerusalem)
Pope John Paul has begun a landmark pilgrimage to Israel and the Palestinian-controlled territories by calling for an end to all forms of prejudice between Christians and Jews.
The pope arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and was met by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, President Ezer Weizman and other dignitaries.
When the 79-year-old pontiff, clad in white robes, stepped on the red-carpeted tarmac he was greeted by a flourish of trumpets from an Israeli honor guard. John Paul kissed a bowl of soil from the Holy Land presented to him by three children representing the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.
The pope said he arrived in Israel with "profound emotion" on what he describes as "a personal pilgrimage and a spiritual journey." He urged an end to prejudice between Christians and Jews:
"In the difficult search for a lasting peace and justice for all, [for] a newfound openness to us, one another, Christians and Jews together must make courageous efforts to remove all forms of prejudice."
The pope says there is an "urgent need for peace and justice, not for Israel alone, but for the entire region."
"The psalmist reminds us that peace is God's gift. I hear what the Lord God has to say. A voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people and for his lands, and those who turn to him in their hearts. May peace be God's gift to the land he chose as his own. Shalom."
The pope is visiting the Holy Land to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus. He is scheduled to stop at many sites associated with the life of the Christian messiah.
Long-standing religious and political disputes could introduce an element of controversy during the papal visit (which continues until March 26th). More than 40,000 Christian pilgrims and 2,000 foreign journalists are in Israel for this week's events.
A small number of pilgrims described as extremists, on Sunday visited Tel Megiddo, Armageddon, near Kibbutz Megiddo. They explained that they are certain "Pope John Paul II will, during his visit to Israel, return his soul to his creator, immediately followed by Armageddon."
High Court: Removal of Star of David from MDA Ambulance Legal
By IsraelWire
The High Court of Justice ruled the removal of the Star of David and other signs from the Magen David Adom emergency medical service ambulance that will escort Pope John Paul II during his visit was legal.
According to the High Court, the removal of the symbols from the ambulance was a standard practice, as is done in other countries that hosts the pontiff around the world. The court stated the request by the Vatican to remove the signs on the ambulance were not unique to Israel.
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