TERROR AT THE LION'S GATE
On Friday morning I switched on the news and learned that two policemen had been killed and another injured by three gunmen at the Lion's Gate in the Old City, near the entrance to the Temple Mount. In addition, a paramedic attending the scene was lightly injured by shrapnel. The three terrorists opened fire on the police guarding the area using rifles and a handgun and then fled towards the mosques on the Temple Mount, but were shot and killed by other police in the area. The gunmen were from the Israeli Arab village of Umm-el-Fahm. The two murdered policemen were Staff Sergeant Major Ha'il Satawi (30) and Staff Sergeant Major Kamil Shnaan (22) from the Druze villages of Maghar and Hurfeish respectively.
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| Shnaan (L) and Satawi (R) - murdered policemen http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4989360,00.html Satawi's wife gave birth to their first son just two weeks ago. Here is a photo of Satawi with his little son. What a beautiful but terribly sad photo. This little boy will never know his father.
The other murdered officer, Shnaan, was to have become engaged in September. I include these photos to remind us all of the human tragedy of these attacks. We have so many terror victims it is easy to grow seemingly indifferent, but every such loss is like a ripple in a pond that spreads and affects so many others. Deep down we are all in continual mourning for our lost ones. Whether we knew them personally or not we share the loss.
The Druze community has suffered more than its fair share of such losses. I should explain that the approx.137, 000 member Druze community in Israel swear allegiance to the State of Israel and many of them serve as soldiers in the IDF or as policemen. They are exemplary soldiers who often serve in the most dangerous situations and often consequently pay a very high price. Nevertheless, their loyalty to Israel never wavers, and they are an example of what could be if we all could chose to live together in peace as they have done. Although Druze speak Arabic and most consider themselves ethnically Arab, they are not Muslim and have their own religion. The Druze religion branched off from Islam in the 10th and 11th Century and incorporated elements from many other religions and philosophies. The religion is monotheistic and they recognize many prophets including Mohammed, Jesus and John the Baptist, but their most revered prophet is Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, the Priest of Midian. Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel the Druze faced discrimination from the Muslim powers, but now they have full recognition and citizenship in Israel, and are the only non-Jewish group who are conscripted into the army, this at their own request. They are respected by Israelis as loyal citizens, many of whom have risen to high positions in both civilian and military life.
This is just the last of a whole litany of terror attacks in Jerusalem this year, mostly in and around the Old City. Ynetnews published a summary of these attacks, and I quote:
This attack was preceded by several stabbings and shootings in the capital, as Jerusalem's Old City and its surroundings have become a focal point for terrorist activities since the beginning of the year.
In June, three terrorists armed with semi-automatic weapons and knives struck in two different parts of Old City near the Damascus Gate, fatally wounding 23-year-old border policewoman Hadas Malka, who later succumbed to her wounds. Five others were wounded in the attack.
In May, a 37-year-old police officer was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack near the Lions' Gate. The terrorist, Mohammad Abdullah Salim al-Kasji, a 57-year-old Jordanian citizen, arrived in Israel a week prior via the Jordan River crossing in Beit Shean. He was critically wounded in the attack.
In April, a British student named Hannah Bladon was killed after being stabbed multiple times in the chest in a terror attack at IDF Square on Jerusalem’s light rail route. Bladon studied at the Hebrew University as part of a student exchange program, for only one semester.
Just two weeks before that, two civilians and one police officer were moderately wounded during a stabbing attack on Hagai Street in Jerusalem's Old City. The terrorist was shot dead by security forces after being chased by the police and Border Police.
In March, two 20-year-old border policemen were moderately wounded after being stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist in another attack that took place near the Lions' Gate. The attacker was shot dead by one of the injured officers.
In January, four IDF soldiers—three women and a man in their 20s—were murdered and 17 wounded when a Palestinian truck driver deliberately rammed into pedestrians on a popular promenade overlooking the Old City.
These attacks are just the latest in the so-called terror wave which began in September 2015. Last month the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published these statistics for this period:
Twenty months of terror – 13 September 2015 to the present
Most of these attacks occurred in or around Jerusalem, and are motivated by the lie that the Mosque of Omar on the Temple Mount is in danger. After Friday's attack the Temple Mount was closed to all worshippers as the police combed the area for weapons and/or other terrorists. This of course has caused an outcry from the Muslims accusing Israel of changing the 'status quo'. The reality, however, is that it is the terrorists who have caused any so-called change to the 'status quo'. It is they who have defiled the sanctity of the site, not Israel. In fact, there is no change to the status quo as the Mosque will be reopened for prayers on Sunday, and this is by no means the first time the site has been closed because of the security situation.
It seems to me however that there is a general increase in general tension in the Muslim sector in recent days. Over the past few days there has been a drastic increase in the sound of gunfire coming from the nearby Arab villages of Jebel Mukaber and Tsur Baher. On Thursday it continued most of the day and well into the night. This has not happened since the police cracked down on it and similar activities several months ago. It seems as the summer heat reaches its peak so do tensions.
Life in Jerusalem continues unabated and summer is the time for many festivities, shows and events which attract thousands of locals and visitors. Please pray for safety for these events. I thank God that the tourists, mostly Evangelical Christians, are still coming in large numbers. The economy of our city depends largely on this and we also appreciate the support and prayers of these welcome visitors. I was most encouraged and amused the other day when I went into the city and discovered a group of Korean Christians worshipping God in song right there in the middle of Ben Yehuda St, one of the main streets of Jerusalem. They were attracting a very appreciative crowd, religious and secular alike, who were all taking photos, sending videos and clapping along in time with them. I was laughing to myself because these people had no idea what these Koreans were singing about - Yeshua (Jesus). If they had known they would not have been so appreciative! I thank this group and others like them who with great boldness and love proclaim Yeshua in the streets of our city.
Korean Christians singing in Ben Yehuda Mall
We are experiencing the hottest July I can remember and temperatures are reaching the mid-thirties Celsius every day over the whole country, and there is little relief even at night. Many of us are struggling with the heat which is tiring and makes every little task seem worse than normal. I am in the throes of packing to move house and it is hard going. I seem to get so little done each day and time is running out on me. However, at least I am indoors. Spare a thought, and a prayer, for those who are working outdoors often doing very hard physical labor in this heat. Last week I helped a friend move and I felt so bad for the men who were having to tote her furniture and boxes down the equivalent of about 4-5 flights of stairs to the truck and then up two flights into her new home all in the heat of the day which reached 37 degrees. I am praying the day I move will not be so hot. It is the custom here that leases run from summer to summer which means people are always moving in the worst of the heat, something I have never understood. I suppose it is a habit that was imported from Europe where it would make some sense, but its one custom I would sure like to change.
Please also continue to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and especially for the courageous police and soldiers who guard our city. They are often the targets for the terrorists and are putting their lives at risk so the rest of us can go about our daily lives. Apart from the dangers they must stand about on corners, in full battle gear, in the stifling heat fighting dehydration, heat stress and boredom. Here is a photo of some of our animal friends who also help protect us - many of the streets and alleyways of Jerusalem are too narrow for cars and horses are used instead. I love these police horses who are so beautifully kept and groomed. Pray also for their safety and also that of the police dogs who also play an important role, without even understanding why, but just out of love and loyalty for their human friends.
A passerby feeding a police horse an apple under the watchful eye of his master (not a practice that is encouraged but she did ask permission).
Israel is a sinful nation and we fall far short of God's standards. We have strayed into man-made religious systems of belief and practice, or at the other extreme, hedonistic materialism. Our rabbis are blind guides, spreading error and lies. We as a nation are full of dishonest practices and corruption. The poor are oppressed. As a result there are many gaps in our spiritual wall of protection. We who worship the Lord are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the salvation of Israel. God is looking for people who will stand in the gaps, and stay his judgment. Please stand with us in prayer for God's protection and mercy.
Long ago, when Israel was full of sin God said,
Ezekiel 22: 30 On that occasion, he found no one, but I pray that in our day there will be found 'gap-fillers'. When God purposed to destroy Sodom Abraham plead with God to spare the city and God said if only ten righteous men were to be found in it, He would spare the city. Sadly ten righteous could not be found, and so only Lot and his family were saved out of the destruction. I am pleased to say that there are way more than ten counted righteous by the right of the blood of Jesus in this city today, but it is my prayer that we all may be found standing in the gaps. This is no easy task for the spiritual warfare here is intense, and therefore we need your support and prayers. PRAYER FERVENTLY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM AND THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL IN THE MESSIAH. PS. Please excuse all the formatting weirdness. It is Google Blogs that is not working properly. |
