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Israel Favors Trump for President

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“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 1 Timothy 2:1

Living in Israel, we mostly experience relative peace that enables Israel to develop and grow. However, this peace is periodically interrupted by terror attacks and even wars. Even in times of apparent peace, Israel’s enemies are in a constant level of warfare.

Recently in the south, the Israeli army uncovered yet another “terror tunnel” stretching from Gaza into Israel. Hamas in Gaza never stops building tunnels. Fortunately, the Israeli army has been able to destroy or seal dozens of them over the years.

President Obama – a Legacy of Enablement of Israel’s Enemies

In Gaza’s early phase of tunnel-building, Israel restricted the importation of building materials that could be used for tunnels. But the Obama administration blocked Israel’s restrictive measures, believing the materials were used for housing, schools, and buildings.

Inevitably, Hamas did use hundreds of thousands of tons of cement to build a maze of underground tunnels, bunkers, command posts, and shelters for its leaders, fighters, and rockets. Now Israel has to suffer and deal with the consequences of the Obama administration’s error.

Obama also forced Israel to accept a 10-month freeze on any building of Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria (known as the West Bank) to encourage the Palestinians to negotiate. The Palestinians never did after all.

Under the Obama administration, Vice President Joe Biden objected vehemently to Israel’s plans to build in a religious neighborhood of Jerusalem. Israel claimed that it has the right to build anywhere in its capital.

President Obama insisted that Israel accept moving back to the “1967 borders.” This would endanger Israel’s security, eliminate defensible borders, and put Israel’s security in the hands of the United Nations and Israel’s Arab enemies. Furthermore, Obama allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass its infamous Resolution 2334—opposed by almost every Democratic senator—which encourages a boycott against any Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria.

On the northern Israel-Lebanon border, Hezbollah has transformed itself, from a minor terror organization into a full-scale army, and is now a major threat. With Iranian backing, Hezbollah has accumulated an estimated 150,000 missiles. The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) has conducted recently a massive military exercises with both regular troops and reservists, involving the air force, navy, and ground forces, as well as the intelligence, technology, and logistics, teleprocessing, and cyber defense directorates in order to deal with the Hezbollah threat.

In 2006, in response to international criticism and pressure, Israel stopped acting against Hezbollah. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council promises to keep southern Lebanon out of the terrorists’ control were never kept. This is a recurring cycle – Israel defends itself, the world protests and Israel relents in exchange for empty promises.

Obama gave Iran in the “deal” billions of dollars that were ultimately used to support terrorists throughout the Middle East, and in effect hindered Israeli defense against Iranian targets. Under Obama, Israeli attacks against Iranian proxies in Syria which threatened Israel’s security were off-limits. He wouldn’t compromise his Iran Nuclear Deal.

President Trump – a True Friend

Contrary to Obama, President Trump went to work on behalf of Israel immediately. He recognized the unified city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, opening the door for other countries to follow suit. Israel’s sovereignty over the Western Wall and Temple Mount is now more secure than ever.

Next, President Trump announced recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the strategically vital territory of the Golan Heights, ensuring that it will not fall into the hands of Iranian proxies.

The Trump administration has also clearly stated that Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, so-called settlements, are not illegal and are part of Israel’s Jewish heritage.

Under President Trump, Israel has launched numerous uninterrupted attacks against Iranian proxies in Syria. A series of unexplained explosions at Iranian nuclear and industrial facilities, attributed to Israel, have significantly hindered Iran’s weaponry program.

Just recently, President Trump coordinated with PM Netanyahu the historically successful Middle East peace effort called “The Abraham Accords”, opening formal relations between Israel and Arab Muslim Gulf States, and even with the former enemy African state of Sudan, which now prefers relations with Israel than with Iran. These normalizations with former enemy nations are truly amazing, which PM Netanyahu calls, “Peace for Peace” instead of “Land for Peace.”

Many left-wing leaders, including President Obama, were convinced that Israel could never achieve peace with Arab states without giving away vital territory to the Palestinians. Trump and Netanyahu have proven that Israel need not give away land or expel Jews from their homes to achieve peace.

All those achievements have made President Trump a great leader in favor of Israel and its security. During the Obama years, Israel was under constant diplomatic attack from the European Union with many expecting Israel to become isolated. This perception gave way to an international rise of the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – solely against Israel) and anti-Israel protests around the globe. Now, thanks to US President Trump working closely with Israel’s PM Netanyahu, Israel is being sought after by many counties who shunned it just a short time ago.

President Trump and PM Netanyahu have produced a historic period that has transformed Israel’s international position and increased its state security. No wonder most Israelis favor Trump over Obama’s former vice-president Biden. Indeed, all of Trump’s initiatives, from recognizing Jerusalem to “The Abraham Accords” have had overwhelming support from politicians of all major Israeli parties.

Israelis fear Biden becoming president and undoing Trump’s accomplishments. They don’t want to go back to Obama’s days.

Pray … Pray … Pray

The Bible commands us to pray for those who are in leadership (I Timothy 2:1-4). This includes those who are contending to become leaders.

According to Scripture, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The selection of leaders who understand and lead according to God’s righteous standards can bring great blessing to a nation.

Let the Holy Spirit lead you in your prayers of intercession for the United States. As believers, may we have faith to believe that our votes do make a difference. The United States of America was founded on the basis of voting for a candidate with a Godly reputation, according to what is best for the nation. Much prayer is needed for this critical process. Pray for discernment and clarity between truth and falsehood. Pray for physical protection for the candidates and their families, a hedge of protection around the different states, and the whole nation during this time of elections.

Let us focus our hearts on the Kingdom of God. Pray that the purposes of God be accomplished in the U.S. elections. Pray that the results of the elections will please the Lord and release His blessing.

The Deal of the Century Finally Revealed

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“NO! God’s Word says not to divide the land.”

This was the first reaction of many believers in Yeshua/Jesus to President Trump’s “Deal of the Century.” The Israeli right-wing parties also chimed in,

“NO! there can never be a Palestinian state.

Israel’s claim to the land, including Judea and Samaria is based on the Bible and God’s promises to His people Israel. (Gen. 12:7; 15:18; 17:8; 28:13, and 35:12.) Consider, though, that in the long history of the Jewish people, God has had to repeatedly discipline His people, individually, as a nation, and as a people.

One of the most recent examples is the 2000 years of diaspora Jews spent in exile separated from the land of Israel. However, He has also promised to gather the people of Israel and bring them back to the land of Israel. Today, we witness these promises being fulfilled before our eyes. Israel has returned to the land of Israel as a nation.

While in exile, foreigners have occupied the land and lay claim to the land for themselves. Now Israel has a dilemma–how to deal with these non-Jewish occupants, all the while having the international community watching and ready to condemn any meaningful effort at compromise.

Israel liberated Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Six-Day War. These are all lands Palestinians now want for a future state.

The First Plan designed with Israel’s interests as a priority

President Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley stated,

“The top priority of the plan’s architects is always the national security of Israel. We knew that we couldn’t do anything that was going to compromise the security of Israel. But we also knew that the Palestinians deserve a better way of life.”

The reality is that for years Israel and the world have tried to deal with the reality that there are a few million Palestinians living in established cities and villages in Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. Every previous plan proposal focused on Palestinian interests as a priority. For the first time, there is a plan designed with Israel’s interests as a priority.

No one has been able to come up with a perfect plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. President Trump’s peace proposal is not perfect. But for Israel, there are many positive reasons to accept it.

As of today, the concept of two states for two peoples, living side by side in peace and harmony, with Israel going back to the borders of pre-1967 has never materialized. Any peace initiative suggested by world powers pressured Israel to make most of the concessions and compromises. At the same time, the Palestinians’ constant refusal was overlooked and Israel was always blamed for the failure of executing the plan. Israel has always expected to give up some land in exchange for Palestinian promises even though all previous “Land for Peace” deals have been quickly abrogated by the Palestinians.

Requirements and Conditions for the Palestinians

A short summary of requirements for the Palestinians.

President Trump’s “Deal of the Century” goes against the previous formulas, and places on the Palestinians the responsibility of either accepting ALL of the conditions before any negotiations for a Palestinian state can even begin, or to have no deal. It states that the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Judea-Samaria must stop the incitement to violence. They must show complete financial transparency and must completely stop payments to terrorists who harm Israeli citizens, including payments to families of suicide bombers–so-called Martyrs Payments. It calls for complete demilitarization of the West Bank and the disarmament of Hamas, the terrorist organization controlling the Gaza strip, which maintains a huge arsenal of Iranian rockets and missiles. It also requires the disarmament of all other terrorist organizations, such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The Palestinian government is required to end its attempts to brand Israel as a war criminal in international courts; and mandates the elimination of the teaching of genocidal anti-Semitism in Palestinian schools and media. It requires respect for human rights and religious freedoms, by all parties, and the support of a free press. These conditions must be implemented before America’s recognition of Palestinian statehood. The conditions have an expiration period of 4 years.

There are two central conditions that Palestinians have never accepted nor will they accept. First–the recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish People in the land of Israel. Second, Palestinians must give up the “right of return” to Israel for so-called Palestinian refugees, by which they mean the 1948 Arab refugees and their descendants who now reside in countries all over the world.

Trump emphasizes that historically there were similar numbers of Jewish refugees from Arab countries, whose possessions were taken by the regimes, most of them were absorbed into Israel’s population. Established after 1948, the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East, which Trump stopped supporting recently) perpetuates the refugee problem instead of solving it. The Palestinians are the only refugees in the world who have not been assimilated into the countries they immigrated to, which include many Arab countries. Trump’s Peace to Prosperity plan creates various funding structures to help Palestinian refugee families living in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria achieve citizenship where they reside.

Trump is offering the Palestinians the sum of $50 billion to build their future state’s infrastructure and boost its economy. However, they must give up their ‘destructive ideology,’ as previously explained.

Palestinian Rejection of the Deal

It is notable, the Palestinians rejected Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’ even before it was announced, even before reading it. They continue to reject it. This is consistent with their rejecting any plan since partition was first proposed in 1937. Their reason for rejection has been consistent. No plan that results in a Jewish nation in the Middle East can ever be accepted. Every Palestinian leader and/or negotiator has always maintained it would mean personal political and physical death to ever accept an agreement that resulted in a Jewish state. If the Palestinians persist in rejecting negotiations, Israel will likely proceed with annexations as called for in the deal.

The plan gives Israel the right to security control of the entire territory of Judea and Samaria, including areas under Palestinian authority. This includes security at all international crossings. [Read more here about Judea and Samaria.] If there is eventually a Palestinian state (most unlikely, because they will refuse to accept ALL the conditions) it will have to be a completely demilitarized state, and Israel will have the right ‘to dismantle and destroy any facility in the State of Palestine that is used for the production of prohibited weapons or other hostile purposes.’ How will Iran and their proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, feel about having their missiles removed?

The plan gives Israel sovereignty over 30% of Judea and Samaria, to begin with, and gives an agreement-in-principle to a Palestinian state eventually (when they agree to ALL the conditions, which they will not.) They have four years to decide after which the offer expires. Israel, however, will not wait long to implement their portion of the agreement which are steps to secure and further enhance Israel’s security.

The Jordan Valley will be Israel’s permanent eastern border, based on historical Jewish settlement rights and in consideration of Israeli security needs. And Israel can declare these borders without Palestinian approval. [Read more here about the Jordan Valley.]

President Trump declared all 150 Israeli towns and settlements in Judea and Samaria legal. With the annexation of that area into the State of Israel, Israeli military rule will end (as well as the term “occupation”). Israel will be free to build more homes in these towns and settlements without restriction. Not one person will be forced out of his home, ever, anywhere in the Land of Israel.

The Next Four Years

Here is a map showing the previously designated A, B, and C areas.

The Palestinians have four years to fulfill these requirements. Should the Palestinians refuse to accept the conditions, resulting in no negotiations with Israel, any territories set aside as part of a future Palestinian state will revert to their current disputed status, resulting in no Palestinian state. Israel keeps the annexed territories.

In the next four years, Israel promises to freeze new settlements in 50% of what has been designated “Area C”. (Area in Judea and Samaria under Israeli military control.) This will help Israel act against pirate Jewish building as well as illegal Palestinian settlements building in strategic areas, which they have been doing illegally with the support of funds from the European Union.

As a result, it changes Area A that is currently under Palestinian security control into Area B, which is under Israeli security control. This will completely change the map of Judea and Samaria.

As complicated as it will be, the plan is to build and construct infrastructure—roads, railroads, bridges, and tunnels in Judea and Samaria—to connect Jewish towns to one another and Palestinian cities and towns to one another. This is preferable to the evacuation and transforming of Jews from their homes, as would have been required under the two states’ plan. Also, the road construction will give many Israelis as well as Palestinians, much-needed employment.

A Misunderstanding

Here’s a map of “the Deal” as it stands today. It is a work in progress.

After revealing his ‘Deal of the Century’ on January 28, US President Donald Trump said among other things, “We will form a joint committee with Israel to convert the conceptual map into a more detailed and calibrated rendering so that recognition can be immediately achieved. The United States will recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory that my vision provides to be part of the State of Israel.”

That is where the misunderstanding between Israel and the US started. Israeli reporters announced right away, based on what they heard from PM Netanyahu’s aides in Washington, that the PM intends to bring the annexation issue to a cabinet vote immediately upon his return to Israel. However, it became clear to Netanyahu that he misunderstood President Trump. Trump’s statements meant ‘recognition can be immediately achieved’ only after the work is completed ‘to convert the conceptual map into a more detailed and calibrated rendering.’

Special adviser to Trump and ‘architect’ of the peace initiative, Jared Kushner came out with a statement right away for Israel to wait with the annexation. Later on, he reportedly told journalists, following a briefing at the UN Security Council, that the process could take ‘a couple of months’.

US Ambassador to Israel, David Freedman told reporters that it will be a process to correct the general map of the plan to make it more precise. The border between Israel and a possible future Palestinian state is about 800-kilometers (497-miles).

The map shows the greater Israel extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, with a small Palestinian enclave in the West Bank which is cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded on all sides by the State of Israel. This enclave, even if given the title of “state”, could never be considered one in a conventional sense.

It will have no army nor control of its border or airspace and therefore, and, in complete contrast to the wording of the proposed peace plan, would not be freely open to commerce and investments. Israel will permanently retain all Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria as well as the areas surrounding them including the Jordan Valley.

What about Jerusalem in this Deal? See the next newsletter…

Please pray for wisdom for Israeli and US leaders on how to implement the plan, complete the revision of the map with Israel’s security as a priority, and in accordance with the Word of God and His plan for the restoration of the Land of Israel and the people of Israel in the Land.

Israel, Like the US, Battles the Left

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I, (Bella) am a member of the Likud party and attended many of the party’s functions, including speeches by Netanyahu. The following is my observation and analysis from the information I gathered from the inside and also the news. I prayed a lot before, during and after the election. I am writing this to you, dear friends of Israel and prayer partners, to seek the Lord’s guidance on how to pray for both Israel and the US at this critical time.

In all the months before the election, the Israeli public was influenced significantly by the left-wing media feeding them Netanyahu’s failures and shortcomings while completely ignoring his achievements. [Read more about Netanyahu’s Achievements.]

Thanks to Netanyahu’s leadership over the last ten years, Israel is now the 8th superpower in the world and a major High-Tech nation with many Israeli innovations used worldwide.

Netanyahu has formed an unofficial alliance between Israel and most of the moderate Sunni Arab nations, led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in dealing with the growing Iranian and Jihadi threats.

Together with President Trump, Netanyahu has implemented strategic plans in the interest of both counties. Trump relied on our dependable Israeli leader with a strong army. In return, Netanyahu relied on strong backup from the American President. In strategic partnership with Israel, President Trump pulled out of the deal with Iran and began a series of tough sanctions while Netanyahu prevented Iran from gaining a foothold in Syria by bombing Iranian ammunition bases there with little or no interference or retaliation.

Trump and Netanyahu were a force to reckon with which the enemies of both countries recognize.

Both Trump and Netanyahu have been waiting for an opportunity to strike Iran’s nuclear installations (the Revolutionary Guards bases, missiles and ammunition targets) which would significantly weaken the Iranian threat and give Israel more deterrent power. The current strike on Saudi Arabia’s oil installations could have been that opportunity, now halted by Israel’s lack of government due to the election stalemate. There is a real danger that Israel could lose its position of power gained over the last few years as well as the collaboration of President Trump.

One of the greatest achievements for an American president would be to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Trump greatly desires (in cooperation with Netanyahu) to be the one to succeed where all other US presidents have failed. This opportunity is now on hold. Before the elections, Netanyahu announced his intention to apply Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley after the elections. Netanyahu hinted it was in cooperation with President Trump: “I will apply for sovereignty of the settlements and other areas with maximum cooperation with the United States.” 

No US administration has ever supported Israel’s right to assert its sovereign rights in Judea and Samaria without Palestinian permission, Trump may be the first.

Then came the elections of September 17, 2019.

Many in the US and other parts of the world don’t understand the election system in Israel. Even a few days after the elections, while results were not complete, it was obvious that Netanyahu was not a clear winner, but neither was the other major candidate.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proclaimed to tens of thousands of Iranians at the end of Election Day: “This is a great day for Iran. Finally, after many years, we have achieved our goal – the left has come to power in Israel.”

The crowd cheered, “Death to Israel, death to the Zionists.” 

The Ayatollah continued: “Finally, a weak government that will allow us to rule in Tel Aviv, in Haifa and in all of the Middle East.”

The crowds cheered again, “Death to Israel, death to the Zionist.”

The radical Islamic nation regularly threatens the State of Israel with annihilation. It invests billions in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza toward that end. Removing the hawkish Netanyahu would be a great gift to Tehran.

The battle is really between the left and right world views. The left will do everything in its power to take over control of Israel and the US.

In Israel, Netanyahu’s big rivals are Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, the head of the Kahol Lavan party. They appealed to the center-leftist Israelis who are mainly secular. To fight the right-wing bloc, they targeted its leader, Benyamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, even though not religious, believes in the Word of God in the Old Testament and the right of the Jews to the land of their forefathers. He announced never to divide Jerusalem again. He opposes the elite progressive left, which has never accepted the majority vote for Netanyahu and the right bloc during the last 10 years. They have targeted Netanyahu as being the danger to their progressive, liberal future.

These leftists in politics, media, and economic powers have been able to put doubts in the mind of the public about Netanyahu’s integrity by accusations and innuendos through the media, and by leaking lies and half-truths from police interrogations. They influence leftists in the prosecution and judicial systems who desire to destroy Netanyahu and prevent him from ever being elected again.

That influence created immense waves of anti-Netanyahu sentiments. The anti-Netanyahu campaign proved to be quite effective and many of these accusations, that Netanyahu claims are “fake news” have stuck in the minds of voters who see Netanyahu as being corrupt even though not proven guilty. As far as the left is concerned, like Trump, Netanyahu is guilty until proven innocent. Even after Netanyahu is found not guilty, they will never admit his innocence, leaving doubts in people’s minds.

The media and Netanyahu’s opponents have completely ignored all of Netanyahu’s achievements over the last ten years and have embarked on an all-out war against him, with the slogan “Anyone but Bibi”.

Finally the “Big Guns”

After many months of interrogations, before the April elections, Attorney General Mandelblit announced in February that he intended to file criminal charges against Netanyahu in cases 4000, 1000 and 2000, pending the outcome of hearings. Netanyahu has denied all allegations and claims that he is the victim of a politically orchestrated “witch-hunt” by the media and the left to oust him from office.

Netanyahu won the April elections but was unable to form a coalition because Liberman and his party, Israel Betyenu, pulled out of the coalition. [Click here for details.] This led to the September election. In the months before the last election, the media and the opposition intensified the attack on Netanyahu via continual leakage and messages of the cases against him, portraying him in the minds of the public as being corrupt, even though the cases were pending hearings. They did not give him a chance to refute the allegations or present his side.

Netanyahu still has the mandate to form a coalition while the hearings were in progress last week, between the prosecution and Netanyahu’s attorneys, permitting the defense to argue against the prospective charges and to convince the attorney-general to either scrap or reduce them. After listening to the arguments, the attorney-general will decide by the end of the year whether there is cause for indictment and whether Netanyahu should stand trial.

The most serious charge against Netanyahu is bribery, of which he has been accused in Case 4000. This charge involves allegations that Netanyahu, when he was the minister of communications, granted regulatory favors, and/or financial benefits to Israel’s leading telecommunications company, Bezeq Telecom Israel (BEZQ.TA), in return for positive coverage of himself and his wife Sara on a news website controlled by the company’s former chairman. The charges in this case were reviewed last week. Netanyahu states the decisions he made regarding the Bezeq Corporation were supported by expert advisers and that they had nothing to do with his family’s ties to the primary shareholder, Shaul Elovitch.

CASE 1000 alleges that Netanyahu and his wife wrongfully received lavish gifts (including expensive champagne and cigars, jewelry, flights, and hotel rooms) from billionaire friends, mainly the prominent, Israeli-born, Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, and Australian billionaire businessman James Packer. Netanyahu is accused of lobbying for retaining a returned citizen’s benefits law, favorable to the wealthy that would provide tax relief for Milchan worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In Case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of fraud and breach of trust for allegedly conspiring with the publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper (the largest newspaper in Israel, hostile to Netanyahu) Arnon “Noni” Mozes, to limit the circulation of Israel Hayom (the largest newspaper that is distributed free of charge) in exchange for favorable coverage in the Yedioth publication. The charges were scheduled to be reviewed on Sunday, October 6, 2019.

If Netanyahu is indicted it could take many months before his trial begins. Netanyahu could also seek a plea bargain rather than stand trial. In the case of bribery, he can get a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine. In the case of fraud and breach of trust, the sentence is up to three years in prison.

According to Israeli law, a Prime Minister must step down if ultimately convicted, but can stay in office throughout legal proceedings including appeals.

Netanyahu’s supporters in the legislature have said they would support granting him parliamentary immunity from prosecution, hopefully, enough Knesset members will back such a move.

“What’s going on here,” noted retired Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, “is that vague, elastic, and open-ended laws are being stretched so as to target a particular individual, even though the ‘crime’ in question is something that is actually normal political conduct and not some nefarious plot.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu called the corruption allegations a “witch hunt” orchestrated by the media and left-wing to topple him.

“For the past three years, they have been carrying out an unprecedented witch-hunt which has one aim: to topple the right-wing government which I lead.”

Netanyahu, insisting on his innocence, said his family has “gone through hell” as he questioned whether it was fair to consider “two-and-a-half articles on the Internet” of positive news coverage a benefit amounting to bribery. “There’s no precedent in history which determines that positive coverage is a bribe,” Netanyahu said.

“Walla, (an Israeli internet company headquartered in Tel Aviv owned by Bezeq, accused in case 4000) remains an extreme-left website that is hostile to me!”

“Unilateral publication of the attorney general’s announcement just a month before the elections, without giving the Prime Minister an opportunity to refute these false accusations, is a blatant and unprecedented intervention in the elections,” said a right-wing party official ahead of Netanyahu’s statement. He said, “The cases were brought for the sole purpose of toppling the dominant right-wing government in favor of a left-wing government led by Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid’s Blue and White party.”

Netanyahu claims that the apparent strains of evidence are “fake news”, hearsay and other purportedly specious proof on which the cases are based. “It is regrettable that the High Court of Justice did not prevent the left from blatantly interfering in the elections”.

Netanyahu counts some 22 probes into their household conduct. One investigation was about whether Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were overspending on ice cream! Another targeted Sara Netanyahu for supposedly enriching herself with the proceeds from returned bottle deposits.

Nothing came of these investigations but they created an image of the couple’s overspending lifestyle, and that Netanyahu is being controlled by his wife, just as the “witch-hunt” in Washington over President Trump’s alleged “collusion” with Russia has been used to batter the President.

Interestingly, both Netanyahu and President Trump are being targeted by the powers of the left to inhibit and deny their chances to lead their respective countries. President Trump’s political enemies from the left have targeted him for impeachment, even criminal indictment. The same forces work day and night, just as they do against Netanyahu, to eliminate President Trump from power. They are also working in the US to turn the country against Israel, and the most pro-Israel President in history. Anti-Israel, even anti-Semitic voices are gaining influence on Capitol Hill.

It is urgent now to pray for both leaders who are so important to Israel’s future.

The prosecution in Israel has made itself into a court. Waiting for the result of the hearing is like waiting for sentencing. That all of this is accepted practice in this country doesn’t mean it’s a process that meets democratic constitutional standards. Especially when in the last two elections, a very large sector of the public voted to reject law enforcement’s stance regarding the prime minister. It’s not about whether or not Netanyahu is innocent; it’s about the fact that law enforcement officials must not be the ones to decide whether or not he can continue to serve as prime minister.

In this critical situation, prayer and supernatural intervention is the only solution. We believe in the sovereignty of God Almighty, doing wonders. Let’s pray in faith and power, led by the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory.

When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)

Understanding President Trump’s Decision

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“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…“
Romans 13:1

Posted: Dec 31, 2018
To understand the complexity of the situation in Syria, we have to understand that it is a war between the Sunni and Shi’a Muslims. [Click here to read more about who these Muslims are.] The Syrian war started at the time of the so-called Arab Spring in 2011 when protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. His family, of the Shi’a Alawite-sect of Islam, has held the presidency in Syria since 1971. No one could have anticipated at that time the level of violence, trauma, and devastation that would result from that uprising for over seven years.

The conflict has been fought by different rebel groups and militias against the Assad regime, and against each other. With the rise of ISIS, It has expanded to include international powers such as Russia, Iran, some European nations and the United States.

Since then, Syria has been nearly destroyed, and the region was thrown into turmoil. Cities have been reduced to rubble by regime bombing, which had the far-reaching ramifications to nations around the world. Threats posed by terrorism, the migration crisis, and refugees. The number of casualties is too big to count, which is estimated at about half a million, and millions of refugees and internally displaced people, also too many to count.

The US started fighting ISIS in 2014. Much of the US operation in Syria has been waged by warplanes flying out of Qatar and other locations in the Middle East. After the airstrikes and increased fighting capacity of the allied ground forces, ISIS was degraded.

Fighting everyone all the time, ISIS lost their border areas, supply lines and communication, resources, and influence, they were finally driven from most of its territory in Syria’s north area.

In the beginning, then US president Barack Obama, assuming that Assad was going to fall anyway, took the side of the demonstrators and called on Assad to step down. However, Assad did not fall and didn’t step down. With the help of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, He is still on the winning side. Not wanting to risk direct conflict with the Russians, the US accepted the fact that they (the Russians) are there to stay.

Assad who has lost territory, men, resources, and independence has gotten weaker through the years of fighting, but is still stronger than any of his opponents and rivals.

President Trump said that the United States was doing the work of other countries, including Russia and Iran, with little in return. He thinks it’s time others fight their own battles, and that US troops have no business in Syria since accomplishing their mission of helping fight ISIS.

Trump is true to his campaign promises to bring the 2,000 US troops back home. He wanted to do it earlier this year but gave in to his advisors not to pull the troops out of Syria before a peace agreement could be reached to end that country’s brutal civil war, and to keep them there to back up the Kurdish fighters and the Arab SDF militias (Syrian Democratic Forces) in their battle against ISIS.

However, this outraged NATO ally Turkey, which views Kurdish YPG forces as being an extension of a militant group fighting inside Turkey. [Click here to read more about the Kurds.] Turkey is still a key strategic ally of the US. In a phone conversation between Presidents Trump and Erdogan on Dec. 14, the Turkish leader promised that his army would not cross the Euphrates. Also during the course of their discussion, Erdogan reportedly agreed to cancel his order of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system and to purchase a package of US Patriot missile systems valued at $3.5 billion instead.

Turkey’s planned purchase of the S-400 caused a rift between NATO member Turkey and NATO. The S-400 is not inter-operational with NATO systems. Turkish use of the system could endanger the American F-35’s stealth systems.

The White House announced that pulling US troops out of Syria does not mean that the Americans are leaving the coalition against ISIS, but rather, now that ISIS lost most of its strongholds, the White House is “transitioning to the next phase of the campaign.”

The US and Iraq are in advanced negotiations for the deployment to the Iraqi-Syria border of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) – which drove ISIS out of Mosul. It would position US troops 30km north of the Euphrates River and near the Syrian border. “We will be watching,” promised Trump.

The US is planning to build a permanent base, including an air force base on the Iraqi side of the strategic Tanif pass. This will allow them to control the area and prevent Shi’a militia to cross over into Syria. This way, the US will still control the situation without physically having boots on the ground in Syria.

As the Sunni rebels regroup, what Trump’s move would accomplish is bringing back the balance of the Sunnis against the Shi’as. With the defeat of 95% of Isis, the US can concentrate on the fight against Shi’a Iran, with the proxy of the Sunni rebels and the Sunni Turkish army. That means that Sunnis will enlarge their independent state in Syria around Haleb. Sunni rebels and the Turkish army are deploying forces all the time from all sides.

When Israeli PM Netanyahu’s decision to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas last month and not go to war, after Hamas fired about 500 missiles at Israeli cities in one day, he was criticized by most of Israelis, who saw this as an act of weakness. Netanyahu said at that time that there was more hidden than meets the eye, and not everything can be exposed to the public. Now we realize that what the army was planning was an operation to expose the tunnels of Hezbollah in the north and avoid a massive invasion from the terror group into Israel.

Likewise, with Trump’s decision to pull out the 2000 US troops. We don’t see or know all the considerations in that decision. It will be unfolding as time and events go on.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria will not affect Israeli policy and that cooperation with the U.S. “will continue in full”. Israel will “continue to act against Iran’s attempts to entrench itself militarily in Syria, and to the extent necessary, we will even expand our actions there,” said Netanyahu.

We know that the Lord has this situation well in hand. Of course, there is always more going on than meets the eye. “He who keepeth Israel neither slumbers or sleeps.” Please continue to pray for those decision-making leaders and the ones who influence them both in Israel and in your country. And pray for the soldiers who face enemies every day and need to know the Keeper of Israel in a personal way.

For the salvation of Israel and the nations,
In His love,
Simcha and Bella Davidov, Ashdod, Israel

President Trump’s visit to Jerusalem

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Family Prayer at the Western Wall (on the Men’s side). Read more about the History of the Western Wall.

In an interview with Israel Hayom Editor-in-Chief, Boaz Bismuth at the White house last week, Trump was asked by Bismuth whether he had a message for the Israeli public ahead of his historic visit. Trump did not hesitate for a second before saying, “I love the people of Israel, I am working very hard to finally have peace for the people of Israel and the Palestinians and hopefully that can come about much sooner than anybody has ever projected. It is a tremendous possibility. It is good for all. This is a deal that is good for all. And I would consider it one of my crowning achievements if I can do it. We have the right people on it, too.”

Trump’s plan is to visit Jerusalem after his visit to Saudi Arabia. His goal is to succeed where Obama has failed; he wants to be the US president that can do the impossible, make a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Former US Presidents George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Obama seriously believed that they would be able to resolve the conflict, if the two sides want it. During their terms, they put quite a lot of effort, and pressure (mainly on Israel) for the two sides to come to the negotiations table and make concessions, painful ones if necessary. None of them was able to achieve the goal and end the conflict. PM Netanyahu was mostly blamed for the failure; everyone knows that the Jews are stiff-necked people. They all agreed that the solution remains: two states for two peoples, living side-by-side in peace, in the 1967 borders with slight amendments.

As Trump became president, there was new hope in Israel; he is going to be different, he will be on our side and not pressure Israel. Trump would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and allow continued building in E. Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. And not object the annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria. But Israel may be in for a surprise in the visit of Trump.

Trump will first visit Saudi Arabia before coming to Israel. Saudi is an important partner in the peace deal and business deal of the billions of dollar arms sales. The Saudis don’t object to having diplomatic relationship with Israel, at Trumps’ request, but not at the Palestinian’s expense, Palestinians come first. The most important issue at this time to Trump is the quest to fight against Islamic State terrorism and Iran’s influence, and win. To accomplish this he needs the coalition of the so-called Muslim moderate Sunni states, headed by Saudi Arabia. Then comes the Peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

On his visit in Saudi Arabia, today, Trump will join 50 heads of Arab and Muslim state from across the Middle East, Africa and Asia who the Saudi king has invited to a summit. King Salman is hoping that the summit will strengthen relations between the two countries and “enhance global security establishing a new partnership in confronting extremism and terrorism.”

The President’s schedule in Jerusalem

On Monday Air Force One, arriving straight from the US president’s visit to Saudi Arabia, will land at 12:15 pm at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where President Trump will be welcomed in a state ceremony by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, and other dignitaries.

President Trump will walk the red carpet and review an honor guard. Then, after the Israeli and American national anthems are played, Trump, Rivlin and Netanyahu will make short speeches.

In an effort to keep the ceremony short, the President will not be shaking hands with dignitaries after the speeches at the airport. The Americans will then board Marine One and fly to Jerusalem, President Trump and First Lady Melania will head straight to the President’s Residence, where they will be welcomed by President Rivlin and his wife Nechama. After the American president signs the guest book, the two leaders will hold a private meeting following which they will make statements to the press.

Rivlin and his wife will then take Trump and the first lady to the garden at the President’s Residence, where an almond tree was planted to mark the visit. A sign near the tree bears a quote in Hebrew, English and Arabic from the Song of Ascents in the Book of Psalms: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and prosperity within your palaces.”

The Western Wall, Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Symbol of our Relationship with the US

From the President’s Residence, President Trump will head to the Old City for a private visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. He will then visit the Western Wall, where he will be accompanied by Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch and joined by First Lady Melania and daughter Ivanka. Read more about the History of the Western Wall.

After the visit to the Western Wall, President Trump will head to the King David Hotel, where he will be staying during his visit, while First Lady Melania will join Prime Minister

Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, on a visit to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Karem. They will talk with the medical staff and meet with children in the play area for a joint artistic activity.

At 6pm, President Trump will meet in private with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the King David Hotel, following which their teams will join the meeting.

At 7:15pm, Trump, Netanyahu and their wives will travel to the Prime Minister’s Residence for dinner, which will be cooked by Israeli chef Moshe Segev. Singer Shiri Maimon will perform two songs, one of them being the Frank Sinatra version of “New York, New York.”

During the dinner, Prime Minister Netanyahu is planning on presenting President Trump with a beautiful Bible.

Following the dinner, the two leaders will give statements to the press but will not respond to questions.

On Tuesday, President Trump will arrive in Bethlehem for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

At 1pm, President Trump will hold a short (15-minute) visit at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, where he will lay a wreath, write in the guest book and make a short statement to the press.

President Trump will then head to the Israel Museum, where he will make a speech to conclude his visit. In his speech, the President is expected to present his vision for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and express his support to the people of Israel. At 3:40pm, the President will leave Israel for his next destination, Rome.

Israel still believes that President Trump is a true friend. He has made his support for Israel very clear; the UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has condemned the anti-Israel bias that has been going on for so long. On the settlement issue, the President does not insist on stopping all building. Netanyahu is more relaxed with him, and there is an overall feeling in Israel that Trump can restore the relationship between Israel and its main ally, the USA, and the trust that was damaged by the Obama administration.

President Trump will reassure Israel of the strong ties between the US and Israel, and the guarantee for Israel’s security, but he may also use some pressure tactics on Israel to be more flexible toward the Palestinians and even limit building in Judea and Samaria.

On the issue of transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem, the Trump administration is concerned that it will complicate efforts to renew the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Therefore, he will not make any announcements on the issue, though this remains his ultimate goal.

Read more details: An Unsolvable Conflict.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM, ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE. PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PM NETANAHU, AND FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ANY ATTACKS ON THE VISIT.