Hamas: No Recognition of Israel

{image_1} A key official with Hamas told the Palestinian Ma’an News Agency that they would be willing to accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 lines—regarding the West Bank [Judea and Samaria], East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—but that they would not recognize Israel. Comments by Mahmoud al-Zahar, cofounder of Hamas, to Ma’an radio imply that, for Hamas, the creation of a Palestinian state could result in a long-term truce with Israel, but would not lead to permanent peace with Israel. Zahar said that formally recognizing Israel would threaten to prevent millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants from coming to Israel as well as “cancel the right of the next generations to liberate the lands [presumably the rest of Israel].”

The Mysterious, but Loyal Druze:  Druze Rice

{image_1} Since Israel gained statehood in 1948, the Jewish people have returned to their native soil in waves, bringing millions into the Land from all over the world. Israel is not just a country, but a national and religious homeland. After thousands of years of forced exile, the freedom to make aliyah (immigration) is the answer to the millennia-old collective cry of the Jewish heart. Israel has, indeed, become a melting pot with over 120 nationalities represented among its citizenry, and over 80 languages spoken among them.

On the Lighter Side…Meir’s Shleppers

{image_1} There are more volunteers per capita in Israel than anywhere else on the face of the earth, but the enterprising volunteer project started by 26-year-old Meir Partosh provides a truly unique service. Every Thursday (when most people do their Sabbath shopping), he and a small army of high school students ply the Machane Yehuda open market in Jerusalem, offering to help elderly shoppers carry their unwieldy market baskets to the bus stop or the car—and sometimes, even all the way home.

Israeli Robots Do It All

{image_1} Open your imagination, and you might just find some lifesaving, time-saving, and entertaining robotics invention that has already been invented in Israel. Many of the advances in this science fiction-inspired field are based on the kind of real-world computer programming and artificial intelligence at which Israeli researchers excel.

British Muslims Support Israel

{image_1} Israel has a somewhat unexpected new set of supporters—British Muslims for Israel (BMFI). The independent grassroots initiative, founded in 2011, describes itself on its Web site as a “Muslim pro-Israel advocacy group based in the United Kingdom,” saying they are “representing moderate Muslims and advocating democracy and liberty in the Middle East.”

Pope Exonerates the Jews for the Death of Jesus

{image_1} When it comes to the great debate on who was responsible for the death of Jesus, the Lord took that decision on Himself. “No one has taken it [My life] away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father” (John 10:18, NASB).

Yemin Orde: A Home for Life

{image_1} The first week of December 2010, a raging fire, lasting 82 hours, swept across the Carmel mountain range overlooking Haifa. Yemin Orde, a youth village which is home to 500 Israeli students, was directly in its path and was quickly evacuated. Staff returned but when they saw a fire ball approaching, they too left with the feeling that everything would be burned down. In the end, 40% of the buildings were destroyed, including two dozen houses (for 58 staff members), classrooms, the library, and dormitories. For a month, students were housed elsewhere.

Understanding the Bible

{image_1} Of the 66 books in the Christian Bible, 39 (Genesis–Malachi) are called the Tanach by the Jewish people. Tanach is an acronym for three Hebrew words: Torah (Gen.–Deut.), Neviim (Prophets), and Kotvim (historical and poetry books, sometimes referred to as Writings). Written in Hebrew and Aramaic (the book of Daniel), they comprise the Bible of Yeshua (Jesus), the disciples, and the early Church.

Netanyahu Speaks Out

On September’s UN Discussion of Palestinian Statehood

{image_1} “We will stand for our principles and fight those who try to dictate terms that would strip us of security and peace…We have been steadfast these two years, making sure that any peace agreement brings with it a secure, safe peace, not just peace on paper, but a sustainable peace. I have set two core principles to that effect: the first—Palestinian recognition in the State of Israel as the Jewish people's homeland, and the second—real security arrangements on the ground.”

Missile Attack on School Bus Dismissed

{image_1} An anti-tank missile was fired at an Israeli school bus on April 7 from the Gaza Strip by Hamas just minutes after dozens of children had gotten off. The one child left on the bus was critically injured. Israel responded to the deliberate targeting of the bus by bombing Hamas targets.

No Palestine without Jordan Valley

{image_1} While Prime Minister [PM] Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking international support for continued Israeli military presence in the Jordan Rift Valley, even in the event of a peace agreement, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on March 8, “There is no Palestinian state without the Jordan Valley.”

Principles of Jewish Prayer

{image_1} Prayer is a precious privilege and a sacred obligation, one that should be exercised, cultivated, and developed by every believer and community of faith. A study of Jewish prayer can illuminate and enrich our understanding and practice of this “service of the heart.”