Weekly update: Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The conflict this week in Gaza is a further sign that tensions in the region are building. While Israel has been able to eliminate a number of the main terrorist leaders, the cease-fire is fragile, and the fight against Islamic Jihad will only get more intense.
The USA is playing politics with Iran and Turkey, leaving Israel in the cold.
In the meantime, Europe continues its blind policy of demanding that Israeli settlers (ie Jews) are delegitimized, and removed from the Old City of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.
One senses that Israel is becoming more and more isolated, and left alone to deal with the threats that surround it.
Israel confronts Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Damascus
Egypt has brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic Jihad terror group to end two days of intense fighting in Gaza that saw hundreds of rockets fired into Israel and 32 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, Palestinian and Egyptian officials said early Thursday. Read article..
The Jewish Agency will continue closely monitoring the situation, providing support and assistance to those affected by any further rocket fire. Read article..
Islamic Jihad is operating not only from Gaza. A building bombed overnight in Damascus – probably by Israel – was the home of Akram al-Ajouri, a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group. The terror group said Ajouri survived the attack, but his son was killed. Read article..
US rejects Israel’s call to condition aid to Lebanon on dealing with Hezbollah
The USA has rejected the call by Israeli officials not to give any aid to Lebanon unless the country tackles Hezbollah’s missile program. “In discreet talks with various capitals, we made it clear that any aid meant to guarantee the stability of Lebanon needs to be conditioned on Lebanon dealing with Hezbollah’s precision-guided missiles,” a senior official Israeli official said recently. “Anything short of that will be problematic, in our eyes.” Read article..
European Court of Justice requires labeling of “Israeli settlement” products
A legal analysis of the recent judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the Psagot Winery Case, concerning the question how products imported into Europe from the “occupied Palestinian territories” should be labeled, shows that the reasoning of the ECJ is seriously flawed. Read the analysis..
“Focus on the future” – Video teachings by Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer
Volume 2 episode 3: The Bible clearly teaches us that we are in the end times. The things that are happening in the world around us that you daily see on the news have to do with the end times. The signs of the times are coming more and more visible. One of the signs of the times that the Bible speaks about is the coming of the antichrist.
“In the footsteps of Abraham” – Video teachings by Johannes Gerloff
Watch this series of teachings by Israeli-based Bible teacher and journalist Johannes Gerloff:
In Episode 3, Johannes considers the question: Are endless genealogies not just reason for quarrels and diversions? Should Christians not avoid them, like all foolish questions?
Shabbat shalom,
Andrew Tucker
Editor-in-Chief – Israel & Christians Today
Scripture for the week: Psalm 2
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
The goal of Israel & Christians Today is to help Christians to take God’s Word seriously, and study current events in the world in the context of the Bible.
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