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| Visit our Web site: www.bridgesforpeace.com | October 15, 2010 |
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1. Netanyau: Lebanon's Turning into Iranian Satellite Tragic 2. Netanyahu Offers Settlement Freeze for Jewish State Recognition 3. Palestinian's Erekat Mulls International Mandate Option 4. Silwan: Stones Thrown at Touring Knesset Members 5. Iranian Nuclear Reactor Launch Delayed 6. PA TV Awards US $100 Prizes for Denial of Israel Existence 7. Russian About-face on Missile Deal Infuriates Tehran 8. Spike in Anti-Jewish Facebook Sites 9. The Past Must Speak10. Israel Planning to Further Increase Tourism
1. Netanyau: Lebanon's Turning into Iranian Satellite TragicAs Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon draws to an end, Israel remains wary of the latter's strengthening ties with Tehran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday [October 14] that, "Unfortunately, Lebanon is rapidly turning into a satellite of the ayatollahs' regime. This is tragic for Lebanon, but Israel will know how to defend itself against such developments."
Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon included several public speeches, in which he vehemently attacked Israel, saying that "Zionists are the enemies of humanity," and promising that the "Zionist regime will not last long."
"The world should know that eventually the Zionists will be forced to go and will not last long. They are enemies of humanity and will have no choice but to surrender. Palestine will be liberated through the force of faith," Ahmadinejad said, speaking before masses gathered in the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil Thursday afternoon.
"We've heard cursing and abomination from the Lebanon border today," Netanyahu said. "The best answer to these blasphemies was given here 62 years ago [with the founding of modern Israel]. We shall continue building and creating our country and will be prepared to defend it," he added.
Meanwhile, a Hamas official in Gaza, Dr. Khalil Abu Layla, told Iranian news agency Fars that the Hamas government hoped Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Gaza, just as he visited Lebanon. "We hope Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad visits Gaza, but we must remain logical because such a step would involve a series of dangers," he said.
By Attila Somfalvi, Ynetnews, October 14, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the Lord will protect Israel’s northern border and that Ahmadinejad’s vitriolic rhetoric will serve only to show the world his true nature and aims. Pray that the efforts of Iran and any of their satellites to harm Israel will be thwarted.
Scripture
“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways” (Deuteronomy 28:7).
2. Netanyahu Offers Settlement Freeze for Jewish State RecognitionPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made political waves on Monday [October 11] by offering to seek an extension of the settlement construction freeze in exchange for the Palestinian leadership acknowledging Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Speaking in the first meeting of the Israeli Knesset [parliament] winter session in comments posted on the Prime Minister’s Office Web site, Netanyahu said, “What could convince the government and, more so, the citizens of Israel, that the Palestinians are truly ready to live with us in peace? What would show that there has been a genuine change on the Palestinian side?…
“There is one thing. I transmitted the message through quiet channels during the past month, and I am now saying it here, publicly-if the Palestinian leadership will unequivocally say to its people that it recognizes Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, I will be ready to convene my government and ask for another suspension of construction for a fixed period. Because the Palestinians expect us to recognize the Palestinian state as their nation-state, we can expect them to recognize the Jewish state as our nation-state.”
Netanyahu noted that the recognition request was not a precondition to talks, but merely a “trust-building” measure. He said they were prepared to continue the talks “without any conditions.” According to the Jerusalem Post, the Palestinians rejected the recognition-for-freeze exchange, with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman saying the two issues were not connected.
Netanyahu’s offer comes as the current peace talks are threatened by the Palestinian determination not to continue the negotiations without a further settlement freeze. The Palestinian demand comes after they waited for most of the 10-month freeze period before returning to direct negotiations with Israel.
With a freeze-for-recognition swap unlikely at this point, Netanyahu said in his speech that the US is “attempting other means to ensure that the talks take place.” Said Netanyahu, “The United States has made various suggestions, and we are seriously and responsibly considering them, in accordance with Israel’s national interests, first and foremost security.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, October 11, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Pray that Netanyahu will be directed by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in all matters having to do with these negotiations and that God ‘s will be done.
Scripture
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8).
3. Palestinian's Erekat Mulls International Mandate OptionThe Palestinians are not ruling out an option to turn to the UN's Security Council and General Assembly to check the possibility of imposing an international mandate on the Palestinian territories, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday [October 10]. Repeating calls in the Palestinian camp, Erekat said that should peace talks with Israel fail to secure a halt in settlement construction [following the recent conclusion of Israel’s 10-month settlement freeze], the Palestinians will consider turning to the United States for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
The Palestinian negotiator went further by saying that should the US option prove unsuccessful, the Palestinians will consider asking UN member states to recognize an independent Palestinian state. Erekat explained that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presented Arab leaders with the various options available for the Palestinians during the Arab League summit over the weekend and added that additional options will also be explored.
In this context, the Palestinians are pointing to a recent statement by the Quartet [US, UN, Russia, EU] suggesting that the Palestinians are ready to declare an independent state at any given moment in light of the great progress that the Palestinian Authority has achieved in the past year in building institutions.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Spanish counterpart Miguel Moratinos met with [Israel’s] Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday as part of their efforts to reignite direct talks. Kouchner mentioned that all parties support the establishment of a Palestinian state and that the world is waiting for the difficulties to be resolved.
Also Sunday, Jordan's King Abdullah met with [Israeli] Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and told him that the month-long continuance given [on October 8] by the Arab League to the US to reignite peace talks was a great opportunity which binds all parties. The king added that peace talks may be the only assurance for Middle East stability.
(Excerpts of an article by Ali Waked, Attila Somfalvi contributed, Ynetnews, October 10, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Pray that there will be no declaration of statehood or recognition of a Palestinian sate by the international community until direct negotiations have produced solutions to every issue relating to Israel and her security.
Scripture
“For thus says the Lord: ‘Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say “O Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!” Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labors with child. Together; a great throng shall return there’” (Jeremiah 31: 7-8).
4. Silwan: Stones Thrown at Touring Knesset MembersA minivan carrying members of the Knesset's [parliament} State Control Committee, returning from a tour of the east Jerusalem Silwan neighborhood, was stoned by Arabs Tuesday [October 12]. A large rock hit the front window of the vehicle, but no one was injured. Border Guard troops who were securing the area were informed and dispersed the attackers.
The incident took place while Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch visited the east Jerusalem neighborhoods of Silwan and Issawiya in response to the recent escalation in stone-throwing. The [attacked group of] MKs [Knesset Members] arrived in Silwan in anticipation of the State Controller's report regarding illegal construction in the area, to be published tomorrow [October 13].
Aharonovitch's visit went off without any incidents, except for a small firecracker being thrown in the direction of his entourage. "I walked around in order to see the places where these events took place, and I was impressed by the highly complex work by security forces," Aharonovitch said. "There is a rise in the stone-throwing incidents and that is very upsetting. The security activity is complex also because Jews and Arabs live close to each other, and this causes much tension."
(By Roni Sofer, Yair Altman contributed, Ynetnews. October 12, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Pray that a spirit of calm and peace would pervade throughout the city of Jerusalem, even these highly volatile areas.
Scripture
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brethren and companion, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good” (Psalm 122: 6-9).
5. Iranian Nuclear Reactor Launch DelayedAmidst reports that the Stuxnet computer worm has hit Iran, the nation’s IRNA news group reported earlier this month that the Bushehr nuclear reactor start-up process had been delayed, for weeks at least. Not surprisingly, the Iranians said Stuxnet was not the cause of the nuclear reactor delay. According to the Los Angeles Times, citing IRNA, Iranian atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said a reason for the delay was a leak in the pool holding the nuclear fuel rods for the reactor.
He said the leak has been fixed. According to the Iranian Fars news agency, Salehi told reporters last week that Iran’s first nuclear power reactor is supposed to start generating electricity in mid-December. This apparently marks a change from Salehi’s comments In September, when he said the plant was to join the national power grid in the fall. He has expressed the hope that it would reach full nominal power next spring.
It should be noted that the Bushehr reactor has safeguards in place that are supposed to prevent Iran from using the spent nuclear fuel for weapons, meaning it is not the greatest threat in the Iranian program. At this point, the Stuxnet malware is believed to be state-run sabotage targeting Iran’s nuclear program, although no nation has stepped forward and claimed responsibility.
Dr. Emily Landau, senior research fellow and director of the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told Bridges for Peace in an interview that sabotage cannot permanently derail Iran’s nuclear pursuits unless somehow enough delays could be achieved until there was a genuine regime change in Iran. However, she noted that predicting the regime change process is extremely difficult and risky.
Instead, Landau said she believed sabotage can delay Iran’s program as part of a broader strategy. “I think people are recognizing that…sabotaging behind the scenes is something that can be at least as effective as military action without all the negative ramifications,” said Landau. “At least it’s delaying the program, buying more time.”
She also warned that the gained time needs to be put to good use. In her opinion, the most likely way to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis will come from “some kind of hard negotiation that needs to take place with the regime in Iran.”
“Even if the delay is three-to four years, then the major challenge is what you do with that time,” said Landau. “Because if you gain more time just in order to waste more time, then you haven’t done very much unless your ultimate goal is just to wait it out until there is finally a regime change…But short of that, if you’re thinking of dealing with the current regime, then delays are fine, but they’re only delays, and the time that you gain is only a really positive thing if you use it in order to push things to the next stage and finally resolve this crisis.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, October 13, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord for this delay. Pray that the time will be used constructively to resolve the crisis. Pray that if this is indeed the result of sabotage, that other such actions will be effective as well.
Scripture
“With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks” (Psalm 18:-26-27).
6. PA TV Awards US $100 Prizes for Denial of Israel ExistenceDuring the month of Ramadan, PA TV broadcast a special daily quiz program from refugee camps in Lebanon and in Syria, in which residents were asked to name five cities "in Palestine" or "the countries sharing borders with Palestine" in order to win US $100 cash prizes. The PA TV host gave cash prizes to those who defined Israeli cities such as Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, Ramle, and others as Palestinian cities and to those who disregarded the existence of Israel as a neighboring country. Referring to Israel, the host said, "All of Palestine is occupied."
The following are transcripts from this PA TV program, “The Cedar and the Olive Tree,” whose purpose was to reinforce the message that the Palestinian Authority [PA] does not recognize the legitimacy and jurisdiction of Israel anywhere. PMW is citing a number of examples from the program, including messages that recur, to demonstrate the use of repetition as one method of political indoctrination used by the Palestinian Authority and PA TV. PA TV is under the direct control of the office of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
On Aug. 20, six different people were asked to define five cities in Palestine. Their answers were:
1. Acre, Jaffa, Hafia, Gaza, Ramallah
2. Gaza, Jericho, Haifa, Jaffa, Acre
3. Acre, Haifa, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jenin
4. Acre, Haifa, Jaffa, El-Bireh, Nablus
5. Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, Jerusalem, Bethlehem,
6. Acre, Haifa, Lod, Nazareth, Ramallah
[PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 20, 2010]
Host: "Do you know which countries share borders with Palestine?"
Woman: "Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Mediterranean."
[PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 30, 2010]
(Excerpts of an article by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, October 10, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Pray that this sort of propaganda effort will come to the attention of the international community, helping them to understand the underlying deception being promoted to the Palestinian people.
Scripture
“You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Psalm 5:6).
7. Russian About-face on Missile Deal Infuriates TehranRussia’s concession to international pressure by reneging on a contract and withholding delivery of the sophisticated S-300 missile system to Iran has drawn sharp criticism from Tehran. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced the Russian decision, saying that the deal would violate UN Security Council sanctions against Iran.
On Monday [October 11], Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi unleashed a vitriolic condemnation of Russia, insisting that the sanctions were referenced in the contract and that the delivery date stated in the contract was prior to the imposition of sanctions. The Iranian state news agency is reporting a growing call in Tehran for a lawsuit against Moscow in order to “restore the inalienable rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
(By The Media Line, October 11, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord for Russia’s decision to adhere to the UN Security Council sanctions against Iran. Pray that they will remain firm in this decision and no lawsuit against them will materialize.
Scripture
“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs10:9).
8. Spike in Anti-Jewish Facebook SitesSimon Wiesenthal Center researchers have uncovered over two dozen Facebook sites with titles like “Kill a Jew Year” and “Kill a Jew Day” during one week alone. “Some have been posted from the United States, others from the United Kingdom,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center who directs the Jewish Human Rights NGO’s Digital Terrorism and Hate project. He indicated that the Wiesenthal Center had received numerous complaints about these recent threatening postings and others like them on Facbeook.
“Facebook officials have been very cooperative in removing these calls for anti-Jewish violence, but the hate continues to sprout at an alarming rate. We know they are committed to thwarting online bigotry, but if such a trend continues, we will urge Facebook and other social networking hubs to track and preempt online bigots more aggressively,” Cooper added.
Wiesenthal Center officials said they were particularly disturbed by these Facebook postings as they were inspired by a national “Kick a Ginger Day” last November 20, which actually resulted in numerous assaults against redheads.
The Wiesenthal Center’s 2010 annual report on digital terrorism and hate identifies over 12,500 problematic Web sites, newsgroups and social media postings that promote terrorism, racism, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and Islamophobia.
“With the world’s embrace of social networking it is not surprising that haters and those promoting terrorism increasingly focus their efforts online to denigrate their enemies as well as recruit and fundraise for their causes. That is why the Wiesenthal Center has been urging more vigilance by key Internet providers during a series of briefings and meetings with officials at Facebook, Yahoo, Google and YouTube,” Rabbi Cooper concluded.
(By Ynetnews, October 10, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the spirit of God would move against those who would promote violence, hate and anti-Semitism through the internet and social networking. Pray that these key internet providers will move aggressively to stop this onslaught.
Scripture
“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You” (Psalm 5:9-10).
9. The Past Must SpeakThe German Military Chief of Staff, General Volker Wieker, toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Jerusalem today [October 12]. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, accompanied General Weiker on his tour, which included visiting Yad VaShem, the Hall of Names and the museums' child commemoration wing, Yad La-Yeled. Later, General Wieker and Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi placed a wreath to commemorate those killed in the Holocaust in a ceremony that took place in the Hall of Remembrance.
Signing the guest book at the conclusion of his visit, General Wieker wrote, and read out aloud, a quote by the German author Erich Kastner. “The past must speak-and we must listen-because if we don't-we shall never find peace.”
General Wieker is starting a three-day visit for discussions of mutual interest with the military establishment here.
(By Edgar Asher, Isranet, October 13, 2010)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord that General Wieker was courageous and wise enough to visit Yad Vashem and commemorate those that lost their lives during that horrific period in history. Pray that other nations will do the same, acknowledging the past to prevent such atrocities in the future.
Scripture
“A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he establishes his way. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:29-30).
10. Israel Planning to Further Increase TourismTourism to Israel continues to bloom, and the Tourism Ministry is seeking even more visitors by marketing in new countries. According to a Tourism Ministry press release, marketing activities are planned for “new countries that have shown an interest in Israel as a tourism destination,” including South Korean, Poland and the former USSR.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said in the press release, “New countries and new target audiences are expressing an interest in visiting Israel and see it as an attractive tourism destination. In the next year, the Tourism Ministry will work to challenge these new target audiences including, for the first time, Moslem groups to visit Israel.”
Meanwhile, 2010 continues to be on pace to become the latest record-setting year for tourism. Citing the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Tourism press release said during the month of September, 270,000 tourists visited Israel, an increase of 11% over September of last year. This year has so far seen nearly 2.5 million tourists visit Israel, an increase of 27% over the same period last year and 9% over 2008, Israel’s record year for tourism to date.
For the rest of 2010, the Tourism Ministry is set to invest around 70 million shekels on marketing activities, ranging from participation in tourism fairs to marketing agreements. One of the key points of emphasis for the Ministry will be to add new flight routes to Israel, as well as to increase the frequency of flights.
Using the success of this year to look ahead to the next, Misezhnikov said, “The incoming tourism figures for the end of the third quarter of 2010, as well as the cumulative figures since the beginning of the year, bear witness to the success of the marketing activities, and they are very important as a leverage for the tourism industry for 2011, in which the ministry is targeting the arrival of 3.7 million tourists.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio,
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord that tourism is growing as more people worldwide desire to walk the land of the Bible. Pray that this phenomenon will create millions of true friends for God’s people as He calls them home to Israel.
Scripture
“For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it” (Psalm 69: 35-36).
Note: All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
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