Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God
is for Israel, that they may be saved. Rom. 10:1
Breaking headlines direct from Israel
General Prayer Concerns
The following news items are posted here as considerations for prayer to help you as you pray for Israel.
Iran enrichment plan sparks sanctions threat
After Tehran announces plan to produce higher enriched uranium, France says will work with US topush for new UN sanctions against Islamic Republic. FM Kouchner insists Iran does not have capacity to enrich uranium to 20 percent, accuses Tehran of 'blackmail'
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Syrian slips Hizballah Fateh-110 missiles able to destroy Israeli cities
The secret transfer of the mobile surface-to-surface Syrian-made Fateh-110 (range 250km) missile to Hizballah sparked the prediction Friday, Feb. 5 from an unnamed US official that cross-border arms smuggling from Syria into Lebanon outside state control was "very dangerous" and "paved the way to war similar to Israel-Hizballah conflict of 2006. debkafile's military sources report hat Israel warned Syria through at least two diplomatic channels against Hizballah using this lethal weapon, which is capable of reaching almost every Israel city.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Iranian missile airlift stiffens Syrian war talk, tops up Hizballah, Hamas
DEBKAfile Iranian and military sources report the war threats from Damascus this week were backed by massive Iranian airlifts for boosting Syria's missile arsenal. Fresh supplies also reached the Lebanese Hizballah and Hamas in Gaza. Wednesday, Feb. 3, Syrian president Bashar Assad accused Israel of seeking war, while his foreign minister Walid Moallem boasted: "You know that war at this time will come to your cities." They spoke after taking delivery of 100 new medium-range surface-to-surface missiles from Iran in January.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
EXCLUSIVE: US intelligence finds 5,000 Hizballah trained to seize Galilee towns
Jones was not talking out of the top of his head, but on the strength of solid US intelligence gathered over months on detailed war plans Iran, Syria, Hizballah and Hamas have drawn up to send five Hizballah brigades sweeping across the border to seize five sectors of Galilee, while also organizing a massive Israeli-Arab uprising against the Jewish state.
Hamas would open a second front in the south and in the east. Syria is expected to step in at some stage.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Opinion: New threat from Gaza
Sunday's botched terror attack shows Palestinian effort to develop new capabilities
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Security sources: Threat to ocean facilities growing
Defense establishment sources doubt Palestinian groups' claims of ability to target strategic facilities at sea, but say potential threat being taken seriously
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
European Anti-Semitism Worse Since 2008
Anti-Semitism in Western Europe last year was the worst since World War II, according to the Jewish Agency’s arm for fighting attacks and incitement against Jews.
Full story [IsraelNN.com]
Israeli Withdrawal from Ghajar Fought By Villagers, MKs
Knesset Members of the National Union party will be joining Deputy Minister for Regional Development MK Ayoub Kara for a visit to the village of Ghajar on Sunday. Kara (Likud) and the National Union party members will plant trees in the northern and southern parts of the village in order to raise public awareness of the State of Israel's planned withdrawal from the northern part of the town.
Full story [IsraelNN.com]
Protection upped for officials abroad
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has beefed up security for officials traveling overseas, because of concern that Hizbullah will target one of them to avenge the assassination of its terror chief Imad Mughniyeh two years ago, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
US intelligence: Southern Gaza is the next Yemen
The year 2010 will see a new Israeli military operation in Gaza - not against the Palestinian Hamas, which is not eager for more punishment, but the al Qaeda bastions spreading across the southern Gaza Strip. This prognosis is shared by intelligence circles close to the Obama administration and the CIA, DEBKAfile's intelligence and counter-terror sources report.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Chief rabbis wage war on abortions
Rabbis Yona Metzger, Shlomo Amar reinstate special committee meant to fight pregnancy terminations; say it 'impedes coming of redemption'
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Poverty report: Recession still in effect
Latet aid organization reports 40% rise in deaths due to poverty, says many needy kids must steal food
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Egypt, Saudis secretly draft Palestinian statehood motion for Security Council
DEBKAfile's Middle East sources report that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf emirates and the Palestinian Authority are secretly drafting a UN Security Council motion granting Palestinian statehood within the pre-1967 war borders of the West Bank and Gaza Strip with Jerusalem its capital. This group is working under tight wraps, using diversionary tactics, to keep the US and Israel from discovering their scheme. Libya, or if it is elected to the Security Council, Lebanon will table the motion.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
New Hamas West Bank commanders set to revive anti-Israel terror
Since early 2007, Hamas has refrained from orchestrating terrorist activity against Israel from the West Bank, focusing mainly on its missile barrage against southwestern Israel from the Gaza Strip. Now, DEBKAfile's military sources report, the Palestinian extremists have changed course. Hamas' military chief Muhammad Jabry has established a new regional West Bank command corps for a fresh terror campaign against Israel, including suicide attacks, from the territory controlled by the rival Fatah and Palestinian Authority.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Hamas preparing advanced rockets and 'offensive' tunnels
Israel is likely to face advanced Iranian weaponry, long-range rockets, large missile silos and dozens of kilometers of underground tunnels connecting open fields with urban centers in the event of a future conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to the latest Israeli assessments.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
EU waters down wording, but still wants Jerusalem divided
Israeli officials were relieved on Tuesday when the European Union passed a resolution merely calling for Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate the division of Jerusalem, rather that recognizing eastern Jerusalem as the capital of "Palestine" even before negotiations have been concluded.
Full story [israeltoday]
Iran successfully simulates nuclear warhead detonation - report
German intelligence reports that Iranian scientists have successfully simulated the detonation of a nuclear warhead in laboratory conditions, in an effort to sidestep an underground nuclear test like the one that brought the world down on North Korea's head earlier this year. DEBKAfile's Iranian and intelligence sources report that this development is alarming because detonation is one of the most difficult technological challenges in the development of a nuclear weapon. Mastering it carries Iran past one of the last major obstacles confronting its program for the manufacture of a nuclear warhead.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Messianic Jew attacked by Orthodox in northern Israel
Two Orthodox Jewish residents of the northern Israel town of Beit She'an were arrested on Wednesday a day after they are suspected of having torched the parked car of a local Messianic Jew.
Full story [israeltoday]
Report: Russia vows quick completion of Iran atom plant
Russian energy minister quoted as saying Moscow will complete Islamic republic's first nuclear power station 'at the earliest possible time'
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Iran says will build 10 new uranium enrichment plants
Islamic republic continues to provoke IAEA, ordering plans for 10 new facilities to be built within two months 'in order to serve country's electricity needs.' White House: Iran isolating itself
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Israel Air Force chief indicates no total security against multi-directional missiles
Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan told a Tel Aviv University audience Friday, Nov. 27: "The time for hard decisions is fast approaching," adding "The scope of security threats to Israel is very complex and we must prepare for all exigencies." He was addressing a ceremony marking 30 years of the IDF's Talpiot program which offers hi-tech, math and physics training and degrees for high IQ conscripts to join special projects.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Denied Russian S-300 missiles, Iran cannot protect nuclear sites
Iran launches its huge Modafean-e (Defenders) Aseman-e-Velayat air defense exercise Sunday, Nov. 22, to protect its nuclear sites, after failing to persuade Russia to deliver the linchpin of its air defenses, S-300 missiles. For two weeks, high-ranking Iranian politicians and generals bombarded Moscow to make good on its contract to supply the key weapon, to no avail. Saturday, Nov. 21, Iran's air force commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Mighani spoke at length about the highly sophisticated S-300, without which, DEBKAfile's military sources say, Iran has no real defense against US and Israeli aerial or missile strikes against its nuclear installations.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Iran is advancing on dual nuclear bomb track: uranium plus plutonium
DEBKAfile's military sources report that the UN inspectors' October visit to Iran turned up dual-track progress in support of its nuclear weapons program: Feverish activity was registered in the production of plutonium at Isfahan as an alternative to the Fordo enriched uranium plant near Qom which starts up in 2011.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Hezbollah: All of Israel within our range
In response to Ashkenazi's warning of Israeli retaliation in face of attack, Hezbollah says, 'Enemy knows any attack will bring about its total defeat that will result in end of its entity'
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Erdogan promises Iran Turkish intelligence aid against Israel
In the secret part of their talks in Tehran on Oct. 28, DEBKAfile's military sources reveal that Turkish prime minister Tayyep Recep Erdogan and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad struck military cooperation deals which promised Iran Turkish military intelligence and air force assistance against a possible Israeli attack on its nuclear sites.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Iran may have tested nuclear warhead design, secret IAEA report says
The United Nations nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence suggesting the Islamic Republic's scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design, the Guardian reported in its Friday edition.
Full story [HAARETZ.com]
New Iranian missiles for Gaza, Syria tops up Hizballah's rocket stocks
Iran is making a huge effort to smuggle to the Palestinian Hamas Fajr-5 ground-to-ground rockets that bring Tel Aviv within range of the Gaza Strip. DEBKAfile's military sources also disclose that Syria, Iran's second ally with an Israeli border, has decided to transfer one-third of its missile stockpile to the Hizballah in Lebanon, topping up its arsenal with medium-range rockets that can cover central as well as northern Israel, which was heavily blitzed in the 2006 war.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
'One million refugees headed to Israel'
IDF units responsible for guarding Israel's expansive western border with Egypt said Thursday that there are one million would-be infiltrators waiting to cross the mostly barrierless border and enter Israel illegally.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
'Syrian long-range missiles in Lebanon'
Syria has transferred nearly a quarter of its long- and medium-range missile arsenal to Hizbullah, the Kuwaiti al Jarida reported on Thursday.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
'Russia confirms MiG-29M sale to Syria'
A Russian newspaper is reporting that Russia has a contract to provide Syria with powerful MiG fighter jets but has not begun delivering the planes.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
Hizballah deploys chemical and biological weapons near Israeli border - Arab, European sources
The Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa reported Thursday, Sept. 3, that chemical weapons were stored in the hidden Hizballah arms warehouse which blew up at Hirbet Salim near the Israeli border in mid-July. Of the 11 Hizballah operatives killed in the blast, 3 died of chemical poisoning. Hizballah denied any members had been killed or even that it maintains a weapons store in breach of UN resolutions.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
'Israel won't accept limitations on sovereignty in J'lem'
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will make it clear in his discussions with US and European officials abroad that Israel will not accept any limitations on its sovereignty in Jerusalem, sources at the Prime Minister's Office said, immediately before his plane took off from Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
Prognosis: 14,000 to die of swine flu
Health Ministry's Emergency Unit instructs hospital administrators to prepare for upcoming H1N1 flu outbreak this winter; predicts 14,000 dead, 75,000 admissions, 1.8 million visits to local HMOs
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Fatah: PA Will Take All of Jerusalem — by Peace or by Force
The Fatah party headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, re-elected in the fractured party convention in Bethlehem Saturday night, concluded all of Jerusalem is a “red line” for the PA.
Full story [IsraelNN.com]
Labor Ministry planning emergency job call-up for swine flu
Following Health Ministry warnings, Industry, government bracing itself for lack of working hands this winter as a result of H1N1 virus outbreak, says it will be possible to recruit workers under emergency work law
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Russia builds key naval HQ in Syria: Missile presence worries Israel
A high-ranking Russian navy source reported July 21 that the Soviet-era naval maintenance base near Tartus in Syria is to be expanded and modernized to become "fully operational." DEBKAfile's military sources report that Russian is building the facility up as its main sea base for operations in four seas: The Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The upgrade of Russian port facilities at Tartus, its only foothold in the Mediterranean, will automatically enhance Moscow's strategic interests in Syria and Bashar Assad's regime.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Palestinians: 'Peace' just a means to a darker end
Those who believe the land-for-peace process will bring an end to the bloodshed between Arabs and Israelis are deluding themselves, explained a leading member of the ruling Palestinian faction in a televised interview last week.
Full story [israeltoday]
Iran in mass production of long-range, solid-fuel Sejil surface missiles
Iran is slowing down the manufacture of the Shehab-3 surface missile in favor of mass production of the more accurate two-stage 2,000-kilometer range Sejil II ballistic missile powered with solid fuel, which was successfully tested on May 20, DEBKAfile's military and Iranian sources report.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
U.K. hits Israel with partial arms embargo over Gaza war
Britain has slapped a partial arms embargo on Israel, refusing to supply replacement parts and other equipment for Sa'ar 4.5 gunships because they participated in Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.
Full story [HAARETZ.com]
40% of Israeli Arabs: Holocaust never happened
Disturbing poll results: Shocking percentage of local Arabs are Shoah deniers, less than half recognize Israel's right to exist as Jewish democratic state; survey shows significant deterioration in Arab attitudes in past six years
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
PA still seeks Israel's demise, US-trained army could attack Jewish state
A top Palestinian Authority official admits the "two-state solution" is really just a means of bringing about Israel's collapse, and the American general training up the new PA army reveals those troops could turn on Israel.
Full story [israeltoday]
Netanyahu vows not to withdraw from Golan
Ahead of next week's meeting with US President Obama in Washington, prime minister makes declaration of intent during Likud ministers' meeting as to future Israel-Syria peace talks
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
New Ambassador to U.S. Favors Razing Jewish Yesha Communities
The Netanyahu government's choice for U.S. Ambassador is Dr. Michael Oren, who favors Israel withdrawing unilaterally from most of Judea and Samaria and razing most settlements. Speaking to the conservative JINSA institute earlier this year, Oren said he expected the Obama administration to use pressure on Israel to get Jerusalem to agree to establishing a Palestinian state. If Israel does not go along it will "be pushed into a corner," he said.
Full story [IsraelNN.com]
Independent Norwegian poll: Palestinian majority opposes two states
Amid the ping-pong between Washington and Jerusalem over the validity of a Palestinian state established alongside Israel as the end-product of peace negotiations, the Norwegian Fafo institute which sponsored the 1993 Oslo Framework accords decided to find out how the Palestinians felt about this solution. Its main discovery was that a majority, 53 percent, of Palestinians (like Israelis), is against two states.
Full story [DEBKAfile]
'Syria building chemical weapons plant'
Syria has been conducting extensive construction work on a chemical weapons facility in the country's northwest, satellite images obtained by the defense analyst group Jane's reveal.
Full story [Jerusalem Post]
Poverty report: 36% of Israeli needy live in hunger
LATET aid organization's Alternative Poverty Report reveals deterioration in problem with quarter of Israelis fearing poverty, one in five contemplating suicide. LATET sources say situation expected to worsen in 2009
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Seized documents show Hamas funding Israeli Arabs
Documents seized during Israeli army raids on Hamas offices and Islamic charities linked to the terror group over the past year show that Hamas has been taking in so much money from abroad that it is now funding Israeli Arab Islamic groups.
Full story [israeltoday]
"Hizballah Brigades of Palestine" - new Gaza-West Bank terror group
Local undercover officers of the Iranian-sponsored Hizballah established and funded this "new" Palestinian terrorist organization for "operations" under their orders, DEBKAfile's counter-terror sources report. It described itself in a statement issued Saturday, Oct. 4, as a "Sunni jihad group which has nothing to do with politics", and whose members are "former members of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jhad and leftist parties." Their goals are to "carry out Jihad for the sake of Allah and resist enemies of Islam."
Full story [DEBKAfile]
Opinion: Dialogue to nowhere
Elyakim Haetzni's meeting with Arab students convinces him conflict can't be resolved
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
Opinion: Wrong approach to peace
US, Israel ignore leading scholar's insights about Muslim attitude to peace deals
Full story [Ynetnews.com]
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Pray
We do not know what God has in store for Israel in the short term. We can only pray that it will be for the eventual salvation of the Jewish people.
So continue to pray for Israel, for the Jewish people and for the peace of Jerusalem and may God bless you as you lift up His nation and people before Him.
Lift up the cause of the Messianic believers in Israel and pray that the Lord would grant them more freedom to express their faith in Messiah.
Would you like to be kept informed of the prayer needs of Israel, the Body of Messiah in Israel and the Jewish people? Then perhaps you would consider subscribing to the Intercessors prayer letter.