Visit our Web site: www.bridgesforpeace.com | July 22, 2011 |
1. Iran Approaching Two-month Timeline for Nuclear Fuel for a Bomb
2. Israel Peacefully Intercepts One "Gaza Flotilla" Ship
3. Prosor Alerts UN of Increasing Rocket Fire
4. Hizbullah: We Won't Let Israel Take Our Gas
5. Netanyahu on Palestinian Talks: "Everything's on the Table"
6. Iran Says It Shoots Down U.S. Spy Drone
7. WJC Analysis: Does the Arab League Really Support Palestinian Statehood?
8. Report: Hizbullah Tried to Kill Israeli Consul9. Tourism to Israel Maintains
Strength Despite Regional Problems
1. Iran Approaching Two-month Timeline for Nuclear Fuel for a BombBritish official wrote recently that Iran is one key step away from nearing the finish line in developing the fuel needed for nuclear weapons. British Foreign Secretary William Hague, writing in an Op-Ed in the UK's The Guardian newspaper on July 11, said that once Iran finished enriching enough uranium to the 20% research-grade, they could then turn that into the weapons-grade nuclear fuel needed for a bomb within just two to three months.
His column came as Iran is openly discussing plans to triple their nuclear enrichment at that 20% research level. That doesn't mean Iran is definitely a mere months away from a nuclear warhead. Hague pointed out that the fuel process is just one of the necessities for a weapon, saying there remain "technical challenges" to Iran developing an actual nuclear bomb.
Accumulating the fuel will take time as well. In an interview with Bridges for Peace in June, Paul Brannan, senior analyst from the US-based Institute for Science and International Security think-tank, said Iran had more than a quarter of the estimated research-grade fuel needed to be further enriched for a bomb. While that took a little more than year to produce, Iran's expansion of the program would presumably speed up the process.
In addition, the process of moving ahead and developing weapons-grade nuclear fuel would potentially expose Iran's intentions to the world and put them at risk of military action. Therefore, it is unclear when Iran would even attempt that final two-to-three month process.
However, Hague has no doubts about the Iranian intentions in their expansion of the research-grade enrichment. In his column, Hague rejected Iranian claims that the 20% research level enrichment is for civilian purposes. He noted that the increase in the program is out of step with civilian goals for the Islamic Republic—both in terms of diverting resources from the nuclear power program and in making an excessive amount of the research-grade fuel.
"There is one clear purpose for this enriched uranium. Enrichment from natural uranium to 20% is the most time consuming and resource-intensive step in making the highly enriched uranium required for a nuclear weapon," wrote Hague.
"And when enough 20% enriched uranium is accumulated at the underground facility at Qom, it would take only two or three months of additional work to convert this into weapons grade material. There would remain technical challenges to actually producing a bomb, but Iran would be a significant step closer."
There is a danger to the entire region—not just Israel—if Iran got the bomb, as Hague noted it could inspire a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
(Excerpts of an article by Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, July 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the world will see what Iran is doing in their nuclear program and adequately respond. Pray that all of Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions will be frustrated and that they will be prevented from acquiring the bomb.
Scripture
"He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand" (Psalm 121:3–5).
2. Israel Peacefully Intercepts One "Gaza Flotilla" ShipThe planned Gaza Flotilla, which ended up as just a single ship challenging Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, was "peacefully, calmly" intercepted and boarded by Israel on Tuesday [July 19], according to IDF [Israel Defense Forces] spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich.
Speaking with Bridges for Peace, Leibovich said the crew of the Al-Karame offered "no resistance whatsoever," in contrast to activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship last year that attacked Israeli soldiers in a conflict that lead to the deaths of nine activists. Israel maintains its naval blockade of Gaza in order to prevent arms smuggling to terrorists.
On Tuesday, prior to boarding the vessel, Israel contacted the Al-Karame and offered them the option of transporting any goods following inspection to the Gaza Strip by land, instead of illegally attempting to enter Gaza by sea in contravention of Israel's blockade. The Al-Karame refused, and so Israel commandeered the vessel to enforce the blockade.
Having taken over the vessel, the Israeli soldiers offered the Al-Karame passengers food and drink, which Leibovich said they accepted. "We never have intentions of harming people on board or not on board," said Leibovich. "The first priority, as I said, is for them to return back to their home port, but since they chose to provoke we did everything thing we can in order to deal with the situation in a calm way… The operational part ended and ended successfully on our part."
The ship was then towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection, while the passengers were set for the process of deportation like anyone attempting to enter Israel illegally.
"I think the bigger picture that we're looking at is actually a provocation, an ongoing effort of delegitimization of Israel," said Leibovich of the activists. "It can be through the sea, it can be through the international airport that we have [with the "Fly-In"], it can be on our borders, but the one thing in common that all these provocative actions have is the attempt to delegitimize Israel."
Israel had previously faced the prospect of a much larger flotilla with hundreds of participants. In the end, only the single-ship "flotilla" made it, in part due to the support given Israel by other nations, especially Greece, which prevented multiple ships from heading to Gaza.
"Listen to the different comments that were made by world leaders before the ship even left, and I heard a lot of condemnation from these leaders [of the flotilla concept]," said Leibovich. "So I think the world understands that we are talking about a cheap provocation and nothing substantial really is behind it. If they really want to help the people of Gaza, wouldn't it be wiser instead of investing [US] $800,000 in buying a ship, to invest that money for the people there?"
Leibovich noted that 200–400 trucks are entering Gaza with aid and supplies every day. She listed the products entering Gaza as ranging from Mercedes cars to hygiene products, from school gear to bonsai trees. She said that Gaza is also receiving approximately 400,000 liters of gas every day and that Israel is providing the Strip with 70% of their electricity. The Israeli blockade is focused on preventing items that can be used for military purposes from entering Gaza, which includes construction supplies.
However, Israel does allow construction products for verified projects that are being sponsored by the Palestinian Authority, with the goal being to not let the construction in Gaza benefit the Hamas terror group. Noting the danger of allowing just any construction materials into Gaza, Leibovich said, "We don't want to find the cement inside the rockets that target Israel."
The same goes for allowing just any ship to reach Gaza, as Israel is seeking to prevent weapons from reaching terrorists—a threat exemplified by the interception earlier this year of a major weapons supply on board the cargo ship Victoria. Said Leibovich, "When you impose a maritime security blockade, then you cannot lift it in the middle just because you think it might be an innocent ship. We cannot take that risk."
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, July 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God for a peaceful resolution to this potentially explosive situation. Pray that additional efforts to delegitimize Israel, through flotillas, fly-ins or other means, will come to an end. Pray that the international community will see the truth about Israel.
Scripture
"In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue" (Psalm 120:1–2)
3. Prosor Alerts UN of Increasing Rocket FireWASHINGTON—Israel's Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor sent an urgent letter to UN Secretary-General Ben Ki-moon and the Security Council alerting them about the increase in the firing of rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip in the past month. The ambassador noted that dozens of rockets and mortars were fired at Israel in the past month.
"These attacks are deliberately targeted at Israeli civilians—and continue to represent a serious danger to the population," he wrote. "Israel holds Hamas fully responsible for all attacks emanating from the area that it controls. In response to these attacks, Israel has exercised and will continue to exercise its right to self-defense, as appropriate, and will take all necessary measures to protect its citizens."
Prosor stressed that "the attacks constitute a clear violation of international law. The persistence of rocket fire from Gaza should serve as a clear reminder that calm in Gaza is far from certain—and that Hamas is far from changing its ways."
He further added: "Israel expects the Security Council, the Secretary-General, and the international community to condemn all of these attacks in very clear terms and send a firm message to Hamas and its patrons, which seek to escalate conflict in our region.
"These attacks also highlight the serious consequences that result from the illegal smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip—an integral part of Security Council resolution 1860 that does not receive the attention that it deserves from the international community."
(By Yitzhak Benhorin, Ynetnews, July 19, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray for protection, peace, and comfort for the people in Israel under the rocket threat. Pray that the attacks will come to an end and that Israel will have perfect wisdom in knowing how to respond.
Scripture
"He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day" (Psalm 91:4–5)
4. Hizbullah: We Won't Let Israel Take Our GasHizbullah flexing muscles over maritime border dispute with Israel—Deputy Chief of Hizbullah, Sheik Naim Kassam said that "Lebanon will not permit gas or oil to be extracted from its land or territorial waters. We will continue to closely follow the situation in order to restore Lebanon's rights, at whatever cost necessary."
In a speech on Wednesday [July 13], Hassan Nasrallah's deputy noted that "Hizbullah supports the national position to defend the country's maritime rights and the government's delineation of a maritime border." [Lebanon challenged Israel's claim to some of the Mediterranean Sea regions with natural gas resources, and the two nations are set to bring their dispute to the UN].
Kassam commented on Israel's remarks vis-à-vis the maritime border, saying: "The Israeli threats do not frighten us. We will not change our position and continue to maintain our rights. Israel knows its threats fall on deaf ears in Lebanon, after it tasted the bitter taste of the mighty Lebanese resistance."
Jerusalem handed the United Nations its position on Israel's maritime border with the Land of Cedars [Lebanon], by which the border should be drawn further north, leaving Israel an area thought to contain natural gas as well as oil reserves.
According to Israel, the coordinates Lebanon reported to the UN contradict the border delineation agreement signed between Beirut and Cyprus in 2007.
(Excerpts of a report by Roee Nahmias, Ynetnews, July 14, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that Israel's rights to the Mediterranean Sea and the oil and gas therein will be upheld and maintained. Pray that Lebanon will recognize those rights, resulting in a peaceful and just resolution to the situation. Pray that Hizbullah will stay out of the dispute.
Scripture
"For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God'" (Psalm 31:13–14)
5. Netanyahu on Palestinian Talks: "Everything's on the Table"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with an Arabic television channel that he is ready to resume peace negotiations directly with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas right now anywhere, and "everything's on the table, but we need to get to the table."
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the English branch of Al-Arabiya and posted on the Al-Arabiya Web site, Netanyahu said, "We all recognize that we'll have to make difficult compromises for peace. I recognize that." When asked if Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees would be included, he told the reporter that "you know that these issues will be brought up" in negotiations.
The Palestinians suspended peace talks with Israel last year following the end of Israel's unprecedented 10-month settlement construction freeze, although the Palestinians had previously delayed the resumption of direct talks for months of the freeze. Israel has repeatedly called for negotiations to resume.
Netanyahu's willingness to return to talks now in the Al-Arabiya interview was dismissed as insufficient by the Palestinians. In comments to the Palestinian WAFA News Agency, Palestinian Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh said that they still demand Netanyahu freeze settlement construction and accept the 1967 lines as the basis for borders negotiations.
Based on Abu Rdeineh's comments, it would appear that those pre-negotiations concessions are essential for the Palestinians to consider the talks to be serious enough. He said that like Netanyahu, Abbas is also willing to negotiate anywhere if their preconditions are met.
The 1967 lines were armistice lines between Israel and several Arab states, including Jordan and Egypt, prior to the Six-Day War. Used in this context, such a territorial concession by Israel in peace talks would give the Palestinians basically the entire West Bank [Judea and Samaria] and the Gaza Strip.
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, July 21, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray for Netanyahu to be led by God in the dealings with the Palestinians, that his will would match God's will. Pray that Israel's leaders will stay true to God's values about the Land of Israel in the midst of searching for a creative way to make peace.
Scripture
"Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God" (1 Chronicles 22:12)
6. Iran Says It Shoots Down U.S. Spy DroneIran announced on Tuesday [July 19] that its air defenses shot down a U.S. spy drone [unmanned aircraft] that was flying near the Fordo nuclear-enrichment plant in central Iran. State-owned Press TV quoted Ali Aqazadeh Dafsari, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, as saying the drone had been gathering intelligence for the Central Intelligence Agency.
The report came just hours after Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that the county was installing a new generation of uranium-enrichment centrifuges "to enhance the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear program."
(By The Media Line, July 20, 2011)
Editor's note: Voice of America reported that the US has denied that they lost a drone.
Prayer Focus
Pray that the full and complete truth about Iran will come out, and that Iranian intentions regarding nuclear weapons will be clearly and unmistakably exposed.
Scripture
"The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment" (Proverbs 12:19)
7. WJC Analysis: Does the Arab League Really Support Palestinian Statehood?On July 14, 2011 the Arab League endorsed the PLO's [Palestinian international representative body] bid for UN membership during a special meeting of the League's foreign ministers convened in Doha, Qatar. Was this response representative of the real position held by the Arab countries? Are they really on board with the idea?
The Palestinians certainly should be happy with the all-Arab political endorsement of the statehood project, but in fact, they are far from satisfied. The Arab states had already given their opinion on the Palestinian unilateral gambit when they dramatically decreased their donations to the Palestinian Authority.
As a result, the PA was unable to pay salaries to its civil service, which represents the largest sector of employees in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] and supports families numbering around 1 million people in total.
Leading Palestinian writers have wondered how the PA [Palestinian Authority] could seek statehood, while it is unable to provide salaries to its own administration. The same Arab leaders that are asked to extend political support to the Palestinian state project have already decided to deny the Palestinian state much of the financial support it sorely requires.
To make matters worse, Saudi Arabia—a leading Arab power—has not delivered a single penny to the PA this year. The rest of the Gulf countries have made good on only one third of their commitments.
Consequently, the Fatah [political party of President Mahmoud Abbas]-controlled trade union of governmental employees rejected Prime Minister [Salaam] Fayyad's offer that he reduce this month's salary by one half, thus confirming that the coffers are in a position to pay salaries and that the holdup is strictly political and designed to demonstrate the Palestinian Authority's inability to handle financial issues once Mr. Fayyad is relieved of his position as prime minister.
The Fatah-controlled trade union went even further, and for the first time openly accused Fayyad's government of corruption. Until recently, it was understood that PM Fayyad had succeeded in both establishing the infrastructure for statehood and in keeping it clean.
Now, however, Fayyad has admitted that the PA cannot function without foreign donations. His Fatah rivals have charged his government with corruption, including adding the family members of ministers to the list of needy welfare recipients and even shaheed [martyr] families.
Salaam Fayyad is now the main obstacle that stands in the way of establishing a joint Fatah-Hamas government. While both rivals disagree on many things, they are, however, united in their demand to replace him. Hamas' rational is clear: Fayyad's government is the rival to its government in Gaza headed by Ismail Haniyya. Fatah now clamors to depose PM Fayyad, who is not a Fatah member, because he by-passed it and did not appoint its members as ministers in his government.
Furthermore, he denied their budgets, effectively drying up the Fatah movement. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas stands firmly behind the demand that Fayyad continue to serve as prime minister in the post-reconciliation government because he understands that without him Western donations will peter out. Ironically, the decrease in donations has come from the East—the PA's Arab allies.
Politically, the Arab League has endorsed the Palestinian unilateral move to statehood, but will it guarantee its economic viability? No Arab country will ever publicly come out against advancing Palestinian statehood, but as far as facts on the ground go, the message is loud and clear.
(By Pinhas Inbari, World Jewish Congress, July 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the international community will see and understand the implications of the inadequacy of the Palestinians to pay their own people. Pray that Israel and the world will approach the Palestinians with perfect wisdom and direction from God.
Scripture
"For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6)
8. Report: Hizbullah Tried to Kill Israeli ConsulItalian newspaper Corierre della Sera reported Monday [July 18] that current estimates indicate that Hizbullah was behind a terror attack in Istanbul last May which left eight people wounded. The attack was thought to be the work of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] at the time.
According to the Italian report, Hizbullah's target was Israeli consul in Turkey Moshe Kimchi. Quoting Washington sources, the paper said the attack was meant to avenge the death of Iranian nuclear scientist Masoud Ali Mohammadi who was killed last year. Iran claims the Mossad was behind the hit.
Turkish intelligence first attributed the Istanbul attack, days before national elections, to the Kurdish resistance, but later concluded that Hizbullah, working on behalf of Iran, had organized it.
According to the report, three Hizbullah operatives arrived in Istanbul from Beirut to assassinate Kimchi. They followed his daily route from his home to the consulate and then placed an explosive device. However, on the day of the attack the consul's driver drove particularly slowly and therefore saved Kimchi's life. Turkish intelligence sources denied the report.
Eight people were hurt in the attack, but no group claimed responsibility for it. The Istanbul police chief said an explosive device was placed on an electric bicycle near a police cadet school. The device was placed near a bus stop adjacent to a shopping center.
(Excerpts of an article by Ynet, Ynetnews, July 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God the attempted assassination was unsuccessful and this tragedy was not worse. Pray for protection for Israel's people around the world and that the plans of Israel's enemies will come to nothing.
Scripture
"Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men" (Psalm 59:2)
9. Tourism to Israel Maintains Strength Despite Regional ProblemsWhile the so-called Arab Spring has brought protests, revolution and unrest to multiple Arab nations, and cast the Middle East in a negative tourism light, Israel has managed to virtually maintain their tourism figures from last year's record-setting year. The mass, violent protests that rocked Egypt, Syria and elsewhere have not reached Israel, and tourism is just slightly off the pace of last year, which set a record for incoming tourism.
According to a press release from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism citing figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the first six months of 2011 saw 1.6 million visitors arrive in Israel, compared to 1.63 million in the first half of the record-setting 2010.
Israel has actually seen an increase over last year in tourists staying more than one night. Of the visitors who have arrived in the first six months of 2011, most of them—1.4 million—were tourists who stayed more than one night, a 4% increase over the January–June stretch in 2010.
Furthermore, June 2011 managed to set an all-time record for the month for incoming visitors to Israel with 262,000 combined tourists and day visitors. That's a 1% increase over June 2010.
While Israel had hoped to increase their tourism in 2011, they appear to be content with maintaining, in light of the regional circumstances. Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov was quoted in the press release as pointing to their public relations efforts as key to their efforts.
"Incoming tourism to Israel registered a significant achievement in the first half of 2011," said Misezhnikov. "In the shadow of the local and regional crises which had a direct effect on the region's image, the tourism industry has succeeded in maintaining incoming tourism and even increasing it.
"The intensive investment around the world, both in increased marketing budgets and public advocacy activities by Tourism Ministry representatives has succeeded in challenging the potential tourist to visit Israel and to present Israel as a safe, quality and attractive destination."
Misezhnikov said they are planning to continue their focused marketing efforts internationally over the second half of 2011, thanks to a budget of NIS 100 million.
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, July 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God that tourism to Israel has continued despite the regional circumstances. Pray that more tourists would be open to coming to Israel and that God would use tourism to Israel to teach the world about His love for Israel and His heart for the Land of Israel
Note: All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
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