UN Says Lebanon Water Project Is Minor Diversion
There were calls in recent days for calmer heads to prevail over the building of a water pumping station along a tributary of the upper Jordan River on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israel
US Veto Spares Israel Another Blow at UN
In one of the first major foreign policy moves of the new Bush Administration, the US on Tuesday night vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an international observer force to “protect” Palestinians.
Bush Set to Appoint Kurtzer as Israeli Ambassador
US President George W. Bush is poised to name Daniel Kurtzer, currently US envoy to Egypt and a veteran of the Middle East peace process, as the next American ambassador to Israel.
Vatican Agrees With Israel on Need to End Palestinian Violence
The Vatican expressed understanding on Friday for Israel’s position that it is essential to immediately end the violence in the disputed territories and acts of Palestinian terrorism, according to Ovadia Sofer, Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon’s emissary.
Barak Wants No Part of Clinton Scandal
Aides to outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak tried to distance him from the controversy surrounding former US President Bill Clinton and the “pardongate” scandal, refuting claims on Saturday that Barak had made three calls to Clinton that ultimately persuaded him to pardon fugitive financier Marc Rich.
Knesset Approves Mammoth Sharon Government
After quickly pulling together a broad coalition of national unity, Israeli war hero and long-time politician Ariel Sharon was sworn in as Israel’s 11th prime minister in a special Knesset session late Wednesday evening, becoming the leader of the largest cabinet in the nation’s history.
Israel Still Pondering “Who is a Jew?”
Israeli authorities are wrestling again with the “Jewishness” of immigrants under the Law of Return, while a group of new immigrant soldiers are asking to use the New Testament instead of just the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, during their induction as IDF soldiers.
Syria Mounting Bid For Seat on UN Security Council
A diplomatic dogfight is taking shape at the United Nations, as Israel ponders how to foil Syria’s drive to become one of the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council.
Lebanon Arrests Twelve “Spies” For Israel
The Lebanese army has detained 12 people, including a Palestinian officer, accusing them of spying for Israel, the military said Thursday. The army statement did not say when or where the 12 were arrested, but said they were caught with sophisticated wireless and camouflaged photography equipment.
Sharon on Track to Beat Barak or Peres
The gnawing debate inside Israel’s peace camp about whether arch-dove Shimon Peres should replace Ehud Barak as the Labor party’s candidate for prime minister seemed less relevant on Friday, as the latest polls showed Likud chairman Ariel Sharon now defeating either one come February 6.
Iran and Syria View Israel as Vulnerable
Syrian dictator Bashar Assad concluded his first official visit to Tehran on Thursday by agreeing with his Iranian hosts that Israel and her US ally currently are in a period of weakness that should be exploited on behalf of the Palestinians.
Saddam Blames Air Strikes on Zionist Plot
Following the US-British air strikes on Iraq’s air defense system Friday night, Baghdad threatened to retaliate, intensifying not only its anti-US rhetoric, but also its continued campaign to eliminate the Jewish state.
Labor Crisis Puts Unity Government on Hold
It looked like smooth sailing, but the bid by Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon for a quick national unity government has run into rough waters due to sharp divisions within the Labor party over outgoing PM Ehud Barak’s decision to stay on as defense minister.
UN Body Supports Anti-Israel Map
A key United Nations agency has lent its support to a Palestinian Authority Ministry of Tourism map that completely obliterates Israel, CNSNEWS.com reported.
Barak Axes Religious Affairs Ministry
Pushing a key element in its alternate agenda for survival, the shrunken cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud decided to close the Religious Affairs Ministry by the end of the month. The move is a key plank in Barak’s “social revolution,” a second option to rebuild a secular/left coalition in case peace talks with the Palestinians collapse.
New president pledges to unite Israel, but exacerbates religious-secular tension
JERUSALEM, Israel, 12 August 2000 (Newsroom) — Amid concerns by secular Jews that the wall between church and state is softening, Israel’s first Sephardi president insists that his priority is unifying a country that is agonizing over its character and future.
Orthodox Jews, Christians join to defend the Golan Heights
GOLAN HEIGHTS, 6 March 2000 (Newsroom) — Orthodox Rabbis and evangelical Protestants are among the leaders of a biblically based campaign to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s government from transferring the Golan Heights to Syria. Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, supported that stance on March 1 with approval of the first reading of a bill that would require a special majority in a referendum on ceding territory.
Pope will meet rabbis to help restore breach with Jews
JERUSALEM, 15 February 2000 (Newsroom) — Seeking to heal strained relations with Jews, Pope John Paul II has agreed to meet with Israel’s chief rabbis during his historic visit to the Holy Land in March, according to a Vatican diplomat.