O Jerusalem: July 2018

Monday, July 23, 2018

Heat Wave

HEAT WAVE

It is deliciously cool today (21/07) here on my Judean mountaintop, a welcome relief from the heat of this past week. There is a lovely fresh wind coming off the Mediterranean and even a few fluffy clouds in the sky. This is not normal for an Israeli summer, but then nothing is normal this summer. It has been a hotter than normal summer so far, with maximum daily temperatures reaching 3-4 degrees Celsius above normal.

Gaza

In contrast to today's pleasant weather, it has been a very hot week, not just in terms of the weather, but also in terms of the security situation. On Friday, 13 June, in a continuation of the 3-month long "March of Return" protests, thousands of Palestinians rioted in several locations along the Gaza border, burning tires and hurling grenades, explosive devices, and firebombs towards the security fence and IDF troops. An Israeli officer was injured by a grenade. An attempt was also made to breach the security fence and infiltrate Israel. The IDF responded by firing towards (but not at) the terrorists (1).

The IDF has adopted a policy of restraint in the face of these threats and has avoided firing live ammunition at rioters, or those launching incendiary balloons or kites into Israel, because many are women and children. However this situation is becoming intolerable. With an average of 21 fires being started each day, and repeated 'code red' (incoming rocket) sirens sounding in the communities around the Gaza border area, there is growing public pressure, especially from the people of those communities, for the government to deal with this situation once and for all.

The following day, Saturday 14th July, the IDF responded to Friday's rioting by attacking a tunnel in southern Gaza, a Hamas training site, and several complexes used to prepare the arson attacks. Hamas responded by firing 31 rockets and mortars into Israeli settlements. In response, the IDF targeted dozens of military installations including a Hamas battalion headquarters (1). The Israeli Air Force also struck an uncompleted high rise building in the Al Shati Refugee Camp in northern Gaza that was being used by Hamas to train its fighters, and which also had a tunnel dug underneath it. Hamas then fired a further 160 rockets and mortars into Israel. This brought to around 200 missiles fired into Israel, 30 of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile batteries, and 173 'red alerts' (incoming missile sirens) in the space of just 24 hours (1). Four members of the same Israeli family were injured, one seriously, when a rocket struck their home. A children's playground and a synagogue were also hit, but there were no additional casualties.

https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/hamas/hamas-fires-200-rockets-at-israel-in-just-24-hours/

Israelis run for shelter as a siren sounds during a rocket attack at the southern city of Sderot Jul

A family runs for cover as siren sounds for a rocket attack in the southern city of Sderot, July 14.
https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-warns-Hamas-after-rocket-barrage-as-UN-Egypt-push-cease-fire-562517

Later that Saturday night Hamas and Islamic Jihad agreed to a truce after pressure was applied by Egypt, the UN and other international bodies. The missiles stopped falling but next day four more fires were started in Israel by incendiary devices. As the week passed more and more incendiary devices flew into Israel until by the end of the week they were once more averaging around 20 per day. One day last week a dead falcon was found that had had incendiary material tied to its feet. How low can these terrorists stoop?

Yesterday two incendiary balloons were found in the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo. It is not known if they were released locally or had blown in the wind from Gaza. It is a worrying development nevertheless. The Jerusalem hills are covered by beautiful but tinder-dry pine and cypress forests interspersed with many settlements. If local Palestinians were to start using incendiary balloons and kites in this area it would be a disaster, and a phenomenon very difficult to stop.

Yesterday, Friday the 20th July, rioting along the Gaza border erupted once more, and there were several infiltration attempts. Explosive devices and shots were fired at Israeli troops and an IDF soldier was killed by direct sniper fire, the first to be killed in active duty on the Gaza front since Operation Protective Edge in 2014. A line was crossed!

Staff Sergeant Aviv Levi, killed on Friday by sniper fire from Gaza
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5314447,00.html

Last night (21/7) the IDF attacked some 60 targets in the Gaza Strip, including 4 battalion headquarters, training facilities, observation posts, command and control rooms, weapon caches, a storage facility for unmanned aircraft and a factory for making tunnel infrastructure. During this time Israeli residents in the Gaza border area were instructed to stay within 15 seconds of their safe rooms and to avoid mass gatherings. In the face of the fierce Israeli barrage, Hamas managed to fire off only three rockets into Israel during this time, and there was no damage or injuries.

Around midnight last night Eygpt and the UN again brokered a ceasefire with Hamas and Islamic Jihad and so far it appears to be holding. Only time will tell if it lasts. Going on past 'ceasefires' I don't have a lot of faith. It seems that Hamas is inevitably dragging us into greater and greater responses, and sooner or later we will have to enter into all-out war. No one here wants that but what else can we do?

The situation is intolerable and no nation on earth would have shown the restraint we have shown in recent months, but there is a limit, and we are fast approaching that line. Over the last week the IDF has carried out widespread training exercises involving both front-line troops and home front preparations for a potential attack and invasion of the Gaza Strip. The Iron Dome anti-missile defense systems around major towns and cities have been strengthened. This is intended as a warning for Hamas, but is also preparing for what could happen should Hamas not heed that warning.

The Gaza Strip was once part of the Philistine territory and Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron were the five Philistine cities. As the Babylonian Empire was spreading towards Israel, the Prophet Zephaniah said this:

Gaza will be abandoned

and Ashkelon left in ruins.

At midday Ashdod will be emptied

and Ekron uprooted.

Woe to you who live by the sea,

you Kerethite people;

the word of the Lord is against you,

Canaan, land of the Philistines.

He says, “I will destroy you,

and none will be left.”

The land by the sea will become pastures

having wells for shepherds

and pens for flocks.

That land will belong

to the remnant of the people of Judah;

there they will find pasture.

In the evening they will lie down

in the houses of Ashkelon.

The Lord their God will care for them;

he will restore their fortunes.

Zephaniah 2: 4-7

Ekron today
http://www.aiar.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AirView-Tel-Miqne-1.jpg

This prophecy has already been partially fulfilled. The Babylonians totally razed the city of Ekron, and the Philistines fled or were captured leaving Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Gath abandoned. Today Israel occupies Ashkelon, and Ashdod but Gath and Ekron are still just ruins. According to this prophecy, one day Gaza too will belong to the remnant of the people of Judah. Will Israel be forced into capturing Gaza in the near future? I don't know. I do know that we do not want war nor do we want to occupy the Gaza Strip. What would we do with the nearly 2 million Gazan Palestinians, many of whom hate us and want only our destruction? On the other hand it seems like Hamas is on its way out. The present confrontations are its death throes, and a desperate attempt to gain the favor of its citizens. It has however spectacularly failed the people of Gaza, who are more and more expressing their dissatisfaction. How much longer will they tolerate Hamas rule? But who else will rule them? The Palestinian Authority is weak and has its own problems in the West Bank, Egypt doesn't want them and the Gazan people are neither sufficiently organized nor capable of self-rule at this point of time. The situation seems insoluble.

Syria

Meanwhile in the north, the Syrian Army continues to push towards the south and west, drawing ever closer to the Israeli border. So far Assad's army has recaptured large areas of this region which had been partly under the control of the rebel Free Syrian Army and partly under the control of Islamic State affiliated Khalid Ibn al-Walid Army. A heavy bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces of the Yarmouk Basin led to a large number of civilians fleeing the area towards the Israeli border. On Thursday the previous week (12/07) the rebel army in Daraa surrendered to Assad's forces in return for assurances of safe passage to Idlib province for the fighters and their families. Yesterday these refugees were put onto buses for the transfer. During the operation a number of refugees were killed when a bus crushed them. Daraa lies on the main highway between Damascus and Jordan and is the cradle of the rebel uprising that began in 2011.

According to the UN some 120,000 Syrians have fled the area but many have nowhere to go since both Israel and Jordan are denying them entry. Camped out near the borders they are without adequate food, water or shelter. Last Tuesday dozens of Syrian refugees, waving white flags, approached the Israeli border begging for entry to the Golan Heights, where many of them have relatives. Israel made it clear to them that they would not permit them to enter Israeli territory but would do everything it could to assist them with humanitarian aid. Israel has treated between 4000-4500 Syrian war casualties and some 3000 others requiring medical treatment since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war 5 years ago (2). In addition it has provided tents, food, clothing and children's toys for Syrian refugees near the Israeli border.

After taking Daraa Assad's forces turned their attention to the region of Quneitra which lies adjacent to the Israeli Golan Heights. On Thursday (19/07) Assad's forces, with the help of Russian troops, fired some 800 missiles into the area.

On Saturday night, even while the IDF was busy fighting in Gaza, it also carried out a daring rescue of some 450 of Syria's volunteer civil defense group, the White Helmets, whose lives were at immediate risk, and who were trapped in Quneitra. The IDF did this at the request of the US and European countries. The White Helmets are credited with saving hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in rubble or caught up in the fighting, and incurred the wrath of Assad's regime by reporting the use of gas against civilians. They were taken to Jordan but it is intended that these refugees will be resettled in the UK, Canada and Germany.

Rescue workers work at the site of airstrikes in the al-Sakhour neighborhood of the rebel-held part of eastern Aleppo, Syria, September 21, 2016. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-evacuates-800-of-syrias-white-helmets-and-their-families-to-jordan/

Tisha B'Av

Today is Tisha B'Av, the 9th Day of the Jewish Month of Av, and it is a day of mourning and fasting which commemorates the destruction of both the first and second Temples, which occurred on this day. In addition there is a long list of other historical calamities which occurred on this date:
- the spies sent out to spy out the promised land returned to the people with their bad report and on the 9th of Av the people cried out that they would rather go back to Egypt than be slaughtered by the Canaanites. God was displeased and on this date sent them into the desert for 40 years of wandering.
- on this date the Jewish rebels under Simon Bar Kochba were brutally defeated by the Roman Army at Betar, spelling the end of the rebel uprising and their Messianic expectations.
- a year after the rebel defeat the Romans plowed over the site of the Temple
- in 1290 CE (AD) the Jews were expelled from England
- in 1492 CE the Jews were expelled from Spain
- both World Wars started on this day (3).

In Israel it is observed as a day of mourning by mainly the religious community, and most places of entertainment are closed, but for over half of Israelis is it considered 'just another day' (4)

LGBT demonstrations

This year Tisha B'Av is being marked by large demonstrations nationwide as thousands protest the exclusion of gay couples right to have children by surrogacy in the new surrogacy law passed this week. Demonstrations have blocked roads in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other places around the country and this evening a mass rally event will take place in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv (5) .

National Law

Another potentially divisive issue is that of the Nation-State Law passed by the Knesset this week. Intended as a state constitution it seeks to put into law the existing principle of a Jewish State. The wording of the Law has provoked considerable controversy and anger as it is seen by some as downgrading the status of Arabs and other minorities while promoting Jewish settlement and the segregation of ethnic and religious communities. You can read the full text of the law in this link: https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Read-the-full-Jewish-Nation-State-Law-562923

Tourism

Now for some good news! In spite of all the tensions in the Land, both external and internal, Israel has seen a record 2.1 million of tourists in just the first half of this year (6). Tourism is one of the mainstays of the Israeli economy. Most of these tourists are Christians and this is a fact appreciated by many Israelis. If you haven't yet visited this fascinating and dynamic country I strongly encourage you to do so. It is safe and full of fun things to do and see, whatever your age, state of health or interests. I would not however recommend a visit in the summer months which are extremely hot. The rest of the year however is very pleasant.

Bible Reading Project

This last Sunday marked the beginning of the second round of the 929 Bible Reading Project here in Israel and this time it has an English language option as well as Hebrew. In 2014 Rabbi Lau, a modern orthodox rabbi in Jerusalem, began this project in which participants commit to reading one chapter of Scripture every day, five days a week. 929 is the number of chapters in the Jewish Bible (the Old Testament). Rabbi Lau and hundreds of other teachers give classes on the chapters all around the country and there are audio and video lessons on line and a weekly radio broadcast. Rabbi Lau's vision is to bring the Bible back to the people, something which has been lost through the centuries, largely through the emphasis of the religious teachers on the Talmud to the exclusion of the Bible, and also the secularization of a large portion of the population, both in the Diaspora and in Israel itself. In Israel the Bible is taught in schools but in secular schools, at least, it is taught only as history. Its spiritual message and principals are ignored. The first round was hugely successful with over one quarter of a million people participating and 75% of them not religious (8). Please pray that this project will bear much spiritual fruit and turn the people back to a living faith in God and direct them to the true Messiah.

Idol Worship
I want to finish this blog with something that is happening not in Israel but across the other side of the world, in New Zealand. I was shocked and horrified to read that there are plans to erect a gigantic statue of Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother who is believed to give birth to all things, according to Maori tradition. If completed this statue would be 30-50 meters high (about the same size as the Statue of Liberty in the USA) and would stand on Bastion Point/Takaparawhau at the entrance to Auckland Harbour and would be visible from most of the city. This project was proposed by the local Maori tribe, Ngati Whātua Ōrākei, and would be partially funded by the Auckland City Council. Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff, said it " has the potential to be an iconic symbol of Auckland". I am grieved that a nation that was founded on strong Christian principles would even consider erecting a pagan idol as its symbol. If you live in New Zealand and are a Christian, pray against this atrocity and speak out to the government, for the sake of your nation.

Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?

Or an image that teaches lies?

Habbukuk 2: 18

I will sweep away both man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea—

and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble

Zephaniah 1 : 3

The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him

Habbukuk 2:20

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

for the Day of the Lord is near.

Zephaniah 1: 7

References:
1. https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/hamas/hamas-fires-200-rockets-at-israel-in-just-24-hours/

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5309502,00.html

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5309645,00.html

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5310440,00.html

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5310629,00.html

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5311533,00.html

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-deploys-iron-dome-in-tel-aviv-area-following-gaza-escalation-1.6271716

2. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5308281,00.html

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5310480,00.html

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/dozens-of-syrian-refugees-approach-israeli-border-1.6287950

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-evacuates-800-of-syrias-white-helmets-and-their-families-to-jordan/

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5308524,00.html

3. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/946703/jewish/What-Happened-on-the-Ninth-of-Av.htm?

4. https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-over-half-of-israelis-tisha-bav-is-just-another-day/

5. https://www.timesofisrael.com/protesters-block-tel-aviv-highway-as-lgbt-strike-begins-over-surrogacy-law/

6. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-compromise-reached-on-jews-only-communities-clause-1.6271813

7. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/tourism/record-2.1-million-tourists-visit-israel-in-first-half-of-2018-36305

8. https://www.timesofisrael.com/launching-in-english-chapter-a-day-project-looks-to-bring-bible-back-to-masses/

9. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12088430

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

ISRAEL MOSAIC

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 60: 1-3

Dorcas Gazelle, Yotvata Hai Bar Reserve (Photo: Talia Good)

Israel is a fascinating land, the land the Bible calls the Land of the Gazelles. These delicate, hardy and beautiful animals were once common in Israel, but hunting and habitat destruction brought them to the brink of extinction. Now protected by law, and with the help of breeding programs, they are making a comeback in many parts of the country. Occasionally I am delighted to see a small herd trotting along the trails in the forest across from my house.

Israel is a mosaic of natural habitats ranging from tropical oases, deserts, wooded mountain heights and coastal sand dunes to everything in between. Consequently, its natural flora and fauna are varied and surprisingly rich considering the millennia of human impact. No less fascinating is the mosaic of human life in Israel. With people immigrating from over 70 nations, speaking a plethora of languages and influenced by a myriad of cultures, it is amazing that we, in just a hundred and fifty years, have sustained and built a cohesive and thriving Israeli society and identity. Of course, at times these different cultures clash and ruptures occur.

False Messiah

One of the main stress points in Israeli society is the tension between the religious sector, particularly the more extreme ultra-orthodox sects, and the secular, with the gap between these growing with every year. Last week this gap came to the fore when the annual Lubavitcher Chabad "Messiah in the Square" rally was almost canceled over the issue of the separation of women. The Tel Aviv municipality tried to prevent the rally from taking place following pressure from secular women's groups. In the end, the District Court ruled in favor of the rally and it took place as planned, although there were a few scuffles and arrests as secular feminists tried to break through into the men's section (1).

The focus on the issue of the separation of men and women missed the point as far as I can see. The real issue should have been the identity of the 'Messiah' they were celebrating. It was not the true Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), but Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last Lubavitcher Hassidic Rabbi. Schneerson died in 1994 and was expected to rise again within 4 years. He did not, but his followers still revere him as Messiah and expect his imminent return.

Picture by Monica Almeida, The New York Times 2/25/96
http://www.realists.com/messiah-truth-vs-myth/

Schneerson is just the latest of a long line of false messiahs. It is very sad that those who follow these false messiahs do not read the Bible which prophetically outlines the 'qualifications' for the true Messiah. Only Yeshua (Jesus) fits all the Biblical prophecies regarding the Messiah. He was of the kingly line of David, of the Tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem, fled for a time to Egypt, grew up in Nazareth, healed and performed many miracles, proclaimed himself to be the Son of God, died and rose again after 3 days just to mention a few. For a good summary of Biblical prophecies concerning the Messiah go to https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/top-40-most-helpful-messianic-prophecies/

While internal tensions sometimes threaten to tear us apart as a nation it is often the external threats that draw us together. These are continuing to increase in severity.

The South on Fire
Today (Tuesday 10/7) marks the 103rd day since the
first incendiary balloon flew over the Gaza border and started a fire in Israel. What began as a dangerous gimmick has now become a daily threat to the communities living close to the border. So far some 678 fires have been ignited burning 9160 dunams (= 2263 acres) of natural woodlands and, 6000 dunams of agricultural produce (mostly wheat), and thousands of dunams of open fields. Over 15,000 dunams of national forest land have also been burned (2). Hundreds of balloons and kites, carrying incendiary devices and explosives, are carried daily by the prevailing westerly winds across the Gaza border and into Israel setting fire to the tinder-dry farmland and nature reserves.

Yesterday alone some 33 fires were ignited (2) and, in recent weeks, an average of between 20-30 fires per day have been caused by incendiary balloons or kites. Reserve soldiers have been called up to assist civilian firefighters in putting out these fires. New technology has been developed to spot them and direct firefighters to fires (3).

Opinion is divided in the government and defense establishment as to how best to stop this phenomenon without escalating the situation to all-out war with Gaza. They are treading a fine line. The defense forces have increased deterrent measures, such as shooting at empty vehicles that have been used to transport incendiary devices and firing warning shots over those preparing them, but they have as yet not shot at the perpetrators themselves since many are children (4). The latest measure is the closing of the Keren Shalom border crossing which will prevent the import and export of goods to the Gaza Strip thus bringing its economy to a halt. Only humanitarian aid will continue to be allowed to pass through. Gaza's fishing zone will also revert to a maximum distance of 11 km (6 miles) from shore after it was temporarily expanded to 17 km (9 miles) (6). These measures are intended to force Hamas to rein in those sending incendiary devices across the border, and prevent the escalation of the situation into all-out war.

Israeli civilians living along the Gazan border area are feeling the effects of pressure as their daily lives are being severely disrupted, livelihoods lost and children traumatized. A new law has just been passed recognizing sufferers of PTSD resulting from chronic on-going trauma, in addition to those who have suffered a specific terror or wartime incident. This will enable sufferers, particularly in the south, to receive aid and treatment (7). Following an assessment of the escalating security situation in the south, the IDF this week increased the Iron Dome deployment around southern communities to protect them, not only from the short-range rockets, but also from projectiles as small as medium-sized mortars (8).

The North

In the north, the situation is also becoming increasingly dangerous. As the Russian-backed Assad regime is attacking rebel-held towns in south-western Syria, near Israel's border, an estimated 330,000 refugees have fled their homes. Jordan, which has already taken in some 660,000 Syrian refugees, is understandably refusing to take any more. Denied entry to Jordan, the refugees are amassing on the Israeli border in the hope of entering Israel. There is no way Israel can allow the entry of such a massive number of refugees from an enemy country, still technically at war with us. The refugees are therefore trapped at the border, in the midst of the hottest summer we have experienced for some years, without water, electricity, adequate shelter, food or medicine.

Israel is doing what it can to ease the humanitarian crisis. One day last week Israel under cover of darkness took in 300 tents, 13 tons of food, 15 tons of baby food, 3 pallets of medical equipment and 30 ton of clothes. Last weekend, six wounded Syrians, four of them children, were brought into Israel for treatment. Since 2013 over 3,500 wounded Syrian men, women and children have been smuggled into Israel by the IDF and treated for free in Israeli hospitals (6). Meanwhile, the Golan Regional Council has spearheaded a grass-roots campaign to collect from communities in the north, clothes, food and 'care packages' of toys and games for the children (9). In 2016 the IDF launched Operation Good Neighbor and since then has provided among other things, over 1524 tons of food, 250 tons of clothes, 947,520 liters of fuel, 21 generators, 24,900 palettes of medical equipment and medicine for Syrian civilians (10). Once our enemies many of these Syrian residents now express the desire to live in the Israeli Golan knowing they would be treated better by Israel than by those in control in Syria. Of course this is not an option, however we do hope that our generosity and care for the people of Syria will undermine the military threat from the Assad regime as it gains control of the neighboring areas.

As Assad's Syrian army advances on rebel-held regions in the country's south-west it is also drawing closer and closer to the Israeli border. This is raising red flags of concern. There are indications that one of its next targets will be the currently rebel-held city of Quneitra, just 3 miles from Israel's border. This city was abandoned during the Yom Kippur War in 1974 and now lies in ruins. It is within the 25 km demilitarized zone agreed between Israel and Syria at the conclusion of the 1974 war, and if Syrian forces were to enter this area, Israel would view it as a serious infringement of the agreement, and it could precipitate war with Syria (10). Israel does not want this to happen but, just in case, the IDF has strengthened its defensive forces along the border and troops are prepared to defend Israel's border 'to the last millimeter', according to Captain Tsur Goldman of the 401st Armored Brigade (10).

IDF tanks are seen along the Golan Heights border with Syria. (photo credit: REUTERS)
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/IDF-troops-prepared-to-defend-northern-border-to-the-last-millimeter-561744

Quneitra from Har Bental in Israel 2006 (Photo: Talia Good)

On Friday a Russian-brokered deal was made between Assad's government forces and the rebel army. The rebels agreed to lay down their arms in return for the cessation of the Assad bombardment of the towns of the Dera'a province thus allowing the refugees to return to their homes (11). This means that now the Assad regime will turn its focus onto the Quneitra region over which it hopes to regain control.

Map showing rebel held enclaves (in purple) in Syria as of March 2018
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034

Earthquakes

As if the north has not enough to contend with there has been a swarm of earthquakes centered around the Sea of Galilee area over the past week, the 9th strong enough to be felt was recorded just last night. While none of the earthquakes have been severe, the strongest about 4.5 in magnitude, some damage to buildings has been reported and there are fears that a major earthquake could occur. Israel situated on the East African Rift Valley is prone to earthquakes. In 1837 a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Galilee region and killed around 6,000 to 7,000 people. the last major earthquake occurred in 1927 measured 6.2 on the Richter Scale and killed 500 people (12).

As always when we experience earthquakes there is a flurry of activity in the government and security authorities, which generally results in very little action being taken. We are woefully underprepared for the event of a large earthquake.
A report in 2016 by Israel's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees Home-Front Readiness Subcommittee warned that if " Israel were to be struck by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, an estimated 7,000 people would be killed, another 8,600 injured and 377,000 expected to be left homeless. In addition, the country could face damages of up to NIS 200 billion.

In addition to buildings being destroyed, the damage to critical infrastructures such as electricity, water and communication is expected to be great. According to Israel’s National Emergency Authority, there are 80,000 buildings, including schools and hospitals, over three stories high that were built before 1980, and not constructed to current standards" (13).

Earthquake damage in Tiberias this week.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307738,00.html

Israel is stealing the rain :)

Now for a little light relief! This past week the head of the Iranian Civil Defense Organization, Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jalali, claimed that Israel is "working to ensure clouds entering Iranian skies are unable to release rain" and insisted that this was supported by scientific studies. Historically Jews have been blamed for pretty much everything, but this must be a first. I nearly wet myself laughing. If this is true, then I wonder what we are doing with the clouds? We, like Iran and all of the Middle East, are in the grip of a severe 5-year drought. I wonder who stole our clouds! Thankfully there are still some sane people in Iran (most of them actually) and the head of Iran's meteorological service contradicted Jalali saying "it is not possible for a country to steal clouds".

Satan the Father of Lies

Although I found this silly accusation hilarious it is also a serious reminder of the lies that our enemies are trying to spread about Israel, lies that are easily believed by the undereducated masses of the Middle East, and the gullible West.

One of the most powerful and successful weapons being wielded against Israel these days are the lies being spread in the media, either consciously by those generating them as a propaganda weapon, or unconsciously by naive and biased reporting.

Some time ago a popular TV show host, Andrew Marr, when discussing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, interjected a totally irrelevant and factually incorrect comment about Israel 'killing lots of Palestinian kids' further south at the Gaza border confrontations. Initially the BBC tried to defend Marr but, following complaints from the public, changed their mind and censured his statement, saying that "“In the absence of any evidence to support the reference to ‘lots’ of children being killed at the time of transmission, it seems to us to have risked misleading audiences on a material point. We therefore propose to uphold this part of your complaint" (15).

This incident highlights the power of public opinion. I want to encourage you to complain to your newspapers, TV stations etc when you see erroneous or biased reporting against Israel. You may feel that you are only one small voice, but especially in the world of the media, which depends upon public support, even one small voice can have an effect. Many small voices are powerful.

Iran

Tensions between the US, Israel and Iran have heightened since Trump announced that the US will pull out of the 2015 nuclear accord. European nations are trying to save the agreement but already Iran is making preparations for restarting (if it ever stopped) its program to produce nuclear weapons, should the deal collapse. To this end, it has reopened a plant for the production of UF6, the feedstock for enriching uranium for nuclear weapons (16).

Last week the nation of Israel was shocked to learn that one of our former Knesset Ministers, Gonen Segev, was being tried for spying for Iran, following his arrest in May. According to his indictment, he transferred dozens of reports to the Iranians with the intention of assisting Iran in its war against Israel (17)

BDS and the Presbyterian Church

Another headline this week was about anti-Israel resolutions passed by the Presbyterian Church USA in its general assembly. Among the 11 resolutions passed on Friday (22 June) was one opposing anti-BDS legislation, another referred to Israel as an apartheid state. It also voted against resolutions that "were not sufficiently critical of Israel because they also mentioned Palestinian Authority transgressions, particularly of the terrorist group Hamas" (18).

As someone who was brought up in a Bible-believing Presbyterian church this grieves me greatly. All I can say to Christians everywhere is to read your Bible and see what it says about Israel and God's plans for her. Be careful to not be found opposing God.

at a kibbutz swimming pool - does this look lie an apartheid state to you???
Photo: Talia Good

SOME VIP'S VISIT ISRAEL

On the other hand, I am glad to say that during the last couple of weeks we have seen some important people come to Israel, if not actively in support, at least ignoring the BDS calls for sanctions. One of these was Ringo Starr who performed two concerts to thousands of fans of all ages in Tel Aviv (19). Good on you, Ringo!

We were also blessed by the first ever official visit of a member of the British Royal Family, Prince William, to the modern state of Israel. His 5 day Middle East tour was " intended to celebrate the UK’s bilateral ties with Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but otherwise remain strictly apolitical" (20). His tour began in Jordan, continued for a 3 day stay in Israel and ended with a visit to the Palestinian Authority. While in Israel, Prince William stayed at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, visited Yad Vashem, met with Holocaust Survivors, viewed a soccer match involving a joint Arab-Jewish team, and interviewed Israeli high-tech entrepreneurs. He also laid wreaths on the tomb of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, and another ancestor, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, in the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives (21).

On his last day here, Prince William visited the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah where his car was stoned by a group of Palestinian youth. He was unhurt. This incident was not widely reported in the international media (22). One must ask why?

Israel on the Moon

In December this year the Israeli non-profit organization, SpaceIL, will launch a spacecraft which will land on the moon on February 13, 2019. If successful Israel will become the fourth country to plant it's flag on the Moon, after the US, Russia and China. The spacecraft was originally intended as an entry into the $20 million Google LunarX competition, but the competition was canceled. The spacecraft cost around $90 million and was funded by private donors. While on the Moon it will collect data about the Moon's magnetic field for the Weizmann Institute and it is hoped that this project will stimulate the aerospace industry in Israel (23).

The first Israeli spacecraft (Photo: Alex Polo)

It ain't pretty - but it's going to the Moon - Israel's first spacecraft
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307792,00.html

This project exemplifies the phenomenal entrepreneurial skills of the people of Israel. Israeli's lead the world in so many ways largely because it is a nation of risk takers. Not a great quality on the roads but in the business and scientific world it pays dividends. According to the US News and World Report survey published this last weekend, Israel was ranked the 8th most powerful country in the world, for the second year running (24). This is an amazing result for this tiny country of fewer than 9 million people, only 70 years old and constantly fighting for her very existence.

Humanitarian Aid

When disaster strikes anywhere in the world Israel's rescue teams are usually among the first to arrive. This past week the world's attention has been focussed on the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. Divers from several countries participated in the daring and dangerous, but ultimately successful rescue of the boys. Israel helped out too. Emergency communications technology developed by the Israeli company Maxtech Networks was used to maintain communications in the complex cave system where no other existing form of communications will work (25). Without this technology, the cave rescue would have been much more difficult or even impossible.

Earlier this month three Israeli doctors, Sion Houri, Lior Sasson and Akiva Tamir, of the "Save a Child's Heart" foundation received the UN Population Award for saving young lives in war-torn areas. The non-profit organization "Save a Child's Heart" was founded in the 1990's and since then has performed free-of-charge, life-saving heart surgery on nearly 5,000 children, including 2,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, and 300 from Iraq and Syria. Other children treated came from Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and throughout the Middle East. The organization is now training new teams to work in the West Bank, Ethiopia, Kenya, China, Romania, Moldova, Kenya and Tanzania (26).

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

“I will make you into a great nation,

  and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

  and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

  and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

  will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12: 1-3

References

1. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5296264,00.html
2. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307517,00.html
3. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/The-electronic-eye-on-the-sky-to-battle-terror-kites-561718
4. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304427,00.html
5. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307076,00.html
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307164,00.html
6. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304495,00.html
7. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5299264,00.html
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300466,00.html
8. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-to-boost-iron-dome-deployment-in-gaza-vicinity/
9. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-communities-collect-toys-candy-clothes-for-syrian-refugees/
10. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304872,00.html