Tag Archives: Israel

President Obama Addresses Anti-Semitism At Synagogue Speech

President Obama addressed anti-Semitism during an address at the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington.

“Anti-Semitism is, and always will be, a threat to broader human values to which we all must aspire,” Obama said.  “And when we allow anti-Semitism to take root, then our souls are destroyed, and it will spread.”

The President reasserted America’s support for Israel.

“It would be a moral failing on the part of the US government and the American people, it would be a moral failing on my part if we did not stand up firmly, steadfastly not just on behalf of Israel’s right to exist, but its right to thrive and prosper,” Obama asserted.

The President added that it’s because of his belief in Israel’s right to exist that he has to be critical of some of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.

“I must object,” he said to applause in the Conservative synagogue. “Papering over hard questions,” he said, is “not a measure of true friendship.”

Although the President admitted “The Palestinians are not the easiest of partners.”

The President gave a glancing mention to his Iran nuclear negotiations which he called “necessary”.

“The deal that we already reached with Iran has already halted or rolled back parts of Iran’s nuclear program. Now we’re seeking a comprehensive solution,” he said, adding that “I will not accept a bad deal.  As I pointed out in my most recent article with Jeff Goldberg, this deal will have my name on it, so nobody has a bigger personal stake in making sure that it delivers on its promise.”

Largest Christian Pentecost Sunday Celebration In Israel Scheduled

A group is rushing to finish an 11,600 seat arena in Jerusalem to host what could be the biggest Christian Pentecost Sunday celebration in the history of Israel.

The workers said they know the event could be huge and that “the Christians are coming.”

Empowered21 Global Congress is organizing the event that is scheduled to run through the 25th.  Spirit-led leaders from around the world are coming to the Holy City such as Teen Mania founder Ron Luce and Samuel Rodriguez, Jr. of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

William M. Wilson of Oral Roberts University, co-chair of Empowered21, called the event a “landmark.”

“This is a pivotal moment in history for the global Spirit–empowered movement,” said Wilson in a statement. “The Impartation service, which will pass the mantel of the global Spirit–empowered movement on to the next generation, is of particular significance. Our prayer is that this service will be a catalyst, igniting the hearts and minds of young people from around the globe with the fire of God’s love and power.”

“The Global Congress will be a powerful time of worship and ministry for Spirit–empowered Christians from every continent,” noted Empowered21 global co–chair George O. Wood. “We anticipate many changed lives as thousands of Spirit–empowered Christians gather together to seek God and bless the Holy Land.”

The group is moving into the event after a weekend event in Amman, Jordan which drew 1,000 Christians from 15 different nations.

New Israel Government’s Top Priority: Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new cabinet in Jerusalem on Tuesday and vowed to fight Islamic extremists that he says are backed by the Iranian government.

“This government has been established at a time of great challenges and opportunities,” Netanyahu said. “Our first challenge is to ensure the security of Israel in the face of accumulating threats around us. Radical Islam is lapping at all our borders, nearly all in the form of factions and forces led by Iran and other radical elements.”

Netanyahu made a surprise allusion to Sunni-led Arab nations in the region in saying that Israel would seek partnerships against Iran in that country’s quest for nuclear weapons.

“Many states in the area have joint interests with us and see eye to with us on the dangers. We will make every effort to translate that partnership into peace,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also said that he would seek “a responsible political settlement with the Palestinians.”

Netanyahu also said Jerusalem would not return to a “divided and wounded” city.  The meeting of the new cabinet was held at the Israel Museum to celebrate Jerusalem Day and the 50th anniversary of the Museum.

Benjamin Netanyahu Finalizes Coalition Government

Israel’s Prime Minister has finalized his new coalition government.

The agreement comes seven weeks after Likud scored a victory in the election by a surprisingly large margin.  The PM obtained the support of the Bayit Yehudi party to give him the 61 seats necessary for control of the Knesset.

“I’m sure that no-one is surprised that these negotiations were lengthy,” Mr Netanyahu told a news conference.

“Time is of the essence, not only because I’m leaving now to call the president and the chairman of the Knesset (parliament) to tell them that I’ve managed to form a government, but also because we’ll need to form it by next week in order to give a strong and stable government.”

The leader of Bayit Yehudi demanded the justice ministry in return for support by the 8 MPs in their party.  Naftali Bennett is an opponent of the Palestinian state and also believes that settler communities in the West Bank should be expanded.

Netanyahu says that while he now has a majority, he will continue to expand the coalition if possible.

Minority of Americans Believe The President Strongly Supports Israel

A new survey shows that a majority of Americans believe the President of the United States should be a “strong supporter” of the nation of Israel, but only a minority believe the current President is a supporter.

The poll by Quinnipiac University said that 2 in 3 Americans believe that the President should be strongly supportive of Israel.  Only 20 percent said that the President should not be a supporter of the country.

Only 48% believe that President Obama is a strong supporter, although that is up from 42% from the poll taken in 2010.  The poll of 1,353 eligible voters ran from April 16th to the 21st.

The poll showed that younger demographics were less likely to believe the President should be a supporter of Israel.  Those over 55 had a 77% response rate to support for Israel to only 57% of those 18-34.

The political parties also showed a difference, with 87% of Republicans believing the President should be a strong supporter while only 56% of Democrats shared that view.

The poll also queried the voters about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The PM had a 38% favorable rating, 22% unfavorable and the remaining 37% said they did not know enough about him to make an opinion.  He was supported by 68% of Republicans in the poll and only 14% of Democrats.

The poll also showed that 62% do not believe the currently proposed deal with Iran over nuclear weapons would stop them from eventually developing a nuclear bomb.

Writing On Pottery Corroborates Jeremiah

A group of archaeologists have reported the discovery of writing on pottery shards which confirm the Biblical writings in Jeremiah.

The writing was found on pottery dating back to the First Temple Era.  The language used is Paelo-Hebrew, the language of ancient Israel.  The items in the largest collection of the First Temple era pottery dates back to 8 B.C.

“Among the personal names are those of the priestly families Pashur and Meremoth, both mentioned in the Bible. (Jeremiah 20:1; Ezra 8:33) Some of the letters were addressed to the commander of the citadel of Arad, Eliashiv ben Ashiyahu, and deal with the distribution of bread (flour), wine and oil to the soldiers serving in the fortresses of the Negev,” the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained. “Also, in one of the letters, the ‘house of YHWH’ is mentioned.”

“Scholars suggest that the King of Arad mentioned in the Bible was in fact the ruler of the Kingdom of Arad, ‘the Negev of Arad’ (Judges 1:16), whose capital was another city,” it adds.

The items were first discovered in 2000 and studies of the items are finding new writings and materials dating the items to Biblical times.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published a report last week saying the scholars had found the Jeremiah communications.

“Scholars have taken this as a confirmation of the biblical narrative of Jeremiah, which recounts that Azekah and Lachish were the last fortresses of Judah to fall before Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II,” the publication explains.

The Scripture referenced is Jeremiah 34:7, which reads, “When the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defensed cities remained of the cities of Judah.”

The scientists who continue the study of the items are based at Tel Aviv University.

Netanyahu Says World Hasn’t Learned Lesson

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told those attending the Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony that the world has not learned the lessons of the Holocaust.

Netanyahu used the current situation with Iran and nuclear negotiations as an example  of the world not learning lessons regarding appeasement of tyrannical regimes.

“Appeasing tyrannical regimes will only increase their aggression and is an approach that is liable to drag the world into larger wars,” he said.  “The bad deal with Iran signals that the lessons of the Holocaust have not been learned.”

The prime minister continued to say that even if the rest of the world bows down before Iran, Israel will stand alone.

“Even if we are forced to stand alone against Iran we will not fear. In every circumstance we will preserve our right and our ability to defend ourselves,” he added.

Netanyahu said that the world needs to protect the values of freedom and tolerance to ensure that humanity can be free.

Hamas Begins Using Heavy Machinery To Build Tunnels

Hamas is using heavy equipment and engineering equipment to quickly build a system of attack tunnels into Israel according to sources of the Times of Israel.

The terrorists are using small bulldozers that can be used to negotiate tight spaces.  Larger tractors are being used on the Israeli side of the tunnel.

The tunnels are being reinforced with wood because it’s difficult for Hamas to obtain all the concrete they need to build their planned tunnel network.  The terrorists routinely redirect shipments of concrete meant for rebuilding houses to tunnel construction.

Hamas is also working on a rocket system that would produce short-range missiles quickly because those are the missiles least likely to be shot down by Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system.

Israeli security forces have said they are aware of the tunnel construction but that when they investigated the tunnels ended just before entering Israeli territory.

Biblical Expert: Claims Of Jesus’ Burial Place Baseless

A Biblical scholar says that the recent claims of an Israeli activist that Jesus’ burial place was discovered in 1980 is “sensationalist” and baseless.

“I have been to the Talpiot Tomb and interviewed one of the archaeologists who excavated it in 1980. There is no evidence that Jesus or his family members were buried there, certainly not his supposed wife and son. Those behind this latest announcement traffic in sensationalism, not archaeology,” Scott Stripling, the chair of the Humanities and Foreign Language Department at Wharton County Junior College, and adjunct professor at Belhaven University (biblical archaeology and English) and The Bible Seminary (church history), told The Christian Post in a statement on Wednesday.

Several western media outlets have been promoting the claims of Aryeh Shimron who says that the evidence “could not be stronger” that Jesus was buried in that tomb, thus proving Christianity to be false.  Shimron has been working with television producer Simcha Jacobovici to produce shows claiming Christianity is false.

Stripling said the alleged “discoveries” are actually irrelevant because no one has disputed the tombs that were discovered date to near the first century A.D.

“The argument set forth by producer Simcha Jacobovici that the names of Jesus’ family, including his supposed wife, were found on the 10, or in the Shimron/Jacobovici view 11, ossuaries does not hold up under scrutiny,” Stripling said.

“First, some of the names are open to interpretation. Second, virtually every family in the first century had members with the names Jesus, Joseph, James, and Mary. There is abundant evidence which supports the Church of the Holy Sepulchure as the actual site of the culmination of the Passion of Jesus.”

Palestinian Stabs 2 Israeli Soldiers in West Bank

A Palestinian terrorist attacked two Israeli soldiers with a knife on Wednesday, stabbing two before he was killed by one of the wounded soldiers.

One of the soldiers is in critical condition after being wounded in the neck.  Both wounded soldiers remain hospitalized in Jerusalem.

The attack happened 30 miles north of Jerusalem in the town of Shilo.  The attacker came from the nearby Palestinian town of Sinjil.

While Israel endured a series of attacks last year during the Passover holiday season last year, this attack highlighted the overall lack of attacks this year.

Israeli leaders praised the wounded soldier who shot and killed the attacker for his bravery and quick response.

“This should be the fate of anyone who harms innocent Jews,” Cabinet Minister Naftali Bennett told reporters. “This is how such a serious incident must end.”