On Tuesday Binyamin Netanyahu told US congress, ‘Israel will compromise for peace but will not return to 1967 borders’ stressing Israel’s position as a democratic ‘friend of America’. He largely ruled out movement on the issues that are important to Palestinians, stating the issue of Palestinian refugees must be resolved outside the borders of Israel and that Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel. Saeb Erekat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee said, ‘We've not heard any new words in Netanyahu's speech in front of congress tonight. He's chosen to dictate, not negotiate.’ After Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Congress thousands of activists conducted meetings with senators and house members.

Pray: for a partnership of peace to be allowed to grow in the region and for the Peace of Jerusalem to be constant. (Is.33:20)

More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/05/2011524151456629671.html

A series of Palestinian attacks against Israelis occurred in and around Jerusalem over the weekend, a clear reminder that the tension-wracked capital remains ready to explode despite relative calm in recent months. On Sunday evening, a bus travelling from Jerusalem to a Jewish community just north of the city was damaged in a Palestinian stone-throwing attack. Because the stones managed to penetrate the bullet-proof glass, it was at first reported as a shooting attack. Also on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israeli security forces in at least three separate incidents caught would-be Arab assailants in possession of pipe bombs. Israeli security officials have noted a significant rise in the number of attacks in and around Jerusalem in recent months, both armed attacks and ‘popular’ attacks, which means the assailants use Molotov cocktails and stones instead of guns and knives.

Pray: for the peace of Jerusalem and that all would live together in peace. (Rom.12:18)

More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=9089&this=Palestinians_attack_Israeli_bus_in_Jerusalem#

On Wednesday Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, criticized the previous day's meeting in Amman between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators as a waste of time, saying talks between negotiators were, ‘selling illusions to the Palestinian people.’ The official also condemned the Palestinian Authority's participation, saying that the ‘absurd’ meeting did not receive support from the Palestinian people. The negotiators met in Amman on Tuesday for the first direct talks in 16 months. They agreed to continue talking, with another round scheduled in Jordan next week. The Jordanian Foreign Minister said at a press conference after the meeting that the Palestinian delegation submitted proposals on border and security issues to Israel, and that the Israeli team took the proposals and said it would respond and present its ideas in a future meeting. One principle that Israel is expected to put forward is the need for an Israeli security presence along the Jordan river in any agreement.

Pray: for good faith to be throughout these negotiations, bringing the two sides closer and Israel less internationally isolated. (Ps.3:8)

More: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=252147

Peace efforts restarted after three years when Israel began to release 26 Palestinian prisoners. However diplomacy was overshadowed by Israeli proposals to buils 3,000+ new settler units, 900 in East Jerusalem. A senior PLO official said the proposed Jewish settler homes could ‘collapse’ the talks. A spokeswoman for Israel’s interior ministry said more approvals were needed and it could be years before building began. Israel's ‘Peace Now’ organisation disputed this, believing that construction could begin within weeks. A spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu said Palestinians shouldn’t be surprised - Israel had rejected Mr Abbas's demand for a freeze on settlement building as a precondition for talks. Abdullah Abdullah, a member of the legislative council and a supporter of Mr Abbas said Palestinians would not stay in the talks if Israel continued with the settlement surge. ‘We have other options.’ he said. US Secretary of State John Kerry hopes to achieve a peace deal within nine months.

Pray: for positive perseverance and cooperative clarifications by all involved in these negotiations. (Jer.30:10)

More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/peace-talks-at-risk-as-israel-approves-900-more-settlements-despite-palestinian-prisoners-release-8760194.html

In a Tehran meeting between senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar and Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Mr Salehi said, ‘The wave of Islamic Awakening in the Muslim world, especially in regional countries, is a great opportunity and valuable potential for Palestine. This comment followed a conference last month entitled ‘Resistance - Islamic Awakening and Liberation of Palestine.' The Iranian Foreign Minister noted that with the establishment of popular governments in Muslim countries the regional nations and countries will strongly continue their efforts to defend Palestine until the liberation of al-Quds (Jerusalem). Salehi said, ‘Iran did its best to make the summit adopt powerful stances on Palestine and the final result of those efforts were quite favourable.’ Al-Zahar expressed hope that during the presidency of the Islamic Republic, the rights of the Palestinian nation would be defended stronger than before, emphasizing that the Palestinian people will continue their resistance against the Zionist regime of Israel and will not withdraw from their rights and principles.

Pray: for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps.122:6,7)

More: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/260498.html

The Lebanese national news Agency said the Israeli rockets caused material damage when they exploded in the southern Lebanese town of Ayta Shaab on Tuesday. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. ‘We know that a rocket was fired from the region of Rmeish and we are investigating,’ said a Lebanese army spokesman. The attack followed the Israeli army report that at least two Lebanese rockets landed on Israeli soil. Major-General Alberto Cuevas, commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said the attack was clearly aimed at undermining stability in the area. Israel and Lebanon live under an uneasy UN-brokered truce after the 2006 war between the Israeli army and Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.

Pray: that the exchange of fire will not lead to a wider conflict. (Ps.147:14)

More: http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/258047/20111129/israeli-missiles-hit-suspected-lebanon-rocket-sites.htm

Messianic Jews in Mevasseret Zion, west Jerusalem, continue to be harassed for their faith by hostile flyers containing their names, addresses and phone numbers (and in some cases their photographs) being placed in public areas singling them out as members of Messianic congregations. The leader of the Ahavat Yeshua Congregation said the flyers are ‘an effort to drive us out of the neighbourhood’ by inciting others to harass or harm Messianic Jews. ‘Why else would you put the addresses on the flyers?’ he said. This is the second time recently a group has singled out Messianic Jews in Mevasseret Zion for ridicule. (see PA 27-2011) It is unclear who posts the flyers but they match a well-established pattern in Israel. According to Wikileaks, ‘Outing’ Messianic Jews and Evangelical Christians through the publication of names, photos and addresses alongside hysterical allegations about ‘soul stealing’ and ‘brainwashing’ is a favourite tactic of Yad L’Achim branches throughout the country.’

Pray: for God to strengthen feeble hands, steady weak knees and remove fear from communities of believers in Israel. (Is.35:10)

More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/israel/article_120307.html

The Shin Bet’s 2012 report on terror found terrorists switching focus to less heavily-guarded Israelis abroad; noting the bus bombing in Bulgaria killing five Israelis and one Bulgarian, a bombing in New Delhi in which a diplomat’s wife was wounded, and an attempted bombing targeting a Georgian embassy employee. 2012 also saw attacks on non-Israeli Jewish communities with the death of three children and a rabbi at the Otzar Hatorah School in France. The murderer said he targeted the school due to his hatred of Israel. The report noted an unprecedented number of arrests of Hizbullah terrorists and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, many arrested abroad while planning attacks against Israelis. Notably a Hizbullah terrorist in Bangkok plotting a mass attack on Israeli tourists in Thailand; a Hizbullah terrorist arrested in Cyprus while gathering information on tourist sites, ships and airplanes used by Israelis; and Revolutionary Guards' terrorists were arrested in Kenya for planning attacks on Israelis in the country.

Pray: for continued vigilance and wisdom by Israeli and international authorities as they work towards protecting Israelis at home and abroad. (Gen.28:15)

More: http://forzion.com/2013/01/25/terrorists-new-tactic-hit-israelis-jews-overseas/