SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 84

Jerusalem, Israel

 PRAYER UPDATE -- MID-JULY 2014

Israel and the Nations

SIGNIFICANT TIMING OF EVENTS:

*This is the period of Ramadan.

*The 17^th of Tammuz, which began July 15th this year, marks the beginning of the three week period known as Dire Straits. It ends on the 9^th of Av, which is August 5^th. Historically, this is a time of catastrophe for the Jewish People. Religious Jews fast from dawn till dusk. The 9^th of Av is Tisha B’av, the time when both the first and second Temples were destroyed. The book of Lamentations is read during this time.

ISRAEL’S HISTORICAL CONFLICT WITH HAMAS:

·         More than 9,000 rockets have been fired on Israel since the Gaza Disengagement in 2005.

·         Israel’s major battles with Hamas were in 2006, 2009, and in 2012.

·         June 12, 2014, began this recent firing of rockets by Hamas. It happened the same time as the three Jewish boys were kidnapped by Hamas in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

·         A short time before the recent conflict began, the Palestinian Authority declared a Palestinian-Hamas unity government. Hamas wanted to establish itself strong in the West Bank, and exert its authority over Gaza. It also wanted to come out of isolation, and increase its popularity, worldwide.

·         Israeli ground troops entered Gaza on Thursday night, July 17, 2014 in Operation Protective Edge.

·         During the past month, more than 1,800+ rockets have been fired at Israel, including at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.

·         Currently, about 2/3rds of the country is under the threat of rocket fire. 

·         More than 3.5 million Israelis are suffering from rockets hitting their communities almost daily. About 2 million more are subject to rocket threat.

·         It is a clear violation of international law – Hamas targeting Israel’s civilian population.

·         Hamas has infiltrated Israel by sea and tunnel in an attempt to murder and kidnap Israelis.

·         It’s a huge financial investment for Israel to protect its citizens. Each Iron Dome battery cost $50 million. At least eight batteries have been used so far.

·         Shelters have to be built, people are out of work; some businesses are closed.

TACTICES OF THE ENEMY/THE TERRORIST STRATEGY:

·         Hamas would like to draw Israel into a cycle of violence; and, keep Israel in a state of constant warfare.

·         To Increase Public Discontent: Southern communities are constantly dealing with rocket fire; Israelis living there are getting little or no sleep; and no quiet or peace. Ground forces are sustaining deaths and injuries. The terrorist strategy is to “bleed” Israel. This is the enemy’s tactic.

·         Hamas uses its population as human shields. They deliberately tell their citizens to stay at home when the IDF tells them to leave. Hamas puts their own citizens in harm’s way so that the death toll in Gaza will increase. Hamas knows this will cause a backlash in the international community against Israel.

·         Hamas positions rocket launchers, rockets, and weapons near homes, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, and mosques.

·         Though it has been reported that half of Hamas’ arsenal of rockets has been destroyed, they still have thousands of rockets in their stockpile. And, they have built an extensive terrorist infrastructure underground.

·         It is not being widely reported, but Israel has also sustained hits from some rockets being launched from Lebanon and Syria; the IDF has retaliated. Israel does not want to open up another front in the north.

 HAMAS TUNNELS:

·         Israel sent in commando units to identify where Hamas tunnels are located. Now, ground troops have been sent in to destroy the tunnels. So far, the IDF has destroyed about three dozen tunnels. There are hundreds more!

·         The tunnels have become sophisticated since the last conflict in 2012. There are now underground cities with bunkers and fortifications in these tunnels. They are hooked up to electricity and oxygen.

·         The tunnels run 30 meters deep.

·         Iranian and Hezbollah engineers helped build the tunnels. But, Hamas was mostly inspired by Vietnam and how they used these tunnels to fight the Americans during the Vietnam War.

·         Hamas stores weapons and ammunition in the tunnels; uses them as command, control, and communication posts; and, also as safe “houses” for Hamas’ military and political leadership.

·         In these tunnels, Hamas has stored long-range rockets. Originally, they came from Iran, through Sudan, to the Sinai, and then were smuggled into the tunnels. Some also came from Syria, Hezbollah and Libya.

·         Hamas has underground launching capability, and can operate the rockets electronically, via remote-control devices in these tunnels. So, they do not have to be in the tunnels when they launch the rockets!

We have a God who sees all and can expose all!

Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Jeremiah 16:17: “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from Me, nor is their sin concealed from My eyes.”

Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

ISRAEL’S STRATEGY/OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE:

·         The IDF is operating based on Hamas’ pain map. That means, the IDF sets out to target the most valuable entities of the Islamist movement.

·         The IDF is trying to impair Hamas’ abilities for the future. The harder the IDF hits Hamas now, the longer and more difficult the Hamas rehabilitation process will last. Then, Israel’s deterrence will be more effective and remain in place for a longer period of time.

·         Israel’s aim is for peace and quiet to be restored; stop the rocket fire; re-build deterrence in the south; weaken Hamas.

DIFFICULTIES FOR ISRAEL:

·         Israel cannot cut off the head of the snake. The snake is Hamas. Hamas knows Israel won’t do it.

·         If Israel topples Hamas, it will create a vacuum and who will replace Hamas? Israeli leaders are concerned that ISIS or Al-Qaeda will fill the vacuum.

Israeli generals always say they need an “address”; they want to know their enemy; they want to know who they are fighting and who to pinpoint. Who is the adversary? For Israel, Hamas is the “address” in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for all terrorism, regardless of what terrorist group launches the rockets.

PRAYER POINTS: 

Pray for new strategies for Israeli defense leaders who are overseeing this battle. Intercede that Israel will win the war on all battlefronts: military; diplomatic; political; media; social networks, public opinion

Suggested scriptures to read:   Psalm 18:33-35; Job 29:20; Psalm 144:1-2 (He trains our hands for war!)
 

Continue to PRAY:

• That God would miraculously protect and save the lives of IDF soldiers

• That the IDF has a good exit strategy for Israeli ground troops when they need to leave Gaza

• That all the tunnels are found and destroyed. Pray for heightened Israeli intelligence

• That there is a cease fire only if long-term deterrence has been achieved

• That the Lord will put endurance and resilience in the heart of the Israeli population; and, hope and courage. Declare Psalm 91 over Israeli citizens daily! 

• That the media will stop ignoring Hamas’ violations of international law and basic morality.

• That the international community will act to put an end to Hamas’ demonic behavior towards their own citizens and towards Israelis.

• That there will be no more kidnappings! 

• That the IDF will not stumble, and will always hit their target, to avoid the loss of human life.

• That the enemy will not be able to open up another front in the north of Israel.

 Intercede, daily, for those in Israel,and those in the cross-fire in Gaza, who have been seriously wounded; and, pray comfort for families who have lost loved ones.

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 83

Jerusalem, Israel

PRAYER UPDATE – July 8, 2014

Israel and the Nations

 TIMELINE OF ACTIVITY UNLEASHED IN THE MIDDLE EAST & ISRAEL:

June 9:  ISIS announces that it has taken over large swaths of land in Iraq and Syria to establish an Islamic caliphate State in the Middle East. The terrorist organization releases a map of its plans to dominate the entire region, as well as parts of Europe.

June 12: Three Israeli Jewish boys are kidnapped in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

June 12: Hamas and terrorist groups in Gaza increase rocket attacks into Israel

June 30: Three dead teenagers are found partially buried in a pit near Hebron.

July 1: Funerals take place for the murdered teenagers; Jewish riots break-out in Jerusalem.

July 2:  Jewish youth from Bet Shemesh and the settlement of Adam, kidnap and burn alive an Arab teenager. It is reported to have be a revenge attack committed by young Jewish right-wing extremists.

July 3: IDF soldiers are caught on video beating up the Arab-American cousin of the Arab teenager that was murdered. It appears to have been a coincidence that the two teens were related. The IDF says the beating was in response to riots in the area that the Arab-American participated in. He denies the allegations.

July 4: Arab-Jewish riots increase in Jerusalem and expand into Israeli Arab towns throughout Israel (concentrated in those towns that have Islamic strongholds). There are threats of a third Intifada on the horizon. 

July 5: Rocket fire from Gaza increases against Israeli southern towns. 

July 6: The Israeli public complains of inaction by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner security cabinet. Divisions seem to exist among Israeli leaders about what measures to take regarding an offensive against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza.

July 7: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman announces that his party, Yisrael Beitenu, is breaking its union with the Likud party. Reports are that this is due to disagreements with Netanyahu in the inner security cabinet meetings.

July 8: Netanyahu announces that the IDF will be launching a larger military operation into Gaza.

PRAYER POINTS:

*Intercede for political stability for the Israeli government now. Pray that Israeli leaders will know how to bring the nation together in prayer, faith, hope and love as a community. Thank the Lord that the government rests upon His shoulder; that, of the greatness of His government and His peace, there will be no end, according to Isaiah 9:6-7.  Pray for Israel’s leaders to walk in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.  Declare 1 Timothy 2:1-4 over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Pray for wisdom for each member of the government’s inner security cabinet. Intercede that they will understand the Lord’s path of how to move forward. Ask God to reveal to them the strategies from heaven; His blueprints for Israel and the region. Proclaim, according to Isaiah 28:29 that all good things come from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful and whose wisdom is magnificent.

*Intercede for the IDF. Entreat the Lord for a re-positioning of Israel’s military forces and for a change of tactics, so that the enemy is on the run. Pray that the IDF can re-build its deterrence in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), as well as in the south (Gaza). Ask the Lord for an extra measure of protection over all Israel’s borders; and, that He will prevent all infiltrations by the enemy. Raise up watchmen and watchtowers throughout the land, O Lord! Pray that the Israeli public is diligent and able to escape any attempt at kidnapping. Declare Psalm Chapter 91 over all Israeli citizens, residents, and tourists that are currently in the country.

*Pray that the Israeli Police are able to completely stop the rioting in Jerusalem, the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), and throughout the land. Ask the Lord to give Israel’s security agencies understanding of how to deal, effectively, with angry and violent mobs among Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs/Palestinians. Pray that both communities will find a path towards reconciliation. (Note: At the recent young adult conference in Haifa, Israeli Jewish and Arab believers washed each other’s feet. This was done at the same time that the rioting was going on throughout the country). Declare John 17:21-23 over the Body of Messiah in Israel.

*Ask the Lord to descend on Israel as the “Sar Shalom” (the Prince of Peace). Entreat the Lord to stop the rocket fire from Hamas and terror groups.  Seal up every vulnerable spiritual pocket over Jerusalem, the capital of Israel; as well as the coastal cities (Tel Aviv and surroundings); and, southern communities along the border with Gaza. Declare these vulnerable areas as “no fly zones”. Proclaim that Israel’s skies cannot be violated by enemy forces. Declare the shed blood of Jesus over all areas of unrest in the country.

*CRAFTED PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL:  Lord, we remind You of Isaiah 54:15-17. Please encourage the people of Israel that whoever attacks them is not Your doing. Thank you Lord that though the destroyer wreaks havoc on the Promised Land, that no weapon forged against Your Covenant People will prevail! Thank you God, that though the nations are in an uproar against Israel because of the actions of the last few days, that You will refute every tongue that accuses Your people. We agree with Your Word that this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and that this is their vindication.
  
*CRAFTED PRAYER FOR THE BODY OF MESSIAH: Lord, we thank you and praise You, that You are a Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. You comfort us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble. We comfort the Israeli people during this time of great hardship in the land. We comfort them with the comfort we ourselves have received from You, God. We pray, now, for the believers in the country to represent Yeshua, and His light and love to all their neighbors. For just as Your saints share abundantly in the sufferings of Messiah Jesus, so also their comfort abounds through the Messiah. We ask You to give them a supernatural ability to reach out with great love and mercy to Israelis around them during this time of crisis, according to 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. We declare over the Israeli Body of Messiah that they will bless You Lord in the midst of chaos; walk in Your counsel; and that Your heart will instruct them in the night seasons. (Psalm 16:7). Set them apart for special intercessory prayer during the night “watch” of 3-6 a.m., when the spiritual and natural battlefront can be quite active.  
  
*CRAFTED PRAYER FOR THE MIDDLE EAST:  Lord, we declare that the enemy will not cross Your Red Line in the region. That though the wicked lays out his plans, You, God, will contend with those who contend with You. You will fight against those who fight against You and Your plans. You will take up shield and armor, arise, and come to the aid of believers throughout the Middle East. (Psalm 35:1-2).  Thank you Lord, that Your plans are higher than any others!  We proclaim, according to Isaiah 59:19 that they that fear the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun, shall deal successfully with the evil one. When the enemy comes in like a flood, (as ISIS has done in Iraq), we declare that the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. So, Lord, may Your standard be a shield and protection over the people of the Middle East. And, may Islamic leaders submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who prevails over every other god that is worshipped in this region. Lord, You have exalted Yeshua to the highest place, and given Him the name that is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father.(Philippians 2:9-11).  We acknowledge Your Lordship over all the Middle East! Every leader of every nation in this region; every group and every tribe must submit to Your will, O Lord, in Yeshua’s name!

TO HIM BE ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER!