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Visit our Web site: www.bridgesforpeace.com | March 4, 2011 |
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1. Pope Exonerates the Jews for the Death of Jesus
2. Iran Trying to Buy Nuclear Missile Parts
3. Russia Sending Cruise Missiles to Syria amid Regional Unrest
4. Egypt's Moussa Adopts Harsher Tone on Israel
5. Immediate Elections in Arab Countries Could Bring Extremists to Power
6. Hamas, UN on Collision Course over Teaching the Holocaust
7. IDF Celebrates Armored Corps History: Trophy System Successful
8. Industrial Production Down 6%
9. Jewish-Arab Fourth-graders Flock Together in New Bird Program
1. Pope Exonerates the Jews for the Death of JesusWhen it comes to the great debate on who was responsible for the death of Jesus, the Lord took that decision on Himself. "No one has taken it [life] away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father" (John 10:18).
Because Jesus made that public statement, you would think that would be enough for those who profess to be His followers. Sadly, that is not the case, but maybe we are on the way to a breakthrough.
Pope Benedict XVI may not be the chosen champion of the world's Protestants, but he has become the first Pontiff to personally and biblically exonerate the Jews for the death of Jesus. In a new book "Jesus of Nazareth-Part II," Benedict announces there is no scriptural basis for any other conclusion.
Of course, Church leaders and theological fathers have announced and enforced otherwise for centuries. It was the callous, arrogant, and unbiblical charge against the Jews that unleashed the horrendous bloodshed and persecution of anti-Semitism. History has been forever tarnished by hatred spewed from the mouths of those who professed to be followers of the King of Peace, the God of Love.
Los Angeles Rabbi Marvin Heir of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre (LA) described the publication as "critically important." "Jews suffered historically for over 2,000 years-the call of Hitler and all the anti-Semites were that the Jews were an accursed people because they are responsible for the death of Jesus," he said.
Heir described the significance of the exoneration coming from a German Pope at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise. "To have Pope Benedict say that the Jews bear no guilt whatsoever for the death of Jesus is one of the most critically important statements ever made by a pope," Heir told CBS Los Angeles. Rabbi David Rosen head of the inter-religious affairs at the American Jewish Committee said the Pope's words would make a lasting mark.
There is something of an ironic twist that this Pope is the one making such a definitive theological declaration. As a child, living in Germany, he was forced to join the Hitler Youth and no doubt was inundated with Nazi propaganda. During his Papal term, Pope Benedict XVI has worked to improve relations between the Catholic Church and Jews.
His new book deals with the final hours of Jesus. He said the death of the Lord was not about punishment but salvation. That blood, he said, "does not cry out for vengeance and punishment; it brings reconciliation. It is not poured out against anyone; it's poured out for many, for all."
Sadly, there are so many who prefer to scapegoat the Jews, rather than admit it was my sin and theirs that nailed Jesus to the Cross. That is why we can sing "Amazing Grace" and mean it.
Christ died voluntarily for our sins. "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). There's a darn good reason why our motivation should be love and not hate. "…walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians. 5:2).
I hope and pray we will enter an era when the Jews really experience "a fragrant aroma" from those who proclaim to be disciples of the King of Kings and not the obnoxious stench they have had from so many of us for 2,000 years.
(By Ron Ross, www.ronross.org, March 3, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God that the Pope has proclaimed the truth boldly and set the record straight. Pray that this will greatly bless our Jewish friends and strengthen Jewish-Christian relations around the world.
Scripture
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:12-13).
2. Iran Trying to Buy Nuclear Missile PartsOSLO-Iran has been trying without success to obtain Norwegian missile technology for possible use in delivering nuclear weapons, Norway's security chief said on Monday [February 28]. Janne Kristiansen, general director of the Norwegian Police Security Service, told Reuters Iran had approached small Norwegian companies that sell "special components that can...be used in weapons of mass destruction, for building missiles."
Iranian efforts the past year, she said, targeted dual-use technology suitable for civilian products as well as advanced missiles like those that Norwegian contractor Kongsberg Defense Systems makes for several NATO navies and air forces. "There are many [companies in Norway] that supply missile technology," she said. "I am not pointing the finger at one company." The West fears Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is for producing electricity.
Kongsberg Defense spokesman Ronny Lie said his company had hundreds of suppliers. "We are a large state-owned company that always follows a strict export regime in our dealing with other nations," he said. "I would assume Iran knows that. So that's why, if they do make approaches, it would probably be to small companies." He added that Kongsberg "has been aware of the general problem for a long time".
Kristiansen said her agency discovered Iran's attempts and stepped in before sensitive technology was passed. In an assessment of Norwegian security threats that was published on Monday, her agency described "very pushy behavior" by supposed commercial actors from Iran who would often inquire about innocuous products first.
They would then widen their wish list to include sensitive goods "and often make various proposals for transport and financing to circumvent Norwegian export regulations," the agency said. In its written assessment, the agency did not specify missile technology as Iran's target, as Kristiansen did in an interview. Nor were any companies named.
Kristiansen said no Norwegian firms had been prosecuted because investigators lacked proof of intent to violate export controls or United Nations sanctions banning the sale of nuclear weapons-related technology to Iran. When asked if some firms have intentionally skirted regulations, she said: "Some do."
"These companies have, as a rule, had good knowledge of potential loopholes and weaknesses in Norwegian export regulations and control mechanisms," the security service said in its published assessment. "We have also seen how small companies with falling revenues and liquidity problems can become potential targets for procurement actors. Such firms are in a vulnerable position and will potentially have a hard time saying no to lucrative contract offers."
Timothy Moore, a spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Norway, declined to say whether the United States was involved in disclosing the Iranian attempts. "We have known for some time that Iran has been pursuing high technology around the world, and we are naturally concerned, and that's why we work closely with Norway and our other European partners," he said.
(By Walter Gibbs, editing by Elizabeth Piper, Reuters, February 28, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God that this Norwegian police agency was alert and stepped in to cut off the sale of sensitive materials. Pray that other countries and companies will follow suit and not give in to greed.
Scripture
"Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death" (Proverbs 21:6).
3. Russia Sending Cruise Missiles to Syria amid Regional UnrestA sale of cruise missiles to Syria that was negotiated in 2007 but only revealed by Russia last year is going forward despite the regional unrest and Western fears concerning the end-use of the weapons being sold. Hope by the United States and Israel that Moscow would abrogate the contract because of the Middle East turmoil dissipated when Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov reported that the sale is "in the implementation stage."
Both nations [Israel and the US] are particularly concerned that the sophisticated anti-ship cruise missiles will end up on the hands of Hizbullah which has been receiving large quantities of other missiles from Iran through Syria.
The Hizbullah arsenal is now estimated to contain 60,000 missiles. Syria will receive 72 Yakhont cruise missiles in the [US] $300 million deal. Some analysts see the Russian sale as being rooted in business rather than ideology as the Russians stand to lose about [US] $10 billion in arms sales to the Middle East because of the wave of regimes being toppled. Russia also has a sale of fighter jets under contract with Syria.
Syria and Iran have also entered a new defense agreement: the two navies will "cooperate in training issues and the exchange of personnel," according to the IRNA news agency.
(By The Media Line, February 27, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Only God can deliver Israel from her enemies. Pray that Israel will put their hope in God as their only true help.
Scripture
"Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me" (Psalm 17:8-9).
4. Egypt's Moussa Adopts Harsher Tone on IsraelArab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa announced on Tuesday [March 1] that he was running for president of Egypt in elections scheduled for this year. In an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm daily, the former Egyptian foreign minister recalled his disagreements with ousted President Hosni Mubarak regarding Israel.
"The foreign ministry during my term suffered from a negative policy on Israel's part with regards to the peace [treaty]. I thought we should be honest with the Israelis and take firm measures against them in the framework of the foreign ministry's activities. Maybe this created some discord regarding [Egypt's] relations with Israel."
Moussa, who served as Egyptian foreign minister from 1991 until 2001, also addressed Israel's nuclear program. "The issue was under the full responsibility of the Foreign Ministry. The idea was to establish a nuclear-free zone and simultaneously 'besiege' Israel's nuclear program," he said. Moussa was referring to diplomatic measures he thought should have been taken as a means of curtailing Israel's nuclear program.
"There were disagreements because officials in the president's office feared this [tactic]," Moussa told the Egyptian newspaper. He continued to say that the "West and Israel are very familiar with my policy. They know I believe the interest is always peace and not war. I've read that Israel is currently trying to maneuver between the political forces [in Egypt] in a bid to thwart my candidacy. I am not ruling this out, but I don't think the national political forces will cooperate with Israel to block the candidacy of an Egyptian citizen."
(By Roee Nahmias, Ynetnews, March 1, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that God's will be done in Egypt through the coming elections. Pray that God will strengthen the Church in Egypt and cause the Christians there to be a light during a very dark and troublesome time.
Scripture
"The burden against Egypt. Behold the LORD rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst" (Isaiah 19:1; read all of the chapter).
5. Immediate Elections in Arab Countries Could Bring Extremists to PowerIn Jerusalem, MK Shai Hermesh, chairman of the World Jewish Congress Israel Executive, and Dan Diker, WJC secretary-general designate and director-general of WJC-Israel, hosted a dinner in honor of Princeton Professor-emeritus Bernard Lewis, 94, as part of a special gathering by the WJC Israel Executive and other select guests including members of the Knesset and leading experts on Islam and the Middle East.
Dan Diker dialogued with Lewis about the most pressing challenges confronting the Middle East today in light of the current regional upheaval. On Egypt, Lewis said that the West frequently imposed its own ideas and understanding of democracy on the Muslim world, although in Arab countries the notion of democracy was understood differently than in the West. He emphasized the importance of institution building and warned that immediate elections in Arab countries could result in Islamic extremists taking power.
Throughout his 70 years of scholarship, the Jewish scholar Lewis has published over 30 books and written more than 1,000 articles. He is considered the greatest living authority on Islam and the Middle East, and has advised numerous presidents and prime ministers throughout the world.
(Excerpts of an article by World Jewish Congress, February 28, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the West, particularly the US that is pushing democracy in Middle Eastern countries, will heed these words of wisdom.
Scripture
"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5).
6. Hamas, UN on Collision Course over Teaching the HolocaustHamas is on a collision course with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) over teaching the Holocaust in the organization's schools in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, the Islamic organization which governs Gaza, announced on Monday [February 28] that it won't allow inclusion of the Holocaust in the curriculum of Gaza schools, challenging a decision by UNRWA, which runs many of the schools in the enclave, to include the Holocaust in its human rights curriculum.
Muhammad Asqoul, Hamas' education minister, said his ministry rejected UNRWA's "tampering" with the education of Gaza children, adding that the matter crossed a red line that Hamas wouldn't compromise on. The ministry called on UNRWA to refrain from implementing "extra-curricular" activities in the classroom, saying that the new material would harm the students' academic achievements.
"Adding the Holocaust to the curriculum at this time is an attempt by the Zionist enemy to garner sympathy and deny all of its crimes," Ihab Al-Sinwar, head of public relations in Gaza's Culture Ministry, told The Media Line. "The enemy perpetrated worse crimes than those described in the portrayal of what supposedly took place during the Holocaust."
The Holocaust-its historical veracity as well as the implications for the Jewish state's existence-has long been a bone of contention between Israel and the Palestinians. A 2009 poll surveying 700 Israeli-Arabs-Palestinians who live inside Israel and are citizens of the Jewish state-showed that some 30% didn't believe the Holocaust occurred.
Al-Sinwar described UNRWA's decision as a premeditated "intellectual attack" on the Palestinian people and called on Gaza's teachers and students not to comply with the decision. A press release posted on the Culture Ministry's website said the proposed curriculum was a blatant attempt to push a "culture of normalization with the occupation" by propagating "stories and lies" that touch on the emotional chord. "Teachers should implant our Palestinian and Arab culture in the minds of our students," Al-Sinwar said.
Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for UNRWA, said, "We have been teaching the universal declaration of Human Rights and the UN resolutions as part of our school curriculum since 2003," Gunness told The Media Line. "In light of the special circumstances in Gaza, we have decided to enrich our curriculum there with the events that took place during World War II, including the Holocaust."
UNWRA plays a critical role in Gaza as a provider of health, education and welfare services to people designated as refugees. Some 213,000 pupils are taught in UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip.
Mkhaimar Abusada, a political scientist at Gaza's Al-Azhar University, said Hamas didn't accept as historical fact that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust and preferred to teach Gaza students "more important issues. For Hamas, this is a moral issue-'why teach the children about the Holocaust when we are under Israeli occupation?'" he asked.
(Excerpts of an article by David E. Miller, The Media Line, March 1, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the UNRWA will not waver but continue to demand that the Holocaust be taught in Palestinian schools.
Scripture
"The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so" (Proverbs 15:7).
7. IDF Celebrates Armored Corps History: Trophy System SuccessfulThe Israel Defense Forces [IDF] feels like it has crossed the Rubicon in the anti-tank missile battle with the operational success of the "Trophy." Senior IDF sources expressed immense satisfaction Tuesday [March 1] from the first operational activation of the active protection system (APS), designed to supplement the armor of both light and heavy armored fighting vehicles, known as Trophy, near the southern Gaza Strip border.
An initial report into the incident shows that a Palestinian terror cell that got close to the border fence fired an RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] from close range at a tank that was carrying out a routine patrol.
The system, which is fitted to the tank, immediately recognized the fire and fired a neutralizer which caused the rocket to explode in mid-air within safe distance of the tank. As a result, the tank incurred no damage and none of the soldiers within the tank were hurt.
The IDF stressed that this is an unprecedented and historical event in Israel's Armored Corps and around the world. Above all, this is also "a change in the equation in the southern sector and in the northern sector against the Hezbollah's anti-tank threat." A senior IDF source noted that "the system has proven itself above and beyond expectations, and it is also effective against missiles that are larger than RPGs."
"Just two months after it came into operational use, the Trophy prevented injury among soldiers with unimagined success," the senior source added. "Investment in technological development that went on for years presented unprecedented results. This doesn't mean that tanks won't be hit in the future, but without a doubt, this is a new method of dealing with the anti-tank threat."
The Armored Corps technological innovation first made headlines two months ago when the IDF prepared a final test for the Trophy system, which was supposed to include a fully-manned tank. Following appeals from bereaved parents who lost their children in the Ze'elim disaster, it was eventually decided to avoid using live fire on the tank. The test, which was held under supervision and using all available safety measures was a success-and the system was immediately put into the mark-4 Merkava tanks.
(By Yoav Zitun, Ynetnews, March 1, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God that this new technology came in time to protect and save the lives of these soldiers.
Scripture
"You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday" (Psalm 91:5-6).
8. Industrial Production Down 6%The year 2010 was a good year for the Israeli industry. Industrial production grew by 7.8% compared to 2009, exports rose by 13.4% and the industry created about 6,000 new jobs. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics [CBS], however, the last four months of the year saw a significant slowdown in the industrial production's growth rate.
A 6% drop was recorded in the industrial production in Israel from October to December, alongside a 32.5% decrease in the production rate in the mixed-elite technology industries (chemistry, machines, electrical equipment, and transportation tools).
The data point to a decline in Israeli factories' sales. The industry's early sales dropped by 1.9% in the last quarter of the year while exports were down 6.2%. The demand for workers dropped accordingly. The last three months of 2010 saw a mere 0.7% rise in the number of jobs, while in practice, the number of work hours dropped by 1.1%.
The industry appears to have weakened due to the drop in exports, although there are differences of opinion over the reason for the export rate's decline. Industrialists say the exports' profitability was affected by the shekel's appreciation against the dollar and euro, which is the result of the recent rise in Israel's interest rate.
Economists, on the other hand, note that the entire global trade is in a slowdown state due to European countries' debts, while some claim that Israeli exports are slowly responding to the change of direction in the world since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, which saw demands move from Europe and North America to Southeast Asia and South America.
Regardless of the cause, the Israeli industry appears to be at the start of a new crisis. According to the CBS, "The growth recorded since June 2009 stopped in June 2010, and from July 2010 figures point to a decline in industrial production. The drop is expressed mainly in the mixed-elite technology industries."
(By Avital Lahav, Ynetnews, February 23, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that new markets will open up for Israel's technological industries, and that God will bless them for being a blessing to the world through all their front-line innovations.
Scripture
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).
9. Jewish-Arab Fourth-graders Flock Together in New Bird ProgramThis May, 3,500 Jewish and Arab fourth-graders from Israel's northern district will gather in the Hula Valley for singing and friendly art competitions capping an extracurricular program called Yes to Birds. "The idea was an educational cooperation between Arab and Jewish students to learn the story of birds and biodiversity in Israel," says Dr. Yossi Leshem, director of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration (ICSBM) at Latrun and senior lecturer in the department of zoology at Tel Aviv University.
Leshem launched the project in the 2009-2010 school year to coincide with the United Nations' International Year of Biodiversity. Supported by an anonymous overseas donor, the pilot was dubbed the Blackbird Project after one of the most common schoolyard birds.
Teachers at six Arab and six Jewish schools received a bilingual curriculum written in collaboration with 19 experts "to forge connections between schools and the environment in which we live, connecting to nature, the birds and the people around us." In addition to promoting environmental literacy, the curriculum was intended to "constitute a platform for dialogue and the building of links between the Arab and Jewish sectors."
Proving to be a hit with the initial 330 students, Project Blackbird was expanded to 96 schools this school year, more than half of them in Arab, Druze, or Circassian towns [originally from the Caucasus region].
(Excerpts of an article by Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel21c, February 28, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God for a program that helps to break down walls of hatred and mistrust. Pray that more programs will be developed to encourage trust and friendship between the Jews and Arabs of the next generation in Israel.
Scripture
"Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD…Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:11, 14).
Note: All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
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