SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 46

Jerusalem, Israel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL!

Israel’s achievements over the past 64 years are remarkable, but its continued struggle to remain the sovereign homeland of the Jewish people, keeps its leaders from being able to fully enter into the joy of independent statehood.  

The relative peace that Israelis have experienced in recent years is being tested, now, by threats to Israel’s security and stability. Terrorist attacks along its southern border; land breaches; and deteriorating diplomatic relations with neighboring countries that want to isolate Israel, are some of the challenges the Jewish State faces. 

NATURAL GAS 

The discovery of huge gas reserves off the Mediterranean Coast will make Israel energy-independent in the years to come. Economically, Israel will thrive as one of the world’s largest exporters of natural gas. But, today, hostile neighboring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon have threatened Israel’s commercial gas explorations with Cyprus.  Israel is developing a search-and-rescue pact with Cyprus which will lead to air and naval maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.  Part of this is seen as a way of Israel providing security for itself and Cyprus as both nations explore national gas fields off their coasts.

While Israel waits to profit from its own natural gas finds, Egypt has recently cut off all supplies of natural gas to Israel, in defiance of its peace treaty with the Jewish State.  The Israeli government has had to dramatically increase electricity prices to the general public, and has warned of shortages this summer due to the reduction of natural gas imports.  

Israel’s ability to ride the natural gas “storm” with its hostile neighbors, while developing its own natural gas resources, along with its new partnership with Cyprus, will be an economic and security challenge for the Jewish State over the next few years.

RELATIONS WITH EGYPT

New rocket attacks and ambushes against Israeli cities have been conducted by terrorists operating out of the Sinai. This has created mounting tensions between Israel and Egypt’s ruling military power. 

Despite Egypt’s attempts to crackdown on terrorists and arms smuggling, the Sinai continues to be a haven for Al-Qaeda sympathizers. In addition, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and radical Palestinian groups are receiving vast amounts of weapons and missiles, being transported from Iran and Libya through the Sinai to the Gaza Strip.

The Sinai Peninsula will continue to be a hot spot for the IDF, which is a worrying development for Israel’s leaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Israeli engineers to build a large fence along Israel’s porous border with Egypt, hoping it will keep terrorists from infiltrating into Israeli southern cities, such as Eilat.  

Meanwhile, all candidates running for the Egyptian presidency have issued anti-Israel statements, and the new Egyptian Parliament is loaded with a majority of Islamists who have spoken negatively towards the Jewish State.

Prospects for a continued peace with Egypt may look promising in the near future, but in the long-run, the Israeli government believes that the peace treaty will be challenged. Therefore, the IDF is preparing its Southern Command for a future military conflict with Egyptian forces along Israel’s southern border.

DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION

Israel’s advances in its partnerships with NATO countries have been marred by Turkey’s attempt to block Israel’s greater involvement with NATO.  When Israel wants to participate in military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey continues to try and prevent Israel’s inclusion, in an effort to isolate the Jewish state. Deteriorating relations with Turkey have caused Israeli leaders to scramble for new European and Middle East partnerships. Israel is looking to forge diplomatic relations with countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania in order to offset the damage caused by the Turkish government towards Israel. 

THE GREATEST THREAT TO ISRAEL’S SOVEREIGNTY AND STABILITY

Netanyahu has managed to get the international community to put Iran on its foreign policy agenda.  U.S. and EU mediators are attempting to convince the Persian State to stop pursuing nuclear military capability. So far, sanctions have had some effect, but Iran continues to try and build a bomb that they have threatened to use against Israel. 

Already, Iran has five tons of low enriched uranium on-hand. It has enriched 100 kilograms to 20%. This means that Iran now has enough fission material to create several nuclear weapons. It’s just a matter of time before Iran reaches the “breakout” point where it can quickly advance to military nuclear capability. Israel is concerned that Iran is hiding much of its operations underground, so that IDF forces will not be able to easily detect or destroy Iran’s nuclear military facilities in the future.

Israel still talks of war, but is sitting and waiting for the international community to dialogue with Iran in hopes that sanctions and threats will cause the Iranian leadership to stop pursuing its nuclear military ambitions…an unlikely prospect.

WALLS AND FENCES

Not only is Israel building a fence along its porous border with Egypt, it is also building a two kilometer concrete wall along its border with Lebanon. And, it is building another fence along its border with Syria. Israel is intent on keeping infiltrators from breaching its borders.

Last year, during Nakba Day in May, 100 Palestinian demonstrators managed to infiltrate Israel. The protestors ran to a Druse village on the Golan and put a stake in the ground with the Palestinian flag raised. This year, Israel is preparing for more demonstrations along its borders, training IDF soldiers to stop protestors from entering Israel. Border clashes are expected to increase as Israel’s hostile neighbors try to take land from the Jewish State without a peace agreement.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Despite the lack of security and stability that Israelis face in the future, the freedom of having a nation of their own gives them a strong cause for celebration.  Those who grew up in Israel, as well as those who have immigrated to the land of their forefathers, understand that they are all part of an amazing tapestry that has been woven together to form the world’s only Jewish State. Nothing can take that joy away from them as they, collectively, join together in remembering 64 years of independence.

“Your eyes shall see, and you shall say, ‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’ ”

Malachi 1:5

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 45

Jerusalem, Israel

APRIL 2012 PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Middle East

The attempt to breach Israel’s borders by the Global March to Jerusalem, hoping to involve a million Palestinians in countries surrounding Israel, failed to accomplish its mission on Friday, March 30. We give praise to the Lord for answered prayer.

East Jerusalem was a main focal point for Israeli police, with about 100 Arabs protesting near the Old City. There were some riots in the West Bank and Gaza resulting in dozens injured and one Palestinian killed.  But, Jordan and Lebanon refused to allow protestors to approach the Israeli border; Egypt was relatively quiet; and, overall, the IDF was able to handle the security situation with few clashes on the borders.

However, Israel is now bracing for more attempts by Arabs to try and push their way into the land during the next two months. Trouble is expected throughout Nakba Day (the Arab exodus from Israel during the 1948 Israeli War of Independence), and Naksa Day (when Arabs mourn Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six Day War).  The result of this continued attempt by evil powers to try and occupy Israel has caused the IDF to begin fencing in the Jewish State.  According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel will encircle its land borders with physical barriers so it can control its boundaries. Already, a fence is being built along Israel’s porous border with Egypt. A similar barrier is expected to be built along the border with Jordan. Work is beginning soon to rebuild the fence on the Golan Heights, which is Israel’s border with Syria. 

Pray that Israel will be able to keep terrorists from entering the state of Israel; stop smugglers of arms and human trafficking; and keep out illegal foreign workers.  Declare that the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous.

The pressure on the Israeli government comes from current threats from Shiite Iran and its proxies in the Middle East, as well as Sunni terrorists connected to Al Qaeda and other extremists.  Netanyahu has identified the nuclear threat; the missile threat; the cyber threat; and the border threat to Israel in 2012.

Pray that He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep; that as the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Pray for IDF soldiers to be aware and watchful on Israel’s borders so that no weapon formed against the Jewish state will be able to prosper. Pray that God will contend with those who contend with Him and Israel.   (Psalm 121:3-4; Isaiah 59:19; Isaiah 54:17; Psalm 35:1).

On March 31, 2012, Prime Minister Netanyahu celebrated his third year in office. His government has been strong and unified.  Recently, the main opposition party in Israel (Kadima) had elections.  Tzippi Livni who was the head of that party has resigned.  Shaul Mofaz is now the head of Kadima.  He is an Israeli with Iranian roots; a former Minister of Defense; and his credentials are strong. He supports a leftist agenda, and his plan would be to give the Palestinians their own state with temporary borders. He has already spoken, negatively, about Netanyahu’s threat of a military strike against Iran. 

It is expected that Mofaz will be tough on Netanyahu as he is determined to win the next Israeli general election, scheduled for October 22, 2013.  Netanyahu has managed to oversee a conservative rightist government despite opposition in Europe and the United States. Israeli polls show him to be a popular leader. He is close friends with Canadian leader Steven Harper who is a Christian. Netanyahu reads the Old Testament with his son every Shabbat; and, holds a weekly bible study in Jerusalem.

Pray that Netanyahu will rely on the Lord in all decision making; that the Lord will uphold him and steer him away from all controversy. Pray that he will grow in Godly wisdom, knowledge, understanding and insight. Pray that the Lord will hide him in the shadow of His wings away from all evil; that his adversaries will be weakened. Pray that he will learn how to steward the land of Israel with integrity, and a sense of righteousness and justice. Pray that Israel’s opposition leaders will respect the authority that God has given to Netanyahu at this time. (Romans 13:1-2; Psalm 5:12).

Since the Arab Spring uprisings began last year, the nations surrounding Israel have increasingly become Islamic strongholds. Therefore, the Israeli government is now reaching out to nations in Europe and Africa to form new diplomatic ties. Netanyahu is looking for friends to counter-balance Islamic gains in neighboring countries. We need to be praying for those nations to come forth who will stand by Israel’s side in critical times.

When international leaders meet in Europe, Israel bashing can run rampant. Certain nations have stood with Israel during such times. The Czech Republic, Italy, Holland, Romania, and Bulgaria help Israel in diplomatic forums in the European Union (EU). These nations attempt to form a block to stop criticism of Israel’s policies. Israel has formed close ties with Greece and Cyprus, as well. Please pray God’s blessings upon every nation that blesses Israel.  (Genesis 12:3).

Netanyahu is also taking trips to Africa to try and form new allies there, with countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and South Sudan. Pray that nations in sub-Saharan Africa will be loyal to Israel in the future. Pray that Israel will not enter into covenant with any nation that the Bible clearly indicates will be Israel’s future enemy.

There is a new axis of evil forming, which is aligning itself with Iran.  That axis includes:  Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Belarus. These countries are forming close ties with Iran in addition to other nations that have already aligned themselves with the Persian State:  Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Russia. Currently, nations attempting to draw closer to Iran are Egypt, Turkey, and Austria.   Please pray that all nations turning their back on Israel, that have entered into an unholy alliance, will be warned and judged by the Holy One of Israel. (Psalm Chapter 2; Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39).  

Israel is increasingly being accused by her enemies as encompassing two great evils, “apartheid” and “Nazism”. The Jewish state has been accused of “ethnic cleansing”, as well. These blatant lies have stirred up anti-Semitism and anti-Israel hatred, especially in Europe. Evil acts against Jews are surging in Germany, France, and the U.K. 

Pray that as the Jewish people commit their way to the Lord, and trust in Him, He will bring forth their righteousness as the light, and their justice as the noonday. Declare that evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. (Psalm Chapter 37).

Recently, a man with close connections to extreme Islam murdered a Jewish rabbi and his two young sons in Toulouse, France. Another young girl was also murdered in that attack on a Jewish Day school. Their bodies were brought to Israel for burial. As Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, said in his eulogy about the murderers of the Jewish people, “They know where to hurt us…they target our most holy values…Jewish education, the passing on of our traditions from generation to generation.”

Individual jihadists, like the one who murdered the Jews of France, are lone killers who have formed ties with Sunni or Shiite groups such as Al Qaeda and Iran. 

Pray that the God of Israel will redeem His people out of the hands of their enemies. (Psalm 31:15). Pray that jihadist coalitions and individuals will be prevented by the Lord from forming a confederacy and from attacking Israelis, as well as Jews living abroad. (Psalm Chapter 83). Pray that the Lord will strengthen security around His people and His land.

Reports indicate that there are 200,000 missiles pointed at Israel on any given day.  The missiles now in possession of Israel’s enemies are in larger quantities; are better quality; are longer range; have dangerous warheads; and are considered to have greater accuracy.  If launched they could go deeper into Israeli territory. These rockets are harder to knock out because they are buried underground in civilian areas in fortified silos. Proclaim Psalm 91 over Israel, especially verses 5-8. Declare Psalm 33:10-22 over the nations, and over God’s Chosen People.

Good news!  Israel has become a trauma lab of emotional healing for other nations, such as Haiti and Japan.  With greater understanding of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder, Israeli counselors are helping people in other countries to cope with their suffering. Israeli organizations are providing medical relief and training; as well as, art, music, and drama therapy to people who have been traumatized by devastations including earthquakes and tsunamis. This is an answer to prayer, as Israel is becoming a “light to the nations!” (Isaiah 42:6).