Jerusalem, Israel
MID-SEPTEMBER 2019 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the
Nations
- Israelis will go to the polls and elect a new political party on Tuesday, September 17. According to recent news reports, the results could end as they did in April 2019, without a viable government formed. Israel has a parliamentary system. Israelis vote for a party, and the leader of the largest party tries to form a government, negotiating with other political parties. The last time Israelis voted, the largest party was Likud, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not able to form a government coalition.
The parties that are key in this
election are: Likud (Chairman Benjamin
Netanyahu); and, Blue and White (rotating Chairman’s, Benny Gantz and Yair
Lapid). Likud is considered a center-right conservative party. Blue and White
is considered a center-left liberal party.
The “kingpin” in this election, as
was in the previous election, is Avigdor Lieberman (Chairman of Yisrael
Beiteinu). He is acting as a “centrist” to get the popular vote in Israel. His
demand is that a National Unity Government be formed between both the Likud and
Blue-White parties that excludes the religious Orthodox parties.
Lieberman is counting on the
secular Israeli vote, but he is not so trusted as a leader in Israel. Lieberman brought down the previous Israeli
government because he wants to change the status of Orthodox Jews who are,
mostly, exempt from being drafted into the army. They demand to be able to
further their Torah studies, much to the disappointment of members of Israel’s
secular community who serve in the army.
Lieberman wants a draft bill to
pass in the Knesset to force young Orthodox Jews into compulsory service. This
is because he believes it is time, now, to wipe out Hamas terrorists in Gaza,
once and for all. Israeli communities in the south of the country continue to
suffer from rockets launched by Hamas and other terrorists that are residing in
Gaza. Most Israelis would agree that Israel’s deterrence in the south has
deteriorated. But, Israeli parents don’t want their sons and daughters to die
in a future war between Israel’s Defense Forces and Hamas. A future war would
require Israeli ground forces to enter Gaza, resulting in what has been
predicted to be a major loss of life on both sides. Please pray that this prediction will not come to pass!
The Yamina party (Chairman Ayelet
Shaked), is the only political party run by an Orthodox Jewish woman. Her party
is right-wing conservative, but composed of secular and religious Zionist Jews.
She also wants to see Israel wipe out Hamas in the next conflict in the south.
Three of the top leaders in the
Blue and White political party (Benny Gantz, Moshe Yaalon, and Gabi Ashkenazi)
are all former Israeli Defense Force (IDF) generals. This is why Lieberman
wants to form a unity government. He sees that this will be necessary, not only
to fight Hamas in the south; but, a possible war in the north with Hezbollah in
Lebanon.
Meanwhile, it appears to be a close
race between Likud and Blue and White, but, not considered to be easy for anyone
to form a new government in Israel. Your
prayers are needed!
PRAYER
POINTS:
PRAY FOR A RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT TO SUCCESSFULLY BE FORMED IN ISRAEL
AFTER THE VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 17. ASK THE LORD TO GIVE SUPERNATURAL WISDOM TO THE
ISRAELI PUBLIC TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT POLITICAL PARTIES THAT CAN EASILY FORM A
GOVERNMENT COALITION, WITH A LEADER OF GREAT WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND
KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD. PRAY FOR THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL TO BE A MAN OF
GOOD CHARACTER, WHO HAS INTEGRITY AND WALKS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS; ONE WHO WILL BE
ABLE TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS! (ROMANS 13:1-4; PROVERBS 21:1).
- During this election on September 17, through the celebrations of the biblical Fall Feasts that begin on September 29, there is high level security in Israel, especially in Jerusalem and the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). There is a unit of undercover police called “Yamas” that will be operating in and around Jerusalem to ward off terrorist attacks and other criminal acts. Unfortunately, the city is not considered safe without this kind of police protection. Thousands of tourists and locals will be flocking to the Western Wall during the feasts, and other popular holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City.
PRAYER POINTS:
ACCORDING TO PSALM 121:4: “INDEED, HE WHO
WATCHES OVER ISRAEL WILL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP.” PRAY FOR THE GOD OF ISRAEL
TO SUPERNATURALLY WATCH OVER ISRAEL, ESPECIALLY JERUSALEM, WITH EXTRA VILIGENCE
DURING THIS VULNERABLE SIX WEEKS. PRAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THAT ALL PLOTS
WILL BE EXPOSED AND DEFEATED BEFORE ANY PLANNED TERROR ACTIVITIES ARE ABLE TO
TAKE PLACE.
- The Trump “Deal of the Century” (peace plan) is expected to be unveiled right after the Israeli elections, but before an Israeli government coalition is formed. This complicates the political process in Israel, with diplomatic interference on the part of the U.S., especially concerning the timing of this action.
Because of this pressure, current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a recent press conference defining what he will do if elected, again, as prime minister. He said he is prepared to protect every Israeli living in settlement communities (beyond the “Green Line”); and, that he will annex those communities, but only after the Trump plan is revealed (out of respect for the U.S. president).
In addition, Netanyahu declared Israel’s sovereignty over the entire Jordan Valley (the length of the border with Jordan), including up to the northern part of the Dead Sea. This shows how concerned Israel is with the contents of the Trump peace plan. Israel has always insisted that the Jordan Valley would remain in Israel’s hands in any agreement with the Palestinians, due to security reasons, and to guarantee Israel defensible borders. (ISAIAH 54:2-3; ISAIAH 55:11; PSALM 33:11-12).
- Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants to re-negotiate the Iran nuclear deal with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. That led to Netanyahu holding a press conference where he revealed another secret Iranian location where Iran was attempting to build nuclear weapons. Trump is aware that Israel does not want direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
PRAYER
POINTS:
ISRAEL IS PREPARING TO RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS DURING THIS BUSY
FEAST SEASON. PRAY THAT ALL ATTEMPTS BY ISRAEL’S ENEMIES TO START A CONFLICT
WITH THE JEWISH STATE WILL BE THWARTED. PRAY FOR CONFUSION AND DELAY IN THE
ENEMY CAMP. ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO ISRAEL’S LEADERS WHERE THE ENEMY IS ADVANCING,
AND CONTINUE TO GIVE THE IDF INSIGHTS IN HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE ACTIONS THAT
COULD HEAT UP ISRAEL’S BORDERS. PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER ISRAEL’S HOMEFRONT,
ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES. (1 JOHN 5:14-15;
JOB 12:22; PSALM CHAPTER 91).