Terrorist attacks in Israel in midst of great political change
31 March 2022
There has been a surge of terrorist attacks in Israel in recent days. 11 innocent people have been killed in three separate attacks.
In a deadly terror shooting spree in Bnei Brak yesterday, a Palestinian shooter took the lives of five victims. Each was a random victim.
Each victim’s death is tragic, and entirely senseless. Two of yesterday's victims were Ukrainian nationals- Victor Sorokopot and Dimitri Mitrik – who had recently escaped the war in Ukraine. The others included two young fathers and a police officer who helped kill the gunman.The police officer was Amir Khoury, 32, a Christian Arab. The others were local residents Yaakov Shalom, 36, and Avishai Yehezkel, 29.
Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) has shown that PA Chairman Abbas has been calling on Palestinians to murder Israelis.
“For example, at the PLO Central Council meeting in February: “President [Abbas called] in all his speeches to initiate popular resistance.” [Official PA TV, Feb. 8, 2022] PMW has documented that “popular resistance” is the PA call for civilians to carry out terror attacks.
Having promoted terror for 2 months, the PA glorified the first terror attack in which 4 Israelis were murdered. After criticism from Israel, the PA was silent about the second attack in which 2 were murdered. And then only when Israel's defense minister and the United States pressured Abbas he issued a lame condemnation.”
Finally, under pressure, PA President Abbas issued a weak condemnation of the most recent attack.
It is feared that there will be an even further increase of terror, in the period leading up to Ramadan (2 April - 2 May). Several high-level Israeli officials – including President Isaac Herzog - have met in recent days with King Hussein of Jordan, which is is responsible for the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf which controls the Temple Mount, where Moslims traditionally gather at Ramadan, and often the scene of tensions as Israeli police seek to keep order.
Israel is on full security alert, fully aware that it was disruptions in Jerusalem during Ramadan last May that Hamas used as an excuse to fire rockets on Jerusalem, triggering the 11-day conflict in Gaza.
Another important development this past week has been a series of diplomatic meetings between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. Last week at Sharm el-Sheikh Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and UAE Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ). Last weekend, at the “Negev Summit”, Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid met with his counterparts from the US, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain and UAE.
In the background, is the ongoing shifting of alliances in the Middle East, in light of the “negotiations” with Iran concerning Iran’s nuclear program. And of course everyone is aware that Russia’s position in the Middle East may change as a result of the Ukraine war.
Whether any of these machinations will lead to peace remains to be seen.
In the midst of all of this, the Lord continues to bring His children home from the land of the North, where He has promised to protect them and care for them.
Let us continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, the leaders of our nations, and protection for the Jewish refugees from the land of the north, and all the people of Israel.
Above all, we pray for the coming of the Prince of Peace.
The Editorial Team - Israel & Christians Today
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Valeria Zakharova reports from Israel: “A week ago, we welcomed Olga Gordienko with her 12-year-old son Ruslan from Dneprodzerzhinsk who fled the war via the Romanian border. “We received a message about an emergency evacuation to Western Ukraine from a local synagogue on March 5. We had only two hours for making a decision.”
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The power, potential and possible pitfalls of the Negev Summit
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For Israel, the Negev Summit was all about Iran. For other participants,
not so much
Jacob Magid in Times of Israel: Foreign diplomats involved say Tehran wasn’t what brought them to Sde Boker, as each country has its own concerns that justify participation in first-of-its-kind gathering.
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Caroline Glick: “With the U.S. pulling up stakes in the Middle East, the Sunni Arab states are trying to decide whether to grovel to Iran, or stand with Israel. Today, in the face of Biden’s abandonment, Israel has but one option—to become the strong tribe of the Middle East.
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Also an Israelite | Romans 9-11 with Johannes Gerloff #39
God has not rejected His chosen people of Israel, the Jewish people.
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From Ukraine to Israel
Jewish refugees have to say goodbye to loved ones and leave everything behind. In this short clip we follow them on their route from Ukraine to Israel. Your prayers and donations are still needed.
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SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:
Psalm 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
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Israel & Christians Today
The goal of Israel & Christians Today is to help Christians to take God’s Word seriously, and study current events in the world in the context of the Bible.
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