BFP-UPDATE Israel Current News with Prayer Focus March 30, 2012

Friday, March 30, 2012

BFP-UPDATE Israel Current News with Prayer Focus March 30, 2012

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March 30, 2012

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Report: Israel has Access to Azeri Airbases
Arab Teens Assault Jerusalem Man
Jailed Popular Palestinian Leader Calls for Resistance Campaign against Israel
IDF Sappers Disable Explosive along Gaza Security Fence
Iran Presents Battlefield Contingencies
Solution to Gaza Gas Shortage Sought
Soldier Says Attacked by Arabs in Jerusalem
Bedouin Trackers: the IDF's Sharpest Eyes
Israeli Chef to the World

Report: Israel has Access to Azeri Airbases
Top American officials believe that Israel has secured access to airbases in Azerbaijan, possibly as part of its preparation for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, Foreign Policy Magazine reported Thursday [March 29].
According to the report, three diplomatic sources confirmed to the magazine that Baku has granted Jerusalem permission to use four abandoned, Soviet-era airfields, should the need arise.
Israel and Azerbaijan's ties have been growing stronger over the past few months. In February, the two signed a $1.6 billion arms deal, which will see Israel supply Azerbaijan with sophisticated drones and missile-defense systems, the report said.
The magazine quoted an intelligence officer as saying that Washington is "watching what Iran does closely… But we're now watching what Israel is doing in Azerbaijan. And we're not happy about it."
Washington, the report said, believes that there is a covert aspect of the Israeli-Azeri alliance and that "the security cooperation between the two countries is heightening the risks of an Israeli strike on Iran."
According to the report, in the event of a strike, access to Azeri airfields would rid Israeli fighter jets from the need to refuel in midflight during a strike on Iran.
Defense analyst David Isenberg told Foreign Policy that "the ability to use Azeri airfields is a significant asset to any Israel strike." In fact, he added, "being allowed access to Azeri airfields would be crucial," as Azerbaijan is strategically located on Iran's northern border.
The magazine noted that both Israel and Azerbaijan were asked to comment, but opted to stay mum. Meanwhile, a new report commissioned by the US Congress said that an Israeli strike on Iran would only halt Tehran's nuclear project by six months.
The report says that the wide dispersal of Iran's nuclear facilities would pose a major difficulty for Israel should it attempt to curb Tehran's nuke program, the report said.
According to researchers, the potential effect of a military strike on Iran's ability to acquire nuclear weapons is "unclear." Moreover, the United States and Israel cannot pinpoint all of Iran's nuclear sites, researchers said.
(By Ynetnews.com, March 29, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Thank the God of Israel for the provisions that He provides for the safety of the country and its people. Pray that the use of the airbases will never be a necessity.

Scripture
"In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." - Psalm 62:7-8
Arab Teens Assault Jerusalem Man
A Jerusalem resident was assaulted by Arab teenagers in the eastern part of the capital Wednesday [March 28]. The victim sustained light wounds and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The Jewish man arrived at the Mount of Olives to visit his mother's grave ahead of his upcoming wedding. Arab students who left school a short while earlier hurled stones at his vehicle and reportedly beat him up. One of the car's windows was broken during the attack; police launched an investigation into the incident in an effort to identify the assailants.
The victim's friend, Yaakov Klein, said the Arab teens did not make do with hurling stones at the car. "They surrounded the vehicle, shook it, and even poured paint on the car. After they pulled the groom out of the vehicle they beat him up," he said. Jewish residents in the area said Wednesday's attack was not unusual.
"Jews are being attacked often around the Mount of Olives," one local resident said. "Usually we see deliberate damage done to vehicles, yet this time around it ended with a physical injury." Police officials confirmed that several youngsters hurled stones at an Israeli vehicle at the site.
"The driver of the vehicle was lightly hurt and was taken to hospital. Police forces are scouring the area and the probe has shifted to the intelligence front," a police official said.
(By Yair Altman, Ynetnews.com, March 28, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Pray for the safety of the people living in East Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Scripture
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you." - Psalm 122:6
Jailed Popular Palestinian Leader Calls for Resistance Campaign against Israel
Marwan Barghouti, the popular Palestinian leader who was an architect of the second Intifada [period of unbridled violence that erupted in late 2000 and continued through 2005] and who is serving five consecutive life sentences for murder, has sent a letter from his jail cell calling on Palestinians to sever all contacts with Israel; enact an economic and diplomatic boycott of the Jewish state; and focus energies on achieving reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas factions.
Barghouti’s call comes as Palestinians are urging mass participation in demonstrations and marches to Israel’s borders in commemoration of Land Day on Friday [March 30] - the annual marking of Arab claims of land confiscation by Israel. Despite his incarceration, Barghouti has remained one of the most recognizable and authoritative figures to Palestinians, and is often rumored to be the subject of possible deals with Israel that would see his release from prison in order to assume a role in government.
His call for a resistance campaign is seen as a potentially significant boost for those organizing the effort. He urged his followers to “stop marketing the illusion that there is a possibility of ending the occupation and achieving a state through negotiations after this vision has failed miserably.”
(By The Media Line, March 28, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Pray that prisoners that have been convicted of violent acts against Israel will not be able to lead or direct attacks from their prison cells.

Scripture
"For look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty gather against me, not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold!" - Psalm 59:3-4
IDF Sappers Disable Explosive along Gaza Security Fence
Today,[March 26] during an IDF [Israel Defense Forces] activity along the security fence in the central Gaza Strip, IDF sappers disassembled an explosive device planted adjacent to the security fence.
This incident proves, yet again, that terror organizations, headed by Hamas, use the area adjacent to the security fence in order to carry out terror attacks against Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers. The explosive device was placed under the cover of fog at the end of last week. IDF soldiers' alertness prevented a terror attack aimed at them.
(By IDF, March 26, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Pray for the safety and wisdom of the Israel Defense Forces. Pray that any devices planted to cause harm will be uncovered and revealed.

Scripture
"There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD." - Proverbs 21:30-31
Iran Presents Battlefield Contingencies
The possibility of a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities may evoke images of an air strike, but the Islamic Republic is gearing to counter every scenario and according to Al-Mashreq website, Tehran has prepared a detailed plan of the defense in case of a ground offensive by the West.
The website, which is affiliated with top defense circles, detailed the plan sans Iran's previous threats against Israel or American internets in the Persian Gulf.
The report notes Iran's ability to use upgraded landmines, which can be used as both anti-personnel landmines and anti-vehicle ones; T-72 tanks, which can be camouflaged and maintain the element of surprise, and special laser cannons with a 4km [2 mile] range.
According to the report, Western ground troops would also encounter armored personnel carrier armed with Iranian anti-tank missiles and equipped with camouflaging system meant to protect them from enemy missiles.
Backing them up will be the Iranian military's motorcycle unit - scores of motorcyclists armed with automatic weapons, shoulder-fired missiles and RPGs. The Iranians boast that these troops' specialty is to lie in wait and surprise the enemy with a crushing blow.
In case of battle, Iran's ground troops will also be assisted by cobra helicopters and Soviet-made planes, which can transport up to 30 soldiers. Ground troops will also be equipped with SA-6 surface-to-air missiles, which can hit targets in an altitude of up to 14km [8 miles].
The website stressed that despite showcasing most of these abilities during Iran's last war games, Tehran still has "many other capabilities that would surprise and crush the enemy." Iran has often warned that any strike against it will meet an "unparalleled response."
(By Dudi Cohen, Ynetnews.com, March 26, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Pray that all the planning and training of Iran's troops to fight against the free world will be in vain.

Scripture
"The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." - Deuteronomy 28:7
Solution to Gaza Gas Shortage Sought
A delegation of Palestinian officials headed by the Power Authority’s chief was dispatched to Cairo in search of a solution to the ongoing gas shortage crisis in the Gaza Strip. Electricity has been available to Gazans for only 16 hours a day since Egypt cut-off delivery of fuel through underground tunnels in mid-February.
On Friday, [March 23] 437,000 liters (115,000 gallons) arrived through a crossing-point from an Israeli company, but according to experts, that amount is sufficient for one-day’s consumption. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, wants Egypt to allow shipments through the Hamas-controlled Rafah crossing point, leaving Israel out of the mix.
The demand is problematic because Rafah is not equipped to handle fuel transfers. At the crux of the issue is a dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority over who pays for the fuel and handles the transfer of funds to Egypt through its finance ministry.
Although the Fatah-controlled PA pays for 70% of Hamas-controlled Gaza’s electricity needs, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad claims that the Gaza Energy Authority collects less than 30% of fees it is owed causing the cash-shortage to purchase the necessary fuel.
The lack of electricity is having widespread effects, including production of food staples such as bread. While almost 60% of Palestinians living in the West Bank blame Israel for the Gaza gas shortage, 48% of Gazans affected by the shortage blame the Hamas government according to the Arab World for Research and Development.
(By The Media Line, March 26, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Pray for the people of Gaza. Pray that their leadership will come together and make decisions that will bring peace and democracy to the Middle East.

Scripture
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise… Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy." - Proverbs 12:15, 20
Soldier Says Attacked by Arabs in Jerusalem
An IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldier sustained light injuries Sunday [March 25] evening when he was attacked on Polanski Street in Jerusalem.
The soldier, 19, was treated at the scene by volunteer paramedics and later evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. Police were scouring the area for the assailants, who fled the scene.
The soldier, who serves in the Home Front Command, was in uniform but was not carrying a weapon. He told police that two young Arabs had beaten him without any provocation on his part.
One of the paramedics said, "I saw a soldier lying on the ground. He was in great pain and couldn't get up. We treated him at the scene until he was evacuated." The soldier complained of pain in his jaw and knee.
Last month two off-duty IDF soldiers were assaulted by a group of Arabs in Haifa. Initially it was thought that the attack was nationalistically-motivated, but on Sunday a judge released five of the six suspects to house arrest and ruled out the possibility that the soldiers were attacked because they are Jewish.
The attack was apparently a case of mistaken identity, as the assailants thought the soldiers had pelted their homes with stones.
(By Yair Altman, Ynetnews.com, March 25, 2012)

Prayer Focus
Pray for the safety of the soldiers that travel on public transportation through the cities of Israel. Pray for the protection of the troops.

Scripture
"Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe." - 1 Samuel 22:23
Bedouin Trackers: the IDF's Sharpest Eyes
Recent headlines have been filled with stories of thwarted terror attacks from the Sinai region and the discovery of explosive devices planted along Israel's southern borders. The once quiet Egyptian border has been transformed into a tense area of heightened security.
Over the years the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has come to rely upon the innate skills of a unique unit: the Bedouin trackers, who held their annual series of training exercises this week.
Although exempt from serving in the military, many Bedouin teens living in Israel volunteer to enlist and even stay in the army as career soldiers, where they employ their unique and vital knowledge of the Israeli terrain and their tracking skills. The IDF takes into consideration these soldiers' unique living conditions and lifestyles, accommodating their needs.
Using as little as a gun and a flashlight, the Bedouin Tracking Unit has been responsible for thwarting many of the terror attacks targeting Israel from the Sinai desert. These trackers have been able to identify hidden explosives, discover the trails of terrorists who have infiltrated Israel's border, and track and catch these terrorists, in some cases even identifying the tunnels from which they came.
While the trackers spend most of their time separated into small groups and attached to infantry battalions along the border, the Bedouin Tracking Unit came together this week for a series of training exercises. "This is a good opportunity to test their skills and teach them skills they can take back to their units," said Maj. Ravia'a Suwad, an officer in the unit.
In the deserts of the Israeli Negev, trackers spread out across the rolling dunes. They carefully track their quarry, searching through dirt and webs of dried riverbeds for the tiniest signs of a trail. To their razor-sharp eyes the daunting sea of open fields is simply a book to be read. One scout points out a series of slight indents in the ground, but these are not the tracks of a terrorist-
"Just someone out for a run," the tracker said with a smile. "They are about twelve hours old, you can tell from the wind erosion. The direction the dirt piles up tells you which way he was headed. They are just far enough apart to be a runner's gait, and right over there should be his track back. If we were here a few hours earlier I could tell you the brand of his shoe."
But not all trails are so benign and easily read. "Sometimes a chase can last days, we've had people do some really sneaky things to throw us off," said Maj. Suwad. "They will cover their tracks with plants, hide in holes under ground, climb into trees, but we never give up. Even if there is only the slightest hint of a trail we will find them." These drills are a good chance for them familiarize with these tricks, exchange stories, and figure out ways to get around them.
The tracking units receive training in tracking, but most of their knowledge comes from an older source. "The knowledge passes from father to son. Most of the tools that they use they learn as children living out in the fields," says Maj. Suwad. "The Bedouins can spend their whole life in the field, herding animals and using their skills to track ones that wander away. Commanders in the south constantly depend on the trackers for advice. Beyond their knowledge of tracking, they also have an unparalleled knowledge of the terrain."
Even in the modern age of UAV, constant air support, and satellite surveillance, the ancient science of tracking is still essential. "The tracker is essential, without him the battalion is blind. There isn't a single piece of technology that can replace a scout who knows how to track," said Maj. Suwad.
(By Adam May, Israel Defense Forces, March 27, 2012)
Israeli Chef to the World
Shaul Ben-Aderet's grandmother didn't own a television set. So when she minded him while his parents were at work, she stood him on a chair and he helped prepare Iraqi dishes in her Tel Aviv kitchen. In a way, he's still standing on that chair.
"When I was four or five, I already knew I would be a cook," says Ben-Aderet, 48, owner and head chef of three Israeli restaurants. "Some children dream to be a doctor or policeman. Me - just put me in the kitchen."
True, Grandma probably didn't make the sort of dishes found on the menu at Kimmel, his flagship French restaurant in the trendy Tel Aviv neighborhood of Neve Tzedek: calamari stuffed with risotto and seafood in cream and garlic; chicken liver paté in calvados, honey and spiced carrot jam; flank steak in pepper, cream and bone marrow; shrimp in butter, Roquefort and nuts.
But the aroma from Ben-Aderet's cuisine has wafted far and wide. He's often featured on cooking shows and product promos. Israeli embassies in Brazil, Uruguay and Japan have flown him in to represent Israel at gala dinners. Last July, he and an Arab chef teamed up in an episode of the US Public Broadcasting Service show, Cuisine Culture. And in January, he cooked a gourmet feast live on Turkish TV.
Whenever he travels, "I come wearing a chef's shirt with the Israeli flag on it, so I feel like a minor ambassador," he tells Israel21c. "The ambassadors can talk for a year, but one good meal does just as much good."
The producers of Israel's Food Channel teamed up with TurkMax, a leading Turkish lifestyle channel, in their invitation to Ben-Aderet. "Relations between Israel and Turkey are not so good right now - people are even afraid to go there - so I said to myself, ‘Why not?' My wife, Orit, thought I was a little crazy, but that's nothing new."
His day in Istanbul yielded spinach shakshuka with cream; Caciocavallo cheese and truffles; squash salad with walnuts, mint, cranberries and Gorgonzola cheese; fillet of beef glazed with burned mustard and honey; and an Arab-style cake. Shakshuka is a traditional Israeli breakfast of eggs poached in a spicy tomato and vegetable sauce.
"In the show, I said I will invite the president of Turkey to come to Israel, and I will bring [Israeli President] Shimon Peres there. I said, ‘We'll make some shakshuka and everything will be okay.'"
Born in 1964 to parents of Iraqi and Greek descent, Ben-Aderet learned metal-working in his Tel Aviv high school because that was his father's profession. His real education took place at the side of his maternal grandmother.
"She taught me how to make everything perfect, even simple things like rice or chicken. She had beautiful hands. I always say the best cooking is not something you learn. You need the passion and the touch."
Fresh from the army, Ben-Aderet opened an eatery in Ramat Hasharon serving staples such as hamburgers, pizza and French fries. His father helped him fix up the site, and lends his handyman's touch to his son's enterprises to this day. After six years, he sold the place and took Orit's advice to renovate an Ottoman-era building in Neve Tzedek to become a French restaurant.
Opening Kimmel 19 years ago was a pretty daring move on the part of a chef who'd never been to France. "I just read a little," he explains. More than half the menu items have remained the same from the start; the rest were inspired by Ben-Aderet's subsequent trips to France.
With co-workers, he opened a bistro called Kimmel in the Gilboa two years ago in the Gilboa Mountains, and Blue Rooster last year in East Tel Aviv. The three locations keep him and his wife busy all week long.
"I wake up at 6 in the morning and take my children to school," he relates. He and Orit have sons aged 17 and 13, and daughters aged 10 and seven. "Then I come to Kimmel to cook with the staff till 1:00. I go to Blue Rooster till 3, then I rest two hours, and in the evening I am in Kimmel from 7:30 to 9, then till midnight at Blue Rooster. Saturdays I'm in Gilboa."
Though she makes the family's meals at home, Orit's job at Blue Rooster is out front. "Orit knows how to take care of people," says her husband. "They come to talk with her and see her, not only to eat."
But he's not downplaying the importance of food. "If you want to make a contract or if you are angry with someone, if you drink and eat together everything will be okay," he assures.
(By Abigail Klein Leichman, www.israel21c.org, March 25, 2012)

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