SITUATION ANALYSIS -- III

Jerusalem, Israel

POLITICAL TURMOIL

The recent announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, that he will leave office once a Kadima member is elected to replace him in mid-September, puts Israel in a vulnerable position politically. This now starts a process of transition from Olmert to a new prime minister.

The two candidates that have a possible chance at winning the Kadima internal election are current Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni, and current Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz.

Once Kadima members vote to decide who will lead their party and, ultimately, who will lead the country through early 2009, the newly chosen prime minister still has to retain a strong government coalition. There is speculation that either candidate will look to form a national unity government with Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, and Labor leader Ehud Barak. One major reason for a national unity government would be Israel’s concern over a possible military confrontation with Iran by 2009.

Meanwhile, analysts in Israel predict that new general elections in Israel could take place as early as spring 2009, at which point the Israeli public would be able to participate and elect a new prime minister and party to lead the country. In interviewing Israelis over the past couple of weeks, the impression is that they do not see a potential candidate who they think can adequately run the country. This pessimism is prevalent in Israeli society, as many citizens have lost confidence in the Israeli political system.

PRAYER POINTS:

Scripture indicates that a kingdom, city, or house divided against itself cannot stand. (Matthew 12:25). Therefore, prayers are needed for the Jewish nation to find renewed hope in the possibility of new leadership for the country. Also, pray for “unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace” during this critical transition time, as members of Israel’s political system consider joining forces to deal with the need for safety and security in this hostile region of the world.

What does unite Israelis is the existential threat of a future nuclear Iran. Pray that citizens look beyond their tarnished leaders to the more important issue of the survival of the nation. Pray that the Lord raises up new leadership in Israel that is more concerned for the welfare of the state than personal advancement and power.

Matthew 12:35-37 sheds some light here. Pray that good men, out of the good treasure of their hearts, will bring forth good things and that by their words, they will be justified. Pray that their actions will show good judgment, humility, and true concern for the needs of the population. Pray that whoever becomes prime minister will not sacrifice land for peace, but will look towards being a good steward of the land God has given, and trust Him for Israel to find peace with its enemies.

NATIONS WANTING TO DIVIDE GOD’S LAND

Even though U.S. President George W. Bush is in his last months in office, his administration continues to pressure Israel to divide the land, and concede much of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) to the Palestinian Authority. U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, despite his high unpopularity ratings in Britain, visited Israel recently, and blasted the government for settlement expansion. He urged Israel to compromise with the Palestinians on the land issue.

Any kind of written agreement between Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which is witnessed by the U.S. and the international community, will obligate Israeli leaders. Regardless of how vague that agreement is, it becomes a trap for future Israeli governments that would be obliged to follow the “pre-conditions” accepted and approved by Olmert, Abbas, and Bush.

PRAYER POINTS:

Pray that Israel’s current and future leadership will not succumb to pressure through having a fear of man, but will instead trust in the Lord and His security, according to Proverbs 12:25. Declare Zechariah 2:8-13, that America and other nations will not touch the “apple of God’s eye” and that if they do, they will be subject to His righteous judgment.

Pray that the U.S. and the international community will enter into God’s blessings, and will join themselves to the Lord’s plans and purposes. Proclaim the Lord’s possession of Judah as his inheritance in the Holy Land, acknowledging that He will again choose Jerusalem, as He has done so many times in the past.

JERUSALEM

After years of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and a conflict that has lasted throughout the generations, the sticking point that does not allow a settlement and a final peace treaty is Jerusalem. This has continued to be the point of contention between the two peoples.

Recent reports indicate that the Palestinians are uncompromising on this issue. For them, Jerusalem is a red line they will not cross. They want a state of Palestine with Jerusalem as their capital and they have not relented on that demand. Palestinian leaders have declared that the international community must understand that Jerusalem is the core problem.

This is not a new revelation. To keep his government from falling, Olmert made agreements with coalition members that he would not negotiate on Jerusalem. While negotiations reportedly did take place, especially between Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni and Palestinian leaders, such as Ahmed Qurei, it was finally decided that these negotiations would not be part of the current attempt to come up with an agreement by the end of 2008.

Now, even a “declaration of principles” or a “shelf agreement” seems unlikely because of the political climate in Israel. But, adding to that is the issue of Jerusalem...an issue that will not go away, regardless of who becomes the next leader of Israel.

PRAYER POINTS:

Declare God’s sovereignty over Jerusalem and His heart for Zion. Pray for Jerusalem’s peace, according to Psalm 122:1-9. Pray that Jerusalem will remain the undivided eternal capital of Israel. Pray Psalm 48:1-13, especially that God will establish Zion forever. Proclaim Psalm 46:10: “The Lord shall reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations.” Bring Israel before God in your prayers, because, according to scripture, they have joined themselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant, seeking His face in Zion (see Jeremiah 50:4-5; Obadiah 17).

INCREASE IN VIOLENCE

Bulldozer terrorism is the latest attempt by Israel’s enemies to shed blood in the city of Jerusalem. During the past month, the population has been confronted by two terrorists, both coming from East Jerusalem neighborhoods, who tried to kill Israelis, using a bulldozer from a construction site. One Israeli Arab terrorist smashed cars and ran pedestrians over on Jaffa Road. Another used his bulldozer to wound Israelis on King David Street. Both attacks happened in the middle of the day on busy streets in the heart of the city.

Because these Arabs have Israeli citizenship, and supposedly acted on their own (and, not as part of a terror group), this has limited the ability of police and the IDF to thwart such attacks.

PRAYER POINTS:

Pray for reconciliation efforts between Israeli Jews and Arabs, especially those who are residing in the Jerusalem area. Pray for the Israeli police and army to have insights and wisdom as they increase their intelligence capabilities to stop the terror attacks. Pray that this barbaric act of bulldozer terrorism will cease immediately.

Pray Psalm 125 upon Israel, and upon Jerusalem, especially for God’s protection over the city. (Verse 2: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever”). The Lord promises that Mt. Zion cannot be moved, but abides forever. Pray that the peace process will not move forward in man’s attempt to compromise on Jerusalem.

Declare God’s ability to make His enemies His footstool, and that He will rule in the midst of His enemies, according to Psalm 110:1-2. Ask the Lord to give defense leaders wisdom in how to deter terrorist attacks on Israel’s cities.

Proclaim Psalm 14:2-6, that the Lord is building up Jerusalem; gathering the outcasts of Israel; healing the brokenhearted; and, binding up their wounds. Thank God that He is lifting up the humble and casting the wicked to the ground. Thank Him, also, that He dettered the second bulldozer terrorist from being able to kill Israelis, by alerting a civilian to shoot the enemy before he could do any more harm.

Pray comfort for the families that lost loved ones in the first attack. Pray for a full healing and recovery for those Israelis who were wounded in both attacks.

AL QAEDA

Recent media reports indicate that Al Qaeda’s presence in Gaza has now been extended to the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), with elements trying to gain a foothold in east Jerusalem.

PRAYER POINTS:

Pray confusion into the enemy camp. Pray that the Lord gives Israel insights on how to root out Al Qaeda strongholds in the Palestinian territories and in Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods.

Intercede according to Psalm 121:1-8. Based on that scripture, pray that Israelis look to the Lord for help. Declare that He will now allow their foot to stumble, and that “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

Pray that Israelis have dreams and visions which bring them understanding that the Lord is their keeper, who will preserve them from all evil. Pray His protection over Israel now and in the future.

PRISONER EXCHANGE AND THE THREAT OF FUTURE KIDNAPPINGS

The recent prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah resulted in the release of four Hezbollah terrorists and one Palestinian murderer with “blood on their hands” This was a red line that Israel was willing to cross in order to retrieve two P.O.W.’s from the hands of Hezbollah – soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Unfortunately, because of faulty Israeli Military Intelligence, no one knew if Goldwasser and Regev were alive. For two years their families worked hard at promoting their cause; petitioning the United Nations, the Red Cross, the United States, the EU, and many nations; demanding a report on the welfare of these soldiers kidnapped on the Israeli-Lebanese border, July 2008.

In the end, as thousands of Israelis watched on television, the bodies of these two soldiers came back home in two black coffins. This was a disappointment, not only to Karmi Goldwasser (Ehud’s wife), but to both families who lost their sons.

In addition, there was skepticism in Israel and abroad about the prisoner exchange with critics saying it would lead to a strong price that Israel would have to pay for the release of P.O.W. Corporal Gilad Shalit, who is still being held in Gaza, after more than two years of being captured by Hamas.

Israel faces more kidnapping threats from Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Israel’s prisoner exchange was seen by Arabs in the region as a further weakening of the resolve of the Jewish state.

In Israel, the prisoner exchange was a uniting factor, as many here mourned, together, the death of Goldwasser and Regev. On the streets, Israeli mothers explained to me that they would want to know the fate of their sons if this happened to their family; and they understood the need for the soldiers to be returned home, even if they were no longer alive, so there could be a proper burial for them.

This one incident showed how Israelis pull together during times of tragedy. It also revealed how the state fulfilled its responsibility to bring its soldiers home in any way possible, assuring new draftees to the IDF that the government can be trusted to meet its obligations.

PRAYER POINTS:

Pray for the prevention of any future kidnappings by Hezbollah, Hamas or any other terrorist entity. Pray that Hezbollah will be prevented by the Lord from avenging the death of Imad Mugniyeh. Hezbollah has threatened Israel and Jewish groups, worldwide, claiming that Israel assassinated the arch terrorist in Syria earlier this year -- a claim that Israel has continually denied.

Pray protection over Jewish people in Israel and the nations from any attempts by the enemy to strike at Jewish targets. Pray for God’s shield to keep the state of Israel secure; that He would increase intercession on the walls of Jerusalem and throughout the land. Proclaim Psalm 144:1-2 on Israel’s behalf.

Pray that Israel will not be forced to release thousands of Palestinian terrorists in exchange for Corporal Gilad Shalit. Seek the Lord and ask Him to give wisdom and favor to Israeli negotiators so that Shalit can be released soon. Pray for his deliverance and escape, according to Psalm 71:1-16. Ask the Lord to take him out of the hand of the wicked; from those unrighteous and cruel men who are holding him captive.

Pray that Shalit will understand clearly that his hope, trust, and refuge must be in the Lord. Ask the Lord for Shalit to be strengthened and healed supernaturally while in captivity. Intercede that God will hasten Shalit’s release and help him.

According to Jeremiah 31:23-25, pray that the Lord will satiate the weary soul, and replenish every sorrowful soul that has paid a high price in losing their beloved one on the battlefield.

LINK

Readers, please note that an update to the news on Iran in this blog can be found by going to: www.threatswatch.org

You will see a published article titled, "Countering the Iranian Threat" by C. Hart. That's my latest analysis.

If you can't find it, here's the link:

http://threatswatch.org/analysis/2008/07/countering-the-iranian-threat/