6 DRS QUESTIONED IN TERROR PLOT

STILL FLOODING IN KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA. THE FIRES ARE UNDER CONTROL NOW BUT THE CAPTURED TERRORISTS FROM THE ATTEMPTED BOMBINGS REACHES 8 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 6 THAT ARE DOCTORS. INTERESTING THEY CLAIM TO SAVE LIVES WHEN IN PRIVATE THEY WANT TO KILL ALL NONE MUSLIMS.

THIS WOMAN PASTOR IS TOO MUCH A MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN GOOD LUCK.

Inclusion Run Amok: A Muslim/Episcopal Priest
Contact: Loralei Coyle 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with the Institute on Religion and Democracy

WASHINGTON, June 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- An Episcopal priest in Washington state recently announced that she is both a Christian and a Muslim. The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding of Seattle made her profession of faith in Islam in March 2006. Episcopal Church Center employees told the Seattle Times that a person of dual faiths can serve as Episcopal clergy at the diocesan bishop's discretion. The Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, reportedly accepts Redding's dual faiths; consequently, she remains a priest in good standing within the diocese.

Ralph Webb, Director of the IRD's Anglican Action program, commented:

The Episcopal Church continues to find new, creative ways to allow for heterodox faith variations at the local level. First, there was a local option for same-sex blessings in the Episcopal Church. Now there's apparently an unofficial local option for clergy who profess dual faiths.

Rev. Redding certainly is free to pursue a spiritual path of her own choosing. But when she was ordained as an Episcopal priest, she accepted a charge to boldly proclaim the gospel of salvation; and rightly administer the sacraments of the New Covenant. How can she boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ's death on the cross for the sins of the world and subsequent resurrection when Islam denies both events? How can she rightly administer the sacraments of [a] … covenant antithetical to Muslim beliefs, which see Jesus only as a prophet, not the savior of the world? Rev. Redding, Bishop Warner, and the Episcopal Church need to take such questions seriously.

Even the Episcopal Church's baptismal service asks all Christians to [c]onfess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood. The idea that a person can become a Muslim while remaining an Episcopal priest in good standing trivializes both faiths.

The blurring of Christian distinctives is evidence of a spiritual confusion that can only harm Episcopalians. And while it's been said that all politics are local, Bishop Warner's acceptance of Rev. Redding's syncretism compromises the whole church. The Episcopal Church's unofficial acceptance of clergy with dual faiths represents inclusion run amok. It clearly illustrates the overwhelming gap in faith and practice between the Episcopal Church and the majority of the Anglican Communion—not to mention the universal Christian Church.

Commentary: Blair welcome, even if not the messiah
Yossi Alpher July 3, 2007

Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, has been appointed the Quartet's representative to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace. Since hearing this news, my reaction has moved from dismay via detached analysis to the warmest of welcomes.

Firstly, dismay. Here is the man whose brilliant understanding of Middle East issues led him, nonetheless, to commit British prestige and resources to supporting the George W. Bush administration's failed policies in Iraq, and to Washington's disastrous effort to democratize the region.

This is the leader who recently told an audience in Pakistan that Islamist extremism in that part of the world was generated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and on whose prime-ministerial watch the United Kingdom produced a home-grown generation of angry Islamists, as well as, most recently, an epidemic of petty and despicable anti-Israel boycotts. Further, Blair, like US President Bush, cites his religious beliefs as inspiration for his Middle East policies. I harbor a profound mistrust of religious motivation - whether Christian, Muslim, or Jewish - for strategy and statesmanship in our part of the world.

My second reaction was a more analytical look at Blair's new job. His predecessor, James Wolfensohn, sought to exploit Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza two years ago to promote economic development and wellbeing. While his efforts failed, he can hardly be blamed for Palestinians' inability or unwillingness to keep the peace in Gaza, and make good on the infrastructure left behind by Israel and the generous aid he recruited. Nor is former prime minister Ariel Sharon's unwillingness to even attempt to coordinate withdrawal with the Palestinian Liberation Organization-Palestinian Authority Wolfensohn's fault.

But Blair is a politician, not an economist. The Quartet - composed of the US, EU, Russia, and the UN - has commissioned him to help develop Palestinian political institutions. In view of his energy and passion for the issue he will, undoubtedly, push for a broader mandate to foster options for a peace process; indeed, Bush may already envision Blair's mission in precisely this expanded context. Yet how can either mission work when both the Palestinians and the Quartet are hopelessly divided, and the international playing field so congested?

The American and European members of the Quartet continue to boycott Hamas in Gaza. The Russians and the United Nations are unhappy with this policy - which they feel was imposed on them by the US - believing it to be counterproductive, and helping to bring about the Hamas coup in Gaza last month. They seek contact with Hamas, as do Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Which Quartet policy will Blair represent? Which government will he help reorganize?

Then, too, Blair will not be alone: the EU, Russia, and the UN all have their own representatives working to alleviate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU's Javier Solana and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are also very active here, while Blair's fellow Europeans, whose backing he needs, consider him too American, and complain they were never consulted regarding his appointment. The EU has already tried, at least once, to help Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas organize his office, with no appreciable results. Blair will have his work cut out for him merely in trying to avoid repeating the failed efforts of his predecessors, and tripping over his fellow global peacemakers.

Inevitably, my ultimate reaction to the Blair appointment was to look for the bright side, the silver lining. Blair is a talented and energetic man; by and large he has been quite fair and evenhanded in his attitude toward Israel. He probably won't do any harm; he may even do some good. At worst, he'll throw in the towel after a year or two and go home, disabused of all his illusions. At best, his legendary persuasive powers and charm will achieve real results.

So, why begrudge him his appointment? Welcome to the fray, Tony Blair. You are almost certainly not the messiah we've all been waiting for. But then again, there hasn't been a messiah in this part of the world for 2,000 years.

Yossi Alpher is the Israeli Co-Editor of the bitterlemons family of Internet publications. He is former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, and was a special adviser to former prime minister Ehud Barak. This commentary was featured on bitterlemons.org. Acknowledgement to bitterlemons.org.

Trade minister called EU deal a con July 3,07
Sir Digby Jones

The Conservatives have claimed that a new Foreign Office minister does not support the EU constitutional treaty. Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, shadow Europe minister Mark Francois quoted Sir Digby Jones as saying that the deal agreed by EU leader's last month was a con. Former CBI director general Sir Digby was brought in from outside Parliament last week to be trade and investment minister in both the Foreign Office and Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in Gordon Brown's government of all the talents. As an outspoken critic of the government in the past, he will now take the Labour whip in the House of Lords.

However Francois pointed to comments that may prove uncomfortable for him and his new colleagues as he continued Tory calls for a referendum on the replacement for the EU's failed constitution. The Conservative spokesman said Sir Digby told the Economic and Research Council that it is a con to call this a treaty, it is not, it is exactly the same, it is a constitution. Wasn't the new minister for trade and investment exactly right? he asked. However Europe minister Jim Murphy said that he did not agree. It said in the reform treaty loud and clear, the constitutional concept is abandoned, he argued. Earlier business secretary John Hutton also told the Financial Times that he was not in the least bit worried about having the vocal figure in his team.

THIS IS JUST A SHOW BY PUTIN RUSSIA AND IRAN ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS, RUSSIA DOES ANYTHING TO DECIEVE AMERICA AND IT ALWAYS WORKS TO.

Bush, Putin vow unity over Iran By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jul 2, 1:59 PM ET

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin projected a united front Monday against Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program. When Russia and the United States speak along the same lines, it tends to have an effect and therefore I appreciate the Russians' attitude in the United Nations, Bush said. We're close on recognizing that we got to work together to send a common message. Putin predicted that we will continue to be successful as they work through the U.N. Security Council.

Security Council members have begun discussing a U.S. proposal for sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to stop enriching uranium. The U.S., Russia and their fellow permanent U.N. Security Council members, however, have told Iran they will hold off on new sanctions if it stops expanding its enrichment activities while they seek to restart talks about the program with Tehran. Diplomats say the Iranian government has not yet responded to the proposal. Putin suggested there would be further substantial intercourse on this issue. It was unclear whether the leaders had agreed on methods or merely wanted to gloss over for public consumption any differences on strategy. Bush and Putin have contrasting views on democracy and missile defense, NATO expansion into Russia's backyard and independence for Kosovo. They both want to stymie Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions, but haven't seen eye-to-eye on how tough to get with Tehran or even whether Iranian missiles currently pose a threat.

On the prickly missile issue, Putin proposed transforming U.S. plans for an Eastern European missile shield into a broader system that would incorporate a radar system in southern Russia and bring more European nations into the decision-making process.
The relationship of our two countries would be raised to an entirely new level, Putin said, standing alongside Bush on the lawn of the Bush family summer home overlooking the craggy Atlantic shoreline. Washington is planning to build a new missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic. Putin had said the United States overstepped its national borders in every way and has threatened to reposition Russian rockets in retaliation.

Last month, Putin surprised Bush in Germany by proposing a Soviet-era early warning radar in Azerbaijan as a substitute for the radar and interceptors the United States wants to place in Poland and the Czech Republic. Washington has been clear it doubts the Azerbaijan facility is up to becoming a substitute. Bush called the Russian leader's latest missile defense idea very sincere and very innovative. However, the president said, I think the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system. Earlier, Bush and the Russian leader piled into a powerful speedboat navigated by Bush's father — former President George H.W. Bush. Under a bright morning sunshine, Putin and the Bushes roamed close to the shoreline around the Bush family's oceanfront estate for about an hour and a half.

I JUST CAN NOT BELIVE THE ISRAELIS ARE RELEASING TERRORISTS JUST FLOORS ME.

Israel Readies List Of Fatah Prisoners To Be Released

(RTTNews) - The Prime Minister's Office has completed a list of 250 prisoners from the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to be released as per Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's promise to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Sharm e-Sheikh last week.The list will be discussed with the Justice Ministry director-general on Wednesday, and it will be brought before the cabinet for approval on Sunday. Olmert made the offer as a gesture of goodwill towards the Palestinians in a four-way summit at the Red Sea resort in an effort to ease the tense situation in the Palestinian territories and activate the stalled Mideast peace process.For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Hamas Tried To Take Control of Temple Mount
by Hana Levi Julian (JULY 3,07 INN)

The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and police revealed Monday morning a sting operation that resulted in the arrest of 11 Hamas officials who led an effort to take over the Temple Mount from the Jordanian Wakf. Ten of those arrested possess cards identifying themselves as Israeli citizens. One of the detainees is 39-year-old Nasser Yaakuv Abu S’oud, who carried out money transfers for Hamas and other activities for the group on the Temple Mount . Abu S’oud was not directly involved in weapons-related activities, nor was 47-year-old businessman Amin S’wini. He was also involved in funds transfers and other Hamas activity in the capital.Their goal is to gain full control over the Temple Mount , a security official said, adding that the Hamas terrorist party has built a bathroom and expanded its library and prayer rooms at the Temple Mount . Hamas, funded by Syria , Iran and other Arab nations, has invested millions of dollars in the Temple Mount site, where it has conducted tours and preached Hamas ideology.

The terrorist organization has provided social services support to low-income Arabs living in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods, thus cementing its support in the population. Shin Bet sources reported Hamas terrorists have used the identity cards to operate throughout Israel, gaining grassroots support among the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Arab population, which it uses to recruit new members.Covert surveillance by security personnel has revealed that the terrorist organization, which took over Gaza in a bloody civil war with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah organization, is working actively to consolidate its control over the Temple Mount complex. If it wasn’t for this operation, Israel could have been dealt a harsh blow, said a senior Shin Bet official.

Jordan secretly buying land accessing Temple Mount
Kingdom said to be solidifying control of Judaism's holiest site
July 3, 2007 Aaron Klein - WorldNetDaily.com

JERUSALEM – Jordan has been quietly purchasing real estate surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the hope of gaining more control over the area accessing the holy site, according to Palestinian and Israeli officials.

Israel's Maariv daily newspaper reported a member of the Jordanian royal family has been leading efforts to purchase properties near the Temple Mount – Judaism's holiest site – as part of the kingdom's plan to solidify its already strong presence there.

The Maariv story was first reported by WND four months ago in an exclusive report revealing Jordan has used shell companies during the past year to purchase several apartments and shops located at key peripheral sections of the Temple Mount.

Israeli and Palestinian officials told WND Jordan also set up a commission to use the shell companies to petition mostly Arab landowners adjacent to eastern sections of the Temple Mount to sell their properties. They said profits from sales at any purchased shops would be reinvested to buy more real estate near the Mount and in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods. The Jordanian shell companies at times have presented themselves as acting on behalf of the Waqf, the Muslim custodians of the Temple Mount, WND has learned. Sheik Azzam Khateeb, who was installed in February as the new manager of the Waqf, is known to be close to the Jordanian monarchy. The previous Waqf manager, Sheik Adnon Husseini, was loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and had relations with Israel and some Jewish groups. Khateeb answers directly to Jordan, a Fatah official told WND.

Israeli and Palestinian officials said Jordan recently placed a bid to purchase Jerusalem's Intercontinental Hotel, which is situated on an important road that leads to an ancient cemetery on the Mount of Olives, adjacent to the Temple Mount. Informed sources tell WND the hotel is owned by groups representing the Israeli government and is leased every 10 years to a new company. The last lease was signed in 1997 and expires later this year. It was not immediately clear whether Jordan's bid was accepted. The Mount of Olives is the site of many biblical events and is considered important to Judaism and Christianity. Real estate ownership in Jerusalem's Old City is widely considered a sensitive matter. Previous Israeli-Palestinian peace proposals tentatively divided parts of the city based on Jewish or Arab residence.

Jordan previously controlled eastern Jerusalem and the Temple Mount from 1948 until Israel liberated the territory in the 1967 Six-Day War. During the period of Jordanian control, Jews were barred from the Western Wall and Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest sites, and hundreds of synagogues were destroyed. Jordan constructed a road to the Intercontinental Hotel that stretched across the Mount of Olives, bulldozing hundreds of Jewish gravestones. Jordan the past few months has boosted its public profile on the Temple Mount. The appointment of Khateeb as the new Waqf manager for the Temple Mount was widely seen as a nod to Jordan.

In January, Israel granted Jordan permission to replace the main podium in the Al Aqsa Mosque from which Islamic preachers deliver their sermons. The podium is considered one of the most important stands in the Muslim world. Muslims believe it marks the exact spot their prophet Muhammad went up to heaven to receive revelations from Allah. The new stand bears the emblem of the Jordanian kingdom. It replaces a 1,000-year-old podium believed to have been shipped to Jerusalem by the Islamic conqueror Saladin. That stand was destroyed in 1969, when an Australian tourist set fire to the Al Aqsa Mosque. In February, WND first reported Prime Minister Ehud Olmert granted permission to Jordan to construct a large minaret at a site on the Temple Mount where Jewish groups here had petitioned to build a synagogue. According to Israeli diplomatic sources, an announcement on the minaret has been stalled.

A minaret is a tower usually attached to a mosque from which Muslims are called to the five Islamic daily prayers. There are four minarets on the Temple Mount. The new minaret will be the largest one yet. It will be the first built on the Temple Mount in more than 600 years and is slated to tower over the walls of Jerusalem's Old City. It will reside next to the Al-Marwani Mosque, located at the site of Solomon's Stables. A top leader of the Waqf told WND Olmert's granting of permission to build the minaret in the synagogue's place confirms 100 percent the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) belongs to Muslims. This proves Jewish conspiracies for a synagogue will never succeed and solidifies our presence here. It will make Muslims worldwide more secure that the Jews will never take over the Haram al-Sharif, the Waqf official said.

Hamas plans for Temple Mount takeover thwarted

The reports of Jordan gaining Temple Mount control come as Israeli security officials revealed yesterday they foiled a Hamas plan to take control of the Temple Mount and spread the terror group's ideology and recruit new members in Jerusalem.
During a year-long operation, Israel's Shin Bet Security Services revealed it arrested 11 Hamas officials based in Jerusalem, 10 of whom are Israeli identity cards holders. Hamas's Jerusalem headquarters were reportedly funded by Hamas headquarters in Syria, as well as a chain of charity institutions based in Saudi Arabia. Shin Bet officials said Hamas invested large sums of money in construction on the Temple Mount, including the building of a public bathroom facility and enlargement of a library and several prayer halls in a massive mosque that was built in a southeast Mount area known as Solomon's Stables. The area had been called Solomon's Stables since Crusader times, when it was used by the Crusaders as horse stables. [Hamas'] goal is to gain full control over the Temple Mount, a high-ranking security officer told the Jerusalem Post yesterday, adding Hamas also tried to infiltrate its members into the Temple Mount as maintenance staff, in addition to its religious leaders who preach, give tours and teach Quran classes there.

Jews Mourn, Fast on 17th Day of Tammuz
by Hillel Fendel (JULY 3,07 INN)

The Three Weeks of gradually-increasing mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temples and Israel's exile begin Tuesday, with the fast day of the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz. This is the day on which Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces breached the walls of Jerusalem, after many months of siege on their way to destroying the Holy Temple. The Three Weeks end on the 9th of Av - Tisha B'Av - the date on which both the First and Second Temples were destroyed, roughly 2,500 and 2,000 years ago, respectively. The 17th of Tammuz is also the date on which Moses, having descended Mount Sinai and seeing the people sinning with the Golden Calf, broke the first set of Ten Commandments. During the First Temple Era, the priests were forced on this day - a year before the Temple's destruction - to stop offering the daily sacrifice due to the shortage of sheep.

In addition, the Talmud tells us, on this date some decades earlier, the evil King Menasheh had an idol placed in the Temple's Holy Sanctuary. Later, during Second Temple times, a Roman general placed an idol in the same place and publicly burned the Torah.

Excerpts from the morning selichot prayers:

We rebelled against Him Who dwells in heaven, therefore we were scattered in all directions... We acted rebelliously before Thee with slandering tongues, therefore our tongues were made to learn to utter lamentation... The tempest-tossed afflicted people were utterly broken up and dispersed; the dry land became a boat wrecked for lack of a captain; she received [punishment] for her sins with principal and double interest, with mourning and moaning... Their adversaries assailed them on that day and... drove the nation like a chased gazelle, and there was none that sought to protect it... Turn to us, O Thou that dwellest on high, gather our dispersed from the four corners of the earth; say to Zion, Arise! And we shall arise. Convert the 17th of Tammuz into a day of salvation and comfort. (translation by Rev. Abraham Isaac Jacob Rosenfeld)

In honor of the day, and in view of the difficult situation Israel faces, the Chief Rabbinate issued the following call:

It is a time of trouble for Israel: Israel's enemies sound off and lift their heads in arrogance and conceit, opening their mouths wide with threats and terrorization. They boast of their desire to destroy the Jews; they have consulted together with one another and made a pact against G-d... saying, Let us cut off Israel (Psalms 83), and wish to war with us even as we are geared for peace. We are in dire need of G-d's mercy and salvation; we have none on whom to lean except for our Father in Heaven. We must redouble our Torah study and observance of the Torah's commandments, with even greater strength and greater devotion - for they come with chariots and horses, but we come calling in the Name of G-d (Psalms 20).

We therefore hereby call upon the Nation of G-d to gather in synagogues on Tuesday, the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz, an hour and a half before the afternoon Mincha prayer, for the recitation of selichot [penitential prayers] and Psalms. Let us cry out with all our strength, and call to our G-d and the G-d of our fathers from the depths of our heart - for "G-d is close to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalms 145).

May our cries arise before Him, and may G-d arise from His chair of strict justice and sit upon the chair of mercy. May He guide and lead us with compassion and kindness, for G-d's salvation can come in the blink of an eye. And may we see the fulfillment of this verse: I will give peace in the Land, and you will lie down to sleep without fear... and no sword will pass through your Land. May this occur speedily in our days, Amen.

Signed and sealed:
Shlomo Moshe Amar, the Rishon LeTzion, the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel
Yona Metzger, the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel

Chief Rabbinate Begins Phasing Out Controversial 7th-Year Sale
by Hillel Fendel (JULY 3,07 INN)

As the upcoming Shemittah [Sabbatical] year approaches - it begins on Rosh HaShanah, September 13 - farmers and rabbis are preparing to deal with the unique Halakhic [Jewish legal] issues involved in the Biblical ban on working the fields in the Land of Israel.

The Chief Rabbinate plans to Kosher-certify fruits and bananas only if they are grown in accordance with special regulations (see below). The Rabbinate will instruct the public as to how to treat these fruits with special Shemittah sanctity. Neither fruits destined for export nor vegetables are included in this arrangement.

The Torah's agricultural ban occurs once every seven years, in accordance with Exodus 23 and Leviticus 25. Today, these Shemittah regulations retain only Rabbinic, and not Biblical, authority, due to the lack of a majority of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel [see Lev. 25,2]. For this reason and others, rabbis in the mid-19th century ruled that Jews in Israel could sell their fields to non-Jews and continue performing many otherwise forbidden farming activities. This arrangement was known as the Heter Mechirah [the Sale Dispensation].

Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of the modern-day Land of Israel, promulgated the Heter Mechirah on a national scale, in order to prevent the collapse of the agricultural economy.

The Heter Mechirah increasingly became a matter of controversy between religious-Zionist circles, which largely accepted it, and the hareidi-religious sector, which did not. The farmers of the latter were largely supported by communal funds during Shemittah years, while hareidi-religious consumers purchased fruits and vegetables either from Arab sources or from outlying areas of the Land of Israel not bound by Shemittah laws.

This latter approach, however, strengthens the Arab share of the agricultural market not only during the Shemittah year, but in the following years as well.

In fact, in the last Shemittah, seven years ago, 50,000 dunams (some 12,500 acres) of new agricultural farms were developed in Jordan to meet the consumption needs of those who wished to buy non-Jewish produce. Rabbi Neriah Gutel, the Dean of Orot College who has written widely on the topic, writes that not only were these farms not dismantled afterwards, but they continue even now to compete with Jewish farms in Israel.

A third approach to Shemittah that has been increasingly making inroads is the Otzar Beit Din, or Public Treasury. It is based, inter alia, on the idea that Shemittah fruits are forbidden to be sold, but not to be eaten - and in fact have a sanctity that renders their consumption extra meritorious. To this end, and in order to enable everyone to enjoy the fruits of the Land - another Shemittah objective - harvesting, fruit distribution, and land upkeep is carried out not for commercial profit, but by a public body appointed by a court of Jewish Law acting as the public's representative.

The Chief Rabbinate has decided to implement the Otzar Beit Din method on a national scale for fruits and bananas. Accordingly, all fruits and bananas sold throughout the country under the certification of the Chief Rabbinate - which includes most large supermarkets in Israel - will not be Heter-fruits, i.e., from lands exempted from Shemittah by virtue of having been sold to a non-Jew, but rather raised in a permitted manner in accordance with Lev. 25, 6: The produce of the land shall be food for you...

In a letter to municipal rabbis and kashrut inspectors this week, the Chief Rabbinate writes, Our universally agreed upon goal is to reach a point where we will not need the Heter at all, just as Rabbi Kook wrote... in order that we may observe this commandment in all its glory. Accordingly, the Chief Rabbinate Council has decided to reduce the use of the Heter as much as possible. For several months we have been in personal contact with every farmer... Similarly, the Heter will be implemented only in cases where other solutions - such as Otzar Beit Din, early seeding, raised platforms, and the like - cannot be used.

The ramifications for the public are two-fold: Special care will be taken to ensure that the price of fruits and bananas is not raised arbitrarily, but will rather cover only normal costs and expenses, including a fair and normal salary for those involved. In addition, signs will be placed in the fruit sections instructing the public that the fruits must be treated with special Shemittah sanctity. Specifically, the fruits must be used only in their normal manner (generally eating or drinking), and their remnants must not be thrown out in a degrading fashion.

To this end, Rabbinate officials said that an educational campaign would be undertaken, though its extent and framework have not yet been determined.

Most vegetables will not be included in the above arrangement.


Barroso warns member states against unravelling treaty deal
02.07.2007 - 17:07 CET | By Honor Mahony

EUOBSERVER / PORTO - The European Commission and the newly minted Portuguese EU presidency has dismissed Poland's attempts to reopen a key part of a new agreement on a future union treaty as a misunderstanding and warned member states generally that unanimous deals cannot be re-opened just days after being agreed. None of the issues which we agreed upon are going to be opened, said commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday at a press conference in Porto to introduce Portugal's six month tenure of the EU. Referring to the EU leaders summit ten days ago where member states agreed a mandate for negotiating a new treaty for the bloc, he said it can't be that member states start putting into question what they all unanimously agreed upon.

Portuguese prime minister Jose Socrates was equally clear. He noted that the mandate does not say oh by the way you can revise the mandate.We hailed that agreement he said, adding that he did not see any countries that want to question it.

Poland dismissed

Meanwhile, both politicians used similar phrasing to dismiss Polish attempts to put the highly contentious voting issue back on the table. There have been a few ambiguous statements put forward, but these were a misunderstanding, said Mr Barroso while Mr Socrates noted it can't be anything but a little misunderstanding here.Mr Socrates implied that Poland had already got so much from the summit – it secured an extension of the current voting system until at least 2014, with the option to further use it until 2017 – that it had no reason to be making waves now. We think Poland will be one of the most co-operative because they were so fundamental to the agreement, he said

Putting the cat firmly among the pigeons, Warsaw last week indicated it would like a gentleman's agreement made in the late hours of the ill-tempered 21-22 June summit to be honoured. It said it was told the mandate would contain a mechanism to delay EU decisions for up to two years if the blocking minority formally required was not quite reached. But opening this issue would probably result in Portugal's overall timetable for agreement unravelling. Lisbon has said it would like a fully formed treaty agreement in October. If Warsaw is seen as allowed to revisit the negotiating document - already a patchwork of opt-outs, footnotes and protocols - it could have a knock-on effect. Portuguese diplomats already fear that the longer member states have to think about the mandate, the more creative member states will be in their interpretations of it.

Terror plot hatched in British hospitals
By Kim Sengupta, Ian Herbert and Cahal Milmo
Published: 03 July 2007

A suspected secret cell of foreign militants, believed to be linked to al-Qa'ida and using British hospitals as cover, are being questioned over the terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow. Five of the eight people under arrest last night are said to be doctors. Another of those detained is the wife of one of the doctors, who is a medical assistant working for the NHS. The home of a sixth doctor is said to have been searched by police. Late last night an Australian television network reported that a suspect wanted in connection with the attacks had been arrested in Brisbane.
Attention has been focused on a group of nationals from the Middle East, who had not previously attracted the interest of security agencies. Until now, cases of Islamist terrorism have involved mainly Muslims who were born and brought up in Britain. The alleged arrival of teams from abroad to carry out attacks, their identities unknown to the domestic law agencies, adds another dimension to the terrorist threat being faced in the United Kingdom.

Following the link between the attacks in London and Glasgow, control of the investigation was transferred to Scotland Yard. With the security alert staying at the highest possible level and warnings that another attack may be imminent, police carried out 19 raids across the country, arresting nationals from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Among those arrested was Mohammed Jamil Abdelqader Asha, a 26-year-old neurologist who was born in Saudi Arabia but is of Palestinian origin and was travelling on a Jordanian passport. He and his 27-year-old wife, a medical assistant, were arrested on the M6 in Cheshire, in connection with the attempted bombings in London. Also under arrest was Bilal Talal Abdul Samad Abdulla, an Iraqi from Baghdad who arrived in the UK in April 2006. He is said to have been one of the two men in the Cherokee Jeep in the Glasgow airport attack, and is suffering from third-degree burns. His companion, under arrest, is also from Iraq, while two other men, aged 25 and 28, arrested in Paisley yesterday, were said to be doctors from Saudi Arabia. Police carried out a controlled explosion on a blue Vauxhall car yesterday at Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, near Glasgow, where Dr Abdulla worked and where he is being treated for his injuries. It was the second such detonation at the hospital, following a white BMW on Sunday. Strathclyde Police said the two vehicles were connected with the airport attack.

Dr Asha, 26, has been in Britain since 2005 and had worked at the North Staffordshire Hospital, where his office was being searched yesterday following a raid at his home at Sunningdale Grove in Newcastle-under-Lyme. There were police searches in the same town two miles from Dr Asha's home at Priam Close, Bradwell, which, according to neighbours, was rented by another doctor and his wife.
Further searches were carried out in Liverpool at the home of a man who had been arrested after being disabled with a taser gun after police surrounded his car. According to neighbours, the man was a doctor from India who worked at Halton Hospital in Cheshire. A colleague told the newspaper, Muslim News, that the man may have been detained because he was using the mobile telephone and internet account of another man who has recently left Britain. Last night Dr Asha's father, Jamil Asha, asked King Abdullah of Jordan to intercede on behalf of his son. He vehemently stressed to journalists in Amman that his son was not involved in any terrorist activity.

All he wanted to do was get on with his life. He prays like any good Muslim but was certainly not a fanatic, said Mr Asha. He was planning to visit us on 12 July. He called me three days ago to check the body sizes of his six brothers and two sisters. My son wanted to buy them gifts from Britain before his departure. Dr Asha's brother, Ahmed, said he was surprised by news of his arrest. The first news we heard of this was broadcast by an Arabic satellite channel. It's nonsense because he has no terror connections. Dr Abdulla, who had qualified in Baghdad in 2004, a year after the US-led invasion, has been in Britain since August 2006. He is said to have lived in Jordan before arriving in the UK.

The failed car bomb attacks in London early on Friday morning involved two Mercedes saloons. They had been packed with gas cylinders, petrol and nails with two mobile telephones acting as detonators. The bombers had, according to a security source, tried to detonate the car outside Tiger Tiger bar with four phone calls. Two calls had been made to the car in Cockspur Street, which was later towed away to a car pound. The bombs failed because of a technical mistake. Detectives believe that a Mercedes involved in the failed attacks in London came from Scotland. They have tracked part of the car's route south last week using number-plate recognition technology mounted in cameras along the M6.

The raids and arrests across the country which followed are said to have resulted mainly from clues gathered from the two cars, including calls made to the mobile telephones.

Homegrown cells

* OPERATION CREVICE

Five men plotted to blow up the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent and the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London with massive fertiliser bombs. MI5 were watching the ringleaders when, in February 2004, a supervisor at a London self-storage reported three men stashing 600kg of ammonium nitrate fertiliser. Cell member Jawad Akbar was recorded discussing the nightclub attack: No one can put their hands up and say they are innocent. Fearful the gang would attack, the police launched a series of raids. Akbar, Omar Khyam, Waheed Mahmood, Anthony Garcia and Salahuddin Amin - British citizens - were convicted at the Old Bailey in April of conspiracy to cause explosions.

* 7 JULY 2005

As the morning rush-hour ended, Shehzad Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Mohammad Siddique blew up the explosive-packed rucksacks they were carrying on London Underground trains at Russell Square, Edgware Road and Aldgate. An hour later, Hasib Hussain detonated his on a number 30 bus in Tavistock Square. They were all from Yorkshire, except Lindsay, who lived in Aylesbury. The four men were motivated by fierce antagonism to perceived injustices by the West against Muslims, according to the Government report into the bombings.

A total of 52 people were killed and more than 770 were injured.

* 21 JULY 2005

A fortnight to the day after the 7 July attacks, four attempted bombings took place in central London. Faulty bombs were found on trains at Oval, Warren Street and Shepherds Bush stations and on a bus in Hackney, gifting the police a wealth of forensic evidence. The trial at Woolwich Crown Court of six men, who deny conspiracy to murder, heard that the bombs were made using chapatti flour and hydrogen peroxide. The six, Muktar Ibrahim, Manfo Asiedu, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yaha, are all originally from Africa. The trial jury went out to consider its verdict on 28 June. The jury is still out.

* DHIREN BAROT

Indian-born Barot plotted to create carnage on an unprecedented scale . His plans included blowing up a Tube train in a tunnel beneath the Thames. Barot, from London, was jailed for at least 40 years in November for conspiracy to murder. There was no evidence he had acquired the materials to carry out his attacks, but his plans were found on his computer.

3RD ATTEMP AT TERRORISM IN 2 DAYS

ON LATE EDITION JEFFREY TOOBIN ASKED ZBIGNIEW BREZEZINSKI ABOUT BLAIR BEING THE NEW MIDEAST PEACE ENVOY.

JT - TONY BLAIR HAS BEEN NAMED THE NEW MIDEAST PEACE ENVOY, DO YOU THINK HE HAS ANY CHANCE OF SUCCEDING WERE SO MANY HAVE FAILED.

ZB - THIS MAY BE A SOMEWHAT ODD COMMENT FOR ME TO MAKE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SO CRITICAL OF BLAIR PARTICULARLLY REGARDING IRAQ. BUT MAYBE IN SOME PERVERSE FASHION, I HAVE THE EXPECTATION THAT HE WILL ACTUALLY SURPIRSE US. AND THE REASON FOR IT IS PURELY PERSONAL, INTUITIVE, NAMELY BLAIR IS A SENSETIVE PERSON, HES A VERY INTELLIGENT PERSON. HE KNOWS HES BEING VIEWED HISTORICALLY AS A FAILED PRIME MINISTER. BECAUSE HIS SUPPORT FOR THE WAR IN IRAQ, WHICH HAS REALLY BOGGED AMERICA AND GREAT BRITIAN IN A BIG BIG MESS.

HOW CAN HE REDEEM HIMSELF HISTORICALLY?

ITS NOT BY BEING SOME BEAURCRATIC TYPE, INEFFECTUAL MIDDLE EASTERN NEGOTIATOR SUBJECT TO THE QUARTET AND TO JAVIER SOLANO THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EU, WHICH NOMELY HE IS. IT WILL BE IF HE EXCEEDS HIS MANDATE. AND THERE ARE 2 ISSUES HERE.

1-THE WAR IN IRAQ WHICH HE IS NOT CHARGED WITH. 2-AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN WHICH HES CHARGED WITH. BUT HIS MANDATE IS ON ECONOMICS, FINANCES AND SO FORTH. I WILL BE WILLING TO MAKE A BET THAT HE WILL STRETCH THAT MANDATE, AND HE HAS A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN BUSH AND HE MAY PULL A SURRISE.

SO ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI THINKS TONY BLAIR COULD DO MORE THEN JUST THE GOVERENCE OF THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS, HE THINKS TONY BLAIR COULD BE A REAL NEGOTIATOR FOR THE TALKS IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL BE THE ONE TO MAKE THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS TO A 7 YEAR TREATY, THIS IS THE DEFINATE BEGINNING OF THE EU IN HEAVY AND LEADING THE PEACE PROCESS.


ON SATURDAY (YESTERDAY) THERE WAS A 3RD BOMBING ATTEMP BY ISLAMIC RADICALS TO BLOW UP LONDON. THIS 3RD ATTEMP WAS AT AN AIRPORT IN GLASGOW SCOTLAND, WERE THE RADICALS STARTED A CAR ON FIRE BUT IT NEVER EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING IT INTO THE AIR PORT.

THE 2 RADICALS WERE CAUGHT, 1 DIED AND ONE WAS PRESUMED TO BE WEARING A BOMB BELT. THREE OTHER RADICALS WERE CAUGHT FROM THE SATURDAY LONDON BOMBINGS, 2 MEN AND 1 WOMAN.

TERROR PLOT FOILED

The sea and the waves continue to roar as Texas has 11 dead and flooding worst in history as the rains were at least 19 inches in 4 hours in some places. Also Oklahoma is being flooded.

Lake Tahoe fires destroyed at least 225 holmes as the Bible says 1/3rd of the trees will be burned in the last days.


And this morning a foiled Terrorist attack in London. Both Pat Robertson and Benny Hinn have a feeling the Terrorists will do another big attack this year. GOD stopped this one but lookout its coming yet.

TONY BLAIR NAMED MIDEAST QUARTET ENVOY

Tony Blair is named Mideast Envoy. He will be speaking for the EU,US,UN AND RUSSIA in the Peace Process.

AT THE LAST MEETING IN THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT DAVID CAMERON ASKED BLAIR;
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER TELL US WHAT HIS FIRST PRIORITY WILL BE IF AND WHEN HE TAKES ON HIS NEW ROLE.

TONY BLAIR - THE ABSOLUTE PRIORITY IS TO TRY TO GIVE AFFECT TO WHAT IS NOW THE CONSENSES ACROSS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT THE ONLY WAY TO BRING STABILITY AND PEACE TO THE MIDEAST IS A 2 STATE SOLUTION. WHICH MEANS A STATE OF ISRAEL THAT IS SECURE AND CONFIDENT OF ITS SECURITY, AND A PALESTINIAN STATE THAT IS NOT MERILY VIABLE IN TERMS OF ITS TERRITORY BUT IN TERMS OF ITS INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNANCE. I BELIVE IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO THAT BUT IT WILL REQUIRE A HUGE INTENSITY OF FOCUS AND WORK.

OK SO WHAT DID BLAIR JUST SAY IN LIGHT OF PROPHECY. THE BIBLE SAYS IT WILL BE A LAND FOR SECURITY PEACE TREATY, BLAIR SAYS THE SAME THING.

THE TWO STATE SOLLUTION IS EAST JERUSALEM DIVIDED TO THE PALESTINIANS AS THEIR CAPITAL. AND BLAIR SAYS OF ISRAEL (A STATE OF ISRAEL THAT IS SECURE AND CONFIDENT OF ITS SECURITY).

TALK ABOUT GOD TELLING US WHAT WOULD BE (PRAISE THE GOD OF ISRAEL).

DANIEL REVEALS TO THE KING HISTORY OF THE WORLD EMPIRES

DANIEL 2:29-35

YOUR MAJESTY,WHEN YOU WENT IN BED,YOU BEGAN THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE; AND HE WHO REVEALS SECRETS HAS REVEALED TO YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN. 30-YET THIS SECRET HAS NOT BEEN REVEALED TO ME BECAUSE I AM WISER THAN ANYONE LIVING,BUT SO THAT THE MEANING CAN BE MADE KNOWN TO YOUR MAJESTY, AND THEN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHTS OF YOUR OWN MIND.

31-YOUR MAJESTY HAD A VISION OF A STATUE, VERY LARGE AND EXTREMELY BRIGHT; IT STOOD IN FRONT OF YOU AND ITS APPEARANCE WAS TERRIFYING. 32-THE HEAD OF THE STATUE WAS OF FINE GOLD, ITS CHEST AND ARMS OF SILVE, ITS TRUNK AND THIGHS OF BRONZE. 33-ITS LEGS OF IRON, AND IT FEET PARTLY OF IRON AND PARTLY OF CLAY. 34-AS YOU WATCHED A STONE SEPARATED ITSELF WITHOUT ANY HUMAN HAND. STRUCK THE STATUE ON ITS FEET MADE OF IRON AND CLAY, AND BROKE THEM IN PIECES. 35-THEN THE IRON, THE CLAY, THE BRONZE, THE SILVER AND THE GOLD WERE ALL BROKEN INTO PIECES WHICH BECAME LIKE THE CHAFF ON A THRESHING FLOOR IN SUMMER, THE WIND BLEW THEM AWAY WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE. BUT THE STONE (JESUS) WHICH HAD STRUCK THE STATUE GREW INTO A HUGE MOUNTAIN THAT FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.

IN VERSE 44 WE SEE IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS. THE LAST IRON MIXED WITH CLAY OR REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE OR THE EUROPEAN UNION EMPIRE THAT GOD WILL SET HIS KINGDOM UP.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST GENERATION THAT SEES ISRAEL BECOME A NATION AND CONTROL JERUSALEM AS ITS CAPITAL. THIS GENERATION WILL SEE JESUS DESTROY ALL OTHER KINGDOMS AND SET UP HIS KINGDOM IN JERUSALEM FOREVER.

A treaty for foreign policy
28.06.2007 - 09:09 CET | By Richard Laming

EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - The successful European treaties all have a theme. The Single European Act created the single market, the Maastricht treaty gave us the euro, and Amsterdam led to greater cooperation in justice and home affairs.

What will be the theme of the new Reform Treaty, the outlines of which were agreed at the weekend? Will it have a big idea to give it meaning and purpose, or will it, like the Nice treaty, linger on, pointless and lamented.

The answer lies in the enhanced capacity for the EU to act on the world stage. At present, the representation of the EU to third countries is divided three ways between the High Representative for the CFSP, the European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, and the foreign affairs minister of the member state that holds rotating presidency. Not surprisingly, this can sometimes be confusing.

The new treaty contains a modest but significant reform: to bring together the roles of Council representative and Commissioner, and to install that person as permanent chair of the foreign affairs council. This reshuffling of the roles could have a big practical effect. There will be a consistent voice for the European Union – Henry Kissinger's famous request for a phone number to call will now have an answer. Clarity will replace complication, and disruption will give way to continuity.

Europe will get a louder voice in the world, which Europe needs, and which the world needs.

It was envisaged in the constitutional treaty that this new merged role would be called the Foreign Minister. This was a misnomer, and has rightly been dropped, for the EU representative will not be a foreign minister as conventionally understood.

In a national government, the foreign minister is both the chief representative on matters of foreign policy and also the main decision-maker. He or she can take decisions that matter and give undertakings that will stick. The EU's representative will not have quite the same powers.

Decision-making will remain in the hands of the foreign affairs council, where all 27 member states are represented. That council will continue to vote, as now, by unanimity on policies, turning to QMV for implementation. The vast bulk of the assets used in foreign policy – diplomatic representation around the world, contacts and relationships, and above all military power – remains in the hands of the member states, and will not be at the command of the EU.

It is clear that this reform does not mean more powers for Brussels. Instead, it means that Brussels will be able to use better the powers it already has. This is reason for celebration, and not for a referendum.

There will be many people who regret that the treaty does not go further in strengthening the foreign policy of the European Union, enabling the use of QMV in making policies as well as implementing them, but even they will agree that the improvements it does contain are still a useful step forward.

Of course, the real test of foreign policy will come in practice and not in theory. The world is changing fast, and the different European countries need to work together if they are advance their interests and defend their values. The rise of China, the chaos in Gaza, and the fight against climate change are all issues where Europe has a common interest but not yet a common voice.

The new treaty will give them that voice. This is the right reform, taking place at the right time.

But it is one thing to have a common voice; it is another thing to use it. Having reached agreement at the summit, this is the next challenge for Europe's leaders. But in the meantime, they have given themselves a good start.

The author is director of Federal Union

BLAIR NEW MIDEAST ENVOY

The worst flooding in England has occured since records were kept this week. Lake Tahoe fires destroy 200 holmes since Monday. 200 dead in Pakistan Cyclone.

Tony blair will become the Mideast Envoy to speak for the EU,US,UN and Russia in the mideast Peace Process.

On CBC they had a bias Arab on saying Blair will never do and they should get the United Nations involved instead. Of Course this Arab blames Israel for everything.

Well I got news for this Arab, the Bible says its the EU not the UN that will be the peace brokers for the Israeli-Arab and many Peace Process. So Blairs appointment fits right into Prophecy as he was a European Union leader. Now this will lead to the EU having the lead role in the Mideast Peace Process and gradually guarenteeing Israels security for a land for peace 7 yeasr treaty were the EU President will protect Israel.

Everythings falling into place Prophecy wise, so keep watching the News, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray you will be spared from the devistation from Nuclear Weapons that will be coming on the whole Earth due to Jerusalem being divided in the very near future.

Remember GOD gave Israel, Jerusalem not the Gentile (Goyim or world Nations).

Israel will be owning most of the mideast in the future as the 12 tribes each getland promised them by GOD, while JESUS will be the MESSIAH ruling over them from JERUSALEM for 1000 years, then forever.


Officials: Blair to become Mideast peace envoy
POSTED: 1629 GMT (0029 HKT), June 26, 2007

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Tony Blair will become an envoy for Mideast peace, U.S. officials said Tuesday, Blair's last full day as Britain's prime minister.Blair will represent the Mideast Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. An official announcement is expected Wednesday, U.S. State Department officials and Quartet diplomats said.Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have expressed interest in having Blair in the role, senior officials said.
Assistant Secretary David Welch, the State Department's top envoy for the Middle East, discussed the idea with Blair in London last week.State Department spokesman Tom Casey declined to confirm the Blair appointment but said the Quartet discussed the issue at a meeting in Jerusalem Tuesday.

They have talked about the idea that, as we said, about having an envoy, having someone who would be available on behalf of the Quartet to work on a variety of issues, Casey said. Blair will focus on ways to strengthen Palestinian institutions for a future Palestinian state. The political negotiations on final status issues would be left to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, senior officials said.
Blair refused to acknowledge the appointment when asked about it at a press conference in London on Tuesday.But, standing alongside visiting California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at his final news conference, Blair said he was ready to help in whatever way he could. I think that anybody who cares about greater peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential, Blair said.

And I will do whatever I can to help such a resolution come about," he added, after talks with Schwarzenegger, the last foreign official to visit him before he leaves 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. The last envoy for the Quartet, former World Bank President James Wolfensohn, also worked primarily with the Palestinians, focusing on boosting the economy in Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal in 2005.He left his job in frustration in March 2005, claiming the international boycott of the Palestinian government following the January 2005 election that brought Hamas into the government made it impossible to do his job. Blair stands down after a decade that saw Labour win a record three general elections, peace come to Northern Ireland and the British economy enjoying a record sustained boom.

But the Iraq war and the cash-for-honors scandal damaged his reputation. Political infighting within his ruling Labor Party also culminated in a political coup last year that saw him pledge to leave office early. On Wednesday Blair will attend his last prime minister's questions session in the House of Commons. He will then be taken to see Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace to formally hand in his resignation. Minutes later Gordon Brown will travel to the palace where the queen will invite him to form a government.

2 SPEED EU HERE WE COME. THE BOOK OF DANIEL SAYS THE EU HAS TO BE A 2 SPEED EUROPEAN UNION. SINCE 13 COUNTRIES HAVE TO LEAD THE EU. THEN THE WORLD DICTATOR KICKS OUT 3 COUNTRIES AND BRINGS IT TO THE FINAL 10 THAT HAS TO BE IN THE LAST DAYS.

Portugal hopes for October EU treaty finale
25.06.2007 - 17:34 CET | By Honor Mahony

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The incoming Portuguese presidency has set aside just three months for negotiation on a new EU treaty, believing the weekend's tempestuous summit resulted in sufficiently clear directions to wrap up a new text.According to Portuguese ambassador Alvaro Mendonca, formal negotiations will be opened on 23 July with the aim to have them signed off by EU leaders on 18-19 October.We believe we have a mandate that is clear, precise and agreed by all 27 member states, said Mr Mendonca at the Centre for European Policy Studies think tank on Monday (25 June), referring to last week's top-level meeting.He added that the first month and a half will be spent translating the document agreed by leaders – which lists all the areas where the original rejected constitution needs to be changed – into legal text.

After that the first political phase will come when EU foreign ministers discuss the document at an informal meeting in early September in Portugal.The ambassador said that time will tell to what extent member states will respect the mandate they gave themselves, with several governments over the coming weeks likely to face flak – particularly in the UK and the Netherlands – for agreeing a document that is substantially very similar to the original constitution.But he added that Portugal consider[s] that the main political points have been agreed.In theory, it should be plain-sailing, he said, before wryly noting that the weather forecast for the weekend turned out to be completely wrong.

Two speed Europe?

For their part, MEPs are now working on their formal response to EU leaders – both the European Parliament and the European Commission have to give the green light for the intergovernmental negotiations to go ahead.German socialist MEP and constitutional affairs committee chief Jo Leinen gave a cautious welcome to the outline, but criticised how the final treaty will look and how the bitter summit negotiations resulting in specific concessions here and there for individual member states appeared to signal the end of the European spirit.The treaty is going to have far more footnotes, explanations and exemptions, he said.

He also noted that the results, which include opt-outs on judicial and police affairs as well as on the Charter of Fundamental Rights for the UK, will introduce a de facto two-speed Europe – an idea that MEPs will have to get used to.His comment echoed those of Italian prime minister Romano Prodi, who strongly criticised the way Poland, the Czech Republic and the UK negotiated during the summit and saying a two-speed Europe will be inevitable.The draft response by MEPs to the summit was discussed on Monday afternoon and is expected to be voted on next month.

At the moment, the five-page document welcomes the fact that the mandate safeguards the substance of the Constitutional Treaty including giving the EU a single legal personality and extension of the areas where MEPs' may co-legislate. It also welcomes the new mentions of climate change, energy solidarity and the strengthening of the role of services of general economic interest.On the minus side, the report suggests that the increasing number of derogations in the mandate could lead to a weakening of the cohesion of the Union and regrets the loss of EU symbols – flag, anthem and motto – as well as simpler more citizen-friendly terms for EU legislative acts.

TALKS IN EGYPT FOR MODERATE ARAB STATE

5 TORNADOES AT LEAST IN MANITOBA OVER THE WEEKEND. PEACE TALKS IN EGYPT TODAY. AND A BIG COMPANY HAS GOTTEN CONTROL OF EVERY COMPUTER I USE SO STORIES WILL BE HARD TO PUT ON ANY COMPUTER FOR ME BUT WITH GODS HELP I WILL TRY TO CONTINUE THIS MINISTRY.

I NEED PRAYER FOR GOD TO HELP ME WITH MY MINISTRY SO THE GODLESS CAN'T DESTROY THE TRUTH FROM BEING TOLD.

THE US INSISTS ON DIVIDING JERUSALEM AND GIVING THE MODERATE WASHINGTON ARABS A STATE OF THEIR OWN. WRONG MOVE ITS ISRAELS LAND AND WW3 WILL RESULT FROM THE DIVIDING OF JERUSALEM AS JOEL 3:2 STATES.

[Comment] Behind the muddied language the dread 'R' word looms
23.06.2007 - 18:26 CET | By Peter Sain ley Berry

EUOBSERVER / DEBATE - A week before the mid-summer European Council opened I suggested that it would succeed in reaching agreement on a constitutional reform treaty.It has done so, despite at times making me wonder whether I had made an unjustifiably rash prediction. Mrs Merkel and her team are to be congratulated.
Despite the considerable dreary negotiating talk - of a lack of optimism, of vetoes, of more red lines than the London Underground - it always seemed to me that the pressure for progress would, in the end, outweigh the forces of reaction.If only because, with its disagreements aired so publicly, Europe was in danger of losing its dignity as a Lady and reverting to the bawling status of a fishwife.

Nevertheless, before opening the champagne it is worth recalling that we have been here before and at a time when the morning was both gladder and more confident.
Three years ago it was Mr Ahern and the Irish Presidency that we were congratulating for securing everyone's agreement on the new Constitutional Treaty.This was designed - let us again recall - to be like an AppleMac computer (so I am told) where all the different parts of the machine, both hard and soft, are designed to be complementary so as to produce an integrated, well-functioning whole.

The Union's machinery

Its purpose was to replace the series of existing and obscure treaties that imperfectly provided the basis for the Union's machinery and operations. These were likened to a personal computer or PC, having been put together ad hoc, rather than designed, at various times as the need arose. Inevitably therefore the result was the loss of important functionality that became acute as the Union enlarged. If you follow this analogy then what we have now is a proposal for reconstituting the 'Mac' as a 'PC' that will run on the existing European treaties.The important elements of the former constitutional program - like a European Foreign Minister (who is no longer to be called a Foreign Minister) and a semi-permanent President of the European Council, have been cut out of one treaty and pasted upon the old, unsatisfactory matrix.The delinquent voting arrangements of the Nice Treaty, for example, are set to survive one way or another until 2017. Lacking a proper architecture, the new arrangements are likely to show the same old functionality problems as before.

Intergovernmental conference

It is only a framework that has been agreed, of course. It will be for an Intergovernmental Conference under the following Portuguese Presidency to produce the treaty document.Given the omissions, opt-outs and fudges in the agreement, this is not likely to be a trouble free process. One problem is language.One hopes that the Portuguese will try for a document that is at least well-written.The vacuity of the recent Berlin Declaration (on the Union's 50th birthday values and aspirations) was only emphasised by the unlovely language of its drafting.When sentences such as 'The European Council is convinced that illegal employment is one of the main pull factors driving illegal immigrants' appear in the Presidency's conclusions (and not in a part drafted in the middle of the night) one wonders whether some of the immigrants might not be working in the Bundesamt, so far do they seem from the European tradition of literate politics.

But literate or not, the Portuguese will have their work cut out to produce a treaty text not riddled with holes and inconsistencies. Muddied language leads to muddied thought. How does one reconcile the bright brush strokes of liberty sketched by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and by the anti-discrimination sentiments of the Union's values with the dark, unilateral, Polish declaration about the right of a state to legislate in the sphere of public morality, family law, protection of human dignity and respect for human physical and moral integrity.That sounds like a recipe for repression of precisely the kind that the Union was founded to protect against.

Alice in Wonderland fantasy

But the practice of muddied language has an even more sinister consequence: it can slip easily into untruth - as in the framework document's futilely repeated assertion that the new treaty will not 'have a constitutional character.If the character of this treaty is not to be constitutional then what is it, exactly? In its Alice in Wonderland fantasy this bizarre denial just seems silly.But this actually matters and matters mightily. For at a time when the European Council is shamelessly confessing to 'the crucial importance of reinforcing communication with European citizens,' even stating that 'this will be particularly important during the upcoming IGC and ratification process' one might have thought that the first requirement was to be open and honest with the people.

Referendum equates to failure

Of course, it is the dread 'R' word - ratification that is the cause of this denial of the obvious.Constitution equates to referendum; referendum equates to failure. Drop the work constitution and the problem is solved. But as Shakespeare might have said - a rat by any other name would smell as fishy.Such misuse of language amounts at best to spin and at worst to outright dishonesty; the effect is to make a mockery of fancy phrases such as permanent dialogue with the citizens.To profess the importance of democracy while scheming to prevent it is two-faced. It invites the very problem that it seeks to avoid.

Moreover, there is nothing in Mrs Merkel's document to give ordinary citizens any confidence that the elites at the controls of the European train have any real mechanism for listening to the views of the passengers still less for acting upon them.

Already the calls for a referendum have started in the UK.

There will soon be a plague of them all over Europe. The proposal now is to have the treaty ratified, mostly by a national parliamentary process, before the European Parliament elections in 2009.Here surely is the one great opportunity to consult the people. The European elections in 2009, it seems to me, should be about the treaty. The final verdict - with some candidates in favour, others opposed. Real substance to the election. Some states might even agree to follow the European Parliamentary lead without a national process; for others it would offer the chance of a democratic vote to back up proceedings in parliament.And for the citizens of Europe as a whole it would be a chance to take democratic control of their own constitution.

Jordanian King Pre-empts 4-Way Summit With Direct Call to Olmert
by Hana Levi Julian

Jordanian King Abdullah II pre-empted talks set for Monday at the four-way summit between Israel, the PA, Egypt and Jordan with a phone call to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert a day earlier. The Hashemite monarch made the call Sunday while meeting with visiting Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, ostensibly to lay out the groundwork for Monday’s meeting. The conversation appeared to be the opening gambit in talks that were not scheduled to take place until Monday, when Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would also be present.

Abdullah urged Israel to begin negotiations on the final status for a new Arab state in Judea and Samaria, adding his voice to the pressure on Israel that has been exerted by the PA chairman for months.Israel has rejected the idea, saying the move would be too fast and too drastic. Israel insists that Abbas first manage control over his own population, halt terrorism and incitement, and work to prevent terrorist attacks against Israel. The Jordanian king also addressed the status of the Palestinian Authority itself, and was adamant that Gaza should be included with Judea and Samaria in being considered as one PA entity, according to the Jordanian News Agency. At present, Gaza is being ruled by the Hamas terrorist organization which staged a bloody coup two weeks ago. Abbas’s Fatah terrorist group managed to retain control of the PA-administered areas of Judea and Samaria, however, leaving a functional split between Gaza and the rest of the PA.

Abdullah also charged that Israel's steps to ease travel restrictions for PA Arabs are "inadequate." Prime Minister Olmert had reportedly already assured U.S. President George W. Bush that he would agree to remove security checkpoints and roadblocks in Judea and Samaria in a confidence-building measure designed to help prop up the Abbas emergency government. However, the IDF and defense establishment has opposed the move. They say that opening these routes will endager the lives of Israeli citizens.Olmert is also expected to formalize a decision made by Israel to transfer more than half a million dollars in tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA but withheld after the election of Hamas to the ruling faction in the government.

The Hashemite monarch also pressed on with an oft-repeated Arab League position that Israel agree, in its entirety, to the 2002 Saudi-authored proposed for settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The four-way summit Monday is being hosted by Egypt’s President Mubarak. Prime Minister Olmert told the Associated Press news agency before leaving for the summit that it was unlikely that any major breakthroughs would be forthcoming at the meeting.

Don’t wait impatiently tonight for the outcome, as if at the end of the day you are going to see us sitting and signing a peace treaty, he said. It will take time.The prime minister added that he is ready to consider the Arab League proposal but warned it was little more than a springboard for further discussion. It’s not going to be simple and not going to be easy, he stressed. It’s going to be a long and painful road.Welcome to The Brisbane Times. Skip directly to: Search Box, Section Navigation, Content. Text Version.

EU's future sealed with treaty, claim leaders
Molly Moore in Paris | June 25, 2007

A SQUABBLING European Union has given up hope for a constitution, agreeing instead to peddle a watered-down treaty to its 27 capitals in the hope of ending a two-year stalemate that has hobbled one of the world's most potent economic and diplomatic blocs.We have avoided a crisis, the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. Uncertainty about our future treaty has cast a shadow of doubt over our ability to act. Now those doubts have been removed.Even so, the details of the treaty must still be negotiated and the final document ratified by all 27 union members to become effective. The bloc's leaders set a goal of 2009 for winning approval of the treaty.

The lack of a constitution - a proposed charter was defeated by French and Dutch voters two years ago - has been a legal hurdle and a psychological impediment to union efforts to move forward with a unified voice. The failure of the countries to agree on a unifying structure underscored public perception of the body as an unwieldy, bureaucratic entity run by leaders far removed from the European people.
I don't think there is anything that can derail the process now, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said after a deal was announced at 4.30am on Saturday. "The most important thing here is that the constitutional treaty was put to one side. This deal gives us a chance to move on.The late-night marathon meetings in Brussels covered issues ranging from the weight of each country's voting rights to what to call - or not call - its foreign minister.

The constitutional treaty was an easily understandable treaty, Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, said about the discarded charter. This is a simplified treaty which is very complicated.One example: the European Union leaders agreed to have a foreign policy chief but decided not to call the person who fills the post a foreign minister.The treaty was nearly torpedoed when Poland complained it was not being given a fair share of voting rights, based on population. The Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, argued that Poland deserved compensation for its suffering during World War II.

History is history, Mr Kaczynski said. It is fact that had there not been the war, Poland would not have 38 million people but many more.The remarks infuriated many leaders, especially the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who made acceptance of a new treaty the primary crusade of her six-month union presidency, which ends in July.
Mr Kaczynski eventually retreated in return for compromises in the voting arrangements.The document strips out some of the symbolism in the original treaty that had offended many countries, such as an anthem.The document will set out rules for future enlargement of the European Union, another contentious issue, and will attempt to streamline the bloc's governing bureaucracy.

The Washington Post

NEW LEADER FOR EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT AGREES

Sarkozy to cut free markets clause from EU treaty
22.06.2007 - 09:24 CET | By Lucia Kubosova

As a surprise by-side move in the debate on revising the EU constitution, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he has secured the scrapping of a crucial competition clause from the bloc's new treaty, with experts concerned it could undermine Brussels' powers against protectionism and monopolies.Speaking to journalists after the first session of the European summit on Thursday (21 June), Mr Sarkozy said that his demand to drop a reference to free and undistorted competition from the list of the union's objectives received a positive answer from Germany's Angela Merkel.There was some play on that, but today's presidency document satisfies our demand, he said, according to Reuters.

The competition clause had been mentioned in the European treaties since the very first founding document was signed in 1957. Officials and experts now fear its loss could weaken the commission's role as an antitrust watchdog and a controller of national champions.The French delegation also tried to change the wording of the goals of the European monetary union, by highlighting an objective on securing economic growth while dropping a reference to price stability.The move corresponds with Paris' long-standing criticism of the European Central Bank policy, which has been raising interest rates to curb inflation while keeping the euro strong compared to the US dollar, harming French exporters.EU diplomats suggested the fiscal change is likely to meet strong opposition from Berlin and other member states, according to the Financial Times.In another potential change in economic policies, EU leaders appear ready to back calls led by the Netherlands to strengthen the protection of public services from single market liberalisation pressures.

ARE THE FEDS DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC ATTACK?
By Joel C. Rosenberg

(WASHINGTON, D.C., June 21, 2007) -- On April 30th, I wrote a weblog column entitled, Nuclear Attack: How Real Is The Threat? Ex-CIA Chief Says Its Al-Qaeda's Top Priority.In the piece, I quoted a number of analysts warning that it's not a matter of if but when that a nuclear, chemical or biological attack will occur inside the American homeland. Among them, I quoted Graham Allison, author of the book, Nuclear Terrorism, who has warned: If policy makers in Washington keep doing what they are currently doing about the threat, a nuclear terrorist attack on America is likely to occur in the next decade. And if one lengthens the time frame, a nuclear strike is inevitable. After I posted the story, I was contacted by a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security who said the statistics Allison cites were out of date. He briefed me on how much DHS has been doing in recent years to plug up the holes. He specifically pointed me to the administration's Container Security Initiative, as well as its Secure Freight Initiative, both of which represent dramatic increases in funding, manpower, technology and advanced intelligence strategies (such as the Megaports Initiative) designed to prevent any ship, truck or airplane from carrying cargo into U.S. territory that could have weapons of mass destruction inside. What's more, he noted that the administration's new budget also call for increases funding for these initiatives.

After reviewing this material, I thought it only fair to pass it on. I do believe the administration is taking large and important steps in the right direction. I think that more needs to be done, but so does DHS. Hopefully Congress will authorize sufficient funding to make our ports safe and secure. We dare not lose our focus. After all, all the intelligence we're gathering indicates that radical Islamic jihadists want to trigger a catastrophic series of attacks to cripple our economy and decapitate our government. As I continue to do research amidst writing my next novel, Dead Heat, I'll continue to update you on what I'm learning.

SAMPLE DHS BUDGET REQUEST
February 5, 2007

Priority: Continue to Protect our Nation from Dangerous Goods

We are aggressively working to improve maritime cargo security, including enhancing domestic and overseas container scanning. In addition, the Department is dedicating funding to improve technology and reduce costs to the BioWatch program, a key element in its comprehensive strategy for countering terrorism. The following initiatives are fundamental to the Department achieving our goal of protecting the nation from dangerous goods: Total funding of $178 million will provide for the procurement and deployment of radiation portal monitors, including next-generation Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) systems. The requested resources will assist the Department in achieving its goal of screening 98 percent of all containers entering the United States by the end of FY 2008.

An increase of $15 million is requested for the Secure Freight Initiative that is designed to maximize radiological and nuclear screening of U.S. bound containers from foreign ports. Secure Freight includes a next generation risk assessment screening program and an overseas detection network, while merging existing and new information regarding containers transiting through the supply chain to assist customs and screening officials in making security and trade decisions.

An increase of $47.4 million is requested for the Acceleration of Next-Generation Research and Development program which will increase funding across multiple research, development, and operations program areas.

This Week with Rabbi Eckstein
June 21, 2007

Dear Friend of The Fellowship,

By now, you have all heard that the terrorist group Hamas has solidified its hold over the Gaza Strip. In the past two weeks, the fighting between Hamas and its rival Palestinian faction, Fatah, has reached levels that make the Palestinian-Israeli conflict pale in comparison. And it has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that, despite their efforts to paint Israel as villain, the Palestinians are their own worst enemies.

In fact, fighting between Hamas and Fatah has been continuous since Hamas came to power in January 2006, despite numerous treaties and the forming of a Hamas-Fatah unity government last February. But last week’s events took the violence to a new level. On June 14, after days of fierce fighting during which over a hundred people were killed, Hamas claimed control of Gaza, declaring, The era of justice and Islamic rule has arrived. Violence and chaos erupted, as Hamas sought to wipe out every vestige of Fatah’s power in the area. The offices and homes of Fatah leaders were attacked and looted, and, in some cases, Fatah members were rounded up and shot in front of their wives and children.

Meanwhile, fearing a similar struggle in the West Bank, Fatah rushed to solidify its hold on the area. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, head of Fatah, announced the dissolution of the Palestinian unity government which most believe was little more than a sham to begin with and announced the formation of an emergency cabinet. He appointed a new prime minister of the emergency government, rounded up Hamas officials in the West Bank, and paraded heavily armed Fatah fighters throughout the area in a show of power meant to silence opposition.

Obviously, Israel is deeply concerned with these developments. Gaza, a haven for terrorists since Israel left the area in 2005, could turn into a true terrorist state. Rocket attacks from the area targeting Israeli cities like Sderot, which have been going on for years and have grown more frequent recently, could escalate even further. Israel’s im mediate tactic will likely be to support Fatah, seen as the lesser of two evils, against Hamas, which is more rabid in its hatred of Israel. But while this may be necessary in the short term, experience shows it is an extremely risky proposition. Previous efforts to negotiate peace with Fatah have failed, and given its corruption and sponsorship of terrorism, there is little reason to believe it will be a real partner for peace. The lesser of two evils, as one writer recently put it, is still evil.

Meanwhile, for those stuck in Gaza, there is truly no good solution at the moment. Palestinian Christians, in particular, are at great risk we know that, where radical Islam triumphs, Christians suffer. We see it in Saudi Arabia, where public worship by Christians is expressly forbidden by law, and severe persecution is common. We see it in Iraq, where radical Muslim terrorists have given Christians in some regions the option of either converting to Islam, marrying their daughters to terrorists, paying the jizya (an Islamic tax imposed on non-Muslims), or leaving im mediately with only the clothes on their backs. We see it in Iran, where the radical Muslim regime oppresses a tiny Christian population through a combination of harassment and close surveillance. Already we have heard from Gaza stories of churches being attacked, and of violence and intimidation being used against Christians. There is no reason to believe that they will be spared the fate experienced by Christians in other Muslim countries.

In the face of this desperate situation, I ask all of you to pray. Pray for wisdom for Israel’s leaders as they face the difficult task of securing peace and safety for their country, and for Israel’s people seeking to maintain normal lives in these difficult and uncertain times. Pray for Christians in Gaza and throughout the Middle East who live under terrible oppression. And pray that leaders throughout the world will take a stand for Israel against her enemies and those who seek her destruction.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

Fire-Fighters' Strike Douses Gay Post-March Rally
by Hillel Fendel

After rejecting three anti-gay-pride march petitions, the Supreme Court was finally forced to revoke permission for the homosexuals' post-march rally. The contrast in Jerusalem was vivid late Thursday afternoon, as on one end of the city, 3,000 religious Jews held a prayer rally, while 2-3 kilometers away, 2,000 others were showing off their sexual preferences. The Israel Broadcasting Authority's Channel One television news showed, for many consecutive minutes, a split screen with both events - a live depiction of the struggle for the spirit of Jerusalem, the world's holiest city.

The religious Jews recited Psalms and special Tikun HaKlali and other prayers, while the homo-lesbian marchers marched with signs supporting homosexuality. Media reports made much of the fact that 7,000 policemen and women were required to protect the 2,000 marchers. The parade ended, mostly uneventfully, after an hour. At one point, the march was stopped for several minutes after a disturbance caused by two men - dressed as marchers - who started insulting the gay parade participants.

A dramatic two days in the Supreme Court - Wednesday and Thursday - ended with what both sides called a victory. Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky, Trade Minister Eli Yishai and others filed suits against holding the parade in Jerusalem, but the Court rejected all of them, ruling essentially that freedom of expression overrides - in this case - the offense caused to public sensitivities. Today, on the day of the parade, a fourth, last-minute, suit was filed, claiming that because of the firefighters' strike and the resulting lack of Fire Department approval, the parade could not be held. The petitioners said that their own request to hold a parade of animals yesterday - equating bestiality with homosexuality - was turned down for a similar reason, namely, the lack of a necessary permit from the Agriculture Ministry.

Though the Jerusalem Open House (JOH), which organized the gay march, tried to get fire trucks from other sources, including the Jewish National Fund, they were unsuccessful. The Court then ruled that the march - a 500-meter affair along King David St. - could be held, but the gay happening to be held afterwards at Liberty Bell Park must be called off. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel, who filed the suit, expressed their satisfaction, saying it had ruined the party and promising to continue their struggle until such marches cease.

Roads Closed, Some Arrests

Roads were closed in various areas of the city in deference to the march and the prayer rallies, and traffic jams began as early as the mid-morning hours. Twelve anti-parade protestors were arrested, police found one home-made bomb, and a hareidi-religious man was arrested as he tried to enter the Temple Mount, saying he wished to convert to Islam because the authorities had allowed the parade to take place.

Reflections

One hareidi-religious representative explained on Channel Two television that if we had wanted, it's clear we could have stopped the march by bringing out a million people. But we chose to take a more educational approach - and instead, the other side, by stubbornly insisting, at whatever cost, on provoking most of the city's sensibilities, became the 'non-enlightened' ones. A Jerusalem woman named Rebecca, who helped organize a petition that collected tens of thousands of signatures against last year's homosexual parade, said at the time, I want to make it clear that this is not a homophobic issue; if the Mardi Gras, a heterosexual event, were to be held here, we would object with the same vociferousness. The reason is because Jerusalem is the spiritual dimension of the world; it is a spiritual jewel to the world, and we don't want it tarnished... We want to show that the majority of the people in this city do not want sexuality paraded around without modesty or dignity. In addition, homosexuality in particular is not something that we want to see advocated in our holy city.

Andrew Friedman, writing for Ynet last year, said he asked JOH head Noa Sattah why her organization had not routed the parade through the Muslim and Christian quarters of Jerualem. We don’t want to offend them [the Arabs], she explained, to which Friedman responded, But many Jews are also offended by the march. Seems to me that means you are careful not to offend Arab residents, but feel it is your right to offend Jewish ones. Friedman wrote that Sattah's silence in response was deafening.

PM Olmert Sees 4-Way Summit as 'New Start'
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

Emphasizing that he prefers to see the positive side of the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that his upcoming summit with Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian Authority leaders represents a new start in relations between Israel and the PA. The meeting between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert on Sunday will be the first such meeting after the Hamas coup in Gaza. Also taking part in the summit at the Sinai resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh will be Jordanian King Abdullah II and, the host of the event, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

In his remarks, delivered at a gathering of the Keren HaYesod organization in Haifa, Olmert said that he would work together with the Arab leaders at the summit to create a platform for a new start between us and the Palestinians.The Prime Minster also discussed his meeting with United States President George Bush this week, saying that the US premier wants to realize the dream of the creation of a Palestinian state before the end of his term in office. To that end, we will have the support and involvement of the United States, he explained.

Regarding the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Olmert said, I prefer to see not only the dangers, but also the possibilities. PA Arabs outside of Gaza, he noted, see a new and better environment. Looking back over the difficulties of the past year in general, Prime Minister Olmert said, the final result has been the creation of hope and a new opportunity.

European Union Leaders Reach Deal On Reform Treaty - Update

(RTTNews) - Saturday, European Union leaders reached agreement in Brussels on an outline of new rules to govern the 27-member bloc, reports BBC.

The European Union announced a compromise to delay until 2014 a new voting system that reduces Poland's influence - the main stumbling block. Other proposals visualize a long-term president and a foreign affairs head.

The new treaty, expect to be finalized toward the end of this year, conserves much of the planned EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in 2005. The treaty will need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states, before entering into force in mid-2009. BBC's Oana Lungescu said, After two years of uncertainty, the road for EU reforms is clear.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the current EU president, said: We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude. Mrs. Merkel said the talks had been hard - with Poland, the UK and the Netherlands each steadfastly protecting their interests.

The chief difficulty had been Warsaw's demand to keep its voting power, which is presently almost equal to that of Germany's, even though its population is only half as large. The latest system - known as a double majority - will now be phased-in beginning in 2014 and fully implemented three years later. Under this system, a 55% majority of EU countries with at least 65% of the bloc's population will be required for a change to be approved.

The accord is also set to include most of the main points of the failed constitution, such as: a full-time president of the European Council - the regular gatherings of prime ministers and presidents; a new foreign affairs chief, with the profile and the budget to give the EU more clout on the world stage; fewer national veto powers and a slimmed-down European Commission from 2014.

Britain won changes, including guarantees that its employment and social security laws would not be affected by a European Union Charter of Rights and that it would not be outvoted on justice and home affairs questions.

The four essential things that Britain wanted in order to protect our position have all been obtained said Tony Blair at the end of his last EU summit as British prime minister.

Those were first of all to make it absolutely clear that the charter on fundamental rights was not going to be justiciable in British courts or alter British law. Mr. Blair also wanted to maintain national control over foreign policy, justice and home affairs.

The Netherlands, too, was satisfied that the role of national parliaments in Europe is to be strengthened and the criteria for new members joining the EU are included in the treaty.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com


WELL THIS WILL LEAD TO AN EU PRESIDENT LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS MUST HAPPEN SO THE EU CAN SIGN A PEACE TREATY WITH THE ISRAELIS, ARABS AND MANY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

EU leaders agree on foreign chief By Yves Clarisse and Niclas Mika
Fri Jun 22, 11:35 AM ET

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders reached broad agreement on Friday on a single post to run EU foreign affairs, the first success at a summit on the bloc's future, but Poland held up progress towards a treaty to reform the Union. The leaders of the 27 member states agreed on the job title, role and powers of a High Representative of the European Union for foreign policy, defense and security, diplomats said.The post will combine the jobs of foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who does mostly crisis management, and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who controls the executive European Commission's aid budget.

The new foreign policy chief would chair meetings of EU foreign ministers and head a combined external action service drawing on both national and EU diplomats, after Britain dropped its reservations on those points, the diplomats said.The provisional accord was reached on the second day of a crucial summit meant to launch negotiations on a treaty to reform the bloc's institutions, replacing the defunct EU constitution and helping the bloc face up to global challenges.German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hosting the summit, struggled to break Poland's resistance to planned changes to the bloc's voting system which Warsaw says would favor member states with larger populations and reduce its own influence.

Merkel met Polish President Lech Kaczynski three times in 12 hours to try to ease his concerns.We're working hard. The problems are not yet solved but everyone is trying, said Merkel, who also met the leaders of the other states with concerns over the treaty Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Finnish President Tarja Halonen said she sensed progress.

I would say the atmosphere was today better...I am more optimistic now than I was this morning, she told reporters.Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said a lot of hard talking lay ahead: I still believe in an agreement but it will be a long negotiation.

WAR SUFFERING

Acrimony grew over Poland's repeated references to its suffering at the hands of Nazi Germany during World War Two to justify its opposition to the voting system. It says it would have a larger population were it not for heavy wartime losses.But Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the president's twin brother, was unapologetic. This is simply the truth. This is not about settling accounts with the Germans. This is about making people aware about a certain moral situation, he told reporters in Warsaw.

He reiterated that Poland would consider other options if there was no agreement on its proposal on EU voting rules.Backers of reform say a revamp of the EU's complex decision-making structures is needed for further enlargement of the bloc and to tackle challenges such as climate change.They say it will provide clear leadership, a stronger voice for the EU in the world and more say for European and national parliaments. Critics fear a dilution of national sovereignty. The treaty plan was salvaged from the EU constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. Failure at the summit would deepen divisions in the Union. It could prompt a small group of states to press ahead with closer integration, leaving others behind, and make richer west European countries more reluctant to aid poorer newcomers.

POLAND ISOLATEDOVER VOTING SYSTEM

Nearly all the EU states favor a double majority voting formula requiring 55 percent of member states representing 65 percent of the EU population to pass decisions.
Poland has proposed an alternative under which voting power would be based on the square root of each country's population. This would favor smaller states rather than larger ones. A spokesman for French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he made a proposal based on the so-called Ioannina Compromise -- giving states just short of a blocking minority an emergency brake to postpone decisions and force more negotiations. But EU diplomats said Lech Kaczynski wanted those measures further tightened and proposed that existing voting rules be maintained until 2014 at least and ideally through to 2020.

Poland also sought pledges that EU countries would help each other in the event of energy supply crunches, a major concern given the bloc's dependence on Russian oil and gas imports. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the other leader who could scupper a deal, has said Britain will sign up to a treaty only if a list of demands are met. But other leaders say he has struck a conciliatory tone at his final EU summit.

Eighteen EU nations ratified the constitutional treaty, but even they accept it must be cut to allow France, the Netherlands and Britain to avoid referendums their governments might lose. Yet some key institutional changes are set to be kept, such as creating a president of the European Council of governments elected for 2-1/2 years instead of the current six-month rotating presidency which has grown unwieldy in the enlarged EU.

EU TREATY TOUGH TO SOLVE

EU treaty blueprint sets stage for bitter negotiations
20.06.2007 - 12:47 CET | By Honor Mahony

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The German presidency has a paper outlining the issues it suggests need negotiating in an intergovernmental conference on a new treaty - but the list, which includes foreign policy, the role of national parliaments and citizens rights, looks set to give rise to lengthy and bitter negotiations.The 11-page document - obtained by EUobserver - suggests that many of the innovations of the EU constitution be dropped, right down to the naming of new laws.

The new document should be called a Reform Treaty, the foreign minister should have another title, symbols such as the anthem and flag should be dropped, a sentence on the primacy of EU law should be taken out in favour of a declaration on existing EU case law, while EU legislation should continue to be called regulations and directives, instead of EU laws and framework laws.The paper also allows for opting-out of judicial and police matters - enabling member states to go forward on a given dossier while allowing others not to participate. If a third - or nine - member states want to go ahead with cooperation in this area, they should be able to, according to the paper.

Foreign policy

There is to be some new language on common foreign and security policy, which the UK has pushed up the topic hotlist with several 11th hour complaints.A new paragraph suggests that foreign policy is subject to specificic procedures and that the European Court of Justice shall not have jurisdiction in this area. The European Commission and the European Parliament are not to get any extra power and language in related articles is to be tightened up so that the union cannot get more authority in this area. The topic came up for heated discussion on Tuesday evening when London indicated that it wanted to reduced the powers of the foreign minister. It also objected to the proposed EU diplomatic service, saying it should only contain national officials. Meanwhile, national parliaments would be given slightly more say on EU legislation but not going nearly as far as some countries - such as the Netherlands - have pushed for.

The length of time that they have to object to laws proposed by the commission will be extended from six to eight weeks. If a third of national parliaments object to a proposal, then the commission will have to submit a reasoned opinion as to why it is bringing the law, but it will not be obliged to withdraw it.

Power-sharing and enlargement

The final provisions of the treaty foresee an article on volunatary withdrawal from the union while procedures for revising the treaty are to remain. But it is to be made clear that treaties can be revised to increase or reduce the competences conferred upon the union. Meanwhile, the criteria for further enlargement of the union are to be changed. Would-be member states will have to respect the values of the European Union rather than the principles as currently stated. Countries will also be obliged to show commitment to promoting such values. This new wording is a sop to both France and The Netherlands which wanted stricter enlargement critieria included in a future treaty. Serveral member states pointed out however on Tuesday evening that including the actual Copenhagen criteria on democratic criteria would be subject to the European Court of Justice's jurisdiction, allowing third states to challenge the EU.

Other issues include the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which is to be included in a single article only which makes it legally binding and sets outs its scope, with London fearing it will impinge on its sovereignty because it guarantees the right to strike, amongst other issues. There is also to be a new article on member states' social security systems, saying that if a country fears that the scope, cost, or financial structure of their welfare system will be affected then they can refer the matter to the European Council. As for the lay-out, the provisions are to become part of the Treaty on European Union and the original Treaty Establishing the European Community.


EU TREATY
© AP 2007-06-20

At their summit in Brussels, EU leaders hope to agree on a slimmed-down version of their draft constitution which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. Here are key elements of the charter and whether they are likely to be scrapped or salvaged under a new treaty

PREAMBLE

Europe is based on equality of persons, freedom, respect for reason,and draws «inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe. It proclaims: «The people of Europe are determined to transcend their ancient divisions, and, united ever more closely, to forge a common destiny. Expected to be scrapped because French and Dutch voters objected to the complexity of text.

SYMBOLS & NAME OF TREATY 'CONSTITUTION

The constitution enshrines the EU flag a circle of 12 golden stars on a blue background. It designates Beethoven's Ode to Joy as the EU anthem and makes the euro the official currency. It designates May 9 as Europe Day and declares the EU's official motto: United in Diversity. Reference to symbols and the name of the treaty is expected to be scrapped amid widespread fears they hint at the creation of a European Superstate.

A LEGALLY BINDING CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

The 50-article charter contains an exhaustive list of well-established rights, such as freedom of speech and religion, but also includes the right to shelter, education, collective labor bargaining and fair working conditions. Might not be included in the new treaty amid strong British opposition it could erode sovereignty over domestic law.

NEW VOTING SYSTEM

Under a new voting system, EU laws and other measures are adopted if at least 55 percent of EU nations say yes and they represent 65 percent of EU citizens. The double majority voting rules give each state one vote and adds their weighting based on population. Poland is demanding a change to this system arguing it unfairly favors bigger states like Germany.

MORE MAJORITY VOTING

Ends national vetoes in almost 50 new policy areas, including judicial and police cooperation, education and economic policy. Preserves unanimity in foreign and defense policy, social security, taxation and culture. Expected to stay but Britain pushing for new opt-outs in judicial and police areas.

BIGGER ROLE FOR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

National parliaments will get powers to raise a yellow-card in drafting of EU legislation. The Netherlands is demanding more democratic control over EU lawmaking. Expected to stay.

EUROPEAN PRESIDENT
The president would be chosen by EU leaders for a five-year term to chair EU summits, «facilitate cohesion and consensus» and represent the EU abroad. Expected to be stay.

EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTER

The foreign minister would chairs EU foreign minister meetings; formulate policy on issues ranging from terrorism to peacekeeping; represent the EU abroad alongside the EU president. Expected to stay but role and name could be toned down in new treaty.

MORE 'FLEXIBLE' UNION

Makes it easier for some countries to opt out of EU policies they don't like, or to band together to push through policies without others being able to stop them. Expected to stay.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The European Parliament gets more power especially in justice and interior affairs o influence or reject EU legislation. Expected to stay.

TRIMMING EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Cuts the EU executive office from the current 30 members to two-thirds of the number of member states, or 17, starting in 2014. Commissioners will be selected on a rotation system among the 25 member states, and will sit for five-year terms. Expected to stay.

One EU official remarked that the future Reform Treaty - which retains most of the rejected EU constitution but in this new amended form - is now unbelievably ugly and will be not at all clear to the citizens. The paper is Germany's suggestion for the mandate of the so-called intergovernmental conference which, if EU leaders agree on Thursday, is to start work in July.

BARASSO WARNS POLAND ON TREATY

I FIND THIS INTERESTING NOW THAT ISRAEL IS SPLIT INTO 3 PARTS NOW. ISRAEL SURROUNDED BY HAMAS AND THE 3RD THE FATAH SO CALLED MODERATE WASHINGTON ARABS. IS THIS THE 3 THAT DANIEL IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE EU DICTATOR UPROOTS 3 AND TAKES CONTROL. JUST ANOTHER THOUGHT IN THE LIFE OF PROPHECY BEING FULFILLED.

Barroso warns Poland on treaty, Warsaw talks tough By Paul Taylor
Tue Jun 19, 6:46 PM ET

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission warned Poland on Tuesday it could lose money and support if it blocks a deal to reform European Union institutions at a summit this week, but Warsaw vowed to fight on. Britain meanwhile set out last-minute demands to water down the EU's common foreign and security policy in a way that diplomats said would largely emasculate the role of a proposed European foreign minister. Poland has demanded a change in the voting reform designed to ease decision-making in the enlarged Union, saying the new system would give big states, especially Germany, too much power at Warsaw's expense.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the new central and east European member states who joined the EU in 2004 and this year needed to demonstrate that the 27-nation bloc was still capable of taking difficult decisions. I believe it would be in their interest for them to show that their membership of the EU is not making the union's life more difficult, Barroso said, two days before a crucial summit on the treaty to replace the defunct EU constitution. Failure to agree on a mandate to negotiate a reform treaty would set back all EU business and weaken the mechanisms of cohesion and solidarity, he said, using two EU terms for financial transfers from rich to poor member states.

Please avoid appearing as blocking. This is not intelligent, this is not in your interest, Barroso said.In a swipe at British demands for exemptions from more EU policies, Barroso also said opt-outs could not become the rule in the Union, or else the bloc would eventually fall apart.

EQUAL TREATMENT

Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said his country was only seeking equal treatment, complaining that the German EU presidency had taken all other countries' concerns into account except the Polish position.This (Poland's position) will be defended with full ruthlessness, there is no plan B, he told a news conference.
Germany circulated a highly complex draft mandate to representatives of the 27 EU leaders, aimed at launching negotiations on a slimmed-down treaty to replace the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.Polish negotiator Marek Cichocki later claimed progress, saying the Germans had for the first time officially acknowledged in a footnote to the negotiating mandate that two countries had concerns with the proposed voting system.This footnote is a first step in the right direction. Berlin for the first time admitted there is a problem with the voting system, Cichocki told Polish reporters after a five-hour meeting of the so-called sherpas in Brussels.

However, an EU diplomat present at the meeting said the German text merely noted that two delegations wished to raise the issue at this week's summit and gave no commitment that it would be on the agenda of negotiations for a new treaty.Several EU leaders voiced doubts about whether the summit on Thursday and Friday would be able to reach agreement given Poland's resistance on the voting issue.Currently there is no proposal on the table that we know will go through, but we have a couple of days to make that happen, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said after a meeting of Nordic leaders in Punkaharju, eastern Finland.

Barroso said failure to agree this week would damage the EU's credibility, and weaken its voice on issues such as globalization, energy security and climate change. Only the Czechs have lent Poland some support, while the other 25 member states insist the voting reform must stay. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has vowed he will not allow Europe a greater say over Britain's judicial system, foreign policy or its tax and benefits arrangements. British negotiators said London not only wanted separate legal arrangements for European foreign policy but wanted to prevent the EU foreign minister, whose title would be downgraded, from chairing meetings of national foreign ministers or speaking at the United Nations, except with permission from Security Council members.

Furthermore, London wanted the EU's proposed foreign service to be entirely inter-governmental, without including the European Commission's 3,500-strong external action service. Gordon Brown, who will take over as prime minister when Blair steps down on June 27, joined Blair for a teleconference on the treaty with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday. Presidential spokesman David Martinon said the three leaders had reviewed their red lines. Sarkozy told the Britons France wanted a treaty that is not left with nothing in it, he said. (Additional reporting by Terhi Kinnunen, Punkaharju, Finland, Adam Jasser and Chris Borowski in Warsaw; Adrian Croft in London and Andras Gergely in Budapest, Emmanuel Jarry in Paris)

EU treaty rifts remain after deal on name and symbols
18.06.2007 - 09:26 CET | By Mark Beunderman

EUOBSERVER / LUXEMBOURG - EU foreign ministers have agreed on how the new EU treaty should be presented – it should not be called a constitution, and not contain symbols such as an EU flag – but key divisions on the substance of the text remain unresolved.Of course we don't have a guarantee of the success we are all hoping for and that we are all intensively working for will actually come about, German foreign minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said after talks with EU counterparts in Luxembourg on Sunday (17 June).

But he indicated that progress had been made, explaining all 18 states which ratified the original draft constitution had now agreed to drop the term constitution.Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen, whose country together with France in 2005 rejected the constitution in a referendum, said it looks like the constitution will be definitely off the table on Thursday, with EU leaders set to tackle the disputed document at a summit later this week. A new look constitution will simply be an amending treaty changing the current Nice Treaty in a number of ways while avoiding the constitutional terminology which sceptics say make the EU look like a state.

The Luxembourg meeting also produced agreement on the scrapping of EU symbols such as the 12-star flag and EU anthem from the 2004 text.All agreed that the symbols can be taken out of the text – except for the euro, said Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn.

Divisions

But deep rifts remain on key parts of the treaty that go beyond mere names and symbols and which concern the division of power between the EU and its member states.
The status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights – a document listing citizens rights and fully integrated into the draft constitution – is the subject of strong controversy, with the UK in particular opposing a charter that is legally binding.
This is extremely difficult, Mr Asselborn said, indicating it was unacceptable for the majority of member states that the binding character of the charter be given up.

We raised this as a prime issue to people when we explained the constitution, he said, referring to Luxembourg's referendum on the EU constitution which resulted in a yes in 2005.The legally binding status of the charter also figured in a list of demands put forward by France and Spain on Sunday. According to a Spanish diplomat, the list amounted to the substance of a new look treaty. The diplomat also emphasized the importance of France – having rejected the constitution – and Spain – having approved it by referendum – showing a common front on the issue.Apart from a binding rights charter, the Franco-Spanish wish-list list also includes a number of other topics which are still controversial.

Paris and Madrid seek the scrapping of a number of national vetoes as proposed in the draft constitution. This is strongly opposed by London which is not yet prepared to give up its veto in justice and police matters.France's president Nicolas Sarkozy and Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero will also defend the so-called double majority voting system, which is heavily opposed by Poland.

The Polish question

The voting weights issue is seen as a major stumbling block for an agreement at this week's EU summit, with Warsaw proposing its own alternative voting system which would give itself more power relative to Germany.Sunday's gathering in Luxembourg did not make the issue any less pressing with the German EU presidency keeping it off the ministers' agenda. We have maintained our position, said Poland's Anna Fotyga after the talks.

Other outstanding issues left by foreign ministers to their political bosses include whether the EU should have a single legal personality – enabling it to sign international agreements – and whether its powers in foreign policy should be bound to legal limits, with London again seen as a main player in this area. EUobserver

Finally! The full exposé of North American agenda
Book documents plans for merger of U.S., Mexico, Canada
June 20, 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

WASHINGTON – Resistance to enforcing immigration laws and border security by political elites in the nation's capital is, at least in part, a result of plans to promote political, social and economic integration of the U.S., Mexico and Canada, charges a new book, The Late Great USA. It's the only context in which the current immigration travesty makes sense, says Jerome Corsi, co-author of the best-selling Unfit for Command,and it must be stopped. Millions of Americans, shocked by the Senate grand bargain on immigration that gives the precious gift of legalization to millions of illegal aliens and felons, have taken to the phones to demand no amnesty. But, claims Corsi, there's far more to the current Senate bill – a story documented in shocking detail in The Late Great USA: The Coming Merger with Mexico and Canada, published by WND Books.

Prior to this 'grand bargain' cooked up in a backroom by our so-called representatives, many people had never heard of the Security and Prosperity Partnership, yet several amendments in the Senate bill are designed specifically to further the SPP's agenda, explains Corsi. In The Late Great USA, Corsi shows how the SPP, an agreement signed in 2005 by Bush, Paul Martin of Canada and Vicente Fox of Mexico, is nothing less than a full-frontal assault on American sovereignty. This aim to create a North American Union between the United States, Mexico and Canada is the real reason behind comprehensive immigration reform.Says Corsi, Bush's goal to create a North American Union – with no borders, a shared currency, and utterly no voice for average Americans in their own futures – is the real reason he won't enforce immigration laws. Utilizing thousands of documents released as a result of the Freedom of Information Act, The Late Great USA shows how unelected bureaucrats in faceless agencies such as the Department of Commerce have been given the power to foist the NAU on the American public incrementally.

The European Union, which now holds millions of voiceless, voteless Europeans in thrall to a heedless Brussels bureaucracy, was put into place little by little over a 50-year period, Corsi writes, not by the citizens of the member states, but by elitists who disguised their goal of a regional government.

In The Late Great USA, Corsi details:

1. The tactics unelected globalist business leaders, bureaucrats and taxpayer-funded academics are using to lead to the merger of the United States with Mexico and Canada

2. How the state of Texas is seizing millions of acres of privately owned land so foreign investors can cash in on a NAFTA super-highway from Mexico to the Canadian border.

3. How China, through its proxies in Mexico, plans to bring the world's sole superpower to its knees economically – without firing a shot. A North American Union would not just be the end of America as we know it, claims Corsi, but the beginning of an EU-like nightmare – a bureaucratic coup d'etat foisted upon millions of Americans without their knowledge or consent. The Late Great USA is a meticulously researched story of deceit, the chapters of which are being written in secret. For Corsi, The Late Great USA is nothing less than a wake-up call to the American people.

The Security and Prosperity Partnership is not just unconstitutional, but an act of treason at the highest levels, he says. Anyone who cares about the future of this country – our children’s future – must act now against a North American Union and the underhanded way in which our sovereignty is being compromised, one illegal alien at a time.Corsi, a WND columnist, received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in political science in 1972 and has written many books and articles, including the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry. Corsi's most recent book was authored with Michael Evans: Showdown with Nuclear Iran. Corsi's other recent books include Black Gold Stranglehold: The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil, which he co-authored with WND columnist Craig. R. Smith, and Atomic Iran.