Israel and the Palestinian territories can expect a more turbulent and violent new year, according to Voelven, an Icelandic fortune teller, reported The Jerusalem Post Sunday.
The Icelandic weekly magazine, Vikan, published Voelven's predictions for 2001, which concentrate on the Middle East, in its most recent issue, the paper said.
"Voelven says that the fighting in Gaza will be getting more serious and that there will be a war between the Palestinians and Israelis, that there will be hundreds and thousands of casualties this year," said Johanna Hardardottir, Vikan's editor.
However, Voelven's predictions are not time-specific: Hardardottir said it's not known when the war will erupt between Israel and the Palestinians, except that it will happen early in the year, according to the paper.
Meanwhile, she said Voelven predicted Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will lose his grip on power as other leaders will gain control, the paper concluded.
Clashes have been ongoing in the Palestinian territories following the visit of Likud party leader Ariel Sharon to Al Aqsa Mosque on September 28. The visit has been slammed as provocative.
More than 320 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli forces during the bloodshed, and more than 8000 were injured.
Efforts to reach a peaceful settlement for the conflict are still stumbling, with the thorniest issues of Jerusalem, the refugees and borders still unresolved – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
