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Last update - 09:10 29/03/2008 The gospel according to Allam By Adi Schwartz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Magdi Allam, gospel  Magdi Allam, the most famous Muslim in Italy, and one of the leading and most courageous intellectuals in Europe today, converted to Christianity last Saturday night. The fact that the baptism was held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome during Easter midnight Mass - the so-called "mother of all masses" - and was performed by Pope Benedict XVI himself, has made huge waves in Italy and throughout the Christian and Muslim worlds. The exalted occasion also transformed Allam's conversion from a private act of faith into a public political event. "It was the most beautiful day of my life," Allam told Haaretz this week, in a phone conversation from Rome. "I was reborn. This was a radical choice, which has changed my entire past and has begun a new life. On that day, the Magdi Allam inside me, who believes unambiguously and unquestionably in the principles of liberty and choice, was reborn in the framework of religion. For me it was both Easter and the Feast of the Nativity." Since the beginning of the decade Allam, 56, has been writing pieces in Corriere della Sera, Italy's most influential newspaper, in which he has sharply condemned radical Islam and warned of the danger from within it constitutes, which he sees as lying in wait for democratic and liberal Europe. In 2003, Hamas declared a death sentence on him because of his criticism of terror attacks in Israel; since then the Italian government has assigned him a round-the-clock bodyguard. Together with his late countrywoman Oriana Fallaci and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Dutch writer and politician of Somali origin, Allam has been one of the few intellectuals in Europe who have dared to challenge the prevailing belief in multiculturalism as the cure for the social rift between Muslims and Christians on the Continent. Advertisement However, Allam did all this as a Muslim. He was born in Egypt and in the 1960s he was an enthusiastic admirer of Gamal Abdel Nasser. For many years he also perceived Israel as an aggressive, racist, colonialist and immoral entity. Even after he emigrated to Italy in 1972, he continued being active on behalf of the Palestinian cause - writing, lecturing and taking part in demonstrations by the Italian left against Israel and in support of what he then called "the Palestinian resistance." After a long and agonizing path, he says, he came to the conclusion that the Arab states' refusal to recognize Israel in the 1950s and '60s was to the Palestinians' detriment, and that the Muslim culture in which he was raised nurtured falsehood, tyranny, hatred, violence and death. In recent years, he concluded that the universal defense of the value of the sanctity of life goes hand in hand with the defense of Israel's right to exist. Last year, Allam, winner of the 2006 Dan David Prize (for outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social achievement), published the book "Long Live Israel: From the Ideology of Death to the Civilization of Life, My Story," which is forthcoming in Hebrew. "After the book was published, I was severely attacked," he says. "They called me a traitor, a Zionist and an agent of the Mossad. They sentenced me to death again. This fact made me wonder why many Muslims lose the ability to conduct a conversation when Israel's right to exist is brought up for discussion." That, Allam explains, is one of the reasons for his conversion to Christianity. Unstinting support In his columns for Corriere della Sera, where he also serves as deputy editor, Allam expresses sweeping and unstinting support for Israel. In his March 1 column, he compared Hamas to the Kurdish PKK resistance movement: "If a comparison is made between the way the media have covered the battle Turkey has conducted against the PKK in Iraq, on the one hand, and the battle that Israel has conducted against Hamas in Gaza, on the other, one can see the clear discrimination against the Jewish state. At a time when phrases like 'slaughter of children' and 'murder of civilians' appear only when describing the activity of the Israeli army, neutral or even sympathetic descriptions are reserved for the Turkish army - such as '77 Kurdish rebels were killed.' When the bombs are Israeli, they inform us in detail about the number, and sometimes also the names, of those killed. However, the Turkish bombs always kill only adults, of the male sex, who consciously chose the path of violence." In "Long Live Israel," he wrote that the culture of hatred and death the West today attributes to Muslims is not stamped in the DNA of Islam. But this week he sounded even more decisive, declaring that it is no longer possible to talk about moderate Islam, but only about moderate Muslims. "It is necessary to continue to try to hold a dialogue," he says, "but only with those who acknowledge the supremacy of certain values, such as the sanctity of life and free choice." In a letter he published this week in his paper, in which he explained his conversion, Allam wrote: "I asked myself how it was possible that those who, like me, sincerely and boldly called for a 'moderate Islam,' assuming the responsibility for exposing themselves in the first person in denouncing Islamic extremism and terrorism, ended up being sentenced to death in the name of Islam on the basis of the Koran. I was forced to see that, beyond the contingency of the phenomenon of Islamic extremism and terrorism that has appeared on a global level, the root of evil is inherent in an Islam that is physiologically violent and historically conflictive." Similar things were said about two years ago by the person who baptized him, Pope Benedict XVI. In a speech he delivered at Ratisbonne University in Germany in September 2006, the Pontiff aroused a great deal of anger in the Muslim world when he spoke about the violent nature of Islam. This week Allam said this was a crucial event for him on the way to becoming a Christian. "I was one of the few people in Italy who defended the Pope's remarks, not only in the name of freedom of speech, but also with respect to the contents. What the Pope said was correct historically. The Pope's speech showed me more than anything else that there is someone who combines faith and reason, and that Benedict XVI precisely embodies my thinking. For me, Christianity is a religion of goodness and wisdom, so very different from Islam." Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno, apparently, could have expressed a different opinion of the extent of the free will and wisdom endorsed by the Catholic Church over the years. But for Allam, at this moment in time, 2008, the Church is identified with the culture of the West, which reveres the values of liberty and the sanctity of life, in supposed contradistinction to the culture of narrow- mindedness and hatred in Islam. 'Religion of goodness' Asked how he reconciles with the fact that during the course of history, many people, Jews and non-Jews, were murdered in the name of that same "religion of goodness," Allam replies that he deplores those deeds in the most vociferous way. These were "atrocities and historical errors that were committed in the name of religion. The last Pope, John Paul II, apologized for some of them at least. In any case, I will continue to be a person who defends the truth, no matter what it is, even if it concerns mistakes the Church has made." This week Allam was describing his baptism in almost mystical terms. "I have discovered the one true God," he wrote in Corriere. He called the fact that his baptism was conducted by the Pope "the most beautiful gift I could have received." Easter Mass is customarily a time when the Pope performs the rite of baptism, and Allam is not the first Muslim to undergo conversion. Nevertheless, the exalted public ceremony transformed the event into a clear political statement. In order to head off in advance the anticipated angry reactions to the ceremony, the Vatican published an unusual statement on Sunday, in which it noted that "for the Catholic Church, each person who asks to receive baptism after a deep personal search, a fully free choice and adequate preparation, has a right to receive it." The statement noted that the Pontiff conducted the ritual without making any personal distinctions regarding the identity of the convert, and said all newcomers to the faith were "equally important before God's love and welcome in the community of the Church." The president of the Grand Mosque of Rome, Mario Scialoja, said, "It is necessary to respect the personal choice that Magdi Allam has made," but the London-based newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi wrote on its front page: "The Pope is arousing the anger of Muslims because of the baptism of a former Muslim who supports Israel." The Arab television networks and Internet sites related to the timing of the rite, on the most important day in the Christian calendar, as a crude provocation. After all, they wrote, the baptism could also have been held in a small church in Rome, by a minor priest. But as far as Allam is concerned, this is the crux of the story. He is the one whose life is being threatened, he is the one who has to go around with bodyguards - something that has never been condemned in the Arab press - but his decision to convert is suddenly an intolerable blow to Muslim feelings. Just as in the affair of the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, he explains, what is perceived in the West as an individual's basic right is a harsh insult to Islam. "When a Westerner decides to convert to Islam, that's fine," he says, "but when a Muslim converts to Christianity, it is suddenly the end of the world. Everyone condemns him, as though he has done something of which he should be ashamed." The reason for this, Allam suggests, is Europe's weakness and flaccidity, and above all the multicultural model, in the name of which everyone is equal and no one can be criticized or let their feelings be hurt. In Italy, every Muslim can go to a mosque, but in the Arab world there is ongoing and long-standing discrimination against religious minorities. Nevertheless, he asks, who complains about the situation of the Christians in Saudi Arabia? This week Allam decided to stop sitting on the fence and to change his religion and even his name. Henceforth call him "Magdi Cristiano Allam." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fragile cease-fire Olmert: Gaza cease-fire is fragile, may be short lived. Unbalanced stance Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance.   1.   Praise Almighty God. The most beautiful day of his Life is yet to 13:59  |  Come. 28/03/08   2.   Welcome to Love 14:22  |  Psalm 28/03/08   3.   Allam, a hero of the 1900,where are the free millions opinions 14:43  |  Jhon 28/03/08   4.   Mozel Tov!!! A very good sign indeed!!! 14:44  |  . 28/03/08   5.   A Personal Choice To Be Respected 14:51  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   6.   Certain Similarities to Chief Rabbi of Rome-1945 14:59  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   7.   One Great Yeshiva,Madrassa,Seminary 15:05  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   8.   What? No comments? 15:07  |  17 28/03/08   9.   why do you insist on an auto-refresh every minute ot 2? 15:11  |  JustMe 28/03/08   10.   One Great yeshiva, Madrassa, Seminary, Part II 15:14  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   11.   Reply to # 1 15:30  |  Motic 28/03/08   12.   I converted to Christianity 15:38  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08   13.   His criticism are certainly valid 15:41  |  Donald 28/03/08   14.   Big deal 15:41  |  najour 28/03/08   15.   #1 Number of Jews killed for converting: zero. Muslims: thousands 15:47  |  Gili 28/03/08   16.   Sulllivan and Motic 16:20  |  Ehud 28/03/08   17.   What makes Magdi Allam "untrustworthy"....???? 16:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/08   18.   Motic on the differences between Allam and Zolli #7 16:36  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   19.   A better move: Secularism 16:38  |  Joe Hulllitse 28/03/08   20.   YUHHH YUHHH HAARETZ :) 16:39  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/03/08   21.   MOZEL TOV FOR WHAT ??? HE IS LIEING, GUYS :) 16:46  |  YUHHH YUHHHHH 28/03/08   22.   Islam can exist only out of fear 16:50  |  George 28/03/08   23.   Chris Linthwaite 16:56  |  Ehud 28/03/08   24.   Confusing, why did he convert to Christianity and not Judaism? 17:02  |  David 28/03/08   25.   TO MAKE PROBAGANDA IS YOUR RIGHT, HAARETZ 17:02  |  JUST DONT BELIEVE 28/03/08   26.   Mr Allam 17:06  |  leila 28/03/08   27.   Rabbi Elyashiv Photo: Haim Zach 17:11  |  atilla karagözoğlu 28/03/08   28.   # 11 Chris Linthwaite -"I converted to Christianity 17:12  |  17 28/03/08   29.   hello, Allam 17:17  |  KUTW 28/03/08   30.   #15 I hopi I ubderstand Judaism better then most Irish Catholics. 17:26  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   31.   Ehud, you dont know what you are talking about #16 17:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   32.   COME WITH ME TO THE SEA...SEA OF LOVE...AHHH HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUU 17:31  |  ... 28/03/08   33.   COME WITH ME TO THE SEA...SEA OF LOVE...AHHH HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUU 17:31  |  ... 28/03/08   34.   Gholam: sorry A bad muslim will be a bad christian 17:49  |  lionel 28/03/08   35.   False Sullivan As A Native American #30 17:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   36.   # 17 DINO - "Magdi Allam "untrustworthy".." 17:59  |  17 28/03/08   37.   for mr.atilla 18:00  |  scanadu 28/03/08   38.   ATALS (Atilla) LIMAN the Greek, follow his example 18:02  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   39.   Islam can afford to lose 300 million ,not one 18:06  |  El-Birawi 28/03/08   40.   ATLAS (Atilla) LIMAN the Greek is not a Muslim either 18:07  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   41.   Fraud Sullivan #35 is a recent Muslim convert 18:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   42.   Whay Christianity Mr. Allam 18:21  |  Mohammed 28/03/08   43.   God bless freedom religion 18:25  |  Haldrik 28/03/08   44.   "Sanctity of life goes hand in hand with Israel`s right to exist" 18:30  |  Haldrik 28/03/08   45.   Short term memory 18:31  |  Jenny 28/03/08   46.   :-D Lets hope Catholicism gets influenced by Magdi Allam 18:38  |  Haldrik 28/03/08   47.   I Realize I am Pushing the Envelope of Truth Here A Bit... 18:51  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   48.   #28, 17 18:52  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08   49.   #39 Opps 18:55  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   50.   to #19 19:01  |  Ellen 28/03/08   51.   God, how I love me some Jesus 19:01  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08   52.   mr. allams show 19:12  |  abraham 28/03/08   53.   Chris 19:15  |  Ehud 28/03/08   54.   # 48 Chris Linthwaite 19:21  |  17 28/03/08   55.   A foolish propaganda 19:27  |  Atoo 28/03/08   56.   Converting to Judaism 19:32  |  Haldrik 28/03/08   57.   Atoo, Gesundheidt 19:42  |  Raymond Burr 28/03/08   58.   Chris Linthwaite, your conversion explain your 19:48  |  steve-NYC 28/03/08   59.   let`s think positive 19:56  |  goran 28/03/08   60.   The guy is a loser 19:58  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 28/03/08   61.   Phony 20:05  |  !!! 28/03/08   62.   Haldirk u have know idea what you are talking about 20:05  |  Steve -nyc 28/03/08   63.   There is no problem of being Irish Catholic Jew like Zolli 20:08  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   64.   Muslim? lol 20:13  |  NY 28/03/08   65.   allams reasons 20:24  |  abraham 28/03/08   66.   funny 20:32  |  Tina 28/03/08   67.   #12 Chris Linthwaite 20:43  |  H 28/03/08   68.   He was never a Muslim and he is not a Christian now. 20:56  |  Majdi AlMasri 28/03/08   69.   intelligent conversation 21:04  |  baba 28/03/08   70.   Allam Converted for A Very Simple Reason 21:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   71.   #64 In your enlightened opinion Chomsky, Finklestein are not Jews 21:22  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   72.   "Know idea". Yes, I do. 21:30  |  Haldrik 28/03/08   73.   i only converted from islam to christianity because there is no l 21:34  |  ex-muslim, 28/03/08   74.   El-Birawi #39:Islam and the sanctity of life 21:34  |  B (The other one) 28/03/08   75.   #57 The concept of God. 21:45  |  Atoo 28/03/08   76.   HIS BOOK TITLE REVEALS IT ALL ""Long Live Israel: From the ..." 21:47  |  JACKAL 28/03/08   77.   # 34 Lionel 21:51  |  BAC 28/03/08   78.   see Wikipedia article about Allam 21:55  |  not an islamophobe 28/03/08   79.   # 36 17 (Almost) everybody is "untrustworthy" :) 22:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/08   80.   #64,65Converts to Islam also do it because they want to sell more 22:13  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   81.   # 79 DINO - 22:16  |  17 28/03/08   82.   # 76 Jackal - on whose orders you are barking.? 22:19  |  17 28/03/08   83.   #77 BAC 22:20  |  fahim 28/03/08   84.   #70 is a Fake Yaakov Sullivan 22:25  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   85.   See Wikipedia entry about true Islam and what it does to souls 22:27  |  AN ISLAMOPHOBE 28/03/08   86.   Swissy Dinny only in the last 50 years the world started 22:30  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   87.   Swissy Dinny, did you use Anesthetics 3000, 2000, 100 years ago? 22:31  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   88.   Chris Lightweight 22:32  |  sweis Melbourne 28/03/08   89.   Abu Firas Al Qudsi also failed to make a living in native Arabia 22:33  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/03/08   90.   Islam is a religion of peace 22:37  |  9/11 28/03/08   91.   Welcome to humanity 23:20  |  SystemF 28/03/08   92.   Atilla - Wasn`t Islam tolerant to all religions? 23:36  |  David Israel 28/03/08   93.   The True Apeal of Islam and Christanity, Revealed! 23:41  |  Yechiel Chachachach 28/03/08   94.   #80 idiot 23:56  |  NY 28/03/08   95.   Atilla - Tolerant Islam 00:05  |  David Israel 29/03/08   96.   Haldrik, Persians, Greeks, Babylonians,Cannanites 00:31  |  Steve -nyc 29/03/08   97.   Message #42 of Mohammed 00:33  |  TurkishJew 29/03/08   98.   That the case gets some publicity ... 00:47  |  Axel 29/03/08   99.   To Allam: Why does Israel kill Palestinian children? 01:05  |  Javad 29/03/08   100.   el Birawi 01:11  |  Miss Piggy 29/03/08   101.   To Javad - why do Arabs kill Israeli children in Sderot? 01:19  |  David Israel 29/03/08   102.   A misguided soul - Good riddance! 01:23  |  Abeer 29/03/08   103.   religious conversion 01:59  |  Jimbo 29/03/08   104.   # 96 steve 02:00  |  Axel 29/03/08   105.   Reply to #11, That`s okay, God will meet you WHEREVER you are! 02:03  |  # 1 29/03/08   106.   WHY HE DIDN`T CHOSE JUDAISM? 02:21  |  Inquirer 29/03/08   107.   to Abeer 02:22  |  Forrest Gump 29/03/08   108.   Javad 02:27  |  Leila 29/03/08   109.   So it is time for you Abeer to change as well.. 02:38  |  Vladio 29/03/08   110.   Conversion 02:40  |  Avi 29/03/08   111.   Linthwaite and conversion 02:49  |  Connie 29/03/08   112.   ?If you accuse us of being violent, we?ll murder you!? 03:00  |  ClickDick 29/03/08   113.   Good for Allam! 03:30  |  Al 29/03/08   114.   He has been caught in a dragnet 03:46  |  marilyn 29/03/08   115.   What is different between Christians Catholics and Muslims? 04:55  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 29/03/08   116.   What is different between Christians Catholics and Muslims? 04:55  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 29/03/08   117.   bou bou wallou 05:06  |  masboush ben drita 29/03/08   118.   Answer to Javad on behalf of Allam 05:22  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/03/08   119.   A career opportunist sheds skin, changes color, whatever... 05:40  |  ManintheMiddle 29/03/08   120.   Hitler`s religion 05:48  |  Art Stokenbury 29/03/08   121.   #115 the difference is.. 06:27  |  marilyn 29/03/08   122.   #42 what Christianity? 07:56  |  Warren 29/03/08   123.   No Gentleman 08:03  |  Robert 29/03/08   124.   To Javad, Have you ever asked hundreds thousands Iranians Childre 09:12  |  e.m Jordan is Pals 29/03/08   125.   "In the name of religion" 10:16  |  Abdul 29/03/08   126.   ALAS, ONE IN A LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR A DEMORALIZED CHURCH 10:33  |  indrajaya 29/03/08   127.   I praise his courage but 10:51  |  Lobo08 29/03/08   128.   Its simple 10:54  |  sweis Melbourne 29/03/08   129.   89 the imposter in Tabariya 11:23  |  Abu Firas AL Qudsi 29/03/08   130.   ehud 16 12:43  |  potobac 29/03/08   131.   Islam is not the problem 13:17  |  Majiano 29/03/08   132.   POLITICS VS. THEOLOGY 13:45  |  indrajaya 29/03/08   133.   # 93 Yechiel, Christianity anti-semetic? LOL 14:01  |  Selah 29/03/08   134.   Religion is not a problem 15:51  |  Boris 29/03/08   135.   Religion is not a problem 15:51  |  Boris 29/03/08   136.   Warren it`s not easy to be a Jew 16:33  |  Aby 29/03/08   137.   Magdi Allam`s conversion. 17:20  |  Ahmed M Ibrahim 29/03/08   138.   if he is honest he could,ve cnverted to shiaism 17:26  |  shia 4 ever 29/03/08   139.   Few Arabs would like the rest of us to believe that ALL Arabs are 17:50  |  of the spirit of the 29/03/08   140.   The Spirit of the doctrine; is it Love or is it hate? 17:54  |  Not difficult to see 29/03/08   141.   Discernment is a "Fruit of the Spirit" of Love. 18:41  |  Pray for it. 29/03/08   142.   19:16  |  J waxman 29/03/08   143.   Report from China 19:59  |  Di 29/03/08   144.   Muslims, damn if we do and damned if we don`t 20:00  |  El-Birawi 29/03/08   145.   ? 20:05  |  hollingsworth 29/03/08   146.   Atilla 20:31  |  Avrum 29/03/08   147.   Long Live Isreal 20:47  |  Linda Baharier 29/03/08   148.   #144.unfortunatly 4 u,arab muslim killing each other like a lice 20:59  |  reuven 29/03/08   149.   #144.unfortunatly 4 u,arab muslim killing each other like a lice 20:59  |  reuven 29/03/08   150.   # 145, HOLLINGSWORTH 21:03  |  indrajaya 29/03/08   151.   response to najour 21:17  |  Rory 29/03/08   152.   #55 Atoo, #60 Abu Firas al Qudsi 21:32  |  Franco 29/03/08   153.   # 145 hollingsworth - good question 21:39  |  17 29/03/08   154.   Magdi Allam, the most famous Muslim in Italy, and one of the lead 21:40  |  Cameron 29/03/08   155.   Abu Firas Al Qudsi also failed to make a living in native Arabia 22:03  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/03/08   156.   #136 Aby, It`s tough being Jewish 22:10  |  Warren 29/03/08   157.   Catholicism and Christianity 22:47  |  Caleb 29/03/08   158.   Something fishy about this highly publicised conversion! 22:58  |  lakshmi 29/03/08   159.   why evangelical christians don`t convert 23:03  |  hollingsworth 29/03/08   160.   Why they call this Jew crazy for converting to Islam 00:12  |  Mohammed 30/03/08   161.   Converted because of muslims anti semitism??? 00:43  |  Moise 30/03/08   162.   Moslem Replaced Allam 00:45  |  Mohammed 30/03/08   163.   hollingsworth 09:39  |  sweis Melbourne 30/03/08   164.   El-Birawi 09:45  |  sweis Melbourne 30/03/08   165.   # 161 Moise..Converted because of muslims anti semitism??? 15:30  |  KATHY 30/03/08   166.   Haaretz Is This The End For This subject/forum? Because.. 20:48  |  I 30/03/08   167.   FROM ONE ANTI-SEMITE CLUB TO ANOTHER 02:18  |  Simeon ben Jacob 31/03/08   168.   Conversion to Christianity 11:39  |  David 31/03/08   169.   it`s all a lie 15:52  |  bonnie 31/03/08   170.   What is different between Christians Catholics and Muslims? 19:06  |  Tony 03/04/08   171.   DIVINE MERCY v/s Magdi Allam 06:18  |  Tadek 05/04/08   172.   DIVINE MERCY v/s Magdi Allam (2) 01:00  |  Tadek 06/04/08   173.   DIVINE MERCY v/s Magdi Allam (3) 05:37  |  Tadek 06/04/08   174.   DIVINE MERCY v/s Magdi Allam (4) 05:39  |  Tadek 06/04/08   175.   DIVINE MERCY v/s Magdi Allam (5) 05:42  |  Tadek 06/04/08   176.   The gospel according to Alam 09:29  |  benham 06/04/08   177.   Saint Augustine concernig ecumenical theology 05:01  |  Ted of Windsor 19/06/08

Read & React Israel-Hamas truce takes hold in Gaza Responses: 19 Editorial: A lengthy cease-fire is an achievement for Israel Responses: 5 ANALYSIS / For Gaza truce architect, Israel chose lesser of 2 evils Responses: 14 Israel Harel: The Supreme Court has aligned itself with the radical left Responses: 2 J'lem refuses services to Palestinian city residents east of separation fence Responses: 3 More Headlines 09:09 Israel-Hamas truce takes hold in Gaza 07:21 ANALYSIS / For truce architect, Israel chose lesser of two evils 08:52 Noam Shalit slams deal with Hamas that leaves Gilad out 09:54 Egypt to tell UN: Demand Israel hands over Shaba to int'l peacekeepers 08:53 Eager yet untrusting, both sides of Gaza border await calm 08:56 Rosner's Domain / The Joe Lieberman dilemma 07:30 Defense officials: No prisoner swap with Hezbollah this weekend 09:03 J'lem city hall refuses services to area beyond separation fence 04:38 U.S. imposes financial clamps on alleged Hezbollah supporters 06:16 Taxis and trucks to clog main T.A. artery in fuel price protest 07:37 Skin cancer rates jump 24 percent in 2006 22:48 Olmert to French daily: Israel, Syria not far from direct talks Previous Editions Select Day 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun

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