CHRISTMAS IN JERUSALEM
For most Israelis Christmas Day is a working day like any other but I am not sorry to miss out on all the glitz and glitter, and the shopping madness of Christmas abroad. Instead, on Christmas Eve, after a lovely meal with friends, I attended the annual carol singing service put on by the congregation of Christ Church, in the Old City. It was very special. In the understated British way, the church opened its doors for all and sundry with warmth and sincerity, welcoming us all in from the chilly night with warm mulled wine, soup and home-made Christmas cookies. In spite of the cold, and the fact that two Israeli citizens had been brutally killed just a stone's throw away the day before, a good crowd filled the church to overflowing and for several hours we sang and sang all those wonderful songs of Christmas. It was so simple and so real.
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| At the Carol Singing in Christ Church, in the Old City |
How good it was just to be with brothers and sisters in the Lord to celebrate this special event, the central point perhaps of all human history, the birth of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). The following day at my own congregation we sang some of those same Christmas Carols but this time translated into Hebrew. That too was special. Many Messianic believers refuse to celebrate Christmas as it is seen as a Gentile pagan festival. I understand this point of view, but I see it differently. I see the coming of our Lord, even if it didn't happen at this time of the year (and it almost certainly did not), as something worth celebrating. Why not then join in with the brethren all over the world as we celebrate together. I choose to rejoice in the fact that even if many of the European traditions surrounding Christmas did originate with pagan religion, our Lord Yeshua has overcome all that, just as he took away our old lives, and gave us new life in Him.
On Boxing Day, feeling a bit sad as it was the first anniversary of the passing of my mother, I spent a pleasant few hours strolling around the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, rejoicing in the beauty of life and God's creation. There I saw a group of ring-tailed lemurs all cuddling together in a ball and it made me think of Psalm 133, which says:
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| Lemur 'ball' at the Zoo |
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
A few days ago, Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah threatened a revenge attack on Israel for the assassination of Samir al-Kuntar, a senior Hezbollah official, the previous week in Beirut. Although a rebel group in Syria claimed responsibility, Nasrallah remains convinced that it was carried out by Israel, and he said,
"The response for the assassination of al-Kuntar is coming, there’s no doubt. The Israelis have a reason to be worried, in the border area and outside it,” and added that the response was “now up to the resistance fighters.”
https://www.rt.com/news/327216-nasrallah-vows-vengeance-israel/
ISIS in the North, East and South
In the Bible ostriches are often linked together with jackals, beasts of the desert, and are a symbol of abandonment. For example, Isaiah prophesied of the fall of Babylon saying,
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore
Psalm 133
This affirmation of life and love stand in stark contrast to the words of death and hatred we hear every day here coming from the followers of the lying god of Islam. This week we passed the '100 days of terror' mark since the first knifing death, on September 14th, of the current terror wave. Here are the cold statistics, as they appear on the Israel Defense Forces website: (as of December 25 )
Here is a summary of attacks over just the last two weeks:
December 26
4:20 P.M. – Palestinian rammed car into IDF forces south of Nablus, wounding a soldier. Forces responded and shot the assailant.
December 25
4:55 P.M. – Attempted car ramming attack in Silwad. Assailant shot.
December 24
10:30 A.M. – A Palestinian armed with screwdriver approached checkpoint near Hebron and attempted to stab forces. Forces responded and shot perpetrator.
9:20 A.M. – A Palestinian armed with a knife stabbed two people in Ariel. The two victims were security personnel. They respond and shot assailant.
December 23
1:20 P.M. – Two assailants stabbed 3 Israeli civilians near Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate. 2 people succumbed to their wounds. Assailants shot. (Note: a third died later)
December 20
10:00 P.M. – A gunman shot at IDF forces, damaging a military post near Hebron.
1:00 P.M. – Assailant attempted to stab soldiers in Hebron. Assailant arrested and evacuated for medical treatment.
December 19
4:20 P.M. – Palestinian stabbed 3 Israelis in Raanana. Assailant arrested.
December 18
4:45 P.M. – Car ramming attack thwarted during violent riot near Ramallah. Assailant shot.
3:20 P.M. – Palestinian assailant attempted to ram vehicle into security forces at Kalandia Crossing. Assailant shot.
December 17
11:30 A.M. – Palestinian with knife attempted to stab forces after being approached for questioning. Perpetrator shot.
December 14
7:00 P.M. – Israeli woman wounded after rocks were hurled at her vehicle near Beit Arye.
3:30 P.M. – Driver rams vehicle at pedestrians at entrance to Jerusalem, injuring 11. An ax was found in car. Assailant shot.
https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2015/11/25/live-updates-terror-strikes-israel/
Since this list was published there have been a number of additional attacks, the latest being yesterday (1 January) when a gunman opened fire on people celebrating a birthday in a street-side bar in Tel Aviv . Two young men were killed outright and a further six injured. The attacker, a 29-year old Arab from the Wadi Ara area, has not yet been captured.
Apart from the ongoing so-called "Intifada of the Knives" Israel continues to face threats from several other sources.
Hezbollah in the North
- 99 Stabbing attacks
- 35 Shooting attacks
- 21 Car Ramming attacks
Here is a summary of attacks over just the last two weeks:
December 26
4:20 P.M. – Palestinian rammed car into IDF forces south of Nablus, wounding a soldier. Forces responded and shot the assailant.
December 25
4:55 P.M. – Attempted car ramming attack in Silwad. Assailant shot.
December 24
10:30 A.M. – A Palestinian armed with screwdriver approached checkpoint near Hebron and attempted to stab forces. Forces responded and shot perpetrator.
9:20 A.M. – A Palestinian armed with a knife stabbed two people in Ariel. The two victims were security personnel. They respond and shot assailant.
December 23
1:20 P.M. – Two assailants stabbed 3 Israeli civilians near Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate. 2 people succumbed to their wounds. Assailants shot. (Note: a third died later)
10:00 P.M. – A gunman shot at IDF forces, damaging a military post near Hebron.
1:00 P.M. – Assailant attempted to stab soldiers in Hebron. Assailant arrested and evacuated for medical treatment.
December 19
4:20 P.M. – Palestinian stabbed 3 Israelis in Raanana. Assailant arrested.
December 18
4:45 P.M. – Car ramming attack thwarted during violent riot near Ramallah. Assailant shot.
3:20 P.M. – Palestinian assailant attempted to ram vehicle into security forces at Kalandia Crossing. Assailant shot.
December 17
11:30 A.M. – Palestinian with knife attempted to stab forces after being approached for questioning. Perpetrator shot.
December 14
7:00 P.M. – Israeli woman wounded after rocks were hurled at her vehicle near Beit Arye.
3:30 P.M. – Driver rams vehicle at pedestrians at entrance to Jerusalem, injuring 11. An ax was found in car. Assailant shot.
https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2015/11/25/live-updates-terror-strikes-israel/
Since this list was published there have been a number of additional attacks, the latest being yesterday (1 January) when a gunman opened fire on people celebrating a birthday in a street-side bar in Tel Aviv . Two young men were killed outright and a further six injured. The attacker, a 29-year old Arab from the Wadi Ara area, has not yet been captured.
Apart from the ongoing so-called "Intifada of the Knives" Israel continues to face threats from several other sources.
Hezbollah in the North
A few days ago, Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah threatened a revenge attack on Israel for the assassination of Samir al-Kuntar, a senior Hezbollah official, the previous week in Beirut. Although a rebel group in Syria claimed responsibility, Nasrallah remains convinced that it was carried out by Israel, and he said,
"The response for the assassination of al-Kuntar is coming, there’s no doubt. The Israelis have a reason to be worried, in the border area and outside it,” and added that the response was “now up to the resistance fighters.”
https://www.rt.com/news/327216-nasrallah-vows-vengeance-israel/
ISIS in the North, East and South
The ISIS (Dai'esh) leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also threatened Israel in an audio recording released on Saturday (26th Dec), saying "The Jews thought we forgot Palestine and that they had distracted us from it, ... Not at all, Jews. We did not forget Palestine for a moment. With the help of Allah, we will not forget it… The pioneers of the jihadist fighters will surround you on a day that you think is distant and we know is close. We are getting closer every day."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4744423,00.html
This last week senior IDF officials warned that an ISIS-affiliated group, located in Syria about 15 km from the Israeli border, may be planning a large scale attack on Israel. This group of about 600 fighters possess a large arsenal of weapons, including anti-tank missiles, car bombs, machine guns, tanks and APCs. http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/57591/idf-serious-isis-threat-massing-israels-northern-border-israel-news/#qAsXyqvOtohS24s2.97
This last week senior IDF officials warned that an ISIS-affiliated group, located in Syria about 15 km from the Israeli border, may be planning a large scale attack on Israel. This group of about 600 fighters possess a large arsenal of weapons, including anti-tank missiles, car bombs, machine guns, tanks and APCs. http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/57591/idf-serious-isis-threat-massing-israels-northern-border-israel-news/#qAsXyqvOtohS24s2.97
Meanwhile this week there have been further revelations of the awful depth of depravity promoted by ISIS leaders. In May this year US Special Operations Forces in the course of a raid targeting a top Islamic State official in Eastern Syria uncovered a 'treasure trove' of documents and data belonging to ISIS. Two significant Fatwa's (official religious rulings) brought down by the Islamic State's Research and Fatwa Committee were among these documents. Fatwa 68, made in January 2015 , states that the harvesting of organs from living 'apostates' in order to save the life of a Muslim is permissible. It says:
"The apostate's life and organs don't have to be respected and may be taken with impunity,...
Organs that end the captive's life if removed: The removal of that type is also not prohibited."
The term 'apostate' is not defined in this Fatwa but the Islamic State has killed or imprisoned non-Muslims, such as Christians, Shiite Muslims, and even Sunni Muslims who don't follow its extremist views. This document does not give proof that such organ harvesting is in fact taking place, but even before it came to light there had been allegations made of such an abomination occurring.
A second Fatwa, number 64, gives a detailed ruling on when and how ISIS "owners" of female captive slaves may or may not have sex with them. The fact that the Islamic State systematically enslaves and condones the rape of captive women is well documented. This Fatwa does not prohibit this practice but rather endorses and justifies it, while specifying some limitations on permitted intercourse.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4744261,00.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-islamic-state-sexslaves-exclusive-idUSKBN0UC0AO20151230
A translation of the Fatwa can be read on http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/doc/slaves_fatwa.pdf
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4744261,00.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-islamic-state-sexslaves-exclusive-idUSKBN0UC0AO20151230
A translation of the Fatwa can be read on http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/doc/slaves_fatwa.pdf
A wide number of military powers are actively fighting ISIS and it is hard to get a coherent picture of what is actually happening on the ground. A US-led coalition has carried out thousands of air strikes against ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. In addition a Russian-led coalition, an Egyptian-led coalition and an alliance of many Arab nations are all actively engaged in fighting ISIS, creating a confusing mosaic of who holds what and where in the MIddle East. An up-to-date map, as of 1 January 2016, can be viewed on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Syrian,_Iraqi,_and_Lebanese_insurgencies_detailed_map
For a summary of who is doing what the following article gives a summary, from a somewhat American biased viewpoint
The question remains - are these attempts sufficient to destroy the threat of ISIS both here in the Middle East and elsewhere? There have been some victories. Last week Islamist fighters were given free passage out of the Yarmouk Palestinian Refugee Camp in Syria in a deal brokered by the UN. This camp once housed 170, 000 Palestinians, who were caught between ISIS and other Islamist groups fighting against the Syrian regime and various rebel groups. ISIS eventually took over the camp and essentially besieged it. Most of the inhabitants fled or were killed by the fighting, disease and starvation. Only 5,000 remain. The 'freeing' of this camp is a small and somewhat hollow victory it would seem, but perhaps a ray of hope.
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| An apocalyptic scene as survivors in the Yamouk camp queue for food http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4744324,00.html |
Hamas in the South
Last night (1 January) missile alert sirens sounded once again in the south of Israel as a volley of at least 4 missiles were fired from Hamas-held Gaza Strip. At least two of the missiles landed inside the Gaza Strip but two landed in Israel in open areas causing no casualties. These ongoing attacks remind us that Hamas still represents a serious threat to Israel. This past week the IDF (Israel Defense Force) carried out exercises in the south in preparation for the horrifying potential scenario of a school being captured, and children held hostage, by a infiltration of Hamas terrorists from Gaza.
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| IDF troops simulate a rescue of school children hostages https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2015/10/15/parents-worst-nightmare-terrorists-infiltrating-schools/ |
Hamas has publically admitted that it has instructed sleeper cells in the West Bank to carry out suicide bombings inside the Green Line (in Israel proper). So far this has not happened but recently Shin Bet and the IDF captured and arrested members of one such cell in Abu Dis (an Arab village near Jerusalem which I can actually see from my apartment!) and which was close to carrying out an attack. They also uncovered a lab in which they were manufacturing explosives. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4746811,00.html
Happy New Year ?
This is the situation as we enter the new year of 2016. What will it bring? That I cannot answer but I do know that God is still in control and in spite of the threats all around and even within us, Israel is much beloved of God, and He has said that he who harms his chosen people will be destroyed. We cling to these promises and continue to trust in the LORD God of Israel.
Now also many nations have gathered against you,
Who say, “Let her be defiled,
And let our eye look upon Zion.”
But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,
Nor do they understand His counsel;
For He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
Micah 4: 11-12
And now for a little light relief....
An ostrich was found taking a stroll in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo. Unaware of the danger of approaching a large animal whose kick can kill a man, some people posed for selfies and children came out of a nearby school to pat it. Fortunately the ostrich did not attack and was eventually captured by the city veterinary services and the owner. The owner will be charged with keeping a protected wild animal without a license. The ostrich meanwhile has now found a new home in the Biblical Zoo. Ostriches once roamed the wilderness in Israel but have been extinct in the wild here since the 1920s. Attempts to reintroduce them to the Negev have so far failed.
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| An ostrich takes a stroll down the street in Gilo, Jerusalem http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4745056,00.html |
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 It will never be inhabited,
Nor will it be settled from generation to generation;
Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there,
Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there.
21 But wild beasts of the desert will lie there,
And their houses will be full of owls;
Ostriches will dwell there,
And wild goats will caper there.
22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels,
And jackals in their pleasant palaces.
Her time is near to come,
And her days will not be prolonged.”
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 It will never be inhabited,
Nor will it be settled from generation to generation;
Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there,
Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there.
21 But wild beasts of the desert will lie there,
And their houses will be full of owls;
Ostriches will dwell there,
And wild goats will caper there.
22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels,
And jackals in their pleasant palaces.
Her time is near to come,
And her days will not be prolonged.”
Isaiah 13: 19-22
But speaking of the restoration of Israel, the LORD had this to say:
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise
Isaiah 43: 19-21.
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| An ostrich in the Hai Bar Reserve near Eilat |
