SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 79

Jerusalem, Israel

APRIL 2014 PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Middle East

·         Recently, on the front page of the Jerusalem Post, there was an article about the conviction of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for corruption and bribery; while at the same time, there was an article about the current failed peace process. This was interesting because it was Olmert that was willing to give up most of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) to the Palestinians in peace negotiations. He was also willing to divide Jerusalem; and, he conceded to allowing several thousand Palestinians into Israel as future returning “refugees”. Still, even with all Olmert’s concessions of land for peace, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas refused to agree to a final peace deal with Olmert. And, today, Olmert faces jail time for backdoor deals he made as Mayor of Jerusalem. His failings have been exposed!

Pray for Ehud Olmert and for his brother Yossi who is also in trouble with the law.

Israeli society has faced a number of disappointments because of a string of sins exposed. Several of the nation’s leaders have ended up in jail, or are about to be sentenced to spend time in prison. A former president is serving time on rape charges; a former IDF Chief of Staff faces time in court on accusations of forgery and obstruction of justice; a former chief rabbi has been accused of fraud and bribery; a number of government ministers, members of the Knesset, mayors, and corporate heads are facing indictments or have spent time behind bars over various crimes including bribery, money laundering, and falsifying documents.

The nation is crying out for justice and righteousness to prevail and your prayers are needed!

Declare Galatians 6:7-8 over Israel’s leaders:  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

As God purges His land of evil, may the wicked deals of the unrighteous continue to be revealed, and may the Lord put people in high places who serve Him with all their hearts!

Proverbs 11:5-6:  “The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright. But, the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” 

As the verses continue in Proverbs 11, we see that the righteous are delivered from trouble, and by the blessing of the upright the city is exalted. So, it is important to pray that the ways of the wicked cease in Jerusalem and throughout Israel! 

Ask the Lord to continue to expose deception in high places in the city, and eradicate corruption within the ranks of Israel’s government.  Proclaim over Knesset members these words: “The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward!” (Proverbs 11:18).

·         As of this writing, the United States is still trying to salvage the failed peace process. Israel’s leaders are bickering with one another over who is to blame for the negotiations not succeeding. The Palestinians have already moved forward with their scheme to get greater international approval for a United Nations recognized “state of Palestine”. Israeli leaders are watching, without their own definitive plans made public, as the Palestinians wage a new diplomatic war. Abbas is intent on undermining Israel, including a strategy to increase Israel’s isolation among the nations. His purpose is to use every international forum available to de-legitimize the Jewish State, including the encouragement of boycotts. He hopes to bring accusations against Israel for war crimes to the International Criminal Court. 

In the future it is possible that the Palestinians will use low-level violence on the streets to trap the Israeli police and IDF into cracking down hard on young Palestinian rebels. Declaring falsehoods about Israeli conspiracies to take over the Temple Mount, the Palestinian Authority will try to stir things up, again, in Jerusalem, as another way of pointing the finger of accusation at Israel during this on-going conflict.

Where is Israel’s “Plan B” now that the current peace talks have failed?  Intercede for God to raise up righteous counselors among the Israelis who have influence on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, because, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall. But, in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14).

While Palestinian leaders will continue to look to the international community to force Israel into giving up its Covenant Land, we must remember that the God of Israel will protect that which concerns Him! 

Affirm His words in Exodus 23:31-33: “And, I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the southern deserts to the Euphrates River. I will help you defeat the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you. Make no treaties with them and have nothing to do with their gods. Do not even let them live among you! If you do, they will infect you with their sin of idol worship and that would be disastrous for you.”

·         One of the greatest stresses on the ties between Israel and the United States has been the White House’s unwillingness to release convicted spy, Jonathan Pollard, who has served more time in a U.S. jail than any other convicted spy.  Reportedly, U.S. President Barack Obama chose to use Pollard as a bargaining chip in Israel’s peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Secretary of State John Kerry pulled out the Pollard card to sweeten a future deal. The deal would have forced Israel to release an additional 400 Palestinian terrorists from jail (including two dozen who were supposed to be released during the recent peace process). The deal would have also included other concessions from Israel, in exchange for Pollard’s freedom.  The U.S. has become too entrenched in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict!  

Psalm 2:1: “Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain (worthless, empty) thing?” Remind the Lord that He has promised to give Yeshua the nations as His inheritance (including America), and the ends of the earth as His possession.  Declare over the Obama Administration, according to Psalm 2:11 that America’s leaders must, “Serve the Lord with fear (reverence), and rejoice with trembling.”

·         The White House has declared Israel ineligible for a program that would allow Israeli tourists into America without a visa. Members of Congress have tried to exempt Israel from the current visa rules, but the latest initiative has been stalled in the Senate. Meanwhile, when young Israelis apply for a visa to travel to the U.S., an increasing number are being targeted with refusals.

Pray that God would open the doors of America and let His people in!

·         Reports indicate that Christians in Syria are being forced to confirm to Sharia Law, and Islamic jihadi groups are placing restrictions on their religious freedoms. These rebel groups have been taking over major parts of Syrian land in the civil war that has dragged on, now, for more than three years. Christians are being told that they must pay taxes, according to Islamic law, in return for protection from the jihadists. If they refuse to pay, they will be put to death. Christians are also not allowed to freely express their religious rights in Moslem areas of Syria.

Proclaim Psalm 5:11-12 for persecuted believers living in Syria: “But, let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend (cover) them. Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous. With favor you will surround him as with a shield.”

·         According to the media, French Aliya increased by 70% in 2013!  Jewish Agency statistics show that there are about 700,000 French Jews eligible for immigration to Israel. Also, a third of the Jews from several Western European countries are considering Aliyah because of increased anti-Semitism in their nations.

Legislation proposed in the Knesset would mark Aliyah Day in Israel, which would occur five days before Passover each year. This would be a national holiday to celebrate Aliyah as a core initiative of the Jewish People. If passed, the legislation would create the 10^th of Nissan on the Hebrew calendar as the Aliyah Day, the same day that the Israelites crossed the River Jordan, as described in Joshua Chapter 3. 

Pray for this new bill to become law in Israel, declaring what the scriptures say:  “Fear not, for I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’, and to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth…”   (Isaiah 43:5-6). 

Pray for the Jews in the Ukraine to come home! Pray that those in the Crimea will be safe under Russian occupation. Intercede, before the Lord, that He will protect the Jewish communities in the east, south and north of the Ukraine, who are currently under threat of Russian aggression which could lead to war.