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Every week, we post seven to ten news stories from Israel with a suggested prayer focus and scripture for each one, guiding readers how to pray for Israel’s most urgent needs. This Prayer Update is also sent to over 18,000 subscribers every Friday by e-mail. Sign up HERE if you would like to receive this Prayer Update by e-mail.
IAEA Chief Admits: 2015 Nuclear Deal no Longer Relevant
by Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warns Iran is nearing nuclear statehood, urging a new deal to replace the outdated 2015 agreement (illustrative).
Wednesday, 18 December 2024 | International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] chief Rafael Grossi said the nuclear deal with Iran is no longer relevant and that Iran is enriching uranium to a military grade and is rapidly nearing the position of a nuclear state. Grossi spoke during a visit to the Italian Foreign Ministry on Monday.
“The philosophy of the original Iran deal can be used as a basis but the deal itself, is no longer needed,” Grossi said in an interview with the ANSA news agency. He said Iran currently has many more capabilities and is enriching uranium to a level of 60% and to nearly 90%, which is military grade.
He said Iran has been significantly developing its nuclear capabilities. The new regime under President Masoud Pezeshkian is creating an opportunity for new negotiations but they would have to be on a different basis than the talks that led to the original JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] signed in 2015. The IAEA must play a central role, he said, and there must be serious cooperation between the UN agency and the world powers.
“We must reexamine the agreement and find a new technical version of political principles. This is a complex process in which European nations, the United States, China and Russia would have to sit down with the IAEA and come up with a system that is more compatible with the new Iranian reality,” Grossi said.
Photo Credit: IAEA Imagebank/flickr.com
Photo License: Flickr
Prayer Focus
Pray for a viable solution to the potential situation of a nuclear-capable Iran. Proclaim the Lord’s sovereignty in all the earth and the fact that nothing is too difficult for Him. May His kingdom come and His will be done—on earth, in the Middle East and in Iran—as it is in heaven.
Scripture
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
IDF Hits Houthi Terror Targets in Yemen
by Yoav Zitun, Lior Ben Ari ~ Ynetnews
In addition to three sea ports, the IAF struck Sanaa, targeting the Houthi rebels and dealt them a significant blow (illustrative).
Thursday, 19 December 2024 | The Israeli strike on the Houthi rebels in Yemen early on Thursday, disabled three sea ports, Yemen media affiliated with the rebels said. The purpose of the Israeli attacks was to deal a significant financial blow to the Yemeni rebel forces.
The strikes were weeks in the planning and were carried out by dozens of fighter jets who also bombed the tug boats that bring ships into the ports. The military said the timing of the attack on the Houthis was decided according to operational considerations and was not in direct response to the ballistic missile fired at Israel overnight.
In the Yemen capital of Sanaa, which came under Israeli attack for the first time, the planes targeted fuel storages and a power station.
At least nine people were killed at the Ras Issa oil facility and others were hurt in seven strikes on the ports, local media claimed and according to reports in the Saudi Arabian press, in all, there were 16 strikes in the Israeli attacks that included the port city of Hodeida and the capital Sanaa.
A senior official for the Houthis said that the strikes by Israel and the US forces on civilian installations including power stations and ports, reveal the hypocrisy of the West and said attacks in support of Gaza would continue and escalate in response to the escalations of the Israeli strikes.
Israel Defense Forces [IDF] spokesperson Daniel Hagai said that the strikes aimed to degrade Houthi military capabilities and prevent the use of targeted facilities for military operations, including the smuggling of Iranian weapons.
Defense Minister Israel Katz made explicit threats warning Houthi leaders that Israel’s “long hand” would find them. “Anyone who lifts a hand against Israel, his hand will be cut off,” he said.
Photo Credit: Ibrahem Qasim/flickr.com
Photo License: Flickr
Prayer Focus
Give thanks for another successful, long-range mission carried out by the IAF against Iran’s terror proxy in Yemen. Pray that this strike has significantly diminished the capabilities of the Houthis to launch missiles and drones against the nation of Israel.
Scripture
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him.
In First Since 1967, Syrian Mayor Meets Israeli Officers
by Canaan Lidor ~ JNS
Israeli officers meet with a Syrian mayor, December 2024.
Monday, 16 December 2024 | Community leaders in the Syrian side of the Golan, including at least one mayor, openly met with Israel Defense Forces [IDF] officers holding the area, an Israeli newspaper reported on Sunday.
That revelation coincided with reports of a desire by some Druze villagers in Syria to have their communities come under Israeli rule.
In one meeting, the mayor of an unnamed village in Syria met with three Israelis, two of them army officers visible in a photograph published on the cover of Yediot Achronot. Wearing full gear and toting assault rifles, the officers, one of them a captain, are seen conversing in what looks like a conference room with a man wearing traditional Arab garb.
“Other meetings are also happening, the fear barrier from the Assad regime has been breached and there are new opportunities for cooperation, including economically, that are already being worked out,” an unnamed Israeli officer told the paper. The meetings are the first of their kind in over 50 years.
Israel seized controlling positions in nearby Syria last week following the fall of the regime of Bashar Assad. Israel has also carried out many airstrikes in Syria in a bid to destroy weapons it does not want to see fall into the hands of the Islamists who deposed Assad, Syria, Iran or other regional players.
The Israeli side of the Golan Heights, which Israel took from Syria in 1967 and de facto annexed in 1981, passing the Golan Heights Law and applying Israel’s government and laws there, has about 20,000 Druze residents in four thriving villages that have coexisted harmoniously with the area’s majority Jewish population and the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the area annually.
Leaders and most members of that community have long defined themselves publicly as Syrian citizens living under occupation and declined to take up Israeli citizenship. This was largely understood as a policy of deniability in case the Golan is returned to Syria under the dictatorship of Assad, an Iranian ally whose late father, Hafez, waged several wars against Israel.
Israel has another 150,000 Druze who are citizens elsewhere in the country, mainly in the Galilee. Syria has about 600,000 Druze while Lebanon has some 250,000.
In recent years, the number of Golan Druze who took up Israeli citizenship has skyrocketed, along with participation in municipal elections. However, a large majority of Golan Druze have not done either. The outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, which set the scene for Assad’s ouster, convinced many Golan Druze to become Israeli.
Six Druze Villages
Against this backdrop, a Kurdish news site, Kurdistan News24, reported on Friday that residents of six Druze villages in the Golan have expressed a desire to have them annexed by Israel. A leader of the village of Hader, which is currently under Israeli control and is situated about two miles east of the Druze Israeli town of Majdal Shams, reportedly also said this.
The issue was discussed at a meeting Friday in Hader, Kurdistan News24 reported in an article that featured a video from that meeting. It shows a man speaking before about 200 people, reportedly in Hader, asking them:
“What’s our fate, my brothers?” with the crowd responding: “Israel.”
He continued, according to a translation of the speech: “In the name of all the people of Hader, and if anyone objects, please say,” with no objections heard. “If we have to choose, we will choose the lesser evil, and even if it’s considered evil to ask to be annexed to the [Israeli] Golan. But it’s a much lesser evil than the evil coming our way… That evil might take our women, might take our daughters. They might take our homes.”
The man also said: “We want to be annexed to the Israeli Golan to preserve our dignity, and this applies to all of the region’s villages, because their fate is no different. We want to join our people in the Golan and live with freedom and honor.”
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz and other officials said the deployment in Syria was temporary.
Uri Heitner, a former leader of Golan communities and a resident of Kibbutz Ortal [collective community] there, welcomed the appeal to annex Druze villages.
“We certainly shouldn’t reject the idea,” he said.
Heitner, who led the fight against plans by the Labor Party to return the Golan to Syria in the 1990s, said Israel could work to establish a Druze state or autonomous region from the Hermon in the northern Golan Heights to Jabal al-Druze, situated about 50 miles [80 km.] southeast of the Hermon. “Another option is to agree to annex the villages, along with a far wider strip of land that would meet the security interests of Israel,” Heitner wrote in his blog on Saturday.
He also analyzed the desire to come under Israeli control by some Druze Syrians, whose communities have family ties with the Israeli ones across the border.
“Over the past 58 years, the Druze of the eastern Golan witnessed the freedom and prosperity enjoyed by their brethren in the Golan in the thriving, democratic State of Israel, compared to their life under tyranny and financial stagnation, and then the decline during the civil war,” Heitner wrote.
But the main reason for seeking to come under Israeli control, he added, “is the fear of Syria becoming an ISIS- or Hamas-style Islamic state, where the Druze would be persecuted and oppressed in the best-case scenario, and end up as the Yazidis did in the worst one.”
Photo Credit: The IDF Spokesperson's Unit/jns.org
Prayer Focus
Pray that these positive overtures will continue as the Syrian Druze communities have begun to express an interest in being annexed by Israel and governed under Israeli law. Give thanks that Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime has fallen and Syrians will have the opportunity to live in peace. Pray for a stable and secure border between Israel and Syria, no matter what the outcome of these talks may be.
Scripture
Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Seek peace and pursue it.
‘Your Silence Is Deafening,’ Brother of Israeli Hostage Tells UN Security Council
by Vita Fellig ~ JNS
Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, briefs reporters prior to the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East, December 18, 2024.
Thursday, 19 December 2024 | Michael Levy, whose brother, Or Levy, was kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, addressed the UN Security Council on Wednesday and told the global body to demand the release of the hostages.
“For 439 days, I’ve woken up every morning with a pit in my stomach, wondering where my brother is. Wondering if he’s cold. If he’s hungry. If he managed to survive another day,” Levy told the Security Council. “Every moment he remains in captivity is a moment of unbearable suffering for him and all of us who love him.”
The Hamas terror group didn’t only violate international law blatantly, he said, it is also committing “an assault on humanity itself.”
“Holding civilians hostage—men, women, children—is a violation of the principle that this very council was created to protect, and yet your silence is deafening,” he said. “For every day this council fails to act, the message to the world is clear, that some lives are worth saving and others are not.”
“I’m asking you to prove that international law means something, that human rights are not just votes, but principles,” he added. “Demand the release of all of the hostages today.”
Wednesday’s briefing marked the first time that the Security Council heard directly from a relative of a hostage being held in Gaza, according to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum.
“I hope some of the members of the Security Council learn from Michael’s courage in condemning the crimes against humanity carried out by Hamas and pushing for a hostage deal that ensures that a ceasefire is unconditionally contingent on the release of our hostages still held in Hamas terror tunnels,” Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told JNS.
Danon told the Security Council that now is the time to act.
“The Middle East does not look the same,” he told the council. “We continue to dismantle Hamas and eliminate any threat from them. And Hezbollah is no longer the same cruel and dangerous organization that it was.”
Danon added in his remarks that Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria has fallen. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for the council and the world to prevent a nuclear Iran and define the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization,” he said.
The Israeli envoy encouraged the people of Iran to embrace the changing landscape in the region as an opportunity for regime change. “We know the cost of freedom and the courage it demands,” he said. “Your fight is not just for yourselves, but for the millions of lives the regime has destabilized and destroyed.”
“In your hands lies the power to rebuild a land rich in history, culture and resilience,” he added.
Danon said that Israel is hopeful that it can soon achieve a hostage deal with Hamas.
“I hope today will finally wake every member of the council to the urgent plight of the hostages and compel all nations to demand their immediate and unconditional release,” he said. “Negotiations on a hostage deal are ongoing, and we hope we can achieve a deal, after many rejections by Hamas, before the holiday of Hanukkah [Festival of Lights] and Christmas.”
In his remarks before the Security Council, Danon addressed the Iranian people directly in Farsi. “People of Iran, do not miss this rare historic opportunity,” he said. “Do not wait for a miracle. Do not hesitate.” He added that “the future of Iran is in your hands” and that “the people of Israel stand by your side.”
US President Joe Biden told reporters on Tuesday on Marine One, before departing from the White House, that he had spoken and will speak in the future with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Danon told reporters before the Security Council meeting that Hamas is the primary obstacle to achieving a deal.
“Because of the experience we have with Hamas, I cannot be confident, because in the past we thought we had an agreement and then they came up with new demands,” he said. “We are not negotiating with a state actor that you can negotiate with and expect a timeline. They are still a terrorist organization.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Elías/UN Photo/jns.org
Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the opportunity that was given to Israeli Michael Levy, whose brother Or is currently being held hostage in Gaza. Pray that as he spoke at the UN Security Council on Wednesday (December 18), his words, demanding an immediate and unconditional release of the hostages who have been held in violation of humanitarian principles and international law, penetrated to the core of those who were present. Pray that this world body will be stirred to take action in response.
Scripture
For my mouth will speak truth…All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
Will Syria Become a Battleground between Turkey and Israel?
by Israel Kasnett ~ JNS
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appears with Istanbul and the Turkish flag in flames in then-Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz’s tweet, August 2, 2024.
Thursday, 19 December 2024 | Israel’s relationship with Ankara has been characterized by fluctuations over time, marked by periods of cooperation and tension. However, Turkey’s recent posture, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, has been increasingly antagonistic and inconsistent.
Turkey, although a NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] member, has facilitated activities that undermine Israel’s security and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly supports groups with terrorist affiliations. For example, in July, Israel thwarted a Hamas attack orchestrated from within Turkey and Turkey now hosts the Hamas leaders who were forced out of Qatar.
Erdoğan has frequently called on Israel to refrain from military actions in Lebanon and Syria. Yet, Turkey itself appears ready to launch a military operation in Syria targeting Kurdish groups. Additionally, Erdoğan supports the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani (who now goes by his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa).
In April, Erdoğan imposed a trade embargo on Israel, and in July he went so far as to threaten an invasion of Israel during a speech to members of his ruling party.
Erdoğan accuses Israel and the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] of deliberately killing Palestinian civilians in its war against terrorism. However, experts say that Turkey’s own military actions in Iraqi Kurdistan, which actually target civilians, breach international humanitarian law and raise concerns about real human rights violations.
The overt support for groups such as Hamas and HTS, coupled with Turkey’s contradictory actions and rhetoric, raises questions about its dependability and commitment to regional stability.
Despite this, NATO has shown little resistance to Turkey’s behavior, highlighting the complexities of international diplomacy within the alliance.
Professor Emeritus Dror Zeevi of the Middle East Studies Department at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheva, told JNS that Turkey “no longer views the [NATO] treaty as one of its defining attributes.”
“In recent years it has flirted with China and bought arms (and a nuclear facility) from Russia,” he noted. “It is now closer to the Chinese and Russians than it is to the US.”
Erdoğan’s aspirations have always included “the liberation of Jerusalem” and the reemergence of a Turkish-led Ottoman Empire. A Sunni jihadi [“struggle” or holy war with unbelievers] Syria provides a conveniently straight path to fulfilling that long-term dream.
Zeevi told JNS, “To the extent that this is indeed his dream (and not just internal bluster),” Erdoğan is not likely to actively pursue those objectives directly. “But under the right conditions, he might support the forces that do push in that direction, as he had supported Hamas until recently.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein responded to Turkey’s criticism of Israel’s recent military actions in Syria, accusing Ankara of hypocrisy. He pointed out that Turkey’s own military operations in Syria and its occupation of significantly more Syrian territory than Israel’s temporary control underscore a double standard.
“Israel rejects the false statements made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding Israel in relation to Syria,” Marmorstein wrote in a post on X.
“The facts are the following: Turkey has systematically encroached on Syrian territory, a process that began with military operations in 2016, 2018 and 2019, and continues to this day,” he said.
According to Marmorstein, “The last country that can speak about occupation in Syria is Turkey, with 15% of Syria’s territory under the control of proxies operating under its patronage. There is no justification for the continuation of Turkish aggression and violence against Kurds in Syria!”
Stay the Course
Nimrod Goren, a senior fellow for Israeli affairs at the Middle East Institute in Washington, lamented the current nadir in Israel–Turkey relations.
“The most significant damage caused to the bilateral relations between Israel and a regional country after October 7 was with Turkey,” he told JNS.
He noted that a few weeks before the Hamas attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Erdoğan held a positive meeting in New York, vowing to increase cooperation.
“Following Turkey’s endorsement of Hamas, harsh criticism of Israel, and a decision to limit trade relations, ties are now at a low point,” Goren said. “Israeli diplomacy contributed to that, keeping the embassy in Ankara for months without an ambassador and undiplomatically bashing Turkey via social media.”
Goren called to stay the course and not getting too carried away over Erdoğan’s hostility.
“We’ve seen this dynamic before, but it’s worth remembering that Israel and Turkey have had continuous diplomatic ties since 1949, which were never cut off despite dramatic ups and downs,” he said.
In Goren’s view, “with all grievances and difficulties, now is the time to seek better communication between both countries.
“Syria was always an issue of interest for both countries to discuss, and with the downfall of [President Bashar] Assad and the increased Turkish and Israeli roles in developments there, it has become a necessity,” he said.
Goren noted the recent meeting on Hamas-related issues between security officials from both countries and said that “this should now be expanded to Syria as well.”
He suggested that international actors “should support this and should also work with both sides to tone down hostile rhetoric,” adding that a ceasefire in Gaza “will make the task easier.”
Goren pointed out that, while bilateral ties between countries “are not only between leaders and current governments, there is little appetite in Israel to engage with Erdoğan and little trust in him, especially after two failed rapprochements in recent years.”
However, he said, “there are deep national interests at play that require at least the professional echelons from both countries—diplomats and security officials—to maintain communication, prevent escalation and seek some coordination.”
Jerusalem should no doubt carefully navigate its relationship with Ankara at this time. In Zeevi’s view, the Syrian crisis “opens an opportunity to talk to all neighboring states, including Turkey, in a realpolitik approach to restrain the jihadi elements and establish democratic rule in Syria.”
However, Zeevi warned, “Israel should also be aware that Turkey’s leadership, which had breached its trust in the past, has different and sometimes opposed interests.”
Photo Credit: X/jns.org
Prayer Focus
Pray that Israel’s leaders will have wisdom to know how best to handle the relationship between Israel and Turkey. Pray especially for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, as he heads Israel’s diplomatic mission, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads the nation. Pray that these leaders will see the actions of Turkey’s president Erdoĝan clearly in order to detect any signs of danger to Israel.
Scripture
He [God] frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
NYPD Investigating Attack on Jewish Columbia Student as Hate Crime
by Vita Fellig ~ JNS
A photo that the NYPD released of a suspect in an attack on a Jewish Columbia University student on December 9, 2024. The department is investigating the attack as a hate crime.
Friday, 13 December 2024 | The New York City Police Department [NYPD] told JNS that it is investigating an attack on a Jewish Columbia University student as a potential hate crime.
A 22-year-old man-made antisemitic comments at and snatched an Israeli flag from the victim at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday in front of 41 Claremont Avenue, near the Columbia University and Barnard College campuses, the NYPD told JNS.
“When the victim attempted to retrieve the flag, the individual punched the victim in the face and fled the location on foot, traveling northbound on Claremont Avenue,” per the police. “There were no injuries reported.”
The NYPD told JNS that its hate-crime task force is investigating the incident and that it seeks public assistance in identifying the assailant.
Jonathan Lederer, a junior studying computer science at Columbia who was told earlier in the year on campus to “go back to Poland,” told JNS that he was holding an Israeli flag when an anti-Israel protester attacked him near Columbia’s campus on Monday afternoon.
“This man came up to me screaming ‘you’re a Nazi’ and then ripped the Israeli flag from my hands,” he told JNS. “I ran after him to ask for my flag back and he punched me in the face.”
Lederer was careful not to instigate the protesters, he told JNS.
“I knew there was a pro-Palestinian demonstration planned, so I went with my brother to document what was happening and show our voice,” he said. “We weren’t yelling and we were intentionally staying away from the crowd.”
Columbia University told JNS that the assailant was not a student at the private Ivy League school.
“We have been alerted that a Columbia student, who was carrying an Israeli flag, was punched yesterday at a demonstration that took place off campus,” the university told JNS. “Initial reports indicate that the assailant was not affiliated with Columbia University. We are working closely with the NYPD to investigate this incident and to do all we can to support their efforts to ensure our neighborhood is safe for our students.”
Lederer told JNS that the university is not doing enough to protect Jewish students on campus.
“The pro-Palestinian protest on Monday was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a student group that purposely invites outside organizations like Within Our Lifetime to join them—an extremist Palestinian activist group which often gets violent,” he said.
Columbia ought to “refuse to recognize these student groups and refuse to give them access to student resources because they are aligning with organizations which are promoting violence on campus,” Lederer said.
He told JNS that “it is very clear that the university knows this because when there is a protest scheduled, they close the university gates.”
Columbia “should be more transparent in condemning these student groups,” he added.
Ari Shrage, the head of Columbia’s Jewish Alumni Association, told JNS that he hopes the investigation will encourage the university to do more.
“The NYPD is now calling for the assault to be investigated because of the Columbia administration’s inaction,” he said. “There are simple steps that they can take, but they would rather make hollow statements and hope the problem goes away.”
“We are lucky that the student’s injuries weren’t worse, but we might not be as lucky next time,” Shrage told JNS. “Columbia’s board and administrators need to make changes immediately to prevent a similar assault in the future.”
Photo Credit: NYPD/jns.org
Prayer Focus
Pray for zero-tolerance of any violence in any nation against people due to their nationality, religion or color. Pray that this investigation by the NYPD will result in the perpetrator being held accountable for his actions. Pray that college and university campuses in the world at large will once again become places where ideas and beliefs can be expressed freely.
Scripture
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
Israel Shuts Ireland Embassy: How Relations with Europe’s Hostile State Deteriorated
by Yuval Karni ~ Ynetnews
Irish PM Simon Harris calls Israel’s decision to close its embassy in Ireland regrettable and rejects claims of Irish anti-Israel sentiment (illustrative).
Monday, 16 December 2024 | The decision of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to close the Israeli embassy in Ireland came after Dublin joined the South African petition against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide. “The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, along with double standards. Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in the statement.
“The Israeli decision was deeply regrettable,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said. “I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law,” Harris said in a post on X.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the two countries would maintain diplomatic relations and there were no plans to close Ireland’s embassy in Israel.
Israel had previously considered the option of closing-down its embassy and said it took the step, in response to the Irish government’s extreme anti-Israeli position.
Soon after the war in Gaza began, there were voices in Ireland calling for the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador Dana Erlich, who received [the] threat just three weeks after the Hamas massacre. Erlich who was assigned to one of the most hostile European capitals, appeared frequently in the Irish media, criticizing the parliament.
That led to personal threats against her and she was slammed on social media with calls to “kick out the terrorist ambassador,” accompanied by her photos covered in blood.
She recently even found herself in confrontation with Irish President Michael Higgins who had accused Israel of violating international law and the Geneva Convention and claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared his intentions to break international law in advance.
Erlich responded by accusing him of misinformation regarding the war. She said the president’s comments were inciting.
One month later, the former prime minister Leo Varadkar praised the release of then nine-year-old Emily Hand from Hamas captivity after she was abducted during the October 7 massacre but neglected to mention who her abductors were.
“This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost and has now been found and returned, Varadkar wrote in a post on X.
Last May Ireland joined Norway and Spain in recognizing a Palestinian state. Harris then said he expected more countries to follow suit.
Even before that decision was made, in April Ireland’ Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) announced it was selling its holdings in six Israeli companies because they had activity in the “occupied Palestinian territories.” The sale of assets totaling some three million euros [USD 3.15 million] from major Israeli banks and a supermarket chain was based on a UN data base of companies working in Israeli settlements on the West Bank [Judea and Samaria].
At the same time Ireland has had a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents including in the education system. The British Jewish Chronical reported that school books included sentences like “murderous Jews” and “Israel is an aggressor” and as a result, Jewish children were traumatized and made to change schools.
The Education Ministry in Dublin rejected the criticism and said that Irish children receive fair and balanced educational material from good Irish teachers in a variety of subjects including Judaism and the history of the Jewish people.
Photo Credit: European Union/Wikimedia.org
Photo License: Wikimedia
Prayer Focus
Pray for clarity and wisdom on the part of leaders and citizens alike to discern that the world’s message of pro-peace when it comes to the situation in the Middle East is actually taking a stand against Israel and against God Himself. Pray that Dana Erlich, Israel’s former ambassador to Ireland, who courageously defended her nation in a very hostile environment, will now have a time of restoration and healing.
Scripture
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.
Ice Cold: Winter War Preparations Underway as IDF Deploys in Syria and Lebanon
by Yoav Zitun ~ Ynetnews
Operating during the winter on the slopes of Mt. Hermon will mean logistical changes for the IDF.
Tuesday, 17 December 2024 | The Israel Defense Forces [IDF] is gearing up for Operation General Winter across all operational zones, with a strong emphasis on the challenges posed by snowfall in the northernmost regions—territories where IDF has not operated for 50 years.
Drawing lessons from both its historical operations and the expertise of foreign militaries accustomed to winter warfare, the IDF is adopting new strategies to sustain operational readiness in extreme conditions.
Roughly a week after Israeli forces captured the Syrian Hermon and advanced 6–7.5 miles [9.7–12 km] beyond the Golan Heights border, IDF’s Technology and Logistics Directorate (Atal) launched an urgent and large-scale procurement initiative. This operation provides thousands of specialized winter items and tools, informed by operational practices of European and American militaries experienced in combat in sub-zero environments.
Through expedited coordination with the Ministry of Defense Procurement Directorate, Atal has already secured thousands of pairs of Canadian-made military-grade winter boots designed for operational use in snow and sub-zero temperatures. Snow is forecasted in the coming weeks for the Golan Heights, the Syrian end of Mt. Hermon, and multiple locations in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces remain deployed—particularly along the eastern sector parallel to the Ramim Ridge.
In the last few months, the IDF has procured over 2,000 mobile living containers, including many specifically for northern deployment. These insulated units will house soldiers stationed beyond the border in both southern Lebanon and the Syrian Golan Heights. In southern Lebanon, where forces are expected to remain for at least the next month (coinciding with the end of a 60-day ceasefire stabilization period), Golani infantry troops and reservists have already been equipped with portable structures, insulated shower and restroom units, heating systems, and cooking facilities to ensure access to hot meals.
Preparing for the Harsh Winter in the Syrian Hermon
A similar logistical infrastructure is being established in the Syrian Hermon, now held by Israel. Rising to an elevation of 9,186 feet [2,800 meters] , this mountainous region—covering hundreds of acres—was recently abandoned by Assad regime forces. The IDF is now setting up its first operational outposts in the area.
Troops stationed there, including paratroopers, commando brigades, and armored units operating on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, are being equipped with specialized gear typically reserved for the Alpine Unit. This includes three sets of thermal uniforms, insulated winter sandals, ski masks for facial protection, thick socks, and insulated overalls for static missions. Heated shelters are also being deployed to treat soldiers suffering from hypothermia quickly and effectively. Additionally, “anti-freeze” systems are being installed to prevent essential equipment and batteries from freezing in the frigid temperatures.
Sustaining Operations in Extreme Conditions
To address potential disruptions caused by snowstorms or supply route blockages, the IDF is pre-positioning tons of dry and canned food at remote outposts. These stockpiles will sustain troops for over a week without the need for active logistical supply lines. “We have established protocols for extreme scenarios, which we’ve encountered during past winters at Hermon outposts,” explains an IDF source. “But this situation is different—this time, we’re operating in enemy territory under the looming threat of a severe winter. We’ve even studied our own history from the early 1970s, when IDF troops were stationed in these areas. The goal is to ensure that soldiers remain comfortable, safe, and supplied with hot food, even in the harshest conditions. We are already delivering cooked meals to the most remote outposts in Syria and Lebanon.”
Atal is also exploring innovative solutions proven effective by militaries operating in freezing climates, such as snow-melting devices that convert snow into usable water. “We’re not investing in expensive equipment for just a few weeks or a month. Every decision is being managed wisely, with long-term planning in mind,” Atal officials explain. “Some of the procurement has been expedited through rapid tenders and international orders, while other supplies have been drawn from emergency reserves.”
Upgraded Infrastructure and Living Conditions
In the Syrian Golan Heights, soldiers have already received generators and portable, insulated living quarters that can be dismantled within 24 hours if a withdrawal is ordered. Initially, troops had to operate out of the damp but relatively spacious fortified rooms of the “Pita” outposts—bunkers left behind by the Syrian army.
However, for safety, electrical, and comfort considerations, the IDF decided not to use these rooms for prolonged stays. Soldiers found remnants of the Syrian army’s presence in these spaces, including rusted mess tins with rotted food. This approach contrasts with operations in Gaza, where forces often take over residential buildings for extended use during combat, adapting them with additional equipment like air conditioners or heaters.
Comprehensive Winter Preparations Across Combat Zones
According to the IDF, Atal, in coordination with regional commands, has completed extensive winter preparations across all operational zones in recent weeks. More than 1,900 mobile buildings and living containers—equipped with air conditioning, electrical panels, and connections to fixed or portable energy infrastructure—have been deployed. Each housing complex includes showers and heating systems to provide optimal conditions for soldiers.
The IDF supply center has also distributed over 885,000 winter items, including custom sleeping bags, insulated overalls, and cold-weather clothing, supplementing the inventory distributed throughout the year.
“In response to increased operational activity by the 210th Division, as part of a dedicated operation led by Northern Command logistics personnel, temporary specialized structures are being constructed to accommodate soldiers in complex climatic conditions,” the military added.
“To ensure the operability of equipment, the sector has been reinforced with unique maintenance tools, including recovery trucks, armored recovery vehicles, and specialized field repair tools tailored to operational challenges. Medical support has also been enhanced, with the deployment of dedicated medical containers designed to address weather-related health challenges.”
Photo Credit: Oded Shamir Pikiwiki Israel/Wikimedia.org
Photo License: Wikimedia
Prayer Focus
Pray for the soldiers who are standing between the citizens of Israel and those who seek their annihilation. Pray that the presence of the IDF on the Golan Heights will be an effective deterrent from all terror and will enable the Israeli communities to return to their pre-war lives. Pray that the soldiers will be protected from extreme weather conditions as they go about their duties.
Scripture
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Sky News Fires Australian News Host Who Speaks Out in Favor of Israel
by Ynetnews
Australian news anchor Erin Molan has expressed support for Israel in the year since the October 7 massacre (illustrative).
Monday, 16 December 2024 | Australian news anchor Erin Molan has been fired from Sky News several months after she said she was receiving threats on her life due to her support for Israel.
Molan, one of a handful of journalists and presenters on the Australian branch of the international news network Sky who have expressed support for Israel in the year since the October 7 massacre—alongside names such as senior presenter Sharri Markson, has been fired from hosting the Friday evening newscast that bears her name, a program which she inherited from Markson. On November 29, she presented her final program, though her firing was announced days later, and she was not given the opportunity to say farewell to her viewers.
“Erin has been a fantastic member of the Sky News team over the past three years, and has worked incredibly hard for her viewers, passionately advocating on the issues close to her heart,’ the news network told Australia’s Daily Mail. “We would like to thank her for her contribution to the network.”
At this stage, the specific reasons that led to Molan’s dismissal have not been publicly disclosed, but she has not hesitated to express her support for Israel on air over the past year.
“There is only one side that is fighting for peace,” Molan stated in one of her broadcasts last September, and about a month later, following violent attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, she said: “If it doesn’t hurt you when you look at the footage from Amsterdam, you are not human.”
Molan’s dismissal came several months after the morning show she presented, alongside comedians David Hughes and Ed Kavalee, on Australia’s largest radio station, Southern Cross Austereo, was cancelled.
Photo License: reepy_au/flickr.com
Source: Flickr
Prayer Focus
Pray that Erin Molan, who courageously spoke out for Israel and as a result lost her job, will quickly find another position in the broadcasting field. Pray that viewers will rally in support of Erin and express that support to the management of Sky News. Pray for more public figures to be willing to speak out and stand with Israel, no matter the personal or professional cost.
Scripture
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
First-ever Israeli-built Quantum Supercomputer Unveiled in Jerusalem
by JNS
The quantum computer lab in Jerusalem
Tuesday, 17 December 2024 | Israel’s first domestically produced quantum supercomputer is now operational, a milestone in both defense and civilian terms, researchers said on Monday.
The 20-qubit computer, which utilizes advanced superconducting technology, was developed by the Israel Innovation Authority [IIA], Israel Aerospace Industries [IAI], the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and its technology transfer and intellectual property company, Yissum.
The global race for “quantum supremacy” has accelerated in recent years with groundbreaking discoveries, the organizations said, with Israel being among the leading nations in the field.
IAI has invested significant resources in its quantum efforts, establishing itself as a major player by unveiling the country’s first “blue and white” quantum computer. The novel quantum computer lab will focus on design, simulation, integration and finding practical applications for superconducting quantum computers.
“Quantum technologies are set to fundamentally elevate human capabilities across a wide range of fields,” said IAI CEO Boaz Levy in a press release. “IAI is proud to lead Israel toward becoming a global quantum power. To win on future battlefields, Israel needs advanced technologies,” he added.
Yishai Fraenkel, director-general of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, stated, “As the Hebrew University enters its 100th anniversary, this achievement aligns with our founding mission: from establishing Israel’s first scientific research institute in 1925 on the Mount Scopus campus in Jerusalem to the launch of the country’s first quantum computer.”
IIA CEO Dror Bin noted that while technology “still has a long way to go,” the quantum computer has real potential to further enhance the computer power available to all of humanity.
“This power will have a dramatic impact on science and the global hi-tech industry. Israel, as a world innovation leader, must remain on the cutting edge of these developments. The unveiling of Israel’s first quantum computer is an important milestone,” Bin concluded.
Photo Credit: Israel Aerospace Industries/jns.org
Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the Israeli scientists and hi-tech workers who have already done so much to bless the world. Pray that this new milestone will be another beneficial advancement with the achievement being used for the good of humankind.
Scripture
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
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