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Arafat calls on Pope for backing in Christmas showdown with Israel
afp via yahoo ^ | 12/23/2001 | afp

Posted on 12/23/2001 3:22:14 AM PST by KQQL

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tried to enlist the backing of Pope John Paul II in a Christmas showdown with Israel, as he vowed to defy an Israeli ban on him attending midnight mass in Bethlehem.

Israel, which blasted his helicopters in an air raid on Gaza City three weeks ago and then ringed his West Bank headquarters with tanks, said Arafat cannot make his traditional appearance at the Bethlehem service until he arrests the killers of a cabinet minister.

"No one can prevent me from reaching Bethlehem," Arafat told reporters in Ramallah, where he has been under virtual house arrest since the December 3 raids blitzed his Gaza heliport.

The 72-year-old Palestinian leader had filed an official request on Saturday to attend the midnight service in Bethlehem, in the Franciscan church of Saint Catherine next to the Church of the Nativity, which according to Christian tradition was built on the site of Jesus' birthplace,

"It is my duty, and I will see to it that I fulfil it," he said on Voice of Palestine radio. "I will go there even if I have to go on foot."

However, Israel's security cabinet rejected his bid to make the visit he has made every year since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1995.

"The security cabinet made its decision based on the fact that Arafat is not working to dismantle terror organizations and to foil terror attacks against Israel and to arrest and punish terrorists, including the murderers of tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi," a government statement said.

The Israeli media said the vote was close, however, with eight opposed and six in favour of avoiding a public showdown with Arafat, whose international support has began to climb back since hitting rock bottom this month amid a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings.

Israel wants Arafat to arrest the fugitive militants who gunned down Zeevi in Jerusalem on October 17, and also arrest Ahmed Sadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian, which claimed the assassination in revenge for Israel's killing of his predecessor.

A senior Palestinian security official told AFP there were intense discussions underway with his Israeli counterparts, who had been informed of Arafat's determination to make the journey despite the security cabinet's decision.

The official said they had told the Israelis Arafat was prepared to drive to the Israeli army checkpoint at Qalandiya, on the northern edge of Jerusalem, for a public face-off if necessary.

And Palestinian cabinet secretary Ahmed Abdul Rahman appealed to Pope John Paul II to intercede to allow Arafat, a Muslim, to attend the mass.

"I call on the Pope to intervene to stop this attack on religious traditions and against the Palestinian people. We condemn this very strongly and the Palestinian people are angry," he said.

However, an official in Sharon's office told AFP that Arafat was refused because he knew where Zeevi's killers were hiding, only a few kilometres from his compound in Ramallah, but Arafat was not making the arrests.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has publicly declared he is against banning Arafat from attending the religious celebrations.


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To: a_witness; God_isa_Jew; Thinkin' Gal; Lent
According to Rabbi Moshe Shapiro, shlita (Jerusalem), an authority in both revealed and concealed matters of Torah, there is a tradition that Yishmael will be the final extension of Golus Edom, the Roman Exile, and that it will be with his descendants that the final generation of Jews before the redemption will have to contend. This is also supported by the following Midrash:

Israel will say to the king of the Arabs, "Take silver and gold and leave the Temple." The king of the Arabs will say, "You have nothing to do with this Temple. *However, if you want, choose a sacrifice as you did in the past, and we will also offer a sacrifice, and, with the one whose sacrifice is accepted, we will all become one people." The Jewish people will offer theirs, but it will not be accepted because the Satan will lay charges against them before The Holy One, Blessed is He. B'nei Keder will offer theirs, and it will be accepted ... At that time, the Arabs will say to Israel, "Come and belief in our faith," but Israel will answer, "We will kill or be killed, but we will not deny our Belief!" At that time, swords will be drawn, bows will be strung and arrows will be sent, and many will fall ... (Sefer Eliyahu, Pirkei Moshiach, p. 236)

Furthermore, says the Zohar:
Many camps will arise in Land of the Galil (in Techiyas HaMeisim), because that is where the Moshiach is going to be revealed, since it is part of Yosef's territory. It will be the first place to be destroyed. It will begin there ahead of all other places, and then spread to the nations ... (Zohar, Vayakhel 220a)

When the latest Intifadah began at the beginning of 5761, one of the first places to be destroyed was Kever Yosef-the burial place of Yosef. The animalistic destruction of the Jewish holy place caught world attention, though the damage could not be reversed.

Furthermore, more recently, we witnessed the Muslim world's vicious attempt to enlist the world in their war against the Israeli people by making it a war against the "Jewish" people. What began as an anti-Israel campaign ended as an anti-Semite campaign, and the Anti-Racism conference in Durban, South Africa became a struggle to declare Zionism a racist ideology, at the insistent of the entire Muslim world.

It is interesting to note that the only place in the entire Sefer Torah where the four letters, dalet-raish-bais-nun, the Hebrew transliteration of "Durban" appear (albeit in reverse) is in Parashas Lech-Lecha (16:14), the parshah of Eretz Yisroel and the Jewish bond to the land. They are the last four letters of the verse that speaks of the miraculous salvation of Hagar, the mother of Yishmael, from certain death. The very next posuk speaks of Yishmael's birth itself!

If B'nei Yishmael are not yet Magog, then they must not be too far away from being so.

APPROACHING THE THRESHOLD
Current Events In Light Of The Past

The king of the Arabs will say, "You have nothing to do with this Temple. *However, if you want, choose a sacrifice as you did in the past, and we will also offer a sacrifice, and, with the one whose sacrifice is accepted, we will all become one people."

Revelation 13
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

1 Kings 18
Elijah's Mount Carmel Victory
20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God."
So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."
25Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it."
26So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
27And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." 32Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." 34Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. 35So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"
40And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.


Goy vey!

61 posted on 12/23/2001 7:08:51 PM PST by Jeremiah Jr
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Comment #62 Removed by Moderator

Comment #63 Removed by Moderator

To: Michael2001; Thinkin' Gal; Jeremiah Jr; wooly_mammoth; Prodigal Daughter; TrueBeliever9...
Some Arabs are big on slavery.  One of these links below mentions how they love to particularly enslave Americans.  Interesting how others sometimes choose English or American wives.  Perhaps they are trophies.

Saudhouse:  U.S. Children as a Target of the International Sex Slave Trade

See also, Sauduction and Saudi pedophiles

64 posted on 12/23/2001 10:37:06 PM PST by 2sheep
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To: 2sheep
Some Arabs are big on slavery.

2sheep, you are much too kind. I would say the vast majority are big on slavery. After all, isnt this what terrorism is all about? Do as we want or else? How many times have we heard the statement 'find out what these people want'. As if we are suppose to just give anyone what they want just cause they demand it.

Thanks for the ping mate.

65 posted on 12/23/2001 11:41:50 PM PST by klee
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To: The Documentary Lady
Bulls!t. The Muslims have driven the Christians out of Bethlehem over the last few decades. What was once a Christian town is now Muslim. Just look at the population figures by religion today as compared to 30 years ago.

Same pattern the Muslims you shill for have followed in Kosovo and Lebanon.

66 posted on 12/23/2001 11:43:17 PM PST by dennisw
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To: klee; Brian Allen; Thinkin' Gal; Prodigal Daughter; babylonian
Here's another snip:
"... runaways were spotted by pimps loitering in bus stations who approached the teenagers almost as they exited the buses. ... A primary method of procuring a juvenile for prostitution is through the use of feigned friendship and love." [Click here.]
This tactic of feigned friendship seems to be the order of the day and so disarming, whether it is: Certainly one answer is not to compromise in any area of one's life with evil.

Da 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by *flatteries.

Da 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by *flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

2519. *chalaqlaqqah
chalaqlaqqah khal-ak-lak-kaw'

by reduplication from 2505; properly, something very smooth; i.e.
a treacherous spot; figuratively, blandishment:--flattery, slippery.

67 posted on 12/24/2001 12:52:13 AM PST by 2sheep
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To: Michael2001
Is she even that? I heard she converted to Islam.

I didn't know but my instincts were someone who would carry the seed of an Islamic terrorist with blood on his hands could not be a real Christian.

"I hate the Israelis," Yediot quotes Mrs Arafat as saying. "I oppose normalisation with them. Israeli women have attempted to make contact with me and I rejected them. ... The daughter of a wealthy Christian family, she converted to Islam after her secret marriage to Mr Arafat in 1990.

68 posted on 12/24/2001 6:10:49 AM PST by a_witness
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To: Bold Fenian
crewmen of our USS Liberty

How about the United States diplomats in Sudan murdered by Arafat in 1973? Why do you "Remember the Liberty!" gang keep forgetting this?

69 posted on 12/24/2001 6:33:05 AM PST by Alouette
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To: 2sheep
My gandmother use to say :

Even a shark looks like hes smiling before he attacks.

70 posted on 12/24/2001 7:48:42 AM PST by klee
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To: lavaroise
Pathetic. Have a crappy Christmas.
71 posted on 12/24/2001 8:43:27 AM PST by Conservative til I die
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To: Bold Fenian
I hope Israel is stupid enough to stop Arafat and his escort of Catholic and Orthodox priests and nuns. Can you say "Anti-Christian PR disaster?"

Why would you hope for a disaster like this? Are you a pro-Islamoterrorist?
72 posted on 12/24/2001 8:47:55 AM PST by Conservative til I die
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To: God_isa_Jew
You're a moron.

PS-Your screenname is misleading. God is not a Jew. I don't think He follows a religion. Religions follow Him.

Tool.
73 posted on 12/24/2001 8:49:11 AM PST by Conservative til I die
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To: dennisw
Honestly beginnning to think that the only answer is to wipe Islam off the face of the earth. Bunch of absolutely miserable bastards that seem to exist only to torment EVERYONE else.
74 posted on 12/24/2001 8:52:00 AM PST by Conservative til I die
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To: lavaroise
    Okay, I take it back. The Vatican is throwing their lot in with the Islamic terrorist Yasser Arafat.
  1. Arafat will be allowed to leave Ramallah to attend Christmas Mass in Bethlehem if he arrests the assassins of slain tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi by sundown, Israel said today.
  2. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, asked about Israel's refusal to let Arafat travel to the town of Jesus' birth unless he arrests the assassins of cabinet minister Rehavam Ze'evi, said: "Through the [Vatican's] Secretary of State, a diplomatic step has been made to avoid this arbitrarily imposed ban and to thus facilitate a more conciliatory climate in the area." He did not elaborate on what step the Vatican's diplomatic branch had taken.

BTW, Arafat's comment "Who is [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon to keep me from Bethlehem," reminds me of the comment by another Egyptian, And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Arafat should be arrested for murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

75 posted on 12/24/2001 9:19:03 AM PST by a_witness
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To: Conservative til I die,a_witness, cardinal4
Sorry to burst your bubble but the Vatican is full of f@gs:Vatican Condemns Israel’s Ban on Arafat’s Travels to Bethlehem

They go prosecuting after the manner of Satan.

You go have your crappy christmas with terrorist friend Arafat and the Vatican behind.

76 posted on 12/24/2001 10:50:42 AM PST by lavaroise
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To: a_witness
Point taken. I have to admit I was a bit dangerously ahead of the curve myself, dangerously foaming and crucifying, and I was not following Jude's orders. But the Vatican is more prosecuting than I ever was, for mine do not make dead bodies.

Jude1:9"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. "

IMHO I would say The Lord Rebuke Arafat and his friends... .

77 posted on 12/24/2001 10:53:23 AM PST by lavaroise
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To: Conservative til I die
Bunch of absolutely miserable bastards that seem to exist only to torment EVERYONE else.

Looks like a field ripe for conversion to me ...

OR are you looking to start your *own* Inquisition?

78 posted on 12/24/2001 11:03:59 AM PST by _Jim
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To: lavaroise
You go have your crappy christmas with terrorist friend Arafat and the Vatican behind.

Hmmmmm.If you hate yourself so much,why dont you just end it all?An attitude like yours,I can do without.

79 posted on 12/24/2001 12:24:05 PM PST by cardinal4
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To: klee
My grandmother use to say : Even a shark looks like hes smiling before he attacks.

Heh heh heh.  I've never heard that before, but it sounds absolutely correct. 

80 posted on 12/24/2001 12:55:04 PM PST by 2sheep
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