Super User
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur
Almost 400 rocket attacks were launched from Gaza to Israel since the 2009 cease-fire; the most recent one completely destroyed a rehabilitation centre for children with special needs in Sderot last Saturday. On any other day the unit would have been packed with children and therapists, resulting in devastating losses. The centre provides therapy and workshops for special needs children living in the entire country. Because there were no casualties the assault received little media cover and vulnerable children with special needs have lost facilities providing appropriate care. This attack followed an Iranian Grad missile hitting the city of Ashkelon Friday morning. Hamas-controlled Gaza has targeted Ashkelon (population of 125,000) since March 2008. Israeli Intelligence confirm Hamas has now assembled over 5,000 missiles with a range of 40-25 miles. Pray: for the families struggling to cope with unimaginable fear and hopelessness in this volatile neighbourhood to see peace overtake war, and provision for the weak and vulnerable. (Is.2:3-5) More: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138879
More than half of the country’s children living below the poverty line went without at least one meal a day over the past year due to their families’ economic difficulties. Based on data collected from more than 100 food aid charities countrywide and on in-depth interviews with individuals and families living below the poverty line, the organization’s Alternative Poverty Report for 2010 shows 55% of the estimated 850,300 children in this category had to forgo a nutritious meal every day because of their families’ economic status. This is an increase of 38% over the previous year. During the past 10 years poverty has significantly increased; more than 15,000 families joined the ranks of the poor in 2009, and overall 435,100 families – 1,774,800 Israelis – lived below the poverty line in 2009. For those living below the poverty line recession or economic growth makes little difference in their troubled lives, the poor are abandoned and neglected. Pray: for the gap between rich and poor to decrease and for the poor in Israel to have a voice. (Ex.23:6) More: http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=200513
Palestinian militants fired 54 rockets into Israel on Saturday. Meanwhile Hamas police beat up and confiscated equipment from reporters. On Monday, an IAF fighter jet struck a Gaza tunnel running along the border with Israel, as well as Hamas militants in the northern Gaza strip. IDF office released a statement saying that the Gaza tunnel was used to smuggle terrorists into Israeli territory with the intent to execute attacks against Israeli citizens see: The violence comes amid increasing calls for reconciliation between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his bitter rivals, the Islamic militant group Hamas. Abbas is seeking U.N. recognition for a Palestinian state by autumn and is lobbying for votes worldwide. Hamas also used force to disperse a reconciliation rally in Gaza. Israeli residents were advised to stay at home or in bomb shelters. Pray: for the strengthening of all civilians living under the continual threat of border attacks. (Ps.16:1) More: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/19/hamas-fires-missiles-into-israel/
Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) recently arrested 19 year old Nasser Masarwa, an Israeli Arab on suspicion of fighting with rebels in Syria. They believe he originally joined global jihadi elements in Syria to try to locate his brother who is fighting with the Syrian rebels. Nasser underwent military training with rebel forces, - including weapons training and was offered the possibility of carrying out a suicide bombing against the army of the Assad regime. Nasser said he refused this. Security forces said, ‘Arab Israelis who travel to Syria are exposed to radical ideology and could be exploited for a terror attack in Israel due to their knowledge of targets in the country.’- adding that this represented a serious national security issue. On Wednesday Nasser was charged with ‘contact with a foreign agent, illegal military training, and travelling to an enemy state.’
Pray: for the peace of Jerusalem. (Ps.122:6)
More: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Shin-Bet-arrests-Israeli-Arab-who-joined-Syrian-rebels-309319
Israel launched three air raids on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday as military top brass weighed a stronger response to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory. The targets included a training camp of a military wing of Hamas, an arms dump and two rocket launch sites hours after Gaza militants fired six rockets at southern Israel residents. The number of rockets fired on Monday dropped significantly from Sunday when dozens of missiles prompted Israel to stage a series of overnight raids. It was unclear if the slowdown was a step towards a more decisive truce, or a lull. The latest flare-up killed six Palestinians and wounded eight Israelis. Benjamin Netanyahu warned, ‘Israel has the complete right and obligation to protect its citizens. We’ll not sit with our arms folded in the face of repeated, almost daily, attacks.’ The violence coming amid an Israeli election campaign raises concern of a broader Israeli military campaign.
Pray: that this violence will not escalate. (Ez.26:15)
More: http://tribune.com.pk/story/464959/israel-launches-retaliatory-air-raids-on-gaza/
The division between Arab and Jewish citizens is reflected in institutions, culture and national identities. Palestinian-Israelis reject Zionism as colonialist and racist. The Jews see themselves as the genuine proprietors of the Land of Israel. Both sides reject the most cherished values of the other. However some are working towards coexistence and reconciliation through ‘Musalah’ a ministry with a vision to see reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians first among Christian believers and then to those of interfaith communities. Please click the more button below to discover how they are improving Arab-Jewish coexistence through Summer Camps for the Israeli and Palestinian youth. Please pray for Hebron Camp that that started July 2nd with 120+ children registered and the July 18-23 camp in Petah Tikvah, Israel, giving Israeli and Palestinian children the opportunity to build friendships at a young age and see those from the other side as their brothers and sisters in the Messiah.
Pray: for the follow up for youth who attended these and similar camps of reconciliation amongst the youth, that they will continue to pray and listen to one another. (Ps.138:7-8)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has launched a diplomatic campaign to gain full United Nations membership, (See Prayer Alert 37-2011) This Friday he intends to officially notify UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of his intentions. Washington has threatened to veto any such move. Both the United States and Israel said Abbas’s move could dash hopes of resuming peace talks. Their warnings came amid reports that Britain and other countries are coming under growing US pressure to oppose a Palestinian bid for statehood. Abbas had meetings on Tuesday with French and Lebanese Presidents seeking support ahead of Friday’s speech to the General Assembly. Senior diplomats from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - the Quartet of Middle East mediators - have also met throughout the week seeking a way forward. Israel and America are calling the Palestinian Authority to open up direct negotiations to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Pray: that God will not allow President Abbas’s actions to prompt violent repercussions in the area. (Is.46:4)
The European Union and the United States have condemned Israeli plans for the construction of 1,100 new housing units in occupied East Jerusalem as being counterproductive to negotiations on peace talks with the Palestinians. They responded sharply to the Israeli interior ministry's announcement on Tuesday that it had approved plans for the new housing units in Gilo, an illegal settlement enclave in southeast Jerusalem. The ministry said construction could begin after a mandatory 60-day period for public comment, a process that is largely a formality. Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said that the settlement plans were ‘counter-productive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties’. Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, condemned the Israeli decision, saying it amounted to ‘1,100 no's to the resumption of peace talks’. He urged the US to change its position and support the Palestinians in their quest for full UN membership.
Pray: for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian situation, with acceptable boundaries and a lasting cease-fire.(2Ch.7:14).
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/201192851113137636.html
The UN will be voting on a resolution to grant Palestine (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) statehood on September 20, 2011. As the vote approaches, violence against Israel is on the rise. On a single day in August 2011, terrorists armed with bombs and guns attacked buses, cars and army patrols, killing seven. Terrorists fired more than 80 rockets into Israel the weekend of August 20 and 21. These attacks have been ongoing with dozens of missiles hitting Israel each day. In response, Israel began air raids, bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. On September 20, the UN General Assembly will vote on whether or not to allow the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to become member nations. Even if the vote is in favour of membership for the territories, it could still be vetoed by the UN Security Council.
Pray: for Christians globally to understand that the most important resolution is for everyone in the land to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for the will of the King of all nations to be done. (Je.10:7)
A Palestinian was killed by Israeli air strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Wednesday as Israeli and Palestinian leaders were set to hold peace talks in Jerusalem. (See Prayer Alert 3610) One man was killed and two others wounded by strikes carried out on smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, Palestinian medics and security officials said. The raids followed a morning of Palestinian rocket and mortar fire into Israel and came ahead of a new round of peace talks vehemently opposed by Gaza's militant Hamas rulers. The Israeli military confirmed that aircraft attacked tunnels but gave no details. One rocket and eight mortar rounds had earlier been fired from Gaza, a military spokeswoman said, with the rocket striking near the port city of Ashkelon. The Popular Resistance Committees, a small militant group, claimed responsibility for the attacks and like Hamas is also strongly opposes peace talks with Israel. Pray: that God will bring reconciliation and peace and bless the work of peace-makers. (Nu.10:9) More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jNE1lJtr1YzBKuhnaQxovjygI26A