Live updates on faith, culture, politics, and humanitarian issues impacting Christians across the globe.
Peres Ponders a Three-Way Race for Prime Minister
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
After the Knesset voted early Tuesday morning not to dissolve, the special Israeli election for prime minister only appeared to come down to a race between incumbent Ehud Barak and Likud chairman Ariel Sharon. But prominent dove Shimon…
Rubinstein Letter Draws Barak’s Ire
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has reacted sharply to a private opinion letter from Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein leaked to the press in which the government's chief lawyer makes an impassioned case that Barak has no moral authority to…
Israel Follows US Lead in Approving War Crimes Tribunal
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
The Israeli government reversed its stand at the last minute and decided on Sunday night to sign a charter establishing the International Criminal Court to try individuals for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Iran Utters Peculiar Warning to Israel
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Adopting unusual language, Iran has issued a warning that if Israel were to attack Syria or Lebanon in reaction to Hizb'Allah cross-border actions, Tehran would retaliate in an "astounding and unexpected" way.
Arafat, Arab League Closing Door on Clinton
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Outgoing US President Bill Clinton's hasty drive to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by January 20 sputtered again on Thursday when Arab foreign ministers enshrined the Palestinian right of return as "sacred." The decision reinforces PLO chief Yasser…
Israel Readies for Rough Election Season
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and challenger Likud leader Ariel Sharon are beginning to gear up for the special election for the premiership on February 6, a race that promises to be impassioned and gritty.
Update on Three Kidnapped Soldiers
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud BaraK today said the Red Cross will visit the three IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hizb'Allah on Saturday along the Lebanese border.
Huge Rally Pledges Support For Jewish Jerusalem
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
In perhaps the largest Jewish gathering in the city's history, a massive crowd estimated at well over 300,000 people filled the streets around the Old City of Jerusalem on Monday night, waving flags and signs in a display…
Barak Team Out To Tar Sharon
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Trailing badly in the latest polls, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's campaign for re-election has charged opponent Ariel Sharon with sparking the recent Palestinian intifada, contradicting his government's official position to the outside world.
Barak Under Pressure To Give Way To Peres
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Falling further behind in successive polls, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is facing increasing calls to set aside in his bid for re-election in favor of the Labor's party elder statesman and leading dove Shimon Peres, who appears…
Mass Jerusalem Rally Deemed A Huge Success
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
The massive Jerusalem rally on Monday night left a big impression on the Israeli public, according to the nation's leading Hebrew newspapers, but Shimon Peres on Wednesday declared that no single religion can have a "monopoly" on the…
Sharon Campaign Kicks Off With A Bang
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
With a wide lead in the polls, Likud chairman Ariel Sharon confidently launched his official campaign for prime minister on Wednesday night at a packed party gathering in Jerusalem's largest auditorium.
Assad and Saddam Forging Anti-Israel Alliance
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
While recent reports of a sudden lapse in the health of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein may be unfounded, Iraq's decades of ailing relations with Syria appear on the mend under the new boss in Damascus, Bashar al-Assad.
Barak, Sharon Tangle in New Election Ads
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
The special Israeli election for prime minister heated up on Tuesday when local air waves were opened to a steady diet of campaign ads for the Labor and Likud candidates, with both parties depicting the opponent as dangerous.
Saddam Defiant, Threatening on Gulf War Anniversary
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
Promoting Islamic apocalyptic themes, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein marked the Gulf War's 10th anniversary on Wednesday by declaring the conflict a glorious moment in Iraqi history while ignoring the economic plight his brutal regime has imposed on his…
Lots of Rumors on the Campaign Trail
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
The unofficial three-way race for prime minister is also a three-way rumor mill, as conspiracy charges swirled in recent days between the rival camps of Labor nominee Ehud Barak, Likud's Ariel Sharon and virtual candidate Shimon Peres.
Sharon More Popular With the Older Crowd
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
The campaign of front-runner Ariel Sharon hit a few bumps in Israeli high schools in recent days, but among the country's adult electorate, he still looks on course to survive his opponents scare tactics and complete a remarkable…
Israel Supreme Court Refuses to Pull Plug on Taba Talks
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
In a decision reflecting its left-of-center political bent, Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a series of five petitions asking that resigned Prime Minister Ehud Barak be barred from continuing fateful peace negotiations with the Palestinians in Taba…
Britain Holds First Holocaust Day
Posted on Monday, August 27, 2001
In a welcome development, the United Kingdom will hold its first-ever Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday, the 56th anniversary of the Allied liberation of Auschwitz, but the event is not without controversy.
