SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 119

Jerusalem, Israel

SUPPORT AT THE UN – NICKI HALEY’S VISIT TO ISRAEL

Nikki Haley, American ambassador to the United Nations, met with Israeli government leaders on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in Jerusalem, to discuss bilateral relations. In recent months, there has been a marked shift in tone towards Israel, signaling a change in Middle East foreign policy under U.S. President Donald Trump’s Administration. 

Speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haley said there was a turning of the tide in New York at the United Nations. “I think they know they can’t keep responding in the way they’ve been responding. They sense that the tone has changed.” 

Haley spoke in Geneva on the eve of June 6th, before embarking on her trip to Israel. She said that the UN agenda was discussed with ambassadors there. “It will be a new day at the Human Rights Council when it comes to Israel,” she declared.

Most of the ambassadors on the Human Rights Council heard from Haley about Agenda Item Seven which is fraught with condemnation of Israel when it’s brought before the nations. Under this item, the council is mandated to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at every session. There is no similar mandate demanded of other nations, especially those who are currently committing human atrocities in Iran, Syria, and North Korea. 

Haley has demanded reform, speaking to UN leaders about the need to stop unfairly accusing Israel of human rights violations.  “Some of them, they were embarrassed by it. You know, they acknowledge the fact that it just makes no sense. You can’t sit there, and of all countries, Israel?”

Haley has proven, over and over again, her pro-Israel support, taking the UNHRC and other UN groups to task for their anti-Israel bias. The US has threatened to remove its financial and diplomatic support for these organizations. Haley has demanded that there be no separate agenda item on Israel than for any other country being addressed at the UN.

At the Israeli President’s Residence, Haley thanked President Reuven Rivlin for his support, but said, “I feel somewhat guilty because all I did at the United Nations was tell the truth. I have never taken kindly to bullies, and the UN has bullied Israel for a very long time; and, we are not going to let that happen anymore. It is a new day for Israel in the United Nations.”

Professor Gabriela Shalev, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, spoke briefly to journalists on a Jerusalem conference call about Haley’s visit. She mentioned that Haley was a great friend of Israel, who has identified with Israelis and Jews living in the Middle East. “I can only attest to my short experience, representing Israel for 2 years, 2008-2010, as Israeli ambassador to the UN. Being the U.S. ambassador to the UN is not an easy task… We, the Israeli mission to the UN, always work in cooperation and friendship with all the American ambassadors.”

Shalev, who was at the United Nations during a challenging time for Israel, said that on many important issues, Israel and the U.S. stand together. For example, on the issue of terrorist operations conducted by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. She also addressed the problems with the UN leadership. “The UN is today, I can say, the global center of efforts to delegitimize Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself. And, therefore, the support of the United States, which was always there since the days of Harry Truman, and the establishment of the state of Israel, is a given.”

But, Shalev also mentioned that she is a very concerned citizen of the world and Israel, especially when it comes to how Israel is judged unfairly. “Everybody, that represents Israel and the U.S., in this noble arena, is very aware of the double standards against Israel.”

Disappointing to many Israelis was the lack of a US veto, under the Obama Administration, in the UN Security Council decision regarding Resolution 2334. It will take some time for the Trump Administration to reverse that decision, which unfairly judged Israel regarding its sovereignty over settlements in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), and over its capital city, Jerusalem. 

Some Israelis have been critical of Trump’s recent decision to initiate a six month presidential waver, resulting in no current effort to support the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which compels the U.S. State Department to move its embassy to Jerusalem.  However, even though unsatisfied by Trump’s decision, a majority of Israelis continue to show increased support for his policies concerning the Jewish State.

Shalev addressed a question from this writer about the fact that the American embassy will not be moved at this time.  “The person who really dictates the policy is the president. I am sure that Nikki Haley is going to address it because people here are very concerned about the politics of Trump.”

Shalev mentioned the promise Trump made during the U.S. elections last year to move the embassy. She explained that many promises during campaigns are not fulfilled when the U.S. president comes into the White House and sees the reality. According to Shalev, Israelis saw Trump’s promise as symbolic.  She mentioned other areas where America has backed Israel and will continue to uphold Israel’s requests: “We can be assured of the support of the United States. We will get the support regarding Israeli building inside the settlements, and also the embassy will, in some time, move. I think they are concerned by repercussions, and only cautious in attitude.” 

Only time will tell how true to Israel the United States will be, in terms of long-term policy changes both at the UN and in dialogue with Israeli government leaders, especially concerning crucial issues connected to Israel’s capital, and the disputed territories. 

Regardless, Nicki Haley seems to stand out more than any other in the U.S. government, as a true friend of Israel, who isn’t afraid to speak out against old habits of Israel-bashing at the UN. That kind of friendship commitment goes a long way in gaining favor with the people of Israel.

Genesis 22:17-18:

"Indeed, I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and, your seed shall possess the gates of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

 

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 118

Jerusalem, Israel

MAY 2017 PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Nations

As summer approaches, a study has been done which concludes that high temperatures result in disproportionate increases in terrorism and warfare. The EU study suggests that warm weather triggers violence because of physical discomforts, which then leads to increased acts of aggression. Ramadan is coming up this month. There was a “Ramadan Rage” in July 2014 because of long hot and sunny days, while Moslems fasted. There are more people on the streets during the summer, which also means more human interaction, resulting in potential conflicts and terrorism. Israeli analysts have concluded that some wars and terrorism waves take place during hot summer months, including the Gaza War with Hamas in 2014. But, the main factors are geopolitical tensions in the region. 

There have been recent warnings from several Israeli and American leaders that a war is inevitable in the next few months between Israel and Hamas. 

·        Intercede for the Lord to constrain Israel’s enemies this spring and summer. Pray that He will cool tensions, especially during the Moslem month of Ramadan. Ask the Lord to increase awareness among Israeli Police officers and IDF soldiers during heightened security times. When it is an obvious time of high security, pray that the Israeli public will be vigilant, and much more aware of their surroundings. Intercede for an extra measure of protection around Israel’s urban areas, especially Jerusalem, and on Israel’s northern and southern borders.  (Isaiah 62:6-7).

Isaiah 21:8: “Then the lookout called, ‘O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower. And, I am stationed every night at my guard post.’ ”

There have been strained relations between the Israeli and German governments. Along with this, there are statistics that 40% of the German population have adopted an attitude of modern anti-Semitism, engaging in Israel bashing (which leads to Jew-hatred). Solidarity with Israel is declining. Recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel cancelled high level meetings between government cabinets. Then, this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an appointment with the German Foreign Minister because he insisted in meeting with liberal-leftist NGO’s in Israel that work against the Jewish State. These Israeli organizations, who sympathize with Palestinian causes, gather false and inaccurate testimonies from IDF soldiers, and accuse Israeli leaders of illegal settlement activity.

While Germany officials have shown sympathy for the Holocaust, and have been remorseful in their statements, there is a new German attitude emerging within the population. It is one that exempts the nation’s citizens from past guilt regarding the Holocaust. They want to move forward, and some are targeting Israel in their anger and frustration. The problem is that it is resulting in an unsympathetic attitude towards Israel, with pro-Palestinian leanings among Germany citizens. This includes support for the BDS (Boycott-Divestment and Sanctions) movement against Israel, which contributes to actions that hurt Israel’s economy. Furthermore, Israel related anti-Semitism in Germany has become respectable in society.

·        Pray for the Lord to deal with Israelis who work against the Jewish State, bringing confusion to their anti-governmental activities, and rendering their current activities useless. Ask the Lord to raise-up Israelis who are proud of their nation and can lead with strength and dignity, depending on God for wisdom and direction.

1 Peter 2:13-14: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent by him to punish evildoers and praise well-doers. For it is God’s will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

Pray for attitudes among Germans to change towards Israel, as the population is educated in truth and accuracy about Israel’s biblical place among the nations. Pray that German hearts are touched by the Lord with a greater love and concern for the Jewish People… God’s Chosen Ones!

There are approximately 200,000+ Israelis living in Germany today. Intercede for them to be a “light” to the German nation. Ask the Lord to also bring them back to their homeland soon! (Ezekiel 36:8)

Zechariah 2:8: “For thus says the Lord of Hosts, ‘After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.’ ”

U.S. President Donald Trump is embarking on a Middle East trip this month, with plans to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome. There is a sense that he wants to be the U.S. president who successfully was able to make a deal -- finalize a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians. He, reportedly, thinks he can also forge a peace agreement between Israel and Arab states in the region… beyond the current peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and Jordan. Trump is further seeking to internationalize peace between religions, and there is a sense he is looking to encourage a new world order that brings peace through solidarity between Jews, Moslems and Christians. This is particularly concerning for born-again Christians who are not interested in the concept of all religions coming together in world peace under one religious banner.

·        Pray that Trump’s visit will result in God’s agenda being accomplished, not man’s. Intercede for the Lord to constrain man’s attempt to bring a false peace to Israel and the region.

John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

·        Ask the Lord to block any attempt by the enemy to create an environment of a new religious world order. Pray for God to give wisdom to Israeli leaders who seek truth and biblical understanding of Israel’s place among the nations; that their eyes will be open to the one true God our Father, and Yeshua, His Son.

1 Timothy 2:5-6: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Messiah Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all – the testimony that was given at just the right time.”

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 117

Jerusalem, Israel

APRIL 2017 PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Nations

The recent chemical attack in Syria, allegedly committed by the military forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has sent shockwaves throughout the world. Photos of dying children on social media has outraged civil societies. International leaders are trying to come to grips with these scenes and figure out the best way to move forward. 

The United States holds the current monthly presidency of the United Nations under U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley. An emergency meeting is being set up at the UN Security Council to discuss the Syrian crisis, as leaders try and understand what would motivate Assad to carry out another destructive assault on his own people (he has done this several times before). 

If Assad did use the chemicals, he has violated international law, as well as commitments he made in 2013, to rid his country of these WMD’s. Both he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have denied Assad’s involvement in this latest chemical attack. Putin has placed Russian advanced military equipment in Syria to help Assad win the current war against Syrian rebels; a war which has taken place for six years now; killed hundreds of thousands of people; and displayed millions of Syrians. If Assad is guilty, then Putin is implicated in this latest tragedy.

In March 2017, Assad’s air force attempted to shoot down Israeli jets on the Golan Heights. The Israeli Air Force had been on a mission to eliminate an advanced arms shipment that was traveling by truck from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. While Israel has knocked out these type of advanced armed shipments before, this time Assad’s forces retaliated. Three Syrian missiles were fired at Israeli jets. One fell inside Jordan; another in an open area of Israel; and, the third was intercepted by Israel’s Arrow anti-missile defense system. There were two other incidents that occurred on the Golan border between Israel and Assad’s forces during that time, but the border has been quiet since then.

In late March, this writer took part in a telephone conference call with Israeli Brig-Gen (res) Nitzan Nuriel who spoke to journalists about the first incident. Nuriel analyzed Assad’s intentions:  “Assad does not read the map correctly, and he believes it’s only a question of weeks, maybe months, before he can declare a full victory. Therefore, he is looking at the next change... Clashes in Syria are going to stay with us for at least 3-6 years. So, I believe he does not read the map correctly.”

The fact that Assad is not reading the map correctly is a major problem for Israel. Analysts have not yet said, what has become a concern for the state of Israel; that is, Assad still has access to chemical weapons and would not hesitate to use them, not only against his own people, but against Israel.

While international leaders try to gain evidence as to whether Assad did order the chemical attack, intercession to stop any future attacks is needed:

 

PRAYER:

·        Pray for those Syrians that have lost loved ones in this horrible tragedy. Weep with those who mourn. Pray God’s comfort over the Syrian families who are struggling to survive. Ask the Lord to heal those who have been wounded by these chemicals; that God would restore them to perfect health.

·        Proclaim that all WMD’s in Syria will be destroyed, and that no retaliation will take place to try and stop this action.

·        According to Psalm 121:4, “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”                                                                                            

       Psalm 32:7 says: “You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”  Declare these promises of God over Israel.

·        Pray that the Lord will remove His enemies in this battle according to Psalm 108:13: “Through God we will do valiantly, And it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.”

Reportedly, ISIS is also believed to have obtained chemical weapons in the regions where it has control (Iraq, Syria, and Libya) and has used the WMD’s in battles more than 50 times.  Experts on this subject believe that ISIS could try and use chemical weapons in a terrorist attack against Israelis or against Jews traveling in Europe. 

PRAYER:

• Declare Psalm 44:5 for the Jewish People, worldwide: “Through Thee will we push down our enemies: through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.”   
• God will prevail over ISIS, according to Isaiah 60:12: “For the nation or kingdom that will not serve You will perish; it will be utterly ruined.”

Several leaders from Arab nations have been visiting U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House including PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah, and Saudi leaders. There are preliminary plans to host a summit or international peace conference between Israel, the Palestinians, and Arab nations, sometime during the summer of 2017. So far, the only plan being offered is the outdated Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which Israel rejected, and continues to reject in its current state. Even if this plan is altered, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians will not be solved based on secular ideas of land for peace. This is a religious conflict and a fight between Islam and the God of Israel over His Covenant Land!

PRAYER:

• Proclaim that it is the Prince of Peace, Israel’s “Sar Shalom”, Messiah Yeshua, who rules over the Middle East region, including Israel, the territories occupied by the Palestinians, and Arab lands. Declare that it is the Lord’s peace, according to John 14:27 that is the only way to true victory: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• Pray that this on-going conflict in the Middle East will be over soon because revival will come to the nations and cause the peoples to enter into true peace with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Himself!                                               
• Declare: John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Psalm 29:11: “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” Isaiah 57:19: “Creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near, says the Lord. ‘And I will heal them.’ ”

The Jerusalem Post reported (3/16/2017), that the U.K. Community Security Trust recorded 1,309 anti-Semitic incidents in 2016, the highest number in Britain since the Community Trust began collecting statistics 33 years ago. Anti-Semitism in the United States has soared since the U.S. presidential election campaign, and continues to be a source of great anxiety for American Jewish communities. Anti-Semitism on social media has caused record levels of incitement against the Jewish People worldwide. The Anti-Defamation League is, reportedly, building a sophisticated command center in California’s Silicon Valley, to combat cyber hate. The center will monitor, track, analyze and mitigate hate speech and harassment across the Internet. But, this is not enough!  

It is time for us to lift our hearts to the Lord of Heaven and ask Him to stop this hatred against His Chosen People, release the Jews from the nations and bring them home! 

PRAYER:

• Declare, according to Zechariah 8:23: "This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: 'In the future, ten men speaking all the languages of the nations will grab hold of one Jewish person by the hem of his garment and say, ‘Let us go up to Jerusalem with you, because we heard that God is with you.’ ”

• Proclaim God’s Aliyah promises over Israel, including, Isaiah 60:4: “Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.” Isaiah 43:5-6: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, 'Bring My sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.’ ”

There is increased prostitution happening inside Israel’s Defense Forces (the IDF). Females are resorting to sex for pay in order to rid themselves of financial difficulties. Some female soldiers find it difficult to survive on military salaries and get involved in prostitution despite it being illegal in Israel. At least 500 soldiers are estimated to be involved in prostitution in the IDF. The Labor and Social Services Ministry in Israel reports that there are an estimated 11,420-12,730 sex workers nationwide.

PRAYER:

• Pray that the Lord clamps down on this immoral sex industry. Intercede for those women who have entered into prostitution – that they will repent, find help, and be restored spirit, soul, and body. Ask the Lord to guide these women into moral ways of provision for themselves and their families, according to Philippians 4:19.                               
•  Declare, over the IDF,  1 Thessalonians 4:3:  "For it is God's will that you should be holy; you must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor…” 

PRAISE:

Israel now has diplomatic relations with more than 160 countries. As Israelis turn to the God of Israel, He is blessing them in their redemptive purpose:  To be a light to the nations!