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"THE HOT SPOT"
CHN "special report" 10-8-98 Daniel 7:8 " I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots.." It is in this passage of scripture that we are told that the Peacemaker/Antichrist will "up-root" the three rouge kings that come against his pact of peace with the Jews. As you know, it is our contention that King Hussein of Jordan is this "little horn" character, and that Iraq, Syria, and Libya are the three rouge Kings. And because all prophecy continues toward it's own fulfillment in real time, we would like to now draw attention to the scenario that is presently and suddenly taking place on today's stage of history that demonstrates how close we are to Jordan's King having to confront both Syria and Libya in his own defense, and ultimately in defense of the forth coming peace pact that he is pivotally involved in with Israel and the Palestinians. There is no secret that Syria's Assad and Jordan's King hate each other. Suddenly, in one week, it has surfaced that Turkey has given Syria an ultimatum of war if present conditions between them are not rectified. To know the particulars of the conditions read the accompanying articles. So, Syria finds itself threatened with war by the largest and best equipped army in the Middle East, who has just concluded a military pact with Israel and covertly with Jordan. Turkey's army is the second largest army in NATO, second only to the United States. So this is as serious a threat as Syria can imagine. Assad is furious, but must remain diplomatic toward both Israel and Turkey to try and resolve this, but in his anger he has lashed out at who he considers the "pip-squeak" of the trio...Jordan. He has accused the King of having held up Arab military support for Damascus in the 1973 Middle East War. The most serious of accusations toward the King's honor, Arab allegiance, and integrity. So, a war of words has begun at this very critical time in the peace making process, which will develop into Syria's continued disagreement with peace with Israel especially as brokered by the King. And now that this threat of war against Syria has been leveled by Turkey, here comes Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi weighing in on Syria's side, saying "any aggression against Syria will be considered as an aggression against Libya according to the Arab joint defense pact." So, we have the most serious situation of threat's of war, and the most critical time in the stalled peace process about to happen in Washington on October 15, on a definite collision course. And what individual is becoming more and more the key person in both instances...Jordan's King. As we reported in our most recent commentary, King Hussein has been invited to attend the Washington Summit, at which he will continue his "brokering position"..[vis-a-vis the Hebron agreement], and now becomes the point man in Assad's verbal attack in response to his being threatened with war. As we continue to "watch" the possibility of the Rapture happening in this next window of opportunity, this is exactly one of the scenarios that would have to be lining up for the "up-rooting" to take place. As we begin our 19th year of watching through our Daniel glasses, it never ceases to amaze us how every jot and tittle of God's word is so perfectly fulfilled. Jesus is Lord.. Luke 12:37 CNN October 7, 1998 Jordan accuses Syria of `insult' over 1973 war Key Statement: "...Relations between Syria and Jordan have been strained by Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel, Jordan's accusations that Damascus-based groups have been infiltrating into its territory and Jordan's growing military ties with Turkey..." AMMAN, Jordan (Reuters) -- Jordan has denounced accusations by Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas that it held up Arab military support for Damascus in the 1973 Middle East War. Information Minister Nasser Joudeh said televised comments by Tlas, in which he said King Hussein initially advised Saudi Arabia against sending forces across Jordan to reinforce Syrian troops, were offensive and untrue. "We do not understand why these insults (were made) against Jordan," Joudeh was quoted by the official news agency Petra as saying late on Tuesday. Joudeh said the Jordanian cabinet condemned the "dubious" statement, which he said was made at a time when Jordan was working to prevent a row between Syria and Turkey escalating into conflict. Tlas, speaking 25 years after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, said King Hussein had warned Saudi Arabia that its forces would be vulnerable to Israeli air strikes if they crossed Jordan. His comments were broadcast by Syrian television this week and repeated on Tuesday, the anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities. "Tlas was regrettably reported to make untrue statements about Jordan preventing the Saudi army from reaching the battlefield," Joudeh said. Joudeh said Jordan had fully supported the Saudi forces when they eventually crossed Jordan on their way to and from the fighting. Jordan sent forces to the Golan Heights to support Syria after it launched a joint attack with Egypt against Israel. But it did not open up a third front against the Jewish state. Earlier this year palace officials denied a British television report that King Hussein secretly flew to Israel in 1973 to warn it of the planned joint Syrian and Egyptian attack. Relations between Syria and Jordan have been strained by Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel, Jordan's accusations that Damascus-based groups have been infiltrating into its territory and Jordan's growing military ties with Turkey. Jordan Times 10-7-98 Mubarak shuttles between Ankara, Damascus to defuse crisis Key Statement: "...Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi weighed in on Syria's side Tuesday, saying "any aggression against Syria will be considered as an aggression against Libya according to the Arab joint defence pact." ..." ANKARA (AP) — Shuttling between Ankara and Damascus, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak tried Tuesday to avert a feared war between Turkey and Syria over Kurdish rebels. In three hours of closed-door talks with Mubarak, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel upheld his nation's case that Syria is sheltering Turkish Kurd rebels responsible for cross-border attacks. Turkey is threatening force against Syria, which denies harbouring the rebels. “The Turkish side has explained the support extended by Syria to the terrorist activities in detail and said that this cannot go on. It has been stated that the Turkish public is outraged and pointed out to solid steps that have to be taken by Syria,” Demirel said in a statement after the talks. Independent television NTV said Mubarak left Ankara with six Turkish demands for Syria: Cease support to the rebels, expel rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, close rebel camps in Syrian-controlled Lebanon, stop rebel trips across the border, recognise Turkey's existing borders and promise to establish good, neighbourly relations. The statement from Demirel's office said the Egyptians were given a dossier — apparently, one containing intelligence reports that Turkey believes confirm Syrian backing for the rebels. “We are warning Syria for the last time to cease its support to the separatist organisation and abandon its hostile policy against Turkey,” Premier Mesut Yilmaz told parliament on Tuesday. Mubarak flew from the Turkish capital to Damascus late Tuesday and met for more than an hour with Syrian President Hafez Assad. It was their second meeting in three days. Assad's spokesman, Jubran Kourieh, did not give details, saying only that Mubarak outlined Ankara's views and listened to Syria's. Reports in Egypt said Mubarak was trying to work out a mechanism for the two sides to resolve the dispute peacefully. Mubarak told Egyptian journalists on his plane that he proposed that Turkey and Syria “meet to discuss the details of the problem” over the Kurdish rebels, Egypt's Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported. Mubarak acknowledged Demirel's concern about the rebels, but added: “I pointed out to him that our region does not accept or endure any military action or armed confrontation.” MENA also said Mubarak was trying to arrange a meeting between the Turkish and Syrian foreign ministers as well as creation of a “joint committee to start meeting to rebuild the bridges of confidence” between the neighbouring countries. Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi weighed in on Syria's side Tuesday, saying “any aggression against Syria will be considered as an aggression against Libya according to the Arab joint defence pact.” Turkey stressed in a presidential statement Tuesday that the issue was not linked to Turkish-Arab relations. The United States and Russia, along with most countries of the Middle East, urged the two countries to reach a peaceful solution. Relations between Turkey and Syria have long been troublesome. Damascus is uneasy with Ankara's plans to build dams on the Euphrates River, a key source of water for Syria, while Turkey accuses Damascus of having designs on a Turkish border province, Hatay, which has a sizeable Arab population. Syria also feels threatened by the military and diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel. But the recent rise in tension appears part of Ankara's push to end fighting in a 14-year-old Kurdish insurgency in which 37,000 people have died. The rebels are fighting for Kurdish autonomy in southeast Turkey. Turkey has reportedly sent 10,000 troops to its border with Syria. Newspapers have suggested that its forces could stage raids on rebel camps in the Syrian-controlled Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. There have been unconfirmed reports of Turkish jets buzzing the border area in a show of force. U.S. encouraged by Mubarak's efforts WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Tuesday it was encouraged by diplomatic efforts by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to pull Syria and Turkey back from the brink of a possible conflict. “We are encouraged by the work that President Mubarak has been doing,” said U.S. State Department spokesman James Rubin. He said Washington was “concerned about the risk that the situation could be spinning out of control,” which he underlined would represent “a big mistake.” Turkey is threatening to take military action against Syria for allegedly harbouring Kurdish rebels from the Kurdish Labour Party (PKK) who are fighting to secede from Ankara. Showing a degree of understanding for Ankara's position, Rubin said “the Turks have to make clear that the Syrians need to do more to rein in the PKK.” He said Washington had been in touch with the parties. The State Department on Monday rejected suggestions it was staying out of the dispute because of the need to secure support from Syria in relaunching the Middle East peace process. CHN Commentary 10-8-98 The Mid East March to Peace Madeline has concluded her two day "pre-summit" talks with Bibi and Yasser and it's a "big thumbs-up"..!!!!!! Quoting from the Jerusalem Post article below: "Albright said after her meeting with Netanyahu and Arafat at the Erez crossing yesterday that the "new spirit" and "sense of urgency" she felt has given her confidence that a deal can actually be sealed in the US." October 15 is the date set for all the parties to meet with President Clinton in Washington to hopefully get to an agreement so the final status talks can commence. And when we say "all the parties", we do mean "all"..!!!!! For lo and behold, besides Bibi and Yasser, President Clinton has invited none other than...[can we have a drum roll please]....you guessed it, His Majesty, King Hussein..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who just happens to be in the US for his chemo shots. Is that right...??? Well, who'da thought the King [of all people] would get an invite...!!!!! Remember, getting to the "final status" issues is what making the "peace" is all about. In "final status" is where they will decide on the Jerusalem issue, and sharing the Temple Mount. And it's the sharing of the Mount that will occur, as we are told in Rev. 11:1,2. The Jews will be given the right to rebuild their Temple, but they will leave out the outer court..."for it has been given to the Gentiles" [Rev.11:2]. And it's the outer court area today where the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqusa Mosque stands. And it is King Hussein [the 42nd descendent of Mohammed] who holds the "key's" to these two Muslim holy places in Jerusalem. And it will be King Hussein who decides on "the compromise" to allow the Jewish Temple to be built adjacent to the Dome and the Mosque. And it is for this "compromise", and the eventual "uprooting" of the 3 dissenting Kings, that he will be declared the Messiah of the Jews by the head Rabbi of the tribe of Levy.......and thus the Peacemaker/Antichrist...!!!!!!!!! Is this next window "the window"...???? If they conclude this Washington Summit with an agreement on the West Bank and start "final status" talks....it will look very promising. And this is the place where we say......we'll be watching...!!! Happy Birthday Sal..... Jesus is Lord. Luke 12:37 JERUSALEM POST Thursday, October 8, 1998 18 Tishri 5759 Clinton: Deal must be reached By HILLEL KUTTLER, DANNA HARMAN, and news agencies Key Statement "....Clinton also said "it is imperative" for an agreement to be wrapped up so negotiations can commence on the final-status issues that, under the Oslo Accords, are to be completed next May...." "...Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said the US had asked Jordan's King Hussein to join next week's summit meeting. Hussein is in the US undergoing medical treatment and according to the sources has not yet replied to the request...." WASHINGTON (October 8) - President Bill Clinton pledged yesterday to dedicate as much of his time as needed to achieve an accord when he hosts a summit with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat next week. Clinton told reporters he is "encouraged" by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's just-concluded visit to the region, and believes that if Netanyahu and Arafat bring the same sense of cooperation that they have recently exhibited, a deal can be reached. Clinton also said "it is imperative" for an agreement to be wrapped up so negotiations can commence on the final-status issues that, under the Oslo Accords, are to be completed next May. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said later that the talks would be held at the Wye River Conference Center in eastern Maryland. However, he said it has not yet been determined whether Clinton would travel there for the summit or would open the discussions at a White House event and then leave the parties to their deliberations. Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said the US had asked Jordan's King Hussein to join next week's summit meeting. Hussein is in the US undergoing medical treatment and according to the sources has not yet replied to the request. The summit opens on October 15 and could last more than one day. The opening of the winter Knesset session, originally scheduled for October 19, will be delayed by at least one day to allow Netanyahu - who needs to be present - to spend more time in the US. In an Oval Office photo opportunity with visiting Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, Clinton was asked how long he expects the summit to last, and jokingly replied: "I'd be happy if it were over in an hour. But I'm prepared to invest as much time as it takes." "I asked them to block out a couple of days to come back, because I think it's very important that we try to get over these last humps and get into the last stage of negotiations," Clinton said. "We need to get to final-status talks, because keep in mind, the whole thing is supposed to be wrapped up by May of next year. And the closer we get to that date without having been at least in the final-status talks - where the parties have a relaxed opportunity, without being against a timetable, to discuss these big issues of the future of the Middle East - the closer we get to that date without that happening, it's going to be more difficult." Clinton said he hopes that the two leaders will "be talking 12 hours a day" to reach a deal. Albright said after her meeting with Netanyahu and Arafat at the Erez crossing yesterday that the "new spirit" and "sense of urgency" she felt has given her confidence that a deal can actually be sealed in the US. She said that "significant and substantial progress" had been made during her two days of meetings. "With this substantial progress having now been achieved and some understandings reached, I believe we are now in a far better position to finalize all the issues at the Washington summit," she said. "Their body language has been fairly positive. On the other hand, I wasn't born yesterday, and there are still many hard problems out there that the leaders themselves are very much aware of." After the talks, Albright left for Brussels and London to grapple with the unrest in Kosovo. Arafat invited Netanyahu to a lamb and fish lunch he hosted for Albright at a Palestinian guest house after the talks. Netanyahu smoked a cigar after the meal, and later told Israelis the food Arafat served was kosher. Arafat also gave the prime minister a box of Cuban cigars as a gift. The American goal during this trip was to nail down those areas on which there is agreement, so as to leave as few potential stumbling blocks as possible to be dealt with at the summit. Three areas of agreement were pinned down: the opening of the industrial park at Karni, the setting up of a joint committee to battle incitement, and the launching of several "people-to-people" initiatives. In relation to matters still under contention - such as security assurances, the changing of the Palestinian Covenant, and the third redeployment - the issues agreed upon are minor. Several Palestinian officials went so far as to say that "nothing had really changed" during Albright's mission. Arafat's only comment to the press after the meeting was that Albright "has done a lot to push the peace process forward." At a press conference in Jerusalem, meanwhile, Netanyahu spoke in subdued tones of the progress made, making it clear that only "modest steps" had been taken and that much hard work is ahead. "Are the Palestinians ready to fulfill their commitments, to revoke the PLO charter, to fight terror, to fulfill completely their part of the agreement under the principle of reciprocity?" he asked. "If the answer is yes, there will be an agreement. Period. "I can say that we climbed the foothills, but we still have a very large mountain to scale in Washington," he said, adding, "None of the central issues has been concluded between us and the Palestinians." But a top Israeli security source said that any public agreement is important in itself, and that the sides would now find it easier to resolve other matters. US special envoy Dennis Ross and Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk are to remain in the region for a few more days to work on several of these other matters. In addition, CIA Director George Tenet, who arrived earlier this week, is working with both sides on the security working paper - the acceptance of which is of cardinal importance to the closing of a deal. The security source said understandings on a majority of the security matters would hopefully be reached before the summit, leaving only the thorny questions of the Palestinian Covenant and the third redeployment. CNN Wednesday October 7, 1998 Web posted at: 4:25 p.m. EDT (2025 GMT) Hailing 'new spirit,' U.S. to host Mideast summit Arafat, Netanyahu, Clinton to meet next week Key Statement "...The talks, to be hosted by President Bill Clinton and expected to last several days, will open on October 15 in Washington, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced Wednesday..." EREZ CROSSING, Gaza Strip (CNN) -- Following "substantial progress" toward breaking a lengthy peace process deadlock, the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians will come to the United States next week for a U.S.-mediated summit. The talks, to be hosted by President Bill Clinton and expected to last several days, will open on October 15 in Washington, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced Wednesday. She said a four-hour meeting on the Gaza-Israel border Wednesday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made "substantial progress" on key elements of a U.S. peace package that Washington hopes to finalize at the summit. It centers on the extension of Palestinian autonomy to another 13 percent of the West Bank in tandem with tougher Palestinian action to halt attacks on Israelis by militants operating from areas under their control. Speaking with optimism of a "new spirit" between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders after months of acrimony, Albright held out hopes for opening a "new chapter" in the troubled peace process. "On the other hand, I wasn't born yesterday," she added at a news conference following Wednesday's meeting, the third time in 11 days that Arafat and Netanyahu held face-to-face talks. "There are still very many hard problems out there that the leaders, themselves, are very much aware of." The peace process, which has been at a standstill for 19 months, faces a deadline of May 1999, the expiration date of a temporary peace pact Israel and the Palestinians signed in Oslo, Norway, in 1993. The United States hopes the Washington talks will launch the two sides into long- overdue negotiations on a permanent agreement. Without that, Arafat has said he will unilaterally declare the creation of a Palestinian state, a move Israel vigorously opposes. Neither Netanyahu nor Arafat accompanied Albright as she spoke to reporters after Wednesday's talks. The Palestinian leader left for Russia, where he said he would ask President Boris Yeltsin for help in breaking the deadlock in negotiations with Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister returned to Jerusalem, where he played down U.S. optimism. "We have climbed hills but the mountain is before us," Netanyahu said. He said progress had been achieved in three areas -- opening an industrial park on the Israel-Gaza border, setting up a committee to battle anti-Israeli incitement and forging people-to-people contacts. But significantly, Netanyahu did not repeat Albright's contention that "significant and substantial progress" had also been made on security, a key issue delaying Israel's handover of a further 13 percent of the West Bank to Palestinian self-rule. "If they will fulfill their commitments there will be an agreement," he said in reference to what he called "security and reciprocity" needs. At the start of Wednesday's meeting, Albright and the two Mideast leaders had a three-way handshake as they posed for photographs. Albright, Netanyahu and Arafat sat around a square table so small their knees and elbows were almost touching. Posing for photographers, Netanyahu and Arafat shook hands across the table and then Albright placed her hand on top of theirs. At one point during the meeting, Albright walked out of the room, leaving Netanyahu and Arafat to talk alone. It was the first time in a year the two leaders spoke without mediators. The meeting began at an Israeli army base on the Gaza border and then moved to a guest house on the Palestinian side of the frontier for an unscheduled working lunch. During the lunch, which was described as relaxed, Arafat presented Netanyahu with two boxes of Havana cigars which the Israeli leader distributed at the end of the meal, quipping, "after we sign an agreement, we'll all have to go to Cuba," according to Israel radio. After the meal, Arafat accompanied Netanyahu to his car and the two men, smiling warmly, exchanged a long handshake before Netanyahu left. Jerusalem Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers, Correspondent Andrea Koppel, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. CHN "special report" 10-3-98 In Preparation for the "October Summit"..... As Madeline Albright and Dennis Ross prepare to depart for Israel on Monday in preparation for the October Summit, the anticipated diplomatic involvement of Jordan and His Majesty King Hussein once again becomes headline news. Todays edition of the Jordan Times is reporting in three different articles on the "moves" the King is making on the "chess board" of Middle East Peace in connection with the October Summit. On Thursday he called for two newly appointed Jordanian senators to meet with him at his residence in Washington. [Remember, the King has taken up residence in Washington since July 14 as he undergoes his cancer therapy treatments at the Mayo Clinic.] The two are former prime ministers of Jordan who have been outspoken critics of the King's domestic and foreign policies. It seems that they were under the mistaken understanding that the King "wasn't going to make it", and that they could take up their past "disturbing" influence in the peace process. The King assured them that his health was improving daily and he would be back on his throne shortly. They departed from his presence in the traditional "bowed" position thanking him profusely for their appointments. Also on Thursday, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib addressed the U.N. General Assembly and emphasized Jordan's continued efforts to achieve a lasting and honorable settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Friday found the new Jordanian Prime Minister, Fayez Tarawneh, boarding a plane for Washington to meet with His Majesty for further instructions on how to proceed with the upcoming Summit. And then the most assuring news of all came from Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the leader of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas. Addressing a press conference in Gaza marking the first anniversary of his release from detention, Yassin thanked King Hussein for his efforts that secured his release from an Israeli jail one year ago and wished him good health. Yassin said he highly valued Jordan's continued efforts in support of the Palestinian people's cause on all fronts and at all levels. Hamas holds the key to whether or not the peace process moves forward. And of all the involved parties to the process, only the King has Yassin's ear..... Remember what they have in common,... the Sheikh is a Muslim holy man, but the King is the 42nd descendent of the Prophet Mohammed, the Holy Man among Holy men.........."the Holy of Holies"...... We will keep watching......... Jesus is Lord.. Luke 12:37 Jordan Times 10-3-98 King receives senators Obeidat, Masri "...The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that King Hussein assured them his health was good. Obeidat and Masri wished the King a speedy recovery and safe return home..." AMMAN (J.T.) — His Majesty King Hussein on Thursday received Senators Ahmad Obeidat and Taher Masri at his residence in Washington. The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that King Hussein assured them his health was good. Obeidat and Masri wished the King a speedy recovery and safe return home. The two senators voiced appreciation of their appointment as members of the Upper House of Parliament. Masri and Obeidat, both outspoken critics of domestic and foreign policies, were appointed senators on Sept. 12. The Nablus-born Masri served briefly as prime minister in 1991, when Jordan was preparing for the Middle East peace conference in Madrid. Obeidat is a former intelligence chief who served as prime minister from 1984 to 1985. He was asked to resign from the Senate four years ago after criticising the 1994 peace treaty with Israel. Obeidat was particularly vocal against the bilateral water arrangement as outlined in the peace deal. Jordan Times 10-3-98 Tarawneh leaves for U.S. for meeting with King "...Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh left for Washington early Friday to meet with His Majesty King Hussein and listen to his directives on issues of concern to Jordan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said..." AMMAN (J.T.) — Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh left for Washington early Friday to meet with His Majesty King Hussein and listen to his directives on issues of concern to Jordan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said. It said Tarawneh will also meet a number of U.S. officials to discuss bilateral relations and Middle East issues, particularly ways to give impetus to the peace process. The prime minister was quoted by the French news agency as saying before departure that he intends to urge the U.S. to pressure Israel into accepting a month-old American peace initiative. The U.S. is calling for Israel to carry out long overdue troop withdrawals from a further l3 per cent of the West Bank, coupled with Palestinian measures to fight anti-Israeli violence. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her Middle East mediator Dennis Ross are due in the region on Tuesday to pursue negotiations ahead of a three-way summit meeting later this month gathering President Bill Clinton, Palestine leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. The prime minister last week said during his visit to Washington he will urge the Clinton administration “in the bluntest of terms” to facilitate Jordanian trade with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, until now hindered by Israeli restrictions, despite signed agreements among all concerned parties. Referring to a deal reached last month with the Palestinians on trade exchanges between Jordan and the self-rule areas of Palestine, Tarawneh said, “we are now armed with an agreement with the Palestinians on the movement of goods, customs and border measures” adding that Jordan intends to “penetrate Israel's economic siege on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.” Jordan Times 10-3-98 Jordan calls on Israel to accept U.S. peace proposal "...Referring to Jerusalem, Khatib called on Israel to rescind all measures designed to change the character of the Holy City, adding that unilateral measures taken before the completion of the final status negotiations violate the Oslo accords..." NEW YORK (Petra) — Jordan on Thursday urged the Israeli government to respond to the U.S. peace initiative in order to end the deadlock in the Middle East peace process and demanded that Israel halt its arbitrary measures against the Palestinian people. In Jordan's address to the U.N. General Assembly, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib emphasised Jordan's continued efforts to achieve a lasting and honourable settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Khatib said Jordan supports the American initiative to give impetus to Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. The signing of the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace treaty demonstrates Jordan's commitment to achieving a lasting peace on all Arab-Israeli tracks, he added. Khatib said the Kingdom appreciates the efforts of the Palestinian leadership and its desire to reach an accord that would end the present deadlock. The foreign minister demanded that the Israeli government respond fully to the U.S. initiative and implement the peace accords. He stressed that Israel using security considerations as an excuse for defaulting on the peace accords prevents genuine progress and further aggravates the situation in the region. Referring to Jerusalem, Khatib called on Israel to rescind all measures designed to change the character of the Holy City, adding that unilateral measures taken before the completion of the final status negotiations violate the Oslo accords. The foreign minister demanded that Israel halt all its measures against the Palestinian people, including closures of the Palestinian territories, arbitrary arrests, demolitions of Arab homes, land confiscations and Jewish settlement building. On the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Khatib said Jordan attaches great importance to the agency's continued services to Palestinian refugees. He noted that Jordan hosts the greatest number of these refugees and provides them with basic services at a cost almost exceeding that of the agency's annual budget. Khatib demanded that UNRWA continue its services until the refugee problem has been completely solved and the refugees have been repatriated to their homeland or compensated for their loss of property. Khatib met in New York Friday his Kuwaiti counterpart Shiekh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah at the Kuwaiti mission. Later Kahtib told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the meeting took place in a brotherly atmosphere and the discussion covered issues of common concern and developments in the Middle East. Present at the meeting were Jordan's permanent ambassador to the U.N. Hassan Abu Nameh and Kuwait's envoy to the U.N. Khatib on Friday held talks with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and other foreign ministers. Jordan Times 10-3-98 King receives message of good wishes from Saudi crown prince "...In Gaza, the leader of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin has thanked King Hussein for his efforts that secured his release from an Israeli jail one year ago and wished him good health. Addressing a press conference in Gaza marking the first anniversary of his release from detention, Yassin said King Hussein played a pivotal role in securing his release together with several Palestinian detainees. Yassin said he highly valued Jordan's continued efforts in support of the Palestinian people's cause on all fronts and at all levels..." AMMAN (J.T.) — His Majesty King Hussein, currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in the U.S., has received a letter from Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz expressing the Saudi royal family's wishes for the King's recovery and well-being. Prince Abdullah, who visited the Monarch recently, said in the letter that his visit to King Hussein “was prompted by the true affection and appreciation which I cherish for you, because we are tied by strong bonds not liable to be affected by events or developments.” “We are confident that the future, with God's will, is bound to bring us the good news of your return to the Arab and Muslim homeland as a leader and a brother exercising his historic role along with his Arab brothers to deal with the challenges with great resolve and determination,” Prince Abdullah said in his letter. Replying to a letter he had received from the King, Prince Abdullah said he was deeply touched by the letter which reflected the true feelings among brothers. “I look forward to your visit to Saudi Arabia to be among your brothers; and please remember that King Fahd, myself and the rest of the royal family in Saudi Arabia support you in happy and difficult days alike,” the prince said. King Hussein had thanked Prince Abdullah for his gift of saffron and water from Zamzem water — well close to the holy shrines in Mecca — blessed by a prominent religious leader of Saudi Arabia. In Gaza, the leader of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin has thanked King Hussein for his efforts that secured his release from an Israeli jail one year ago and wished him good health. Addressing a press conference in Gaza marking the first anniversary of his release from detention, Yassin said King Hussein played a pivotal role in securing his release together with several Palestinian detainees. Yassin said he highly valued Jordan's continued efforts in support of the Palestinian people's cause on all fronts and at all levels. Israel freed Yassin, who was serving a life sentence, last October in a deal with Jordan to obtain the release of two Mossad agents caught in a bungled attempt to assassinate a senior Hamas political official in Amman. Sheikh Yassin, who wished King Hussein full recovery, stressed that the Palestinians have the full right to establish their independent state. King Hussein has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment since July l4 when he checked into Mayo Clinic. CHN Commentary 9-30-98 The Mid East March to Peace What should we liken it too..?? A director calling out to his actors that the break is over, "so everyone please take your places"... Or, the conductor taping his baton to regain his orchestra's attention.... Whatever the analogy..... HERE WE GO AGAIN......!! After months of marching in place, progress on the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks has taken a sudden step forward. With Yasser Arafat preparing to address the United Nations General Assembly on Monday afternoon, 9-28-98, presumably to announce to the world body that he intends to declare Palestinian Statehood in May, 1999, a meeting with President Clinton and Benyamin Netanyahu at the White House earlier that morning seemed to have changed his plans. The most provocative statement he could muster in addressing the member states was, "stand by our people, especially as the five-year transitional period provided for in the Palestinian-Israeli agreements will end on 4 May 1999, and our people demand of us to shoulder our responsibilities and they await the establishment of their independent state." And now, on Tuesday he returns to Washington for another meeting with Clinton, out of which comes Arafat's agreement to an Israeli proposal for a joint security arrangement over the 3% of the 13% [you do remember all that] of the land that stands between both of them and getting to the "final status issues". And of course, "final status issues" for the most part means the sharing of Jerusalem as both of their capitols, and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple on the Temple Mount. So, both Yasser and Bibi have agreed to return to Washington for a Summit with Clinton as early as Mid October to close the deal on the West bank and get to "final status". In the mean time, Dennis Ross and Madeline Albright will continue working closely with both parties in preparation for the Summit. Now, while the Peace Process is once again becoming focused upon [and very timely, if this next window is the Rapture window] we can now turn some of our attention to the other "key player" whose name isn't being mentioned at this time, and for good reason........and that is, His Majesty King Hussein. As you may or may not know, the King has been living in the United States for the past two months undergoing extensive chemotherapy treatments for his life threatening lymphoma cancer. He has just completed the third set of treatments in a six set series, and even though initially things looked very bleak for the King, lo and behold, the treatments have taken a miraculous turn for the best, and it now appears that he is going to overcome yet another major hurdle in a life filled with obstacles on his path of destiny. In other words, he'll be at the table when they cut the deal on Jerusalem, and they'll all agree then, that they couldn't have done it without him......!!!!!!!! He is THE MAN, and his time approaches in direct sequence with the Church's departure... The man of sin will be revealed after the Church is Raptured..!! What we will now "watch" in the next two weeks is how the preparation for the Washington Summit is working, and then the Summit itself. And remember, all the other "last day" prophecy's must be continuing to work themselves into position for the time when they too will be fulfilled... things like: The world financial crisis, Russia moving back to communism, the upheaval of the world weather patterns, etc......... We'll be watching........... Jesus is Lord.... Luke 12:37 JORDAN TIMES 9-29-98 Arafat backs off announcement on Palestinian state Key Statement "...He called on U.N. member states to "stand by our people, especially as the five-year transitional period provided for in the Palestinian-Israeli agreements will end on 4 May 1999, and our people demand of us to shoulder our responsibilities and they await the establishment of their independent state."..." UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday failed to announce at the United Nations his intention of unilaterally declaring a Palestinian state in May. Arafat, disappointed by progress with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, had been expected to make a bold declaration on statehood in his speech to the 185-nation U.N. General Assembly. It is the first time Arafat has addressed the assembly's annual two-week debate, reserved for U.N. member states. However Arafat, who appeared here fresh from talks in Washington with Netanyahu and U.S. President Bill Clinton, spoke of plans for a Palestinian state only in general terms. He declared: "I look forward to speaking to you once more when Palestine takes its natural place in the community of nations," and departed from his text to add: "as an independent state." He called on U.N. member states to "stand by our people, especially as the five-year transitional period provided for in the Palestinian-Israeli agreements will end on 4 May 1999, and our people demand of us to shoulder our responsibilities and they await the establishment of their independent state." "This independent Palestinian state must be established as an embodiment of the right of our people to self-determination." Israel and the United States had pressed Arafat not to use the international podium here to spell out his intentions to unilaterally declare statehood in May 1999. Arafat has repeatedly vowed in the past that he would announce a Palestinian state on May 4, the date when an interim self-rule period ends according to Israeli-Palestinian accords. Arafat stressed that his Palestinian National Authority still supported the peace process, saying: "There is no alternative to peace." "We have not lost hope in the peace process, and we will continue to implement our obligations in accordance with the existing agreements," he said. But he blamed Netanyahu for recent setbacks, and stressed that Israel must also live up to its obligations. Wagging his finger, Arafat said: "It is not admissible for Israel to continue dominating the Palestinian people, and everyone is aware that 100 per cent peace means 100 per cent security and 100 per cent freedom." Arafat challenged Washington to make public its initiative providing for Israel to hand over to the Palestinians 13 per cent of the West Bank. "We call upon the U.S. co-sponsor to declare its initiative and to publicly and clearly announce the responsibility of the party that is impeding peace," Arafat said. Although the U.S. proposals have been widely discussed in the media, they have not been officially made public. The Palestinian leader hailed Clinton's announcement Monday of a summit with Arafat and Netanyahu in Washington in mid-October, saying the U.S. president "graciously took an important step to save the peace process and to push it forward." He also called on other concerned parties to intensify efforts, including Russia, which is the other Middle East peace process co-sponsor, China, Japan and the European Union. He said U.N. member states should support a Franco-Egyptian initiative for an international conference "to save the peace process from the dangerous crisis it has reached." Arafat, his lips trembling as he delivered his address, was warmly applauded as he approached the General Assembly podium. He bowed and shakily raised his arm in acknowledgement of the applause. However, in line with U.N. protocol, he was not accorded the privilege of sitting in a chair beside the podium, which is reserved for heads of state as they prepare to address the assembly. Arafat addressed the debate in line with a General Assembly resolution in July which upgraded the status of Palestine delegation at the United Nations — although the Palestine mission still has only observer status here. JORDAN TIMES 9-29-98 Netanyahu claims breakthrough at White House summit with Arafat Key Statement "...This is really time to bring the closure to the discussions the parties have been having on an interim agreement so they can clear the way for the difficult discussions they have," said spokesman Michael McCurry...." ISRAELI PRIME Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said Monday that he and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat had achieved a breakthrough on a long-elusive deal to turn over more West Bank territory, and President Bill Clinton asked them to return next month to iron out a final deal. "I believe that we all agreed that we have made progress on the path to peace,'' Clinton told reporters after an hour-long session with the two leaders in the Oval Office. He described "a significant narrowing of the gaps between the two parties across a wide range of issues.'' But Secretary of State Madeleine Albright steered clear of claiming a breakthrough on any of the tough issues, including how much land Israel would relinquish and what the Palestinians would do to curb terrorism. "This process needs to be speeded up,'' Albright said. She and U.S. mediator Dennis Ross will go to the Middle East for more talks with the two leaders around Oct. 6, and about a week later Arafat and Netanyahu will return to the White House to see Clinton again. Clinton convened a hastily arranged summit at the White House Monday in a bid to get the deadlocked peace talks back on track. But U.S. administration officials held little hope for any immediate results. Arafat and Netanyahu were called together here after talks with Albright Sunday in New York signaled some progress on breaking their 18-month stalemate. The White House demanded earlier that the two leaders end their impasse when they meet with Clinton. "This is really time to bring the closure to the discussions the parties have been having on an interim agreement so they can clear the way for the difficult discussions they have," said spokesman Michael McCurry. Washington has been reluctant to intervene in the failing talks and has complained loudly about the deadlock over areas for the proposed Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank and Palestinian security guarantees to Israel. But McCurry said Clinton saw fit to step in at this juncture to push the parties toward an agreement. "As always in a Middle East peace process, a meeting with the president of the United States of America locks in certain details, generates some commitments and builds on momentum," said McCurry, who was quick to lower expectations. "I expect today only that they will make some commitments on the future course of this dialogue with the goal of building on the momentum they generated over the weekend," he said without elaborating on what progress was made. McCurry would not say whether Clinton will press Arafat to soften his words on the establishment of a new Palestine. Clinton in January proposed that Israel conduct a 13-per cent withdrawal from the West Bank in exchange for Palestinian commitments to fight anti-Israeli violence. Arafat has accepted the proposal but Netanyahu has agreed to a 10 per cent handover of territory along with an additional three per cent to be designated a "nature preserve." Both sides, however, are also still far apart on how to divide up the territory and which areas will be under total Palestinian control. Washington can thus only hope to cement those areas where agreement has been reached and detail next steps for concluding a deal on the outstanding issues. The White House is eager to announce at least some progress to demonstrate Clinton's international leadership in the face of possible impeachment hearings into his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. CNN 9-30-98 Revised Middle East peace deal gets Arafat's OK Key Statement "...Arafat told reporters in a brief address outside the White House after meeting with President Clinton that "we have agreed to it to facilitate the negotiations" toward a final settlement of the West Bank issue..." WASHINGTON (CNN) - Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said Tuesday he is willing to accept a joint security arrangement over a small portion of the 13 percent of land in the West Bank that Israel has agreed in principle to turn over to Palestinian authorities. Under the latest plan, 3 percent of the land that Israel turns over to the Palestinians would be used as a nature preserve under the oversight of Israel and the Palestinians. Arafat told reporters in a brief address outside the White House after meeting with President Clinton that "we have agreed to it to facilitate the negotiations" toward a final settlement of the West Bank issue. He also said that the Palestinian issue was "the crux of the whole issue in the Middle East." "Peace is an Israeli need, Palestinian need, Arab need, international need," he said. Arafat's second round of talks with Clinton came the day after Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made some progress toward resolving their differences over the highly controversial issue of a further Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank. Security a key issue White House aides said Clinton stressed to Arafat the need to overcome Israeli fears that terrorists would be able to operate from some of the West Bank land once it is turned over to Palestinian authorities due to a lack of security. Israel previously said the U.S. proposal that Israel withdraw from an additional 13 percent of the West Bank posed too much of a security risk. But Israel reportedly was willing to agree to the latest version of the proposal. White House spokesman Mike McCurry said before the meeting that Israel's concerns over security were "justified." Afterward, he said that Israel's security was a "very real concern" and that Arafat understood that. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Arafat assured Clinton that he would try to counter terrorism against Israel. "He will exert every possible effort," Erakat said. The security issue was underscored by the explosion Tuesday of a car rigged with explosives in an industrial area in the West Bank. The blast killed an activist involved with the fundamentalist Muslim organization Hamas and wounded two other Hamas supporters. Hamas has claimed responsibility for several bloody bombings in Israel. Israel has been bracing for renewed bombings at the approach of Yom Kippur, the most solemn day for observant Jews. On Tuesday, Israel sealed its borders with the West Bank and Gaza in preparation for possible attacks. Summit planned for mid-October By agreeing to the joint security arrangement over 3 percent of the land, Arafat is moving closer to a possible deal in October during a planned summit with Netanyahu. Both Arafat and Netanyahu accepted Clinton's invitation to return to the United States in mid-October to resolve details. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and U.S. envoy Dennis Ross will travel to Israel to finalize dates, venue and format for talks between Netanyahu and Arafat in Washington next month. Aides are hoping an interim deal can then be struck, which would pave the way for final status talks over such issues as control of Jerusalem and the possible creation of a Palestinian state. Clinton and Arafat also talked Tuesday about when the United States will "engage formally" with the Palestinian Authority, McCurry said. The two leaders "talked at some length about the arrangements that will exist when the United States can engage formally with the Palestinian Authority," McCurry said. Peace process had been deadlocked Clinton met with Arafat for about 20 minutes in a one-on-one meeting and for about for 40 minutes with Arafat and senior aides, including Albright and National Security Adviser Sandy Berger. McCurry said Clinton "is determined to see an agreement arise from this exercise." The Middle East peace process has been deadlocked for well over a year, with Israel demanding stiffer anti-terrorism measures from the Palestinians, who in turn have accused Netanyahu of dragging his feet on implementing the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians. The issue of Palestinian statehood also has been a source of friction. Arafat has threatened to declare a Palestinian state unilaterally if negotiations do not produce a state for the Palestinians by next May. However, while Arafat appealed for international support for a Palestinian state in his U.N. address on Monday, he pointedly did not repeat his vow to declare it unilaterally. Netanyahu has hinted that he would counter the declaration of a sovereign Palestinian state by annexing more Palestinian areas -- a scenario that would likely drag both sides into armed conflict. Correspondents Eileen O'Connor and Jerrold Kessel and the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. The New York Times September 29, 1998 U.S., Israel and Arafat Inch Toward a Pact By STEVEN ERLANGER Key Statement "...Clinton, after meeting Netanyahu and Arafat for nearly 90 minutes on Monday morning in the Oval Office, said substantial progress had been made, and the two men accepted his invitation to meet again, perhaps at Camp David, the retreat in Maryland where President Carter helped the Egyptians and Israelis come to a peace settlement in 1978...." WASHINGTON -- After more than 18 months of squabbling and stalemate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have agreed on the essentials of an Israeli withdrawal from another 13 percent of the West Bank, senior American and Israeli officials said on Monday. Such an agreement would leave the Palestinians with political control over 40 percent of the West Bank, including 98 percent of the Palestinian population. But a flurry of negotiations in New York over the weekend and a meeting here on Monday with President Clinton failed to complete the agreement. Unresolved issues include parallel Palestinian actions to insure Israeli security and to fight terrorism. Netanyahu and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright both said they hoped to finish the deal in further three-way talks to be held here in mid-October. Clinton, after meeting Netanyahu and Arafat for nearly 90 minutes on Monday morning in the Oval Office, said substantial progress had been made, and the two men accepted his invitation to meet again, perhaps at Camp David, the retreat in Maryland where President Carter helped the Egyptians and Israelis come to a peace settlement in 1978. "I believe that we all agreed that we have made progress on the path to peace," Clinton told reporters. He described "a significant narrowing of the gaps between the two parties across a wide range of issues." Israel accepted a compromise whereby nearly a quarter of the 13 percent withdrawal -- 3 percent of the West Bank -- would be labeled a nature reserve where Palestinians would not be allowed to live. The land is uninhabited desert scrubland. Clinton warned that there is a "substantial amount of work to be done until a comprehensive agreement can be reached." Albright, saying there was now "new urgency," is to travel to the Middle East next week with the American negotiator, Dennis Ross, to prepare for the final push next month. "We're going to work at this now and see if we can get it done," Clinton said, before having a separate meeting with Netanyahu. On Tuesday he will meet Arafat, who traveled after Monday's meeting to New York to deliver a speech before the General Assembly. Clinton, looking to display mastery of his foreign-policy duties in the midst of his troubles concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, is clearly hoping to have a success to announce shortly before the mid-term elections in November. Netanyahu is now eager to have an interim settlement that will forestall a unilateral announcement by Arafat of an independent Palestinian state, which he has threatened to make if the original timetable runs out on May 4 of next year without a final agreement. And Arafat, his position undermined by nearly 19 months of stalemate, wants formal control over another sizable chunk of the West Bank. The idea of a nature reserve was an American one, intended to persuade Netanyahu to accept the 13 percent withdrawal level. He once said that an interim withdrawal of more than 9 percent would be a potentially mortal blow to the Israeli state, but Albright insisted that 13 percent was the minimum credible withdrawal. Netanyahu said on Monday that he and the Americans were "very very close to an agreement on the parcels of land" -- provided agreement can be reached on the specifics of Palestinian actions to dismantle terrorist cells, extradite prisoners, confiscate excess guns and stop "incitment" of citizens through anti-Israel speeches, sermons and propaganda. The timing and size of a future third redeployment remain to be resolved. That redeployment will be part of the basic questions to be resolved in final status talks that will open, at least with a formal ceremony, as soon as this interim agreement is complete. But American officials expressed confidence now that an agreement was within reach, especially given that both Netanyahu and Arafat have committed to a timetable for the October meeting. As important, they insisted, was that the two men were able to "clear some of the poisoned air between them," one official said. Albright, who has been the American figure most engaged in this often frustrating search for a deal, met Sunday night in New York with Netanyahu and Arafat, their first meeting together in nearly a year. It was then that she decided that time would be ripe for Monday's three-way meeting with Clinton and for the effort to accelerate a settlement in a set of intensive negotiations in October. In May, Ms. Albright, after meeting both men in London, issued a form of ultimatum to Netanyahu, to agree on an interim deal in time to come to Washington the next week, meet with Clinton and begin final status talks. But Netanyahu backtracked, and Clinton backed down on any notion of pressuring Israel publicly after a lobbying firestorm in Congress stoked by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Other smaller issues, put aside early on, must now also be settled, including Israeli promises to allow the Palestinians to run an airport in Gaza, to open an industrial park there and to provide safe passage for Palestinians moving between the West Bank and Gaza. But this agreement, if it happens, will only begin the much-harder task of negotiating a final peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians, including resolving the status of Jerusalem. Under the Hebron accords negotiated by Netanyahu in January 1997, and a side letter from then-Secretary of State Warren Christopher, the three interim withdrawals called for under the Oslo accords were to start in March 1997 and be completed within 12 months, but not later than mid-1998. But none of the interim withdrawals have so far taken place, because Israel's proposed first withdrawal was rejected by the Palestinians as too small. The current negotiation would combine the first and second withdrawals, leaving the third to be decided once final status talks begin. JERUSALEM POST Tuesday, September 29, 1998 9 Tishri 5759 Arafat calls for international conference Key Statement "...Arafat then called on Russia, China, Japan, and the European Union to support the French-Egyptian proposal for an international conference "of all states determined to save the peace process from the dangerous crisis it has reached...." By MARILYN HENRY UNITED NATIONS (September 29) - Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat stopped short of announcing plans to declare an independent Palestinian state in his speech before the UN General Assembly yesterday. Instead, he called for an international conference to save the peace process. Speaking only hours after meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Bill Clinton in Washington, Arafat thanked the American president, "who graciously took an important step to save the peace process." Arafat then called on Russia, China, Japan, and the European Union to support the French-Egyptian proposal for an international conference "of all states determined to save the peace process from the dangerous crisis it has reached." Arafat blamed Netanyahu for the delay in the peace process and also appeared to assail the US, although not by name, for vetoing 21 resolutions on the Palestinian question in the Security Council since 1973. Arafat said the Palestinians represented the oldest and largest refugee question in the world and "our land still suffers under occupation and colonial settlements." He accused Israel of isolating Bethlehem and Hebron "to escalate the supplication and the siege of our people and to destroy the peace process." Arafat, who received a rousing welcome, said the Palestinians will continue to implement their obligations under the existing agreements. But he also said: "We will not give up on a need for Israeli compliance with those agreements and the implementation of their pending obligations without delays or evasiveness. We will not give up our national rights nor will we give up the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people." He called on the UN, as a source of international legitimacy, to stand by the Palestinians, "especially as the five-year transitional period provided for in the Palestinian-Israeli agreements will end on May 4, 1999, and our people demand of us to shoulder our responsibilities, and they await the establishment of their independence state." JERUSALEM POST Tuesday, September 29, 1998 9 Tishri 5759 Clinton: Significant progress in summit By HILLEL KUTTLER and DANNA HARMAN Key Statement "..."We made significant progress on the path to peace, and I think we can finish it in mid-October - and I certainly hope we do," Clinton said. "I think we're closer together on virtually every major issue that either Chairman Arafat [or] Prime Minister Netanyahu has mentioned to me than before."..." WASHINGTON (September 29) - A redeployment agreement could be finalized in mid-October, when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat return to Washington for a follow-up summit, President Bill Clinton declared yesterday. The three leaders made "significant progress" when they met at the White House yesterday, Clinton said in the Oval Office, standing between Netanyahu and Arafat. He stated that a "significant narrowing of the gaps" has occurred on "all major areas" that have held up a deal. "We made significant progress on the path to peace, and I think we can finish it in mid-October - and I certainly hope we do," Clinton said. "I think we're closer together on virtually every major issue that either Chairman Arafat [or] Prime Minister Netanyahu has mentioned to me than before." Netanyahu and Arafat will return to Washington in mid-October to try to hammer out a final pact, Clinton said. He added that the three of them had agreed that no deal would be complete until all the outstanding issues are resolved, unless Netanyahu and Arafat decide otherwise. Clinton said he is dispatching Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and special Middle East coordinator Dennis Ross to the region next week to prepare for the follow-up summit. Albright said the visit would last for a few days, beginning October 5 or 6. Following the summit, Arafat traveled to New York to address the UN, while Clinton and Netanyahu met. Arafat is scheduled to return to Washington today for his own meeting with Clinton. Albright told reporters that the three-way summit resulted from the trilateral meetings she held with Netanyahu and Arafat in New York on Sunday night. She said that a significant component of the leaders' return visit to Washington will be the inclusion of technical experts from both sides, who can discuss the outstanding issues fluently and eliminate the need for political leaders to undertake lengthy consultations. The US has not yet decided on the venue for the talks, but they would be in the Washington area, she said. While pointing generally to positive developments during the 90-minute summit, Clinton also told reporters in the White House: "I think also, to be candid, there is a substantial amount of work to be done until a comprehensive agreement can be reached. And because I am convinced that the two leaders and the people they represent want an agreement, I have asked them to come to the US in mid-October with their teams to do the intensive work necessary to see if we can conclude this." Israeli officials later highlighted Clinton's emphasis of that point, as underlining their contention that - even with virtual agreement by Jerusalem to accede to Washington's proposal for a 13 percent withdrawal from the West Bank - the deal is not done until Israel's demands are met by the Palestinians fulfilling their security commitments. The summit was Clinton's first meeting with Netanyahu and Arafat since hosting separate meetings with the two in late January, when he presented them his plan for unfreezing the negotiations. Those sessions occurred just as news of the Monica Lewinsky scandal was becoming public, and yesterday's summit was the president's first opportunity to present a foreign policy achievement - or any White House gain at all - since the Kenneth Starr report to Congress on the affair led to discussion of his possible impeachment. In a brief question-and-answer session, Clinton said it would be "an error" for him to discuss the question of a Palestinian state. But, illustrating the administration's efforts in recent days to convince Arafat to temper his public statements on the matter, Clinton twice said the issue of a Palestinian state is to be decided through direct negotiations leading to a final-status accord. Asked about his wife's expressed support for a Palestinian state last spring, Clinton smiled and said: "She did, but she's not the president and she's not trying to manage the peace process. In the end, whether there will be an agreement will depend on how badly they want it, how much we work together, how much trust can be built and sustained, what kind of process for ensuring the agreement can be agreed on by the two parties." "They have made a very unusual commitment," he added. "They have committed several days... to try to resolve the remaining gaps. I can also tell you that I have personally been very impressed by the way, the manner, and the substance of their conversations today with me. But we all said we need to continue to change the dynamics of the process to try to increase the likelihood of completion." Before leaving Washington for Tel Aviv, Netanyahu briefed the press at Andrews Air Force Base, saying that his series of meetings with Arafat over the previous 24 hours had been "level-headed" and "thoughtful." Netanyahu affirmed that, in Israel's view, a Palestinian commitment to fighting terror is the linchpin of any agreement. "I think Arafat clearly knows that we will not accept anything but complete efforts on this matter," he said. Netanyahu said that while he is willing to take a political risk in making a deal on the second redeployment, he would not be taking any security risks. He added that hopes the intensive meetings scheduled for mid-October would bear fruit and that an agreement would finally be reached. A top Israeli official said the meetings next month would take place over a number of days in an intensive fashion. There was some talk of Camp David serving as a location for the talks. The White House summit came after a surprise late-night meeting among Albright, Arafat, and Netanyahu in New York on Sunday night - the first face-to-face meeting between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 11 months. The meeting in Albright's suite of rooms on the 42nd floor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was initiated by the secretary of state. The talks went on for about an hour-and-a-half, in the course of which Albright reportedly walked in and out of the negotiating room, leaving the two leaders alone for periods of time. "These were very important meetings," Albright said. "I am not going to talk about the substance of the meetings, but I'm glad we had them." Neither Arafat nor Netanyahu would elaborate, but officials from both sides said no breakthroughs had been reached. But small gaps are constantly being bridged, they said, and there is hope that the series of negotiations between the sides planned for next month will be the ones to bring about the deal. CHN Commentary 9-20-98 ROSH HASHANA 5759 has begun.... Is it Rapture time..?? For those who believe and teach that this is the time of the year that the Rapture of the Church will occur, try not to be too disappointed that it doesn't happen. And it doesn't happen, not because this isn't the year; it doesn't happen because Rosh Hashana is not the appointed time for it to happen. And neither is Tabernacles, Passover, Firstfruits, Pentecost, or any other Jewish feast. The Rapture of the Church occurs in the time of the year when Jesus, Himself, ascended into heaven. Jesus ascended 40 days after He rose from the dead; and He rose from the dead on Firstfruits. The problem with those who believe otherwise is that they do not separate the covenant God made with the Jews from the covenant He made with Church. The Church has been promised that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", because "it is not appointed unto wrath". The Church will be taken out of the way [2Thes 2:7]. The Jews are appointed "unto wrath", and only a remnant of them will survive the "gates of hell". The gates that are attended by the "gate keeper" ..... Antichrist. [The Jews will have their rapture and it will occur on a Feast of Trumpets, but it will be subsequent to the Rapture of the Church..] But timing for the Rapture of the Church has been made "crystal clear" by God. God is a God whose modus operandi is to cast shadows and fulfill them with like reflections, and only the "Ascension of Jesus" perfectly reflects the Rapture of the Church..... i.e. ...the Body of Christ caught up in both instances. Once the distinction is made that God has a covenant with the Jews separate from the covenant with the Church, then the truth of the timing of the Rapture of the Church will erupt in one's spirit with praise and understanding. All believers are well instructed to hold tightly to the truth of Ascension/Rapture, and let go of any other traditional belief [i.e. "we can't know the day or the hour" ,which refers to the second coming and not the Rapture] ..... for "...tradition makes void the word of God". We call ourselves "watchers" because in Luke 12:37 Jesus said, "Blessed are those whom the master, when he comes will find watching. Assuredly I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and come and serve them." And as '''watchers" we watch daily for all the events that continue to unfold and point us to " that time" in "that year" when the Rapture will happen. And when it does happen, we will find ourselves sitting, and eating, and being served by Him. Jesus is Lord..... CHN Commentary 6-16-98 The Mid East March To Peace King Hussein did meet with President Clinton and Secretary Albright on Monday at the White House, but too late in the day for any news to be published in this morning's editions. But we know that the King's efforts to stall an Arab Summit have been successful, which is what had been asked of him by the President. The Jordan Times is reporting that Syria has agreed that an Arab Summit at this time would only benefit Israel, as too many doubts exist about the outcome and the agenda. Chalk up another "jewel in the crown" of His Majesty, the Peacemaker......... On the "withdrawal front", Israeli TV reported Sunday that Bibi had agreed to the 13% pullback, but is now shifting his energy to having the PLO founding charter annulled, which calls for the destruction of Israel.. Yasser says they've done it, Bibi doesn't agree, but the US agrees with Yasser. Israeli Labor Party leader Barak was in Cairo yesterday listening to Mubarak ranting that, "If the second pullback isn't carried out, a wave of terror and violence will wash over the entire region. It will be disastrous not only for the peace process with the Palestinians, but Israel's relations with Egypt and Jordan". Thus confirming the pressure that exists on the Arab nations that are at peace with Israel. In Israel, more Palestinian house demolition's are taking place much to the chagrin of the White House. This is just adding fuel to the fire, and Secretary Albright is repeating her call for a "time-out" on provocative activities which include these demolition's. The King will be listening. Another important meeting is taking place at the White House today between Clinton and the Premier of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, which will address Israel's proposal to withdraw from southern Lebanon. So, there is continued activity on all fronts to further the process. In an article on Monday in the Jerusalem Post headlined.. "Pullback decision slated for July".., Bibi made the statement he wanted to be sure "that the White House would be able to arrange a signing ceremony for the pullback agreement with PA Chairman Arafat". I think that could be handled..., but more importantly is what the Jordan's Petra news was commenting on regarding Bibi in a Sunday editorial..: "The doom and gloom which have dominated the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks until now have suddenly changed into a sense of measured optimism, if we are to believe recent reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has truly changed his attitude and is now serious about accepting Washington's peace formula. The concerned parties have experienced similar euphoria in the past only to have their hopes dashed at the last minute. Netanyahu is a master of appearing to be on the verge of yielding to logic and common sense , only to link his seemingly reconsidered position to a set of formidable conditions that are impossible to fulfill." Amen to that........ We'll keep "watching"......... Jesus is Lord.. Luke 12:37 back up articles...... JORDAN TIMES 6-16-98 Saudi FM in Damascus for talks on Arab summit Key Statement: ".... Hopes for holding a summit on the stalled peace talks faded after some Arab countries differed on its agenda and doubts about its outcome. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al Sharaa said Monday the summit should be well prepared — "otherwise it will send a wrong message to the Israeli government, a matter that will stiffen its stubborn stands toward the peace process and the Arab rights in general.'' DAMASCUS (AP) — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister arrived in Damascus Monday for talks on a proposed Arab summit and the stalled Middle East peace process. Saud Al Faisal will also head his country in the two-day meetings of the Syrian-Saudi joint economic committee. “The Arab stand toward the peace process should be based on the restoration of occupied Arab lands and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,'' Prince Saud told reporters. Hopes for holding a summit on the stalled peace talks faded after some Arab countries differed on its agenda and doubts about its outcome. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al Sharaa said Monday the summit should be well prepared — “otherwise it will send a wrong message to the Israeli government, a matter that will stiffen its stubborn stands toward the peace process and the Arab rights in general.'' Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has called for a summit to clearly blame Israel for the stalemate in the negotiations. Israel-Palestinian talks broke off in March last year when Israel began building a Jewish housing project in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem. The meeting of the Syrian-Saudi economic committee, established in 1993, will focus on means of boosting economic and trade relations and encourage investment, according to Syrian officials, speaking on customary condition of anonymity. Prince Saud is expected to meet with Syrian President Hafez Assad Tuesday. JORDAN TIMES 6-16-98 Bar Illan hints size of pullout is no longer the problem Key Statement: "....Israel TV reported Sunday that Mr. Netanyahu had agreed to a 13 per cent pullback after initially saying he could hand over only 9 per cent. Disagreement over who will annul the PLO founding charter and determine the scope of a final West Bank troop withdrawal are holding up Israeli acceptance of the U.S. peace initiative, a senior Israeli official said Monday...." Agencies Disagreement over who will annul the PLO founding charter and determine the scope of a final West Bank troop withdrawal are holding up Israeli acceptance of the U.S. peace initiative, a senior Israeli official said Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu met with key Israeli cabinet ministers for three hours Monday to discuss the U.S. plan, which calls for an Israeli troop pullback from 13 per cent of the West Bank in exchange for a Palestinian crackdown on Islamists. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has urged Mr. Netanyahu to make a decision soon, but informal U.S. deadlines have passed without U.S. action against Israel. The United States presented its plan in January, and the Palestinians have accepted it. Israel TV reported Sunday that Mr. Netanyahu had agreed to a 13 per cent pullback after initially saying he could hand over only 9 per cent. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Americans had not informed the Palestinians of any such agreement. Mr. Netanyahu's senior adviser, David Bar-Illan, would not comment Monday on the report, but suggested that the size of that withdrawal, the second of three promised by Israel, was no longer an issue. Mr. Bar-Illan said Mr. Netanyahu wants iron-clad U.S. assurances that the scope of the third pullback be determined by Israel, without U.S. involvement. “We don't want an open-ended situation about a third redeployment,” Mr. Bar-Illan told The Associated Press. “The American commitment that we be the only ones to determine its scope must be nailed down.” Israel also insists that the Palestine National Council, the Palestinians' parliament-in-exile, annul sections of the PLO founding charter, rather than the much smaller PLO Executive Committee. In the U.S. proposal, a vote by the PLO Executive Committee is considered sufficient to annul those sections. However, Mr. Bar-Illan said the PLO charter itself stipulates that it can only be changed by a two-thirds majority of the Palestine National Council. In Gaza, a senior Palestinian official said Monday that the peace process with Israel was “dead” and that the Palestinians have “other options.” “The peace process is dead,” said Ahmed Abdel Rahman, secretary-general of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's self-rule government. “The time has come for the Palestinians to rethink their position towards the process,” he told AFP. “The Palestinian people cannot accept a peace or a process which serves as a front for continued occupation and settlement of Palestinian territories,” he said. “The Palestinian people have other options.” Mr. Abdel Rahman did not elaborate, but Mr. Arafat, in an interview with the Arab weekly Al Wassat published in Cairo on Monday, refused to rule out any options, including the possible use of force, in the event the peace process fails. Asked what the Palestinian options were in the event a U.S. effort to revive the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations fails, Mr. Arafat said that “all” options were open. Pressed as to whether the use of arms was among those options, Mr. Arafat said: “Don't ask me any more. I've already said that all options were open but don't ask me for details.” In other developments Monday, four Palestinian opposition groups, including the Islamist group Hamas, said they would turn down offers by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to join his cabinet. However, Hamas and two secular PLO factions, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said they would attend consultations with Mr. Arafat on Tuesday concerning his planned cabinet reshuffle. “We are going to listen to the president and to present our views, but we are not going to join the new cabinet,” said Hamas spokesman Mahmoud Zahar. A fourth group, Islamic Jihad, said it would not join the talks. Mr. Arafat apparently hoped to neutralise the opposition groups by offering them cabinet posts. Mr. Arafat is under pressure from the Palestinian Legislative Council to reshuffle his cabinet. Last month, the 88-member legislature gave Mr. Arafat two weeks to respond to complaints about corruption and inaction or face his first no-confidence motion. Mr. Arafat has sent a letter to the council asking it to postpone its no-confidence vote and give PLO leaders up to 10 days to present a new cabinet. The reshuffle is to be completed by Friday. JERUSALEM POST Tuesday, June 16, 1998 22 Sivan 5758 Mubarak: Stalled peace process risks Egypt-Israel ties Key Statement: "If the second pullback isn't carried out, a wave of terror and violence will wash over the entire region. It will be disastrous not only for the peace process with the Palestinians, but Israel's relations with Egypt and Jordan," Mubarak said after a meeting with opposition leader Ehud Barak in Cairo. By MICHAL YUDELMAN CAIRO (June 16) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday warned of disaster in the region and a crisis in Israel's relations with Egypt and Jordan unless the second pullback is implemented and the peace process continues. "If the second pullback isn't carried out, a wave of terror and violence will wash over the entire region. It will be disastrous not only for the peace process with the Palestinians, but Israel's relations with Egypt and Jordan," Mubarak said after a meeting with opposition leader Ehud Barak in Cairo. The two leaders met privately for half an hour before being joined by Mubarak's aides and MKs Binyamin Ben- Eliezer, Ephraim Oshaya and Shalom Simhon, who accompanied Barak on his visit. Mubarak urged Israel to keep its part in the agreement and implement the second pullback, stressing it would ensure Israel's security. "If anyone thinks they can ensure Israel's security without returning the Palestinians' land, it's nonsense. It will never work," he said. Mubarak confirmed, when asked by the Israeli journalists, that he had lost faith in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who had made him "so many promises" without keeping a single one. "I had good relations with former Israeli prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, who kept their promises, and even with Menachem Begin, who was tough, but every promise he made was kept, even when not given in writing," Mubarak said. Asked whether he could understand Netanyahu's coalition difficulties vis-a-vis passing the second pullback, Mubarak said that if Netanyahu believes in peace, he can persuade his coalition. If the Israeli public wants peace, it's more important than the coalition, he said. Barak said after the meeting that the majority of Israelis want the peace process to continue, despite the government's hard-line position, and a great many of them are concerned by the process's stalemate. Asked about the idea of holding a referendum on the pullout, Barak said it would be "a waste of time and money because we know the answer: 75 percent of Israelis want the withdrawal." Barak reiterated his request for the release of Israeli citizen Azzam Azzam, who was convicted in Egypt of espionage, stating he knew the man was not a spy. Barak asked Mubarak to let a physician examine Azzam, whose family says is too ill to be in prison. But Mubarak said he did not intend disputing Egyptian law or court procedure, and the only way Azzam could be released was if his health became too frail to remain in prison. In separate meetings with Mubarak and Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, Barak discussed the peace process, Israel's relations with Egypt and Turkey, and exchanged strategic assessments. Finally, Barak, his colleagues and the Israeli journalists held a long discussion with an Egyptian group of retired generals, newspaper editors and writers who were involved in the peace process and worried about its state. Netanyahu commented on Mubarak's statements, saying he was acting to preserve Israel's security and the state's national interests. "Nothing will divert me from the commitment to achieve security," he said. Netanyahu lashed out at Barak, implying the opposition leader had encouraged Mubarak to criticize the government. "There is always a strange coincidence when he [Barak] visits Arab leaders, and then in the press conference afterwards they launch a furious attack on the government," Netanyahu said. He advised Barak "to act with certain restraint on his visits abroad and at all times, especially when the state is in the stages of advancing in a sensitive and very important negotiation to the future of the State of Israel." The Likud sharply denounced Barak's visit to Cairo and accused him of taking the trip to invite pressures on Israel and make personal political capital at the price of damaging the negotiations. JERUSALEM POST Tuesday, June 16, 1998 22 Sivan 5758 US slams Jerusalem house demolitions Key Statement: "....Secretary of State Madeleine Albright "has called repeatedly for a time-out on provocative activities, including house demolitions," he said. Albright and President Bill Clinton were scheduled to hold meetings late yesterday with Jordan's King Hussein, who concluded a short private visit to the US. Clinton will also be meeting at the White House this morning with Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri, with the agenda said to include Israel's proposal to withdraw from southern Lebanon, which Washington has endorsed in principle. By HILLEL KUTTLER and JAY BUSHINSKY JERUSALEM (June 16) - The US yesterday condemned Israel's demolition of Arab residences in Jerusalem, calling it a "provocative" action that sends the "wrong signal" at this difficult stage in the peace process. The Interior Ministry announced that it had carried out demolition orders against three illegally built houses in the Suahra section of Jerusalem yesterday morning. "At a time when we are trying to bring the parties together, these house demolitions send the wrong signal," State Department spokesman James Rubin told reporters. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright "has called repeatedly for a time-out on provocative activities, including house demolitions," he said. Albright and President Bill Clinton were scheduled to hold meetings late yesterday with Jordan's King Hussein, who concluded a short private visit to the US. Clinton will also be meeting at the White House this morning with Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri, with the agenda said to include Israel's proposal to withdraw from southern Lebanon, which Washington has endorsed in principle. In his daily meeting with reporters, Rubin also said the administration "would love to have to deal" with the question of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's plan to bring to a national referendum a redeployment deal with the Palestinians, because it would mean that an agreement has been reached. He also implicitly criticized Israel's holding out for a Palestinian commitment that the Palestinian National Council formally abolish the PLO Covenant. The Palestinians have "kind of done it already," he said. "I mean, they've said they disavow it. I mean, let's not be so talmudic about it and try to tear it apart," he said. Netanyahu, meanwhile, is lobbying the right-wing of his coalition in an effort to win its support for the second redeployment. He met yesterday with the Moledet leader Rehavam Ze'evi. A senior government official was unable pinpoint the outcome of the meeting, but hinted that Netanyahu is preparing the parliamentary ground, faction by faction, for the presentation of his pullback package. The official dismissed the notion that Netanyahu is working under heavy pressure from the US or any other interested party or that he is motivated by a sense of urgency that serious outbreaks of violence will occur if a deal is not closed quickly. US Ambassador Edward Walker denied that the Clinton administration is "attempting to press Israel" to act against its own security interests. In an address entitled at Ben-Gurion University's Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy, Walker said: "We know that Israel's leaders, and the Israeli people, must make their own decisions based on their own understanding of security concerns. "The president of the United States is not going to send Israeli boys into harm's way. Those who suggest that the US is attempting to dictate Israel's security are either misled or are misleading others for their own purposes." Jerusalem Post Monday, June 15, 1998 21 Sivan 5758 Pullback decision slated for July Key Statement: "....He is also said to want to make sure the Clinton administration will be able to arrange a White House signing ceremony for the pullback agreement with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat...." By JAY BUSHINSKY JERUSALEM (June 15) - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu evidently is holding off his proposal for the next IDF redeployment in the West Bank until the middle of next month, to allow time for the Palestinian Authority to meet his preconditions. He is also said to want to make sure the Clinton administration will be able to arrange a White House signing ceremony for the pullback agreement with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. The next three or four weeks are to be devoted to clarifying the prospective pullback agreement's terms and timetable. A senior government source said the crucial decision will be taken while the Knesset is still in summer session, which is to last until the first week of August. Similarly, the consensus among cabinet ministers polled about the probable date when the redeployment decision would be taken, and its practical implications will become operational, was mid-July. Military sources estimate the IDF will require nearly three months to withdraw from its current positions and to form a new defensive line in conjunction with the impending redeployment plan. Among the major international events likely to influence Netanyahu's timing is President Bill Clinton's trip to China this week and the ongoing crises - including the Serbian onslaught in Kosovo, the aftermath of the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests, and the economic instability in the Far East - which have been taking precedence over the State Department's traditional concern about the Middle East. Netanyahu also must allow time for the PA to consider his oft-repeated terms for fulfillment of the Oslo Accords' requirements insofar as IDF deployment is concerned, especially the demand that the Palestinian National Council reconvene to abrogate the Palestinian Covenant's anti-Israel clauses. The "reciprocity" Netanyahu has said he expects in return for the evacuation of up to 15 percent of the West Bank and the concomitant handover of territory to the PA would include confiscation of unauthorized weapons in the possession of rank-and-file Palestinians, reduction of the Palestinian Police to the size specified in the Oslo Accords, extradition of persons suspected of murder, and a halt to anti-Israel incitement in the Palestinian media. If the prime minister accedes to US advice that he transfer at least 13.1 percent of the area in question without insisting on total Palestinian compliance with his demands, it is widely assumed his credibility as a negotiator in the subsequent rounds of US-brokered talks with the PA will have been undermined. Asked whether these considerations mean that the
cabinet and Knesset decisions on redeployment are still several weeks away,
a senior government official said, "The pullback may be more imminent than
you think." But he did not offer any supporting evidence for this assertion.
CHN Commentary 6-8-98 & A "Special Report" The Mideast March to Peace Sunday's meeting between King Hussein and Israeli Defense Minister Mordechai took place as planned but very little "new information" is being reported.. Both the Jerusalem Post and Jordan Times reported the meeting in their lead articles today, with the Post emphasizing the Kings "worry and concern" while the Times heralded his optimism... Yasser Arafat was invited to attend the meeting in Amman, but refused. However, US ambassador to Israel Edward Walker hosted surprise talks at his home outside of Tel Aviv on Sunday between Israeli Cabinet Secretary Danny Naveh and the Palestinians' Saeb Erakat, fueling speculation that a deal on further Israeli troop withdrawal in the West Bank is very near. But Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu denied the reports that a deal with the United States and Palestinians on further Israel withdrawals from the West Bank was imminent. Although he did say that it is a "definite possibility".. Once again proving that he must have very callused feet and strong ankles to walk the "tight rope of double talk" that has become his trade mark. However, it is surfacing that "secret talks" are taking place between the EU and Israel on granting the Palestinians a seaport and a working airport to prevent the imposition of EU sanctions on products manufactured in Jewish settlements as Israel had reacted with outrage at the European Commission's recommendation last month that products made in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights be denied tariff benefits. Newsweek says Europe is Israel's biggest market, accounting for more than one third of the Jewish state's $15.7 billion in annual exports and nearly all the exports are duty-free. In other words the Jews were "outraged" at the sound of paying tariffs on one third of 15.7 billion dollars. Oh how the "buying and the selling" [commerce] makes that "bitter pill of political compromise" easier to swallow !! As "watcher's" let us not forget that the formidable "formula for peace" that the "little horn" character will rise up with, not only incorporates "land for peace", but also "commerce for peace"......better known as..$$money$$....and the love of it..!! And the Jews and the Arabs "love their money" and all the power it brings them...and they know that peace will "fill and fatten" their money sacks !!! So, with "peace" ..the rich [kings and captains] get richer !!! This is why the Bible tells us that the individual with the "formula for peace" will be "given the crown" and rule the world. So it is no wonder that the key word today in all of the negotiations is "formula"... who has the "formula"? King Hussein has the "formula" and it will be proven out !! ...........and with all the money that will come with his "crown" he will buy armament, as the Bible says the Antichrist worships the god of munitions !! On the "Summit Scene" [i.e. Arab Summit], Mubarak has finally gotten the message [via King Hussein] that it is not in their best interest at this time if the outcome of a Summit can't be agreed upon before hand, which it can't..... as Assad continues to season the "kettle of discontent" against "Jew-loving" Arabs... All very prophetic ! So, as we continue to be obedient and "watch", we will focus on the redeployment agreement and it's leading to the opening of "final status" negotiations.. Jesus is Lord.... Luke 12:37 back up articles......... JERUSALEM POST Monday, June 8, 1998 14 Sivan 5758 Mordechai: Hussein worried about peace process By ARIEH O'SULLIVAN Key Statement: "...."I got the sense that the king is concerned about the situation," Mordechai told military reporters who accompanied him to Amman. "But just like in the Hebron agreement and other instances, the king is prepared to help."...." AMMAN (June 8) -- Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai flew to Amman yesterday to seek King Hussein's help in brokering a deal with the Palestinians on the second redeployment. "I got the sense that the king is concerned about the situation," Mordechai told military reporters who accompanied him to Amman. "But just like in the Hebron agreement and other instances, the king is prepared to help." "In the state it is now in the peace process demands support from all elements in order to achieve progress," added Mordechai. During their relatively short, one-hour meeting at Hussein's newly built Gate of Peace Palace on the western edge of Amman, Mordechai and Hussein tried to flesh out ideas on just how the Jordanian monarch could contribute. While not soliciting Hussein's pressure on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, the Israelis are hoping the king will be able to make the Palestinians more "flexible and understanding" so they accept the Israeli plan for a second withdrawal, one government official said. Palestinian officials said Arafat had turned down a US request to attend yesterday's meeting between Hussein and Mordechai. In the meantime, Mordechai was acting more cautiously and did not have the same upbeat attitude as when he returned from Cairo last Tuesday, where he said the time for decisions was at hand. Mordechai said the agreement on a second IDF redeployment in the West Bank would be achieved "shortly," but declined to be more specific. Speaking at an impromptu news conference, Hussein called Mordechai his "very good friend," adding that "after hearing Defense Minister Mordechai I am more optimistic." Mordechai appears to be the solid force spearheading implementation of the pullback and is considered the leading moderate in Netanyahu's cabinet. Still, it is not clear just how much influence he has in the government, particularly after he failed to follow through with a threat in January to resign if the troop pullback in the West Bank did not take place within three months. The Jordanians have much respect for Mordechai, a former general, and Mordechai and Hussein have meet on a number of occasions, not all of them official or reported. Flying a CH-53 transport helicopter, the trip from Jerusalem to Amman took just 15 minutes. Mordechai was met at the helipad at the Hashamiya Palace by Jordanian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Abdul Hafez Ka'abneh and later Gen. Ali Shukry, head of the king's office. A short ride through the outskirts of Amman later and Mordechai was sharing juice in the luscious garden with Hussein, who is under Syrian and Saudi pressure to convene an Arab summit which would no doubt be critical of ties with Israel. Despite the warm reception, news of Mordechai's visit did not appear in any of the Jordanian press, and only a small group of Israeli reporters accompanying Mordechai and one Jordanian working for the state-run TV and news agency Petra were allowed at the news conference. Israeli diplomats in Amman said that Mordechai was also likely to meet with Arafat. Mordechai's aides did not rule out the possibility but said that no such meeting had been scheduled for any time soon. The visit to Amman was also used to enhance security relations between the two nations. Mordechai's most senior adviser, David Ivry, discussed security matters with Ka'abneh. There have been reports that Jordan was examining the possibility of joining the Turkish-Israeli alliance. "It isn't so much a question of an alliance," Hussein said. "I don't think it could be described as such. We have normal relations with Israel, peaceful relations with Israel, and we have extremely close relations with Turkey, so it is natural that we talk and meet and our people meet to enhance the cooperation that exists." JORDAN TIMES 6-8-98 King optimistic about peace process after meeting Israel's defence minister KEY STATEMENT:"....The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted King Hussein as telling journalists after the meeting that he was optimistic about the peace process following what he heard from the Israeli minister, stressing that "Jordanian-Israeli relations are marked with mutual confidence which will continue in the future."...." AMMAN (J.T.) — His Majesty King Hussein on Sunday met Israeli Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai for talk |