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The Alpha-Omega Report's

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Middle East News Spotlight

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For March 21, 2010

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he Temple Mount Institute has filed suit in its fight for the right to sacrifice a sheep on the Temple Mount prior to Passover, as commanded in the Torah.

"The command to perform a Paschal [Passover] sacrifice is a positive commandment; the punishment for failing to perform it is 'karet' [lit. -- 'cut off', meaning that a person is cut off from the Nation of Israel], and it can be performed only on the day before Passover and only on the Temple Mount,” the organization explained in a petition to the Supreme Court. Fighting the group's request are the Israel Police, who argue that the sacrifice would lead to Muslim riots and thus threaten public safety.

In previous years, the court has ruled that the right to freedom of worship is outweighed by the consideration of public safety, and has forbidden the Paschal sacrifice. The rest of the story - LINK HERE.  Temple Mount Organization's notice - LINK HERE.

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There were sporadic incidents of rioting in East Jerusalem over the weekend (March 20-21). A fire bomb was thrown at Herod's Gate in the Old City on Friday afternoon but no one was hurt. 21 people were arrested over the weekend of violence.

Violence in the Old City has become a weekend routine of late as tensions mount over Jewish plans for more building construction in the area. There have been repeated calls in some Arab quarters for a third Intifada uprising, but so far Palestinian leaders has resisted such efforts in advance of possible peace talks. More details, LINK HERE.

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Few details are available. Probably nothing will come of this incident, but it marks a turning point for Lebanese Army action against Israeli warplane overflights of Lebanese territory.  LINK validates report.

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Allegations Swirl ...

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The Israeli building policy that recently included the controversial announcement of 1,600 new building permits for Jerusalem will not change, according to Prime Minister Netanyahu. The recent announcement of 1,600 building permits for Jerusalem came as Vice President Biden visited Israel. The White House has demanded that Israel halt all new construction projects for the West Bank and Jerusalem until at least later this year if peace talks make no progress. Biden and the White House viewed the announcement as an insult because it came during the Vice President's visit to Israel.

The incident has created a rift between Washington and Israel that threatens an historic alliance dating back to Israel's birth in 1948. Since the incident, Secretary of State Clinton made a blistering phone call to the Israeli PM and demanded the permits be rescinded. Netanyahu initially agreed, privately but apparently only to reconsider the possibility. On Sunday, March 21,  the Prime Minister stated that the building permit policy will remain unchanged for East Jerusalem and he has informed the U.S. of this, in writing. His revelation comes as he prepared to fly to the U.S. on for a speech to the American Jewish lobby in Washington.

Netanyahu will meet with Jewish American leaders including Jewish Democrats who are reportedly prepared to give him a scolding for abusing his relationship with the Obama Administration. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will meet with President Obama at the White House for what promises to be a very "interesting" meeting.

For more details on the Prime Minister's announcement- LINK HERE.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a scheduled trip to the U.S. to speak before a Jewish-American lobbying group (AIPAC) on Monday. While in the U.S. a hastily arranged meeting will take place between the Prime Minister and President Obama. It is hoped that the two leaders mend the rift that has developed between the two nations that has been slowly developing in the last several months. More trip details, LINK HERE.

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Report from Israel:

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will use a visit to Washington this week to press the U.S. to release advanced weapons needed for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear sites, the Sunday Times of London reported.

Ahead of his departure Sunday night, Netanyahu bowed to U.S. demands and promised the administration of U.S President Barack Obama that Israel will make several goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians, but he refused to back down on the issue of building permits for East Jerusalem.

According to the London newspaper, Netanyahu will also seek returns for the concessions, asking Israel's closest ally to provide the IAF with sophisticated 'bunker-buster' bombs needed to break through to Iran's nuclear enrichment installations, many of which are buried underground. Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, is believed to have refused previous Israeli requests for the GBU-28 bombs, as well as for upgraded refuelling tanker aircraft that would enable a long-range airstrike on Iran.

Netanyahu may have a tough task before him in persuading Obama to arm Israel for a strike and current U.S. strategy appears to favor a diplomatic, rather than a military, solution to the Iran's dispute with the West. Many Washington political analysts believe the President will refuse the Israeli request. More on this story, LINK HERE.

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Sends Video Message To Iranian People

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A small, 3.0 magnitude earthquake shook northern Israel's Galilee region on Saturday, March 20. No injuries or damage was reported. The last significant quake in 2008 was a 4.1 magnitude temblor which caused damage to the Temple Mount, ripping open a large hole in the Temple Mount plaza outside the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Israel also suffered four successive quakes in 2007. The last major earthquake to hit the area was in 1927 when a 6.0 magnitude quake struck, killing 500 people.

For more on the quake - LINK HERE.

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