Friday, December 6, 2024

Egypt Reveals New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

by Smadar Peri ~ Ynetnews

Thursday, 5 December 2024 | Egypt proposes a new arrangement in Gaza following talks that were held at the Egyptian intelligence headquarters between Hamas and Palestinian Authority [PA] representatives. An Egyptian senior official has told Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth that the new plan includes a gradual cessation of fighting in Gaza with the Israeli side withdrawing from the Rafah crossing, resulting in a preliminary 60-day ceasefire.

About a week after the temporary ceasefire comes into effect, according to the Egyptian senior official, living Israeli hostages will be returned in exchange for hundreds of terrorists from Israeli prisons. During the 60-day ceasefire, Israel will maintain a military presence in Gaza. The proposal also deals with the possibility of Palestinian refugees returning to the northern Strip, as Hamas demands.

The Rafah crossing is expected to be managed and supervised by the PA. In previous proposals, Israel demanded to supervise the crossing via cameras. In addition, according to the senior Egyptian source, Hamas and the PA will establish a management committee, which will include about 10–15 “independent Palestinian political technocrats.” The committee will be supervised by US representatives.

The Egyptian source emphasized that the first 60 days will be designated as a pilot for both sides and that, if the plan holds, it will be “the end of the conflict between the parties.” As for practical feasibility, he claimed that “Hamas is demonstrating a positive attitude” and emphasized that the organization will agree to the establishment of a committee that will reactivate the crossings.

The goal is to reach an agreement before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. However, Hamas has yet to respond to the proposal and has not declared a change in its stance. As far as is known, the terrorist organization is still insisting on an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Trump wants a deal before the inauguration on January 20.

Qatar is also returning to center stage while Egypt is mediating a deal. Trump’s new envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani in an attempt to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage deal before the inauguration. Currently, there are still 100 hostages in Gaza, and many of them are considered to be alive.

A source involved in the talks told Reuters on Wednesday that Witkoff met Netanyahu and the Qatari prime minister at the end of November. The same source said that this shows that Qatar has in fact renewed its involvement as a key mediator, after announcing that it was ending its role last month. He said that the Hamas representatives are expected to return to Doha soon and organize another round of talks.

Witkoff met the Qatari prime minister on November 22 in Doha. “Both agreed that a ceasefire is needed before the inauguration and then we can move on to other issues, such as stabilizing Gaza and the region,” the source said. A day later, Witkoff met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Trump’s envoy also met with the hostages’ family members. “He spoke with them about the efforts of Trump’s team to reach a deal before the inauguration,” the source said.

According to the report, on November 24, two days later, al-Thani flew to Vienna and secretly met with Mossad [Israeli intelligence agency] chief David Barnea, who has been leading the negotiating efforts with Qatar for the past 14 months. “There are plans for another round, but no dates have been set yet,” he said. In an interview with the British network Sky News, the Qatari prime minister said that Trump wants to reach a deal before he takes office, expressing cautious optimism.

A senior Israeli official said earlier this week that if the terror organization agrees to a symbolic expulsion of Hamas leaders from Gaza, it might be possible to reach a deal that includes ending the war.

But despite the cautious optimism in Israel, senior Hamas officials said that they are “waiting for a change in the Israeli position.” Hamas is still standing by its demands: a cessation of fighting, the full withdrawal of the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] from Gaza, a promise to rebuild the Strip and the introduction of intensive aid. On the other hand, Fatah [leading secular Palestinian party] officials who are discussing the “day after” with Hamas and Islamic Jihad said that there has been progress regarding Hamas’s consent to the joint committee to manage the Gaza Strip.

Source: (Excerpt from an article originally published by Ynetnews on December 5, 2024. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jette Carr/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for the strength within the Israeli government to stand firm in the face of extreme pressure to accept Hamas’s demands for a release of terrorists in exchange for Israeli hostages and to gain control of the Rafah crossing, which will allow them to rearm. Pray that any pressure the Biden administration is exerting in the way of withholding arms shipments will be overridden by Congress and the weapons released.

Scripture

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.

- Isaiah 41:10–11

Israel Must Prepare for Potential Emergence of Sunni Jihadist Threat on its Border

by Ron Ben-Yishai ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 | The surprise attack by Sunni rebels in Aleppo is likely strongly tied to the ceasefire between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah terror group. The rebels, supported by Turkey, have maintained control of Syria’s northern Idlib province after the Assad regime, with help from Russia and Iran, expelled them from most of the country. In Idlib, they regrouped, united splinter Sunni factions, and continued their fight.

The turning point came when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah launched his war against Israel on October 8, 2023, prompting Iran to intensify its support for its proxy, especially in recent months.

To disrupt Iranian assistance to Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] reportedly carried out approximately 70 airstrikes in Syria, targeting not only arms routes along the Lebanese border but also warehouses and installations belonging to Hezbollah and other Shiite militias across the country.

These militias, alongside Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have been instrumental in propping up the Assad regime and fighting the insurgents in Idlib.

While Russia is considered Assad’s primary military ally, its forces primarily provide air support, which has proven insufficient to push the insurgents back or inflict significant casualties on them.

Damascus needs ground forces, a role traditionally filled by the IRGC and Syrian Shiite militias commanded by Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah is currently severely weakened and unable to assist Assad’s small and poorly armed military. Over the past year, these forces have been preoccupied with aiding Hezbollah in Lebanon and launching attacks on Israel from within Syria.

The repeated Israeli strikes have likely enabled the rebels to regroup, and with Turkish support, they launched their offensive. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, an ardent Sunni Islamist, controls territory bordering Idlib province and supplies the rebels with arms.

While Turkey has sought to repair relations with Assad’s regime, Erdoğan appears unwilling to miss the opportunity presented by Damascus’ weakness following the war in Lebanon. For Erdoğan, religious motivations seem to outweigh Turkey’s national security considerations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consulted with security officials to assess the implications of the surprise attack in northern Syria. Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, holds immense economic significance, potentially rivaling Damascus. The region is also home to Syria’s largest military-industrial facilities.

In the short term, the attack may have a positive impact on Israel’s security. Assad, in his weakened state, is likely to avoid confrontation with Israel, recognizing that Hezbollah cannot come to his aid. Should the IRGC deploy forces in Syria, they would likely become targets for IDF strikes, further weakening Assad’s regime and military capacity.

Assad, therefore, will be in no rush to bring Iranian forces into Syria or allow his territory to be used extensively for transferring military equipment and logistical support to Hezbollah in Lebanon. He is focused on preserving his regime, and a military confrontation with Israel could further weaken his already fragile armed forces. Netanyahu explicitly warned Assad of such consequences in a recent interview.

Russia’s primary interest is to stabilize the Assad regime to enable its companies to profit from reconstruction projects after Syria’s devastating civil war. However, as long as the insurgency persists, such rebuilding efforts cannot proceed, making an escalation with Israel counterproductive to Moscow’s goals. Additionally, Russia’s involvement in the war in Ukraine limits its capacity to assist Assad as it once did.

In the short term, Assad is likely to tread carefully. He will aim to maintain ties with Iran, which he still relies on, while avoiding actions that could provoke devastating Israeli strikes on his military. For now, he may permit limited assistance to Hezbollah to pass through Syria, though not on the scale of previous years.

Looking ahead, Israel must remain vigilant. While Assad’s weakening benefits Israel in some respects, the Sunni insurgents also pose a significant threat. Hamas exemplifies the dangers of Sunni jihadism [jihad—“struggle,” war with unbelievers (in Islam)], and if Assad’s regime collapses and Sunni insurgents gain control of Syria, Israel could face an even greater security challenge.

For now, the insurgents’ offensive appears to weaken not only Assad but also Iran and Hezbollah. This dynamic may even push Assad toward seeking renewed ties with the West and moderate Sunni Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Nonetheless, Israel must prepare for the potential emergence of a Sunni jihadist threat on its northeastern border.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on November 30, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Qasioun News Agency/screenshot/Youtube/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for Israel’s military leaders responsible for security on its northern border with Syria, specifically IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi and Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, head of the Northern Command. Pray also for the brigade commanders of all military leaders down to the unit commanders who are leading their men in this fight for Israel’s security. Pray that they will learn the enemy’s plans before they can be carried out and cause their defeat in order to make the area safe for the return of Israeli residents who have been evacuated for over one year.

Scripture

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

- Joshua 1:9

Paraguay to Reopen its Embassy in Jerusalem

by JNS

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 | Paraguayan President Santiago Peña will travel to Jerusalem next week to attend the reopening of the South American country’s embassy in the Jewish state’s capital, Knesset [parliament] Speaker Amir Ohana said on Tuesday.

The delegation will also include the speaker of Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies—Raúl Luís Latorre Martinez—and other senior officials.

Peña is scheduled to address the parliament on the morning of December 11, followed by a Knesset ceremony with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

The reopening of Paraguayan’s diplomatic mission will take place the next day at the Har Hotzvim industrial park in northwestern Jerusalem.

“About three months ago, I had the honor of inaugurating the Israeli embassy in Paraguay,” Ohana said in comments cited by Hebrew media. “In a moving ceremony, we affixed the mezuzah [scripture box affixed to a doorway] from the house where Sivan Elkabetz and Naor Hasidim were murdered on October 7 [2023].”

“Next week, we will close a circle. Paraguay’s president will inaugurate the embassy in Jerusalem. Shimon, Sivan’s father; Avi, Naor’s father; and Elhanan Danino—the father of Uri, who was kidnapped from the Nova party and was murdered—will attend,” stated the lawmaker.

“Avi and Elhanan joined me on my recent visit to Paraguay, and like me, they felt the president’s embracing and sympathetic attitude towards the State of Israel and support for its existential struggle,” he concluded.

The embassy move, which had been planned before the start of the war against Hamas, is a diplomatic boon for Israel at a time when it has faced opprobrium [harsh criticism] over the conflict triggered by the October 7 assault.

Paraguay first moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, following then-President Donald Trump’s lead. It became the third country to do so after the US and Guatemala. However, months later, the mission was returned to Tel Aviv, setting off a diplomatic crisis.

During his campaign last year, Peña pledged to return the embassy to Jerusalem. “The State of Israel recognizes Jerusalem as its capital. The seat of the parliament is in Jerusalem, the president is in Jerusalem. So who are we to question where they establish their own capital?” he said.

Ohana inaugurated Israel’s reopened embassy in Asunción on September 18. The two parliaments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation, and Martinez gave Ohana a top congressional award.

Landlocked Paraguay has a long history of friendship with Israel, dating back to its vote for the establishment of the Jewish state at the UN.

Trump’s landmark decision in 2018 set the stage for other countries to follow suit in the following years, with additional nations expected to make similar announcements after a delay caused by the Hamas war.

Five countries currently have their embassies in Israel’s capital: the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo and Papua New Guinea. All of the other countries that have ties with Israel maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv or the Tel Aviv-area suburbs due to the political sensitivities over the city that is holy to multiple religions.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on December 3, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for this decision of the Paraguayan government to reopen its embassy in Jerusalem. Pray that they will be the first of many other governments who will also decide to acknowledge that the God of Israel has chosen the city of Jerusalem above all other cities and lands.

Scripture

He [God] makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.

- Job 12:23

UN Approves Major Conference in Push for Palestinian State

by Mike Wagenheim ~ JNS

Thursday, 5 December 2024 | An Israeli diplomat accused the United Nations [UN] of fixation on anti-Israel resolutions brought by the world’s worst human rights abusers just hours before the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution approving a high-level conference in support of the two-state solution.

On Tuesday, the General Assembly voted by a 157–8 margin, with seven abstentions, in favor of holding a conference in June 2025 aimed at adopting “an action-oriented outcome document” to “urgently chart an irreversible pathway towards the peaceful settlement” of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the implementation of a Palestinian state.

Argentina, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the United States voted no. Cameroon, Czechia, Ecuador, Georgia, Paraguay, Ukraine and Uruguay abstained.

The text of the conference was annexed to a seven-page resolution condemning Israeli community-building beyond the so-called Green Line, and into eastern Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. It also rejects any demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip and urges a Palestinian state to be formed along the 1949 armistice lines.

The Australian government, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, continued to break from its long-held positions on the conflict, voting in favor of the resolution and increasing tensions between Jerusalem and Canberra. Australia has voted no or abstained on matters of Palestinian statehood since 2001.

“A two-state solution remains the only hope of breaking the endless

cycle of violence—the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples,” James Larsen, Australia’s UN ambassador, said before the vote.

Just a day earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar summoned Australian Ambassador Ralph King for a formal reprimand, dressing him down for Australia’s refusal to issue a visa to Ayelet Shaked, a former Israeli minister.

Sa’ar told King that the decision was “based on baseless blood libels spread by the pro-Palestinian lobby” and was contrary to the values of democracy, free speech and friendship shared by the two countries.

Canada, long an ally of Israel at the UN, continued its backpedaling under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“The dynamics in the broader region show very clearly that conflict management, as opposed to genuine conflict resolution, is not, in fact, a sustainable path to peace, security and prosperity,” Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the UN, said on Wednesday before the vote.

Rae conceded that the resolution should have struck a more balanced tone, but Ottawa is focusing on the viability of a Palestinian state. The ruling Liberals had voted against similar resolutions for nearly a decade.

Hungary was the only European country that voted with Israel.

‘Laid bare for all to see’

Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly, the Israeli UN mission’s political coordinator, chided the General Assembly on Tuesday for its debate and planned adoptions of multiple resolutions this week based on a “reckless disregard for the truth.”

She said that the Hamas-led massacre of 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the current regional crisis, “laid bare for all to see” the world body’s “entrenched anti-Israeli bias.”

She said the terrorist attacks on Jewish communities, including murder, rape, torture and hostage-taking, remain insufficiently addressed by the UN while it takes up resolutions from the likes of Cuba, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela.

If these actors “were truly interested in bringing solutions to the war-torn region, they would abandon their obsessive efforts to delegitimize Israel,” said Ben-Naftaly, and instead focus on freeing the hostages, ending Hamas’s rule in Gaza and halting the widespread looting by the terror group of humanitarian aid meant for Palestinians in the Strip.

“Hamas abuses UN funds to sustain their terrorist activities—a fact that goes unmentioned in the reports and resolutions debated this week in these halls,” said Ben-Naftali, urging the UN to hold Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and other terror organizations responsible for the region’s chaos and destruction.

The high-level conference included in the resolution is scheduled to be held in New York, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on Tuesday during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said that France will recognize a Palestinian state, but only “at a useful moment.”

He expressed hope that the summit would also include discussions about taking into account Israel’s security.

The General Assembly on Tuesday adopted resolutions demanding Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights and providing resources to the UN Division for Palestinian Rights, which oversees the organizing of meetings and conferences promoting boycotts, sanctions and delegitimization of Israel.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on December 4, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images /jns.org

Prayer Focus
Intercede on Israel’s behalf against this blatant attempt by the United Nations to divide and take away the land God gave to Abraham and his descendants “forever.” Pray that those nations who voted against this resolution will continue to stand firmly on the side of Israel. Pray for a change in nations that previously supported Israel but are now voting against her. Proclaim that the word of the Lord will stand and the actions of the nations who oppose that word will be brought to nothing.

Scripture

Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance.”

- 1 Chronicles 16:15–18

IDF Forces Iranian Plane Suspected of Carrying Hezbollah Weapons to Turn Back

by Yoav Zitun and Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Monday, 2 December 2024 | The Israel Defense Forces [IDF] ordered an Iranian plane suspected of carrying weapons for Hezbollah and scheduled to land in Syria, to turn around and head eastward, according to a report on Sunday.

The Israeli Air Force [IAF] led the operation against the Iranian plane, with the key difference being the location—Syria, not Lebanon. Israeli fighter jets circled near the Iranian aircraft, in a threatening posture indicating they would shoot it down.

A “letter of assurances,” part of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, stated that “the US is committed to working with Israel to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities in Lebanon, including preventing the transfer of weapons, proxies and other materials from Iranian territory.”

Meanwhile, the IDF continued operating in Lebanon, citing “actions that threatened Israel and violated the ceasefire agreement.” According to the IDF, paratroopers from the 98th Brigade identified armed terrorists near a church in southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah had used as a terrorist infrastructure. The soldiers fired and eliminated them.

The slain terrorists were involved in ground defense, anti-tank and artillery operations in the region and had participated in fighting while using the church. After eliminating the terrorists, the IDF searched the area around the church and found a weapons cache in a pit.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz who met on Sunday at the induction center with new recruits in the Armored Corps, addressed the recent developments in Syria and the northern ceasefire agreement.

“We are constantly monitoring developments in Syria,” Netanyahu said. “We are determined to protect Israel’s vital interests and preserve the achievements of the war. In this regard, we are strictly enforcing the ceasefire agreement, and any violation will be met with a decisive response from the IDF. That’s how it’s been, and that’s how it will continue. We will maintain Israel’s security.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on December 1, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Bill Wilt/Flickr.com

Photo License: Flickr

Prayer Focus
Pray for the continued intelligence that alerts Israel about specific details of any attempts to smuggle weapons into one of Iran’s proxies. Pray that those who provide this information to Israel will be protected and kept from discovery by the Iranian regime. Give thanks that this plane was prevented from delivering arms that would have been used against the IDF in Lebanon.

Scripture

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His…He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

- Daniel 2:20, 22

Hamas, PA Officials Leave Cairo without Agreement on ‘Day After’ in Gaza

by JNS

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 | Palestinian Authority [PA] and Hamas representatives have left Egypt without signing an expected agreement on joint management of the Gaza Strip after the war with Israel, multiple sources reported on Tuesday night.

Earlier on Tuesday, negotiators from both sides told Agence France Presse that Hamas and the PA’s ruling Fatah Party [leading secular Palestinian political party] were close to creating a committee of up to 15 “nonpartisan” Palestinians who would administer the enclave. The officials claimed the plan would follow a truce deal with Jerusalem.

The draft agreement, a copy of which was seen by the press agency, states that the committee would administer the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing with Egypt.

However, senior PA official Jibril Rajoub was quoted as telling reporters in Ramallah on Tuesday that he did not favor any agreement to create separate political systems in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria.

“What committee is this? It is wrong to even discuss this issue,” said Rajoub. “We want one government, one security apparatus and one unified policy. Any discussion or effort outside of this framework is a mistake.”

Meanwhile, a Palestinian source familiar with the talks told Sky News Arabia on Tuesday evening that “there are still obstacles to signing the agreement, including the ‘security file’ and the crossings of Gaza.”

The source claimed that Hamas is trying to ensure that members of both its civil and military apparatus would continue to receive salaries after the PA-led committee assumed control of the coastal enclave.

The delegations, led by Turkey-based Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad, reportedly left to formulate their responses to the Egyptian draft.

An Egyptian source had previously claimed that Hamas was willing to accept that it would not be the sole ruler in Gaza, in light of Cairo’s demand that PA control be restored to advance a possible two-state solution.

On September 25, PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced that Fatah had agreed to sit down with Hamas in Egypt. Mustafa said the discussion would focus on forging initial deals “to arrange the situation” in Gaza. He expressed his “readiness to administer the Gaza Strip the day after the war without excluding anyone,” local media reported.

In July, Hamas and Fatah announced a unity deal following talks in Beijing. The declaration was approved by 14 terrorist factions that took part in negotiations hosted by Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister.

“Today, we sign an agreement, and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity,” Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk said at the time. “We are committed to national unity, and we call for it.”

The US State Department, which has been pushing for PA control over the Strip after the war, has rejected a government that includes Hamas.

“Hamas has long been a terrorist organization. They have the blood of innocent civilians—both Israeli and Palestinian—on their hands,” State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington in July. “There can’t be a role for a terrorist organization.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that an “effective and revitalized PA” should govern Gaza—a move that Israel rejects because of Ramallah’s overt support for terrorism.

Jerusalem vehemently rejects Hamas and PA rule over the Strip, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favoring a transfer of control to local bodies not considered hostile to the Jewish state.

Netanyahu said during an interview that aired on May 9 that Israel is seeking to establish a rule “by Gazans who are not committed to our destruction, possibly with the aid of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other countries that I think want to see stability and peace.”

According to recent polls of Palestinian public opinion, 89% of Palestinians support establishing a government that includes or is led by Hamas. Only 8.5% said they favor an authority that is controlled exclusively by the Fatah faction.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on December 4, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Emad Nassar/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray that Prime Minister Netanyahu will seek wisdom from God to know how to negotiate this complex situation with integrity and understanding. Pray that the Lord will confuse leaders of the PA and Hamas as they attempt to forge an agreement without the consent of Israel and without concern for the security of the residents of southern Israeli communities.

Scripture

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

- Proverbs 3:5–6

Trump: ‘Hell to Pay’ if Hostages not Released by Inauguration Day

by Andrew Bernard ~ JNS

Tuesday, 3 December 2024 | US President-elect Donald Trump vowed consequences for Hamas on Monday if the terror group did not release its hostages before inauguration day.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said that there had been “all talk, no action” to free the captives so far.

“If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume office as president of the US, there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity,” Trump wrote.

“Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the US of America,” he added. “Release the hostages now.”

Jerusalem believes that 97 of the 251 hostages taken during the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, remain in Gaza after 423 days. Hamas is also holding two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two Israeli soldiers killed during “Operation Protective Edge” in 2014.

Trump’s statement demanding the release of hostages comes on the same day that the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] revealed that Omer Neutra, an Israeli–American serving in the IDF who was previously thought to have been taken alive, was killed on October 7 and that Hamas continues to hold his body in the Gaza Strip.

It also follows Trump’s meeting on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s older son, Yair, and the prime minister’s wife, Sara, at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Trump has previously indicated through surrogates that he wants a ceasefire-for-hostage deal to be completed by the time he takes office, but Monday’s statement is one of the most direct such calls the president-elect has made and the clearest indication that he would demand consequences if a deal fails to materialize.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Trump’s message on Monday. “Thank you and bless you Mr. President-elect Donald Trump,” Herzog wrote. “We all pray for the moment we see our sisters and brothers back home.”

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on December 2, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Mendy Hechtman/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Continue to cry out to God, who is able to deliver the hostages from the barbaric conditions under which they have been held for so long by Hamas. Pray that He will use the strong voice of President-elect Trump to cause Hamas to fear the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Pray that God will continue to strengthen and comfort the hostages.

Scripture

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men.

- Psalm 59:1–2

Report: Antisemitic Incidents in Australia Quadruple

by Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 3 December 2024 | Antisemitic incidents in Australia surged to alarming levels over the past year, with 2,062 documented cases between October 2023 and September 2024, according to a report by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). This marks a fourfold increase from the 495 incidents reported the previous year, excluding the wave of antisemitic vitriol on social media.

The report details a grim reality for Jewish communities across Australia. Anti-Israel protests erupted outside synagogues and Jewish schools, chants filled with hatred echoing through the streets. Jewish-owned businesses became sites of harassment and intimidation, homes were defaced with hateful graffiti, and physical assaults on Jewish individuals multiplied. Verbal abuse has become a daily hazard for many.

The ECAJ attributed the spike to the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas militants in Israel, which it described as a “sinister catalyst.” Supporters of Hamas in Australia intensified their hostility against local Jewish communities, many of whom strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself.

The report also criticized the tepid response from political leaders, university officials, and civil society figures, stating that their inaction allowed antisemitism to escalate from rhetoric to violence. “Except for a few notable exceptions, the reaction has been lukewarm at best,” the council stated.

“If anyone thought that anti-Jewish racism was a relic of the past, the past year has proved otherwise,” the ECAJ declared. “Antisemitism has been reignited for political purposes. Without decisive action from governments and law enforcement, attacks on Jews, their families, and community spaces will only increase. It’s time to end these hate crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The ECAJ’s findings were echoed by similar trends in New Zealand, where antisemitic incidents rose even more dramatically. The report calls for urgent action to counter the growing wave of anti-Jewish hatred across the region.

In Germany, Fear Lurks in the Shadows of Jewish Life

The storm of antisemitism has not been confined to Australia—it has swept across the globe since October 7 and the war that followed. In Germany, a survey conducted by the Central Council of Jews reveals a haunting reality: the attack and its aftermath have profoundly shaken Jewish communities.

Respondents in Germany spoke of an atmosphere thick with hostility, fear of violence and a chilling sense of vulnerability. Many have chosen to erase public markers of their Jewish identity, concealing who they are to avoid becoming targets. According to the survey, 75% of respondents admitted they no longer feel safe.

A Jewish man in Germany shared a heart-wrenching reflection: “The sharp rise in antisemitism terrifies me. I no longer show publicly that I am Jewish. Most of my family was murdered in the Holocaust, and I never imagined that, as a Jew, I would have to hide again in Germany.”

For many, Jewish culture and faith remain a source of solace and unity. “The importance of Jewish culture and religion creates a space of togetherness and security. This includes the deep connection to the State of Israel,” stated Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

The survey also revealed unwavering support for Israel within the Jewish community. A commanding 87% of respondents agreed—either fully or somewhat—with the statement, “Regardless of the actions of the Israeli government, I support Israel.” Additionally, 78% believed that “all Jews must support Israel.” However, 33% admitted they sometimes struggle to support Israel unconditionally. Even so, two-thirds disagreed—either strongly or somewhat—with such reservations.

The Central Council vowed to continue its fight “against the demonization of Israel on Germany’s streets and the negative portrayal of Israel in German public opinion.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on December 2, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Yonderboy/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia.org

Prayer Focus
Cry out to God on behalf of His chosen people who are facing increasing acts of violence not only in Australia and Germany but around the world. Pray that many Jewish people will recognize the signs of the times and immigrate to Israel—the Land that God gave them through a covenantal promise to Abraham. Pray for opportunities to support and stand with the Jewish people in your community.

Scripture

O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

- Psalm 74:10

‘I’ll Never be the Same Kid I Was’: Munder Family’s Lives One Year after Release from Captivity

by Yael Ciechanover, Ziv Koren ~ Ynetnews

Friday, 29 November 2024 | Three generations of the Munder family were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 last year: Avraham and Ruti, residents of the kibbutz, along with their daughter Keren and her son Ohad, who had come from Kfar Saba to visit for the Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles] holiday.

Keren’s brother, Roi, was murdered that day. Ruti, Keren and 10-year-old Ohad were released a year ago in the hostage release deal, while 79-year-old Avraham remained in Gaza. In August, his body was discovered in a tunnel in Khan Younis, recovered and returned to Israel, where he was laid to rest in the kibbutz [collective community] he called home.

Ohad Munder Zachri, now only ten years old, describes adjusting to a new normal. Old habits and hobbies have been left behind. “I’ll never be the same kid I was. I don’t go to school as much. I’ve also temporarily stopped attending the gifted students program. It’s hard for me to stay home alone, something I used to love,” he shares.

“We marked the day we returned—it’s a significant day for me. I returned from captivity, the most horrific and impactful experience of my life,” Ohad continues. Reflecting on the past year, he adds, “This year has been incredibly complex.” He spent his ninth birthday on October 23, 2023, in Hamas captivity, a day when many Israelis flew balloons across the country in his honor.

Keren recounts that even after returning from Gaza with her son, finding moments of peace has been difficult. “I felt I needed to bring color and light into our home, so we decided to renovate. It was something to hold onto during those tough days waiting for my father,” she shares.

“There’s nothing we used to do regularly that we continue to do the same way. And if we do, it’s without the same joy. Nothing has healed—returning from captivity as only three out of the family, losing a brother and a father in this ongoing war and so many from the Nir Oz community where I grew up, many of whom feel like family.

“When we returned, I was surprised by the reception in Israel,” she admits. “The level of attention, the extended family’s detailed attention. But even now, I still can’t fathom the failure that took place that Saturday along the border fence,” she adds.

“The massive blow to Kibbutz Nir Oz, which continues with a third of the hostages still being members of the kibbutz.”

When it comes to dreams for the future, Keren and Ohad imagine a different reality—one where the hostages return home and their community finally begins to truly heal. “We’re still at war, worrying about the soldiers fighting bravely and the hostages whose return we demand.”

“I want to live a safe life in this country. Lawmakers must act with the well-being of all its citizens in mind—and above all, those children, civilians and soldiers who were violently and cruelly abducted to Gaza.

“They’re in there without protection, stripped of their rights and their lives have been in real danger for nearly 14 months. This must end before we lose them all inside the rubble. I want to close my eyes and wake up to the news that everyone is coming back. Only then can we turn to commemorating our loved ones,” Keren explains.

“Kibbutz Nir Oz will rise again with substantial state assistance after the state failed to protect us, so my mother and others can return to live there safely,” she says. “There’s so much to rebuild in the south and north and even more in people’s hearts. We deserve leadership that gives our children hope.”

Ohad concludes: “I want there to be a ceasefire, for all the hostages to come back safely, for all the soldiers to return safely and for Israel to be a country of peace.”

Source: (Excerpt of an article originally published by Ynetnews on November 28, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Chenspec/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: wikimedia.org

Prayer Focus
Pray for all those in Israel who have been traumatized by the events of October 7, 2023, and the war that followed. Pray that they will receive healing and comfort from the Lord and from the community that surrounds them. Ask the Lord to give them hope in the midst of despair.

Scripture

…to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…

- Isaiah 61:3a

Natural Allies: Iranians Reject Regime’s Anti-Israel Policies

by Saeed Ghasseminejad, Janatan Sayeh ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 3 December 2024 | In the annals of history, few relationships are as paradoxical today as that between Iran and Israel. Once natural allies bound by a rich tapestry of shared history and mutual respect, the two countries now stand on opposing sides of a deep ideological chasm.

The Islamic Republic’s hostility toward Israel is not only a departure from Iran’s historical norms but also a strategic blunder that undermines Iran’s national interests. Consequently, many Iranians view Israel as a potential ally in their quest to bring down the clerical regime and transform their nation.

Amid the wave of anti-Israel protests across the West since Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, Iranians stood out as perhaps the only Middle Eastern diaspora [Iranians living outside Iran] to express solidarity with Israelis confronting rising antisemitism. Iranian activists in major cities throughout the United States and Europe marched side by side with Jewish communities, demonstrating their support for Israel in its struggle against Tehran’s terrorist proxies.

Many Iranians, particularly the youth, have voiced growing frustration with the Islamic Republic’s ideology and foreign policy in recent years. Economic hardship, political repression, international isolation and Tehran’s regional aggression drive dissent, as exemplified by slogans like “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, my life for Iran” during the 2009 Green Movement and “Death to Palestine” in 2018. After the October massacre, soccer fans echoed similar anti-Palestinian chants in Tehran. These are not expressions of xenophobia but demands for a reorientation of national priorities.

Iran’s third generation since the 1979 Islamic Revolution—comprising Gen Z and millennials—has firmly embraced a pro-Israel stance. In October 2023, this shift became evident when students, protesting school administrators who sought to force them into chanting “Death to Israel,” defiantly reversed the slogan to “Death to Palestine”. Similarly, students at Tehran University made a powerful symbolic stand when they refused to walk over a painted Israeli flag on the floor.

Various surveys conducted by both Iranian and international pollsters consistently show that most Iranians oppose the Islamic Republic’s antisemitic and anti-Western foreign policy. Considering the regime’s tight control and the population’s fear of reprisals, polling in Iran may be unreliable, yet these findings have remained remarkably consistent over time.

For example, a poll commissioned by Israel’s Foreign Ministry and conducted by the Paris-based Ipsos Group in 2022 showed that a majority of Iranians support better relations with Israel and condemn the regime’s backing of terrorist organizations. Similarly, a 2021 study by the Netherlands-based Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran research foundation revealed that most Iranians reject the regime’s “Death to Israel” rhetoric.

The history of Iranian–Jewish relations reveals a sharp contrast between the pre-Islamic and post-Islamic eras. In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire liberated Jewish exiles from Babylon, earning him praise in the Hebrew Bible. His policies of religious tolerance and cultural inclusivity allowed diverse communities, including Jews, to flourish under Persian rule. This golden era gave way to hardship in post-Islamic Iran, where Persian Jews endured persecution, particularly under Qajar rule, as Shia clergy incited pogroms and forced conversions.

The Pahlavi dynasty sought to restore the principles of Iran’s pre-Islamic heritage with secular reforms and modernization. Iran was the second Muslim-majority nation to recognize Israel, establishing diplomatic relations in 1950. The two countries forged robust ties in trade, intelligence and military cooperation. Israeli engineers helped develop Iranian infrastructure, while Iran supplied Israel’s energy needs. The relationship was pragmatic, mutually beneficial and rooted in a shared apprehension of hostile Arab nationalism and Islamism.

Yet the 1979 Revolution marked a dramatic shift in Iran–Israel relations. Under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic’s first supreme leader, Israel was recast as an enemy of Islam. The regime severed ties with Israel, turned its embassy into a Palestinian mission and targeted Jewish figures like businessman and philanthropist Habib Elghanian, whose execution in 1979 under the trumped-up charges of espionage for Israel sent a chilling message to Iran’s Jewish community.

As Iranians endure the oppressive reign of the Islamic Republic, it is difficult for them not to reflect on the significant role Palestinians played in supporting the 1979 Revolution. During that time, a range of Islamist and leftist factions in Iran—among them the Khomeinists and the Islamo-Marxist Mojahedin-e Khalq—received training and military support from fighters of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Just days after the revolution succeeded, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat arrived in Tehran to celebrate the triumph alongside Khomeini.

It is in this context that the exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi traveled to Israel in 2023, breaking a taboo, met with Israeli prime minister and president and brought the message of peace and friendship on behalf of many Iranians.

Iranians increasingly recognize that Iran and Israel share common interests: Both are non-Arab states in a largely Arab region, both have historical grievances with Islamic extremism and both stand to benefit from regional stability. As the memory of ancient bonds and mutual respect persists, many Iranians are realizing that their future prosperity lies not in isolation, but in embracing natural allies.

Saeed Ghasseminejad is a senior Iran and financial economics advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD); Janatan Sayeh, who is Jewish, is a research analyst. Both were born and raised in Iran.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on December 3, 2024. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Blondinrikard Fröberg/Flickr.org

Photo License: Flickr.org

Prayer Focus
Pray for strengthening of the historic bond of friendship between the Iranian people and Israel. Pray for a grass-roots movement within Iran to succeed in overthrowing the current regime that seeks Israel’s annihilation. Pray for the underground church in Iran, that it would grow and many Iranians would come to love and serve the God of Israel.

Scripture

“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

- Isaiah 56:6–7