Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Yaalon: Palestinians Asked for Lull Extension, We Agreed
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Cuomo, Yaalon

Alon Bason, Defense Ministry

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon hosted New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in his bureau Thursday. Cuomo is in Israel on a visit of identification with the Jewish state, and is accompanied by state senators and business leaders.

In the course of the visit, Yaalon showed the visitors videos of Hamas using civilian human shields when firing at Israeli civilians, and of terror tunnels that were dug for attacking Israel.

"It was not clear if we could conduct this meeting this morning,” Yaalon told his guests, “because of the changes in the situation. Yesterday was a clear example of how the terrorists operate. The Palestinian delgation in Cairo asked at around 11 p.m. to extend the ceasefire. They have many problems within the delegation. This is a delegation with five heads, which includes the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and various Hamas factions. They asked to extend the ceasefire and we did so.”

"A short time later we were hit by six rockets. Our air force responded immediately. Till now, from about 1:00 a.m., we have had quiet, a ceasefire. Do they intend to abide by it? Well. If not, we are ready to respond. To deal with it.”

"We are doing all that we can to avoid hitting uninvolved civilians, yet we are the ones who are criticized. Now we have to deal with various international commissions. We have not only a military challenge but a moral one, yet we are the ones who get criticized.

"In the year before Operation Protective Edge,” he added, “we uncovered foour terror tunnels. That is why I did not allow cement to enter the Strip, and I was criticized for it by the UN. They demanded that I allow in cement, but I explained that when they use cement to build terror tunnels against us, I do not intend to allow cement into the Strip. Period.”

U.S. Post Offices Reportedly Refusing Mail to Israel
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

US Post Office (illustration)

Thinkstock

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has written to complain to the US Postmaster General, after receiving widespread reports that US post offices around America have been refusing to accept mail to Israel.

In the last several days ADL reports that it has received complaints from Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey, revealing postal customers were incorrectly told that the US Postal Service is not accepting mail for Israel due to Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.

"The postal employees have told these individuals that current USPS policy says that mail to Israel cannot be accepted because of the current crisis,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. 

Foxman added that "only once employees sought clarification from supervisors in Washington did these post offices accept packages and letters to Israel."

Writing to US Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe, ADL stated that the phenomenon presumably stems from a misunderstanding by postal workers, who apparently thought the temporary suspension of service to Israel during a 36-hour period in July was a permanent policy change.

That suspension came after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned flights to Israel, following a Hamas rocket landing near Ben Gurion International Airport. The ban was later lifted, but not before Hamas declared it a "great victory."

The issue of mail to Israel being denied comes as Wall Street Journal reports on Wednesday night revealed that US President Barack Obama's administration blocked a weapons transfer to Israel during the operation, and further ordered closer scrutiny of future Israeli weapons requests.

The Spirit Behind AntiSemitism
Aug 14th, 2014
CommentaryBill Randals
Categories: Antisemitism;The Nation Of Israel

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.(Revelation 12:1-5)

In a recent article we began an exploration of the mystery of the near universal hatred and antipathy towards the Jews. We examined possible human reason why people seem to have hated, blamed and suspected the Jews of much evil.

Such causes as envy at the successes of Jewish people, and badly misreading scripture, or the fact that God exiled the Jews and caused them to be perpetual strangers in the diaspora over the centuries, all factor in, no doubt. Also the fact that even in their estrangement from God and temporary exile, the Jews are yet a witness to the reality of the God of the Bible would be a reason why those who hate God would hate the Jews.

But there is a virulent, irrational aspect to anti-Semitism which points to even deeper, darker causes than these. I believe tat the vision the Apostle John had in Revelation 12 is a spiritual explanation for Anti Semitism.

There is a correspondence between the Sacred books of Genesis and the Revelation. As it was in the beginning, so shall it be at the end, for there is continuity in the Divine Revelation.

Genesis three features a woman, in a garden of delight, being tempted by a serpent. By the time we come to Revelation 12, the woman is in labor, with child, and the serpent has become a multi-headed, multi crowned Dragon! There is a man in the garden also, He was called to rule the world. In the vision of John, there is now a man-child, destined to rule all nations.

Who is the woman? We know who the woman is in Genesis, she is Eve, the mother of us all. But who is the woman in Revelation? She is clothed with the Sun, with the moon under her feet and has a crown of 12 Stars.

When I was a Roman Catholic, I used to think the woman was the Virgin Mary. Our little church even featured a statue of Mary, standing on the globe, crushing the serpent underneath her feet. She had a crown of 12 Stars.

Of course this was a blasphemous misinterpretation of the original gospel in Genesis 3:15, the promise of the “Seed of the woman” who would himself crush the serpent’s head , but would bruise his own heel. Mary, the mother of Jesus, didn’t crush the serpent’s head, for she confessed that she too was a sinner in need of salvation.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.(Genesis 3:15)

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name”.(Luke 1:46-49)

The European Union, a new political entity heavily influenced by Roman Catholicism, has chosen as its flag the 12 Stars in a circle, the so-called “Crown of Mary”.

But the woman in the vision is not Mary. Then who is she?

Let us interpret scripture with other scripture, Revelation with Genesis in this case.The identity of this vision is revealed in the story of Joseph and his dreams.

“And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?”(Genesis 37:9-10)

The twelve stars are the sons of Israel, and the Sun and the Moon are Jacob and Leah. Thus the Woman in the vision is Israel.

What does the part mean about Israel laboring in birth? The chosen nation has ever been in labor, for beyond the reception and custody of the written Word of God, and the maintenance of a Holy nation of Priests and Kings, and the sole witness to the true God in a pagan world, Israel’s great task was to be the vessel through whom the Messiah, ‘the seed of the woman’ should come into the world to save us from our sins.

Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.(Micah 4:9-10)

All of the above, though being Divine privileges, have involved a lot of pain, endurance and hatred from the world which “lies in the power of the wicked One”.

The Red Dragon? The very text tells us who that is…

…that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.(Revelation 12:9)

The Dragon waited for the woman to give birth, that He might devour the man-child, ‘the seed of the woman who would one day crush the serpent’s head’. The ‘man-child’ is Jesus of Nazareth, “Born of a woman, and born under the law“.

From the time of the announcement in the garden of Eden, of the coming ‘man-child’, all through the calling and election of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob, and on into the history of the twelve tribes of Israel, the serpent has ever sought to destroy the ‘seed’, before He could rise up to rule and crush the Devil’s head.

This is why Pharoah took Abraham’s wife, and Isaac’s wife, and tried to obliterate the children of Israel, tempting them to commit fornication with idolaters, , trying to wipe out the grandchildren of David through Athaliah, or to get the Jews to intermarry with Pagans in the days of Nehemiah.

Behind all of these incidents was the Serpent seeking to devour the seed! Thus, Anti-Semitism is Satanic! Everywhere antisemitism is promoted, you are hearing the hiss of the serpent.

Syria: IS Seizes Villages in Aleppo Region
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Islamic State (IS) militants seized a number of cities and villages in the Aleppo district, near Syria’s border with Turkey.

According to the organization, the cities and villages that were captured were under the control of rebel forces belonging to Bashar Assad’s regime.

State Department: Stopping Missiles Shipment 'Not Unusual'
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Netanyahu and Obama at the White House

Flash 90

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf on Thursday disputed an article in the Wall Street Journal which revealed that U.S. President Barack Obama's administration stopped a shipment of missiles to Israel late last month and tightened weapons shipment procedures to Israel.

According to AFP, while Harf acknowledged that the administration was looking carefully at arms shipments to Israel, she said the process was "by no means unusual."

"Given the crisis in Gaza, it's natural that agencies take additional care to review deliveries," she was quoted as having told reporters.

"The United States has an unshakable commitment to Israel's security. No country has done more to support their security than the United States," she stressed.

Harf declined to discuss specific arms shipments but noted that Obama last week signed a bill authorizing another $225 million for Iron Dome, the missile defense system that has sharply curtailed Israeli casualties in the latest conflict.

Obama has been at odds with Israel over the defensive operation in Gaza, making various attempts to press Israel into accepting a truce with the adamant terrorist organization of Hamas. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly responded to the pressure by telling the administration "not to ever second guess me again," after Hamas committed one of its many ceasefire violations.

Earlier on Thursday, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnua) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) chided Netanyahu for allowing the relationship with Israel's ally to deteriorate.

"The relations with the United States are a strategic asset. Harming these relations could cause a deterioration that will wind up harming Israel's security,” Livni told Channel 2 News, in what sounded like criticism of the way Netanyahu and his bureau have handled the relationship with the White House.

"Both before the military operation and after it, some of the ministers and MKs spoke in a scandalous way about the U.S.,” she opined. “We need to understand that the relationship with the U.S. is the basis for Israel's security needs. Whoever reacts and says 'we rely on ourselves alone' does not know what he is talking about, and does not understand Israel's security needs.”

Lapid said that the tension with the U.S. is “a worrisome trend that we must not allow to continue. Relations with the U.S. are a strategic asset that must not be harmed. Just last week, I spoke to Secretary of State Kerry, and to Senator Harry Reid, Head of the Democratic majority, to thank them for the emergency assistance they gave Israel for Iron Dome. Sometimes, one needs to know how to simply say thank you, and make sure that the relations with the U.S. continue to be this strong friendship, which is so important to the state of Israel.”

Report: IS Leader Flees Iraq Due to U.S. Attacks
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Leader of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, left the Iraqi city of Mosul a few days ago and headed for Syria, in light of aerial attacks launched with the United States.

A source indicated that al-Baghdadi left Mosul accompanied by 30 Hummer SUVs. These reports have yet to be confirmed by any official source.

PM Blamed for Deteriorating Relations With U.S.
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Senior diplomatic sources are blaming Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the Ambassador in Washington, Ron Dermer, for the deterioration of relations between Israel and the American government.

“We all remember how they went behind Obama’s back to help candidates during the elections. Netanyahu is responsible for this situation,” they said, alluding to the halting of a weapons transport from the US to Israel.

Obama Reportedly Blocks Israel Missile Shipment
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

President Barack Obama

Reuters

A new report reveals that US President Barack Obama's administration stopped a shipment of missiles to Israel late last month and tightened weapons shipment procedures to Israel, as tensions between the two nations grow amid Operation Protective Edge.

The report in the Wall Street Journal, released Wednesday night, cites US officials in Obama's administration, who say they discovered Israel had requested a large number of Hellfire missiles directly through military-to-military channels. An initial batch of the missiles was about to be shipped, according to sources in Israel and the US Congress.

At that point, the Pentagon stepped in and put the transfer on hold. Further, top White House officials instructed various US military agencies to consult with the US State Department before approving any additional requests from Israel.

A senior Obama administration official was quoted in the report as saying the transfer shouldn't have been a routine "check-the-box approval," given Israel's defensive operation in Gaza against Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the US.

The decision to clamp down on future transfers was the equivalent of "the United States saying 'the buck stops here. Wait a second…It's not OK anymore,'" said the official.

A Israeli defense official confirmed the reports to Walla! on Thursday, saying "the US delayed a shipment of Hellfire missiles to the Israeli airforce." He added "apparently it was (done) on the background of national tension" with Israel.

Obama has been at odds with Israel over the defensive operation in Gaza, making various attempts to press Israel into accepting a truce with the adamant terrorist organization of Hamas. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly responded to the pressure by telling the administration "not to ever second guess me again," after Hamas committed one of its many ceasefire violations.

Currently a new five-day ceasefire has come into effect as of Wednesday at midnight, with Obama calling Netanyahu shortly thereafter to push for a "sustainable" ceasefire.

According to US officials cited in the Wall Street Journal report, the Wednesday night phone call between Obama and Netanyahu was "particularly combative."

"Discovering" military-to-military arms transfers

The report noted that on July 20, ahead of the Hellfire missile cancellation, the IDF asked the US military for various munitions such as 120-mm mortar shells and 40-mm illuminating rounds, without the knowledge of Obama's administration.

Three days later the request was approved by the military, without Obama or US Secretary of State John Kerry being approached for approval, given that their approval was not required for such a transfer.

A US defense official added that the standard review process in such requests was properly followed.

The transfer without Obama's unnecessary approval was followed by a similar incident ahead of the Hellfire cancellation, which occurred the same day as the July 30 IDF strike on terrorists adjacent to a UN school, which the US slammed as "disgraceful."

In response, the IDF confirmed it targeted Islamic Jihad terrorists in the vicinity of the school. Previously the IDF provided video evidence that Hamas fires rockets from inside schools; further, UNRWA schools have been used in at least three cases to store Hamas rockets, after which UNRWA repeatedly returned the rockets to Hamas.

On the same day as the UN school strike, US reports said the 120-mm and 40-mm rounds had been released by the US army to the IDF, with one Obama administration official saying "we were blindsided."

Nazi Symbolism in Ukraine: Details
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsRia Novosti
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

While Ukrainian authorities have been denying their affiliation with neo-fascist movements, similarities between the symbols used by the Kiev-backed forces and those used in Nazi Germany during World War II cannot be overlooked.

MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti) - While Ukrainian authorities have been denying their affiliation with neo-fascist movements, similarities between the symbols used by the Kiev-backed forces and those used in Nazi Germany during World War II cannot be overlooked.

AZOV BATTALION

The Azov Battalion is an armed group, with members of the patrol unit of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. The battalion was formed in May 2014 in the city of Mariupol. The group’s badge bears strong resemblance to the Wolfsangel rune that served as a symbol for the Waffen-SS military forces. The symbol is comprised of Latin letter “I” for “idea” and “N” for “nation”.

The Wolfsangel badge of the Azov Battalion has the so-called “black sun” (“Schwarze Sonne”) in the background painted in white. The “black sun” occult symbol was once adopted by the Third Reich.

One of the Azov Battalion’s badges also has the phrase “Black corps” on it, which is a direct reference to the Waffen-SS official newspaper, titled “Das Schwarze Korps” (“The Black Corps”).

PATRIOTS OF UKRAINE

The Patriots of Ukraine is a nationalist organization whose members are also members of the Azov Battalion. The Patriots of Ukraine’s flag depicts a black Wolfsangel emblem on a yellow background.

DONBASS BATTALION

The Donbass Battalion is a volunteer battalion created in April 2014 to oppose the independence supporters of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

The group’s emblem has an inverted eagle, resembling a trident, with half-spread wings. The same symbol was used by the Wehrmacht forces of Germany from 1935 to 1946. Media reports suggest that the members of the battalion have swastika-shaped tattoos.

NATIONAL GUARD OF UKRAINE

The National Guard of Ukraine is a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Interior ministry that was established on March 12, 2014. The guard’s badge bears signs of a swastika in its decorations.

RIGHT SECTOR

Right Sector is a Ukrainian nationalist movement that originated during the November 2013 Euromaidan protests in Kiev.

The Right Sector political party was created on March 22, 2014 on the basis of the Ukrainian National Assembly. The party’s emblem is also strongly reminiscent of a trident on a red and black background.

The Euromaidan supporters also use the motto “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!” which is a slogan was commonly used by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists at the time of World War II.

Maliki Agrees to Step Down As Iraq's PM
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, announced on Thursday his decision to step down as prime minister and endorse Haider al-Abadi as his successor.

In a televised address, he said his decision was aimed at preserving the country's "unity".  Earlier this week, Iraq’s President Fouad Massoum tasked Abadi with forming a new government, a move Maliki said was a violation of the constitution.

Livni, Lapid Chide Netanyahu Over Spat With U.S.
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Uncategorized

Tzipi Livni

Flash 90

Following reports that the American administration so upset with Israel that it has delayed a shipment of weapons to the embattled state, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnua) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) chided Binyamin Netanyahu for allowing the relationship with Israel's ally to deteriorate.

"The relations with the United States are a strategic asset. Harming these relations could cause a deterioration that will wind up harming Israel's security,” Livni told Channel 2 News Online, in what sounded like criticism of the way Netanyahu and his bureau have handled the relationship with the White House.

"Both before the military operation and after it, some of the ministers and MKs spoke in a scandalous way about the US,” she opined. “We need to understand that the relationship with the US is the basis for Israel's security needs. Whoever reacts and says 'we rely on ourselves alone' does not know what he is talking about, and does not understand Israel's security needs.”

Livni said that she heard about the crisis with the US from the news media and that she will demand explanations in the Security Cabinet meeting Thursday evening. “I want to hear all of the reports and updates and after I receive explanations I will know what to recommend,” she explained. “One can argue with a strategic partner like the US, as long as the argument is to the point and respectable, and as long as one is talking about matters of substance and not going on to places one should not be in.”

Lapid said that the tension with the US is “a worrisome trend that we must not allow to continue. Relations with the US are a strategic asset that must not be harmed. Just last week, I spoke to Secretary of State Kerry, and to Senator Harry Reid, Head of the Democratic majority, to thank them for the emergency assistance they gave Israel for Iron Dome. Sometimes, one needs to know how to simply say thank you, and make sure that the relations with the US continue to be this strong friendship, which is so important to the state of Israel.”

Livni Against Making Deals With Terrorist Organizations
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni has made it clear that she opposes making deals with the Hamas terrorist organization.

“Whoever labels me as being pro agreement, any agreement, clearly cannot distinguish his left from his right. I am all for agreements with those who recognize our existence and who do not use terrorism and I am against agreements with terror(ists).”

Let the Headlines Speak
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsFrom the internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Kingdom Circles, the Kingdom, and the Church
Firstly, nowhere in scripture is the Kingdom of God described as intersecting to share common ground with any other entity. It is clear from Colossians 1:13-14 that there are only two kingdoms, domains, or authorities. One is the kingdom of the devil and the other is the Kingdom of God. These kingdoms do not interconnect with one another.  

Euro yields at record lows as economy falters; stocks up
Bond yields dropped to record lows across the euro zone on Thursday and the euro hovered near its weakest in nine months after Germany reported its economy shrank in the second quarter, fuelling expectations of more central bank stimulus.  

Chile Earthquake Today 2014: Another Terremoto Hits Iquique
A strong Chile earthquake 2014 today has hit moments ago. a temblor registering a 5.7 magnitude, began later today August 13, 2014. No reports of injuries have yet to be indicated by local news.  

Ebola a ‘high risk’ in Kenya, WHO warns
This is the most serious warning to date that the disease could spread to East Africa. So far it has been limited to West Africa, where it has ravaged Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, killing more than 1,000 people.

NSA bot MonsterMind can wage cyberwar on its own – Snowden
The US National Security Agency owns a “MonsterMind” program designed to prevent foreign cyberattacks and, also, automatically strike back, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden told Wired magazine. MonsterMind - unlike similar schemes that have existed for many years now - would also be capable to fire back at such attacks without any human intervention...  

Britain has 'historic responsibility' to defeat Islamic State, says Kurds' security chief
Masrour Barzani calls on the West to make a “decision to eliminate Islamic State for good” because the Kurds’ Peshmerga fighters lack modern weapons to counter the extremists’ captured tanks and armoured vehicles  

Russian conducts military exercises in disputed islands
Today, Russia announced that it was conducting military exercises not only in the Kurils but on the islands claimed by Japan.  

Obama blames others for abandoning Iraq
The current crisis in Iraq that has caused Barack Obama to flee Washington and responsibility for Martha’s Vineyard in search of a perfect tee-time . There are many causes for the current mess, most of them can inevitably be traced back to Obama.  

Minor Earthquake Reported in Connecticut
Some residents in southern Connecticut say they were awoken by their homes shaking, and the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a minor earthquake.  

DigitalGlobe launches super-sharp WorldView-3 Earth imager
The most powerful commercial imaging satellite ever built has just gone into orbit from California, US. DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 spacecraft will return pictures of the Earth's surface down to a resolution of 31cm. Until recently, the company was restricted to selling images sharper than 50cm only to the US government.  

Iraq crisis: UK says situation 'still desperate'
The plight of Iraqis trapped on Mount Sinjar by Islamist fighters remains "desperate" but a rescue is now "less likely", the UK has said. International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the latest US inspection found fewer Yazidi refugees than expected and those remaining were in a better condition than feared.  

Michael Brown shooting: Anger at crackdown on protests
Police in the US state of Missouri have clashed with protesters for a fourth night amid growing anger at the fatal shooting of a black teenager by police. Heavily armed riot police fired tear gas as they moved in on demonstrators in Ferguson, St Louis, who had ignored an order to disperse. Several people were arrested, two of them journalists who said they were assaulted before being released.  

5-day truce appears to hold despite shaky start after rocket attacks and IAF strikes
Israeli jets struck rocket launch sites and a terrorist base in the Gaza Strip on Thursday morning shortly after midnight as a response to rocket attacks on southern Israel on Wednesday night. The exchange of fire did not stop an apparent cease-fire extension from coming into effect on Thursday at 12:00 a.m, which both sides accepted...  

Report: US halted weapons transfer to Israel during Gaza offensive
Amid diplomatic tensions between US President Barack Obama's administration and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the US halted a shipment of air-to-ground missiles to Israel last month during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.  

Fox News Poll: Majorities disapprove of Obama on Iraq, Israel and Ukraine
Voters are generally dissatisfied with how President Obama is handling the world’s hot spots -- most give him a thumbs-down for the job he is doing on Iraq, Israel and Ukraine. At the same time, they approve of U.S. airstrikes he’s ordered against ISIS militants in Iraq.  

N. Korea Fires Projectiles as Pope Visits S. Korea
As Francis became the first pope in 25 years to visit South Korea on Thursday, Seoul's never-timid rival, North Korea, made its presence felt by firing three short-range projectiles less than an hour before he arrived, officials said.  

Nigeria fears Ebola spread to east by infected nurse
A nurse who contracted Ebola at a Lagos hospital travelled to the eastern part of Nigeria before falling sick, raising fears of new infections outside the city, officials said Wednesday.  

$2.46T: Tax Revenues for FY14 Hit Record Through July--Gov't Runs $460B Deficit
Inflation-adjusted federal tax revenues hit a record $2,469,178,000,000 for the first 10 months of fiscal year this July, but the federal government still ran a $460,450,000,000 deficit during that time, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.  

Jewish groups accuse UN chief of being one-sided
Leaders of major Jewish organizations on Wednesday accused U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of being one-sided in his handling of the crisis in Gaza.  

Why is Turkey supporting Islamic State fighters in Iraq?
Now that U.S. forces are engaged in combat operations against Islamic State fighters in Iraq, the Obama administration must press ISIS on all fronts, targeting its financing, logistics, and weapons providers. Turkey — America's ally and NATO member — is allegedly involved. Clarifying Turkey's role would serve U.S.-Turkey relations.  

Kingdom Circles, the Kingdom, and the Church
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsBiblical Missiology
Categories: The Church;Commentary

Introduction

The use of a diagram called Kingdom Circles is a fairly recent phenomenon used by some to explain how people can move into the Kingdom of God without changing their religious affiliation. According to this imaginative proposal, anyone who is a Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist does not have to leave that persuasion to become part of the Kingdom of God. They just accept Jesus as Savior and enter the Kingdom of God while continuing their socio-religious practices. The error in their argument occurs from a very basic misunderstanding of the nature of the Kingdom of God and of the Church.

 Kingdom Circles

There are a variety of these diagrams produced by groups such as Jesus in the Quran and Common Ground. Rebecca Lewis describes her version of the Kingdom Circles in the International Journal of Frontier Missiology. This version is depicted in a diagram with 3 figures representing her belief that people are unreasonably being forced to enter the “Christian” community in order to enter the Kingdom of God.  “This diagram distinguishes between two kinds of identity: spiritual and socio-religious. The center circle represents the Kingdom of God. People gain a new spiritual identity by entering God’s Kingdom through transforming faith in Jesus Christ. The other circles represent various socio-religious identities” (emphasis is hers] (Lewis, 2009:35).

There are two major errors in this diagram. Figure 1 shows two circles interconnecting to share a common area. One is labeled Kingdom of God and the other Judaism. Firstly, nowhere in scripture is the Kingdom of God described as intersecting to share common ground with any other entity. It is clear from Colossians 1:13-14 that there are only two kingdoms, domains, or authorities. One is the kingdom of the devil and the other is the Kingdom of God. These kingdoms do not interconnect with one another. Scripture clearly teaches that humans reside in one of these kingdoms. No entity such as ethnicity, religion, or creed intersects with the Kingdom of God. In every case, a person is either in the kingdom of darkness or in the Kingdom of God. There is no middle ground or liminal area.

The second error the diagram portrays is the presumption that Jews who believed in Jesus held two socio-religious identities. According to Lewis, a socio-religious identity means cultural and religious practices. The author explains that “many Jews in the book of Acts followed Jesus as Lord and thus entered the Kingdom of God” (Ibid.). She believes that these Jews continued all their cultural and religious practices as Jews despite the fact that Paul testified that he “persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women.” (Acts 22:4) And again, “that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.” (Acts 22:19). It is obvious to the careful reader of Acts that converted Jews were driven away from the Jewish socio-religious community. Paul testified, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7) Jews who followed the Messiah continued to be ethnic Jews but their socio-religious identity as Jews was not recognized by the Jewish community.

In Figure 2, the author draws an additional circle interconnecting with the Kingdom of God circle that represents Gentiles. She explains how some Jewish believers wanted Gentiles “to join the socio-religious system of Judaism” (Ibid) order to follow Jesus. It is clear from Acts 15:1, 5 that the issue was circumcision and the law of Moses rather than accepting Jewish cultural and religious practices. The believing Jews themselves were already marginalized in the community. The Jewish socio-religious community was not sharing common ground with the Kingdom of God and the Gentiles could not enter the Kingdom through Judaism. This is clearly stated by Peter in Acts 15:11.

Figure 3 in Lewis’ diagram shows the author’s concept of the religious situation today where Judaism, Christianity, & the non-Christian world interconnecting with the Kingdom of God. Of course, this cannot be because no entity can intersect with the Kingdom of God. Therefore, these circles do not represent reality but only a figment of imagination. In fact, they are curiously similar to universalism where all religious paths lead to salvation. However, the author does imply that people can “enter the Kingdom of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and gain a new spiritual identity while retaining their own community and socio-religious identity” (Ibid.) Does this mean that they are born again as Jesus says to Nicodemus? And if they are born again, how can they continue in their former religious practices which are not only not biblical but are also hostile to Jesus as the Son of God?

Lewis does correctly state that “‘Christianity’ has become a socio-religious system encompassing much more than simply faith in Christ. It involves various cultural traditions, religious forms, and ethnic or political associations.” (Ibid.) However, this does not justify setting “Christianity” up as a straw man to knock down. What the author really needs to address is the spiritual Church of Jesus Christ which is the body of our Lord in the world. The Church is in the Kingdom of God and everyone who resides in the Kingdom has been baptized into one body by one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13) that is, the Church.

The Kingdom of God

The subject of the Kingdom of God is large and has a vast amount of research, thought, and publications devoted to it. Scholars argue many points about the way it is depicted in scripture. It is not the purpose of this short article to argue the nature or meaning of the Kingdom of God. In this discussion about kingdom circles and the Kingdom of God it is only expedient to mention a few points; i.e., the Kingdom of God is at hand, we must seek it, it must be entered, one must be born again to enter, and the unrighteous do not enter it.

 When Paul makes his declaration in Colossians 1:13-14 that a person can be moved from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of God, he bases it on the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 10:7, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom is at hand. But we are not actually in it. It does not interconnect with our religious orientation. Jesus says that we must seek the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). This means that we are not in it. There is a need to move from where we are into that Kingdom. However, there are those who are not able to enter (Matthew 18:3). Although the Kingdom may be near (Luke 21:31), one must be born again to enter (John 3:3). Paul understands that the unrighteous will not inherit it (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

 These sayings of Jesus, and many like them in the gospels show us clearly that the Kingdom of God has it own entity. It does not overlap or flow into any other entity such as a religious construct or practices. No religion, philosophy, or socio-religious identity (as Rebecca Lewis describes it) interconnects with the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it seems logical to assume that it is not possible to stay in a false religious construct while living in the Kingdom of God. One would have to resort to pretense to do so. Since pretense is not a biblical trait and surely is not God’s will for a believer, it is not possible to justify trying it no matter what the intent of the pretender would be (2 Corinthians 4:2).

 There may be justification for not calling oneself a “Christian.” But if one is not called a Christian, then what term would be descriptive? The follower of the prophet Jesus is, in fact, a follower of Christ for Jesus is the Christ. In scripture, Jesus is referred to as a prophet several times whereas he is referred to as the Christ over 300 times. The use of the definite article with the word Christ clearly shows that it means more than simply “anointed.” When Paul writes about “the Christ,” there is no confusion as to his meaning. Clearly, the writers of the New Testament considered themselves followers of Jesus the Christ. Thus, it does not surprise us to read in 1 Peter 4:14-16 that Peter uses the name “Christian” in reference to the believers. [The Greek word for "Christian" is debated by scholars but Arndt & Gingrich follow W. Bauer in their translation of his lexicon]

 It is understandable that believers in some countries would be reluctant to call themselves Christians for a number of reasons. The main reason is spiritual because belief in Jesus as the Son of God is anathema to most religions. Secondly, the so-called “Christian” culture of the west which is not really Christian is held in disrepute by many people in the world. However, despite the degenerate condition of many so-called Christian cultures, they are no worse than the cultures in which other religions thrive, and in most cases they are better. Thirdly, it seems obvious that most, if not all, religious followers adjust to the cultures in which they live. My personal observation of religious people in three south Asian countries indicates that all of them adjust to basically the same social rules and customs. The exceptions seem to be the central religious celebrations or customs of their faiths. The fact that some or all new believers are forced out of their families and communities does not seem to be sufficient reason to require them to continue the false religious practices from which Jesus freed them.

 Around three thousand years ago the psalmist recognized the power of non-biblical cultures to mold their followers. In Psalm 115:8 we read about idol worship and how the customs and ceremonies of false religious beliefs pollute the minds of those who participate in them: “Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them” (ESV). The wisdom that God gave the psalmist so many years ago is something that should be considered today if any are encouraging new believers to stay in their previous religious disciplines. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:16 that “when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” But if new believers are encouraged or required to maintain the very structures and spirit powers that keep them veiled from the truth, how can they grow spiritually? Therefore, there is no justification for teaching converts that they are not “Christian” and keeping them in spiritual bondage to false gods.

 The Church

Perhaps the basic problem with those who follow the kingdom circles’ philosophy is that they lack mature understanding of either the Kingdom of God or the nature and purpose of the Church. In the New Testament, the church of God is spoken of in both the visible and invisible sense- both the spiritual and the material. There are many references of both kinds and it is important to note those references that show how the invisible Church (which we write with a capital C) is manifested as the body of Christ to accomplish God’s purposes in the world.

 When Jesus spoke to Peter & the disciples about the Church, his words were: “the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” This indicated that the Church had a spiritual dimension as well as a physical one. Most of the references to the church in the New Testament concern the local congregations, that is, the church that can be seen. In the King James Version, it is usually called the “church of God.” But there are also key passages that explain the dynamic spiritual role of the unseen Church in the world. It is critical that we understand the meaning of these verses.

 There are two key issues that stand out. One is that there is a mystery involved in the Church and it is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs (Ephesians 3:4). The second issue is that God is fulfilling an eternal purpose in the Church. This is that “the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (3:10). As we share the gospel to people of other faith systems, we have to keep these truths in mind. Those who believe are fellow heirs with us in the worldwide fellowship of believers. If we separate them from that universal fellowship, we not only harm their spiritual growth but we frustrate God’s purpose. In the same way, we must proclaim the role God’s Church plays in making known God’s wisdom to unrighteous spiritual forces. If we allow these spiritual powers to hold sway over new believers, we not only cripple the spiritual growth of the believers but we allow evil spiritual forces access to them through their unbiblical ceremonies.

 In Colossians 1:15-20 Paul explains that the pre-existing Son of God, who holds together all things in the world, is “the head of the body, the church.” This mystery is paramount in understanding the separation that must take place between believers and other faith systems. In Col. 1:24, Paul repeats the truth that the church is the body of Christ. It is not possible for a person to dwell in two opposing camps. If a person is in the body of Christ, the Church, he cannot be in another religious body. Paul tells us that this is a mystery hidden for ages but has now been revealed (Col.1:26). God has made known to us “how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Since we have such an amazing and wonderful message, why would we want to leave people in the bondage of their former religious practices?

 If the Kingdom of God is the sphere in which we live, the Church is the instrument of God for his purposes in this world. In Ephesians 3:9-11 Paul explains the particular purpose God has for the Church. “To bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we hide the revelation of the Church from those who think they are coming to Christ for salvation, we are, in fact, misleading them with a false gospel and denying them the glory of standing with Christ against supernatural spiritual powers. Christ is calling them out of their ignorance into the mystery of living in his divine will. Paul explains this in Eph. 1:9: “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth.”

Closing

In closing, it is true to state that it is not possible to separate the Kingdom of God and His Church because the two are intertwined in God’s purposes. Because of this, those who come into his Church, the body of Christ, through faith cannot also be subject to another kingdom, socio-religious authority, or spiritual domain. It is not biblical to teach that such a condition is possible or to remain silent if people do not understand this truth. There is a real Kingdom of Light and there is a real kingdom of darkness. They do not overlap. Even Lewis’ diagrams show how one gets gray where light and dark mix.

ISIS Conspiracy Theory Denied By U.S. Embassy on Facebook
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily Newsnews.com.au
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Islamic State fighters have pushed members of the Yazidi community to a remote mountain top in Iraq. Pic: AFP. Source: AFP

THE US government has taken to Facebook to publicly deny a major conspiracy theory sweeping the Middle East.

Rumours circulating suggest the US is the force behind the Islamic State which is terrorising large parts of the region.

The idea has been gaining ground for weeks as social media users shared screenshots of “Password 360” which purports to be an excerpt from Hillary Clinton’s book where she admits the US engineered the Islamic State, the Washington Post reports.

The US Embassy in Beirut took to Facebook to squash the rumours, posting: “Any suggestion that the United States ever considered recognising the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as anything other than a terrorist organisation, or had any role in its creation, is patently false. Allegations circulating in Lebanon to the contrary are a fabrication.”

 

The US has been forced to deny the rumours on Facebook. Source: Supplied

However the statement quickly added fuel to the fire.

Facebook user Patrick Seukunian wrote: “Rumors said that Hillary Clinton mentioned these information in her latest book. I did not get to read the book but can anybody confirm or deny what she mentioned?”

While Majid Aslam described the US as the “mastermind” of IS “so that they can create unsuitability in Middle East and Islamic Countries.”

The rumours are thought to be based on Hillary Clinton’s latest book Hard Choices. Source: Supplied

Although there is no such thing as “Password 360,” Hillary Clinton has said in her recent book, Hard Choices, and subsequent interviews US failure to help Syrian rebels led to the rise of the Islamic State.

“The failure to help build up a credible fighting force of the people who were the originators of the protests against Assad — there were Islamists, there were secularists, there was everything in the middle — the failure to do that left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled,” she told The Atlantic.

In the ISIS of the Storm
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsBarbwire
Categories: Today's Headlines;Commentary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Humanitarian aid isn’t the only thing reaching the top of Mount Sinjar — so are Western journalists. And the first-hand accounts they’re sharing are horrifying. The Iraqi situation is deteriorating for the refugees, despite the last minute help from America and three days of airstrikes. “It is death valley,” said Iraqi General Ahmed Ithwany. “Up to 70% of the [people who fled up the mountain] are dead.” Those who are still alive are running toward the parachutes of food — more than 36,000 meals — and thousands of gallons of water, one of the few signs of hope on the bleak landscape.

The Telegraph‘s Jonathan Krohn talked to some of the Iraqis pinned on the slopes, many of whom feel betrayed by the West. “When the Americans withdrew from Iraq, they didn’t protect the Christians,” said one of the refugees. “The Christians became the scapegoats. Everyone has been killing us.”

Even now, many see the U.S.’s intervention as too little too late. Iraq’s most prominent Christian leader, Chaldean Patriarch Louis Sako, sent an open letter to the White House decrying the President’s strategy. “The position of the American President Obama only to give military assistance to protect Erbil is disappointing.” Late yesterday, the radical jihadists known as ISIS were bearing down on yet another village, threatening its families to “convert by noon… or we kill all of you.”

Meanwhile, in the U.S., even the President’s own administration thinks his policy is a loser, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — whose own leadership is partially to blame for the Middle East collapse — leading the naysayers. Former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and former Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford also had plenty to say. Among Republicans, you didn’t have to look too far to find critics of the President’s foreign failures.

“Sadly what’s happening in Iraq is the latest manifestation of the failures of the Obama/Clinton foreign policy,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said at the Faith Leadership Summit in Iowa that FRC Action co-sponsored. “What ISIS is doing in Iraq is unspeakable; ISIS is the face of evil,” Cruz said. “ISIS right now is crucifying Christians in Iraq. Crucifixion is not something that just occurred 2000 years ago; they are doing it right now today.”

In Israel, America’s strongest ally is also suffering from the President’s Middle East indifference. That’s why I’ll be traveling to Israel next week along with a delegation from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). We were invited by the Israeli government to see firsthand what is happening on the ground in Israel. “Countering rising anti-Semitism in the international press and on the streets, this friendship visit will communicate to Israel and to the Palestinians who stand in opposition to Hamas that we, leaders who represent the Christian community, stand with them,” NRB President Dr. Jerry Johnson explained. The trip will emphasize that Evangelical Christians support Israel’s right to national security, but it will also underscore our need to continue to pray for and work for the peace of Jerusalem so that all the people of that region, Jewish and Palestinian, can live without fear.

For me, the trip will serve as a follow-up to the congressional delegation to Israel that I joined last November. We covet your prayers — not just for our safety, but for the security of the Middle East. Please consider joining us in a time of international prayer for the peace of Jerusalem. 

IDF Sources: Israel Interested in Maintaining Ceasefire
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Sources within the IDF estimated on Thursday morning that despite Air Force attacks in Gaza the previous night, Israel is interested in maintaining a ceasefire and is not interested in violating agreements, unless there is no other choice.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was extended on Wednesday night by five more days, until next Monday.

Hundreds of Sderot Residents File UNHRC Complaints Against Hamas
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Signing the petition

Im Tirtzu

Volunteers and representatives of grassroots Zionist movement Im Tirtzu went to the open air market in Sderot Tuesday to help residents fill in complaint forms against Hamas and Qatar, Hamas’ main financial sponsor.  

Gold Going to $5,000 Per Ounce: Mining Executive
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsCNBC
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Evidence Mounting That Turkey is Behind ISIS Recruitment to Establish An Islamic Caliphate
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsBarbwire
Categories: Today's Headlines;Commentary

Cramer: Is Street Preparing for the Worst?
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsCNBC
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Ed Pritchard | The Image Bank | Getty Images

1. The advance in high growth stocks. Although Cramer conceded that some of the buying may be due to positive research calls, largely he believes it's a vote of no confidence in the economy. "Pros don't go buying high growth stocks like Facebook and Google unless they're convinced that the economy has downshifted. Yelp wouldn't have moved up 8 percent if it weren't for the new slow growth thesis that has just taken hold."

In other words, if pros fear growth will be hard to find, they become more willing to pay high multiples for stocks that are most likely to grow.

And Cramer added, the advance in Celgene, Regeneron, Biogen Idec and Gilead also reflect the view. "When pros think the economy is cooling, they buy these stocks because they have little economic sensitivity."

2. Little patience for retail. Cramer said the decline in Macy's reflects this phenomenon in the market, too. When the economy cools, people typically retrench. And although Macy's missed expectations, "It actually didn't report anything at all that negative. It's simply that expectations were too high."

Yet, investors were unwilling to forgive Macy's. "For me it illustrates the new mindset," Cramer said.

3. Price drop in food commodities: The decline in the price of grains, hogs, cattle, poultry and more also says to Cramer that pros don't believe demand matches supply.

Of all the declines in commodities, the price drop in oil probably speaks loudest to the Street. "These declines are very visible," Cramer said. When the global economy percolates, oil advances. Although Cramer thinks the domestic energy renaissance may be, at least partly responsible for lower oil prices, the Street sees it as an economic issue.

4. Bonds. Because rates and price very inversely, the stubbornly low rates are viewed on the Street as a sign that demand for bonds remains strong. And historically that happens when the global economy is challenged. Cramer, however, isn't so sure. He believes that Treasury yield is low because bond investors find U.S. bonds appealing as compared to other nations. Nonetheless, higher rates typically accompany economic growth, and rates are anything but higher.

All told, Cramer thinks these developments betray a changing sentiment on Wall Street. A strong demand for bonds, a drop in the price of oil, little patience for retail and and advance in high growth stocks suggest the prevailing wisdom has changed dramatically. "Pros who had thought the economy was accelerating are now looking for slower growth and lower inflation."

You don't have to agree. But if you want to make money in the market, you must, "respect the market, no matter how wild, crazy or stupid it may be," said Cramer.

Canada Slams UNHRC Gaza Committee 'Sham'
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird

Reuters

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird sharply criticized the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) appointment of a committee to investigate accusations of "war crimes" in Operation Protective Edge - a committee headed by an outspoken opponent of the Jewish state.

The "UN Human Rights Council continues to be a sham for advancing human rights. It's an utter shame and will do nothing to promote peace and dignity in Gaza for the Palestinian people," wrote Baird on his Twitter account Monday.

The Canadian minister has previously vocalized his criticism of the UNHRC probe, saying last month when it was announced that "Canada is frustrated and deeply disappointed that the UNHCR decided to completely ignore the abhorrent terrorist acts of Hamas."

Israel and the US have both rejected the three-man UNHRC committee which is headed by Prof. William Schabas, a Canadian law professor known for his open bias against Israel.

Schabas spoke in a 2013 panel, where he blatantly revealed his enthusiastic eagerness to have Israel tried over its defensive actions in Gaza, even if that involved “twisting things and maneuvering” in the international legal arena.

Likewise on Wednesday, in an interview on Israel's Channel 2, Schabas did not deny that the international community has a double standard regarding Israel's conduct of war. In that same interview, he refused to define Hamas as a terrorist group, claiming such a definition would affect his "neutrality."

The committee has come in for a wave of criticism from Israel, with Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday saying "the State of Israel must not cooperate with this commission. We need to contend with them and not grant legitimacy to enemies of Israel."

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also slammed the UNHRC over the move on Wednesday, accusing it of granting "legitimacy to terror organizations" by investigating Israel for alleged "war crimes."

For it's part, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has expressed "confidence" that the UNHRC committee will find Israel guilty of "war crimes, crimes against humanity."

Bennett: for Every Rocket, Hit 20 Commanders' Homes in Gaza
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Commentary

Bennett near Gaza

PR photo

Jewish Home Chairman and Economics Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday that it is time to stop the “unbecoming” negotiations with Hamas and opt for unilateral action against the terror organization.

"Open up the crossings into Gaza for humanitarian equipment, and respond with disproprtionate force to any fire on the southern communities,” Bennett prescribed, as he entered a session of the Diplomacy and Security Cabinet.

Residents of the so-called Gaza Belt, which is hardest hit by Hamas's rockets, mortar shells and tunnels, require a specific solution, he said. “If we have to move them to guest rooms in the north for a month or two, we will do that. And for every shell that is fired, we will destroy 20 homes of Hamas commanders and rocket factories. We are the ones with the power. There is no reason to plead.”

Minutes after the cabinet session began, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu left it in order to talk to the heads of southern regional authorities, ahead of the rally that they are holding in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv.

And Now, Abbas's Daily Accuses U.S. of Founding IS
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Mahmoud Abbas

Flash 90

The Palestinian Authority official daily has published five articles in the last six weeks accusing the United States of establishing the radical Islamic movement Islamic State (ISIS or IS), which has conquered vast territory in Syria and Iraq in recent months, reports Palestinian Media Watch.

IS has declared itself a Caliphate, thereby claiming religious authority over all Muslims; its goal is to bring much of the Middle East, including Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Cyprus under its control. To this end, IS has used extreme terror tactics, including decapitations, crucifixions and mass murders that were filmed and posted on YouTube.

The articles claim that the US has a long term goal of controlling the Arab-Muslim states by dividing them through conflict and wars. IS's war and other conflicts are all said to be the work of the US:

Some quotes from the articles, as cited by PMW:

"The wars in Libya, Iraq, Syria and Palestine were planned by the US in order to protect its interests... The ISIS, Islamic Front, and Al-Nusra Front (i.e., all radical Islamists) are Muslims from various countries the US is using to fight in Iraq and Syria, in order to fragment the unity of these two Arab countries... We are now more aware that the Americans - who want to fight for their own interests using Islamic, Jewish and Christian believers - are truly the head of the snake."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 16, 2014]

"ISIS, the perpetrators of atrocities and the groups that hoist the banner of religion seem to be raising their weapons in sync with Washington, and fight the US verbally, but in practice are killing their enemies. Is this a coincidence, or was it planned ahead of time?"

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 14, 2014]

"The radical terrorists of ISIS and those like them, who were created by Israel and the US, are paving the way for Israel to act like them."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, August 3, 2014]

As Palestinian Media Watch reported in June, the current editor in chief of the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida was appointed by the presidential decree of PA chief Mahmoud Abbas.

Fatah Central Committee Member Abbas Zaki made a similar accusation to the Palestine News Network, calling IS a "new creation" of the United States:

"[The US,] whose most advanced pawns include Israel and its new creation, ISIS, whose goal is to destroy the Arab world and eliminate the Palestinian cause."

[Palestine News Network, Aug. 7, 2014]

PMW has documented that the Palestinian Authority frequently publishes libels and vitriol directed against the United States.

10,000 Rally in Tel Aviv, Say: Finish the Job in Gaza!
Aug 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Rally in Tel Aviv

Screenshot

Around 10,000 Israelis poured into downtown Tel Aviv late Thursday, calling on the government and the army to end Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza once and for all.

It was the first major demonstration in Israel since the country went to war against Hamas on July 8, launching a punishing air campaign followed by a ground offensive designed to stop rocket attacks and destroy attack tunnels.

Organizers said the rally united people across Israel's often bitter divides of left and right-wing, as well as religious and secular Jewish communities.

Alon Davidi, mayor of the southern town of Sderot, told the rally there must be a solution – be it political or military – to 14 years of rocket attacks.

"I have full confidence in the government and in the army, but at the same time I ask as mayor of Sderot that they put an end to this situation once and for all," Davidi said.

"Finish the job!" he said. "This is a universal principle. We want to live in peace," he added.

Police said that around 10,000 people attended the rally in Rabin Square.

Members of the crowd waved Israeli flags and held up banners calling for peace with the Palestinians and others scrawled with the words: "Occupy Gaza now!"

"We all came here to send the message that rocket fire on the south is not only a problem for the south but a problem for the rest of the country," said Haim Yelin, head of the Eshkol regional council.

He thanked the military for launching the offensive.

"I hope they will transform the military victory into a political victory that will bring quiet to the whole country," he said.

The residents of southern Israel, who have borne the brunt of Gaza's terrorism for 14 years, and who recently discovered that they are also targeted by over 30 Hamas terror tunnels.

The protesters include residents of the south and Israelis from all over the country who identify with their plight. The current confrontation in Gaza, which involved rocket attacks on most of Israel's territory, has brought home to most Israelis what southerners face routinely.

The protesters had been asked to wear red, symbolizing the Color Red slogan which is sounded as an alarm for incoming rocket fire. The protesters will demand that rocket on Gaza Belt communities receive the same priority as rockets on Tel Aviv.

Parents' representatives from the regions adjoining Gaza were to announce at the rally that if rockets continue to “drizzle” on their communities, they will not allow the school year to open on schedule, and tell their children to stay home instead.

"If there is a drizzle of even one rocket per day, we will not send the kids to school,” said Itay Levy, Head of the Parents' Council in the Shaar Hanegev region. He told the NRG website that while schools around Gaza are fortified against rockets. The roads are not. Hamas, he said, times its rockets for the times at which the children are making their way to and from school."