It is the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the opening of the holiest ten days of the year, dedicated to individual accounting and atonement — or, as I prefer to think of it, reconciliation. By tradition, we think of renewal and the rebirth of the world at the new year. It is a terrible and frightening new world in which we awaken as the year turns over, but, I pray, also a hopeful one. An Israeli friend told me that the fondest Rosh hashana wish of many there this year is, “May you have a boring year!” To all who choose to observe at this time: a happy new year…

Arafat orders Palestinian ceasefire — ‘The Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has said he has ordered Palestinians to abide by a ceasefire with Israel.

In a message to the Israeli people that coincided with the Jewish New Year, he stated: “I have given strict orders for a total ceasefire and I hope the Israeli Government will respond to this call for peace and will decide to cease firing.” ‘ BBC