1. British government considers Iran war
options: BBC. Backs Israel.
Extracts.
LONDON (Reuters) - British government ministers are discussing what role
the country could play in a possible military confrontation in the Middle East
over Iran's nuclear programme, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
Ministers are considering whether any involvement from Britain would be legal if
talks with Iran break down and Israel bombs Iran's nuclear facilities. Such a
move risks starting a wider war in the region and a closure of the Strait of
Hormuz, a major oil-shipping sea lane, the report said.
Britain is examining a number of options, from diplomatic support for Israel to
the involvement of Britain's Royal Navy in the region, according to the BBC.
Britain's Foreign Office was not immediately available for comment.
2. Pakistani who helped US sentenced to
prison
by RIAZ KHAN | Associated Press
Extracts:
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) A Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. track down
Osama bin Laden was convicted of high treason Wednesday and sentenced to 33
years in prison, officials said, a verdict that is likely to further strain the
country's relationship with Washington.
Shakil Afridi ran a vaccination program for the CIA to collect DNA and verify
bin Laden's presence at the compound in the town of Abbottabad where U.S.
commandos killed the al-Qaida chief last May. The operation outraged Pakistani
officials because they were not told about it beforehand.
Senior U.S. officials have called for Afridi to be released, saying his work
served Pakistani and American interests. His conviction comes at a sensitive
time because the U.S. is already frustrated by Pakistan's refusal to reopen NATO
supply routes to Afghanistan. The supply routes were closed six months ago in
retaliation for American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
3. New Archaeological Discovery
Bethlehem Mentioned!
Note:
For more information concerning the significance of the find mentioned below see
our article:
Friendly Shadows?
Shavuot, Ruth, Bethlehem, and New Archaeology Find by Yair Davidy
Discovery Proves Bethlehem Part of
Kingdom of Judah.
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
First Publish: 5/23/2012, 10:29 AM
Extracts:
Archaeologists have discovered the first evidence outside of the Bible that
Bethlehem was part of the First Temple era Kingdom of Judah.
The dramatic archaeological find was announced Wednesday, five days before Jews
around the world celebrate the holiday of Shavuot and hear the recital of the
Book of Ruth, which takes place in Bethlehem.
A half-inch clay seal was discovered at the ongoing excavations at Ir David
(City of David) located across the road from the Western Wall.
The stamp, with ancient Hebrew script, is one of a group of seals used to stamp
official documents that were to be opened only by authorized officials.
Three lines in the stamp state:
(Bishv'at)
(Bat Lechem)
[ [ ([Lemel]ekh)
The writing means that the stamp was sent from Bethlehem to the king in
Jerusalem in the seventh year of his reign.
Eli Shukrun, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities
Authority, said that it is unclear if the reference to the king is to Hezekiah,
Manasseh or Josiah.
The stamps, or seals (called bullae), were used to seal tax shipments in the
Kingdom of Judah in the late eighth century and the seventh century BCE.
Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis (Bereishit) when it is
named concerning the place of death and burial of the Matriarch Rachel.
Bethlehem also is mentioned in the Book of Ruth as the place where 'the children
of Judah dwelled,' including the family of Boaz, who is a central figure in the
Book of Ruth, which takes place in Bethlehem except for the first few verses..
Bethlehem is cited in the Book of Samuel as the city where David was anointed as
king and the location of his family's home.
See Also:
Friendly Shadows?
Shavuot, Ruth, Bethlehem, and New Archaeology Find by Yair Davidy
|
