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What Temple? Fatah Says 'only a Muslim Holy Site'
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsWND - Aaron Klein
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

'U.S. partner' demands Jews, Christians be banned from praying on Mount

JERUSALEM – The Temple Mount does not exist alongside the Western Wall, and neither Jews nor Christians should be allowed to pray on the Mount site, Dimitri Diliani, the spokesman for Fatah in Jerusalem, told WND in an interview.

Fatah, once named by the U.S. as a Mideast "peace partner," is the party led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Diliani spoke hours after Fatah and PA officials were accused of inciting a riot on the Temple Mount, claiming Jews were threatening the site.

"Don't use the term Temple Mount," Diliani lectured WND. "It doesn't exist. I don't know where it is. I cannot see any Temple. Can you? No one can find any trace of it. The area you refer to is only a Muslim holy site."

The PA, though, has found evidence of Judaism's historic connection to the Mount – the holiest site in Judaism. The Waqf, the Islamic custodians of the Mount, conducted an unsupervised excavation on the site in 1997. At that time, the Waqf, working under the guidance of the PA, ultimately were caught by Israeli authorities disposing truckloads of Mount dirt that contained Jewish Temple artifacts. To this day, Israeli archeologists are still sifting through the large amount of dirt, in which scores of Jewish Temple relics were found.

Diliani did not deny Fatah and the PA were involved in yesterday's Temple Mount riots.

"Palestinian political factions, including Fatah, are firm on defending the political, national and religious rights of the Palestinian people," Diliani said, "and it's evident now we will continue defending the Al Aqsa Mosque as well as our rights in Jerusalem as a whole."

Diliani did not specify exactly which Jews were threatening the Temple Mount.

Yesterday, Israeli security forces released from custody Jerusalem's senior Fatah official, Khatem Abed Al-Kadr, who had been detained on suspicion of inciting riots. Al-Kadr was released on condition that he not enter the Old City of Jerusalem. He also must remain at least 250 meters from the area gates for 15 days.

Yesterday's riots featured about 150 Palestinian protesters hurling rocks and bottles at Israeli police after Israel barred men between the ages of 18 and 45 from ascending the site that day. The order came after the PA and an Al Aqsa Mosque activist group, the Islamic Movement, called on Arabs to ascend the site yesterday to defend it against "Jewish threats."

U.S.: 'don't Go to Jerusalem's Old City During Sukkot!'
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

 

American officials have warned U.S. citizens not to enter Jerusalem's Old City during the week-long holiday of Sukkot, when celebrations are at their height and numerous activities for families and children are offered almost around the clock.

The warning by the U.S. State Department, issued on Friday, names Monday in particular as a day to avoid the spiritual heart of Israel's capital city -- the day when the Kohanim, or Jewish priestly class -- bless the People of Israel at the Kotel (Western Wall).

Thousands of Kohanim, Jewish men descended from members of the priestly class in the House of Israel, gather three times each year to perform the Birkat HaKohanim blessing on each festival day during which Jewish pilgrims are enjoined to "go up" to Jerusalem.

"The final two of the local autumn holidays, Sukkot and Simhat Torah, will be celebrated this weekend and next. American citizens should avoid the Old City for one week. Vehicle traffic in and around the Old City will be restricted by the Israeli National Police (INP)," reads the Warden Message from the U.S. State Department, dated October 2.

 "Monday, October 5, is expected to draw the largest crowds due to the annual pilgrimage by Jewish worshipers who will assemble at the Western Wall for special prayers. Additionally, political and religious tensions are expected to be high in the areas immediately adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound throughout this period. A large police presence in the area may provoke spontaneous violence in the form of civil unrest and police actions," the warning continues.

Traditional Priestly Blessing At Western Wall
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsIsraelNN.com - Hana Levi Julian
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Some 30,000 Jews streamed into the Western Wall plaza early Monday morning to attend the traditional Birkat HaKohanim -- the blessing bestowed by the Jewish priestly class, the Kohanim, on the People of Israel, during the morning prayer service.

The special blessing is performed during the three festivals in which Jews are enjoined to make a pilgrimage "up to" Jerusalem, the Holy City. The ceremony was performed in the presence of numerous Chief Rabbis, past and present, including Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, and the Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch. Israel National News TV was also there, and broadcast the event live.

Rabbi Rabinovitch said that the massive flood of people that packed into the site proved that all Jews feel a sense of belonging, a deep connection to the site, regardless of whether they are observant or secular. The Wall, he emphasized, is at its core the spiritual home of every Jew.

Police have announced that the Old City has been closed to vehicular traffic throughout the week, and that the Western Wall may be reached only through public transportation. The Jerusalem municipality will provide special shuttles to and from main parking lots around the city and the Western Wall plaza in order to minimize the traffic congestion in the area.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Western Wall and other parts of the Old City during the holiday week of Sukkot, including many tourists for whom attendance at events on the site are the culmination of the dream of a lifetime.

The tensions on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem intensify even as tens of thousands gather for the priestly blessing
Oct 5th, 2009
News UpdateJimmy DeYoung
Categories: Jimmy DeYoung News

Large forces of police patrol the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers flocked to the Western Wall Plaza for the yearly priestly blessings during the Jewish feast days the Feast of Tabernacles which brings Jews from all over the world to the Temple Mount. This week in Jerusalem has witnessed some rioting in the Old City as Jerusalem police closed down the Temple Mount to all visitors including Jews, Christians, and Moslems - this in light of the threats by Moslem leaders to have Moslem worshipers storm the Temple Mount to defend this sacred site from a Jewish takeover.

Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News

Controversy surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem especially as Jewish worshipers gather for the annual priestly blessing is a page out of Bible prophecy for the last days.

Twice yearly Jewish worshipers gather at the Western Wall Plaza just off the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for the priestly blessing, an event that attracts tens of thousands of Jews to this most sacred site in Judaism. During the last of the seven Jewish feast days, the Feast of Tabernacles, Jews from around the world flood into the city not only for the priestly blessing, but because Tabernacles is a pilgrim feast day which requires all Jews to come to Jerusalem. These activities by Jewish worshipers also attract the opposition to any Jewish presence on the Temple Mount as Moslems who claim it is a Moslem holy site fear that Jews want to take control of the Temple Mount to build a Jewish temple there.

According to Bible prophecy the Moslems have good reason to fear a Jewish presence on the Temple Mount. Zechariah, the ancient Jewish prophet, prewrote history when he wrote 2500 years ago that Jerusalem would be the center of controversy in the last days (Zechariah 12:2-3). Zechariah also wrote that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come back to Earth to take control of the city of Jerusalem and then build His temple on the Temple Mount (Zechariah 1:16; 6:12).

The activities by the Moslem worshipers to stop preparations for the building of the Jewish temple on the Temple Mount and the annual priestly blessing at the Temple Mount are evidence that Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

Netanyahu: UN is Destroying the Peace Process
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;Peace Process

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday told his cabinet that the UN stood poised to destroy the foundations of the Middle East peace process by denying Israel its right to self-defense.

Netanyahu was speaking just hours before the UN Human Rights Council was to vote on whether or not to endorse and forward to the General Assembly the Goldstone Commission report, which accused Israel of committing blatant war crimes in its recent invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Nearly all of the conclusions reached by the Goldstone Commission were based on unconfirmed claims by Palestinians and the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.

Endorsing and forwarding the Goldstone Commission report to the General Assembly would "strike a fatal blow to the peace process... Because Israel will no longer be able to take additional steps and take risks for peace if its right to self-defense is denied," said Netanyahu.

It was earlier reported that Netanyahu planned to comply with the Goldstone Commission's demand that Israel carry out its own commission of inquiry into the alleged war crimes as a means of avoiding international prosecution. But after a series of meetings on Wednesday, Netanyahu nixed that idea and decided that painting the Goldstone Commission as detrimental to Israel's continued participation in the peace process was a better approach.

Mofaz: Iran 'buying Time' on Nuke Talks
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsJpost
Categories: Today's Headlines;Warning

Iran's plan to open its recently revealed uranium enrichment plant is part of an effort to "buy time" in negotiations over its nuclear program, former defense minister Shaul Mofaz said Monday.

Speaking to Army Radio, the Kadima MK called International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei "an ostrich with his head stuck in the sand."

He went on to surmise that meaningful sanctions would be imposed on Teheran in 2010, with Russian and Chinese support. "The exposure of the [plant] at Qom is part of Iran's secret plan," he said. "The fact that it was revealed was intended to speed up sanctions."

Mofaz's comments came a day after ElBaraedi set October 25 as the date for his inspectors to check the Qom site. He struck an upbeat note at a Sunday press conference, saying Teheran's confrontation with the West is shifting gears to more cooperation and transparency.

Though the United Nations has no "concrete proof" of an ongoing nuclear weapons program ElBaradei said he had "concerns about Iran's future intentions."

The inspection of the site and the outcome of more nuclear talks later this month with the United States and its allies will be crucial in determining the direction of the six-year standoff over Iran's nuclear activities.

Irish Vote Unleashes Flurry of EU Activity
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsEUobserver - HONOR MAHONY
Categories: Today's Headlines;Revived Roman Empire

EUOBSERVER / DUBLIN - Ireland's strong support for the EU treaty in its second referendum has sparked widespread relief in Brussels as well as a flurry of activity as European politicians consider the next moves for complete ratification of the treaty. "Thank you Ireland! It's a great day for Ireland; it's a great day for Europe," said European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, noticeably sporting a green tie. Fredrik Reinfeldt, Swedish leader and currently head of the EU, congratulated Irish voters on the result after all the "uncertainty and hard work."

"The Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice," said a relieved Irish prime minister, Brian Cowen, the fate of whose unpopular coalition government was linked to the outcome of the treaty vote.

He called the Irish vote a "declaration of intent to remain at the heart of Europe."

The final vote showed that 67.1 percent voted in favour of the new rules while 32.9 percent voted against, a 20 percent swing to the Yes side, when compared to the country's rejection of the EU treaty last year. Turnout was 58 percent.

With the vote now in the bag, the focus has already switched to the practicalities of implementing the Lisbon Treaty and particularly to the presidents of Poland and the Czech Republic.

Their signatures under the treaty, which has already been passed in the parliaments in Warsaw and Prague, are needed for the new rules to come into force across the 27 nation club.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski's office has already indicated that he will sign the document soon leaving his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus as the likely biggest opponent to the treaty.

The pressure has already started to get him to sign. Mr Barroso said "our member states have practically approved the Lisbon Treaty" before adding that he thought that Mr Klaus would sign the Treaty "in the end."

Mr Reinfeldt, for his part, said he had managed to speak to many European leaders on Saturday but not Mr Klaus. "I have tried to reach him, but it has not been possible."

What next?

The Czech president's delay affects a series of other decisions including the formation of the new commission, whose term expires at the end of the month and the appointment of the beefed-up EU foreign policy chief and permanent president of the European Council, new posts created by the treaty.

Mr Barroso said that as soon as the treaty is ready he would "be ready to form a new commission." But both the current commission's term as well as the current EU foreign policy chief's term can be extended if needed, said Mr Reinfeldt.

"It [the commission's mandate] can be prolonged after 1 November. It has happened on earlier occasions. One should also keep in mind that the high representative, who we have for the time being, [Javier] Solana, has a mandate that expires on 17 October. So also in his case there could be a continuation."

Mr Barroso, Mr Reinfeldt and the Czech prime minister Jan Fischer will meet in Brussels on Wednesday to decide the next steps and discuss the situation with MEPs.

Swedish Europe minister Cecilia Malmstrom is to be dispatched to Prague on Wednesday to "assess the situation."

Mr Klaus, meanwhile, said he thought it was "wrong" that the Irish had voted to give the EU the "right answer," although he said that it "rests" for him "to respect the outcome."

He added: "But my signature is not the order of the day. I will wait for the Constitutional Court's verdict."

Czech senators handed a complaint to the court about the treaty last week. The court is expected in three weeks' time to set a date for a public hearing on the case. The hearing is likely to take place towards the end of November.

Blair Under Attack in Bid for EU Top Job
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsEUobserver - VALENTINA POP
Categories: Today's Headlines;Revived Roman Empire

Eurogroup chief Jean Claude Juncker and the British Conservative party have attacked Tony Blair's bid to become the first EU president, as member states start horse-trading for the EU's top jobs after Ireland's Lisbon Treaty vote.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Sunday (4 October) openly backed former British premier Mr Blair to take up the prestigious post once the treaty comes into force. "I've certainly the highest regard for Tony Blair and obviously we await and see if, in fact, he's a candidate, but you can take it that we'd be very supportive yes," he said.

Mr Cowen is the first EU leader to make a public statement on the issue. But Mr Blair is also said to have the support of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The British Conservatives over the weekend launched a counter-offensive, however, with Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker, himself once floated as a potential candidate, also sticking in the knife.

William Hague, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary, told The Times that he was lobbying in Paris and Berlin against Mr Blair, whose appointment would trigger an anti-EU backlash in the UK ahead of a potential Tory-orchetsrated referendum on Lisbon.

"There could be no worse way to sell the EU to the people of Britain," he said.

A front page story in the mass-selling tabloid, The Sun, on Monday said Mr Blair would earn €4 million plus perks in an article which seemed designed to further damage his bid.

Jean Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the head of the Eurogroup, the 16 EU states which use the euro, also came out against the former British leader.

The interests of small EU states would be threatened if the the first EU president came from a "big member state," he told Financial Times Deutschland.

The first EU president should have strong pro-EU credentials, so that it wouldn't be "a surprise" if he was himself appointed as "Europe's first voice," Mr Juncker added, alluding to the fact Mr Blair did little to bring the UK closer to Europe on issues such as the single currency.

Snubbed by Mr Sarkozy for having allegedly done too little during the financial crisis, Mr Juncker's own bid for the EU top job is unlikely to fly, however.

Even within Conservative circles, there is a feeling that Mr Blair is "too big to fail" and that he would not have let his name have go forward unless he had assurances to secure the post.

Meanwhile, another potential candidate for the president post, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, is out of the running after Dutch European minister Frans Timmermans said on Sunday The Hague will not put forward a nominee.

Foreign minister

Meanwhile, French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has signalled he would be interested in another plum job to be created under the Lisbon Treaty: the post of EU "foreign minister" and European Commission vice president.

The Elysee itself is not giving Mr Kouchner a clear run at the post, with French EU affairs minister Pierre Lellouche over the weekend floating two other names, Hubert Vedrine and Michel Barnier.

Mr Vedrine was foreign minister under President Francois Mitterand and a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq. Mr Barnier is a former EU commissioner and now an MEP.

Germany is also eyeing the foreign minister job for its current interior minister, Wolfgang Schauble, according to The Times. The German press says he is unwilling to leave the country however, with German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok is aiming at a high-level EU commission portfolio instead.

Germany's outgoing foreign minister, Frank Walter Steinmeier, is unlikely to go forward because he is damaged goods after a severe election defeat and because he is seen as too pro-Russian by former Communist EU states.

Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt is seen as too anti-Russian and too young by some EU officials, while Paris and Berlin have some reserves about his pro-Turkey Stance. Moreover, a Danish appointment as head of Nato has already used up the Nordic countries' quota of top appointments.

Arab Threats Close Temple Mount
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsArutz Sheva - Hillel Fendel
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Anti-Israel

 
The Temple Mount is closed to both Arabs and Jews, though many of the latter wished to visit the site in honor of the Sukkot holiday.  North of the holy site, at the Lion’s Gate, some 250 Arabs rioted and hurled rocks and bottles at police. One policeman was lightly injured, and some arrests were made.

The site – the holiest site in Judaism – was closed by police after Islamic clerics called upon Arabs to “come and defend the Mount.”  The threat alone was enough to have the police do the job for them; the area was cordoned off and a helicopter was seen hovering above the Temple Mount.

A group of Arabs from central Israel was arrested on their way to Jerusalem.

Jewish activists on behalf of the Temple Mount protested peacefully against the closure in the area of the Mugrabi Gate, at the Western Wall plaza. “This is chutzpah and total surrender to Arab incitement,” they said. Large police and Border Guard forces are deployed around them as well.

A week ago, on the eve of Yom Kippur, 12 police officers were injured in riots instigated by the Waqf [Muslim Trust that runs the Temple Moun.

Yehuda Glick, a leading Temple Mount activist, noted, “The police fulfilled the Arabs’ desire to keep the Jews away. They learned that if they throw rocks, then the Jews are prevented from coming. After last week’s incident, the Temple Mount was closed to Jews, but Arabs were allowed in freely.”

Americans Must Fight Hostility to Christianity Growing in Schools
Oct 5th, 2009
Daily NewsNewsMax.com - Newt Gingrich
Categories: Persecution;Contemporary Issues

A virulent hostility toward religion is threatening the very fabric of American liberty and prosperity – that's the alarm sounded by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and wife Callista, hosts of a recently released and thought-provoking new documentary “Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage.”

In an exclusive Newsmax.TV interview, the former House Speaker contends that American culture has been marked by "a steady increase in hostility to religion over the last 70 or 80 years, in ways that are a profound challenge, both to Western Civilization and to America as we know it."

Gingrich says his documentary exposes the fact that that Christianity is the primary target of the attacks.