71.   Social scientists studying religious affairs define religion as an empiric historical and sociological fact.

72.   Such a step would undermine tight Orthodox control over religious affairs in Israel.

73.   Tarmizi Taher, the outgoing minister of religious affairs, indicated that he would not be serving in the cabinet anymore.

74.   Tensions are growing between Orthodox Jews and the less traditional Reform and Conservative movements, which are trying to break the Orthodox monopoly over official religious affairs in Israel.

75.   The Communist Party, which maintains tight control over religious affairs in Vietnam, gave its approval for the appointments.

76.   The Education Ministry oversees religious affairs.

77.   The classes are to be run by the government-controlled religious affairs directorate, only during schools holidays.

78.   The Communist Party monitors and controls enrollment at seminaries and restricts other religious affairs.

79.   The controversial legislation further cemented the control of Orthodox rabbis over religious affairs in Israel.

80.   The dispute had apparently remained alive until Thursday when the Palestinian religious affairs minister, Hassan Tahboub, said Jordanian mediation has failed.