Cap Phantom

Before I left the USA for my first trip to Israel Palestine I phoned Mother Agapia Stephanopolous, a Russian Orthodox nun and the administrator of the Orthodox School of Bethany in Jerusalem, to schedule an appointment for Spiritual Direction and to discuss our mutual feelings about The Wall.

Mother Agapia is the sister of ABC News commentator, George Stephanopolous, and she had recently spoken passionately to Congress about the fact that, “Israel is destroying the local Christian community.”

On April 18, 2005, Robert Novak’s article “Walling off Christianity” reported on the nun’s letter to Congress and how East Jerusalem had been cut off from the rest of the West Bank. Mother Agapia predicted, “It is only a matter of time before Christians and Muslims will be unable to survive culturally and economically.”

Mother Agapia spoke bluntly about the nine yards high of Israeli concrete that have “shattered” the Christian communities. She told Novak, “I witness the strangulation of East Jerusalem, and the deprivation of her non-Jewish residents’ religious rights every day. Even the United States seems to have been taken in by Israeli spin.”

On my very first afternoon in Jerusalem, on June 12, 2006, I met the good nun and told her that I hadn’t been taken in by the spin, but what could I possibly do? She had no answer.

But, on that afternoon in June 12, 2005, Mother Agapia did tell me about the Jerusalem Interfaith Peace Conference with satellite link to the world that was happening the Sunday after the Thursday I was scheduled to return to the USA. I knew immediately that I needed to stay for it and after saying goodbye to Mother Agapia, I phoned my husband to get his OK to change my departure date.

On June 26, 2006, I attended the world wide satellite linked Interfaith Peace Conference at Jerusalem’s Notre Dame Cathedral. Dan Rather moderated from Washington DC and the Holy Land interfaith panel were all moderates attempting to reclaim the battlefield of ideas from extremists on both sides.

Rev. Theodore Hessburgh, President Emeritus University of Notre Dame began the evening with a pledge and a summons I cannot forget: “The Peace of the world begins in Jerusalem.”

A few days before my first journey to Israel and Palestine in June 2005, a Palestinian American warned me, “Don’t visit Vanunu, if you see him, don’t speak to him. He’s not allowed to speak to foreigners and you could cause him trouble.”

I responded, “OK, I won’t track him down, but Jerusalem is a small town and if our paths cross, I will speak to him. What kind of government is that, that will tell a human being who they can and cannot talk to?”

I did not cross paths with Vanunu until the third Tuesday in June which was five days before I returned to the USA. If I hadn’t changed my departure date, it would have only been two. But, that very chance meeting with the Whistleblower of Israel’s WMD Program in the courtyard of St. Georges Cathedral, offered me the opportunity to spend a few hours with Vanunu over the next five days. I was curious as to what kind of a kid he had been and why he became a Christian. I wrote that story in my first book, “Keep Hope Alive”.

Vanunu was a secular Jew in 1986, but just a few weeks prior to being kidnapped by the Mossad, drugged and flung onto an Israeli cargo ship heading home and undergoing a closed door trial and 18 years in jail, most of it in solitary, he was baptized a Christian while in Sydney, Australia. Vanunu told me, “My Christian conversion, was also considered as treason and led to me receiving more time in jail than any murderer has ever served. The Israelis have this very beautiful article about freedom and liberty but they want to destroy anyone who criticizes them for revealing the truth to the world. The world must look and see what kind of democracy Israel is when one speaks out the truth.”

On May 14, 1948 The Declaration of the establishment of Israel affirmed:
“One the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations.”

The founding of the statehood of Israel was also contingent upon the upholding of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 18 of the UDHR affirms that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”This right includes freedom to change one’s religion.”

Although Vanunu was released after 18 years in prison on April 21, 2004, he has been held captive in East Jerusalem under the draconian restrictions of the British Mandate. “After WW II, Attorney Yaccov Shapiro, who later became Israel’s Minister Of Justice, described the Emergency Defense Regulations as “unparalleled in any civilized country: there were no such laws in Nazi Germany.”- [N.S. Ateek, Justice And Only Justice p.34]

“The reason they hold me, they claim is for security, that I could still have a secret about the Dimona that I haven’t told. But, the real reason is because Israel is not a democracy unless you are a Jew. This administration tells me I am not allowed to speak to foreigners, the Media, and the world. But I do because that is how I prove my true humanity to the world.”

On the day of the Palestinian elections in January 2006, Vanunu was back in court standing trial for speaking to the media in 2004, after his release from Ashkelon. Only three journalists were present, and since then, no more than one has attended any more court dates. On November 25, 2006, Vanunu, who has been annually nominated for the Noble Peace Prize for the last 20 years, emailed his friends and supporters that, he is “under the threat of being arrested at anytime. All this means that the Israeli’s Shaback and Mossad behind this police defective want to open a new case against me maybe, because the case that is running now is not succeeding for them.

“On Friday, November 24th, we were in the court on the trial against me with my lawyers, Jerry Levin [former CNN Mid East Bureau chief and the only journalist who has been reporting on Vanunu's court dates] and the Priest from St. George. In the court, my lawyer question IDF Central District Commander Major-General Yair Naveh. He responded to the questions and gave his testimony in the Jerusalem Peace Court.

“My lawyer succeeded to reveal a few very important facts:
1. This General of the Army also was not allowed to see all the secrets that he is required to protect by these restrictions that they claim I know them. So, he gave orders of restrictions without knowing what he is protecting or that he is also following orders blindly, and Mossad sheen Bet using its authority for just punishing me.
2. He testified that it is not a crime for me to talk with foreigners in general anywhere.
3. He testified that I can speak freely to any Israeli citizens about anything; it is not his concern what I am saying to them. These Israelis can give this information to any foreigners. It was difficult for the Judge to understand why this dichotomy exits between foreigners and Israelis. It means that it is not about secrecy but about something else.”

Could the “something else” be that Vanunu has committed the “unpardonable sin” for some Jews: his conversion to Christianity?

On Tuesday November 7, 2006 I traveled to the village of Maghar in the Galilee, home to 18,000 inhabitants. 60% of the people are Druze. Christian and Muslim are evenly divided, although the Christian Exodus has increased since 2005 at an alarming rate.

One percent of Israeli society are Druze, which is an offshoot of Islam with secretive practices and meeting places. The Druze originated in Egypt in the 11th century and today they number about 70,000 in Israel. While the Druze had lived in peaceful community throughout the centuries with Christians in Israel, in February 2005 violence erupted.

Rumors had circulated that a Christian had posted a photograph of a Druze female on the Internet and as a result of the unverified rumors 3,000 Druze youth took to the streets and attacked, vandalized, burned and destroyed 120 houses and stores and 125 cars belonging to Christians.

Attorney Haytham Abdalla, Advocate for St. George Melkite [Greek Orthodox in communion with the Roman Catholic Church which has married priests] of Maghar stated, “No one was killed, but these youth were all armed. The Druze serve in the Israeli army in the West Bank and in Gaza. If we Christians would have resisted, they most likely would have shot us. After these youth serve in the army, they return home thinking they can do anything and they take their anger out on us Christians.

“For three days they terrorized us and the Israeli police did nothing but watch the destruction of our property. The big problem is the State of Israel does not protect the Christian, and they claim everything they do is for “Security.” One day after the attack the police did announce there never was such a photograph on the Internet. But the police never did anything to protect us or our property. They just watched it happen. We are like the first century Christians, we are attacked and have no support. That is Israeli state policy. An Israeli TV station did come here and shot video, but the police forbid them to air it for “security” reasons.

“Right after the attack the Israeli Minister of Education issued an order that Christians were not allowed to attend the public school in Maghar. The parents were too afraid to send them back there anyway, and now 90% of our children study in Canna or Nazareth. They all attend private schools which are expensive and the parents must transport their children. Only one of our youth attends the public school now because his family can not afford private school. Every day he is beaten and every time his father reports it to the Principal, he is told they will take care of the situation, but nothing ever changes. This young boy use to be very calm, but now he is angry all the time, always under pressure, always being beaten and the school system and the Israeli police do nothing.

“Fifteen years ago a policy was instituted by the Israeli government to get rid of all the Christian teachers from the public school system. There are 400 people who work with the Maghar city council, but only four are Christians. We Christians don’t belong to this village, it is like we are living in a hotel, we just sleep here.

“We Christians in the Holy Land are always on the losing side. We face discrimination from the State of Israel, from the Druze and even some Muslims. Everyone is against us! In Maghar most of the Muslims are neutral about us, and we are all afraid to join together because then the Israeli forces will shoot us all!

“We once were a vibrant Christian community, but now our church is the only church in a Druze neighborhood. Fifty years ago there were only Christians in this neighborhood, but they have left. My son is three and unless things change, when he is five we are leaving too.

“But, yet we have many volunteers who want to change the situation. We want to build a Christian school. We have room on the church property, what we lack is money and outside support. We look to you to tell our story.”

On May 14, 1948 The Declaration of the establishment of Israel affirmed:
“One the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations.”

When Israel became a State it was contingent upon upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which Israel denies, ignores, defies and “Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law…

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world” [Preamble Universal Declaration of Human Rights]

May We the People of the world unite in International Solidarity and Rise Up/Intifada in nonviolent resistance and with words sharper than a two edged sword and demand Israel uphold the rule of law and what they agreed to.

There will never be peace nor security without JUSTICE and Human Rights for all because whenever there is “disregard and contempt for human rights [it has]resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind” [Ibid]

May We the People of the world unite in International Solidarity and demand Israel uphold ALL Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, specifically citing:

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
-Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.
-Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

I close my case with Article 19 and will NOT shut up, until the Mainstream Media-the Fourth Estate in the USA does it’s job. Until that happens civilian journalists/bloggers must Rise Up/Intifada and DO SOMETHING!

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

1. Review investment portfolios for potential tax consequences. Did you own Apple or some other

high performing stock this year? Then you might want to take a look at the taxable gains in your

portfolio. By selling the underperformers, you can reduce your tax liability from selling some of

those high performers. You can even have a net capital gains loss of up to $3,000 (consult your

tax professional).

2. Watch out for taxes on mutual funds. A common mistake investors make is to buy a mutual fund

in December. By law, mutual funds must pass any capital gains along to investors before the end

of the year. By buying a fund at the wrong time, you could owe taxes on the fund as if you had

held it all year long.

3. Required Minimum Distribution. If you turned 70 ½ before 2007, you must take a minimum

distribution from your IRA account by December 31st. Your advisor can help you calculate the

amount to be withdrawn.

4. Giving a gift to a charity. If you have a favorite charity, consider giving the gift of stock instead of cash. Stocks with large capital gains would be an excellent choice. Instead of selling them, you could donate them and avoid paying tax on the appreciation.

5. Add more to your 401k. To lower your tax bill, you may want to boost your 401(k) contributions,

but it is important to make sure you don’t go over the limit.

6. Pay off those deductible expenses before year’s end. If you pay off your state taxes or property taxes early, that accelerates your federal deductions. You can make an extra mortgage payment (the interest is deductible), or go for that dental work or surgery before year’s end.

7. Lastly, take this time to get organize. Put together a financial binder with your important

documents. Also include the locations of important documents(such as a will, safety deposit box location, bank accounts, etc.) This will make it easier for loved ones to track down documents in case anything should happen to you.

At first when you see the Gateway MX6650 laptop, it looks quite attractive, with this distinct look, but you might experience some disappointment that will make you never buy any Gateway laptops computer.

Although for an average laptops computer lover, there are virtually some features that will strike you, and definitely make you get you own piece of this Gateway MX6650 laptop. It is enriched with a an Intel Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz processor. I really think for a student this quite enough except for those who are involved in gaming activities, or those who needs to use some programming functions. But this Gateway MX6650 is actually a very nice and useful laptop notebook. It use a 512 MB DDR II SDRAM, with a Hard disk drive of 100GB. This is actually enough space for you to keep all your numerous program files, digital media files, and all documental properties. Anyway, there are however some laptop notebooks with a higher space, like 200GB. This types should be used by Bill Gates himself, don’t you think so?

It also possesses a light weight of 6.4 lbs. Gateway laptops have usually considered the fact that laptops computer should be portable enough for you to carry around, which they have achieved. It also has a 15.4 TFT active matrix display screen, This display is actually bright for your views, and this particularly makes working interesting. The most fascinating feature to me, it operates using a Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system. This is valued by Windows XP users because it has a distinctness around its propeties.

Nevertheless, there are some disappointing features that will annoy you to the brim. It doesn’t have an inbuilt webcam, no Bluetooth feature, no security features like fingerprint reader, and it has an average screen resolution.

So this makes this laptop notebook to be a student laptops computer, and home users machine. For businessmen who require a high security laptop, this Gateway MX6650 laptop didn’t meet its requirement.

However, this laptop comes as a simple laptop for those who needs it for simple work like accounting, secretariat, and studying functions.

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