IDF Keeps in Shape

{image_1}Armored and infantry units from the Israel Defense Forces’
Givati Brigade held a large-scale four-day exercise on the Golan
Heights recently. The declared aim of the exercise was to ensure full
combat readiness. It also included exercises in collaboration with
Israeli Air Force units. Such exercises have occurred repeatedly in
2007. It is no secret that Syrian troops are also
“practicing” war.

Israel’s Latest Spy in the Sky

{image_1}Israel launched its most advanced spy satellite in September. The
Tecsar spy satellite was put into orbit by an Indian rocket. Although
Israeli officials declined to give exact details of its expected
performance, they did say it is the most advanced in operation. Tecsar
uses advanced radar technology to produce very high-resolution images.
Israel has several spy and communication satellites currently in orbit.
In the coming months, Israel plans to launch the Amos 3 communication
satellite.

Market Enjoys Favorable Trends

{image_1}The positive trends in the Israeli market are continuing, said the
Central Bureau of Statistics [CBS]. Data show that the
market’s financial indicators for June, July, and August 2007
point to a continuance of annual growth in imports and exports,
increased proceeds in the service industry, and an accelerated
production rate in the general industries. Exports were up 12%; the
hotel business enjoyed a 17% increase in occupancy; and industrial
production was up by 6.2%. The CBS report also said that the
summer’s positive trend was also noted in the prior three
months: exports were up 18%, and industrial production went up by 3.6%.

New Arrival

{image_1}A baby rhino was born in Ramat Gan Safari Park and was a big draw for
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) visitors. With less than 12,000 white
rhinos in the world today, it is truly an important event when one
rhino is born in captivity. There are 450 rhinos in zoo parks around
the world today. This endangered species, hunted almost to extinction
for its horns, is the largest land animal after the elephant.

Summer Camp in Beit Shemesh

{image_1}July 12 marked the final day of a two-week summer camp at the Eliyakim religious school in Beit Shemesh, sponsored largely by our Bridges for Peace Feed a Child project. With this support, some 90 children, in grades one through five, from underprivileged families in Beit Shemesh, were able to attend the camp and take part in many learning activities and field trips.

Peace—Shalom

{image_1}If any place in the world needs peace—cessation of strife, murder, and hatred—it is the Middle East.

IDF Soldier receives American kidney

{image_1}Ayelet Katz, a 19-year-old soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, had to leave the army because of kidney failure. Ayelet is a twin, who, at two, contracted an infection that damaged her kidney. Doctors told her parents that the day would come when her kidneys would fail. That day came, and Ayelet’s father began to search for kidney-donation organizations. He discovered that the average wait in Israel for a kidney is five years, so he began looking elsewhere. He finally found help from the Halachic Organ Donor Society (HODS) based in New York City.

Building Bridges Around the World

{image_1}Bridges for Peace is not just working in Israel to build bridges between the Christian and Jewish communities! We are also building friendships and showing unconditional support and love to the Jewish people around the world. On a recent trip to Australia, we met with many Jewish leaders in locations all across the continent. On each occasion, we were blessed to see their open appreciation of Christian support and their willingness to extend a hand of friendship. In Perth, I had the opportunity to share my heart with 40 Jewish community leaders. This is just one example of a growing relationship between the evangelical world and the Jewish people. Each of our eight national offices work to develop Jewish–Christian relationships in their countries. Let me share a few examples.

It’s a Butterfly-Spy!

{image_1}American and Israeli scientists are at loggerheads over whether they will be able to plant electronic sensors inside butterflies and other insects and activate them by remote control. The aim of exhaustive experiments conducted by these scientists over a number of years, both in the United States and in Israel, is to eventually use the insects that will be fitted with electronic sensors to take aerial shots for intelligence use as well as detect explosives.

Israel’s Economy 5 Good Years

{image_1}“Israel’s economy now has experienced five years of continuous growth, the longest period in the state’s history,” reports Israel news agency Arutz Sheva, and unemployment is down to 7.6% from 9.2% in 2005. Whereas the United States only experienced a 0.6% gross domestic product (GDP) increase in the first half of 2007, Israel’s was 6.6%, jumping beyond the predictions of even the Bank of Israel and Finance Ministry. And, ISRAEL21c reported that the “Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) seems unstoppable,” and that the “market has appreciated 20% in the first half of this year.”

Israel Still Debating…

One year after the Second Lebanon War, the debate still rages in Israel as to whether or not Israel even won the war. Citizens are upset by what they perceive as ineffectual political and military leadership and coordination and are left feeling vulnerable on the home front to similar attacks in the future. The Winograd Commission’s reports have confirmed that there were mistakes made and that persons all the way up to the prime minister share in the blame.

AGENT BLAIR MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

{image_1}Militant Islamists rejoiced when Hizbullah declared victory over Israel in the Second Lebanon War. They are preparing a bigger celebration if and when US President George W. Bush and his policies go down in Iraq. Few can see that it is all part of the same war, and it is unlikely to go away any time soon.

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