Friday, April 19, 2024

All Eyes on Israel in the Aftermath of First-ever Direct Iranian Attack

Monday, 15 April 2024 | “Mommyyyyyyyyyyyy!” It was the distressed wail of a toddler mid-nightmare that woke me. Surfacing from a fog of sleep, I shuffled to Lily’s bedside, hoping to settle her quickly. That’s when the earth moved. Odd, I thought. Had the construction crew building the park down the road taken to working through the night? (Funny how your mind works when its only half awake.) And then the air raid siren screamed.

It hardly came as a surprise, of course. We all knew an Iranian attack was a matter of when, not if. And every credible intelligence source on the globe had put the timeframe at 24 to 48 hours. In that sense, Iran was nothing if not predictable. We just didn’t know where exactly the ayatollahs would strike and what their weapon of choice would be.

On Friday and Saturday evening, we went to bed prepared. Everyone in Israel did. Plans were made in advance: mom would grab the girls from their beds, while dad helped grandma. Logistics like these are crucial when you’ve got seconds to make it to safety. Bomb shelters were stocked with water, blankets and games for the kids. Some even filled buckets with kitty litter. One wanted to be prepared if the Iranian attack became a protracted affair and nature called.

Oh, make no mistake. This isn’t the first time Israel braced for eminent attack. Far from it. And so the waiting came with the typical Jewish dark humor: “Can Iran please provide a timeline for our annihilation? Do we start cleaning for Passover or not?” What else are you going to do? It’s laugh or cry.

And then it happened. At 23:00 p.m. on Saturday night, Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson (IDF) Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told his people that in the first-ever direct attack on Israel by Iran, the Islamic Republic had launched hundreds of projectiles on the Jewish state. Numerous fighter jets had scrambled to the skies as the military worked to intercept whatever Iran sent our way.

The first air raid sirens screamed through southern Israel around 1:42 a.m, and moments later resounded throughout large swatches of the country. Loud booms testified to the Iron Dome at work in the north and south of the country, as well as in Jerusalem and towns across Judea and Samaria, or what the world calls the West Bank.

As we settled into the shelter, with too many adults, teenagers, children, toddlers and dogs crammed into a confined space, the details began to emerge. Suicide drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles fired from Iran and Iraq. Airspace over Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon closed. Drones falling short and crashing into Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran itself. Projectiles lighting up the night sky over the Al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest spot in Islam—while Israel’s Iron Dome met them midair. All to the soundtrack of warplanes screaming through the sky.

By 3:00 a.m. it was all over. And although the stats were still being tallied, enough was known at this early stage to classify Iran’s big strike on its arch enemy a historic military flop—and Israel’s defense a spectacular miracle.

The stats were in by sunrise. More than 300 Iranian projectiles launched, comprising 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles, with more than 99% of them meeting a fiery end as air defenses shot them from the sky. None of the drones or cruise missiles made it across Israel’s borders, while the majority of ballistic missiles were shot down outside the Earth’s atmosphere. In what can only be described as a tremendous show of regional and international support—and a blatant slap in Tehran’s face—the US, the UK, France and Jordan fought alongside the Jewish state to intercept the projectiles heading for the Promised Land.

“The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, combined with a strong fighting coalition, which together intercepted the vast majority of the threats,” Hagari said during a press briefing this morning.

According to the IDF, Israel’s long-range Arrow air defense system took care of the “vast majority” of the 120 ballistic missiles, but some circumvented Israel’s defensive shield, striking the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel and causing minor damage.

As for casualties and injuries, Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance and emergency service, said it had treated a 7-year-old Bedouin girl who was wounded in her home by shrapnel after the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile over the area. She was taken to a hospital in Beersheva and is currently fighting for her life.

In the aftermath of what social media has dubbed the most expensive Persian firework display in human history, one burning question remains: whether and how Israel will respond.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Minister Benny Gantz were authorized by the Israeli War Cabinet to propose a response. Their proposition hinges on more than merely striking back at an enemy nation that fired 300 projectiles at sleeping civilians in what constitutes an open declaration of war.

On the one hand, Israel must deter Iran. And in the Middle East, the only language of deterrence is an iron fist. Iran has been striking at Israel behind the scenes and via its terror proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the like for decades. The shadow war between the sons of Judah and the sons of Persia has raged unabated for more than 45 years. Yet the attacks were never direct. On Sunday morning, they were. Israel cannot afford to show weakness. And make no mistake, failure to respond would be considered a sign of weakness—in the eyes of the ayatollahs, their allies and Israel’s neighbors in the region who are mulling normalizing ties with Jerusalem.

On the other hand, the US, the UK, France, Germany and Canada have all demanded in no uncertain terms that Israel refrain from a “disproportionate” response that could threaten the stability in the region. An iron fist in the form of a strong retaliation that signals Israel’s strength to its neighbors could thus alienate Jerusalem’s rather reluctant allies internationally. And with these allies serving as a defensive belt on Israel’s borders as the Iranian projectiles headed our way, Jerusalem will think long and hard about forfeiting these friends.

At the same time, Israel is also embroiled in a war aimed at dismantling Hamas in Gaza. Opening a new front with Iran would take the spotlight off Hamas and force Israel to shift focus mid-campaign, which would allow the terror group to regroup and return later for the promised round two of October 7. As a result, Jerusalem might well consider heeding its international allies’ advice, bite the bullet and turn a blind eye to the Iranian attack—for the time being.

And so we wait. Regardless of whether the Middle East erupts into open warfare over the coming days or whether we return to open war on just one front, one thing is certain: we have turned a corner.

On Sunday night, as the earth shook and the warplanes screamed overhead, we witnessed history in the making—which is indeed saying something. International leaders and world bodies have called the conflict in the Middle East the question of our time, the conflict of our generation. How arrogant we are. The opening shots of this war were fired thousands of years ago when God chose a people through which He would make Himself known to the world, a people He would use as the human instrument through which to bring salvation to all of mankind. And according to the Bible, it will rage in increasing intensity until the day Jesus returns to set the wrong right and rule and reign. This war has always been spiritual, a clash between the darkness and the Light.

Source: (Bridges for Peace, April 15, 2024)

Photo Credit: TasnimNewsAgency/wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Praise the Lord for His miraculous and supernatural protection of the nation of Israel during the Iranian missile attack, that the enemies of Israel were put to shame. Exalt Him for the continued defense of the nation. Praise Him for His mercy and grace that no life was lost during this unprecedented attack.

Scripture

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.”

- Isaiah 41:8-11 NKJV

Israeli Strike on Iran Unlikely Until After Passover, Report Says

by Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Thursday, 18 April 2024 | An Israeli response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on its soil is not expected until after the Passover holiday next week, ABC News reported Thursday morning citing a senior US official.

Israeli sources told ABC that Israel had prepared but canceled at least two planned retaliatory actions in the four days since Tehran sent over 350 munitions toward it.

According to the report, most of Israel’s leadership supports a direct response against Tehran and the options being considered include strikes on Iranian proxies rather than on Iranian territory itself, as well as potential cyberattacks.

However, some lawmakers are apprehensive about a strike on Israel. Shas Party Chairman Aryeh Deri, a close ally to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an observer in the War Cabinet, advocates for a more restrained approach and argues against opening new fronts and escalating tensions.

“Our enemies are looking for this, and we should not be dragged into it,” Deri stated in an interview with Shas’s newsletter HaDerech.

Meanwhile, US officials stopped short of telling Israel not to execute its counterstrike but suggested that such any action should be coordinated with Washington and kept under a certain threshold to prevent an all-out war. One senior US official asserted that “there won’t be a war between Israel and Iran.”

Other nations have also expressed their misgivings about a potential Israeli strike on Iran. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who visited Jerusalem this week, urged Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz to respond wisely, avoiding war.

Prior to the Iranian attack, the Israeli Air Force had reportedly completed last week a drill aimed at a distant target in collaboration with the Cypriot military. The exercise was designed to simulate an attack on a target similar to Iran, conducted during a period of heightened readiness. Since Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel, which saw nearly all incoming threats intercepted, calls have intensified within Israel for a response on Iranian soil.

Israel has several options for responding, ranging from strikes on nuclear facilities and high-profile assassinations, to attacks on Iranian proxies or facilities in Syria.

British media have speculated on the possible means by which Israel might strike Iran, even though the answer seems almost clear, and have raised other, albeit far less likely, alternatives.

According to Sky News, Israel boasts the sixth largest fleet of F-35 stealth fighters in the world, with 39 aircraft in service capable of reaching Iran, which has threatened to attack any nation that collaborates with Israel.

In addition, Israel could potentially use ground-to-ground missiles, as per foreign reports. The Israeli defense establishment has never officially confirmed the use of such missiles, but foreign sources over the years have suggested that Israel possesses Jericho missiles across three generations.

The Center for Political and Strategic Studies, a Washington-based research institute, assessed that the latest version, Jericho 3, has been operational since 2011. This medium-range ballistic missile can reach distances between 3,000 to 4,000 miles [4,828 km. to 6,437 km.].

The Jericho 3 missile, which measures between 49 to 51 feet [14 m. to 15 m.] in length and has a diameter of about 5 feet [1.5 m.], is listed by Business Insider as one of the four longest-range ground-to-ground missiles globally, alongside the American Minuteman, the Russian Rubezh and the Chinese Dongfeng.

According to the institute’s data, the missile weighs 29 tons at launch and can carry a payload of 1,000 to 1,300 kilograms [2,204 to 2,866 lbs.]. It also has the capability to deliver nuclear and chemical warheads using radar guidance.

Foreign reports indicate that the missile was first tested at Palmachim Airbase in January 2008 and underwent two additional tests in 2011, which were never officially confirmed. The center’s website states that the Jericho 3 has a longer range than its predecessor, and its operational deployment in 2011 likely signifies that the Jericho 2 missiles were replaced.

Sky News reported that if Israel decides to launch a similar ballistic missile attack on Iran, the Islamic Republic might struggle to intercept it as Israel has done with its allies. According to the Financial Times, other options include submarine-launched attacks near Iran or deploying Israeli drones to Iran, even if not launched from Israeli soil.

Source: (This article was originally published Ynetnews on April 18, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson's Unit/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Cry out to the Lord on behalf of the leaders of the nation of Israel and the commanders of the IDF, that they will have Godly discernment about the appropriate response to Iran and the timing of that response. Pray that the Lord will lead and guide them with His wisdom and wise-counsel during this uncertain time to make the right decision about how to respond.

Scripture

“Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

- Psalms 13:3-5 NKJV

18 Israelis wounded in Hezbollah attack from Lebanon

by Akiva van Koningveld ~ JNS

Thursday, 18 April 2024 | Eighteen people, most of them Israeli soldiers, were injured on Wednesday when a Hezbollah attack targeted a community center in Arab al-Aramshe in Western Galilee.

Air-raid sirens were not activated in the Bedouin border village.

Fourteen Israel Defense Forces [IDF] soldiers were among the wounded, the army confirmed on Wednesday evening.

Magen David Adom emergency medics treated the victims on the scene before evacuating them to Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.

One victim arrived in critical condition and required surgery, the hospital said. Two were listed as being in serious condition while the others had injuries ranging from moderate to minor.

Most of the wounded suffered shrapnel injuries, according to the medical center.

In a statement cited by Al-Akhbar, a Lebanese daily close to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist organization took responsibility for the attack on the community center, claiming it launched a combined strike with guided missiles and drones on a military position in Arab al-Aramshe.

Hezbollah said it attacked in response to Israeli airstrikes that killed several of its members in Ain Baal and Chehabiyeh in Southern Lebanon earlier this week.

“Over the past hour, a number of launches were detected from Lebanese territory towards the Arab al-Aramshe area, the IDF attacked the sources of the shooting,” the IDF confirmed on X

The Israeli Air Force [IAF] also attacked terrorist infrastructure in the Lebanese town of Ayta ash Shab, the military said, noting that several Hezbollah operatives were staying in the building when it was struck.

On Tuesday afternoon, attack drones launched by Hezbollah from Southern Lebanon lightly wounded three people near Moshav Beit Hillel in the Eastern Galilee.

Beit Hillel, located three miles from Kiryat Shmona, has been largely evacuated since late October due to the cross-border attacks by Hezbollah terrorists.

Shortly after the attack, an Israeli airstrike in Ain Baal, near Tyre in Southern Lebanon, killed a senior Hezbollah terrorist responsible for launching rockets and missiles at the Jewish state, the IDF said.

Ismail Baz, who commanded Hezbollah’s coastal sector, “organized and planned various terrorist plots” in recent months, according to the army.

The military added, “Ismail served in several positions as a senior and veteran official in the military wing of Hezbollah. His current rank is equivalent to the rank of brigadier general.”

Tehran’s terror proxy in Lebanon has been engaged in near-daily attacks on Israel’s evacuated border region since joining the war in support of Hamas a day after the October 7 invasion of the northwestern Negev.

Source: (This article was originally published the Jewish News Syndicate on April 17, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Magen David Adom/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Lift up these wounded Israelis to the Lord in prayer, for their speedy healing and recovery. Continue to ask the Lord to protect the flashpoint northern border of Israel, that He would place a hedge of supernatural protection around the entire border of Israel–north, south, east and west.

Scripture

“O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.”

- Psalms 86:14-17 NKJV

Hamas Admits One-third of its Data on Gazan Deaths is ‘Incomplete’

by Etgar Lefkovits ~ JNS

Tuesday, 16 April 2024 | The Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza says it has “incomplete data” for one-third of the Palestinian fatalities it claims to have documented from its current war against Israel.

The acknowledgment in a report on the social networking app Telegram last week raises anew questions about the veracity of its casualty count from the war.

The April 6 report said that Hamas had “incomplete data” for 11,371 of the 33,091 recorded Palestinian deaths it claims and is missing one or more key data points including identity number, full name, date of birth, or date of death.

In a report three days earlier, the ministry admitted the “incompleteness” of 12,263 records. It was not immediately clear why, after three more days, that figure dropped to 11,371.

Before its admissions of incomplete data, the ministry asserted that the information in more than 15,000 fatality records had stemmed from “reliable media sources.” However, the ministry never identified the sources in question and Gaza has no independent media.

David Adesnik, director of research at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), said, “The sudden shifts in the ministry’s reporting methods suggest it is scrambling to prevent exposure of its shoddy work.

“For months, US media have taken for granted that the ministry’s top-line figure for casualties was reliable enough to include in daily updates on the war. Now we’re seeing that a third or more of the ministry’s data may be incomplete at best—and fictional at worst,” he added.

Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst at FDD, said, “It is important to recognize that Hamas is deeply invested in shaping the narrative that emerges from Gaza, particularly regarding the number of casualties in the war.

“Moreover, this control of data extends beyond the statistics provided by the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, as there is also a deliberate effort to downplay the number of terrorists who have been killed by Israel in the war,” he added.

The Israel Defense Forces has said that at least 13,000 of the Palestinians killed in the war against Hamas in Gaza and another 1,000 slain inside Israel during the October 7 invasion, were terrorists.

Last month, a statistics expert asserted the Hamas claim that 70% of the casualties of the war were women and children was “statistically impossible” and “not reliable at all.”

Source: (This article was originally published the Jewish Syndicate on April 15, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Ask the Lord to extend His mercy and grace to the people of Gaza, that He will reveal Himself to them in the midst of their suffering. Pray that all deceitful and dishonest reporting perpetrated by Hamas will be brought out into the light and that the Lord will shine His light of truth upon what is happening in Gaza.

Scripture

“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.”

- Psalms 5:9-10 NKJV

New October 7 Video Emerges of Kidnapped Israeli Women: ‘Even Worse than We Imagined’

by JNS

Friday, 12 April 2024 | Newly emerged video shot by Hamas terrorists showing the capture of female Israeli soldiers on the Gaza border has been described as “hard to watch” by Israeli media.

In the video, parts of which have not been shared with the public, Hamas terrorists are initially seen with five female spotters with two more later being added.

“We will exchange you for our people,” the terrorists say.

Another terrorist forces one of the soldiers to show him how to dial a Gaza number from her cell phone. The terrorists later put the soldiers into stolen Israel Defense Forces [IDF] vehicles for transport to Gaza.

Shira Elbag, the mother of the kidnapped soldier Liri Elbag, 19, watched it several weeks ago.

“I watched the video. They showed it to us three weeks ago. The IDF Spokesman called us and showed us a video from the day of the kidnapping, something we had not seen and did not know about.

“We all only imagined what happened to the girls on October 7 and unfortunately, this video proved to us that it was even worse than we imagined,” she said.

Albag said the families had demanded that Knesset [parliament] members watch the video and were surprised to find out that they already had seen it, though hadn’t updated the families on its existence.

Israel estimates that about 100 of the 133 or so hostages still held by Hamas are still alive.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on April 11, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Oh Lord, we cry out to you for the release of the hostages! Pray for Hamas and Qatari mediators to be convicted of their unrighteous acts to delay the release of the hostages. Ask the Lord to act on behalf of the hostages in the midst of their trial and to preserve their lives.

Scripture

“Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You.”

- Psalms 33:20-22 NKJV

Global Clients Flock to Israeli Defense Firms Following Iran Attack

by Navit Zomer ~ Ynetnews

Monday, 15 April 2024 | The successful interception of swarms of missiles and drones fired from Iran toward Israel by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)-produced Arrow system, among others, has sparked significant global interest.

“It’s a day of pride for many of our employees, who work day and night and in the end, everything converges to one event,” IAI CEO Boaz Levy told Ynet in an interview, adding that the company has received numerous supportive phone calls from customers worldwide before and after the attack, expressing their appreciation for the performance of the system.

Levy highlighted the unprecedented nature of the attack, noting, “Yesterday was an attack the world had not known like it: the number of simultaneous threats, even in the Ukraine–Russia war, there were no attacks in such numbers and not in such a complex scenario of a number of threats of different types.” He commended the phenomenal 99% success rate of air defenses.

Former financial advisor to the IDF chief of staff Brig. Gen. Reem Aminoach pegged the total cost of the interception operation at “NIS 4–5 billion ” (US $1–1.3 million).

“We provide a sophisticated and innovative system, it does not cost a million dollars but it is not cheap,” Levy says. “The price is not the issue here. Anyone who wants to defend themselves needs to look at the potential damage versus the benefit. That’s the right calculation.

“I don’t know how much the activity cost that night and I don’t think anyone in such a short period of time knows how to estimate the price. At times like this, you don’t look at the direct cost, but what would have happened and the damage that would have been if they had hit population centers or sensitive facilities. A country like Israel that needs to defend itself must have defensive weapons.”

“Sunday’s attack comprised three types of threats: drones carrying relatively small warheads, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. The Arrow system, which we have developed, is designed specifically to counter ballistic missiles. These pose the primary threat and carry the highest level of risk due to their high speed, quick arrival time—within 12 minutes from Iran, and the potential for large-scale damage due to the hundreds of kilograms of warheads they carry.

“Israel was targeted with dozens of these long-range ballistic missiles, and the Arrow system addressed this threat, from the detection of the threat by radar to managing the event, and finally launching the missiles. Arrow 2 targets at a relatively low altitude, still outside the atmosphere, and Arrow 3 targets at a very high altitude. The combination of these two systems provides a level of flexibility. For example, if a missile isn’t intercepted at a high altitude, it can still be intercepted at a lower altitude.”

“We are already on an upward trend: in 2023, our order backlog totaled US $18 billion and our sales turnover was US $5.3 billion. Seventy-one percent of our sales turnover is destined for export. It’s clear that there are numerous conflicts around the world and numerous defense systems are needed. Our Arrow system is in demand and we have been marketing it to overseas customers for years.

“In my previous role in the IAI, I was the program manager and chief engineer of Arrow, and I know the system intimately. The Arrow project, which began in the late 80s as a feasibility study to determine if it was possible to intercept a missile with another missile, was the first of its kind in the world and was developed in partnership with the US government. This was followed by the development of Arrow 2 and Arrow 3.

“I anticipate that after the war there will be further orders for the Iron Beam system, which includes the radars that detect the missiles and the launchers. The system isn’t cheap, but it’s essential for those who want to defend themselves.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on April 15, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: התעשייה האווירית/wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Thank the Lord for the knowledge and technological advancement He has bestowed upon the nation of Israel. Pray that Israel will not lose sight of where their protection truly comes from: the Lord Almighty. Lift up the leaders of Israel to not trust in their chariots and horses but to hope in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Scripture

“The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

- Psalms 34:7-8 NKJV

‘Apocalypse of Bodies;’ Israel Exposes Hamas’s Atrocities to the Arab World

by Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 16 April 2024 | The Foreign Ministry’s digital division has launched a first-of-its-kind campaign presenting evidence of sexual violence committed by Hamas since October 7 in Arabic. The campaign will be shared through over 20 of the ministry’s channels in Arabic and various embassies in the Middle East, which altogether have more than five million followers and a weekly exposure of about 10 million views.

For the campaign, dozens of articles about sexual assaults, testimonies of survivors and released captives as well as stories of emergency teams who witnessed the atrocities were translated into Arabic. Additionally, the report of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Pramila Patten, confirming the evidence of sexual assaults during the massacre, was also translated.

Israeli women read the testimonies in Arabic to the camera, not skipping any gruesome detail. One of the testimonies recorded was from a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre: “It was an apocalypse of bodies, girls without clothes, no tops, no bottoms. People cut in half, decapitated heads. There were girls whose pelvis was simply shattered from being raped, girls in positions of splits, with broken legs.”

The project emphasizes the comparison between Hamas’s crimes against Israeli women and those of ISIS against Yazidi women in Iraq, since the Arab world was aware of the crimes against humanity by the Islamic State. Both terrorist organizations share similar modus operandi, including abduction, captivity, human trafficking, sexual abuse, rape and violence.

All translated materials will be posted on an Arabic language website to serve as a source of knowledge and to facilitate public discourse regarding the massacre. According to the Foreign Ministry, anyone who is currently watching television channels in the Arab world or browsing leading news sites in the Middle East will not find any mention of Hamas’s sexual crimes on October 7. For example, the UN report, which presents evidence, was suppressed and did not receive any exposure in the mainstream Arab media.

Additionally, a debate has been ongoing for several months regarding the Qatari network Al Jazeera’s shielding of Hamas. The network has accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of committing sexual crimes against Palestinians and later had to retract the statement without apologizing for their mistake.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz addressed the campaign, saying, “The sexual crimes committed by Hamas on October 7 must be known internationally. The Arab media refrains from covering Hamas’s crimes at all, let alone the sexual crimes in particular, creating a void and perpetuating an anti-Israeli narrative among Arabic-speaking audiences. Our goal is to combat the deniers of the massacre and to bring the crimes to the attention of wider audiences worldwide.”

Director of the Digital Diplomacy Bureau in the Foreign Ministry, David Saranga, added: “Until October 7, we dealt with ‘soft’ topics that focused on coexistence, innovation, history and culture. In the past six months, we realized that our lives will not be the same. We feel a wrench in the stomach every time we hear testimony like this and so should the Arab world. This is a sensitive topic that includes cultural nuances that are taboo in the Arab world, requiring great sensitivity from the digital team.”

The Foreign Ministry operates on several social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, with more than five million followers from the Arab world. Since the beginning of the war, more than 5,000 posts in Arabic have been published, receiving over half a billion views.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on April 10, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Chenspec/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray that the efforts by Israel to bring to light the evidence of the crimes perpetrated by Hamas to the Arab speaking world will bear much fruit. Beseech the Lord for the hearts and minds of millions across the Arab world to turn favorably towards Israel, and that what Hamas had intended for evil, the Lord will turn for good.

Scripture

“Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. And the LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

- Isaiah 19:21-25 NKJV

Iran–Russia Alliance Deepens as Moscow Backs Tehran’s Attack on Israel

by Lior Ben Ari ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 17 April 2024 | While many Western leaders rushed to issue statements supporting Israel and condemning Iran’s unprecedented attack, Russia took the opposite approach, justifying the massive attack on several occasions. President Vladimir Putin remained silent on the attack, but Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya justified the Iranian action, criticized Israel and used the entire issue to accuse Western countries of “bias.”

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, harshly attacked Israel’s ambassador in Moscow, Simona Halperin, for demanding Russia condemn the Iranian attack on Israel. In recent days, Russia’s state media outlets have expressed strong criticism against Israel and expressed support for Iran.

One media personality, Sergey Mardan, said on a program aired on Russian state radio that “Russia supports the Iranian attack on Israel because the Iranians are military partners of Russia.” He also expressed hope that Iran would succeed in shooting down Israeli fighter jets. All of this is not just happening randomly, but serves as a demonstration of the significant importance Russia currently places on its relations with Tehran, with a focus on strengthening security and military ties.

Intelligence sources in the West currently describe Moscow–Tehran relations as a deepening strategic partnership. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was a major factor contributing to the consolidation of this partnership, due to Russia’s reliance on Iranian military assistance in the early months of the war. Russia began acquiring military equipment from Iran on a large scale and made deadly use of it against Ukraine.

Since then, this cooperation has deepened into other areas and now, amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, it is gaining special importance in the Israeli context. The Iranians themselves have learned much and gleaned lessons from the way the Russians operated Iranian equipment across Ukraine, seemingly enhancing their capabilities. Additionally, Iran is expected to provide Russia with short- and medium-range surface-to-surface missiles. But what will Moscow give in return to the Iranians?

In this context, the deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran reveals additional significant aspects from the Israeli perspective. Russia is expected to soon provide Iran with advanced fighter jets of the SU-35 model, which will become the most modern in the Iranian Air Force’s aging fleet, along with, likely, advanced air defense technologies to help Iran defend against any Israeli aerial attacks. This is particularly relevant today as reports increase about Israeli intentions to strike military targets on Iranian soil in response to the Iranian attack over the weekend.

The deepening military collaboration between Moscow and Tehran reflects a clear shift in their relationship. While in the past Russia mainly supplied arms to Iran, today it’s a two-way relationship and importantly, it encompasses extensive technological cooperation, knowledge exchange and joint development—whether in the realm of military equipment, where Russia has established a special production facility for arms in the Republic of Tatarstan with Tehran’s support, or in the areas of satellites and space, as well as various combat field systems.

It’s important to remember that the West—particularly the US and NATO—is a common enemy for both Russia and Iran. Ukraine’s war helps both countries “learn on the fly” and derive lessons. The close cooperation between the two countries serves their interests and greatly assists Tehran in enhancing its status from a minor partner to a strategic ally. In this regard, Israel must address the dramatic shift in Russia–Iran relations, which directly affects Israel’s relations with Russia, posing a clear challenge to them.

Source: (This article was originally published Ynetnews on April 16, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Council.gov.ru/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Cry out to the Lord to break this unholy alliance against Israel. Declare confusion into the camp of the enemies of Israel, that their plans will be thwarted and come to naught.

Scripture

“The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.”

- Psalm 2:2-5 NKJV

Gazan Journalist: ‘I’m Sick of Hamas Dictating My Life’

by Alexandra Lukash, Einav Halabi ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 17 April 2024 | Gazan journalist Sami Obeid said Tuesday that he “is sick of Hamas dictating his life. They can go to hell.” Obeid spoke in an interview with Ynet from Rafah, where he has been sheltering after evacuating there to escape the fighting.

“They know they’re causing immense harm to the residents. People here have nothing in life. Hamas doesn’t care about these residents. Hamas doesn’t care about Israeli hostages or Gazan residents,” he said.

“Israel cannot oust Hamas,” he said, “the residents of Gaza who have suffered immensely, can!”

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] said its forces were conducting raids on the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, operating where displaced civilians were sheltering. Eyewitnesses told the Qatari Al-Araby channel that the intention of the troops, who arrested several people, was to evacuate and demolish the center.

The military spread leaflets on Tuesday warning Gaza residents against returning northward. “Urgent warning to all located southward of Nahal Oz. The IDF informs you that the northern area of Nahal Oz is considered a dangerous combat zone,” the leaflets read. “The IDF continues to fight against terror organizations. Any other information urging you to return to the north endangers you. Do not return northward.”

Source: (Excerpt from an article originally published Ynetnews on April 16, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Matanya/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Say a prayer of protection for this brave journalist who is speaking up for the crimes committed by Hamas against their own people in Gaza. Pray that the IDF will be successful in liberating the Gaza Strip from the grip of these terrorist overlords.

Scripture

“Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war.”

- Psalms 140:1-2 NKJV

From Slavery to Freedom: Israel Celebrates Passover

by Ilse Strauss

Friday, 19 April 2024 | The story of Israel’s ancient Exodus from Egypt has all the elements required for an epic tale. There is the cruel and merciless taskmaster, a people oppressed and an Almighty God who liberates His people “with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders” (Deut. 26:8).

As sundown on Monday ushers in the festival of Passover, Israel will commemorate God’s redemption of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. This holiday marks the birth of a nation forged in the desert, and it rejoices in His leading the Children of Israel into the Land of His promise.

The Exodus took place around 1,400 BC—some 3,300 years ago. Today, as the descendants of the Children of Israel prepare to celebrate their miraculous deliverance, they remember that the very first Passover dawned quite dramatically.

After decades of slavery to the Egyptian pharaohs, God raised up Moses to lead the Jewish people from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses approached pharaoh with a message from God: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me” (Exod. 9:1). Pharaoh refused. Nine plagues followed. Yet pharaoh’s heart remained hardened.

Then came God’s message to Israel: “About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die…” (Exod. 11:4). The firstborn from the nation of Israel would, however, remain untouched—if the people followed God’s instructions.

God commanded the Children of Israel to choose an unblemished lamb for each Jewish household. The Passover lamb was then to be slaughtered and its blood spread across the doorposts and lintels of each household. God’s reason for the seemingly strange instructions was simple: “And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exod. 12:13).

Things happened just as God said. “And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…” (Exod. 12:29)—except the households where there was blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts.

Pharaoh relented, and 600,000 men plus many more women and children left Egypt on that Passover day to begin the journey as the nation of Israel to the land which God promised to their forefathers.

Tonight the descendants of the Children of Israel remember these epic events as Passover begins. For seven days, they will eat only unleavened bread, or matzah, in obedience to the biblical commandments (Exod. 12:14–16, Lev. 23:5–8).

The main celebration occurs at home among family and friends with a traditional feast called a seder (literally “order”). The meal takes place in a very specific order, which is meant to transport everyone on their own journey from slavery to freedom. It includes the reading of the Haggadah (“the telling”), which recounts the Exodus story.

The seder is a joyous celebration with songs, prayers and questions. Everybody participates in recalling and retelling the story. Passover, more than any festival, is about remembering and passing that story of deliverance on to the next generation, just as God commanded: “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance” (Exod. 12:14).

More than 3,000 years later, Israel still keeps that commandment. The nation’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, explained it this way: “More than 300 years ago, a ship by the name of the Mayflower left Plymouth for the New World. It was a great event in American and English history. I wonder how many Englishmen or how many Americans know exactly the date when that ship left Plymouth, how many people were on the ship, and what was the kind of bread the people ate when they left Plymouth.”

“Well, more than 3,300 years ago, the Jews left Egypt…and every Jew in the world knows exactly the date we left. It was on the 15th of [the month of] Nisan. The bread they ate was matzah. Up to today, all the Jews throughout the world on the 15th of Nisan eat the same matzah, in America, in Russia. [They] tell the story of the exile from Egypt; all the sufferings that happened to the Jews since they went into exile. They finish [with] these two sentences: ‘This year we are slaves; next year we will be free. This year we are here; next year we will be in Zion, the land of Israel.’ Jews are like that.”

As the people of Israel mark the Passover celebration this year, they once again find themselves crying out for freedom, this time from a modern-day pharaoh: Hamas, as the terrorist group continues holding hostages in the Gaza Strip.

It has been more than half a year since Hamas terrorists enacted their brutal massacre on October 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostages back to Gaza. Since then, the people of Israel have been echoing Moses’s cry from millennia ago: “Let my people go!”

Nonetheless, Israelis defeat terrorism and death by continuing to live their lives with the motto that encompasses the spirit of all the national holidays: “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat.”

This year will be no different, as Jerusalem and cities across Israel hold different events to mark the occasion, culminating in the yearly traditional Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday, April 25.

Thousands of Jewish people are expected to attend the event, which in addition to the traditional blessings will include prayer for the return of the hostages from Gaza, for the Israeli soldiers as they fight to protect the nation on multiple fronts, for healing for the injured and for the well-being of the Jewish state.

From Bridges for Peace, Happy Passover, and may you join us in remembering what a powerful God we serve and asking Him to once again set His people free from bondage.

Source: (Bridges for Peace, April 19, 2024)

Photo Credit: Eczebulun/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel during the Passover holy days.This is the season of redemption. Ask the Lord to redeem Israel from her enemies, to proclaim the release of all hostages, and return His people back to their Promised Land.

Scripture

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”

- Exodus 32:13 NKJV