Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) recently arrested 19 year old Nasser Masarwa, an Israeli Arab on suspicion of fighting with rebels in Syria. They believe he originally joined global jihadi elements in Syria to try to locate his brother who is fighting with the Syrian rebels. Nasser underwent military training with rebel forces, - including weapons training and was offered the possibility of carrying out a suicide bombing against the army of the Assad regime. Nasser said he refused this. Security forces said, ‘Arab Israelis who travel to Syria are exposed to radical ideology and could be exploited for a terror attack in Israel due to their knowledge of targets in the country.’- adding that this represented a serious national security issue. On Wednesday Nasser was charged with ‘contact with a foreign agent, illegal military training, and travelling to an enemy state.’

Pray: for the peace of Jerusalem. (Ps.122:6)

More: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Shin-Bet-arrests-Israeli-Arab-who-joined-Syrian-rebels-309319

Israel launched three air raids on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday as military top brass weighed a stronger response to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory. The targets included a training camp of a military wing of Hamas, an arms dump and two rocket launch sites hours after Gaza militants fired six rockets at southern Israel residents. The number of rockets fired on Monday dropped significantly from Sunday when dozens of missiles prompted Israel to stage a series of overnight raids. It was unclear if the slowdown was a step towards a more decisive truce, or a lull. The latest flare-up killed six Palestinians and wounded eight Israelis. Benjamin Netanyahu warned, ‘Israel has the complete right and obligation to protect its citizens. We’ll not sit with our arms folded in the face of repeated, almost daily, attacks.’ The violence coming amid an Israeli election campaign raises concern of a broader Israeli military campaign.

Pray: that this violence will not escalate. (Ez.26:15)

More: http://tribune.com.pk/story/464959/israel-launches-retaliatory-air-raids-on-gaza/

The division between Arab and Jewish citizens is reflected in institutions, culture and national identities. Palestinian-Israelis reject Zionism as colonialist and racist. The Jews see themselves as the genuine proprietors of the Land of Israel. Both sides reject the most cherished values of the other. However some are working towards coexistence and reconciliation through ‘Musalah’ a ministry with a vision to see reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians first among Christian believers and then to those of interfaith communities. Please click the more button below to discover how they are improving Arab-Jewish coexistence through Summer Camps for the Israeli and Palestinian youth. Please pray for Hebron Camp that that started July 2nd with 120+ children registered and the July 18-23 camp in Petah Tikvah, Israel, giving Israeli and Palestinian children the opportunity to build friendships at a young age and see those from the other side as their brothers and sisters in the Messiah.

Pray: for the follow up for youth who attended these and similar camps of reconciliation amongst the youth, that they will continue to pray and listen to one another. (Ps.138:7-8)

More: http://www.musalaha.org/

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has launched a diplomatic campaign to gain full United Nations membership, (See Prayer Alert 37-2011) This Friday he intends to officially notify UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of his intentions. Washington has threatened to veto any such move. Both the United States and Israel said Abbas’s move could dash hopes of resuming peace talks. Their warnings came amid reports that Britain and other countries are coming under growing US pressure to oppose a Palestinian bid for statehood. Abbas had meetings on Tuesday with French and Lebanese Presidents seeking support ahead of Friday’s speech to the General Assembly. Senior diplomats from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - the Quartet of Middle East mediators - have also met throughout the week seeking a way forward. Israel and America are calling the Palestinian Authority to open up direct negotiations to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Pray: that God will not allow President Abbas’s actions to prompt violent repercussions in the area. (Is.46:4)

More: http://www.islamonline.net/en/Page/Home

The European Union and the United States have condemned Israeli plans for the construction of 1,100 new housing units in occupied East Jerusalem as being counterproductive to negotiations on peace talks with the Palestinians. They responded sharply to the Israeli interior ministry's announcement on Tuesday that it had approved plans for the new housing units in Gilo, an illegal settlement enclave in southeast Jerusalem. The ministry said construction could begin after a mandatory 60-day period for public comment, a process that is largely a formality. Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said that the settlement plans were ‘counter-productive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties’. Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, condemned the Israeli decision, saying it amounted to ‘1,100 no's to the resumption of peace talks’. He urged the US to change its position and support the Palestinians in their quest for full UN membership.

Pray: for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian situation, with acceptable boundaries and a lasting cease-fire.(2Ch.7:14).

More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/201192851113137636.html

The UN will be voting on a resolution to grant Palestine (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) statehood on September 20, 2011. As the vote approaches, violence against Israel is on the rise. On a single day in August 2011, terrorists armed with bombs and guns attacked buses, cars and army patrols, killing seven. Terrorists fired more than 80 rockets into Israel the weekend of August 20 and 21. These attacks have been ongoing with dozens of missiles hitting Israel each day. In response, Israel began air raids, bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. On September 20, the UN General Assembly will vote on whether or not to allow the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to become member nations. Even if the vote is in favour of membership for the territories, it could still be vetoed by the UN Security Council.

Pray: for Christians globally to understand that the most important resolution is for everyone in the land to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for the will of the King of all nations to be done. (Je.10:7)

More: http://www.win1040.com/post.php?id=1304

Women of Iraq have suffered the pain of three wars in 32 years. As a result 9% of Iraqi women are widows. Often the younger recently widowed women with only one or two children find new husbands. But for older widows and those having more children remarriage is rare and sometimes impossible. Several foreign governments actively helped the widows while their military forces were in Iraq. The Iraqi government itself has also made efforts to help the women, but the sheer scale of the problem is overwhelming for government agencies and their budgets. One can imagine the distress of women who have lost their husbands in a society which restricts female work and social activities. Having enough well-paying work to raise a family is beyond their ability, for many. A number have even turned to short or long term prostitution.

Pray: for a workable network of administration of resources to be created for orphans and widows. (Ja.1:27) Pray also during Ramadan for the people of Iraq to meet Jesus Christ (John 17:3).

More: http://www.30-days.net/muslims/muslims-in/mid-near-east/iraqi-widows/

Since the withdrawal of troops from Iraq a series of deadly attacks have threatened the political stability of the nation. The government’s strategy is to make peace with as many insurgent groups as possible – including Asaib Ahl al-Haq an Iranian-backed militia. The government welcomed Asaib Ahl al-Haq into its political system and experts say this could ‘tilt the nation’s centre of gravity closer to Iran.’ Asaib Ahl al-Haq operated in Iraq during the nine-year war bombing military convoys and bases, assassinating dozens of Iraqi officials, and tried to carry out kidnappings even as the last NATO forces were leaving the region. Many believe welcoming Asaib Ahl al-Haq (which has an almost nonexistent track record of peace) could backfire and hand Tehran greater influence. Please pray for the leadership void in Iraq to be filled with men and women who will govern with integrity, in humility and the fear of the Lord.

Pray: for Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to have wisdom in all his leadership decisions and for Christians to be used by God in stabilising the nation. (Pr.1:7&Jos.1:7)

More: http://win1040.com/blog/2012/01/09/iraq-welcomes-iranian-malitia/

A wave of bombings across Iraq including 10 locations in Baghdad has killed 83 people and wounded nearly 300, Iraqi police say. Many of the dead in the Iraqi capital were Shia pilgrims gathering for a religious festival. In Hilla, two car bombs exploded near a restaurant, killing at least 21 people. There has been a wave of attacks on the Shia community in recent days, as it marks the anniversary of the death of Shia Imam Moussa al-Kadhim. Three bombs exploded in Kirkuk, with one of them targetting the headquarters of Kurdish President Massoud Barzani. There are also reports of bombs in Mosul, Balad, and Karbala. Violence in Iraq has fallen since the sectarian killings of a few years ago, but militants still frequently attack security forces and civilians. Wednesday has been one of the deadliest days of violence since the foreign troops withdrew from Iraq last December.

Pray: that the violence across Iraq would cease and that Sunni, Shia and Kurdish communities would seek peace. (Gen.6:11-12)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18420488