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A senior US official told the BBC that attempts to get Israel to renew a partial freeze on settlement construction in occupied territory had failed. He said this did not mean the end of Washington's efforts to revive Middle East peace talks. There are about 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. The Palestinians say settlement-building and peace talks are incompatible. Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak said talks with the Americans had been postponed because Washington was distracted by the fallout from the release of secret documents by the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks and the crisis over North Korea. Pray: for a way forward that enables Israelis and Palestinians to trust and live with each other under Gods covering of peace. (Ps.133) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11943599
Before dawn on Monday 50 Bedouin residents were made homeless. A Christian Peacemaker Team observer reported, ‘Israeli demolition crews took down tents, filled the well and water cistern with earth, uprooted and buried olive trees. All that was left was a small stone bread oven and the cave where residents took shelter during the demolition.’ Residents say they have ownership papers for the land they are driven from. Israeli officials say they are living on state land and must evacuate. UN Humanitarian Coordinator said, ‘If the authorities responsible for demolitions could see the devastating impact on vulnerable Palestinian communities, they might reflect upon the inhumanity of their actions. See: On Tuesday Benjamin Netanyahu refused to negotiate for a peaceful settlement after Palestinian requests for Israel’s settlement activities to halt were vetoed by America. Hamas called for an end to all Palestinian-Israeli contacts. – See item 5 below. Pray: for Christians, Israelis and Bedouins living on the land to know true peace and reconciliation in their homes and communities. (Ps.133:1) More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-turn/2011/02/traveling_in_the_west_bank_par_1.html
Three mortar shells fired from Syria hit Israel on Thursday. One shell landed on a northern Israeli community, the other two exploded in open areas, in what appears to have been erroneous targeting. This is the third unusual incident involving Syria in less than a week. See: On Saturday three Syrian tanks crossed the demilitarized border in the Golan Heights. The demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights is patrolled by U.N. peacekeepers to maintain a ceasefire between the neighbours. Israeli media said the tanks were involved in the fighting with rebels. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Ron Prosor said, ‘The international community and the Security Council should address this alarming development without delay to prevent further dangerous escalation.’
Pray: for the security and stability of the region. (Ps.9:3-5)
A senior Israeli military intelligence official said on Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons last month in his battle against insurgent groups. It was the first time that Israel has accused the embattled Syrian leader of using his stockpile of non-conventional weapons. The assessment could raise pressure on the US and other Western countries to intervene in the Syrian conflict. Britain and France recently announced they had evidence that al-Assad's government had used chemical weapons. Although the US says it has not been able to verify these claims, President Obama has warned that the introduction of chemical weapons by al-Assad would be a ‘game changer.’ Israel borders southwestern Syria, although al-Assad is a bitter enemy, Israel has been careful not to take sides - the border with Israel has been quiet for 40 years. Israeli officials are concerned al-Assad's stockpile of chemical weapons and other advanced arms could reach the hands of al-Assad's ally, the Hizbollah guerrilla group in Lebanon. See item 6 above.
Pray: Against sophisticated arsenals of weapons being used, and continued peace on the Syria Israeli border. (Jdg.3:11)
More: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57580879/israel-syria-used-chemical-weapons-several-times/
On Monday Israel's Tazpit News Agency reported that hundreds of residents of the Gush Etzion area were ‘astounded’ to find a Nazi flag flying next to a mosque in the Palestinian town of Beit Ummar. The IDF were notified immediately. Local resident Uri Arnon said, ‘I felt we were going back 75 years, losing our hold on the land. The Arabs no longer feel the need to hide their murderous tendencies, announcing out loud that they wish to destroy us.’ Gush Etzion is a cluster of Israeli settlements of 70,000 people founded in the 1920’s south of Jerusalem. After the Six-Day War in 1967 many settlements, and a number of new ones, were rebuilt. There has been a history of Nazi sympathizers in the area among some Palestinians since the 1920’s when the Palestinian leader Haj Amin al Husseini (an outspoken Nazi collaborator) recruited Muslims to serve in the SS.
Pray: against violent sectarian incidences in the area. (Ps.46:9)
In 1997, CIA Director George Tenet told Congress that Syria had or was actively developing chemical and biological weapons. Syria is considered to have one of the most advanced chemical weapon programs in the Arab world. See: http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/syria/chem.html On Wednesday a senior Israeli official said ‘it is clear that chemical weapons were recently used in Syria’ and that the attack will be a main topic of conversation with visiting President Barack Obama at the end of this week. The statement conflicts with US assessments of ‘no evidence’ behind Tuesday's chemical weapons attack on a village in the north of Syria. However, a senior US defence official told the Associated Press that he concurred chemical weapons had been used. He spoke anonymously because he is not allowed to speak to the media. Israel is concerned that Syria's chemical arsenal could fall into the hands of anti-Israel militants like Lebanon's Hezbollah, an al-Assad ally, or an al-Qaida-linked group fighting with the Syrian rebels.
Pray: against the use of chemical weapons in the middle east, in the light of Obama’s declaration of military intervention should they be proven to be used. (Pr.2:10-12)
More: http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-official-chemical-weapons-used-syria-095543871.html
Late on Friday rockets were fired from Gaza at a southern Israeli farming region landing between two residential homes. The rocket attack came after ‘an Islamic Jihad terrorist’ was wounded by Israel Defense Force fire in the northern Gaza Strip earlier that night. Last week at least eight rockets were fired from Gaza, exploding in open fields in the northern Negev region. In Thailand two Iranians were charged over a bomb plot against Israeli diplomats. Tehran is accused of mounting a terror campaign against Israel and tensions between the arch-foes have risen sharply following three bomb incidents in world capitals in less than 24 hours. On Monday bombers targeted Israeli Embassy staff in India and Georgia. In Bangkok two Iranians were detained over three blasts that rattled the Thai capital on Tuesday. Bangkok officials cannot say yet it’s terrorist activity but it's similar to the assassination attempt against India’s diplomat. It is believed an Iranian assassination team has targeted Israeli diplomats.
Pray: For God's protection to envelop the people of Israel and Gaza, and for the thwarting of all violent schemes. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8419570/israel-blames-iran-for-bangkok-blast
Many Christian ministries are working in Israel towards reconciliation in challenging situations. The following are just two.We are asked to partner in prayer with ‘Musalaha’ Ministryof Reconciliation as they prepare for their national women’s reconciliation training event. Palestinian and Israeli women from all over the country will be meeting for training, fellowship, and prayer between May 23rd and May 25th on the topic of Reclaiming Identity. Also on May 15th and May 31st their local women’s groups who have just begun training will be meeting in Nazareth and Haifa; and we have been asked to pray for the process and that a spirit of fear would be driven from them. Also, working towards reconciliation between communities is ‘Bridges for Peace’. An expanding body of individuals and groups with a desire to see Christians and Jews working side byside for better understanding of each other. Reconciliation for a more secure Israel. See: http://www.bridgesforpeace.com/
Pray: for a harvest of changed lives as God works through these a nd other reconciliation ministries in Israel. (Job 5:16-18)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
The following are a portions of Statements by US Sec Kerry, Palestinian negotiator Erekat and Justice Min Livni on 30 Jul 2013. - Sec of State Kerry said, ‘I know the path is difficult but with Minister Tzipi Livni and Dr Saeb Erekat, standing side by side and sharing an Iftar meal together I’m convinced that we can get there.’ Dr Erekat said, ‘Palestinians have suffered enough, and no one benefits from the success of this endeavour than Palestinians. I am delighted that all final status issues are on the table and will be resolved without any exceptions, and it’s time for the Palestinian people to have an independent, sovereign state of their own. It’s time for the Palestinians to live in peace, freedom, and dignity within their own independent, sovereign state. Justice Minister Livni repeated the statement ‘failure is not an option’ and ‘in these negotiations it’s not our intention to argue about the past but to create solutions and make decisions for the future.’
Pray: that these negotiations would continue to completion, for God to be present in every future meeting and for a political recognition of each people group's aims that will become real and lasting. (Deut.32:10 & Zec.2:8; Gen.12:2-3 & Ps.122:6)
Voice Of the Martyrs sources say Messianic Jews in Israel are facing increased pressure from groups opposed to freedom of religion. One group, Yad L’Achim, staged a demonstration against a Messianic congregation of 150 in Ashdod. ‘The speech against believers was slanderous and vicious,’ said a VOM source. An Israeli television station recently profiling Yad L’Achim described them as a militia that goes outside the law to carry out its agenda. Many Messianic Jews have had residency visas and even their citizenship revoked once their faith in Jesus was discovered. Others face constant harassment at their homes and businesses. ‘It is very important for you who pray for the Messianic body in Israel to understand the depth of the paranoia and the hatred for the name of the true Messiah of Israel,’ the Voice of the Martyrs source said. Pray: for God to strengthen and encourage the persecuted, blessing those proclaiming His truth. (Jn.17:3)