BIG NEWS from Israel! (I'm going in July!)

Last week was a BIG week in Israel!

First, Naftali Bennett was officially sworn in as the new Prime Minister, after Netanyahu's historic 12-years of service. 

PM Bennett represents a coalition government, made up of parties from left, right, and center. It's the first of its kind to be in power. He will hold the PM position for 2 years and 3 months, and then Yair Lapid will be PM for the same amount of time.

Second, Gaza announced a new Prime Minister as well. Their new premier is Issam al-Da'alis, and he was also sworn in on Sunday.

Third, on June 15, Israel officially lifted all mask mandates for both inside and outside. Now, the only people who have to wear them are either traveling on planes, on their way to quarantine, or people in long-term care facilities.

But, the biggest news for me, was that ISRAEL IS OPENING TO FOREIGN TOURISTS JULY 1!!!!

Which brings me to MY big news- I'm going to Israel! As of the date I'm writing this post, I'm still looking at tickets, but I know it will happen sometime next month! Remember how my trip for April 2020 was cancelled? I'm so thankful that it has worked out for this year, and I cannot wait to get there and explore this incredible, amazing Land and culture!

Ceasefire in Israel!

This news has already made its way around the world, but I was on vacation last week and unable to update this blog. But no time like the present!

On May 20, 2021, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu signed a unilateral ceasefire, that began at 2am the next morning.

As Behold Israel's Amir Tsarfati says in this video, ceasefire is always significant (and good news), but what is important to note here is that this was a unilateral decision. Despite what the media says, it was not negotiated by a 3rd country (like Egypt). Israel did not make any agreements with Hamas. They did not give territory or permission for anything, and by this being a unilateral decision, they retain the right to future operations if needed. Israel not only won, but showed its autonomy in a way it hasn't been able to in the past. 

Here are some important things to know:

• Up until 7pm on Thursday (with still 7 hours to go), Hamas had launched 4340 rockets at Israel. At least 640 of those actually fell in Palestinian territory, killing civilians and decimating more homes. Unfortunately, that civilian death toll (more than 100) is counted against Israel, instead of the ones firing. Over 1,900 civilians were injured and 200 Hamas terrorists were killed.
• 12 Israeli's were killed, one soldier and 11 civilians. 2 were children.
• There were over 320 miles of tunnels under the Gaza strip, under homes, hospitals, and schools, so Hamas could hide behind women and children while moving around. Over half of this network has been destroyed by laser-directed bombs, in order to minimize civilian casualties.
• Israel's Iron Dome held- it stopped over 90% of the bombs sent its way. The ones it didn't stop were going to unpopulated areas/non-strategic areas. 
• Humanitarian aid has already entered Gaza.
• The Temple Mount, where this all started, as the Al-Aksa mosque was used to house rocks for people to throw as Jews celebrated 'Jerusalem Day' at the Western Wall (which led to Hamas firing 5 rockets at Jerusalem- which started this whole thing), is now open to Jews again.
• On May 23, as previously announced, Israel opened to 20 tourist groups from specific countries (with approved vaccines). This is the first big step to opening the international tourist industry.

This has increased relational division between the 2 races throughout the land, as there were demonstrations and protests in other areas. The pain of these past 12 days is incalculable, added to the weight and pain of the past 73 years. 

More than ever, peace is needed in Jerusalem. 

Latest Update from Israel (From Sunday, May 16)

Yesterday was the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) in Israel, and like last year, people celebrated close to their homes. Last year, it was because of a pandemic; this year because of violence.

The most recent number I've seen at the time of writing this blog post, since last Monday, Hamas has fired over 3,000 rockets at Israel. 

The best summary I've seen so far for what's happening now is from Behold Israel's Amir Tsarfati. He gave this update last night from his home in the Galilee, steps away from his bomb shelter, with flashes in the background and the sound of F-16's taking off nearby.

Click here or on the image above to watch. I guarantee it's worth it!

Oh, and as Amir points out at the end, Shavuot comes 50 days after Passover. It's a celebration of when God gave the Law to Israel through Moses. And it was being celebrated almost 2000 years ago when the Holy Spirit came to the Upper Room with flaming tongues of fire. Which means one thing:

Happy birthday, Church!!!

(thanks for that reminder, Amir!)

What is going on in Israel?

Israel has filled the news the last couple of days, so this is a special post about what is going on. 

First of all, current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a unity government within a month's time. Now, Yair Lapid, a member of the centrist party, Yesh Atid, has been given the mandate to try to form one over the next 28 days. If he is unable to do so, the Knesset will try to do so. If this fails, then Israel will have its 5th election in 2 years in August. 

The headlines that have filled our screens, however, are of unrest in Israel. There's so much going on with this situation that instead of trying to write it out here, I'm sharing a Middle East Update from Behold Israel's Amir Tsarfati. This was streamed live earlier today, May 12, 2021, and has a clear explanation of the situation, gives thorough background/context, and even explores the prophetic significance of what is going on. 

Click on the link above or on the image to watch it on youtube!

Chosen by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Last week, I re-read a beloved series from the 1990s, the Full Circle Series by Lisa Tawn Bergren. It's a fun series because each book is set in an incredibly picturesque (and adventurous!) location, and the main characters of each novel are loosely connected to each other (a relative, friend, or roommate of the heroine/hero of the previous book... hence, a full circle). 

Even though I've read this series many times, I'd forgotten the setting of book 5: Israel!

(it has a different cover on Amazon, but this is the cover I have)

Like I said, I'd completely forgotten about this book! But in addition to describing so many places I visited on my first trip to Israel, it reminded me of A Chosen People novels by Robert Whitlow and all I've been reading about the conflict and dynamics of Israel and Palestine. Like Hana in A Chosen People, the main character is a Christian Palestinian woman, and she has one of the most fascinating jobs (to me!) ever: a biblical archeologist!

For me, it's all so incredible to explore, but the dynamics of a Palastinian Christian biblical archeologist- WOW!

So if you've ever wanted to join to a dig (at the Temple Mount!) in the heart of Jerusalem (#goals), and have an incredible adventure, all while exploring the culture and issues and modern day Israel, this is definitely the book for you!

You can buy it here on Amazon (Oh, and while reading the whole series will give you the #fullcircleeffect, you don't necessarily have to read the other books in the series to read this one- although I do recommend them all... ESPECIALLY book 4. Don't get me started on that one!)!

Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis

When I first heard about Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis, I was fascinated by the idea. From the very first line, I was hooked.

The premise of the book is that in 2009, author Ted Dekker and his friend and international expert in Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, author Carl Medearis, flew to the Middle East with one purpose: to meet with Islamic leaders, drink tea, and ask them what they think about Jesus' parable of the Great Samaritan, a famous teaching on loving your neighbors.

Can you tell why I was hooked immediately?

The first thing I noticed, and honestly, it is definitely a small point I want to make, is that I didn't realize how funny Ted Dekker is. I've read many of his books, which fall in the genre of "Christian thriller". I've enjoyed them, but many were also 'above me' because of his sheer brilliance. I've enjoyed his books; but I've never known that he is just plain funny. It made this book so enjoyable to journey with him and Carl throughout the Middle East.

That aside, this book is incredible. The depth of detail and insight the authors used in their journeys kept me entranced, as I learned about people and places I've never seen, been, or met before. There was so much for me to take away as a student of people and culture, including basic practices and values of Islam that I didn't previously know.

I also appreciated how the authors published their interviews as they were spoken, not re-written from the ears and perspectives of the author, but literally transcribed to see the meanings and intention of the subjects, who were:

• Abdul Fadeel Al Kusi of the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt
• the Bin Laden brothers in Saudi Arabia
• Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah  in Lebanon
• Bedouin Prince in Lebanon
• Hezbollah Sheik Nabil Qaouk in Lebanon
• Mufti Abdul Fattah Al Bizem of Damascus, Syria
• Mufti Sheik Ekrima Sa'id Sabril of Jerusalem, Israel
• A leader in non-violence in Bethlehem, Israel
• A top leader of Hamas in the West Bank
• A leader of one of the 700 remaining Samaritans in Israel
• and many more, including taxi drivers and random people.

This is why I was so fascinated, because Jesus is known in Islam as being a great prophet - not the greatest prophet (who is Mohammed), but a good teacher. Many of His teachings are in the Quoran. This is why the story of the Good Samaritan is known throughout all of these groups. To read the views, thoughts, and perspectives of these Muslim leaders on a well-known teaching of Christ was fascinating. I'm not going to try to summarize it, because I can't.

Tea with Hezbollah gave me so much to think about, and I am thankful to have read it! Click on the link or the picture above to purchase it on Amazon - I highly recommend it!

Historic Peace Treaty between Israel and the UAE

Back in June, I talked about how Israel was supposed to annex Gaza and the West Bank on July 1. As time passed, I wondered what happened; why I wasn't reading stories saying "it happened". Then, last week, this incredible news was announced:

WOW!

The United Arab Emirates has become the 3rd Arab nation to strike a peace deal with Israel, the first being Egypt in 1967 and Jordan in 1994.

According to Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel, "Israel and the UAE have been working together in developing new methods to more efficiently combat COVID-19. As part of this new partnership, the two countries will share in trade, travel, tourism, and even technology." Behold Israel notes that while Palestine, Iran, and Turkey are against this peace deal, other Arab states support it (and might even follow with their own). In fact, one report I heard said that OMan will sign one in the next 2 weeks and Bahrain will follow (Bahrain has already picked out a building for an Israeli embassy!), Morocco, and then maybe even Saudi Arabia. Already Saudi Arabia is allowing Israeli flights to cross their airspace to get to the UAE. 

For more of the implications of this peace deal, you can watch Amir Tsarfati's update here:

What do you think of this historic event?

Israel to Annex the West Bank

In the past few weeks, a new BIG announcement has come from Israel, following the new government formation by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Benny Gantz: the plan to annex Israel's ancestral lands of Gaza and the West Bank by July 1.

This is a BIG deal, because it would mean that Israel would once again hold all of the land that was given to them by God in the Old Testament, and, as pointed out in this article, fit the Ezekiel's prophecy:

"For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.”

Ezekiel 36:24

This blows my mind, from a historical perspective. From the perspective I talked about here, I can't help but think of the Palestinian Arabs living in this region and what they are thinking/feeling. In light of what is going on in the States right now and knowing of the ongoing tension between Jews and Arabs in Israel, my continued prayer is for peace. Again, I do not feel qualified as an outsider to speak on this situation, but I know God has charged me to pray. So I will. And, as a student of history, continue to watch, wide-eyed at what is to come.

To see an excellent 25-minute short film on the Arab perspective, click here.