REBUILT 3RD TEMPLE
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 6 IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 19) APR 7,07
TORAH
NUMBER 28:16-25
16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks,and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
PASSOVER DAY 2 AROUND THE WORLD. JESUS PREPARES THE WORLD FOR HIS RESURRECTION.
MATTHEW 27:62-66
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver (JESUS) said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
OTHER NEWS AROUND THE WORLD. NISAN 19, APR 07,07
1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS.2-Tsunami toll set to rise in Solomons. 3-The Nation's Weather. 4-Freak snow storm hits Maine, triggers emergency. 5-Selkirk residents fearing more flooding keep tabs on properties. 6-Kabbalist Elder: Israel on Brink of War. 7-N. American Jewish Sites Bombed and Vandalized Over Passover. 8-Chlorine truck bomber kills 27 in Ramadi.
EARTHQUAKES
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS (USGS)
Update time = Sat Apr 7 11:30 AM EDT
APR 07,07
MAP 3.6 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 2.7 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 5.7 SIMEULUE, INDONESIA
MAP 5.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 2.7 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 6.0 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.1 SOUTHWEST INDIAN RIDGE
MAP 5.2 MERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 2.8 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.5 KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
MAP 2.5 KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
MAP 5.2 IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 3.8 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.3 SOUTHERN YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA
APR 06,07
MAP 2.5 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.3 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 4.5 ICELAND REGION
MAP 5.9 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 4.8 KEPULAUAN TANIMBAR REGION, INDONESIA
MAP 5.0 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 3.0 KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
MAP 5.4 SOUTHERN PERU
MAP 4.2 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 3.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.6 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
MAP 3.8 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.9 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOUTHEAST OF THE LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.6 SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
MAP 3.4 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 2.7 TENNESSEE
MAP 2.5 ARKANSAS
APR 05,07
MAP 4.1 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 4.9 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 4.9 VANUATU
MAP 2.7 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 4.6 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 4.8 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 4.5 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.1 BURYATIYA, RUSSIA
MAP 4.8 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 4.5 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 6.3 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 5.2 FIJI REGION
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 3.5 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 3.2 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 2.8 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 4.6 FIJI REGION
Tsunami toll set to rise in Solomons By Walter Nalangu
Fri Apr 6, 1:39 AM ET
HONIARA (Reuters) - The flow of aid to the Solomon Islands accelerated on Friday as military aircraft ferried in supplies after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed dozens and smashed villages. At least 34 are known to have died but the death toll is expected to rise sharply with up to 100 people still missing. Bad weather was also hampering relief shipments to remote islands.
There are many more people missing and unaccounted for, said Alex Lokopio, premier of the Solomon's western province which was hit by Monday's tsunami and magnitude 8 earthquake.
He expected the death toll to rise sharply in the next 24 hours when officials return from isolated villages.We are preparing for a worsening of the known number of dead, Greg Hunt, parliamentary secretary to Australia's foreign minister, said on Friday.In a situation like this, many people may just disappear out there. A tsunami or giant wave in low-lying areas means we may not find some of those that have been lost, Hunt told radio.The tsunami and earthquake destroyed up to 2,500 homes and left an estimated 5,500 people displaced, says the Solomons government.More than 2,000 people too afraid to return to their homes are crowded into one camp on high ground near the Western Provincial capital of Gizo, which bore the full force of the quake and tsunami.
The Solomons has about 500,000 people scattered across a string of small islands along the Pacific's Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. Most Solomon Islanders live on subsistence agriculture and fishing.
While relief supplies continued to arrive, shortages of clean drinking water, adequate sanitation and medicines and materials to prevent malaria were the biggest causes of concern, a government official said on Friday.Local health authorities expected a surge in the number of mosquito breeding sites and the World Health Organisation expects the number of malaria cases to rise over the next two months.
The reopened Gizo airport has accelerated the arrival of supplies from the Australian and New Zealand air forces.Australian medical teams and aid, including treated mosquito nets and clean water, arrived in the Solomons on Friday and a mobile health team focused on disease prevention and sanitation will depart Australia on Friday.But for many isolated villagers aid is still days away and bad
weather is hampering aid reaching them. The only way for aid to reach many of the tiny islands was by boat, but many motorized canoes had been swept away by Monday's disaster.It would take time to reach those people. The islands are so scattered, said government spokesman Alfred Maesulia.
Australia has offered A$2 million ($1.6 million) in aid and help from around 100 military peacekeepers who were rotated into the country on Wednesday, taking in extra water supplies, food and shelter.
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The Nation's Weather By WEATHER UNDERGROUND, For The Associated Press
Sat Apr 7, 5:13 AM ET
Unseasonably low temperatures will persist in the eastern half of the country Saturday, with scattered snow showers expected in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions.
Temperatures in the 20s and 30s are expected in the northern Plains and upper Midwest, while highs in the 30s and 40s are likely in the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.The Northeast is expected to get temperatures in the 30s and 40s, while the Southeast should see temperatures in the 50s and 60s.
As the day progresses, moisture is expected to push through Texas and toward the central Gulf Coast, bringing rain mixed with sleet to the region.It should be warm in the West, with high temperatures west of the Rockies expected to range from the 60s to the 90s.Northern California and western parts of Washington and Oregon could get rain later Saturday.Temperatures in the lower 48 states Friday ranged from a low of 1 degrees at Grand Marais, Minn., to a high of 101 degrees at Death Valley, Calif.
Freak snow storm hits Maine, triggers emergency Thu Apr 5, 4:31 PM ET
BOSTON (Reuters) - A freak spring storm blanketed parts of Maine in nearly a foot of snow on Thursday, snarling traffic and forcing the governor to declare an emergency after at least 275,000 homes and businesses lost power.
Gov. Jim Baldacci's emergency declaration allows Maine to seek help from utility crews in neighboring states and Canadian provinces to restore power.If there are people who are vulnerable or who could be at risk, please let them know that there are warming stations and shelter availability, Baldacci said in a statement.The city of Portland received 11.6 inches, making the snow storm the ninth-biggest on record for April, said Art Lester of the National Weather Service's bureau in Maine.It's unusual but not unprecedented, he said. April is a month when we do expect to get some snow. Sometimes we get a bomb like this.
Selkirk residents fearing more flooding keep tabs on properties
Friday, April 6, 2007 | 5:17 PM CT CBC News
Premier Gary Doer toured flooded parts of Selkirk, Man., on Friday afternoon, as residents and officials kept a watch on about 20 local properties that could be affected.A flash-flood watch has been expanded to cover parts of the Red River north from Netley Creek to Breezy Point, according to a release from the provincial water stewardship department.A large ice jam two kilometres long rapidly forced river levels up to historic levels north of Winnipeg on Wednesday night, sending water over its banks into Selkirk and flooding several low-lying properties.
I know we're going to get through it.
Selkirk Mayor David BellWhile the rest of the infrastructure is fine and the streets are dry, Mayor David Bell said Friday the city has sandbagged one property and was keeping tabs on a number of others because of flooding concern.We are very watchful of approximately 20 properties located along the river, he said.Bell said the flooding has not changed much since Thursday, as city crews work non-stop to repair a damaged pumping station. The damage has forced the city to pump sewage into the Red River.
We want to, you know, mitigate our circumstances in terms of pumping stations, our lift stations, he said.We don't really want to be pumping straight into the Red either but that being said, you do what you have to do under these circumstances for the short term.
The overflowing river has flooded low-lying properties, including the underground garages of two senior condominium buildings and the Marine Museum of Manitoba. Flooding is expected to continue until the ice jam moves north, hopefully sometime over the weekend.About 100 seniors were evacuated from the buildings Wednesday night, while museum officials grapple with how they can recover ships and artifacts now under water and sewage.Still, the mayor said he is maintaining a positive attitude. He noted that merchants, including local Wal-Mart and Rona stores, have donated items such as hygiene kits for anyone who was forced from home without having time to pack.
I know we're going to get through it …, Bell said.
I'm very comfortable with all the help and the situation that's happened here for us. From Wal-Mart, to Rona Revy, to the other merchants, just the goodwill of people. It's amazing.River levels north of the ice jam from the Provincial Trunk Highway 4 bridge to McIvor Road have risen about nine centimetres in the past 24 hours, while levels at the town bridge at Selkirk have dropped about 30 centimetres. Levels near the Selkirk air base have risen three centimetres.In Winnipeg, river levels have risen only slightly, dropping at some points.
Kabbalist Elder: Israel on Brink of War
by Baruch Gordon APR 7,07 (INN)
A highly-regarded kabbalist elder from Bnei Barak has issued a warning that the next war in Israel is on the way. Rabbi Eliyahu Leon Levi, who frequents the Western Wall every Saturday night to recite Psalms and teach Torah, told his students that there is an evil decree of war looming on the horizon.
According to the Rabbi, Syria is liable to join Lebanon in firing missiles at the Jewish State in the pending war. The missiles will have a much greater range and carry much larger warheads than katyusha rockets...The missiles will have a much greater range and carry much larger warheads than the katyusha rockets fired against Israel this past summer in the Second Lebanon War which claimed some 156 lives, he noted. It's not going to be katyushas shmatyushas this time which have only tens of kilograms of explosives. The enemy will launch, G-d forbid, rockets carrying 500 and 600 kilograms of explosives, Rabbi Levi told his students.
On several occasions, Rabbi Levi first alerted Israeli military authorities of security threats and movements of massive amounts of enemy weapons, that were subsequently verified by IDF intelligence. The kabbalist Rabbi said just before the Passover holiday that he does not want to cause panic, but suggested that the Israeli public stock up on two weeks of water, food supplies, candles and matches in case the delivery of basic commodities is disrupted. Rabbi Levi said that though Israel may, G-d forbid, pay a heavy price initially, the Jewish People would muster strength to crush their enemies leading to a great sanctification of G-d's name through ultimate victory.He emphasized that the decree can be annulled through prayer, repentance, and good deeds. In the spiritual world, things can rapidly change. But right now, it appears that war could break out soon after or even during the Passover holiday. Rabbi Levi said that the allocation of food to the needy and the great acts of charity which preceded the Passover holiday made a great impression in the heavenly court and sweetened the judgment to a degree.
We are on the brink of redemption, and a great war is coming. he said. Whoever doesn't prepare himself spiritually is at great risk. A person must turn to G-d in prayer and cry and confess his wrongdoings, and rectify his ways. A person must recite Psalms as we do every Saturday night here at the site of our holy temple. The recitation of Psalms constitutes a spiritual rinsing of the mouth from idle talk, as well as from the transgression of causing others pain through our speech. Come with your children to cry and pray before G-d and ask forgiveness.Rabbi Levi said that once the rockets start falling, it is too late for a person to wake up and begin to rectify his ways. Now is the time to ask for mercy. If one doesn't do so, G-d have mercy on his soul - there will be problems.
Rabbi Levi said that those who recite Tikun Hatzot (the Midnight Rectification) along with a Tikun Yesod (rectification of the covenant of sexual purity) will have an invincible shield of protection (ohr makif) around him.
Rabbi Eliyahu Leon Levi recites Tikun Hatzot at the Kotel Tzvi Fishman.The kabbalist pointed to sexual wrongdoing, immodest dress, and addiction to pornography on the internet as additional factors which bring about harsh decrees on Israel. Articles by Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi translated into English appear on JewishSexuality.com.
N. American Jewish Sites Bombed and Vandalized Over Passover
by Ezra HaLevi APR 7,07
A Jewish center in the Canadian city of Montreal was targeted in a bomb attack, and a synagogue in San Francisco, California was defaced with swastikas during the first days of the Passover festival.
The bomb detonated at Montreals Ben Weider Jewish Community Center failed to cause any injuries or deaths, though workers were present at the time of the explosion. Damage was caused to the building.Montreal police downplayed the incident, emphasizing that the bomb was homemade and saying they have not yet determined whether it was a hate crime.
The bombing comes just two days before the third anniversary of the firebomb attack on a Montreal United Talmud Torah elementary school. That attack burned the schools library.Another Jewish school was firebombed last year. Bnai Brith Canada reports a 70 percent rise in anti-Jewish attacks in Quebec and a 12.8 percent rise in all of Canada.
Swastikas in San Francisco
San Franciscos Emanu-El synagogue, the largest in the city, was defaced with swastikas over the Passover festival. Congregants discovered the vandalism Monday morning.San Franciscos mayor condemned the Nazi graffiti. San Francisco is known as a city that embraces people of all faiths, Mayor Gavin Newsom told CBS news. We strongly condemn this act of hatred and intolerance.
In the heavily-Jewish populated Bergen County region of New Jersey, swastikas and anti-Jewish graffiti were found engraved into the playground of a Wallington park on Passover eve.Bergen County Police spokesman Kevin Hartnett said, We run into graffiti in the parks all the time, but we don't see these types of possible bias crimes often.
Anti-Jewish Arabic Graffiti on Chicago Synagogue
Chicago police are investigating the Passover eve spraying of graffiti on the walls of a Chicago synagogue. Anti-Israel messages, including Death to Israel, were painted in English and in Arabic.
This is what American Jews have to look forward to. You can hear the deafening silence, said Jack Berger, a Chicago Jewish community leader. Ahmed Rahab, director of the Chicago branch of the Council on American-Islamic relations, condemned the act as reprehensible.
Anti-Jewish Sketches at Princeton U
A rough drawing of a building labeled Jewish library with missiles headed toward it was found in a Princeton University common room. Also in the path of the missiles were stick figures labeled little Jews. A swastika graced the top of the sketch.Jewish students presume the drawing is a reference to a Jewish fundraising drive for an elementary school in northern Israel damaged during the Second Lebanon War last summer.
Chlorine truck bomber kills 27 in Ramadi By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer APR 6,07
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber driving a truck loaded with TNT and toxic chlorine gas crashed into a police checkpoint in western Ramadi on Friday, killing at least 27 people and wounding dozens, police in the Anbar provincial capital said. In the deep south of the country, the Basra police commander said the type of roadside bomb used in an attack that killed four British soldiers on Thursday had not been seen in the region previously. Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Moussawi's description of the deadly weapon indicated it was a feared Iranian-designed explosively formed penetrator.Two more of the bombs were discovered planted along routes heavily traveled by U.S. and British diplomats in Basra. Weeks earlier, the American military had claimed Iran was supplying Shiite militia fighters in Iraq with the powerful weapons, known as EFPs. They hurl a molten, fist-sized copper slug capable of piercing armored vehicles.
The bombing in Anbar province marked the ninth use of suicide chlorine bombs in the sprawling, mainly desert territory that has been a stronghold of the Sunni insurgency.Recently, however, many Anbar tribes have switched allegiance, with large numbers of military-age men joining the police force and Iraqi army in a bid to expel al-Qaida in Iraq fighters. Suicide bombings are an al-Qaida trademark.
Some bystanders had trouble breathing after Friday's chlorine attack and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, said police Maj. Jubair Rashid al-Nayef. Others with more serious injuries were taken to a U.S. base in the area, and then flown by helicopter to a larger hospital north of Baghdad, al-Nayef said.Police Maj. Mohammed Mahmoud al Nattah, member of the Anbar Salvation council, told state-run Iraqiya television the bomber hit a residential complex and dozens of wounded were taken to the Ramadi hospital.
Police opened fire as the suicide car bomber sped toward a checkpoint, three miles west of the city, according to police Col. Tariq al-Dulaimi. Nearby buildings were heavily damaged and police were searching the rubble for more victims.South of Baghdad, Iraqi forces backed by American paratroopers swept into a troubled, predominantly Shiite city before dawn, and the U.S. military said as many as six militia fighters had been killed.Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl, a U.S. military spokesman, said eight others were wounded and five detained. There were no reports of civilian casualties in the assault on Diwaniyah, he said.Residents reported heavy fighting between the U.S. and Iraqi forces and gunmen of the Mahdi Army militia in the city, 80 miles south of Baghdad.
Dr. Hameed Jaafi, the director of Diwaniyah Health Directorate, said an American helicopter fired on a house in the Askari neighborhood, seriously wounding 12 people as the early morning assault began.
Bleichwehl said there were no U.S. air strikes either by helicopters or planes.
Also Thursday, the U.S. military confirmed an American helicopter carrying nine people had been downed south of Baghdad and that four were injured.An Iraqi army official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, said the helicopter crashed after coming under fire near the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Latifiyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. The U.S. military did not confirm that account.It was the ninth U.S. helicopter to go down in Iraq this year. The U.S. military has studied new evasive techniques, fearing insurgents have acquired more sophisticated weapons or have figured out how to use their arms in new and effective ways.The four British soldiers including two women were killed Thursday as the American military announced the deaths of nine more U.S. soldiers since Tuesday.
The Basra region police commander, al-Moussawi, said two similar bombs had been discovered Friday morning; one was discovered on the road leading to Basra Palace, the compound that houses a British base and the British and U.S. consulates. A second was uncovered in the western Hayaniyah district where Thursday's attack occurred. The area is known as a stronghold of the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The reported deaths of the American forces and the bomb attack on the British unit marked the start of the eighth week of the joint U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad and surrounding territory. Prime Minister Tony Blair called the Basra attack an act of terrorism and suggested it may have been the work of militiamen linked to Iran. He stopped short of accusing Tehran, however. Now it is far too early to say that the particular terrorist act that killed our forces was an act committed by terrorists that were backed by any elements of the Iranian regime, so I make no allegation in respect of that particular incident, Blair said. He added, however, This is maybe the right moment to reflect on our relationship with Iran.
The U.S. military reported Saturday that one American soldier was killed and a second wounded in shooting in Kirkuk province. One U.S. soldier died and two were wounded in a roadside bombing Thursday in restive Diyala province north of Baghdad, the military said. Four others died Wednesday in two roadside bomb explosions in southern Baghdad and north of the capital, while a fifth was killed by small-arms fire in the eastern part of the city. Two other soldiers were killed by small-arms fire on Tuesday one in eastern Baghdad and another on foot patrol in the southern outskirts of the capital.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
PASSOVER FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY
Friday April 6, 2007 12:01 AM
REBUILT 3RD TEMPLE
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE ROMAN,EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:(1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 5 (SABBATH) IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 18) APR 6,07
TORAH
EXODUS 33:12-34:26
12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
2 And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.
3 And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.
4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.
11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.
17 Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.
18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.
19 All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.
20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.
23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.
25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.
26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 36:37-37:14
37 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
GOOD FRIDAY FOR CHRISTIANS (JESUS') DEATH FOR OUR SINS. APR 6,2007
THIS IS OUR PASSOVER.
ISAIAH 53:1-12
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
MATTHEW 26:47-27:60
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Pilgrims mark Good Friday in Jerusalem By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writer APR 6,07
JERUSALEM /Christian pilgrims from around the world filled the narrow cobblestone streets of Jerusalem's Old City on Good Friday, some carrying large wooden crosses as they followed the route Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion.
Pilgrims from the United States, India, South Korea, the Philippines, Russia and other countries retraced Jesus' walk as he carried his cross through Jerusalem on the day of his death. Many held candles and sang hymns in languages including English, Latin and Hindi.I can imagine Jesus walking here with the cross, said Alex Kim, 18, of Seoul, South Korea.
Dragan Petrodic, wearing a Serbian flag on his shoulder, said, I'm here to see and kiss all the places where God has been.Nearby, an Arab vendor shouting in Russian hawked small crosses for $10 apiece.
One group, from California and South Korea, re-enacted Jesus' last hours before his crucifixion. A South Korean pilgrim played the role of Jesus, covered with blood, wearing a crown of thorns and burdened by a cross. He was escorted by others dressed as Roman centurions.The Lord moves us to come here, said one of the centurions, Bob Payton of Orange County, California, who added that this was his third Good Friday visit.Clergymen in colorful robes, representing different Catholic and Orthodox denominations, filed early Friday into the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where many believe Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. In an annual tradition, the church's doors were unlocked by a member of the Muslim family that has held the key for centuries.
Inside the church, pilgrims pressed their heads to the long, smooth stone where the faithful believe Jesus' body was washed after being removed from the cross.The calendars of five major Christian sects coincide this year, a convergence that happens only once every four years, and crowds were expected to be larger than usual.Hundreds of police were deployed around the Old City to maintain order, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
There are 14 stations along the route, known as the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, each marking an event that befell Jesus on his final walk. The final five stations are inside the church.The proprietor of a pizzeria near the Via Dolorosa's fourth station, giving his name only as Nasser, said he remembered bigger crowds before Israeli-Palestinian violence erupted in 2000. While Asian and African pilgrims were well-represented, he said, western Europeans had yet to return in large numbers.
Many tourists are still scared. They're still keeping away, he said.
REBUILT 3RD TEMPLE
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE ROMAN,EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:(1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 5 (SABBATH) IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 18) APR 6,07
TORAH
EXODUS 33:12-34:26
12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
2 And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.
3 And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.
4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.
11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.
17 Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.
18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.
19 All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.
20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.
23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.
25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.
26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 36:37-37:14
37 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
GOOD FRIDAY FOR CHRISTIANS (JESUS') DEATH FOR OUR SINS. APR 6,2007
THIS IS OUR PASSOVER.
ISAIAH 53:1-12
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
MATTHEW 26:47-27:60
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Pilgrims mark Good Friday in Jerusalem By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writer APR 6,07
JERUSALEM /Christian pilgrims from around the world filled the narrow cobblestone streets of Jerusalem's Old City on Good Friday, some carrying large wooden crosses as they followed the route Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion.
Pilgrims from the United States, India, South Korea, the Philippines, Russia and other countries retraced Jesus' walk as he carried his cross through Jerusalem on the day of his death. Many held candles and sang hymns in languages including English, Latin and Hindi.I can imagine Jesus walking here with the cross, said Alex Kim, 18, of Seoul, South Korea.
Dragan Petrodic, wearing a Serbian flag on his shoulder, said, I'm here to see and kiss all the places where God has been.Nearby, an Arab vendor shouting in Russian hawked small crosses for $10 apiece.
One group, from California and South Korea, re-enacted Jesus' last hours before his crucifixion. A South Korean pilgrim played the role of Jesus, covered with blood, wearing a crown of thorns and burdened by a cross. He was escorted by others dressed as Roman centurions.The Lord moves us to come here, said one of the centurions, Bob Payton of Orange County, California, who added that this was his third Good Friday visit.Clergymen in colorful robes, representing different Catholic and Orthodox denominations, filed early Friday into the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where many believe Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. In an annual tradition, the church's doors were unlocked by a member of the Muslim family that has held the key for centuries.
Inside the church, pilgrims pressed their heads to the long, smooth stone where the faithful believe Jesus' body was washed after being removed from the cross.The calendars of five major Christian sects coincide this year, a convergence that happens only once every four years, and crowds were expected to be larger than usual.Hundreds of police were deployed around the Old City to maintain order, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
There are 14 stations along the route, known as the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, each marking an event that befell Jesus on his final walk. The final five stations are inside the church.The proprietor of a pizzeria near the Via Dolorosa's fourth station, giving his name only as Nasser, said he remembered bigger crowds before Israeli-Palestinian violence erupted in 2000. While Asian and African pilgrims were well-represented, he said, western Europeans had yet to return in large numbers.
Many tourists are still scared. They're still keeping away, he said.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
ERITREA BANS FEMALE CIRCUMCISION
REBUILT 3RD TEMPLE
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:1X7=7 YEARS)and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to
cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 4 IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 17) APR 5,07
TORAH
NUMBER 28:16-25
16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Patriarch performs Holy Week rite APR 5,07
JERUSALEM - Hundreds of Greek Orthodox believers filled the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City to watch their patriarch wash the feet of followers as part of a Holy Thursday tradition. The ceremony was a reenactment of Jesus' act of humility when, according to Christian belief, he washed the feet of his 12 apostles.Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theofilos III, dressed in white robes, poured soapy water from an ornate silver pitcher into a bowl.
Twelve priests, selected by seniority, dipped their feet in the water and Theofilos carefully cleaned them with a white cloth.This is important because it shows and reminds us of the humility of Christ. It shows love toward our fellow man, said Archbishop Aristarchous. I think it's the solution to our human problems today.On Easter Sunday, the Orthodox Church will hold its 1,200-year-old holy fire rite in which the faithful light torches and candles from a flame that believers say is miraculously ignited. The rite also takes place at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Christians believe Jesus died on the cross.
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Holy Thursday rites
Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:07:00GMT Author : DPA
Vatican City- Pope Benedict XVI commemorated Jesus's Last Supper with a Holy Thursday Mass in Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran. The afternoon ceremony, which saw the pope wash the feet of 12 lay men - a traditional gesture commemorating Christ's act of humility with his disciples - ushered in the so-called Easter Triduum, which denotes the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. The former theology professor devoted his homely to a study of the biblical accounts of the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with the 12 apostles before his death, in light of the discovery about half a century ago of the Dead Sea scrolls - probably the oldest surviving Biblical documents. Funds raised during the collection were to be destined by the pope to help pay for the rebuilding of a clinic in Somalia's south-central city of Baidoa, the Vatican said.
Earlier Thursday, the pope presided over a Holy Chrism Mass in the Basilica of St Peter's, in which the 79-year-old pontiff blessed holy oils that are used by priests in the sacraments. Benedict plans to attend the traditional evening Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession around Rome's Coliseum on Good Friday and an Easter Vigil on Saturday. On Easter Sunday he is due to celebrate Mass in St Peter's Square anddeliver his Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the City and the World.
Theceremony is to be broadcast in nearly 70 countries around the world. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is Christians' most important annual religious feast. Respective Author
OTHER WORLD NEWS NISAN 17, APR 5,07
1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS.2-La Nina may form, but timing and strength uncertain.
3-Severe storms rake Tenn., Ky., Ark. 4-Winter's grip takes hold of the East. 5-Winter storm to pound Ontario over Easter. 6-Disease breaking out after Solomon Islands quake. 7-House Speaker Pelosi visits Saudi Arabia. 8-SANE founded to expose truth about the evils of Islam. 9-Israel, PA agree to open trade passages to Gaza Strip. 10-Fatah Threatens Attacks On Jews Outside Israel. 11-Eritrea bans female circumcision.
EARTHQUAKES
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS (USGS)
Update time = Thu Apr 5 12:00 AM EDT
APR 5,07
MAP 5.1 BURYATIYA, RUSSIA
MAP 4.8 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 4.5 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 6.3 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 5.2 FIJI REGION
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 3.5 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 3.2 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 2.8 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 4.6 FIJI REGION
APR 4,07
MAP 5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 2.8 OREGON
MAP 5.7 IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 4.5 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 3.1 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.9 MAURITIUS - REUNION REGION
MAP 2.8 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 4.9 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 4.9 IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 2.6 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 3.4 SOUTH OF ALASKA
MAP 3.6 MONA PASSAGE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MAP 2.7 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 2.7 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 2.7 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.6 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 3.4 GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP 6.4 VANUATU
MAP 6.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 4.7 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.3 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 2.6 MOUNT ST. HELENS AREA, WASHINGTON
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 2.9 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 4.8 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 6.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 3.9 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.5 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.7 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.1 NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND
MAP 6.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 3.0 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
La Nina may form, but timing and strength uncertain By Rene Pastor APR 5,07
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A La Nina weather anomaly may be forming in the equatorial Pacific, but a fog of unpredictability enshrouds when it may strike and how strong it might be, according to the Climate Prediction Center of the U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. In its monthly update issued Thursday, the center said atmospheric and oceanic conditions are consistent with a trend towards a Pacific cold (La Nina) episode.The formation of La Nina could lead to more storms in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, forecasters say.
The weather anomaly could occur between May and July of this year.
However, the latest computer models indicate considerable uncertainty as to when La Nina might develop and how strong it might be, according to the CPC.
La Nina is less famous than El Nino, during which waters in the Pacific turn abnormally warm.That warming could wreak havoc in the weather across the Asia-Pacific region, causing flooding in Peru and Ecuador in South America and withering drought in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.El Nino also spurs stronger wind shear in the Atlantic basin. This greatly hindered storm formation in 2006 when only 10 occurred, sharply lower than the record 28 storms of the year before which included monsters like hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.La Nina has the opposite effect, and U.S. government and private forecasters said it may cause a higher-than-normal number of hurricanes. Most predictions pegged the number of storms this year at 17.
El Nino means literally little boy in Spanish. The name was used by Latin American anchovy fishermen in the 19th century who first noticed the anomaly because it usually peaked during Christmas.The last La Nina occurred from 1998 to 2001, leading to drought across much of the western United States.The CPC forecast is available on: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_a dvisory/ensodisc.html
Severe storms rake Tenn., Ky., Ark. Wed Apr 4, 2:05 PM ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Violent thunderstorms battered a three-state region with hail as big as softballs and wind that damaged several homes and caused power outages. The storms that hit Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee marked the leading edge of a mass of cold air that dropped temperatures Wednesday morning into the 20s in the central Plains and upper Midwest.No tornadoes were confirmed during the storms Tuesday night, but strong wind heavily damaged three homes in Tennessee's Cumberland County, authorities said.The storm damaged the roof of the emergency entrance at the Appalachian Regional Hospital in Harlan, Ky. Emergency room services were temporarily moved to another area of the hospital while repairs were made and no one was injured, hospital CEO David Brash said Wednesday.
More than 42,000 homes and businesses lost power during the storms in Kentucky, utilities said. In Tennessee, the Knoxville Utilities Board said more than 6,000 were blacked out during the storm.Wind gusted to 68 mph at Frankfort, Ky., and hail the size of softball hammered Kentucky's Hart County, the National Weather Service said.One (police) cruiser was pelted with golf ball-size hail for probably 20 minutes, said Kentucky State Police dispatcher Della Shaw.High straight-line wind or a possible tornado damaged a business and several parked vehicles in Jonesboro, Ark.My truck was just totaled, Mark Burrough told Jonesboro television station KAIT-TV. We have two or three trailers tipped over.
Winter's grip takes hold of the East Wayne Verno, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel Thu Apr 5, 6:40 AM ET
Northeast
A storm system will track to just offshore of Maine today, pushing heavy snow across Bangor, Portland, and Burlington. Additional accumulations of 5 to 10 inches will be likely. Another low pressure north of the Great Lakes will continue to wrap snow showers and cold air across the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast States today, through Sunday. Areas from Pittsburgh and Buffalo, north through Syracuse and Burlington will continue to see snow showers, while partly cloudy skies prevail from Washington, DC to Boston. It will also be windy across the entire area, with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph common, with a few gusts over 40 mph possible. Temperatures into the weekend will be in the 20s and 30s across Pittsburgh, Erie, Buffalo, Albany, and Burlington, to the 40s and 50s from Baltimore and Washington, to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
Midwest
Low pressure north of the Great Lakes will continue to wrap cold air, windy conditions, and snow showers across the Great Lakes today, through the weekend.
Areas from Marquette to Traverse City and Grand Rapids could see a few more inches. A stationary front across the High Plains will focus rain and snow from Rapid City, southeast to just west of the Kansas City area today, spreading into the South Plains by Saturday. A few inches of snow could accumulate across the central and southern Plains into Saturday. Meanwhile much of the Midwest and Ohio valley will remain dry, but cool, with temperatures generally in the 30s and 40s from Louisville and St. Louis, to Kansas City, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Temperatures in the 20s and 30s will be common across the northern Plains, and northern parts of the Upper Midwest.
South
A cold front will continue to push south into the Gulf and Florida today, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms to areas from Orlando to Miami. Temperatures will also be warm ahead of the front, with readings in the 80s. Behind the cold front much colder air is filtering into the Deep South today. With mainly clear skies, afternoon temperatures will only be in the 50s and 60s from Charlotte and Atlanta, west through Memphis, New Orleans, and Dallas. Highs in the 40s and 50s will spread through the Tennessee Valley into the weekend. Morning low temperatures will be very cold, with freezing temperatures spreading into parts of the Deep South this weekend. Over Texas, the chance for rain and rain showers will be on the increase Friday into Saturday, as a weather disturbance approaches the area. Also, by Saturday colder air will filter in, allowing for possible accumulating snow into northern Texas.
West
Much of the West will remain under high pressure today through Friday, providing dry conditions from Seattle and Portland, south through San Francisco and Los Angeles. The exception will be across the Rockies, where a stationary front will focus rain and snow, from Billings, into the Denver area. A few isolated thunderstorms will also be possible near Denver. Warm temperatures will also build into the Pacific Northwest today and Friday, with highs in the 60s and 70s. By Saturday and Sunday a storm system will begin to affect the Northwest, with rain showers developing across the western Washington, western Oregon, and northern California area.
Winter storm to pound Ontario over Easter
Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 8:27 AM ET - CBC News
It may sound like Christmas in Ontario, but it's definitely an Easter forecast.After dumping 15 to 20 centimetres of snow over northern parts of the province, a weakening winter storm migrated eastward Thursday, likely to make the Easter long weekend look and feel more like winter than last Christmas did.
As the slow system dwindled, the Greater Toronto Area saw some blowing flurries early Thursday morning, but didn't experience the near-zero visibility conditions experienced near Lake Superior, where strong northerly winds were blowing at 40 to 60 km/h.Still, the wind chill made it feel like –13 C in Toronto on Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to hover around freezing through the weekend, with a high of 4 C on Sunday.Meanwhile, heavy snowfall continued from the Timmins to Geraldton areas Thursday, with an additional five to 10 centimetres expected in the warned regions, Environment Canada forecast.Snowsqualls swept through southern Ontario Wednesday night and should continue through the Easter weekend sure to make the busy travelling weekend an arduous one.And the Ontario Provincial Police are taking note, warning motorists to use extreme caution in the messy conditions before setting out on any long road trips.Last year, Easter weekend temperatures were sunny and into the teens.
Disease breaking out after Solomon Islands quake By Walter Nalangu
Thu Apr 5, 12:39 AM ET
HONIARA (Reuters) - Aid workers battled an outbreak of diarrhea on Thursday among Solomon Islanders who fled their homes after an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 34 in the tiny Pacific nation. Australian media said 11 children were believed to have perished in the village of Titiana, once home to about 700 people but now mostly deserted with only a few buildings still standing.A two-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother were swept from their mother's arms by Monday's tsunami, and another family lost three children, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.Scores of people were still missing, aid agencies and the United Nations said, and up to 5,400 people were crammed into makeshift camps in hills behind their coastal villages, too scared to go home.There have been many false alerts and warnings and people who have been back in the town have run back to the hills.
The tremors have been quite strong, World Vision aid worker Tanya Rad told Reuters from the provincial capital, Gizo, which bore the brunt of the magnitude 8 quake and tsunami.
Aid workers brought tents and food to those affected, but Rad said supplies of fresh water and sanitation were the most pressing problems, with disease a growing complication.There's been an outbreak of diarrhea up in the camps but some camps have not been reached yet, Rad said, adding medical teams were on the way.
FOOD SHORTAGES
More than 2,000 people were crowded in one camp near the town but for some remote villagers, relief was still days away.The only way for aid to reach many of the tiny islands was by boat, but many motorized canoes were swept away by Monday's tsunami, Rad said.Authorities reopened Gizo's main airport early on Thursday, helping the relief effort, as the New Zealand and Australian air forces flew in medics, tarpaulins, water purifiers and other aid supplies to the country's worst-affected western islands.
The two countries' militaries have been active in peacekeeping in the Solomons for years, after repeated outbreaks of communal violence in a country that saw fierce fighting during World War Two on and around the island of Guadalcanal.Solomon Islands disaster officials reported food shortages in Gizo, which were expected to worsen as local gardens were swamped by sea water. Food markets were closed and fishing disrupted.The United Nations office for humanitarian affairs said initial reports showed 30 schools had been damaged and health facilities in several islands had been badly damaged.Mosquito nets were being distributed to try to prevent an outbreak of malaria.The Solomons earns some money from fishing, timber and dive resorts but most of the 500,000 people live on what they grow or catch from the sea on a string of small islands along the Pacific's Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.
House Speaker Pelosi visits Saudi Arabia By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer APR 5,07
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) said Thursday that she raised the issue of Saudi Arabia's lack of female politicians with Saudi government officials on the last stop of her Mideast tour. Pelosi, the first woman House speaker, said she had not discussed King Abdullah's recent criticism of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, focusing instead on praise for the king's Mideast peace initiative, and efforts to quell conflicts in Somalia and Darfur.She met with the king Wednesday and with several members of the Shura Council, an unelected advisory assembly named by the king, on Thursday.Asked if she had discussed the lack of women on the council, she told reporters, The issue has been brought up in our discussions with the Saudis on this trip.
Pelosi arrived in Saudi Arabia from Syria, where she defied the White House's Middle East policy by meeting with President Bashar Assad and saying the road to Damascus is a road to peace. The Bush administration has rejected direct talks with Damascus and criticized Pelosi for her visit.In an interview with ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney said Assad has been isolated and cut off because of his bad behavior, and the unfortunate thing about the speaker's visit is it sort of breaks down that barrier.
Pelosi was met at the Riyadh airport by officials including Abdul-Rahman al-Zamel, the head of the Saudi-American friendship committee at the Shura Council. He described the speaker's visit as a breakthrough and praised the inclusion of the first Muslim member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (news, bio, voting record), D-Minn., in her delegation.Pelosi wore a lavender pantsuit instead of the long black robe, called an abaya, that women, Saudi and non-Saudi, have to wear in the kingdom.Visiting women dignitaries are not expected to wear the robe, and other female U.S. government officials who have visited Saudi Arabia in the past few years, such as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, did not wear abayas when they met with Saudi officials.Ihsan Abu-Holeiqa, a member of the council, said the meeting with Pelosi Thursday included discussion of the new difficulties Saudis have in getting U.S. visas, with some waiting four to five months. The lengthy process followed the Sept. 11 attacks carried out by 19 hijackers, 15 of them Saudis.
We told her there should be some movement on the visa issue because, while we understand the security needs, the situation is unacceptable, said Abu-Holeiqa.Al-Zamel also praised Pelosi's visit to Syria, saying Syria is part of this Arab world, part of the issues to be resolved, and to ignore people gets you nowhere.Pelosi was the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate in 2003. Then-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell went to Damascus in May 2003.Washington accuses Syria of backing Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups it deems terrorist organizations, and fueling Iraq's violence by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory.
Pelosi's visit heightened tensions between the Bush administration and congressional Democrats, who have stepped up their push for change in U.S. policy in the Mideast and the Iraq war.But Democrats and some Republicans said the lack of dialogue had closed doors to possible progress in resolving Mideast crises.Pelosi said she expressed to Assad our concern about Syria's connections to Hezbollah and Hamas and militant fighters slipping across the Syrian border into Iraq.We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace, said Pelosi, who met for three hours with Assad. Assad has repeatedly said over the past year that Damascus is willing to negotiate with Israel, insisting the talks must lead to the return of the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War. He's ready to engage in negotiations for peace with Israel, Pelosi said of the Syrian leader. AP correspondent Zeina Karam in Damascus, Syria contributed to this report.
SANE founded to expose truth about the evils of Islam
Chad Groening OneNewsNow.com - April 4, 2007
An organization formed last year is trying to get the word out about radical Islam and its aim to destroy America and create a Muslim-controlled world.
Jewish scholar David Yerushalmi, president of the Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), says his organization came into being because its founders recognized the reality of what had happened on September 11, 2001.We looked at Islam and the faithful members of Islam -- those who adhere to shariah -- and understood that this was a war, and there was no way around that, Yerushalmi contends. And as long as the American government wasn't prepared to treat it as [a war], the Americans needed to begin to shake the tree.
Americans must understand what radical Islam does to those who are not Muslim, SANE's spokesman asserts. According to Islamic tradition, he notes, the non-believer must be converted by persuasion, or he must be subject to submission [as a second-class citizen], or he must be killed.
That is the legal pronouncement of the past 1,400 years.Yerushalmi says Americans need to recognize that there is within the U.S. Islamic community an enormous base of support for jihad against America. He says SANE was formally established in January of 2006 but has been in development since September 11, 2001. I and other Americans who witnessed that horrific event realized almost immediately what we were up against, the Jewish scholar notes. In the aftermath of that tragedy, he says, he and his group looked at the beliefs and practices of radical Islam's faithful and quickly came to realize that this was war and would have to be treated as such.American Family News Network
10:18 05/04/2007 (INN)
Israel, PA agree to open trade passages to Gaza Strip
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on opening trade passages to the Gaza Strip. A terminal for imports to Gaza will operate via the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Palestinians will be able to import and export goods from Egypt and other countries via the Rafah Crossing alone. The plan, which is supported by the international community, is pending the approval of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz. A special trade terminal for the Gaza Strip has recently been prepared at the Erez Crossing in the northern end. This terminal would enable the passage of a small quantity of goods (60-80 trucks a day) to the Strip. The Defense Ministry is preparing to renovate the entrance area to the Strip on the Palestinian side of Erez, as part of the preparations for setting up a Turkish-controled industrial zone near the crossing, between Israel and Gaza.
The plan was initiated during the Second Lebanon War by Peretz's political aide, Hagai Alon. It was completed by an inter-ministerial team headed by Amos Gilad, head of foreign policy and security in the Defense Ministry, in an attempt to solve Gaza's economic straits caused by the obstructions in the Karni passage. The passages will be operated by the Airport Authority. The PA said it would privatize
the border passages but leave the security and supervision of customs officials in the hands of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Presidential Guard. Peretz has agreed to the plan in principle but has yet to issue his final approval. Meanwhile, however, some problems have emerged that could delay the plan's implementation. According to the plan, Palestinian customs officials are to charge customs and VAT at the new passage located on Israeli territory that borders Egypt.
However, following the formation of the Palestinian unity government, Israel demanded that the responsibility for the Palestinian customs authority be transferred from the Palestinian finance ministry to the President's Office. Head of the negotiations team Saeb Erekat presented the Israelis with several letters from Abbas confirming the transfer of the authorities over the customs to his office. Erekat also produced confirmation of opening a bank account, into which funds collected at the passage will be deposited. Olmert and Peretz must now decide whether to sign the new customs protocol.
Another problem is that of exporting goods from Gaza. According to the agreement, the Rafah Crossing would open for export if the present passage operates effectively for about a year. However, Israel is yet to approve the agreement to open the passage to export. This approval is likely delayed due to security considerations. I see no reason for Israel not to agree to open the Rafah Crossing to export, Erekat told Haaretz. The financial issue has been settled and now we must proceed with the plan rapidly.
Fatah Threatens Attacks On Jews Outside Israel
By: David Bedein, The Bulletin - 04/04/2007
Jerusalem, Israel - A senior source in Israeli intelligence reports that the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah organization chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, has threatened to target Jewish institutions outside of Israel.The threat was made with the condition of Jews continuing to invade the Al Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during this week's Passover holiday. These groups are allowed to visit the Temple Mount grounds in small groups, although Jews are not allowed by the Israeli police to pray there, in accordance with the rules issued by the Islamic religious authority known as the WAKF.
The statement stated that The Zionist conqueror bears full responsibility for this invasion and all Zionist targets are legitimate.
Although the Al Aksa remains on the active list of organizations defined by the United States government as a terrorist organization, the Clinton administration and now the Bush administration have issued a waiver every half year for the past 13 years to allow the Fatah to maintain a Washington office, which is represented by Edward Abington, former U.S. consul in Jerusalem.Meanwhile, numerous Jewish organizations host representatives of the Fatah, such as the Americans for Peace Now, the Israel Policy Forum and the Jewish Voices for Peace. All of these organizations were unavailable for comment, due to the Passover holiday.
The Failure Of The Riyadh Summit
Dr. Dore Gold, former Israeli U.N. ambassador, and now the head of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, has issued a stinging working paper in which Gold termed the Saudi initiative at the Riyadh Summit as a failure, writing that the initiative got off to a bad start when Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned Israel its rejection of the plan would leave its fate in the hands of the lords of war.
Gold warned that the Saudis demand full withdrawal from all the territories Israel captured 40 years ago in the 1967 Six-Day War and the right of return of Arabs who fled from Israel in 1948. Gold notes that past peace conferences and diplomatic initiatives were based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which does not make any such demands on Israel. Gold gave the example of the Madrid conference in 1991, which produced a multilateral track that led to direct diplomatic contacts between Israel and the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. Gold asks, simply, If 242 was sufficient in 1991, why is it not good enough for 2007?
But the Arab peace initiative got off to a bad start when Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned Israel that rather than obtaining some flexibility, Israel was handed an ultimatum.
What has almost completely disappeared from the public discourse concerning the Saudi plan at the Riyadh Summit of the Arab League remains the fact that both Saudi Arabia and the Arab League remain in a formal, active state of war with Israel since 1948.Hamas-Affiliated Executive Force Of The Palestinian Authority Will Not Be Dissolved The Palestinian Ma'an News Agency reports that the outgoing Palestinian minister of Interior and Hamas leader, Said Siyam, now visiting Algeria told the media there that the Hamas-affiliated Executive Force, which was formed during his period in office, will not be dissolved.He clarified that the force will continue to exist, because it has succeeded where the other forces failed.
Siyam, the head of the Hamas bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), added that no changes will be made with respect to the force.He also said the force confirmed its success in the field through maintaining security and order and preventing the huge armed clans from violating the law and this is what the other forces couldn't do.The significance of this development is that the Hamas security forces have now been absorbed by the mainstream Palestinian Authority armed forces, which remain funded by the European Union. The Bush administration proposal to provide new funding for Palestinian armed forces is still pending approval by the U.S. Congress. David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com,,,,The Evening Bulletin
GOD SAYS BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY AND FILL THE EARTH (WITH CHILDREN), NOT CUT OUT WOMENS PARTS SO THEY ARE DEFORMED AND HURT. ERITREA IS A SMART COUNTRY BANNING FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.
Eritrea bans female circumcision By Jack Kimball APR 5,07
ASMARA (Reuters) - Eritrea has banned female circumcision, a life-threatening tradition that aid groups say afflicts some 90 percent of the country's women. A government statement issued on Thursday said anyone who requested, took part in or promoted the practice now faced a fine of several hundred dollars or up to 10 years in jail.Female circumcision is a procedure that seriously endangers the health of women, causes them considerable pain and suffering besides threatening their lives, the statement said.Whosoever requests, incites or promotes female circumcision ... shall be punishable with a fine and imprisonment.The ban took effect on March 31, it said.
Female circumcision, also called female genital mutilation (FGM), is widespread in the Horn of Africa and involves cutting off the clitoris and other parts of the female genitalia.There are degrees of severity and many practitioners are untrained and use crude instruments.FGM is a deep rooted culture and it needs a persistent continuous effort (to halt it), Luul Ghebreab, president of National Union of Eritrean Women, told Reuters.We do not believe (this ban) will automatically eradicate circumcision, but surely it will play a role.Up to 140 million women and girls worldwide are estimated to have undergone female circumcision, and U.N. agencies estimate that another three million a year are subjected to it.A health survey by Eritrea's government in 2002 found 62 percent of circumcised women in the Red Sea state had the procedure done before their first birthday. Less than one percent had been performed by trained health professionals.
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:1X7=7 YEARS)and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to
cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 4 IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 17) APR 5,07
TORAH
NUMBER 28:16-25
16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Patriarch performs Holy Week rite APR 5,07
JERUSALEM - Hundreds of Greek Orthodox believers filled the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City to watch their patriarch wash the feet of followers as part of a Holy Thursday tradition. The ceremony was a reenactment of Jesus' act of humility when, according to Christian belief, he washed the feet of his 12 apostles.Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theofilos III, dressed in white robes, poured soapy water from an ornate silver pitcher into a bowl.
Twelve priests, selected by seniority, dipped their feet in the water and Theofilos carefully cleaned them with a white cloth.This is important because it shows and reminds us of the humility of Christ. It shows love toward our fellow man, said Archbishop Aristarchous. I think it's the solution to our human problems today.On Easter Sunday, the Orthodox Church will hold its 1,200-year-old holy fire rite in which the faithful light torches and candles from a flame that believers say is miraculously ignited. The rite also takes place at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Christians believe Jesus died on the cross.
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Holy Thursday rites
Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:07:00GMT Author : DPA
Vatican City- Pope Benedict XVI commemorated Jesus's Last Supper with a Holy Thursday Mass in Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran. The afternoon ceremony, which saw the pope wash the feet of 12 lay men - a traditional gesture commemorating Christ's act of humility with his disciples - ushered in the so-called Easter Triduum, which denotes the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. The former theology professor devoted his homely to a study of the biblical accounts of the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with the 12 apostles before his death, in light of the discovery about half a century ago of the Dead Sea scrolls - probably the oldest surviving Biblical documents. Funds raised during the collection were to be destined by the pope to help pay for the rebuilding of a clinic in Somalia's south-central city of Baidoa, the Vatican said.
Earlier Thursday, the pope presided over a Holy Chrism Mass in the Basilica of St Peter's, in which the 79-year-old pontiff blessed holy oils that are used by priests in the sacraments. Benedict plans to attend the traditional evening Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession around Rome's Coliseum on Good Friday and an Easter Vigil on Saturday. On Easter Sunday he is due to celebrate Mass in St Peter's Square anddeliver his Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the City and the World.
Theceremony is to be broadcast in nearly 70 countries around the world. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is Christians' most important annual religious feast. Respective Author
OTHER WORLD NEWS NISAN 17, APR 5,07
1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS.2-La Nina may form, but timing and strength uncertain.
3-Severe storms rake Tenn., Ky., Ark. 4-Winter's grip takes hold of the East. 5-Winter storm to pound Ontario over Easter. 6-Disease breaking out after Solomon Islands quake. 7-House Speaker Pelosi visits Saudi Arabia. 8-SANE founded to expose truth about the evils of Islam. 9-Israel, PA agree to open trade passages to Gaza Strip. 10-Fatah Threatens Attacks On Jews Outside Israel. 11-Eritrea bans female circumcision.
EARTHQUAKES
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS (USGS)
Update time = Thu Apr 5 12:00 AM EDT
APR 5,07
MAP 5.1 BURYATIYA, RUSSIA
MAP 4.8 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 4.5 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 6.3 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 5.2 FIJI REGION
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 3.5 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 3.2 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 2.8 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 4.6 FIJI REGION
APR 4,07
MAP 5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 2.8 OREGON
MAP 5.7 IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 4.5 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 3.1 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.9 MAURITIUS - REUNION REGION
MAP 2.8 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 4.9 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 4.9 IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 2.6 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 3.4 SOUTH OF ALASKA
MAP 3.6 MONA PASSAGE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MAP 2.7 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 2.7 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 2.7 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.6 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 3.4 GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP 6.4 VANUATU
MAP 6.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 4.7 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.3 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 2.6 MOUNT ST. HELENS AREA, WASHINGTON
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 2.9 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 4.8 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 6.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 3.9 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.5 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.7 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.1 NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND
MAP 6.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 3.0 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
La Nina may form, but timing and strength uncertain By Rene Pastor APR 5,07
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A La Nina weather anomaly may be forming in the equatorial Pacific, but a fog of unpredictability enshrouds when it may strike and how strong it might be, according to the Climate Prediction Center of the U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. In its monthly update issued Thursday, the center said atmospheric and oceanic conditions are consistent with a trend towards a Pacific cold (La Nina) episode.The formation of La Nina could lead to more storms in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, forecasters say.
The weather anomaly could occur between May and July of this year.
However, the latest computer models indicate considerable uncertainty as to when La Nina might develop and how strong it might be, according to the CPC.
La Nina is less famous than El Nino, during which waters in the Pacific turn abnormally warm.That warming could wreak havoc in the weather across the Asia-Pacific region, causing flooding in Peru and Ecuador in South America and withering drought in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.El Nino also spurs stronger wind shear in the Atlantic basin. This greatly hindered storm formation in 2006 when only 10 occurred, sharply lower than the record 28 storms of the year before which included monsters like hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.La Nina has the opposite effect, and U.S. government and private forecasters said it may cause a higher-than-normal number of hurricanes. Most predictions pegged the number of storms this year at 17.
El Nino means literally little boy in Spanish. The name was used by Latin American anchovy fishermen in the 19th century who first noticed the anomaly because it usually peaked during Christmas.The last La Nina occurred from 1998 to 2001, leading to drought across much of the western United States.The CPC forecast is available on: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_a dvisory/ensodisc.html
Severe storms rake Tenn., Ky., Ark. Wed Apr 4, 2:05 PM ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Violent thunderstorms battered a three-state region with hail as big as softballs and wind that damaged several homes and caused power outages. The storms that hit Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee marked the leading edge of a mass of cold air that dropped temperatures Wednesday morning into the 20s in the central Plains and upper Midwest.No tornadoes were confirmed during the storms Tuesday night, but strong wind heavily damaged three homes in Tennessee's Cumberland County, authorities said.The storm damaged the roof of the emergency entrance at the Appalachian Regional Hospital in Harlan, Ky. Emergency room services were temporarily moved to another area of the hospital while repairs were made and no one was injured, hospital CEO David Brash said Wednesday.
More than 42,000 homes and businesses lost power during the storms in Kentucky, utilities said. In Tennessee, the Knoxville Utilities Board said more than 6,000 were blacked out during the storm.Wind gusted to 68 mph at Frankfort, Ky., and hail the size of softball hammered Kentucky's Hart County, the National Weather Service said.One (police) cruiser was pelted with golf ball-size hail for probably 20 minutes, said Kentucky State Police dispatcher Della Shaw.High straight-line wind or a possible tornado damaged a business and several parked vehicles in Jonesboro, Ark.My truck was just totaled, Mark Burrough told Jonesboro television station KAIT-TV. We have two or three trailers tipped over.
Winter's grip takes hold of the East Wayne Verno, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel Thu Apr 5, 6:40 AM ET
Northeast
A storm system will track to just offshore of Maine today, pushing heavy snow across Bangor, Portland, and Burlington. Additional accumulations of 5 to 10 inches will be likely. Another low pressure north of the Great Lakes will continue to wrap snow showers and cold air across the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast States today, through Sunday. Areas from Pittsburgh and Buffalo, north through Syracuse and Burlington will continue to see snow showers, while partly cloudy skies prevail from Washington, DC to Boston. It will also be windy across the entire area, with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph common, with a few gusts over 40 mph possible. Temperatures into the weekend will be in the 20s and 30s across Pittsburgh, Erie, Buffalo, Albany, and Burlington, to the 40s and 50s from Baltimore and Washington, to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
Midwest
Low pressure north of the Great Lakes will continue to wrap cold air, windy conditions, and snow showers across the Great Lakes today, through the weekend.
Areas from Marquette to Traverse City and Grand Rapids could see a few more inches. A stationary front across the High Plains will focus rain and snow from Rapid City, southeast to just west of the Kansas City area today, spreading into the South Plains by Saturday. A few inches of snow could accumulate across the central and southern Plains into Saturday. Meanwhile much of the Midwest and Ohio valley will remain dry, but cool, with temperatures generally in the 30s and 40s from Louisville and St. Louis, to Kansas City, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Temperatures in the 20s and 30s will be common across the northern Plains, and northern parts of the Upper Midwest.
South
A cold front will continue to push south into the Gulf and Florida today, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms to areas from Orlando to Miami. Temperatures will also be warm ahead of the front, with readings in the 80s. Behind the cold front much colder air is filtering into the Deep South today. With mainly clear skies, afternoon temperatures will only be in the 50s and 60s from Charlotte and Atlanta, west through Memphis, New Orleans, and Dallas. Highs in the 40s and 50s will spread through the Tennessee Valley into the weekend. Morning low temperatures will be very cold, with freezing temperatures spreading into parts of the Deep South this weekend. Over Texas, the chance for rain and rain showers will be on the increase Friday into Saturday, as a weather disturbance approaches the area. Also, by Saturday colder air will filter in, allowing for possible accumulating snow into northern Texas.
West
Much of the West will remain under high pressure today through Friday, providing dry conditions from Seattle and Portland, south through San Francisco and Los Angeles. The exception will be across the Rockies, where a stationary front will focus rain and snow, from Billings, into the Denver area. A few isolated thunderstorms will also be possible near Denver. Warm temperatures will also build into the Pacific Northwest today and Friday, with highs in the 60s and 70s. By Saturday and Sunday a storm system will begin to affect the Northwest, with rain showers developing across the western Washington, western Oregon, and northern California area.
Winter storm to pound Ontario over Easter
Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 8:27 AM ET - CBC News
It may sound like Christmas in Ontario, but it's definitely an Easter forecast.After dumping 15 to 20 centimetres of snow over northern parts of the province, a weakening winter storm migrated eastward Thursday, likely to make the Easter long weekend look and feel more like winter than last Christmas did.
As the slow system dwindled, the Greater Toronto Area saw some blowing flurries early Thursday morning, but didn't experience the near-zero visibility conditions experienced near Lake Superior, where strong northerly winds were blowing at 40 to 60 km/h.Still, the wind chill made it feel like –13 C in Toronto on Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to hover around freezing through the weekend, with a high of 4 C on Sunday.Meanwhile, heavy snowfall continued from the Timmins to Geraldton areas Thursday, with an additional five to 10 centimetres expected in the warned regions, Environment Canada forecast.Snowsqualls swept through southern Ontario Wednesday night and should continue through the Easter weekend sure to make the busy travelling weekend an arduous one.And the Ontario Provincial Police are taking note, warning motorists to use extreme caution in the messy conditions before setting out on any long road trips.Last year, Easter weekend temperatures were sunny and into the teens.
Disease breaking out after Solomon Islands quake By Walter Nalangu
Thu Apr 5, 12:39 AM ET
HONIARA (Reuters) - Aid workers battled an outbreak of diarrhea on Thursday among Solomon Islanders who fled their homes after an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 34 in the tiny Pacific nation. Australian media said 11 children were believed to have perished in the village of Titiana, once home to about 700 people but now mostly deserted with only a few buildings still standing.A two-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother were swept from their mother's arms by Monday's tsunami, and another family lost three children, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.Scores of people were still missing, aid agencies and the United Nations said, and up to 5,400 people were crammed into makeshift camps in hills behind their coastal villages, too scared to go home.There have been many false alerts and warnings and people who have been back in the town have run back to the hills.
The tremors have been quite strong, World Vision aid worker Tanya Rad told Reuters from the provincial capital, Gizo, which bore the brunt of the magnitude 8 quake and tsunami.
Aid workers brought tents and food to those affected, but Rad said supplies of fresh water and sanitation were the most pressing problems, with disease a growing complication.There's been an outbreak of diarrhea up in the camps but some camps have not been reached yet, Rad said, adding medical teams were on the way.
FOOD SHORTAGES
More than 2,000 people were crowded in one camp near the town but for some remote villagers, relief was still days away.The only way for aid to reach many of the tiny islands was by boat, but many motorized canoes were swept away by Monday's tsunami, Rad said.Authorities reopened Gizo's main airport early on Thursday, helping the relief effort, as the New Zealand and Australian air forces flew in medics, tarpaulins, water purifiers and other aid supplies to the country's worst-affected western islands.
The two countries' militaries have been active in peacekeeping in the Solomons for years, after repeated outbreaks of communal violence in a country that saw fierce fighting during World War Two on and around the island of Guadalcanal.Solomon Islands disaster officials reported food shortages in Gizo, which were expected to worsen as local gardens were swamped by sea water. Food markets were closed and fishing disrupted.The United Nations office for humanitarian affairs said initial reports showed 30 schools had been damaged and health facilities in several islands had been badly damaged.Mosquito nets were being distributed to try to prevent an outbreak of malaria.The Solomons earns some money from fishing, timber and dive resorts but most of the 500,000 people live on what they grow or catch from the sea on a string of small islands along the Pacific's Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.
House Speaker Pelosi visits Saudi Arabia By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer APR 5,07
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) said Thursday that she raised the issue of Saudi Arabia's lack of female politicians with Saudi government officials on the last stop of her Mideast tour. Pelosi, the first woman House speaker, said she had not discussed King Abdullah's recent criticism of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, focusing instead on praise for the king's Mideast peace initiative, and efforts to quell conflicts in Somalia and Darfur.She met with the king Wednesday and with several members of the Shura Council, an unelected advisory assembly named by the king, on Thursday.Asked if she had discussed the lack of women on the council, she told reporters, The issue has been brought up in our discussions with the Saudis on this trip.
Pelosi arrived in Saudi Arabia from Syria, where she defied the White House's Middle East policy by meeting with President Bashar Assad and saying the road to Damascus is a road to peace. The Bush administration has rejected direct talks with Damascus and criticized Pelosi for her visit.In an interview with ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney said Assad has been isolated and cut off because of his bad behavior, and the unfortunate thing about the speaker's visit is it sort of breaks down that barrier.
Pelosi was met at the Riyadh airport by officials including Abdul-Rahman al-Zamel, the head of the Saudi-American friendship committee at the Shura Council. He described the speaker's visit as a breakthrough and praised the inclusion of the first Muslim member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (news, bio, voting record), D-Minn., in her delegation.Pelosi wore a lavender pantsuit instead of the long black robe, called an abaya, that women, Saudi and non-Saudi, have to wear in the kingdom.Visiting women dignitaries are not expected to wear the robe, and other female U.S. government officials who have visited Saudi Arabia in the past few years, such as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, did not wear abayas when they met with Saudi officials.Ihsan Abu-Holeiqa, a member of the council, said the meeting with Pelosi Thursday included discussion of the new difficulties Saudis have in getting U.S. visas, with some waiting four to five months. The lengthy process followed the Sept. 11 attacks carried out by 19 hijackers, 15 of them Saudis.
We told her there should be some movement on the visa issue because, while we understand the security needs, the situation is unacceptable, said Abu-Holeiqa.Al-Zamel also praised Pelosi's visit to Syria, saying Syria is part of this Arab world, part of the issues to be resolved, and to ignore people gets you nowhere.Pelosi was the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate in 2003. Then-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell went to Damascus in May 2003.Washington accuses Syria of backing Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups it deems terrorist organizations, and fueling Iraq's violence by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory.
Pelosi's visit heightened tensions between the Bush administration and congressional Democrats, who have stepped up their push for change in U.S. policy in the Mideast and the Iraq war.But Democrats and some Republicans said the lack of dialogue had closed doors to possible progress in resolving Mideast crises.Pelosi said she expressed to Assad our concern about Syria's connections to Hezbollah and Hamas and militant fighters slipping across the Syrian border into Iraq.We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace, said Pelosi, who met for three hours with Assad. Assad has repeatedly said over the past year that Damascus is willing to negotiate with Israel, insisting the talks must lead to the return of the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War. He's ready to engage in negotiations for peace with Israel, Pelosi said of the Syrian leader. AP correspondent Zeina Karam in Damascus, Syria contributed to this report.
SANE founded to expose truth about the evils of Islam
Chad Groening OneNewsNow.com - April 4, 2007
An organization formed last year is trying to get the word out about radical Islam and its aim to destroy America and create a Muslim-controlled world.
Jewish scholar David Yerushalmi, president of the Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), says his organization came into being because its founders recognized the reality of what had happened on September 11, 2001.We looked at Islam and the faithful members of Islam -- those who adhere to shariah -- and understood that this was a war, and there was no way around that, Yerushalmi contends. And as long as the American government wasn't prepared to treat it as [a war], the Americans needed to begin to shake the tree.
Americans must understand what radical Islam does to those who are not Muslim, SANE's spokesman asserts. According to Islamic tradition, he notes, the non-believer must be converted by persuasion, or he must be subject to submission [as a second-class citizen], or he must be killed.
That is the legal pronouncement of the past 1,400 years.Yerushalmi says Americans need to recognize that there is within the U.S. Islamic community an enormous base of support for jihad against America. He says SANE was formally established in January of 2006 but has been in development since September 11, 2001. I and other Americans who witnessed that horrific event realized almost immediately what we were up against, the Jewish scholar notes. In the aftermath of that tragedy, he says, he and his group looked at the beliefs and practices of radical Islam's faithful and quickly came to realize that this was war and would have to be treated as such.American Family News Network
10:18 05/04/2007 (INN)
Israel, PA agree to open trade passages to Gaza Strip
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on opening trade passages to the Gaza Strip. A terminal for imports to Gaza will operate via the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Palestinians will be able to import and export goods from Egypt and other countries via the Rafah Crossing alone. The plan, which is supported by the international community, is pending the approval of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz. A special trade terminal for the Gaza Strip has recently been prepared at the Erez Crossing in the northern end. This terminal would enable the passage of a small quantity of goods (60-80 trucks a day) to the Strip. The Defense Ministry is preparing to renovate the entrance area to the Strip on the Palestinian side of Erez, as part of the preparations for setting up a Turkish-controled industrial zone near the crossing, between Israel and Gaza.
The plan was initiated during the Second Lebanon War by Peretz's political aide, Hagai Alon. It was completed by an inter-ministerial team headed by Amos Gilad, head of foreign policy and security in the Defense Ministry, in an attempt to solve Gaza's economic straits caused by the obstructions in the Karni passage. The passages will be operated by the Airport Authority. The PA said it would privatize
the border passages but leave the security and supervision of customs officials in the hands of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Presidential Guard. Peretz has agreed to the plan in principle but has yet to issue his final approval. Meanwhile, however, some problems have emerged that could delay the plan's implementation. According to the plan, Palestinian customs officials are to charge customs and VAT at the new passage located on Israeli territory that borders Egypt.
However, following the formation of the Palestinian unity government, Israel demanded that the responsibility for the Palestinian customs authority be transferred from the Palestinian finance ministry to the President's Office. Head of the negotiations team Saeb Erekat presented the Israelis with several letters from Abbas confirming the transfer of the authorities over the customs to his office. Erekat also produced confirmation of opening a bank account, into which funds collected at the passage will be deposited. Olmert and Peretz must now decide whether to sign the new customs protocol.
Another problem is that of exporting goods from Gaza. According to the agreement, the Rafah Crossing would open for export if the present passage operates effectively for about a year. However, Israel is yet to approve the agreement to open the passage to export. This approval is likely delayed due to security considerations. I see no reason for Israel not to agree to open the Rafah Crossing to export, Erekat told Haaretz. The financial issue has been settled and now we must proceed with the plan rapidly.
Fatah Threatens Attacks On Jews Outside Israel
By: David Bedein, The Bulletin - 04/04/2007
Jerusalem, Israel - A senior source in Israeli intelligence reports that the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah organization chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, has threatened to target Jewish institutions outside of Israel.The threat was made with the condition of Jews continuing to invade the Al Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during this week's Passover holiday. These groups are allowed to visit the Temple Mount grounds in small groups, although Jews are not allowed by the Israeli police to pray there, in accordance with the rules issued by the Islamic religious authority known as the WAKF.
The statement stated that The Zionist conqueror bears full responsibility for this invasion and all Zionist targets are legitimate.
Although the Al Aksa remains on the active list of organizations defined by the United States government as a terrorist organization, the Clinton administration and now the Bush administration have issued a waiver every half year for the past 13 years to allow the Fatah to maintain a Washington office, which is represented by Edward Abington, former U.S. consul in Jerusalem.Meanwhile, numerous Jewish organizations host representatives of the Fatah, such as the Americans for Peace Now, the Israel Policy Forum and the Jewish Voices for Peace. All of these organizations were unavailable for comment, due to the Passover holiday.
The Failure Of The Riyadh Summit
Dr. Dore Gold, former Israeli U.N. ambassador, and now the head of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, has issued a stinging working paper in which Gold termed the Saudi initiative at the Riyadh Summit as a failure, writing that the initiative got off to a bad start when Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned Israel its rejection of the plan would leave its fate in the hands of the lords of war.
Gold warned that the Saudis demand full withdrawal from all the territories Israel captured 40 years ago in the 1967 Six-Day War and the right of return of Arabs who fled from Israel in 1948. Gold notes that past peace conferences and diplomatic initiatives were based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which does not make any such demands on Israel. Gold gave the example of the Madrid conference in 1991, which produced a multilateral track that led to direct diplomatic contacts between Israel and the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. Gold asks, simply, If 242 was sufficient in 1991, why is it not good enough for 2007?
But the Arab peace initiative got off to a bad start when Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned Israel that rather than obtaining some flexibility, Israel was handed an ultimatum.
What has almost completely disappeared from the public discourse concerning the Saudi plan at the Riyadh Summit of the Arab League remains the fact that both Saudi Arabia and the Arab League remain in a formal, active state of war with Israel since 1948.Hamas-Affiliated Executive Force Of The Palestinian Authority Will Not Be Dissolved The Palestinian Ma'an News Agency reports that the outgoing Palestinian minister of Interior and Hamas leader, Said Siyam, now visiting Algeria told the media there that the Hamas-affiliated Executive Force, which was formed during his period in office, will not be dissolved.He clarified that the force will continue to exist, because it has succeeded where the other forces failed.
Siyam, the head of the Hamas bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), added that no changes will be made with respect to the force.He also said the force confirmed its success in the field through maintaining security and order and preventing the huge armed clans from violating the law and this is what the other forces couldn't do.The significance of this development is that the Hamas security forces have now been absorbed by the mainstream Palestinian Authority armed forces, which remain funded by the European Union. The Bush administration proposal to provide new funding for Palestinian armed forces is still pending approval by the U.S. Congress. David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com,,,,The Evening Bulletin
GOD SAYS BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY AND FILL THE EARTH (WITH CHILDREN), NOT CUT OUT WOMENS PARTS SO THEY ARE DEFORMED AND HURT. ERITREA IS A SMART COUNTRY BANNING FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.
Eritrea bans female circumcision By Jack Kimball APR 5,07
ASMARA (Reuters) - Eritrea has banned female circumcision, a life-threatening tradition that aid groups say afflicts some 90 percent of the country's women. A government statement issued on Thursday said anyone who requested, took part in or promoted the practice now faced a fine of several hundred dollars or up to 10 years in jail.Female circumcision is a procedure that seriously endangers the health of women, causes them considerable pain and suffering besides threatening their lives, the statement said.Whosoever requests, incites or promotes female circumcision ... shall be punishable with a fine and imprisonment.The ban took effect on March 31, it said.
Female circumcision, also called female genital mutilation (FGM), is widespread in the Horn of Africa and involves cutting off the clitoris and other parts of the female genitalia.There are degrees of severity and many practitioners are untrained and use crude instruments.FGM is a deep rooted culture and it needs a persistent continuous effort (to halt it), Luul Ghebreab, president of National Union of Eritrean Women, told Reuters.We do not believe (this ban) will automatically eradicate circumcision, but surely it will play a role.Up to 140 million women and girls worldwide are estimated to have undergone female circumcision, and U.N. agencies estimate that another three million a year are subjected to it.A health survey by Eritrea's government in 2002 found 62 percent of circumcised women in the Red Sea state had the procedure done before their first birthday. Less than one percent had been performed by trained health professionals.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
IRAN TO SET FREE HOSTAGES
REBUILT 3RD TEMPLE
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 3 IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 16) (APR 4,07)
TORAH
NUMBER 28:16-25
16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
OTHER WORLD NEWS NISAN 16, APR 4,07
1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS.2-Avalanche kills man, woman heli-skiing in B.C. 3-The Nation's Weather. 4-Pelosi meets Syrian president. 5-Iranian leader says he'll free Britons. 6-EU offers full market access to former colonies. 7-Gold: Western Inaction Pushing Saudi Arabia to Hamas, Hizbullah.
EARTHQUAKES
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS (USGS)
Update time = Wed Apr 4 10:12 AM EDT
APR 4,07
MAP 3.4 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 6.3 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 4.7 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.3 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 2.9 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 4.8 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 6.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 3.9 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.5 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.7 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.1 NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND
MAP 6.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 3.0 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
APR 3,07
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 2.5 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.6 KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 2.8 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 4.8 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 6.3 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 5.6 SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 2.7 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 4.6 NEAR NORTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA, P.N.G.
MAP 4.8 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 4.8 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 MOLUCCA SEA
MAP 2.5 MOUNT ST. HELENS AREA, WASHINGTON
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.4 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.0 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 5.8 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.1 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.4 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.1 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 6.2 HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
MAP 2.5 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 5.3 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Avalanche kills man, woman heli-skiing in B.C.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - CBC News
Two people are dead and three others were injured after being hit by an avalanche while backcountry skiing in the northwest corner of B.C. on Monday.Four heli-skiers and a guide had been dropped off on a mountain near the small town of Stewart before the avalanche.Mike Watling, spokesman for Last Frontier Heliskiing, said counsellors have been brought in to help staff and guests at the company's lodge. (CBC) The three survivors were airlifted to a nearby medical centre, and then to the hospital in Prince Rupert.
One of the survivors has been airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital where she is undergoing surgery for a broken leg on Tuesday. A second survivor was discharged earlier from hospital in Prince Rupert.Meanwhile, officials are trying to recover the bodies of the two people who died at the remote mountain area, where the avalanche danger has been labelled considerable by the Canadian Avalanche Centre.One of those killed is a Canadian woman and the other a man of Japanese ancestry.
Their names are being withheld.The area is popular with backcountry skiers from across Canada and around the world.The RCMP have begun an investigation, but say they're being hampered by the remote location of the avalanche.The company involved in the tragedy, Last Frontier Heliskiing, based in Vernon, B.C., has been operating in the Stewart area for about 12 years.
We are deeply saddened
Spokesman Mike Watling said the skiers had been dropped off by one of the company's helicopters early Monday, a day when avalanche conditions were rated moderate to low.Last Frontier plays host to about 400 skiers a year, most of them from Europe. Watling said this is the first time the company has lost any of its skiers.
We are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts go out to all those involved, he said.He also said a team of crisis counsellors has been called to the lodge to help employees and guests deal with the deaths.Meanwhile, search-and-rescue crews are out assessing the danger of further avalanches in the region.
The Nation's Weather By WEATHER UNDERGROUND, For The Associated Press APR 4,07
A winter storm system was expected to sweep through the Northeast, bringing widespread rain and snow across the region Wednesday. Scattered thunderstorms were possible in the Mid-Atlantic states.Partly cloudy skies were forecast for much of the South.A warm front was moving through the Pacific Northwest, triggering coastal rain and mountain snow.Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 3 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 93 degrees at Edinburg, Texas.
Pelosi meets Syrian president By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer APR 4,07
DAMASCUS, Syria - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) said Wednesday that Syrian President Bashar Assad assured her of his willingness to engage in peace talks with Israel. Pelosi said she and other members of her congressional delegation raised with Assad their concern about militants crossing from Syria into Iraq, as well the Israeli soldiers kidnapped by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas.The Californian Democrat spoke to reporters shortly after talks with Assad at the end of a two-day visit to Syria, which the White House has criticized as undermining American efforts to isolate the hard-line Arab country.She said the delegation gave the Syrian leader a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert whose essence was that Israel was ready to hold peace talks with Syria.
She did not say more about the message, but Israel has previously made such talks conditional on Syria's cutting off its support for hardline Palestinian groups and Hezbollah.
We were very pleased with the assurances we received from the president that he was ready to resume the peace process. He's ready to engage in negotiations for peace with Israel, Pelosi said.Pelosi and the rest of the delegation began their day by holding separate talks with Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa and then met Assad, who hosted them for lunch after their talks.Pelosi's visit to Syria was the latest challenge to President Bush bycongressional Democrats, who are taking a more assertive role in influencing policy in the Middle East and the Iraq war.Bush has said Pelosi's trip signals that the Assad government is part of the international mainstream when it is not. The United States says Syria allows Iraqi Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory, backs the Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups and is trying to destabilize the Lebanese government. Syria denies the allegations.
A lot of people have gone to see President Assad ... and yet we haven't seen action. He hasn't responded, he told reporters soon after she arrived in Damascus Tuesday. Sending delegations doesn't work. It's simply been counterproductive.Pelosi did not comment on Bush's remarks but went for a stroll in the Old City district of Damascus, where she mingled with Syrians in a market.
Wearing a flowered head scarf and a black abaya, Pelosi visited the 8th century Omayyad Mosque. She made the sign of the cross in front of an elaborate tomb which is said to contain the head of John the Baptist. About 10 percent of Syria's 18 million people are Christian.At the nearby outdoor Bazouriyeh market, Syrians crowded around, offering her dried figs and nuts and chatting with her.
She bought some coconut sweets and looked at jewelry and carpets.
On Tuesday night, Pelosi met Syrian human rights activists, businessmen and religious leaders at the U.S. ambassador's residence.
Al-Moallem was quoted Wednesday as saying that Pelosi and other members of Congress were welcome in Syria.Better late than never, he told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba in an interview. He said the visits were taking place because Americans and Europeans had realized that their policy of trying to isolate Syria had failed. However, the Syrian ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, was quoted as saying Syria was wary of the sudden U.S. openness and would respond cautiously.Syria will not hurriedly offer concessions when it refused to offer them under much greater pressure from the United States in the past, he said in an interview with the Al-Baath newspaper, the mouthpiece of the ruling party.
Syria will take a step forward every time the Americans take one, he added. Democrats have argued that the U.S. should engage its top rivals in the Mideast Iran and Syria to make headway in easing crises in Iraq, Lebanon and the Israeli-Arab peace process.
Last year, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended talks with the two countries. Bush rejected the recommendations. But in February, the U.S. joined a gathering of regional diplomats in Baghdad that included Iran and Syria for talks on Iraq. Visiting neighboring Lebanon on Monday, Pelosi shrugged off White House criticism of her trip to Syria, noting that Republican lawmakers met Assad on Sunday without comment from the Bush administration. She said she hoped to rebuild lost confidence between Washington and Damascus and would tell Syrian leaders that Israel will talk peace with them only if Syria stops supporting Palestinian militants. She said she also would raise Syria's roles in Iraq and Lebanon and their support for the Hezbollah militant group.
We have no illusions but we have great hope, said Pelosi, who met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah earlier Tuesday. Relations between the U.S. and Syria reached a low point in early 2005 when Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus to protest the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Many Lebanese blamed Syria which had troops in Lebanon at the time for the assassination. Damascus denied involvement.
Washington has since succeeded in largely isolating Damascus, with its European and Arab allies shunning Assad. The last high-ranking U.S. official to visit Syria was then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in January 2005. The isolation, however, has begun to crumble in recent months, with visits by U.S. lawmakers and some European officials.
HERE WE GO IRAN IS TRYING TO MAKE THE UK HAVE FAVOR FOR THEM IN THE SANCTIONS FIGHT AGAINST THE SO CALLED PEACEFUL NUCLEAR PLANS. IRAN IS SMOOTH TO DECIEVE THE WORLD INTO NOT STOPPING THEIR PLANS TO BOMB THE WORLD.
YOU CAN BET IT WAS THE EU WEILDING ITS POWER TO GET IRAN TO RELEASE THESE HOSTAGES, IRAN WOULD NOT DO IT IN ANY OTHER CASE.
Iranian leader says he'll free Britons APR 4,07
TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran would free the 15 detained British sailors and marines as a gift to the British people. He pardoned the sailors and announced they would be released following a news conference at which he pinned a medal on the chest of the Iranian coast guard commander who intercepted the sailors and marines in the northern Gulf on March 23.Ahmadinejad said Iran will never accept trespassing in its territorial waters.On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian coast guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters, he said.We are sorry that British troops remain in Iraq and their sailors are being arrested in Iran, Ahmadinejad said.
He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West? he asked of the British government.
EU offers full market access to former colonies APR 4,07
BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union said Wednesday it was ready to scrap almost all quotas and tariffs on exports from African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, but was quickly snubbed by part of the ACP group. The European Commission and the 78-nation ACP face a year-end deadline to conclude new trade agreements because a current preferential market access accord is due to expire then.Under the EU's new offer, all quotas and tariffs on ACP goods would be lifted once a deal was signed, with the exception of rice and sugar.Ninety seven percent of EU imports from ACP nations are already tariff-free or are taxed only at very low levels while 40 of the poorest countries already enjoy free access to EU markets.Trade and development for ACP countries is about much more than just access to the European market, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said.
But by removing all remaining tariffs and quotas for all African, Caribbean and Pacific countries we will create the best possible opportunities for these economies, he added.
In reaction, the negotiator for the Caribbean ACP countries slammed the offer owing to the exceptions on rice and sugar, describing it as derisory and warning it could cause more harm than good.The European Commission offer threatens to poison the negotiating climate, especially at a time when both sides are making strides (on) flexibilities, said Junior Lodge.We therefore hope that good sense will prevail and the European Commission will offer all ACP regions a more constructive and attractive market access offer, he added.Levies on sugar would be phased out by 2015 while a reform in subsidies for EU sugar farmers is carried out and a firm date has not yet been set for rice, the Commission said.
The offer did not cover South Africa, which has a bilateral trade agreement with the EU and which the Commission said produces a number of globally competitive products.The ACP group, made up mostly of former European colonies, have benefitted from preferential access to EU markets since the signing of the Lome accord in 1975.But other equally poor countries, mostly in Latin America, have contested the ACPs' preferential treatment and have won backing from the World Trade Organisation.
In 2001, the world trade referee gave the EU until the end of this year to come up with a new framework that would be more compatible with international rules of commerce.After their WTO defeat, the Europeans and the ACP opened talks in 2002 for new so-called economic partnership agreements which are being conducted by regions eastern, central and southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.But little progress has been made, and pressure is building as the year-end deadline approaches.
A number of development pressure groups, including Oxfam and Action Aid, consider the deadline to be unrealistic and have called for it to be pushed back.The European Commission had promised that it would offer greater market access as part of the negotiations, which some development pressure groups have accused the EU of using to gain greater access to ACP markets.
Brussels said the new offer was not conditional on ACP countries matching the EU in tearing down tariff and quota barriers and that any greater market access they would have to provide to meet WTO rules could be phased in.
Gold: Western Inaction Pushing Saudi Arabia to Hamas, Hizbullah
by Hillel Fendel APR 4,07 (INN)
for Saudi Arabia, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the main issue; it is rather Iran - and the West's inaction vis-a-vis the Iranian threat. So writes former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold in a brief for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs' Institute for Contemporary Affairs.What is shaping Saudi Arabia's new diplomatic activism, Gold explains, is the rapidly expanding Iranian threat and the weakness of the Western response.
Early Signs of a Bad Start
Gold feels that though expectations were raised that the Riyadh Arab summit might provide a mechanism for restarting the Arab-Israeli peace process, it got off to a bad start when Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned Israel that its rejection of the [Saudi complete-withdrawal] plan would leave its fate in the hands of the lords of war. Rather than obtaining some flexibility, Israel was handed an ultimatum.Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah was to have had a mid-April gala dinner with President George W. Bush at the White House later this month - but abruptly canceled it. This was a clear signal, Gold writes, that the time was far from ripe for a Saudi-Israeli rapprochement under an American umbrella.
Saudi Arabia Turns to Hamas and Hizbullah
Why were the hopes of both the US and Olmert-government diplomats dashed? Gold quotes the Washington Post that Riyadh had decided for now to seek common ground with Iran, Hamas, and Hizbullah. Why? Because the West has responded weakly to the growing Iranian threat. Gold concurs with other experts in positing that Saudi Arabia feels threatened by Shiite-controlled Iran. Haifa University's Middle Eastern affairs expert Dr. David Bukai said at last month's Jerusalem Conference, The main dispute in the Middle East is between the Shiites (10% of the world's Moslems) and the Sunnis and the so-called moderate nations. The Shiites are more threatening to Saudi Arabia than to Israel.Iran is committed to a second Iranian revolution, Gold writes, referring to a revival of Iranian efforts to export revolutionary Shiism, wherever possible. In some Sunni-dominated countries, like Sudan and Syria, the Iranians hope to convert Sunnis to Shiism. In the [Persian] Gulf, there are already substantial Shiite populations. Indeed, Saudi Arabia's main vulnerability is in its oil-rich Eastern Province, which has nearly a majority of Shiites. Neighboring Bahrain, now connected to Saudi Arabia by a bridge, has an 80 percent Shiite majority. The potential for revolutionary subversion is enormous, as has already happened in the past.
Israel and the Saudi Plan
The Saudi plan, first advanced in 2002, has two demands that are anathema to most, if not all, Israelis. One is the right of return of millions of descendants of the roughly half-million Arabs who left Israel during the 1948 War for Independence. The second is a total and complete withdrawal from every inch Israel liberated in the 1967 Six Day War thus stripping Israel of the defensible borders that President Bush said was Israel's right in his April 2004 letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Despite this, Gold writes, Israeli diplomats had hoped that a modified peace plan might be adopted by the Arab heads of state that would leave out any references to the return of Palestinian refugees to Israel...When that seemed unlikely, there was increasing speculation that while the formal initiative would remain unchanged, then at least some other statements would be made separately that would try to reach out to Israeli public opinion and build mutual confidence. But this did not occur.
No More Western Apathy or Israeli Withdrawals
What must be done, Gold writes, is the following: For one thing, the West must be more assertive about countering Iranian power. In addition, bombastic summits and Israeli withdrawals are not helpful at this time: The last thing [Saudi Arabia] needs are planeloads of Israeli negotiators and journalists in Riyadh. And with Hamas in power among the Palestinians and building its military strength daily in Gaza, Israel does not need to experiment with new withdrawals. Under such circumstances, quiet contacts between Israel and its neighbors make far more sense than grandiose public diplomacy.
REVELATION 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
DANIEL 9:27
27 And he( THE EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until theconsummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
PASSOVER DAY 3 IN ISRAEL SCRIPTURES. (NISAN 16) (APR 4,07)
TORAH
NUMBER 28:16-25
16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
PROPHETS
EZEKIEL 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
OTHER WORLD NEWS NISAN 16, APR 4,07
1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS.2-Avalanche kills man, woman heli-skiing in B.C. 3-The Nation's Weather. 4-Pelosi meets Syrian president. 5-Iranian leader says he'll free Britons. 6-EU offers full market access to former colonies. 7-Gold: Western Inaction Pushing Saudi Arabia to Hamas, Hizbullah.
EARTHQUAKES
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS (USGS)
Update time = Wed Apr 4 10:12 AM EDT
APR 4,07
MAP 3.4 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 6.3 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 4.7 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.3 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 2.9 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 5.0 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 4.8 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 6.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 3.9 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.5 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.7 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.1 NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND
MAP 6.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
MAP 3.0 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
APR 3,07
MAP 2.5 ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
MAP 2.5 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.6 KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 2.8 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 4.8 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 6.3 LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAP 5.6 SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
MAP 5.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 2.7 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 4.6 NEAR NORTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA, P.N.G.
MAP 4.8 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 4.8 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 MOLUCCA SEA
MAP 2.5 MOUNT ST. HELENS AREA, WASHINGTON
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.4 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.0 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 5.8 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.1 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 3.4 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.1 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 6.2 HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
MAP 2.5 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 5.3 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
MAP 5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 4.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS
MAP 5.1 D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Avalanche kills man, woman heli-skiing in B.C.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - CBC News
Two people are dead and three others were injured after being hit by an avalanche while backcountry skiing in the northwest corner of B.C. on Monday.Four heli-skiers and a guide had been dropped off on a mountain near the small town of Stewart before the avalanche.Mike Watling, spokesman for Last Frontier Heliskiing, said counsellors have been brought in to help staff and guests at the company's lodge. (CBC) The three survivors were airlifted to a nearby medical centre, and then to the hospital in Prince Rupert.
One of the survivors has been airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital where she is undergoing surgery for a broken leg on Tuesday. A second survivor was discharged earlier from hospital in Prince Rupert.Meanwhile, officials are trying to recover the bodies of the two people who died at the remote mountain area, where the avalanche danger has been labelled considerable by the Canadian Avalanche Centre.One of those killed is a Canadian woman and the other a man of Japanese ancestry.
Their names are being withheld.The area is popular with backcountry skiers from across Canada and around the world.The RCMP have begun an investigation, but say they're being hampered by the remote location of the avalanche.The company involved in the tragedy, Last Frontier Heliskiing, based in Vernon, B.C., has been operating in the Stewart area for about 12 years.
We are deeply saddened
Spokesman Mike Watling said the skiers had been dropped off by one of the company's helicopters early Monday, a day when avalanche conditions were rated moderate to low.Last Frontier plays host to about 400 skiers a year, most of them from Europe. Watling said this is the first time the company has lost any of its skiers.
We are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts go out to all those involved, he said.He also said a team of crisis counsellors has been called to the lodge to help employees and guests deal with the deaths.Meanwhile, search-and-rescue crews are out assessing the danger of further avalanches in the region.
The Nation's Weather By WEATHER UNDERGROUND, For The Associated Press APR 4,07
A winter storm system was expected to sweep through the Northeast, bringing widespread rain and snow across the region Wednesday. Scattered thunderstorms were possible in the Mid-Atlantic states.Partly cloudy skies were forecast for much of the South.A warm front was moving through the Pacific Northwest, triggering coastal rain and mountain snow.Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 3 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 93 degrees at Edinburg, Texas.
Pelosi meets Syrian president By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer APR 4,07
DAMASCUS, Syria - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) said Wednesday that Syrian President Bashar Assad assured her of his willingness to engage in peace talks with Israel. Pelosi said she and other members of her congressional delegation raised with Assad their concern about militants crossing from Syria into Iraq, as well the Israeli soldiers kidnapped by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas.The Californian Democrat spoke to reporters shortly after talks with Assad at the end of a two-day visit to Syria, which the White House has criticized as undermining American efforts to isolate the hard-line Arab country.She said the delegation gave the Syrian leader a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert whose essence was that Israel was ready to hold peace talks with Syria.
She did not say more about the message, but Israel has previously made such talks conditional on Syria's cutting off its support for hardline Palestinian groups and Hezbollah.
We were very pleased with the assurances we received from the president that he was ready to resume the peace process. He's ready to engage in negotiations for peace with Israel, Pelosi said.Pelosi and the rest of the delegation began their day by holding separate talks with Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa and then met Assad, who hosted them for lunch after their talks.Pelosi's visit to Syria was the latest challenge to President Bush bycongressional Democrats, who are taking a more assertive role in influencing policy in the Middle East and the Iraq war.Bush has said Pelosi's trip signals that the Assad government is part of the international mainstream when it is not. The United States says Syria allows Iraqi Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory, backs the Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups and is trying to destabilize the Lebanese government. Syria denies the allegations.
A lot of people have gone to see President Assad ... and yet we haven't seen action. He hasn't responded, he told reporters soon after she arrived in Damascus Tuesday. Sending delegations doesn't work. It's simply been counterproductive.Pelosi did not comment on Bush's remarks but went for a stroll in the Old City district of Damascus, where she mingled with Syrians in a market.
Wearing a flowered head scarf and a black abaya, Pelosi visited the 8th century Omayyad Mosque. She made the sign of the cross in front of an elaborate tomb which is said to contain the head of John the Baptist. About 10 percent of Syria's 18 million people are Christian.At the nearby outdoor Bazouriyeh market, Syrians crowded around, offering her dried figs and nuts and chatting with her.
She bought some coconut sweets and looked at jewelry and carpets.
On Tuesday night, Pelosi met Syrian human rights activists, businessmen and religious leaders at the U.S. ambassador's residence.
Al-Moallem was quoted Wednesday as saying that Pelosi and other members of Congress were welcome in Syria.Better late than never, he told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba in an interview. He said the visits were taking place because Americans and Europeans had realized that their policy of trying to isolate Syria had failed. However, the Syrian ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, was quoted as saying Syria was wary of the sudden U.S. openness and would respond cautiously.Syria will not hurriedly offer concessions when it refused to offer them under much greater pressure from the United States in the past, he said in an interview with the Al-Baath newspaper, the mouthpiece of the ruling party.
Syria will take a step forward every time the Americans take one, he added. Democrats have argued that the U.S. should engage its top rivals in the Mideast Iran and Syria to make headway in easing crises in Iraq, Lebanon and the Israeli-Arab peace process.
Last year, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended talks with the two countries. Bush rejected the recommendations. But in February, the U.S. joined a gathering of regional diplomats in Baghdad that included Iran and Syria for talks on Iraq. Visiting neighboring Lebanon on Monday, Pelosi shrugged off White House criticism of her trip to Syria, noting that Republican lawmakers met Assad on Sunday without comment from the Bush administration. She said she hoped to rebuild lost confidence between Washington and Damascus and would tell Syrian leaders that Israel will talk peace with them only if Syria stops supporting Palestinian militants. She said she also would raise Syria's roles in Iraq and Lebanon and their support for the Hezbollah militant group.
We have no illusions but we have great hope, said Pelosi, who met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah earlier Tuesday. Relations between the U.S. and Syria reached a low point in early 2005 when Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus to protest the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Many Lebanese blamed Syria which had troops in Lebanon at the time for the assassination. Damascus denied involvement.
Washington has since succeeded in largely isolating Damascus, with its European and Arab allies shunning Assad. The last high-ranking U.S. official to visit Syria was then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in January 2005. The isolation, however, has begun to crumble in recent months, with visits by U.S. lawmakers and some European officials.
HERE WE GO IRAN IS TRYING TO MAKE THE UK HAVE FAVOR FOR THEM IN THE SANCTIONS FIGHT AGAINST THE SO CALLED PEACEFUL NUCLEAR PLANS. IRAN IS SMOOTH TO DECIEVE THE WORLD INTO NOT STOPPING THEIR PLANS TO BOMB THE WORLD.
YOU CAN BET IT WAS THE EU WEILDING ITS POWER TO GET IRAN TO RELEASE THESE HOSTAGES, IRAN WOULD NOT DO IT IN ANY OTHER CASE.
Iranian leader says he'll free Britons APR 4,07
TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran would free the 15 detained British sailors and marines as a gift to the British people. He pardoned the sailors and announced they would be released following a news conference at which he pinned a medal on the chest of the Iranian coast guard commander who intercepted the sailors and marines in the northern Gulf on March 23.Ahmadinejad said Iran will never accept trespassing in its territorial waters.On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian coast guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters, he said.We are sorry that British troops remain in Iraq and their sailors are being arrested in Iran, Ahmadinejad said.
He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West? he asked of the British government.
EU offers full market access to former colonies APR 4,07
BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union said Wednesday it was ready to scrap almost all quotas and tariffs on exports from African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, but was quickly snubbed by part of the ACP group. The European Commission and the 78-nation ACP face a year-end deadline to conclude new trade agreements because a current preferential market access accord is due to expire then.Under the EU's new offer, all quotas and tariffs on ACP goods would be lifted once a deal was signed, with the exception of rice and sugar.Ninety seven percent of EU imports from ACP nations are already tariff-free or are taxed only at very low levels while 40 of the poorest countries already enjoy free access to EU markets.Trade and development for ACP countries is about much more than just access to the European market, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said.
But by removing all remaining tariffs and quotas for all African, Caribbean and Pacific countries we will create the best possible opportunities for these economies, he added.
In reaction, the negotiator for the Caribbean ACP countries slammed the offer owing to the exceptions on rice and sugar, describing it as derisory and warning it could cause more harm than good.The European Commission offer threatens to poison the negotiating climate, especially at a time when both sides are making strides (on) flexibilities, said Junior Lodge.We therefore hope that good sense will prevail and the European Commission will offer all ACP regions a more constructive and attractive market access offer, he added.Levies on sugar would be phased out by 2015 while a reform in subsidies for EU sugar farmers is carried out and a firm date has not yet been set for rice, the Commission said.
The offer did not cover South Africa, which has a bilateral trade agreement with the EU and which the Commission said produces a number of globally competitive products.The ACP group, made up mostly of former European colonies, have benefitted from preferential access to EU markets since the signing of the Lome accord in 1975.But other equally poor countries, mostly in Latin America, have contested the ACPs' preferential treatment and have won backing from the World Trade Organisation.
In 2001, the world trade referee gave the EU until the end of this year to come up with a new framework that would be more compatible with international rules of commerce.After their WTO defeat, the Europeans and the ACP opened talks in 2002 for new so-called economic partnership agreements which are being conducted by regions eastern, central and southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.But little progress has been made, and pressure is building as the year-end deadline approaches.
A number of development pressure groups, including Oxfam and Action Aid, consider the deadline to be unrealistic and have called for it to be pushed back.The European Commission had promised that it would offer greater market access as part of the negotiations, which some development pressure groups have accused the EU of using to gain greater access to ACP markets.
Brussels said the new offer was not conditional on ACP countries matching the EU in tearing down tariff and quota barriers and that any greater market access they would have to provide to meet WTO rules could be phased in.
Gold: Western Inaction Pushing Saudi Arabia to Hamas, Hizbullah
by Hillel Fendel APR 4,07 (INN)
for Saudi Arabia, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the main issue; it is rather Iran - and the West's inaction vis-a-vis the Iranian threat. So writes former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold in a brief for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs' Institute for Contemporary Affairs.What is shaping Saudi Arabia's new diplomatic activism, Gold explains, is the rapidly expanding Iranian threat and the weakness of the Western response.
Early Signs of a Bad Start
Gold feels that though expectations were raised that the Riyadh Arab summit might provide a mechanism for restarting the Arab-Israeli peace process, it got off to a bad start when Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned Israel that its rejection of the [Saudi complete-withdrawal] plan would leave its fate in the hands of the lords of war. Rather than obtaining some flexibility, Israel was handed an ultimatum.Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah was to have had a mid-April gala dinner with President George W. Bush at the White House later this month - but abruptly canceled it. This was a clear signal, Gold writes, that the time was far from ripe for a Saudi-Israeli rapprochement under an American umbrella.
Saudi Arabia Turns to Hamas and Hizbullah
Why were the hopes of both the US and Olmert-government diplomats dashed? Gold quotes the Washington Post that Riyadh had decided for now to seek common ground with Iran, Hamas, and Hizbullah. Why? Because the West has responded weakly to the growing Iranian threat. Gold concurs with other experts in positing that Saudi Arabia feels threatened by Shiite-controlled Iran. Haifa University's Middle Eastern affairs expert Dr. David Bukai said at last month's Jerusalem Conference, The main dispute in the Middle East is between the Shiites (10% of the world's Moslems) and the Sunnis and the so-called moderate nations. The Shiites are more threatening to Saudi Arabia than to Israel.Iran is committed to a second Iranian revolution, Gold writes, referring to a revival of Iranian efforts to export revolutionary Shiism, wherever possible. In some Sunni-dominated countries, like Sudan and Syria, the Iranians hope to convert Sunnis to Shiism. In the [Persian] Gulf, there are already substantial Shiite populations. Indeed, Saudi Arabia's main vulnerability is in its oil-rich Eastern Province, which has nearly a majority of Shiites. Neighboring Bahrain, now connected to Saudi Arabia by a bridge, has an 80 percent Shiite majority. The potential for revolutionary subversion is enormous, as has already happened in the past.
Israel and the Saudi Plan
The Saudi plan, first advanced in 2002, has two demands that are anathema to most, if not all, Israelis. One is the right of return of millions of descendants of the roughly half-million Arabs who left Israel during the 1948 War for Independence. The second is a total and complete withdrawal from every inch Israel liberated in the 1967 Six Day War thus stripping Israel of the defensible borders that President Bush said was Israel's right in his April 2004 letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Despite this, Gold writes, Israeli diplomats had hoped that a modified peace plan might be adopted by the Arab heads of state that would leave out any references to the return of Palestinian refugees to Israel...When that seemed unlikely, there was increasing speculation that while the formal initiative would remain unchanged, then at least some other statements would be made separately that would try to reach out to Israeli public opinion and build mutual confidence. But this did not occur.
No More Western Apathy or Israeli Withdrawals
What must be done, Gold writes, is the following: For one thing, the West must be more assertive about countering Iranian power. In addition, bombastic summits and Israeli withdrawals are not helpful at this time: The last thing [Saudi Arabia] needs are planeloads of Israeli negotiators and journalists in Riyadh. And with Hamas in power among the Palestinians and building its military strength daily in Gaza, Israel does not need to experiment with new withdrawals. Under such circumstances, quiet contacts between Israel and its neighbors make far more sense than grandiose public diplomacy.
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