Dispatch from Jerusalem

HAMAS: A Picture of Terror

“The Covenant of Hamas does not change.” Musheer al-Masri,Hamas spokesman

Poland Israel’s Friend

Today, Poland is one of Israel’s best friends. Now, this once anti-Semitic country has few anti-Israel demonstrations, enjoys US $2 billion worth of Israeli investments, buys Israeli missiles, and has allotted substantial funds to build a Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw––slated to become one of Europe’s largest Jewish museums.

The Dead Sea Is In Deep Trouble

The Dead Sea is disappearing, according to experts. The water level has fallen some 25 meters (82 feet) in 120 years, leaving the lowest spot in the world even lower. It is shocking to learn that the Dead Sea is now standing at 417 meters (1,369 feet) below sea level. At present the water is dropping at the alarming rate of a meter (39.37 inches) each year.

Sharon – War Hero To Politician

As we write this, Ariel Sharon remains in Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital in a medically induced coma from a debilitating stroke he had on January 4. Regardless of how we view his latest political policies, the Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders, so we encourage you to pray during this difficult time.

Economy Grows 5.2% in 2005

Israel’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.2% to nearly NIS 523.9 billion (US $113.3 billion) in 2005, its biggest gain in five years and well above the Bank of Israel’s most recent forecast, according to preliminary figures released January 1 by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

Christians Track Israel Support

In an unprecedented move, a major conservative Christian advocacy group in the United States will include the voting records of American legislators on Israel in its biennial Christian voting guide.

The Christian Voter Guide—put out by right-wing Christian Coalition of America every two years ahead of American congressional and presidential elections—has previously only included American domestic social issues. Now the guide is branching out to deal with American’s foreign relations for the first time.

Iran Holds Huge Military Exercise

Iran has completed a huge military exercise that tested Teheran’s ability to attack Western shipping and Arab oil facilities in the Gulf.

Western diplomatic sources said that in December 2005, Iran completed its largest military exercise in years. The sources said the military conducted an air and sea exercise designed to test capabilities to strike the United States and Arab targets throughout the Persian Gulf.

North American Aliyah Highest Since 1983

The aliyah (immigration) rate from North America this year is the highest it has been since 1983, according to the Jewish Agency. More than 3,100 North Americans moved to Israel by the end of 2005.

Tony Gelbart, cofounder of Nefesh B’Nefesh— Jewish aliyah organization, insisted, “This is just the beginning. We are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work…you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Synogogue—In Ramallah?

“And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there.” 1 Sam. 7:15–17a.

Light Rail Collides with Antiquity

About five kilometers (3 miles) north of the Old City, the Moriah Company––a municipal company contracted to prepare the infrastructure for Jerusalem’s new Light Rail system––unearthed a first-century community that existed sometime between the Second Temple destruction in AD 70 and the Bar-Kochba Rebellion of AD132.