Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Feast of Trumpets


Celebrate the Feast of Trumpets

Sunset 28 September 2011

Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah - Sound the Alarm!
Jesus' Coming Announced

by Robert Somerville

These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation (Lev 23:4,24)

Notice, he did not say these were the feasts of the Jews or the feasts of the Christians, but the feasts of the Lord. They are to be celebrated in honor of our Lord!

A CALL FOR ASSEMBLY

The Feast of trumpets celebrates a special call of God to His people to assemble. The trumpet is a symbol of a specific message for a particular time.

Both Christian and Jew believe that the Messiah was to bring the message of deliverance to mankind. Jesus is identified by Zacharias as the "horn of salvation" in Luke 1:69. Messiah was to be the voice of God in the earth declaring the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Apostle John tells us that Jesus was the word of God made flesh. He has been the word, the voice or the horn of God since before time. (John 1:1)

DAYS OF AWE AND NEW BEGINNINGS

This festival signals the beginning of an annual ten day period of time called "the days of awe" .(repentance) It includes the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Atonement. The days of awe provide a time for self-examination and introspection. They were to have a humbling effect on the people of Israel as indeed they should have upon us all. [They could be called the days of Humility] All of this was leading up to the celebration of the last great festival of the year, the festival of "Tabernacles". Tabernacles is by far the most joyous of annual celebrations.

It is the principle of spiritual assessment and repentance that lies behind this declaration of God through Isaiah the prophet;

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isa 58:1)

Rosh Hashanah is the Hebrew name for the festival of Trumpets, meaning "the beginning". The seventh month of Tishri is what is considered the beginning of the Jewish fiscal New Year. It is also considered by Jewish sages to be the beginning or creation of the world.


TRUMPETS AND SHOFARS

"With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King." (Ps 98:6)

Originally, there were two silver trumpets used by the priests to signal the approaching pilgrimage festivals. Eventually, it appears that they were replaced by the shofar (a ram's horn) The shofar is one of the more prominent of biblical symbols. The ram's horn is very meaningful for historic and prophetic reasons. The significance of its use is found in the story of Abraham and Isaac,

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Gen 22:13)

This is one of the greatest sacrificial lessons of the biblical record. It is certainly one of the greatest prophetic lessons of all time regarding the coming messiah. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son which Abraham was willing to do but God prevented him by providing a ram in substitution for his son Isaac. This is an Old Testament allegory reflecting John 3:16,

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Every time the Christian hears the sound of the shofar, he should be refreshed in that profound redemptive lesson. The church today should make greater use of the Shofar in celebration and worship.

THE LAST TRUMP

Finally, the Feast of Trumpets is prophetically fulfilled when the last trump sounds and the Lord returns for his people in preparation for establishing his physical Kingdom upon the earth.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: (1 Thess 4:16)

[Do not interpret this trumpet to be a gigantic solar bugle that some have envisioned.] This verse is simply speaking of a profound message of preparation being declared in anticipation of our Lord's soon return to earth in power and great glory. It is a sound comparable to what John the revelator heard in his vision while in exile,

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me;
Hap
The Feast of Trumpets serves to remind us of the importance of hearing the voice of God. Lord, give us ears to hear!,

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Win Trip to Israel



The winner and a guest will go on the John Hagee Ministries' tour to Israel from March 12 - March 22, 2012. On this tour you will follow in the footsteps of Jesus from his ministry in Galilee to his final days in Jerusalem, hear Bible teachings from Pastor Hagee at the actual Biblical sites, participate in a communion service at the Garden Tomb, have an opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan river, float in the Dead Sea, visit Masada, participate in two special Christians United for Israel events in Jerusalem, and more.

This trip is the experience of a lifetime.  Our participants return home with their faith confirmed and reinvigorated.  And they return with an even deeper connection to the people and land of Israel.  As the challenges facing Israel increase, it is an enormous blessing to be able to demonstrate support to the people of Israel in this most personal way. 


 Or please visit our website:  
http://www.cufi.org




Monday, September 26, 2011

Beersheba


Known also as Tel Beer-Shev'a or Tel es-Sabba


Near the outer gate of the city is a well and a tamarisk tree.  Both are later than the time of the patriarchs, but they remind one of the well Abraham dug and the tree he planted (Gen 21).  The tamarisk tree is well suited to life in the Negev with its deep root system and its ability to survive on brackish water.  It secretes salt on its leaves and drips water in the morning.




Excavated by Y. Aharoni 1969-1975, broad areas of Stratum II of Tell Sheba were exposed.  
Reconstruction work began in 1990 and has concentrated on rebuilding the city as it was in the latter part of the 8th century, the time of King Hezekiah.










Three tripartite pillared buildings were revealed in the excavations.  The archaeologists believe that these are storehouses in part because of the large quantity of vessels found inside.
Other scholars regard this building design as characteristic of stables and overwhelming evidence suggests this is a more accurate identification.

The Golden Report



Sep 26th 2011 8:00am




SEND ALL Inquiries/Replies by

Email to jerry@thegoldenreport.com

*************************************************



Israel – Ishmael = No Peace.


Until the Prince of Peace Returns!


We can plainly see that same Nazi spirit moving in the Islamic Jihad towards Israel.


Read the whole article:  www.thegoldenreport.com
Shalom, jerry golden






Jerry Golden




Donations: http://thegoldenreport.com/support-us


Sunday, September 25, 2011

Solomon's Pools, Bethlehem


5 km southwest of Bethlehem, a turn off to the east on the road to Hebron leads to an Ottoman Fort and a three large water reservoirs, partly excavated from the rock and partly built, which were used to collect spring and rain water from the surrounding valleys to be channeled to Jerusalem, and is still in use nowadays by the local inhabitants only.



The Pools are made of rock and masonry, can hold up to 160,000 cubic meters of water, and were constructed insteps, each 6 meters above the other, to enable the water to be carried as far as Jerusalem by force of gravity.


Solomon's Pools history goes back to Herod the Great being part of an ancient waterway supplying water to his fortress and palace at Herodion, and may have been conceived by Pontuis Pilate.


In 1617 the Turkish Sultan Suleiman Al-Qanouni built a small fortress known as the "Castle of the Pools" to defend the water source and the commercial caravans between Jerusalem and Hebron.




Prophecy News Watch


Abbas: UN decision on state bid will take weeks, not months


Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday he expected the Security Council to finish debating his nation's application for full UN membership within weeks, not months.

His comments came as reaction to speculations that the Security Council could potentially sit on the statehood application for a prolonged period of time in order to avoid voting on the controversial request.

Speaking to journalists on his plane back from the General Assembly in New York, where he presented the request, Abbas said Security Council members had initially appeared unenthusiastic about the idea of discussing the application.

But he said the mood appeared to change after he delivered a speech to the General Assembly on Friday, during which he pressed the Palestinian case for an independent state alongside Israel.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has said it will block the move. Both governments say direct peace talks are the correct way for Palestinians to pursue peace. Washington holds veto power in the 15-member Security Council.

The Palestinian Authority wants the United Nations Security Council to decide on their bid for full membership of the world body within a fortnight, a leading official in the Fatah movement of Abbas said on Saturday.

Apart from the US veto threat, it was also unclear if the required nine of the body's 15 members would support the bid.

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki told national radio that officials were still hoping to garner the required votes.

"Consultations continue, especially with Gabon, Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which have yet to define their position," Maliki was quoted as saying.

Abbas told the reporters accompanying him of a tense atmosphere during the week: "We held dozens of meetings with dozens of delegations which were trying to avert our going to the Security Council," Abbas said.

Talking about a return to peace talks with Israel, Abbas said: "We will not deal with any initiative which does not contain a halt to settlement or the '67 borders".

PA could potentially ask for upgrade in status from General Assembly

Alternate to the Security Council, the Palestinians, who currently have observer status at the UN, could ask for the General Assembly to vote to upgrade them to a non-member state which would allow them membership of a number of UN agencies.

The General Assembly vote requires only a simple majority of the current 193 member nations, seemingly an easy proposition for the Palestinians.

In his speech to the General Assembly on Friday after presenting the request, Abbas said: "I do not believe that anyone with a shred of conscience can reject our application ... and our admission as an independent state."

But Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who spoke shortly after Abbas, said peace could be achieved only through negotiations and dismissed the world body as a "theater of the absurd."

Shortly after the two men ended their speeches, the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the UN - issued a call for a return to direct peace talks which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said was a "concrete proposal".

"The United States is very pleased that the Quartet was able to issue a statement today with a concrete and detailed proposal to begin a negotiation between the Israelis and the Palestinians without delay or pre-condition," she said.

Abbas accepts negotiations are still necessary, but argues statehood will put Palestinians on a more equal footing. Israel sees the UN bid as an attempt to erode its own legitimacy.

Palestinians want to establish a state in the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave controlled by Islamist Hamas who are opposed to peace talks, and in the West Bank with east Jerusalem as the capital, land Israel captured in a 1967 Middle East War.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Streets of Jerusalem

Children in the Old City



 Walking the Via Dolorosa


 Ben Yehuda Street



Streets of Jerusalem




Beautiful Old Houses in Baka Neighbourhood




Everyday life in Jerusalem



Buildings in White Jerusalem Stone




Israel Defense Force outside Jaffa Gate, Old City, Jerusalem


Christians United for Israel




 23 November 2011

Tomorrow, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas intends to introduce a resolution seeking unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations.

Thankfully, the United Nations will also hear from others tomorrow.  Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will address the world body in order to "tell the truth."

CUFI has been telling the truth about Israel and the Middle East conflict since our birth 5 ½ years ago.  Over the past few weeks, we've taken the lead in telling the truth about the Palestinian Authority’s cynical UN ploy. 

Since last Thursday, CUFI activists have sent more than 45,000 emails to President Obama asking him to keep his pledge to oppose this Palestinian resolution and urging him to assert the full diplomatic might of the United States in this effort. 

Since Tuesday, over 50,000 CUFI activists have sent emails to Prime Minister Netanyahu reminding him that when he enters the "lions den" of the UN General Assembly, he will not stand alone.  He will have millions of Christian supporters standing with him.

And so far this month, we've held 31 pro-Israel events in cities, towns and campuses from coast to coast to educate Christians about the latest threats to Israel and how they can best fight back.   

We know of no other organization that is able to stand up for Israel in such large numbers in so many communities across the country.  But these results don't come cheap.  It's only through the support of members like you that we've been able to build a powerful, national grassroots movement that can make a difference in Israel's time of need.  And it's only with your continued support that we'll be able to grow ever stronger to meet the ever growing threats to Israel. 
 
We know that Israel's enemies are escalating their attacks on the Jewish State.  We intend to escalate our support.  We pray that you will help us rise to this historic challenge. 

With blessings to you and those you love.

Pastor John Hagee
Chairman
CUFI
David Brog
Executive Director
CUFI
 


Israel Images


















Bridges for Peace Organization



Visit our Web site: www.bridgesforpeace.com
September 23, 2011

________________________________________
1. Ahmadinejad Says Killing of Bin-Laden was Part of U.S. Cover-Up
2. PA Vows to Palestinians to Complete Its Statehood Bid at the UN
3. International Community Legitimizes Palestinian Terror
4. Netanyahu Asks Abbas to Join Marathon Talks from New York to Ramallah
5. Palestinians Appear to Lack Majority in Security Council
6. UN Secretary-General Slams Syrian Violence; Calls for Mideast Peace
7. Police Commissioner Sees No Plans for Violence in September
8. Jewish Al-Jazeera Going on the Air
9. After 38 Years of Closure, Israel Reopens Embassy in Ghana

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1. Ahmadinejad Says Killing of Bin-Laden was Part of U.S. Cover-Up
United Nations - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday [September 22] said the United States, the West and "Zionists" were responsible for all of the world's ills and suggested that the killing of Osama bin Laden was part of a cover-up to prevent the truth about the 9/11 attacks from emerging.

At his annual address to the United Nations General Assembly, Ahmadinejad built on his 2010 speech in which he alleged that the United States had orchestrated the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which killed almost 3,000 people, to create a pretext for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Instead of assigning a fact-finding team [to investigate the 9/11 attacks], they killed the main perpetrator and threw his body into the sea," Ahmadinejad said, referring to the raid in May that killed bin Laden in his hideout in Pakistan. Ahmadinejad said the United States should have brought him to trial so that the truth about 9/11 could emerge. He alleged those who had encouraged setting up an independent inquiry had been subjected to U.S. threats.

Many delegations - including those of the United States, Britain, France, Germany and several other nations - walked out of the chamber as the President of the Islamic Republic spoke. The Canadian delegation left their seats empty throughout the speech. "We are refusing to give Ahmadinejad an audience. He does not deserve one," said a senior Canadian official.

Outside the building, hundreds of people protested against Iranian human rights abuses. Ahmadinejad himself made no mention of the suppression of Iran's Green movement, or its own record of abuses. Ahmadinejad, who has often denied the Holocaust and believes Israel should be destroyed, has a long record of outrageous statements to the United Nations.

In 2008, playing off classic anti-Semitic themes, he accused Israel of manipulating the US presidential race, suggesting that "a small but deceitful minority of Zionists are playing with the American public."

In his speech [on Thursday], Ahmadinejad blamed the United States and the West for the world economic crisis, poverty and inequality. Historically, he said the West was responsible for slavery, colonialism, World War I, World War II as well as the wars in Korea and Vietnam. He accused the United States of using atomic weapons against "defenseless people."

(By The Israel Project, September 22, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Praise God that no enemy is greater than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Praise God for the nations that courageously showed their disapproval of Ahmadinejad's words and presence at the UN.

Scripture
"They devise iniquities: 'We have perfected a shrewd scheme'…But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;…So He will make them stumble over their own tongue…" (Psalm 64: 6-8).
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2. PA Vows to Palestinians to Complete Its Statehood Bid at the UN
The Palestinian Authority [PA] has done its utmost to promise its population that the PA leadership will follow through with its request for Palestinian statehood at the UN this week. The PA has stressed that it will not be deterred by the possibility of an American veto nor by the danger of losing foreign funding.

For the past month, Palestinian media has been expanding the number of news articles, ads and TV spots highlighting the Palestinian UN request, which by now is an all-encompassing campaign - "Palestine-the 194th state" national campaign.

For example, on September 18, the official PA daily published on pages 1-16 approximately 75 news articles out of which 43 were about the UN bid, many of them documenting expressions of support from the region and around the world.

The PA campaign logo along with the words appearing in English "UN - Palestine state 194" and in Arabic: "The State of Palestine" is in the corner on top of every page of the PA daily every day. The front page of the daily on September 19 included seven ads of support. No expressions of opposition to PA request for statehood at the UN have been published in the official PA media. PA TV talk shows have been exclusively focused on the PA campaign, and PA TV has broadcast numerous clips extolling it.

The Voice of Palestine radio has had spots in different languages, including Hebrew, calling for recognition of the Palestinian state, and public events have been dedicated to the UN statehood campaign.

Palestinian Media Watch has collected some of these TV spots showing examples of the anticipation of the PA statehood request. Declare "the State of Palestine" song: a song praising the statehood bid and PA Chairman Abbas. Excerpts of the song:

"We're coming, we're coming
To declare our state, Palestine
We will not forget, we will not forget
Your land and [our] yearning for you

We came to say out loud
[We want] to live with dignity or die
Wherever you want [us], we will be
Mahmoud Abbas, you are great
Oh, Mahmoud Abbas, the elder
The nation is behind you no matter what"

(Excerpts of an article by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, September 19, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Pray that this attempt to manipulate the Palestinian people will backfire. Pray that strong support will emerge for negotiations rather than unilateral declarations.

Scripture
"Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" (Psalm 33:8-12).
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3. International Community Legitimizes Palestinian Terror
The Palestinian Authority [PA] Minister of Prisoners' Affairs says that the PA will interpret international recognition of a Palestinian state as international legitimization of Palestinian prisoners' acts of violence for which they are imprisoned. Minister Issa Karake:

"The recognition of the state means recognition of the legitimacy of the Palestinian struggle that the Palestinian nation fought, in the search for freedom and independence. In addition, it [recognition of a state] indicates that the struggles of the prisoners are legitimized and legal according to UN Resolutions..."

The PA has claimed for many years that all its terror, including murder of civilians by suicide bombings, is justified by UN resolution 3236, which "recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

According to this PA justification of terror, all Palestinian prisoners responsible for killing Israeli civilians are turned into role models by the PA. This PA ideology makes heroes out of terrorists like Ahlam Tamimi, serving 16 life sentences for assisting a suicide bomber who killed 7 children and 8 adults; Anas Jaradat, who headed the Islamic Jihad in Jenin and was responsible for 3 car bombings in Israel, causing the death of dozens; and Salim Hajja, serving 16 life sentences for involvement in three suicide bombings, killing more than 51 and wounding hundreds.

Palestinian Media Watch has documented that all of these terrorists were honored by the PA in the last month (see also PMW report "From Terrorist to Role Model"). Now, PA Minister Karake says that international recognition of a Palestinian state will be interpreted by the PA as international support for the PA position that killing Israelis is a Palestinian right.

PA leaders and officials have legitimized Palestinian violence by quoting UN resolution 3236 which "recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means." The PA interprets "all means" as including violence against civilians, but has chosen to ignore the continuation of the resolution which states that the use of "all means" should be "in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations..."

The UN Charter prohibits targeting civilians, even in war. Chapter 1, Article 1, opens by saying that the "international disputes" should be resolved "by peaceful means." The following are some examples:

"Abbas Zaki, member of the Fatah Central Committee, does not believe that a Palestinian-Israeli agreement will be achieved in the shadow of the extreme right-wing [Israeli] government, but he leaves the door open to a 'return to [UN] Resolution 181 and to all forms of the struggle, including the armed struggle, if the negotiations fail... In addition, [there will be] a return to UN Resolution 3236, which grants the Palestinian people the right to all forms of the struggle, including the armed struggle...'

"He called for 'a gathering that will bring together the Fatah and Hamas leadership, under Mahmoud Abbas' ... and added: 'We are in favor of anyone who defends the homeland and bears arms in order to defend it, because he supports the idea of Fatah and of the resistance." [Al-Ghad (Jordan), May 22, 2010]

PA Representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki: "We have [U.N.] General Assembly Resolution 3236, [which permits us] to use all means of struggle, including armed struggle." [PA TV, July 18, 2009]

(Excerpts of an article by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, September 20, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Pray that there will be an international outcry against these outrageous remarks legitimizing terror in the name of the nations of the world.

Scripture
"LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more" (Psalm 10:17-18).
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4. Netanyahu Asks Abbas to Join Marathon Talks from New York to Ramallah
Facing apparent certainty that the Palestinian Authority [PA] will pursue recognition and membership at the United Nations this week, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took a last shot at convincing PA head Mahmoud Abbas to instead join him for face-to-face marathon talks that would begin in New York and move to Jerusalem and Ramallah.

Netanyahu said, "I am offering President Abbas the chance to launch peace negotiations instead of wasting time on futile unilateral steps." For his part, Abbas was willing but doubtful. He told the Fox News network in New York that he would meet with Israeli officials "at any time" but that he saw no tangible solutions in the offing.

On Friday [September 23] following his speech to the General Assembly, Abbas will formally present his request for membership to Ban, who will deliver it to the Security Council for a vote.

(Excerpts of an article by The Media Line, September 21, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Pray that international and UN pressure will force a resumption of negotiations based on Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.

Scripture
"Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously" (1 Chronicles 17:9).
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5. Palestinians Appear to Lack Majority in Security Council
UNITED NATIONS - The Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership could be at risk before it even is launched, as they may not have the nine "yes" votes needed to pass a full membership resolution in the UN Security Council. The US has veto powers in the Council and has said they will veto the bid if it passes otherwise, but a lack of sufficient votes would be a huge blow to Palestinian efforts to win a symbolic diplomatic victory.

An anonymous Israeli official, speaking by phone with The Mideast Update on Wednesday [September 21], said, "At the moment I think the Palestinians are under a lot of pressure because it's not clear that they have the numbers to pass what they want in the Security Council."

He said that the Palestinian plan in the past was to force a US veto, amidst at least nine yes votes in the Council, "and it's like the whole international community stands united against Israel and the United States."

While noting that the situation is "still fluid," the official said that the Palestinians have "seen now that they don't have the numbers, and that making an American veto superfluous - this appears to be the situation - and therefore they're under pressure. Because if they can't even get a majority on the Council, they're exposed that there's not actually international support for what they're saying."

The official's comments came following US President Barack Obama's speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he said that UN resolutions could not bring peace to the conflict, but that the parties had to resolve it themselves. The Israeli official noted that's the sentiment they're seeing outside the US as well.

"And this is actually very interesting, because, for many years the United Nations has been a difficult place for Israel, with their automatic majorities against Israel, and obviously we are gratified by the fact that it appears that [the Palestinians] can't get the votes that they require, and the United States will not have to veto."

Speaking with reporters prior to his meeting with Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [said] that other world leaders are "under enormous pressure" over the Palestinian matter. Nonetheless, Netanyahu said that "my hope is that there will be other leaders in the world, responsible leaders, who will heed your call, Mr. President, and oppose this effort to shortcut peace negotiations - in fact, to avoid them. Because I think that avoiding these negotiations is bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians, and bad for peace."

The Israeli official, in his comments to The Mideast Update, noted the Israelis were "very encouraged" by Obama's UN speech. "It was a good speech. It was a speech that we could identify with; it was a speech that we could agree with.

(Excerpts of an article by Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, September 21, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Pray that this unilateral bid for statehood will fail. Pray that the nations of the world will follow the lead of the United States who outspokenly support Israel and oppose such an action of the Palestinians.

Scripture
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise…There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health…Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy" (Proverbs 12:15, 18, 20).
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6. UN Secretary-General Slams Syrian Violence; Calls for Mideast Peace
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for the end of violence in Syria and for a negotiated settlement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in his speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday [September 21].

Speaking to heads of state and delegations from around the world, Ban said, "In the Middle East, we must break the stalemate…We pledge our unrelenting efforts to help achieve that peace through a negotiated settlement." Aside from the Israeli-Palestinian matter, Ban also expressed strong concerns regarding the situation in Syria, where the government has continued to brutally repress the Syrian protesters challenging the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Said Ban, "Syria is a special concern. For six months, we have seen escalating violence and repression. The government has repeatedly pledged to undertake reforms and listen to its people. It has not done so. The moment to act is now. The violence must stop." The US and Europe have sanctioned the Syria regime over their actions, but the UN Security Council has yet to pass similar measures.

(Excerpts of an article by Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, September 21, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Pray that the nations of the world will pressure Syria to end the violence and brutal repression of protestors, improving Israel's security situation and helping to reestablish stability in the region.

Scripture
"Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls; iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it. Destruction is in its midst; oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets…As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me" (Psalm 55:9-11, 16).
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7. Police Commissioner Sees No Plans for Violence in September
[Israel] Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino addressed preparations for the Palestinian UN bid on Sunday [September 18] stating that unusual events will not necessarily take place. "We do not see plans for violence in September," he told reporters. "But as far as the Palestinians are concerned, this is a seminal event, and we are gearing up for any scenario."

Danino stressed that there have been many alerts over the past few months, but that no significant rise was recorded as the deadline approaches. "We see solidarity among Arab-Israelis, i.e. legitimate protest, but no plans for any riots," he said. "The Palestinian Authority has also announced it will not tolerate violence, and we have seen in recent times that it is indeed capable of preventing violence."

Nevertheless, the police chief admitted there was still a big question mark surrounding events on the ground. "Experience over the past year has taught us to be prepared for any outburst," he said. Danino said that the most problematic scenario will see mass protests spiraling out of control. To this end, the police have purchased new equipment and trained the forces with it.

The police will reinforce deployment this Friday [September 23] when the Palestinians are set to submit their recognition bid before the UN. The decision was made based on the belief that the combination of the UN events and Friday morning prayers is of an explosive nature.

The head of the police's Operations Department Commander Nissim Mor added that "As there is not enough intel on possible riots that could deteriorate, we are preparing for the worst kind of events, the 'minefield' of events that can continue for up to 21 days."

(Excerpts of an article by Omri Efraim, Ynetnews, September 18, 2011)

Editor's Note: Please check our Web site for the latest update on this situation.

Prayer Focus
Pray that the September violence anticipated by many will not come to pass. Pray that the preparations being made by Israeli defense forces will not have to be used.

Scripture
"I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible" (Jeremiah 15:21).
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8. Jewish Al-Jazeera Going on the Air
Jews of the world, prepare your remote controls: The first-ever Jewish news network will begin broadcasts this Wednesday [September 21]. Jewish News 1 (JN1) was born as an alternative to the world's leading news networks: CNN, Fox News and Sky News. But its main goal is to serve as the Jewish version of al-Jazeera, which has won the hearts of tens of millions of Arab viewers over the past 15 years.

According to the Makor Rishon newspaper, the channel will be broadcast via satellite to Europe, North America and the Middle East. In Israel, it will be offered by the Yes satellite company.

"Jewish News 1" will broadcast news from Israel and the world 24/7. The network has already set up studios in Tel Aviv, Brussels and Kiev, and additional studios will be opened in Washington, Paris and London in the coming months. The network has 12 correspondents, all foreigners, who are currently deployed in six countries. The casting of reporters to cover the news in Israel, Europe and Russia will be completed in the coming days.

The network will begin its broadcasts in English, but its managers seek to offer news in seven additional languages, including Hebrew, French, Italian, Russian and German. "We'll broadcast everything that is newsworthy," says Alexander Zanzer, the channel's editor-in-chief in Brussels, where the station is based.

"Alongside general news, we'll offer economic and cultural items, as well as a peek into educational projects. Everything you can see on other global news channels, you'll be able to see on our channel as well."

So what is the new channel's added value? Its emphasis is on Judaism. According to the station's managers, it will focus on issues the Israeli and Jewish news consumer is interested in, mostly from a secular-cultural angle. For example, Zanzer reveals, the network will air an exclusive interview with famous American Jewish director Steven Spielberg, who will be visiting Belgium next month.

"We are first and foremost a Jewish channel, which offers news about Jews and about issues that interest Jews," says the editor-in-chief. "A large part of the reports will focus on Israel."

The channel's owners are businessmen Igor Kolomoisky and Vadim Rabinovich, the president and vice president of the European Jewish Union. So far, they have invested US $5 million in its foundation. Sources in the new station stressed Sunday that it would enjoy freedom of the press and will not be committed to any organization, party or religious stream.

"If [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu or [Foreign Minister] Avigdor Lieberman does something which is perceived negatively, we will report it, because we're a news network," Zanzer explains. "On the other hand, of course, we'll seek to broadcast positive things about Israel and the Diaspora Jewry."

By Akiva Novick, Ynetnews, September 19, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord for this development among international news outlets. Pray that Jewish News 1 will be successful in telling Israel's story and swaying public opinion.

Scripture
"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:7-8).
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9. After 38 Years of Closure, Israel Reopens Embassy in Ghana
At a time when Israel's diplomatic activities have grown increasingly intense, Jerusalem was able to enjoy some good news in the foreign relations front recently with the reopening of the Israeli embassy in the African nation of Ghana. Israel's Ambassador to Ghana, Sharon Bar-Li, in a phone interview with The Mideast Update, said they hope the diplomatic move will open the door to more interaction and cooperation between the two nations, which have a number of ties already.

The embassy had been closed following the severing of diplomatic relations between the two nations as part of a step taken by a number of African nations after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Later some contacts were renewed, with a reinstatement of diplomatic relations in 1994. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited the African nation in 2009 and reassured Ghana of Israel's intention to officially reopen the embassy. Previously the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria covered Ghana.

"I think this is very important to Israel and very important to Ghana as well," said Ambassador Bar-Li. She said it highlights the Israeli understanding "of the importance of Africa, which is now an arriving continent, and Ghana specifically."

She points out that Ghana is experiencing "enhanced economic development" - an expected13% growth rate in 2011 - has begun oil production, has gold and is number two in the world in cocoa bean exports.

Their prestige has reached the world stage diplomatically as well: US President Barack Obama visited Ghana in 2009. "Ghana is actually becoming a gateway to all of western Africa," said Bar-Li.

While she is excited about the reopening of the embassy on the national level, Bar-Li notes it's exciting for her personally. "Having the opportunity to be the ambassador who will reopen a resident embassy of Israel in the Republic of Ghana after 38 years of absence, I think is a great thing," said Bar-Li.

"It's a great opportunity, both for me personally and for both countries…Being an official representative of the State of Israel, and being a woman I must say, is received here [by the Ghanaians] as if I'm following the giant footsteps of our legendary foreign minister [Golda Meir]. And this is of course heart-warming."

(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, September 16, 2011)

Prayer Focus
Thank the Lord for Israel's growing level of relationships with African nations. Pray that the Lord will richly bless those countries that are standing with Israel.

Scripture
"Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed'" (Genesis 12:1-3).
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Note: All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
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