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Introduction

Praying for Israel and the Jewish people can both at the same time be complicated and easy: complicated because of the difficult and complex situation involving Middle East politics and easy because God has foretold through the prophetic Scriptures what will become of 'the apple of His eye'.

Politics

Praying for one's favorite political party is probably not such a good idea; to do so automatically closes the door on the leading of the Holy Spirit — not something that we would want to happen.
It is of course a much better idea to ask God how and whom to pray for. God has a plan for Israel and the Jewish people and we need to make sure that we are open to help in advancing that plan and not getting in the way of it.
Let us not forget that we are called to pray for all those in authority — not just the ones that we agree with:

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Tim. 2:1-2 (KJV)

We are called to pray for them not just so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life but that our prayers can set in motion different aspects of God's wonderful plan for His chosen people. It might possibly be that a difficult time for Israel and the Jewish people might unfold before our eyes in the near future; how would we pray? Would we ask God for mercy? Bind the powers of darkness?
First we need to come before the throne and ask God how we ought to pray; it might be that, as in times past, God is allowing, maybe even causing the event to happen to bring about a part of His plan. Consider the prophecy of Gog and Magog, God states very clearly in Ezekiel 38:4,16 that it is He who brings the invading armies against Israel:

4 and I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;

16 and you shall come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.
Eze. 38:4,16

and 38:16 and 39:6-7,21-25 gives the reason as to why:

21 I will set my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day and forward.
23 The nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they trespassed against me, and I hid my face from them: so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they fell all of them by the sword.
24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I to them; and I hid my face from them.
25 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name.
Eze. 39:6-7,21-25

How then should we pray for the political situation in the Holy Land? We know that the land was given as an inheritance to the Jewish people and that the Palestinian Arabs, with the backing of the international community, are making a claim to it. At this moment the Ariel Sharon government is making plans to evacuate all the Jewish settlers from Gaza and from some of the settlements in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
So how do we pray? According to the prophet Zechariah, Jerusalem, and by implication the whole of the land, will again be overrun, with the majority having been carried off to exile prior to the return of Messiah (see 1967 - A Fulfillment of Prophecy?). This then creates a dilemma for us — do we pray for or against the 'Gaza Withdrawal Plan' or, viewing the bigger picture, for or against an Arab Palestinian State on the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham?

The problem that we are faced with is that although we know the end result of God's plan — the Jewish people living in their own land as God's people with Jesus the Messiah as their King — we do not know precisely how it will all come about.
I am sure that God would have it this way as we are then dependant upon Him for direction in our prayers: think how many different theological positions there are on the 'End Times', then imagine how all those godly folks would be praying — 'confusion' would probably be an understatement.
How do we know what will happen tomorrow or next week? How do we know that these events that are unfolding before our eyes are not a part of God's plan? The answer is that we do not know; we might think that we know but that is only what we think which is not the same as being certain — we are after all only human and fallible.
Let us then not allow our limited understanding of events to handicap our ability to pray effectively but rather let us come before God with an openness that would allow the Holy Spirit to guide us as we pray.

New Immigrants

There has been many thousands of new immigrants that have been absorbed by the State of Israel over the decades from all over the world. The absorption process is harder for some than it is for others and the main obstacle is learning Hebrew as a new language. Cultural differences also have a role to play in the absorption process and those that live and work with others from a similar background find it harder to become 'Israeli'. Of course every new immigrant is granted citizenship but to be accepted by the native-born Israeli takes time whilst the old way of life is gradually replaced by the new.

This has a significant effect on the makeup of the Messianic congregations here in Israel. There are some that, because of the numbers of former immigrants, have to provide several different translations for the considerable number of members that are still having difficulty with Hebrew. This will probably continue to be the case for a long time to come as there will always be new immigrants arriving.
Please pray that the transition period for the new immigrants would be easy, especially for those that believe.

Pastors And Congregations

Not all Messianic congregations believe in the same way. Much like the protestant church there are differing expressions of faith. Some want to continue to be like a synagogue in that they keep some of the traditions such as having a Torah Scroll and the wearing of prayer shawls; following the Torah portion for the week and the like. Some are similar to fellowships that come together and let the Holy Spirit lead them in their worship. Others are a mix of the two. Some believe in the outpouring of the Spirit and the gifts whereas others are quite conservative in their worship.

There is nothing wrong with diversity nor in a certain amount of tradition; however please pray that they will always be dependant upon the grace of God and not start down the deceptive road of good works.
There are not so many Messianic congregations in Israel and since the majority meet together on Saturdays (Shabbat) when there is no public transport, some believers find it difficult to get to a place of worship regularly (car ownership is relatively expensive in Israel and many families do not posses a vehicle).
Pray too for the Messianic leadership in Israel, for the pastors, teachers, those that are involved in outreach and for the congregants as they all give as they are able.

Israeli Youth

There is a wonderful openness amongst the youth in Israel. The vast majority have no real religious background and therefore do not have too many preconceived ideas. This has the effect of leading them to investigate all sorts of 'spiritual paths' — some of which lead them to eastern based religions and philosophies. Many of the youth, after having finished their compulsory army service, embark on tours to the Far East, amongst other things, to find answers to their spiritual hunger. There are so many Israelis travelling in that part of the world that Chabad (a religious Jewish organization) has established many centers to assist them and to encourage them to become religious (return to Judaism and the Torah from being secular).

It is strange but most Israelis do not have a problem with Eastern religions or philosophies; they can talk about meditation and Zen, even the 'benefits' of Buddhism without seeing any contradiction in their being Jews. But, as soon as Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) is mentioned then they take offence saying that Christian missionaries are trying to steal Jewish souls. Praise be to God that this is not normally the case with the younger generation; they are interested and, providing the gospel message is presented with sensitivity and wisdom, are quick to ask genuine questions.
Pray that this openness will lead to many hearing the truth and responding to their Messiah.

Praying For Our Enemies

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'
44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust."
Mt. 5:43-45

Quite a few Messianic believers in Israel face daily threats and abuse, sometimes even vandalism, from some within the ultra-orthodox community. The most active group is called 'Yad L'Achim' (Hand to the Brothers) which promotes itself as an 'anti-missionary' organization. Whilst everybody is free to defend their beliefs, some anti-missionary groups unfortunately engage in harassment, threats, and vandalism.
These people are zealous for their faith and believe that missionaries are 'stealing' Jewish souls. Not all anti-missionary groups resort to violence but rather hold regular seminars and teaching sessions against missionary activity. They all honestly believe that they are doing God's work.

Remember them in your prayers. Pray that God will bless them, taking away the blindness from their hearts and eyes and that God would give them, as He gave to Paul, the grace and humility to accept the One that they are persecuting.

Israeli Soldiers

Our soldiers have a most difficult job; on the one hand they must fight terrorists as any nation's army would do but on the other hand they are always in the media's viewfinder and are quick to be accused of harming innocent civilians. There is no easy answer. The soldiers are ordinary human beings trying not to be shot or blown up; the enemy is not always obvious — there have been several instances of women attacking them with knives or as human bombs, cases of children being used as suicide bombers, gunmen firing at soldiers from within crowds of stone-throwing youngsters.
Other countries don't seem to worry too much about 'collateral damage', as killing civilians is called and it is quickly forgotten by the world press; but should it happen in Israel then it is quickly brought to the United Nations assembly and Israel is condemned.

Pray for our soldiers, that God would enable them to continue doing their duty in saving Israeli lives and protect them as they try to differentiate the enemy from the civilian. Pray too that they would have an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel message.

Terrorism

Terrorism is a constant reality in Israel and continues to affect many of the population. The effects are not always physical; many still retain emotional and psychological scars after being involved in, or witnessing an attack. There are many thousands that will carry not just emotional scars but physical ones for the rest of their lives; not just the scars left by deep flesh wounds but from loosing limbs or their eyesight from the deadly shrapnel and fierce heat of the terrorist bomb. Some are relegated to spending the rest of their lives dependant upon others to care for their most basic needs.
We need to remember them in their continual suffering and that even somehow through their pain and grief God would open their hearts when they ask  "God - why did you allow this to happen?" to differentiate the enemy from the civilian. Pray too that they would have an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel message.