Month: September 2001

Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders

WCC General Secretary Konrad Raiser welcomes Kofi Annan’s efforts to bring civil society into a closer relationship with UN’s Work

Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), will give one of the addresses at the international gathering of world religious and spiritual leaders that opens at the United Nations (UN) in New York 28 August. He will be accompanied by Dr Hans Ucko, executive secretary of the WCC’s team on Interreligious Relations and Dialogue. Some representatives of WCC member churches will also attend at the invitation of the UN.

Focus: The Riots in Hebron

Violence erupted in Hebron late Friday afternoon, just as the local Jewish community began celebrating the Jewish New Year. Rocks and fire-bombs were hurled at Israeli security forces guarding the borders between PA and Israeli-controlled neighborhoods and burning tires were rolled into Jewish neighborhoods in the city.

Focus: The Riots in Nablus

The outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian clashes has been particularly intense around Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, a site of fierce fighting in the “tunnel riots” of 1996, with one Israeli soldier shot dead over the weekend inside the synagogue.

The Diplomatic War

The Clinton Administration announced today that Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to attend soon a US-mediated session in the region aimed at rooting out the cause of the violence. The clashes are Clinton’s worst nightmare, as he desperately wanted to avoid a Mideast flare-up just as his term in office winds up and US voters go to the polls to elect his successor.

Adding Fuel to the Fire

The demonstrations quickly spread on Friday and Saturday to Judea/Samaria and Gaza, where IDF outposts and Israeli civilians came under attack from stone-throwing youths, as well as gunfire from armed Fatah activists (the “Tanzim”) and even PA security forces. With casualties climbing, the two sides seemed close to a cease-fire on Saturday, until a tragic incident ignited the flames further.

The Spark: Sharon or the Muslim Firebrands

The growing conflict started last Thursday morning, when Sharon ascended the Temple Mount on the eve of the Jewish New Year holiday to exercise his right to visit Judaism’s holiest site like anyone else. Sharon announced his plans days earlier, giving Palestinian and Israeli Arab leaders plenty of time to gather a hostile welcoming committee.

Sharon and Bush Disagree On How To Move Forward

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President George W. Bush expressed sharply differing views yesterday during a photo opportunity at their meeting at the White House. The brief exchange with reporters highlighted a disagreement over how to proceed with the peace process amid continuing violence.

Cease Fire Agreed To, But Will It Be Implemented?

With CIA chief George Tenet threatening to pack his bags and leave, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gave reluctant approval to the US cease-fire plan in a late-night meeting.

Middle East Headline Brief – May 4, 2001

Israeli officials are anticipating the arrival today of a draft copy of the Mitchell Commission of Inquiry Report. A copy was delivered to the White House in Washington on Thursday. T

Inside Look at What is Happening In Israel

I am in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon tonight, where I have been listening for several hours to the sound of Israeli fire striking at Yasser Arafat’s “Force 17” security headquarters in the nearby Gaza Strip. Other Palestinian sites in Ramallah, north of Jerusalem, have also been hit by Israeli fire this evening.

Abu Sayyaf Seeks U.S. Negotiation for Missionary Safe Release

The Philippines military has theorized that the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, which is holding American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham of Kansas City, has opened its communication lines with officials of the White House in the United States to negotiate for the safe release of the Burnhams.

Worthy Christian News