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Visit our Web site: www.bridgesforpeace.com | December 23, 2011 |
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Because of the holidays, the next Update will be sent on Monday, January 2, 2012.
1. Hanukkah Has Begun2. Abbas: Hamas to End Armed Resistance but Hamas Says They Won't3. Egyptian Islamists: We'll Negotiate with Israel4. Shalit Deal Completed: Another 550 Prisoners Freed5. South Sudan President Visits Israel6. Hitler Admired in PLO Youth Magazine 7. PMW Clarification: Gingrich, the PA, and PMW 8. Preparing for the Next Big Disaster, in Israel and Abroad9. Noble Energy Adjusts Leviathan Estimate1. Hanukkah Has Begun
This year Hanukkah is being celebrated December 20-28. It is a time when light brightens the darkness and gives reason to celebrate God’s victories over His enemies.
During the time between the end of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the beginning of the New Testament (Christian Scriptures), there was a struggle between Hellenism and Hebraic practice in Israel. Many began to seem more Greek than Hebrew, forsaking the ways of God for the ways of their “modern” world. But, many God-fearing Jews refused.
A family, called the Maccabees, led the struggle against Hellenism and the Greek rulers of their day. Miraculously, they were victorious against much stronger forces. Following the victory, they went to rededicate the Temple, which had been desecrated by the sacrifice of pigs on the altar.
Sadly, they only found one vessel of consecrated anointing oil for the Temple menorah. The story goes that the one vessel lasted for eight days, the time it took to prepare more oil. Thus, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration to commemorate the miracle of oil. Deep-fried foods are eaten, like potato pancakes (latkes) and caramel- or jelly-filled doughnuts (sufganiot).
Children and adults alike play a game called dreidels. A dreidel is a four-sided top with four Hebrew letters standing for the words, “a great miracle happened here” if you are in Israel, or “a great miracle happened there” if you are outside Israel.
Each player is given an equal number of candies (often the gold-covered chocolate “coins” sold in small net bags) with a “pot” in the center. At each spin, players either win nothing, everything, half of the pot, or have to give up one of their coins. The game ends when one player wins everything. In some families, if real money is used, the winning player gives all the money for charity.
Bridges for Peace wishes all our Jewish friends in Israel and around the world a Happy Hanukkah with times of thankful reflection for God’s faithfulness to preserve Israel in spite of her many enemies.
(Bridges for Peace, December 21, 2011)
During the time between the end of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the beginning of the New Testament (Christian Scriptures), there was a struggle between Hellenism and Hebraic practice in Israel. Many began to seem more Greek than Hebrew, forsaking the ways of God for the ways of their “modern” world. But, many God-fearing Jews refused.
A family, called the Maccabees, led the struggle against Hellenism and the Greek rulers of their day. Miraculously, they were victorious against much stronger forces. Following the victory, they went to rededicate the Temple, which had been desecrated by the sacrifice of pigs on the altar.
Sadly, they only found one vessel of consecrated anointing oil for the Temple menorah. The story goes that the one vessel lasted for eight days, the time it took to prepare more oil. Thus, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration to commemorate the miracle of oil. Deep-fried foods are eaten, like potato pancakes (latkes) and caramel- or jelly-filled doughnuts (sufganiot).
Children and adults alike play a game called dreidels. A dreidel is a four-sided top with four Hebrew letters standing for the words, “a great miracle happened here” if you are in Israel, or “a great miracle happened there” if you are outside Israel.
Each player is given an equal number of candies (often the gold-covered chocolate “coins” sold in small net bags) with a “pot” in the center. At each spin, players either win nothing, everything, half of the pot, or have to give up one of their coins. The game ends when one player wins everything. In some families, if real money is used, the winning player gives all the money for charity.
Bridges for Peace wishes all our Jewish friends in Israel and around the world a Happy Hanukkah with times of thankful reflection for God’s faithfulness to preserve Israel in spite of her many enemies.
(Bridges for Peace, December 21, 2011)
2. Abbas: Hamas to End Armed Resistance but Hamas Says They Won't
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas alleged in an interview with Euronews last week that the Hamas terrorist organization agreed that “resistance” against Israel should be unarmed. However, the report came just one day after Hamas re-affirmed in a speech that “armed resistance” is the only way to take back “Palestine,” according to the UK’s The Independent.
According to a transcript of an interview with Abbas posted on the Euronews Web site, the Palestinian official claimed he had reached several significant agreements with Hamas regarding their approach to achieving statehood.
Abbas said Hamas “has come around” that “resistance must be population-based and not with weapons - frankly, this was a point we agreed on.” Abbas has repeatedly called for unarmed “popular” struggle against Israel, using diplomacy and protests to achieve their goals.
And regarding Palestinian statehood, he said that “the solution is a state based on the 1967 borders - there again Hamas agreed.” The 1967 lines were armistice lines between Israel and several Arab states - including Egypt and Jordan - that in this context would grant the Palestinians the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] and Gaza Strip.
Yet just one day prior to the publishing of the Euronews interview, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told a massive rally in Gaza that not only would they continue their violence against Israel, but their goal is that the State of Israel effectively cease to exist in the region.
The Independent translated Haniyeh’s speech as saying, “We affirm that armed resistance is our strategic option and the only way to liberate our land, from the [Mediterranean] sea to the River [Jordan]. God willing, Hamas will lead the people…to the uprising until we liberate Palestine, all of Palestine.”
The Hamas Web site also said he rejected the idea of a land swap with Israel, which is generally believed to be a necessity to any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. The Web site also paraphrased Haniyeh as “vowing that Hamas will never ever recognize Israel’s legitimacy.”
Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah faction have been trying to implement a national reconciliation agreement since May. The goal is to set up an interim government made up of technocrats prior to new national elections in May 2012. The two groups have been divided since a bloody coup by Hamas in 2007 threw Fatah out of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has repeatedly expressed concern and dismay regarding the unity deal between Hamas and Fatah as a move against peace.
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the truth of the intention of both Fatah and Hamas will become clear to the international community, recognizing that a unity government between the two factions will be a detriment to peace, not a move toward it.
Scripture
“Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
According to a transcript of an interview with Abbas posted on the Euronews Web site, the Palestinian official claimed he had reached several significant agreements with Hamas regarding their approach to achieving statehood.
Abbas said Hamas “has come around” that “resistance must be population-based and not with weapons - frankly, this was a point we agreed on.” Abbas has repeatedly called for unarmed “popular” struggle against Israel, using diplomacy and protests to achieve their goals.
And regarding Palestinian statehood, he said that “the solution is a state based on the 1967 borders - there again Hamas agreed.” The 1967 lines were armistice lines between Israel and several Arab states - including Egypt and Jordan - that in this context would grant the Palestinians the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] and Gaza Strip.
Yet just one day prior to the publishing of the Euronews interview, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told a massive rally in Gaza that not only would they continue their violence against Israel, but their goal is that the State of Israel effectively cease to exist in the region.
The Independent translated Haniyeh’s speech as saying, “We affirm that armed resistance is our strategic option and the only way to liberate our land, from the [Mediterranean] sea to the River [Jordan]. God willing, Hamas will lead the people…to the uprising until we liberate Palestine, all of Palestine.”
The Hamas Web site also said he rejected the idea of a land swap with Israel, which is generally believed to be a necessity to any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. The Web site also paraphrased Haniyeh as “vowing that Hamas will never ever recognize Israel’s legitimacy.”
Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah faction have been trying to implement a national reconciliation agreement since May. The goal is to set up an interim government made up of technocrats prior to new national elections in May 2012. The two groups have been divided since a bloody coup by Hamas in 2007 threw Fatah out of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has repeatedly expressed concern and dismay regarding the unity deal between Hamas and Fatah as a move against peace.
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the truth of the intention of both Fatah and Hamas will become clear to the international community, recognizing that a unity government between the two factions will be a detriment to peace, not a move toward it.
Scripture
“Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
3. Egyptian Islamists: We'll Negotiate with Israel
The radical Salafi movement's Al-Nour party, which is currently placed second in the Egyptian parliamentary elections behind the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party, has said it would be willing to negotiate with Israel under certain conditions, Ynet reported Tuesday [December 20].
Salafi movement leaders announced that they plan to respect all treaties that Egypt has signed, including the peace treaty with Israel. Al-Nour spokesman Yousri Hamad said there was nothing that was preventing the party from engaging in dialogue with Israel, but party leaders clarified that his comments do not reflect the movement's position and that the matter is being examined.
Hamad told a Kuwaiti newspaper that any talks with Israel would be held "under the supervision of the Foreign Ministry. We will not allow any secret negotiations." The Al-Nour spokesman said the Muslim Brotherhood's refusal to negotiate with Israel is unrealistic. However, a member of the party's Supreme Council said it has yet to reach a decision on whether or not to "engage in dialogue with Israeli diplomats."
Also on Tuesday, Al-Nour chairman Emad El-Din Abdel Ghafour told Arab media outlets that "the agreements Egypt has signed must be respected, and we wish to implement them. There are several clauses in the treaty with Israel that have yet to be implemented.
(By Ynetnews, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the elections in Egypt will result in at least a modicum of stability with the elected leadership recognizing and adhering to their long-acknowledged treaty with Israel.
Scripture
“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy” (Proverbs 12:20).
Salafi movement leaders announced that they plan to respect all treaties that Egypt has signed, including the peace treaty with Israel. Al-Nour spokesman Yousri Hamad said there was nothing that was preventing the party from engaging in dialogue with Israel, but party leaders clarified that his comments do not reflect the movement's position and that the matter is being examined.
Hamad told a Kuwaiti newspaper that any talks with Israel would be held "under the supervision of the Foreign Ministry. We will not allow any secret negotiations." The Al-Nour spokesman said the Muslim Brotherhood's refusal to negotiate with Israel is unrealistic. However, a member of the party's Supreme Council said it has yet to reach a decision on whether or not to "engage in dialogue with Israeli diplomats."
Also on Tuesday, Al-Nour chairman Emad El-Din Abdel Ghafour told Arab media outlets that "the agreements Egypt has signed must be respected, and we wish to implement them. There are several clauses in the treaty with Israel that have yet to be implemented.
(By Ynetnews, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the elections in Egypt will result in at least a modicum of stability with the elected leadership recognizing and adhering to their long-acknowledged treaty with Israel.
Scripture
“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy” (Proverbs 12:20).
4. Shalit Deal Completed: Another 550 Prisoners Freed
The second phase of the deal that secured the release of IDF [Israel Defence Forces] soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity was completed Sunday [December 18] night with the release of an additional 550 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel released a total of 1,027 male and female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Most of the prisoners returned to the West Bank [Judea and Samaria]. The rest, with the exception of a few prisoners who were transferred to Jordan, were released to Gaza.
On Sunday, 505 security prisoners were transported from Ofer Prison to a crossing near Beitunia, where hundreds of relatives who were awaiting their arrival clashed with IDF forces. The Palestinians hurled Molotov cocktails and stones and set tires on fire. One soldier was lightly injured in the rioting.
Meanwhile, some 2,000 people gathered at the Mukataa compound in Ramallah, where, along with Fatah leaders, they greeted the prisoners who arrived aboard dozens of buses. Prior to the reception, the Palestinian prisoners visited Yasser Arafat's tomb. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was not on hand because he is visiting Turkey.
During the rally in Ramallah, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, the Palestinian Authority's secretary-general, praised the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas parliamentary Speaker Aziz Dweik, who also attended the rally, mentioned the Hamas MPs who were still imprisoned in Israel. "Every Palestinian deserves freedom, regardless of whether he is an MP or not," he told the crowd.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida told a press conference following the completion of the Shalit deal, "We've released 20% of the prisoners for one soldier. The Palestinian resistance's goal is to free all the prisoners from Israeli jails."
Apart from the 505 Palestinian prsioenrs who were released to the West Bank, 41 prisoners were released to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing [at the Gaza-Egypt-Israel border], two were transferred to Jordan via the Allenby crossing, and two more returned to east Jerusalem.
Defense establishment officials stressed that none of the 550 inmates who were released are affiliated with Hamas, and that none were defined as having "blood on their hands." Most of the Palestinian prisoners were jailed for throwing Molotov cocktails and stones, and about 400 of them have already completed two-thirds of their sentences.
(By Ynetnews, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the Lord will not allow even one of these freed terrorists to succeed in additional violence. Pray that those involved in the planning of attacks in the past will be prevented from repeating their actions.
Scripture
“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:2-3).
Israel released a total of 1,027 male and female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Most of the prisoners returned to the West Bank [Judea and Samaria]. The rest, with the exception of a few prisoners who were transferred to Jordan, were released to Gaza.
On Sunday, 505 security prisoners were transported from Ofer Prison to a crossing near Beitunia, where hundreds of relatives who were awaiting their arrival clashed with IDF forces. The Palestinians hurled Molotov cocktails and stones and set tires on fire. One soldier was lightly injured in the rioting.
Meanwhile, some 2,000 people gathered at the Mukataa compound in Ramallah, where, along with Fatah leaders, they greeted the prisoners who arrived aboard dozens of buses. Prior to the reception, the Palestinian prisoners visited Yasser Arafat's tomb. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was not on hand because he is visiting Turkey.
During the rally in Ramallah, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, the Palestinian Authority's secretary-general, praised the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas parliamentary Speaker Aziz Dweik, who also attended the rally, mentioned the Hamas MPs who were still imprisoned in Israel. "Every Palestinian deserves freedom, regardless of whether he is an MP or not," he told the crowd.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida told a press conference following the completion of the Shalit deal, "We've released 20% of the prisoners for one soldier. The Palestinian resistance's goal is to free all the prisoners from Israeli jails."
Apart from the 505 Palestinian prsioenrs who were released to the West Bank, 41 prisoners were released to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing [at the Gaza-Egypt-Israel border], two were transferred to Jordan via the Allenby crossing, and two more returned to east Jerusalem.
Defense establishment officials stressed that none of the 550 inmates who were released are affiliated with Hamas, and that none were defined as having "blood on their hands." Most of the Palestinian prisoners were jailed for throwing Molotov cocktails and stones, and about 400 of them have already completed two-thirds of their sentences.
(By Ynetnews, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the Lord will not allow even one of these freed terrorists to succeed in additional violence. Pray that those involved in the planning of attacks in the past will be prevented from repeating their actions.
Scripture
“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:2-3).
5. South Sudan President Visits Israel
The leader of South Sudan - which was recognized as an independent state by the United Nations earlier this year - paid what was called a “historic” visit to Israel on Tuesday. South Sudan achieved a negotiated independence from Sudan, a Muslim nation that is hostile towards Israel. However, relations between the southern Sudanese and the Jewish state have long been productive.
President Salva Kiir met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials during his visit, with the two nations expressing interest in continuing their cooperation. In a press statement, Netanyahu’s office said that the two leaders “agreed that an Israeli delegation would leave for South Sudan soon in order to check on how to assist the South Sudan people, who have suffered greatly in recent years, in developing their new country.”
During Kiir’s meeting with President Shimon Peres, the Israeli official noted that he played a role in establishing the link between Israel and the southern Sudanese local leaders in the 1960s in a meeting in Paris. He said Israel provided the southern Sudanese with “extensive assistance in agriculture and infrastructures,” according to a press statement from Peres’ office.
In addition to their past relations, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Kiir’s visit is “very important in the establishment of cooperation” in a variety of fields, from economics to energy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site.
According to Israeli President’s Office statement, Kiir shared the interest in working together, emphasizing that his nation would like the cooperation to be expanded. “Both Israel and South Sudan champion coexistence and peace. We have shared values,” said Kiir. “We have waged similar struggles, and we will go hand-in-hand with Israel in order to strengthen and enhance bilateral strategic relations.”
The statement also quoted the South Sudan leader as saying that he is “very moved to be in Israel and to walk on the soil of the Promised Land.”
Said Kiir, “Israel has always supported the South Sudanese people. Without you, we would not have arisen. You struggled alongside us in order to allow the establishment of South Sudan and we are interested in learning from your experience.
“As a nation that rose from dust, and as the few who fought the many, you have established a flourishing country that offers a future and economic prosperity to its children. I have come to see your success.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastudpdate.com, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord for this growing relationship; pray that God will richly bless the South Sudanese government for its support and that Israel will continue to build these strong and committed relationships with nations around the world.
Scripture
“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust” (Psalm 102:13-14).
President Salva Kiir met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials during his visit, with the two nations expressing interest in continuing their cooperation. In a press statement, Netanyahu’s office said that the two leaders “agreed that an Israeli delegation would leave for South Sudan soon in order to check on how to assist the South Sudan people, who have suffered greatly in recent years, in developing their new country.”
During Kiir’s meeting with President Shimon Peres, the Israeli official noted that he played a role in establishing the link between Israel and the southern Sudanese local leaders in the 1960s in a meeting in Paris. He said Israel provided the southern Sudanese with “extensive assistance in agriculture and infrastructures,” according to a press statement from Peres’ office.
In addition to their past relations, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Kiir’s visit is “very important in the establishment of cooperation” in a variety of fields, from economics to energy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site.
According to Israeli President’s Office statement, Kiir shared the interest in working together, emphasizing that his nation would like the cooperation to be expanded. “Both Israel and South Sudan champion coexistence and peace. We have shared values,” said Kiir. “We have waged similar struggles, and we will go hand-in-hand with Israel in order to strengthen and enhance bilateral strategic relations.”
The statement also quoted the South Sudan leader as saying that he is “very moved to be in Israel and to walk on the soil of the Promised Land.”
Said Kiir, “Israel has always supported the South Sudanese people. Without you, we would not have arisen. You struggled alongside us in order to allow the establishment of South Sudan and we are interested in learning from your experience.
“As a nation that rose from dust, and as the few who fought the many, you have established a flourishing country that offers a future and economic prosperity to its children. I have come to see your success.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastudpdate.com, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord for this growing relationship; pray that God will richly bless the South Sudanese government for its support and that Israel will continue to build these strong and committed relationships with nations around the world.
Scripture
“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust” (Psalm 102:13-14).
6. Hitler Admired in PLO Youth Magazine
The Palestinian Authority funds a monthly educational magazine for children called Zayzafuna. The magazine is made up of material written by the magazine's staff and also includes essays and poems written by children. Accordingly, Zayzafuna both represents the values of the educators and serves as a window into the minds of the participating Palestinian children. The magazine is published with the sponsorship of the PLO's Palestinian National Committee for Education, Culture and Sciences.
Most of the content in Zayzafuna is positive and educational. It promotes family values, encourages children to read and to participate in building a modern, democratic society. However, these positive messages are directed at Palestinian society, Muslims, Christians and Druze.
When it comes to portraying Israel and Jews, Zayzafuna changes its tone and includes items glorifying Jihad against Israel and praising Martyrdom death for Allah, and the Martyrs themselves.
The Zayzafuna magazine chose to publish an essay written by a girl in 10th grade in which Hitler is admired because he killed the Jews - an act that is presented as a positive accomplishment for the benefit of humanity. The girl describes a dream in which she meets four historical figures, all of whom are presented as admired role models, and each one's special accomplishment is the topic of a short conversation with the girl.
Three of them are the ninth-century Muslim mathematician Al-Khwarizmi; Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz; and Saladin, the Muslim leader who defeated the Christian Crusaders and conquered Jerusalem in the 12th century. The fourth and only non-Muslim role model in the dream is Adolf Hitler.
All four are presented as positive figures and each one offers advice to the young girl, which she accepts. Hitler is admired because he killed the Jews "so you would all know that they are a nation which spreads destruction all over the world." Hitler advises the girl to "be resilient and patient" in facing the suffering the Jews are causing. The girl thanks Hitler for his advice.
Significantly, Zayzafuna's editors chose to include this submission in the magazine, without dissociating themselves from the admiration of Hitler. They found it an acceptable message to have Hitler appear with other role models for Palestinian children.
This article is an excerpt from a chapter in the book “Deception: Betraying the Peace Process,” recently published by PMW. Read more on the link provided.
(By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the Lord will protect the hearts and minds of Palestinian children from the horrific propaganda that they are being fed by the PA. Pray that international pressure will force Palestinian leaders and teachers to stop spreading lies and hatred among their youth.
Scripture
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes” (Psalm 119:9, 11-12).
Most of the content in Zayzafuna is positive and educational. It promotes family values, encourages children to read and to participate in building a modern, democratic society. However, these positive messages are directed at Palestinian society, Muslims, Christians and Druze.
When it comes to portraying Israel and Jews, Zayzafuna changes its tone and includes items glorifying Jihad against Israel and praising Martyrdom death for Allah, and the Martyrs themselves.
The Zayzafuna magazine chose to publish an essay written by a girl in 10th grade in which Hitler is admired because he killed the Jews - an act that is presented as a positive accomplishment for the benefit of humanity. The girl describes a dream in which she meets four historical figures, all of whom are presented as admired role models, and each one's special accomplishment is the topic of a short conversation with the girl.
Three of them are the ninth-century Muslim mathematician Al-Khwarizmi; Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz; and Saladin, the Muslim leader who defeated the Christian Crusaders and conquered Jerusalem in the 12th century. The fourth and only non-Muslim role model in the dream is Adolf Hitler.
All four are presented as positive figures and each one offers advice to the young girl, which she accepts. Hitler is admired because he killed the Jews "so you would all know that they are a nation which spreads destruction all over the world." Hitler advises the girl to "be resilient and patient" in facing the suffering the Jews are causing. The girl thanks Hitler for his advice.
Significantly, Zayzafuna's editors chose to include this submission in the magazine, without dissociating themselves from the admiration of Hitler. They found it an acceptable message to have Hitler appear with other role models for Palestinian children.
This article is an excerpt from a chapter in the book “Deception: Betraying the Peace Process,” recently published by PMW. Read more on the link provided.
(By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Pray that the Lord will protect the hearts and minds of Palestinian children from the horrific propaganda that they are being fed by the PA. Pray that international pressure will force Palestinian leaders and teachers to stop spreading lies and hatred among their youth.
Scripture
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes” (Psalm 119:9, 11-12).
7. PMW Clarification: Gingrich, the PA, and PMW
The Palestinian Authority [PA] said last week to the British daily “The Guardian” that US presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's critique of the PA was based on information he quoted from Palestinian Media Watch's Web site.
To clarify PMW findings and what was correct and incorrect in Gingrich's remarks, PMW wrote an op-ed that was published in Friday's [December 16] Jerusalem Post:
US presidential candidate and the former speaker of US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich said this week that the Palestinian Authority does not recognize Israel's right to exist and that Palestinian schoolbooks teach children to become terrorists. Gingrich cited what he said were PA sources to back up his remarks. However, the PA has rejected his statements as "groundless."
According to the British daily The Guardian: "Palestinian officials said Gingrich's allegations were based substantially on material produced by an Israeli organization, Palestinian Media Watch, which has published a long list of entries on its Web site (palwatch.org) under the heading 'Promoting Violence for Children.' An article [on PMW's Web site] from 2007 describes Palestinian textbooks paid for with US aid money that deny Israel's right to exist. But Xavier Abu Eid, a senior adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the website and Gingrich's allegations were groundless." (December 11, 2011)
Certainly the PA's rejection of the US candidate was expected, as his charges contradict what the PA has been telling Western countries for years. This is not merely an irrelevant distraction and rhetoric of a presidential campaign. It is these issues, PA non-recognition of Israel and its support of terror, that are at the heart of the peace process and constitute a major impediment to its success. Therefore, it is critical to determine who is correct - Gingrich or the PA.
What exactly was said about the PA?
During the ABC News Republican presidential candidates' debate (December 10, 2011), Gingrich said that the PA does not recognize Israel's right to exist. He said that "the Palestinian Authority ambassador to India said last month, 'There is no difference between Fatah and Hamas. We both agree Israel has no right to exist.’" This quote, taken from a PMW bulletin, is precise and is very significant, elaborating one of the most important and yet relatively unnoticed principles of PA ideology.
The PA Ambassador to India, Adli Sadeq, wrote in the official PA daily: "They [Israelis] have a common mistake or misconception by which they fool themselves, assuming that Fatah accepts them and recognizes the right of their state to exist, and that it is Hamas alone that loathes them and does not recognize the right of this state to exist. They ignore the fact that this state, based on a fabricated [Zionist] enterprise, never had any shred of a right to exist." (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, November 26, 2011)
Newt Gingrich's second critique of the PA, which presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann likewise mentioned in the ABC debate, was of the PA schoolbooks which he said teach children to be terrorists. Gingrich said: "These people are terrorists. They teach terrorism in their schools. They have textbooks that say, 'If there are 13 Jews and nine Jews are killed, how many Jews are left?’ We pay for those textbooks through our aid money."
Here, Gingrich was correct in principle, but his example was not. The PA schoolbooks do not include that particular math question. Instead the PA Ministry of Education does something far worse: It glorifies murderers and terrorists. The PA Ministry of Education has two of its schools named after Dalal Mughrabi (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 23, 2006), the woman who led the most lethal terror attack in Israel's history, the Coastal Road massacre bus hijacking in which 37 civilians were killed.
The PA, it seems, learned that the world would no longer permit it to directly call to kill Israelis, for to do so would cause it to lose American and European funding. So instead of promoting the terror, it glorifies the terrorists; instead of Palestinian children learning that they must kill Israelis, they learn that whoever kills Israelis will become a Palestinian hero.
When the American congressional candidates criticized the PA for promoting terror among Palestinians they were absolutely correct. When they accused the PA of denying Israel's right to exist they were merely exposing authentic PA ideology.
The time is approaching for the PA to make some hard choices. Is it going to change and take the path of peace or is it going to continue on the path of deception?
(By The Palestinian Media Watch, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord that Gingrich and other international politicians are beginning to boldly speak the truth about the incitement and rejectionism that is rampant among Palestinian leadership. Pray they will continue and that their honesty will impact world opinion regarding Israel.
Scripture
“Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” (Psalm 68:34-35).
To clarify PMW findings and what was correct and incorrect in Gingrich's remarks, PMW wrote an op-ed that was published in Friday's [December 16] Jerusalem Post:
US presidential candidate and the former speaker of US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich said this week that the Palestinian Authority does not recognize Israel's right to exist and that Palestinian schoolbooks teach children to become terrorists. Gingrich cited what he said were PA sources to back up his remarks. However, the PA has rejected his statements as "groundless."
According to the British daily The Guardian: "Palestinian officials said Gingrich's allegations were based substantially on material produced by an Israeli organization, Palestinian Media Watch, which has published a long list of entries on its Web site (palwatch.org) under the heading 'Promoting Violence for Children.' An article [on PMW's Web site] from 2007 describes Palestinian textbooks paid for with US aid money that deny Israel's right to exist. But Xavier Abu Eid, a senior adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the website and Gingrich's allegations were groundless." (December 11, 2011)
Certainly the PA's rejection of the US candidate was expected, as his charges contradict what the PA has been telling Western countries for years. This is not merely an irrelevant distraction and rhetoric of a presidential campaign. It is these issues, PA non-recognition of Israel and its support of terror, that are at the heart of the peace process and constitute a major impediment to its success. Therefore, it is critical to determine who is correct - Gingrich or the PA.
What exactly was said about the PA?
During the ABC News Republican presidential candidates' debate (December 10, 2011), Gingrich said that the PA does not recognize Israel's right to exist. He said that "the Palestinian Authority ambassador to India said last month, 'There is no difference between Fatah and Hamas. We both agree Israel has no right to exist.’" This quote, taken from a PMW bulletin, is precise and is very significant, elaborating one of the most important and yet relatively unnoticed principles of PA ideology.
The PA Ambassador to India, Adli Sadeq, wrote in the official PA daily: "They [Israelis] have a common mistake or misconception by which they fool themselves, assuming that Fatah accepts them and recognizes the right of their state to exist, and that it is Hamas alone that loathes them and does not recognize the right of this state to exist. They ignore the fact that this state, based on a fabricated [Zionist] enterprise, never had any shred of a right to exist." (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, November 26, 2011)
Newt Gingrich's second critique of the PA, which presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann likewise mentioned in the ABC debate, was of the PA schoolbooks which he said teach children to be terrorists. Gingrich said: "These people are terrorists. They teach terrorism in their schools. They have textbooks that say, 'If there are 13 Jews and nine Jews are killed, how many Jews are left?’ We pay for those textbooks through our aid money."
Here, Gingrich was correct in principle, but his example was not. The PA schoolbooks do not include that particular math question. Instead the PA Ministry of Education does something far worse: It glorifies murderers and terrorists. The PA Ministry of Education has two of its schools named after Dalal Mughrabi (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 23, 2006), the woman who led the most lethal terror attack in Israel's history, the Coastal Road massacre bus hijacking in which 37 civilians were killed.
The PA, it seems, learned that the world would no longer permit it to directly call to kill Israelis, for to do so would cause it to lose American and European funding. So instead of promoting the terror, it glorifies the terrorists; instead of Palestinian children learning that they must kill Israelis, they learn that whoever kills Israelis will become a Palestinian hero.
When the American congressional candidates criticized the PA for promoting terror among Palestinians they were absolutely correct. When they accused the PA of denying Israel's right to exist they were merely exposing authentic PA ideology.
The time is approaching for the PA to make some hard choices. Is it going to change and take the path of peace or is it going to continue on the path of deception?
(By The Palestinian Media Watch, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord that Gingrich and other international politicians are beginning to boldly speak the truth about the incitement and rejectionism that is rampant among Palestinian leadership. Pray they will continue and that their honesty will impact world opinion regarding Israel.
Scripture
“Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” (Psalm 68:34-35).
8. Preparing for the Next Big Disaster, in Israel and Abroad
The National Search and Rescue Unit held their annual training exercise this past week, simulating a disaster at a live site in Jerusalem. One of the largest exercises to date, over 200 soldiers were called without previous warning to a mock disaster site where a student dorm building was being targeted by a terrorist car explosive. "Every year we attempt to outdo ourselves, we're always improving," said deputy commander Col. Amir Golani.
The National Search and Rescue unit was founded under the Home Front Command in 1984 as Israel's quick-response disaster team. Deployed both around the world and in Israel the team responds to disasters in foreign countries as part of Israel's aid packages.
The unit is primarily composed of volunteer reservists, who have received recommendations to the unit or accumulated applicable skills in civilian life, with over 40 female soldiers serving in the unit. "The quicker you can arrive, the quicker you can start saving lives- every second counts," said unit commander Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Ariyeh.
The unit has been deployed three times in the past two years to foreign nations, responding to disasters such as the 2011 tsunami in Japan and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. They often prepare in the face of great disasters well before they are given permission to leave.
Most recently, they prepared to assist Turkey after the devastating earthquake in October. "We were all ready to go. We have a warm place in our heart for Turkey from our previous mission in 1999, but we didn't get permission in the end."
"What the Israeli delegation did in Haiti, a diplomat couldn't do in 10 years," recounted. Cpt. Ilan Barel, a veteran of many foreign missions including Egypt, Kenya, and Turkey. "Within 10 hours of landing we had set up an operating room and conducted our first surgery."
(By The Israel Defense Forces, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Thank the Lord for this amazing unit of the IDF. Pray that they will continue to be a light to the nations as they reach out to countries around the globe who are in the throes of disaster, building bridges between Israel and the rest of the world.
Scripture
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
The National Search and Rescue unit was founded under the Home Front Command in 1984 as Israel's quick-response disaster team. Deployed both around the world and in Israel the team responds to disasters in foreign countries as part of Israel's aid packages.
The unit is primarily composed of volunteer reservists, who have received recommendations to the unit or accumulated applicable skills in civilian life, with over 40 female soldiers serving in the unit. "The quicker you can arrive, the quicker you can start saving lives- every second counts," said unit commander Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Ariyeh.
The unit has been deployed three times in the past two years to foreign nations, responding to disasters such as the 2011 tsunami in Japan and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. They often prepare in the face of great disasters well before they are given permission to leave.
Most recently, they prepared to assist Turkey after the devastating earthquake in October. "We were all ready to go. We have a warm place in our heart for Turkey from our previous mission in 1999, but we didn't get permission in the end."
"What the Israeli delegation did in Haiti, a diplomat couldn't do in 10 years," recounted. Cpt. Ilan Barel, a veteran of many foreign missions including Egypt, Kenya, and Turkey. "Within 10 hours of landing we had set up an operating room and conducted our first surgery."
(By The Israel Defense Forces, December 18, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Thank the Lord for this amazing unit of the IDF. Pray that they will continue to be a light to the nations as they reach out to countries around the globe who are in the throes of disaster, building bridges between Israel and the rest of the world.
Scripture
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
9. Noble Energy Adjusts Leviathan Estimate
Noble Energy announced Monday [December 19] that it had adjusted its resource estimate of the Leviathan gas field located off the shores of Israel.
The new estimate published by the field operator is for 14-20 TCF [trillion cubic feet], whereas the previous estimate from six months ago was for 10.5-21 TCF. Furthermore, the best prospect production forecast climbed from 15.8 TCF to 17 TCF.
Noble CEO Charles Davidson said, "This upward adjustment of the Leviathan 3 field resources is an encouraging sign for the company and its investors. We have also dispatched a team to the field in order to identify prospects for commercializing the field's gas."
In regards to the oil reservoir in the field, Noble Energy had nothing new to announce. The company's last estimate, also from six months ago, was for 3-4.2 billion barrels at a probability of 8%-17%.
Ownership of the Leviathan field is shared by Ratio (15%), Delek Energy through Delek Drilling and Avner (43.34%), and Noble Energy (39.66%).
Noble also announced that the development of the Tamar field was on schedule and was set to commence flow tests at the end of 2012. This validates the commercial development schedule according to which Tamar will be online by 2013.
(By Ynetnews, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God for this critically important discovery. Pray that the Lord will protect the endeavor and keep it on track to make Israel virtually energy-independent while boosting the economy.
Scripture
"…a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:12).
The new estimate published by the field operator is for 14-20 TCF [trillion cubic feet], whereas the previous estimate from six months ago was for 10.5-21 TCF. Furthermore, the best prospect production forecast climbed from 15.8 TCF to 17 TCF.
Noble CEO Charles Davidson said, "This upward adjustment of the Leviathan 3 field resources is an encouraging sign for the company and its investors. We have also dispatched a team to the field in order to identify prospects for commercializing the field's gas."
In regards to the oil reservoir in the field, Noble Energy had nothing new to announce. The company's last estimate, also from six months ago, was for 3-4.2 billion barrels at a probability of 8%-17%.
Ownership of the Leviathan field is shared by Ratio (15%), Delek Energy through Delek Drilling and Avner (43.34%), and Noble Energy (39.66%).
Noble also announced that the development of the Tamar field was on schedule and was set to commence flow tests at the end of 2012. This validates the commercial development schedule according to which Tamar will be online by 2013.
(By Ynetnews, December 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God for this critically important discovery. Pray that the Lord will protect the endeavor and keep it on track to make Israel virtually energy-independent while boosting the economy.
Scripture
"…a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:12).
Note: All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
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