SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 88

Jerusalem, Israel

OCTOBER 2014  PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Nations

A perspective on why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not authorize IDF ground troops to stay in Gaza and finish the job of getting rid of Hamas during Operation Protective Edge. Netanyahu had to consider several matters:

(1)     There was a lack of unity within the Inner Security Cabinet of Netanyahu’s government. There was not an agreement among government leaders that would enable the IDF to take over all of Gaza and get rid of Hamas. The IDF advised the Inner Security Cabinet that to destroy Hamas it would require a full-scale invasion of Gaza. However, from the beginning of the war, the main goal announced publicly was to stop Hamas rocket fire and eliminate tunnels that could infiltrate Israel. The Israeli government planned to weaken Hamas but leave it in place to govern the people of Gaza. This is because Israeli leaders could not see any other group ready to govern if Hamas was destroyed.

(2)     Netanyahu was not sure that the nation of Israel could cope with hundreds of IDF soldiers being killed as a result of the war being expanded.  His political favor was not strong enough to keep his government in power if mistakes were made during the war that could have resulted in a large number of deaths in Israel or in Gaza.

(3)     Diplomatically, the nations were already raging because of the high “collateral” damage in Gaza. With over 2,000 people killed (even if a majority were members of Hamas and other terrorist organizations), Israel was already being accused of massacring the Gazan people (lies that were being spread throughout the media). Could Israel handle the diplomatic fall-out that would happen if thousands more lost their lives in Gaza because of a prolonged war with Hamas? It would mean greater isolation for the Jewish State; more boycotts; more campaigns to de-legitimize Israel; and, more possibilities that Israel would be dragged before the International Criminal Court for war crimes.

(4)     Anti-Semitism was already at its greatest increase since pre-WWII, especially in Europe. What would it be like for Jews living abroad if the war had been expanded?

(5)     Economics and Education:  Already, it has been a hardship for Israeli southern communities to repair damages done – infrastructure of buildings, homes, and roads. Children in the south would have not be able to start school on time had the war continued. Whole communities would have stayed away from the south for prolonged periods of time to avoid living in the war zone. 

(6)     Hamas was a clear distraction from Israel’s main enemy, Iran. Netanyahu needed to be able to diplomatically focus on Iran, pressuring world leaders to listen to Israel’s point of view, especially as the P5+1 nations are trying to make a deal with Iran by November 24^th, in order to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear state.

·         As you go to prayer for Israel, please remember these points mentioned.     

                                                            

Israel still has not been able to successfully eliminate rocket fire on its citizens. The nation is only in a temporary cease-fire with Hamas. If Hamas does not get what it wants in indirect negotiations with Israel (which are being conducted in Cairo), then it has threatened to resume attacks on the Jewish State. Reportedly, 80% of its rocket arsenal was destroyed. But, Hamas still has more than 2,000 rockets it can fire on Israel in the future. Additionally, it can use mortar fire against citizens in the south, which the Iron Dome cannot intercept.

Israel gained a temporary respite. So far, the IDF can say it has achieved a level of deterrence in the south of the country. But, critics of Netanyahu’s government say that Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon did not push hard to end the war fast, and did not take the war far enough into enemy territory.

Please pray that the deterrence will remain effective for the long-term. Pray that Israel’s enemies in the south (Hamas and other terrorist groups) will not be able to re-group, or to re-stock any more weapons in their arsenals. Pray that the rockets Hamas does have will become useless; rocket launchers will break down; all command and control centers will become dysfunctional; and, that God will raise up an army of angels to infiltrate the ranks of every terrorist group in Gaza and cause mass confusion in Yeshua’s name!

Declare God’s favor for Israel; that the IDF will triumph over its enemies, according to Deuteronomy 7:23: “But the Lord Your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.”

·         Israel is preparing for a war in the north, as Hezbollah continues to get stronger, with an arsenal of 100,000 rockets it wants to use in a future battle with Israel.

Pray according to Exodus 23:27, entreating the Lord to help the IDF prepare for conflicts on the horizon: “I'll go ahead of you and terrorize all the people to whom you are coming. I'll confuse your enemies and make them turn their backs on you and run away.”

 

·         It appears that Iran is helping Al-Qaeda. And, Shiites in Iraq and Syria have committed the same atrocities and barbaric acts that Sunnis like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have committed. The concern that Middle East analysts have reported is that various Sunni jihadist groups will begin to join ranks and unify as has already happened among the Shiites (Iran, Hezbollah and Syria’s Assad regime). Sunni radicals like Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State in Syria are starting to unify, as the U.S.-led coalition continues its air strikes, and more nations join in. What the U.S. should be preparing to do is use the same coalition of Arab states and Western nations to threaten Iran if it does not surrender to world pressure to stop its quest for nuclear weapons!

As intercessors, let’s stand in the gap and pray that the Lord will intervene in this region and stop the bloodshed. Let’s believe for His sovereign plan that will save the Middle East peoples and bring revival to these tribal nations. Pray for all enemy lines to be pushed back. Pray that a wall of protection will surround Israel that cannot be penetrated; that her borders will be secured; that she will enjoy calm, quiet, and peace from the north to the south, and the east to the west.

Thank the Lord for His promises and declare Isaiah 60:2-3 over Israel:  “For behold, darkness will cover the earth; and, deep darkness the peoples; but, the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

·         There is a strong relationship between Turkey’s intelligence services and Iran, resulting in a rift and developing mistrust in the Turkish-Israel relationship. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to antagonize Israel with anti-Semitic statements. He has also kept his country from entering into the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. And, he has not allowed Turkish Kurds to cross the border and help their Syrian brothers in the fight against Islamic State. 

·         Pray for the Turkish President to accept the ways of the Lord and His Kingdom; or if not, that God would remove him from government. Thank the Lord for His Word and His Authority that is above all!      

    

Daniel 4:35: “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: "What have you done?"

·         Almost immediately after the recent meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Netanyahu, the White House blasted Israel for its settlement policy, condemning Israel for approving the construction of new houses in Jerusalem. This has caused another rift between the U.S. government and Israel. (Most likely, it is the Obama Administration’s way of preparing for another round of futile talks between Israel and the Palestinians, when Israel will be pressured to freeze new construction in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria).

Ask the Lord to remove the animosity between these two allies. Pray that Obama and his administration will surrender to God’s Word pertaining to the covenant the Lord has made with Israel. Pray that God will raise up new leaders in the U.S. who will be favorable towards Israel, especially in the elections soon to take place in America. 

Proclaim, according to the land of Israel and its inhabitants, Psalm 89:3-4: “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed forever, and build up your throne to all generations."

·         Mahmoud Abbas wants to force a two-state solution on Israel through a future vote in the UN Security council. He has submitted a draft resolution that would set a deadline of November 2016 for Israel to withdraw to the pre-June 1967 border. This deadline would be right after the 2016 presidential elections, and before the new U.S. president takes office. This would allow Obama, as a lame duck president, to act on his personal vendettas. He could direct America’s UN representative to vote on behalf of the PLO’s plan and not veto the plan on behalf of Israel. 

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is, reportedly, trying to organize a regional peace conference that would force Israel into accepting the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative (which would leave Israel with indefensible borders; not a good plan!)

Declare Isaiah 54:17 over Israel; that God would thwart the ways of those who have ill plans for the Jewish State:  "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and, every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord.”

·         Another disagreement between the Obama Administration and the Netanyahu government has to do with foreign policy. Recently, Netanyahu said in his UN speech that all of militant Islam poses a cohesive ideological threat to the Western world. The U.S. State Department disagrees. Its spokesperson, Jen Psaki tried to differentiate between various jihadist terrorist groups. Netanyahu sees them all as evil. He stated at the UN:  “The Nazis believed in a master race. The militant Islamists believe in a master faith. They just disagree about who among them will be the master of the master faith.”

Intercede before the Lord that He will enlighten U.S. foreign policy makers and the Obama Administration to the fact that militant Islam wants to dominate the earth and destroy Israel and the West, and all these extremist groups are radically trying to achieve the same goal. Thank God that no matter what its U.S. ally is saying or doing, He will not allow Israel’s foot to slip. “He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:3-4).

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 87

Jerusalem, Israel

ISRAEL – THE STATE OF THE STATE IN 5775!

Jewish people throughout the world mark the civil New Year, Wednesday, September 24, celebrating Rosh Hashanah with apples and honey and hoping for sweet new beginnings. . It is the biblical Feast of Trumpets, and the start of the Ten Days of Awe, culminating in the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).  Following that, is the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles). The high holy days are drawing both Jews and Christians from all over the world, many of whom come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Fall Feasts.

On the Hebrew calendar, it is the month of Elul, and the New Year is 5775. The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority has released its estimations that 8,904,373 people are living in the land, of which more than 6 million are Jews. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at his recent cabinet meeting that this is a triumph over the Holocaust, a time when six million Jews perished.

Israelis are healing and recovering from a summer of war with Hamas, and southern communities are re-building after damages incurred by thousands of rockets launched from Gaza.  Despite the current cease-fire, there are great uncertainties in the land.

FEAR OF CROSS-BORDER INFILTRATIONS

Israeli citizens in southern towns on the border with Gaza remain concerned that Hamas could re-build underground tunnels that would cross over into Israeli territory. Several families with children have already moved to other parts of the country. 

Likewise, citizens living in the north of Israel are concerned that Hezbollah has already built tunnels that could be used to attack residents living near the border with Lebanon… or, even those Israelis living in the Galilee. Despite assurances from the IDF that no such tunnels exist inside Israeli territory, northern residents are not convinced. 

In addition, the IDF continues to monitor fighting between Syrian rebels and Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, which are taking place on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Recently, a Syrian jet fighter crossed over into Israeli air space. The IDF launched a surface-to-air missile, shooting down the jet which ended up crashing back inside Syrian territory. The Syrian pilots parachuted out of the plane and their whereabouts are unknown.

The IDF has had to continually defend Israel’s border with Syria from intrusions by rebels and government forces who are fighting each other. It now appears that most of the areas on the Israeli-Syrian border are controlled by rebel forces who are jihadists aligned with Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front.

Furthermore, Israel is preparing for another war with Hezbollah. The terrorist militia still controls much of southern Lebanon. Though Hezbollah is busy helping Assad’s regime battle rebels in Syria, the terror group remains a formidable threat to Israel, having acquired 100,000 rockets for a future war with the Jewish State.

ISLAMIC STATE AND IRAN

Israel is not as concerned as the rest of the world is about the advances of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. While understanding that it is a threat to the Middle East, Islamic State has not yet become a major danger to Israel. 

With a foothold in Lebanon, Islamic State (comprised of Sunni jihadists) still has to fight Hezbollah (comprised of Shiite fighters) before it will be able to have much influence in that country. In Gaza, it is Hamas that retains control, and other terrorist groups are too weak to oppose it. In Jordan, domestic intelligence forces have been able to keep Islamic State from operating there. Egypt has a problem with various terrorist groups in the Sinai, but at this point in time, the focus of these groups is to attack the Egyptian regime. Currently, Islamic State does not have a strong presence in Egypt or the Sinai. On occasion, jihadists from the Sinai have launched missiles at Israel’s southern city of Eilat. So far, however, they have contained most of their terrorist operations within Egyptian territory, while supplying arms to other terrorists who smuggle them into Gaza.

Israel still considers Iran to be the #1 exporter of terror in the world. Iran has threatened to destroy Israel. This existential threat keeps Israeli leaders pushing for strong restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. An Israeli military operation against Iran remains on the table should Iran renege on its commitments; or, should there be a failure in an attempt by P5+1 nations to reach a nuclear deal with Iran by a November 24, 2014 deadline.

Meanwhile, Iran, Hezbollah and Assad’s Syrian regime continue to engage in close strategic cooperation, with their current emphasis on defeating Sunni rebels in Syria. But, ultimately, they have their eye on Israel.

THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND EAST JERUSALEM

The IDF remains on alert in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) receiving good intelligence information from operatives in the Palestinian territories. 

Recently, the IDF found and killed two terrorists in Hebron who had kidnaped and murdered three Israeli boys in June 2014.  It took three months to find the terrorist’s hiding place, but the IDF was able to carry out a successful military operation.   

As long as, politically, Israel is able to remain in the West Bank and oversee security there, the IDF should be able to adequately protect Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks in that area.

Israel has low-level cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and its police forces. However, one area that remains a flash point is East Jerusalem where there are frequent riots between the Israeli police and angry Palestinians. 

If the Palestinian Authority decides to hold new elections in the coming year; or, if the current cease-fire between Hamas and Israel does not hold; there could be increased attempts at terrorist attacks in the West Bank, and violent disturbances in and around the Jerusalem area.

ANTI-SEMITISM AND ALIYAH

Aliyah increased by 28% over this past year, marking a five year high, according to Israel’s Jewish Agency.  Jews throughout the world, especially in Europe, experienced the worst acts of anti-Semitism since pre-World War II.  Immigration to Israel increased dramatically from France and the Ukraine due to Jews feeling unprotected in their Diaspora communities.

An estimated 24,800 Jews immigrated to Israel in 5774, with 6,000 fleeing anti-Semitism in France, resulting in more immigrants from that country than any other in this past Hebrew calendar year. Reportedly, 4,200 Jewish people immigrated to Israel from the Ukraine, and another 4,500 from Russia. More young people are immigrating now, with 60% making Aliyah under the age of 35.

A recent survey showed that at least 26% of Europeans hold anti-Semitic views. Anti-Semitism was most prevalent during the Gaza war, with 74% of citizens in the Middle East acknowledging their hatred towards Jews. 

During Operation Protective Edge, which lasted 50 days, European Jewish property and institutions were attacked.  Fire-bombings of synagogues took place in France and Germany (and, rioters attempted to infiltrate a Parisian synagogue). There were assaults on Jewish individuals, especially those wearing traditional Jewish garb. In London and in Rome, swastikas and hate graffiti against Jews were spray-painted on walls. European politicians spoke anti-Semitic rhetoric, and several times Israel was compared to Nazism. 

In the future, it is expected that there will be more attempts by anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli extremists to commit violent acts against Jewish people, and that Jewish community leaders will encourage individual Jews to conceal their identities. Aliyah to Israel is expected to increase during the upcoming calendar year, especially from Europe.

Israel is planning to organize a debate in the UN General Assembly for January 2015 on the subject of anti-Semitism. Israel continues to be plagued by UN Human Rights groups that, unfairly, condemn the Jewish State for defending itself against terrorist groups. Israel also wants this issue on the UN agenda because of the rising tide of anti-Semitism, worldwide.

POLITICS IN ISRAEL

Compared to other politicians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still the most trusted leader in Israel. While his popularity has waned since the Gaza war, his government has remained stable for the time being. However, his decision to run for a fourth term in future elections has been disconcerting for younger politicians who are vying for power within his Likud Party. Recently, the second most popular MK in the Likud, Gideon Saar, resigned. He had held the post of Minister of the Interior in the current government coalition. While he said he was stepping down for personal reasons, it was also reported that his relationship with Netanyahu had deteriorated in recent months. There are others that are disgruntled with Netanyahu’s leadership and they could try and form a new political party that would take votes and power away from the Likud and weaken Netanyahu. In 5775, it can be expected that Netanyahu will not have a quiet year in politics, especially as new elections draw near.

According to a recent poll conducted by the monthly Peace Index and co-sponsored by the Israeli Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University, Israeli Jews remained optimistic in 5774, with an overwhelming 75% saying that they were satisfied with their over-all personal lives going into the New Year.  However, it was the Israeli Arabs that seemed to be more satisfied regarding the state of the country, with 52% showing their support. Only 38% of Israeli Jews claimed to be satisfied with their country’s situation.

Israeli Jews continue to be frustrated with their economic situation, especially rising housing and education costs. Only 29% were supportive in 5774 in how the government handled the economy. On security issues, 61% of Israelis showed confidence in how the government handled security in the country. Even though Israelis have consistently supported Netanyahu, those answering questions in this recent poll indicated that 62% didn’t trust in the general Israeli leadership.

In conclusion, Israelis feel safe and have a positive attitude about their lives. But, with the possibility of border infiltrations by terrorists, and war on the horizon in the north of the country, 5775 could be a turbulent year.  

Going into the New Year, pray for the Israeli public and government to be united in purpose, with vision for the future. Pray for a strong and efficient military. Pray for the Israeli people to have a listening ear towards God receiving His wisdom and understanding, especially during times of turmoil. Pray for calm and quiet between sectors of the Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab populations. Pray for security over Israel’s borders and an extra measure of protection for the citizens of this thriving and prosperous nation.

“The Lord bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!”

Psalm 128:5-6