Irish Christian Friends of Israel Newsletter 24Th Dec. 2013

Irish Christian Friends of Israel Newsletter 24th Dec. 2013

Dear Friends

We had a wonderful Christian Celebration of the Jewish Feast of Hanukkah on Thur. 5th Dec in Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church. 120 people attended and there was a tangible sense of the presence of God at it. Brendan, Audrey and the worship band were excellent as was the beautiful dancing of Linda from the Christian Dance Fellowship. All 4 speakers were anointed by the Holy Spirit – Ambassador Boaz Modai, Bert Van Emden, Rosemary Parle and Brian Silvester. And so was the offering for the Bnei Manashe aliyah from India – €2,005 was sent to the ICEJ in Jerusalem who partner with Shavei Israel ( Ambassador Modai lighted the Hanukkah candles and sang a blessing.

The big news from Israel is that last week there was well over two feet of snow in most parts of Jerusalem over the weekend. This was a major answer to prayer as Israel has been experiencing one of the driest autumns and early winters in the last 70 years. Israel’s chief rabbis had called on the public to say special prayers for rain. The Water Authority welcomed the large quantities of rain stating that rivers and streams are flowing at the highest levels in 50 years and the Sea of Galilee has risen four inches. Praise God.

Enclose the News Update for Dec. The key point for me this Christmas is the ongoing persecution of Christians around the world. Prince Charles stated bluntly that "Christians in many parts of the Middle East are being deliberately targeted by Islamist terrorists in a campaign of persecution."Jihadi rebel groupsin Syria are continuing to target Christians, including publicly beheading a Catholic priest in Idlib in July.

The UK’s House of Commons held a 3 hour debate on the issue of persecuted Christians on the 3rd Dec.One MP said “Christianity is the most persecuted religion globally” with “reports that one Christian is killed every 11 minutes somewhere on earth for their faith. Another said it is a “a global crisis that requires an international response”. Another said “There is now practically no country – from Morocco to Pakistan – in which Christians can freely practise their religion”. A fourth “denounced the persecution of Christians that is taking place in 130 of the world’s 190 countries” See attached report on this by the Barnabas Fund To get weekly updates on the persecution of Christians there is a free excellent Newsletter – join up at . We need some urgent prayer and action on this. Please do consider writing to your local TD, Senator or MEP to ask them to raise the plight of persecuted Christians in the Dail, Senate or EU Parliament.

If you would like to understand the plight of Christians in Syria please read an excellent Interview of Patrick Sookhdeo, the Director of the Barhabas Fund, who had been appointed chairman of the Syrian Church Leaders' Committee For Humanitarian Relief, which comprises senior archbishops and bishops of all denominations ()

Wishing you every blessing for Christmas and the New Year.

Paddy Monaghan
Irish Christian Friends of Israel

JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE News Update December 23rd 2013

BOMB EXPLODES ON BAT YAM BUS; ONE WOUNDED: A bomb exploded on a bus in Bat Yam Sunday afternoon. No passengers were hurt, but one police officer was injured as he attempted to disarm the device. A spokesperson for the Dan Bus Company said there were twelve passengers on the bus when a passenger informed the driver there was a suspicious object on board. The object was in a bag. Noticing there were wires coming out of the bag, the passenger alerted the driver, who immediately evacuated the passengers. “The driver showed great alacrity in removing the passengers. He left the bus last, and seconds after he stepped off the bus the bomb went off,” the Dan spokesperson said. A preliminary police investigation indicates the placement of the bomb was a terrorist act. Later Sunday, a spokesperson for Hamas in Gaza praised the bus bombing in Bat Yam, calling it a "heroic act," while another Hamas official claimed it shows the resistance's ability to reach well into Israel. (INN) Pray there will not be a renewal of terrorist bus bombing attacks, which have caused the loss of numerous lives, critical injuries and untold grief to Israelis in the past. Pray also that those behind the attempted bombing of the Bat Yam bus will be apprehended and brought to justice.

ARAB LEAGUE REJECTS ISRAELI JORDAN VALLEY PRESENCE: The Arab League on Saturday rejected the US proposal, by which IDF soldiers would remain in the Jordan Valley for a 10 year period as part of peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Nabil Al-Arabi, secretary of the Arab League said any peace agreement leaving an Israeli presence in the "Palestinian state" would not succeed. The decision was made during an emergency meeting called for by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas last week. (INN)

RED CROSS: 500,000 WOUNDED IN SYRIA: The International Red Cross released an estimate Sunday stating at least half a million people have been injured in the Syrian Civil War. "At least half a million people have been wounded across the country and millions remain displaced and tens of thousands detained," ICRC chief Magne Barth said in a statement. "The wounded are often not cared for properly and the chronically ill often do not receive the treatment they need," Barth added. The conflict has left at least 120,000 dead - including 11,000 children. At least 2.2 million people are estimated to have become refugees during that period, according to a UN report. (Arutz-7)

JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE News Update December 20th 2013

PRINCE CHARLES: ‘MUSLIMS PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS’: After visiting British branches of Middle Eastern churches, Britain's Prince Charles reached the conclusion that "Christians in many parts of the Middle East are being deliberately targeted by Islamist terrorists in a campaign of persecution." The Prince of Wales visited the Egyptian Coptic Church in Stevenage, north of London, and the Syriac Orthodox cathedral in west London. In talking with church leaders, accompanied by Prince Ghazi of Jordan, Charles heard tales of massive persecution following the 2011 Arab Spring. “For 20 years I have tried to build bridges between Islam and Christianity to dispel ignorance and misunderstanding," Charles said in a speech later that day, attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop of Westminster and the Chief Rabbi. Charles acknowledged "we have now reached a crisis where bridges are rapidly being deliberately destroyed by those with a vested interest in doing so. This is achieved through intimidation, false accusation and organized persecution including to the Christian communities in the Middle East at the present time." Prince Charles's comments join other official expressions of concern regarding the region. In November, Pope Francis stated the Vatican "will not resign itself to a Middle East without Christians.” (Arutz-7) “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Heb 13:3

OBAMA THREATENS VETO AS SENATORS PROMOTE NEW IRAN SANCTIONS: The White House on Thursday threatened to use its veto power against legislation that would impose new sanctions on Iran, as senators continued to promote such legislation in defiance of President Barack Obama. The threat came hours after a bipartisan group of senators filed a new Iran sanctions measure. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), would impose tougher sanctions on Tehran if it refuses to dismantle its contested nuclear program after the end of a six-month negotiating period. The bill would give the White House up to a year to negotiate with Iran before tighter sanctions take effect. The regulations would take effect sooner if Iran reneges on any aspect of the interim nuclear deal, launches a ballistic missile, or plans a terror attack against the United States, according to reports and sources familiar with the legislation. The bill has already garnered support from a quarter of the Senate and could come to a vote next month. (Arutz-7)

SENIOR SAUDI DIPLOMAT SLAMS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: A high-ranking Saudi diplomat criticized the West’s nuclear deal with Iran and lack of action against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, saying that Saudi Arabia may be forced to act alone to maintain stability in the Middle East. In an article published in The NY Times Wednesday, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, expressed his frustration at the West’s Middle East policy in unusually blunt language. He explained that Saudi Arabia has enormous responsibilities in the region and cannot stand by as Western countries cooperate with Iran and hesitate to use force in Syria. “We will act to fulfill these responsibilities, with or without the support of our Western partners,” he wrote, adding that “the West has allowed one destructive regime to survive and the other to continue its program for uranium enrichment, with all the consequent dangers of weaponization.” (J.Post)

ASSAD DROPS HEAVY BOMB ON ALEPPO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: At least 18 children, two of their teachers and over 100 civilians are dead after Syrian Air Force helicopters peppered Aleppo with barrel bombs for three days this week. The assault and the death toll have been supported by visual evidence that spread through social media outlets after the dust settled from the series of strikes. Children were rushed from a primary school in the Al-Inzarat suburb of Aleppo to the over-packed, under-sourced, badly damaged local hospital, as nearby residents pried their neighbors from a collapsed residential building. The barrel bomb is a commonly used weapon in the arsenal of Syrian president Bashar Assad. They are crudely made devices, with TNT or other explosives stuffed into cylinders or oil barrels and dropped out of the back of helicopters. The US Department of State has strongly condemned the use of barrel bombs in recent days and confirmed the killing of dozens, including women and children. “Unfortunately this is not the first time these barrel bombs have been used against innocent civilians,” a State Department spokeswoman, told media sources this week. “And regime air raids in and around Aleppo have continued unabated.” (J.Post)

WATER SUPPLY SOARS FOLLOWING SNOW STORM: Along with damage and road closures, last weekend’s rare snow storm brought an answer to possible drought. The Water Authority welcomed the large quantities of precipitation stating rivers and streams are flowing at the highest levels in 50 years. A Water Authority source said Wednesday, "records were broken in so many places. It hasn't been like this for decades." He said the Sea of Galilee has risen four inches and will rise further after the final bits of snow and ice melt. "In addition to the damage and difficulties there's also a lot of blessing," he said. (INN)

ISRAEL AIRLINES TO RESUME FLIGHTS TO TURKEY AFTER SIX-YEAR HIATUS: Israel’s Aviation Authority Director-General Giora Romm and his Turkish counterpart Bilal Eksi signed an agreement in Ankara Tuesday allowing for the renewal of flights by Israeli carriers to Turkey. This announcement follows months of discussion between the two countries’ aviation authorities. The Israeli airlines halted flights to Turkey more than 5 years ago, due to disputes over security arrangements at the airports in which the Israeli carriers landed. The signing of the flight renewal document was made possible after the Turkish authorities agreed to the Israeli security demands, and after Israel received satisfactory solutions to all the security issues it raised over the course of the talks. Romm said the Israeli airlines will be able to fly to Turkey by in the summer of 2014. (J.Post)

ISRAELI MEDICAL INNOVATION WILL HELP BROKEN BONES HEAL FASTER: Israeli biotech firm RegenCure is working on a special “wrapping paper” that, when applied to fractures, will hasten the process of healing, according to a report published Thursday. The RegenCure product, the company says, consists of a strong, flexible membrane that can be shaped into any geometrical shape to provide complete containment of the damaged bone, preventing cells and soft tissue from penetrating but allowing fluids in, a process that the company says is crucial to the healing process. RegenCure's membrane implants have a microporous surface that facilitates adherence of bone stem cells to injuries. The stem cells help the healing process along, while the membrane keeps out material that can interfere with the process. In contrast to current methods of bone repair that require grafts, said RegenCure, its solution enhances the natural healing process without the need for any outside material for many injuries. (INN)

JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE News Update December 18th 2013

ISRAELI SOLDIER DEAD AND TWO LEBANESE TROOPS SHOT AS BORDER TENSIONS ESCALATE: Israel shot two Lebanese soldiers early Monday just hours after a sniper in Lebanon's army had killed one of its troops, leading to fears of escalating cycles of retaliation on the tense border between the two countries. An Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokesperson, said the shootings happened around midnight after Israeli troops had identified "suspicious movement" along the frontier. The incident followed the death of Master Sergeant Shlomi Cohen, 31, after he was hit by sniper fire as he traveled in a military vehicle along the border region close to the Mediterranean coast Sunday evening. The vehicle was hit by six or seven bullets fired from a short distance away, local reports said. Sunday's shooting prompted a formal Israeli complaint to UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force that monitors the volatile border region, which was the scene of a brutal 34-day war between Israel and the Hizbollah terrorist group in 2006 (Google)

THOUSANDS FLED JERUSALEM DURING MASSIVE STORM: The massive winter storm that slammed Israel over the weekend finally came to an end on Sunday, though its effects were still being felt throughout the country, especially in Jerusalem and the Galilee. During the height of the storm, hundreds of people were stranded on the roads leading in and out of Jerusalem, and thousands fled the capital via train. Israel Railways took the unprecedented step of running trains into and out of Jerusalem during Shabbat to help people escape the worst of the storm. In Jerusalem, thousands of homes were without power, many of them for over 48 hours as fallen trees had snapped power lines. The situation was similar in the north of the country. With well over two feet of snow in most parts of Jerusalem over the weekend, much ice remained through Monday. Black ice was a major threat, even on streets that appeared to be clear. With so many drivers stranded and freezing, and normal rescue vehicles unable to come to their assistance, the military was called in to aid the situation. Every year, Jerusalem residents hope for a bit of snow. But, as they say, you can have too much of a good thing, and everyone in this city is breathing a sigh of relief now the storm has passed. (Israel Today/Ryan Jones)

EU DANGLES UNPRECEDENTED AID PACKAGE FOR ISRAEL-PA DEAL: The European Union on Monday pledged "unprecedented" levels of support to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the event the two parties reach a final status agreement - which would include the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state in Judea and Samaria, along with the ethnic-cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Jews in communities throughout the region. Commending US Secretary of State John Kerry for his efforts in launching direct talks between the two, EU foreign ministers said the 28-nation bloc would "contribute substantially" to post-conflict arrangements to ensure the sustainability of a peace deal.” (Arutz-7)

SYRIAN REFUGEE POPULATION IN TURKEY TO REACH 1.5 MILLION: Turkish and UN officials say the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey is expected to reach 1.5 million by the end of 2014. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, quoting Turkish officials, said Monday an estimated 300,000 refugees will be living in refugee camps in 2014 with a further 1.2 million living outside of the camps. Turkey currently hosts some 700,000 refugees. (Ynet)

HUNDREDS OF ISRAELIS STUCK IN SOUTH SUDAN AS VIOLENCE RAGES: Hundreds of Israeli citizens are stuck in South Sudan following running gun battles between armed groups in Juba, the capital on Monday. A UN spokesman said about 800 civilians had taken shelter in a UN compound near the airport. Speaking by telephone, he said seven people had been treated for gunshot wounds, including a two-year-old boy. Officials described the fighting as an "attempted coup.” The government has struggled to establish a functioning state since declaring independence from Sudan in 2011 to become Africa's newest nation. Israel has good relations with Juba and was one of the first countries to recognize the new state. There are currently “many hundreds” of Israelis in South Sudan, Israel’s non-resident Ambassador Haim Koren said Monday evening. One Israeli trapped in Juba is Ophelie Namiech, the regional director for East and Central Africa for the humanitarian organization IsraAID, who assisted the nascent state in establishing its Ministry of Social Development last year. IsraAID is in touch with other Israelis in the country, he said, as well as with the local French and American embassies. (J.Post)