Jerusalem Dateline

Praying for Iran

Chris Mitchell — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:47:32 GMT

The turmoil in Iran has spurred a number of believers in Israel, the Middle East and around the world to pray for Iran and the Iranian people. Below are some excerpts from a blog by a local believer who travels throughout the Middle East.

There is a huge shift of allegiance within Iran regarding issues of faith and truth, with unprecedented numbers of new believers being reported. The current political climate, although discouraging in the immediate future in terms of human rights, may well fan the flames of the revival higher. Yesterday in two different prayer meetings, Jewish and International believers gathered to pray into the events happening there. Finally, the future plight of hundreds if not thousands of Iranian believers hangs in the balance. Our prayers at this time may determine history. Let us stand in the gap for those who have lived under incredible oppression for many years. His grace and strength to you as you enter into prayer intercession on behalf of the people of Iran.

In addition, Sat-7, a Christian satellite television service that broadcasts throughout the Middle East, sent out the following appeal for prayer a few days ago:

Nicosia, Cyprus, June 25, 2009: SAT-7 is urging its friends and supporters to continue to pray for peace in Iran, where street demonstrations following recent elections have led to bloodshed and loss of life. Sara Afshari, SAT-7 PARS executive director, is very concerned about how people in Iran are being treated, 'We have many young viewers and we worry about those who have been caught up in the violence.' Ms. Afshari believes the current political unrest in Iran reflects an even greater disillusionment with life in general.

'Everything in Iran is difficult. Even before the election, many people in Iran had become disillusioned. Some have turned to drugs, immoral lifestyles and even suicide. Others have been seeking hope elsewhere. This factor has led to the unprecedented interest so many have to find out more about the Christian faith."

SAT-7 PARS; the ministry's Persian language channel has begun broadcasting prayers for peace in Iran and placing encouraging scriptures on the screen. Verses include those from the 23rd Psalm and 1 Peter 5:7, which urges viewers to "cast your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you." SAT-7 PARS producers are scrambling to adjust their broadcast schedule to include new programs designed to comfort viewers. They also plan to send scripture verses to all SAT-7 PARS viewers who have registered a cell phone number or an email.

However, reaching people living inside Iran is difficult. Cell phone and Internet service have been partially or fully blocked in many areas and even land-line phones seem to be working only sporadically. While information is hard to access, some Iranians report that they are able to see SAT-7 PARS' broadcasts, while others say all satellite TV has been blocked in their area during daytime hours.

Several SAT-7 PARS staff members have friends and relatives who have been directly impacted by the recent violence and the PARS team worries that the situation could worsen. SAT-7 PARS is urging all friends of SAT-7 to set aside some time each day at 12:00 noon to join them in praying for Iran ….'

Many here in the Middle East - and in Israel itself - are contending in prayer for the spiritual destiny of Iran. They're praying that many in this nation will come to know the Lord and hope others around the world will join them - at this strategic time - to pray for one of the key nations in the Middle East and the world.

Iran from Israel's Perspective

Chris Mitchell — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:48:50 GMT

The turmoil continues, the demonstrators are still in the streets and the political situation is uncertain. No one really knows what Iran will look like when this is over but we talked with a few analysts here in Israel about their views on what's happening in the Islamic Republic.

Yossi Kupperweiser, former head of IDF (Israel Defense Forces) intelligence, told CBN News the demonstrations undermine the Obama administration's goal of "engaging" this regime. He said any possibility of a dialogue now would "be detached from reality." In the broader Middle East picture, he feels this is a major setback for the Islamic radicals. He also said depending on how this plays out, the regime might try to move even faster (if it's possible) on their drive for a nuclear weapon.

Islamic scholar Moshe Sharon noted that the ayatollahs have tremendous power. They have followers all over the country and millions of Basij (its paramilitary force) ready to sacrifice their lives. It's clear they are already brutally suppressing the demonstrators. For example, the video of Neda, the young Iranian woman killed by the Basij, is spreading on the Internet (be advised, it's disturbing video). While deeply troubling, some see her death caught on camera as a rallying cry for this nascent movement.

Middle East analyst Barry Rubin told us he believes the single most important development is that the regime itself has now been exposed. From now on, it will harder to have illusions about Iran's leaders. He said if they'll do something so provocative as steal an election and brutally suppress dissent for the world to see, what does this say they might do if they ever possess nuclear weapons?

These demonstrations could also have an enormous impact on some of Israel's worst enemies, Hezbollah on its northern border and Hamas on its southern border. Without the support, money and arms Iran supplies, it could seriously weaken these radical groups.

It remains to be seen how events will unfold, but certain things are clear.

Iran's reputation around the world has - literally - been bloodied. The veneer of invincibility surrounding the mullahs has been shattered. Some analysts say this movement might be suppressed by the ayatollahs in the next few days or weeks.

But regardless of what happens, the seeds of freedom - often born in blood like Neda's - have been planted in Iran. No ayatollah can stop those seeds from growing.

Let Freedom Ring!

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:36:51 GMT

There seems to be moments in history when freedom is at stake. Such a moment took place when President Ronald Reagan stood in front of the Berlin Wall and defied the "evil empire" of the Soviet Union to "tear down this wall."

And another such moment is taking place on the streets of Tehran and the provinces of Iran today. But sadly many here believe Barack Obama missed his historic opportunity to confront evil and stand for freedom.

We interviewed Menashe Amir here in Israel this week. For decades, Amir -- an Iranian Jew -- has kept in touch with his homeland through a radio program. He hears and knows the pulse of the Iranian people.

Amir says the protesters in the streets looked to the West and especially the U.S. for help but did not find it. This is how he put it:

"In fact, the Iranians are very much expecting the international community and especially the Western countries and mainly the United States to give...better and more...help and to support them.

"They have been very much frustrated from what President Obama [said] on the day that the elections were taking place.

"The United States is paving the road for opening negotiations with Iran. So this is an amazing situation in the international arena -- that no one really and practically wants to help the Iranian people."

In a withering article this week, Ralph Peters was less delicate with the President than Amir:

"SILENCE is complicity. Our President's refusal to take a forthright moral stand on the side of the Iranian freedom marchers is read in Tehran as a blank check for the current regime.

"The fundamentalist junta has begun arresting opposition figures, with regime mouthpieces raising the prospect of the death penalty. Inevitably, there are claims that dissidents have been 'hoarding weapons and explosives.'

"Foreign media reps are under house arrest. Cellphone frequencies are jammed. Students are killed and the killings disavowed. And our President is 'troubled,' but doesn't believe we should 'meddle' in Iran's internal affairs. (Meddling in Israel's domestic affairs is just fine though.) We just turned our backs on freedom. Again."

The events on the streets of Tehran could change the destiny of Iran and the course of history.

Let's hope and pray that our country and President will soon stand on the right side of history and let freedom ring!

Aftermath of Bibi's Speech

Chris Mitchell — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:10:32 GMT

Everyone was waiting. Would Bibi Netanyahu call for a Palestinian state?

On Sunday night at Bar Ilan University he finally did. But he did so with extreme restrictions. No army. No control over their air space. No ability to make military pacts with groups like Hezbollah or nations like Iran.

Netanyahu wants a demilitarized Palestinian state. In short, he wanted no possibility of another "Hamastan" on Israel's border. Will it work? Some aren't sure.

A Knesset member told me earlier today he's concerned that once you go down the road to a Palestinian state, the conditions you want to put on it could be eroded or even eliminated.

His argument is that no state in today's world exists with those kinds of conditions. In fact, it might not be a state at all since a state implies sovereignty.

Would the nations of the world -- would the U.S. -- demand that a Palestinian state have all the accoutrements of a regular state? That's the concern some here in Israel have.

Also, would the current Palestinian leadership be able to operate under those conditions?

Natan Sharansky, the author of "The Case for Democracy," thinks not.

Sharansky works with Palestinian dissidents all the time and knows many who want to genuinely live with Israelis "in peace and security."

However, he applies a test for democracy he calls the "town square test." Can someone go to the town square and criticize the government without fear?

Sharansky applies another test to the current situation. Would a future Palestinian state accept Jews living in it? If not, then it would be racist and fail his test for statehood.

One commentator put it this way: Once the Palestinians start acting like Norwegians, they can have a state.

The Iranian threat also played a limited role in Netanyahyu's speech. He devoted just one paragraph about it, saying the greatest danger the world is facing is the "nexis between radical Islam and nuclear weapons."

One of his speechwriters told me that not talking a lot about Iran was a deliberate decision.

For the past several years, Israeli officials have been saying that Iran is not just an Israeli problem but a world problem. It seems they wanted to let the results of the Iranian elections -- Ahmadinejad's re-election and the resulting riots -- speak for themselves.

It's also important to see Netanyahyu's speech in the Iranian context. It's possible he believes by agreeing to the concept of a Palestinian state, it will give him and Israel more leeway in dealing with Iran. We will see.

Netanyahu's Speech

Chris Mitchell — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:27:37 GMT

On Sunday, June 14, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to deliver a major foreign policy speech at Israel's Bar-Ilan University. The reason is simple. The U.S.-Israeli relationship, which has been solidified for decades, is eroding.

For weeks, the Obama administration has been pressuring the Netanyahu government about Jewish communities in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). They want all settlement construction in Israel's biblical heartland to stop, including what's called "natural growth."

"Natural growth" is construction within the boundaries of existing settlements. The implication is that Jews within these communities cannot have babies, put additions on their homes or expand like any community would "naturally" expand.

Netanyahu plans to stake out his position and also navigate through domestic politics, international relations and his own principles.

The prime minister is being influenced by his political party, the Likud.

On Wednesday, a group met with Netanyahu and asked him not to agree to a "two-state solution." One of them is quoted as saying "I ask you not to lay the cornerstone for the Palestinian state in your speech at Bar-Ilan." (Bar-Ilan University is considered a bastion of the national-religious camp in Israel.)

Yet, Netanyahu is also under pressure from the Obama administration to agree to "two states living side by side in peace and security," something that has become somewhat of a mantra.

It's unclear how much pressure is being exerted on Netanyahu by the Obama administration but anecdotal information appears that it's not very pretty.

For example, one recent article stated that "Israel's Channel One TV reported that Netanyahu was told Tuesday by an 'American official' in Jerusalem that 'We are going to change the world. Please, don't interfere.'"

The report said Netanyahu's aides interpreted this as a "threat." Whether or not Netanyahu's major policy speech satisfies Washington remains to be seen.

He'll also be persuaded by his own principles. He'll have to state what he believes about the settlements. Nearly 300,000 Israelis live in Judea and Samaria, the homeland of the Jews for thousands of years. They feel in a precarious position and Netanyahu is certainly aware of how they feel.

Here's how Oded Revivi, the mayor of Efrat, described the situation to CBN News:

"There is no other state, outside of Saudi Arabia, in which a Jew is not allowed to own property. We're reaching that situation now within these settlements. If I don't allow people to buy their property, I'm using the same rules as Saudi Arabia. I'm sure that in the United States if any governor would have said that no Jews can build in my state, he would have been accused of racism. Yet [this is what] I, as a Jew, am telling my people. And that's a very, very problematic situation to put the people of Israel under."

The State of Israel will be watching anxiously to see how Benjamin Netanyahu navigates through all these interests. It will reveal the politician, the statesman and the man.

More Response to Obama's Cairo Speech

Chris Mitchell — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:45:13 GMT

Following President Obama's speech in Cairo last week, we asked a number of Israelis for their reaction. Some were mesmerized by his oratory but others remained skeptical and profoundly concerned that the speech was one more sign the U.S. might one day abandon the Jewish state.

Here are some more reactions about Obama's speech from the Internet:

Daniel Pipes wrote:

Barack Obama's mention of 'seven million American Muslims' in the course of his rambling and complex 6,000-word address to the Muslim world from Cairo symbolizes the whole message.

Study after study has found that demographic figure about three times too high. But Islamist organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Islamic Society of North America relentlessly promote the notion of seven or even ten million American Muslims. Obama's accepting their version amounts to a giveaway, a cheap way to win the approbation of Islamists who so widely influence Muslim opinion.

Richard Hellman, president of CIPAC, the Christian Lobby for Israel, analyzed Obama's speech and concluded the following:

". sadly, his "soaring rhetoric masked a sad reality" that includes

An Iranian government that is on the verge of achieving nuclear-arms capability to carry out their genocidal threats to eliminate Jewish Israel, a capability and threat that have been confirmed, not removed, by Obama's offers to talk
The bold threat to Israel from the Obama team is that if Israel does not agree to remove almost one half million Jews from most of biblical Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria , and the Golan Heights, and turn over all of the holy sites to terrorists, the U.S. will not deal with Iran's nuclear weapons -- or let Israel do so; and
The facts that Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah's leaders, whom Obama hinted he will work with if they are backed in elections, are still terrorists at war with us and Israel."

Avner Boskey of Final Frontiers commented on the spiritual tone of Obama's message:

Though Obama states in Cairo that 'Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance,' the Koran and Islamic religious texts deny this. When the President stands in the shadows of Cairo's Al Azhar University and hints that 'among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's' -- he is trivializing the unpleasant truth that Al Azhar and the Koran clearly reject Christianity and Judaism as viable faith alternatives and that they call for the denigration, enslavement or destruction of these religions' followers.

President Obama's end-time vision is that 'all of us have a responsibility to work for the day when.the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims.' Yet the Scriptures actually state that the land of Israel is a gift to the nation of Israel alone and that unfriendly Gentiles who settle there over the ages will not have any guaranteed inheritance. President Obama's last days vision may sound nobly inclusive, but it is not God's truth.

Pentecost in Jerusalem ... Where It All Began

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:24:56 GMT

This Sunday, millions of Christians around the world will celebrate Pentecost, the birth of the Church. As recorded in the Book of Acts, it happened in Jerusalem:

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4)

This year, a ministry called "IPray TV" will provide a live video feed of the Pentecost celebrations here in Jerusalem. They've already provided video feeds of other celebrations like Christmas last year and this year's Easter from the Holy Land. Their founder, Mike Peros, describes the live feed as a virtual pilgrimage:

"Naturally it would be ideal if we could bring each and every believer to experience the Holy Land in person, but at least we now have the technology to bring them closer. Viewers in all parts of the world have been logging on year-round to strengthen their personal connection with these sites. It has been very rewarding to see that so many people share this desire and that they have been able to turn to IPrayTV on holidays and year-round as a meaningful spiritual resource."

Here's how IPray TV describes their unique ministry:

IPrayTV is dedicated to linking ministries to Jerusalem and the Holy sites through its simulcast technology. Through the company’s new video streaming technology, Christian pastors and ministries will be able to virtually connect to these Holy Land sites and deliver their sermons and biblical teaching.

The service, which was launched in October 2008, maintains live streaming video 24/7 from key Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including Calvary, Mount of Olives, Mount Ascension, the Eastern Gate, the City of David, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the city of Jerusalem.

For believers, who until recently could only witness these sites through pilgrimage in person, the ability to see and hear events at these sites in real time represents a new way to strengthen their knowledge and their faith.

The Pentecost events begin on Friday at 9:30 am; 11:30am and 7:30 pm. On Saturday May 30th, IPrayTV plans to deliver a live streaming video feed of the special holiday services at the Prayer Tent, by the Seven Arches Hotel on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives. The feed is available at www.ipraytv.com and it's free.

Praying ... and Voting for Europe's Future

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:32:44 GMT

Next week, one of the world's most important elections will be held. The European Parliament elections take place from June 4th to the 7th.

These elections could well shape the destiny of Europe for years to come. Twenty-seven member states will elect 736 members to the European Parliament to represent nearly a half a billion people. It's the largest transnational election in European history.

Given their significance, the European Coalition for Israel (ECI) is trying to inform and mobilize Christians throughout Europe with a media campaign. The ECI believes Christians can play a pivotal role in these elections. Their campaign includes these two videos: www.youtube.com/prayandvote2009 www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0d5l5aZwpM

They also have a Web site at www.prayandvote2009.eu

They're highlighting three main issues: the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, the erosion of Christian values throughout Europe, and the nuclear threat Iran poses to Israel and the world.

Concerning the Iranian nuclear threat, ECI campaign director Tomas Sandell commented, "It is alarming that a leader who promises the destruction of the Jewish state can be invited to address a UN Conference against Racism here in Europe. Christians in the 30´s probably had more of an excuse not to know what Hitler was up to at the time than the world community today, which is perfectly aware of the plans and intentions of the Iranian leader [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad.”

They want to encourage pro-Israel candidates with Judeo-Christian values. With a record low turnout expected, the ECI believes every vote will be crucial and that Christians have a duty to pray and vote. Sandell notes Europe's history has shown only too dramatically what happens when Christians do not get involved.

What Would a Palestinian State Look Like?

Chris Mitchell — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:03:34 GMT

It’s almost become a mantra from leaders across the globe: “a Palestinian State living side by side (with Israel) in peace and security.”

But what would it look like? One question seldom asked is would Jews be allowed to live in a Palestinian state? It seems to be a given that Jews would not be allowed to live in such a state.

The assumption is that tens if not thousands of Jews would have to be evicted from the West Bank to make room for this state. That certainly was the presumption when nearly 10,000 Jews were evicted from the Gaza Strip in August 2005.

Melanie Phillips, author of “Londonistan,” raises this issue in a recent article called “A Wary Encounter.”

Phillips addresses the recent meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu and the idea of a Palestinian state espoused by the President.

Here’s the point she makes:

Those screaming ‘apartheid’ at Israel are demanding the establishment of a putative Palestine state which would allow no Jews to live there, let alone enjoy the equal civil and human rights afforded to Arab citizens of Israel. As the former CIA Director James Woolsey is reported to have observed earlier this month:

...the world has a tendency to ‘define deviancy down for non-Jews.’ As a result, governments around the world, including the Obama administration, never even mention the possibility that Jews should be able to enjoy the same rights and privileges in any future Palestinian polity that Israeli Arabs exercise today in the Jewish state.

So, instead of what amounts to a Hitlerian program of Judenrein (no Jews) in any prospective Palestinian state - meaning, as a practical matter, if not a de jure one, that no Jews can reside or work there, there could be approximately twice the number of Israeli Jews as currently reside in so-called ‘settlements’ on the West Bank. They should be free to build synagogues and Jewish schools. And newspapers that serve the Jewish population in any future state of ‘Palestine’ should be permitted to flourish there.

Jews should also have a chance to elect representatives to a future Palestinian legislature. They should be able to expect to have representation as well in other governing institutions, like the executive and judicial branches. In order for the foregoing to operate, Jews in the Palestinian state must be able to live without fearing every day for their lives. In Mr. Woolsey`s view, ‘Once Palestinians are behaving that way, they deserve a state.’

It seems the call for a Palestinian state will only intensify, particularly under the Obama administration. How it answers the questions Phillips (and Woolsey) raise will go a long way to see what that state might ever look like.

Jerusalem Day

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:32:09 GMT

Today marks "Jerusalem Day." It commemorates the battle 42 years ago, during the Six Day War, when for the first time in 2,000 years, Jews controlled the city. Not since Roman legions destroyed the city and plundered the Second Temple in 70 A.D. did Jews control their capital.

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech marking that day. (You can read the entire speech at www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speechjeru210509.htm.

The speech was timely. Netanyahu just returned from a high pressure visit to Washington D.C. and a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.

Some reports suggest Obama wants Israel to divide the city and make one part of it the capital of a future Palestinian state and internationalize Jerusalem's Old City.

Despite the U.S. pressure and that of the international community, the prime minister vowed that Jerusalem would never be divided again:

"Last night I returned to Jerusalem, our capital, from a very important visit to Washington, capital of the United States. It was very important for me to come back to participate in this ceremony and say the same things I said in the United States: United Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem has always been – and always will be – ours. It will never again be divided or cut in half. Jerusalem will remain only under Israel's sovereignty. In united Jerusalem, the freedom of worship and freedom of access for all three religions to the holy sites will be guaranteed, and it is the only way to guarantee that members of all faiths, minorities and denominations can continue living here safely."

Netanyahu also noted what happened to him and thousands of other Jerusalemites that day:

"Another remarkable thing happened: thousands, thousands of Israeli citizens, not only from Jerusalem, but from all over the country, rushed in masses into the Old City, passing through roads that were previously blocked, places we were never allowed to set foot in, through barbed wires, along the now shattered separation walls, climbing rocks and entering into back alleys – all of us heading toward the same place: the Western Wall. I remember that the square was narrow – in fact, there was no square at all – and the place was too narrow to contain the large masses, and each of us waited our turn to arrive at that ancient wall. I remember the beating of my heart and the exhilaration I felt when I first touched the stones of the Western Wall, thinking about King David, King Solomon, Israel's prophets and kings and the Maccabim. I thought about the people of Israel throughout the generations, as did the thousands of Israelis who arrived there. The liberation of Jerusalem and the Western Wall marked for all of us the deep connection to the roots of Jewish history. We felt that the dream of generations had finally come true."

Last night I met a friend who was one of those thousands of Jews who flocked to the Western Wall in 1967. Even though she was visiting at the time, she vowed she would bring her children back to Jerusalem. She kept that promise and now has seen her children live in the city she calls home.

Netanyahu's own vow to never again allow Jerusalem to be divided will be tested by the world. International pressure – led by the U.S. – appears to want to coerce Israel to cede control of their capital.

Some would say the time is approaching when the words of the prophet Zechariah will one day come true:

"I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." (Zechariah 12:2-3)

Surely it's a time to follow the exhortation of another scripture: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may those who love you be secure." (Psalm 122:6)