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U.S. President Trump’s Epic Fury -Where Is It Going?

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“אַרְיֵה שָׁאָג מִי לֹא יִירָא “

“The lion has roared, who will not fear?…” Amos 3:8a

The world is trying to understand President Trump’s intentions. So far, there are only speculations. Only Trump and Netanyahu know for sure. Their relationship is close-knit.

Trump’s sudden announcement of postponing the ultimatum to Iran for five more days surprised even the Iranian leaders, who were quick to announce that there were no talks between the two countries, and they were continuing full speed with their attacks. The war goes on.

With oil prices rising worldwide, Americans are worried about a serious oil crisis.

Trump’s announcement has caused an immediate drop in oil prices, with hopes that the war might end within these five days. This is exactly the illusion Trump intends to create.

Trump’s timing corresponds to the arrival of some thousands of American Marines as “boots on the ground” who will join the Air Force in battle. There are certain targets that are difficult for the Air Force to hit alone.

With his announcement, President Trump has gained more time to lower oil prices and play a guessing game with the world and the Iranians that, through negotiations, there could be a chance for peace.

Some countries desire to act as mediators. Qatar, which has good relations with the U.S., along with Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, is working behind the scenes to that end.

The Iranian regime strongly denies any direct talks or negotiations. While Trump is known to prefer negotiations, Iran blames him for having tricked them in the previous February talks when they believed he would not attack before they were able to prolong the talks. However, all along, Trump and Netanyahu had planned the February 28 surprise attack, ten days after he had given his 15-day ultimatum.

This time, the ultimatum affected most of the Gulf nations, which were very nervous and fearful about Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum.

Most were sure that Trump, known to carry out what he says, would act upon his ultimatum and attack Iran’s oil sites, causing an Iranian retaliation of missile attacks upon them as well. Now they can relax a little, at least for the next five days.

Trump is very familiar with the mindset of those countries. He is calming worries over the world oil market, even in the U.S., especially among Democrats and progressive liberals who oppose him. in a single tweet, he was able to lower oil prices. 

The supposed talks are being conducted under fire. The war has not stopped. Attacks by Israel’s air force and the American air force continue as we speak.

What will happen in these five days and after is anyone’s guess. There is much speculation in the media around the world, and in Israel, Most Israelis want the war to go on until total victory, aegnst the Iranian regime and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

According to President Trump, there are “very good and productive” talks with Iran. He states:
     “Regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East…which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to President Trump’s announcement:
     “Earlier today, I spoke with our friend, President Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to capitalize upon the tremendous achievements of the IDF (Israeli army, the Israeli Defense Force) and the US military and achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement that will preserve our vital interests.”
     “At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon, dismantling the missile and nuclear program piece by piece and continuing to deal severe blows to Hezbollah. Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and more actions are forthcoming. We will safeguard our vital interests under all circumstances.”

Prayers:

  • Achievement of all war goals
  • Elimination of all Iranian nuclear weapons
  • Elimination of all deadly missiles
  • Elimination of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard regime
  • Freedom for Iranian Christians
  • Increased revival in the nation
  • Cessation of murdering innocent civilians
  • Complete victory over the power of evil in Iran

[Image from LSE blogs – Source: Flickr, Haim Zach / GPO]

The U.S. Administration – Friend or Foe of Israel?

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“It will come about on that day
that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples;
all who lift it will injure themselves severely.
And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”

Zechariah 12:3 NAS

Pledging Total Victory over Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still pledging “total victory” against the Palestinian jihadists of Hamas.

“We will finish the task with our brave soldiers,” he said, “and ensure the civilian population has corridors to safety.”

For the last few months, Israel has been preparing to extend its activities to Rafah, Gaza’s south most city, with the intent to continue its full-scale operation in the Gaza Strip, ‘paving the way for a shift to a lower-intensity phase of targeted airstrikes and special forces operations.’ According to an Israeli military chief, this will happen after significantly damaging Hamas’ last remaining stronghold.

In order to achieve victory, Israel must dismantle Hamas’ control in Rafah. However, world leaders are more concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Rafah even though Israel encourages Gazans to evacuate their homes in order to avoid civilian casualties. While planning Operation Rafah, targeting Hamas fighters, command centers, and tunnels, the IDF is also taking extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties.

“There were 24 regional battalions in Gaza – we have dismantled 18 of them. Rafah is the last Hamas stronghold,” a top military Israeli stated. A Hamas official based in Qatar told the press that some 6,000 terrorists have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7; about half of the 12,000 IDF claims to have been killed. The Hamas source claimed the terrorist group is prepared for a long war in Rafah.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s options are difficult and ours are too. He can occupy Gaza but Hamas is still standing and fighting. He hasn’t achieved his goals to kill the Hamas leadership or annihilate Hamas.”
 

Who Decides for Israel?

In every Israeli war a coalition of world leaders along with some Israeli traitors, have tried to sabotage a full Israeli victory in military operation, or all-out war. They unite for the sole purpose of Israel’s defeat, especially when Israel is very close to complete victory. And this is exactly what is happening right now with world leaders, even Israel’s supposed ally, U.S. President Biden.   

Picture from Times of Israel.

While at the beginning of the war, Biden was supporting Israel in eliminating Hamas in Gaza, he is now doing everything in his power to ensure the survival of Hamas. By providing Gaza with fuel and humanitarian aid that Hamas steals at gunpoint, as well as unending pressure on Israel for a long cease-fire, Biden ensures Hamas’ survival over total Israeli victory and the release of Israeli hostages.                                                                                                     

Naturally, this aligns with Hamas’ aspirations for a long cease-fire that will prevent a full Israeli operation and Hamas’ defeat in Rafah.

Hamas hopes for a long cease-fire that will prevent a full-scale Israel operation and Hamas’ defeat in Rafah, Israel last crucial phase of the battle, which will ensure Israel’s complete victory.

Israel’s future as a sovereign, Jewish nation in the land of Israel is at stake. Not entering Rafah was a risk Israel could not afford to take. Not entering Rafah would have been a military disaster preventing Hamas’ complete destruction as a military and political ruler in Gaza.

Victory is so close, as PM Netanyahu said. It is a matter of weeks, not months.

President Biden worries that an Israeli ground operation crossing into Rafah through the Egyptian border will harm his relationship with Egypt as he says, “I’ve worked very hard to make sure we have a relationship and help. I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet that they’re not going to get our support if, in fact, they go into these population centers.”

Rafah is the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip with an estimated million displaced people. It is also the entry point for much of the humanitarian aid into the Strip. Moreover, most of the Hamas leaders and remaining military forces are there, Israel says, along with the remaining hostages, both alive and dead.

Pictured left: Rafah Crossing from Wikipedia

Biden said a potential invasion of Rafah was ‘a red line’ for him.

In an interview, U.S. President Biden said he believes Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in his approach to the war, adding “He must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.”

Finally, the IDF has begun conducting what it describes as ‘targeted strikes’ against Hamas operatives in eastern Rafah. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli aircraft struck more than 50 terrorist targets in Rafah amid the evacuation of residents in the area and the expansion of the humanitarian area in other parts of Gaza.

However, it was with limited force, which would not overtake all the Hamas forces there. In this first stage, Israeli soldiers attacked the east side of Rafah, which is mainly sand with little population and not many tunnels. It is obvious that this stage will not conquer Hamas but may bring them into agreement with Israeli terms to release the hostages.

Pictured Right: Map of Rafah Crossing from Twitter, Jordan News Daily

PM Netanyahu faces another problem in bringing into the war cabinet his rival, former defense minister, Benny Gantz. At the start of the war, this was essential in order to form an emergency, united coalition to unite the nation in the war effort. However, Gantz sides more with Biden than with Netanyahu.

It seems that Biden is more interested in removing Netanyahu as PM than in destroying Hamas. Netanyahu made it clear that his government will not allow for a Palestinian state under the current Palestinian authority in the West Bank and/or Gaza, which is part of Biden’s administration’s ‘regional

Integration’ policy. This policy allows Iran to continue operating through its proxies in the Middle East, with the goal of destroying Israel.

Biden sees Netanyahu as an obstacle to his plan to ‘share the neighborhood’ with Israel’s enemies. Hence, Biden and his administration want Netanyahu’s opponents to do the work for them – to defeat Netanyahu by interfering in Israel’s politics and war effort.And There is Benny

Biden has found a partner in Benny Gantz, hoping Gantz will replace Netanyahu as Israel’s next PM and form a left-wing coalition more favorable to his Two-state Solution, giving Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians.

Never before has a U.S. administration so undermined Israeli democracy and sovereignty, dictating to an Israeli PM and army how to fight its enemies who seek to destroy the one and only Jewish state.
 

Why is Israel So Concerned?

Trusting in the U.S. presidential declarations – Obama’s and Biden’s included – to always support Israel, Israel stopped heavy precision ammunition productions decades ago and relied on its ally, the U.S. for unconditional supply of the ammunition. But this has backfired.

Now, dependent on American ammunition, Israel has given in to Biden’s demands to supply the Gazan enemy with massive humanitarian aid – the U.S. is even building a seaport to subvert Israel’s control of the flow of goods into Gaza – and respond with minimum force to Iran’s massive missile attack thereby, according to Biden’s request, preventing an escalation in the region.

President Biden and many Democrats publicly used foul language against Netanyahu. The Jewish Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, called on Israel to hold new elections, saying he believed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ‘lost his way’ and was an obstacle to peace in the region.
 

What Can the President Gain or Lose in this War?

By using Israeli and American Jewish leftists who oppose Netanyahu, Biden desires to disassociate himself from an anti-Israel or anti-Semitic image which could damage his re-election in key states like Florida, Arizona, and Michigan in light of anti-Jewish and pro-Hamas mobs across U.S. campuses.

Sadly, there exist anti-Zionist government Israeli officials who seem to be U.S. administration collaborators, likewise using mob demonstrations against Netanyahu. The Israeli organizers of these anti-Bibi demonstrations admit that they are in constant communication with the White House.
 

Where Do We Stand Now?

Last week, U.S. President Biden ordered PM Netanyahu not to enter the City of Rafah. During their 30-minute phone conversation between them, that Biden warned that should Israel go forward with the ground operation in Rafah, he would withhold military aid to Israel. Netanyahu made it clear that to defeat Hamas there was no choice but to conduct the ground operation in Rafah, wherein remain Hamas’ last four terrorist battalions.

Biden stated he is willing to supply Israel with defensive weapons such as the Iron Dome, but not weapons and artillery shells capable of destroying the vicious Hamas enemy.

“We will fight with our fingernails if we have to” responded PM Netanyahu.

Picture by M&AB// Mahsanai Hashuk

Please pray!

  • Israeli forces have gone into east Rafah. Along with killing about 50 Hamas terrorists, there were also Israeli casualties at the time of this writing. Please pray for the safety of the Israeli fighters.
  • Some brave Israeli citizens are blocking the entrance of “humanitarian aide” trucks “until our hostages are returned”. Please pray for the success of Israel in finding and rescuing the hostages.
  • Rockets continue to come into the north and the south, aimed at Israeli civilians. Please pray for protection of our forces and for them to be able to stop the attacks.
  • There are terror events in Judah and Samaria. Please pray for Israeli forces success of the counter-terrorist fighting.
  • Please pray for an increase of Israeli forces in Rafah and complete victory over the remaining Hamas forces.

War of Words

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Israel vs. South Africa

O God…See how your enemies growl… With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab…and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them… who said, “Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God.” Psalm 83: 1-8, 12    

Picture: "The Israeli delegation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel, January 11, 2024. (Photo: International Court of Justice)" Picture and caption from Mondoweiss.net
Picture: “The Israeli delegation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel, January 11, 2024. (Photo: International Court of Justice)” Picture and caption from Mondoweiss.net

Israel is facing another line of battle – a war of words. South Africa has petitioned The International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. Now Israel must defend itself in words and not in deeds. It accuses South Africa in turn of an “absurd blood libel,” that the allegations are baseless and inciteful of antisemitism. Moreover, if anyone is guilty of genocide, it is Hamas who carried out a genocidal attack on October 7.

In this war of words, the accusing South Africa must convince the ICJ that Israel acted with specific intentions to bring about the destruction of a nation, race, or religion – in this case, Gazan Palestinians. Were that Israel’s intention, there is no doubt that Israel has the military power and means to bring about the complete destruction of Gaza in a short time. Despite the sophisticated legal arguments accompanied by abstract concepts and elevated language, a simple truth emerges:   

  • Hamas declared war against the entire nation of Israel whereas Israel responded by warring against the Hamas terror organization only. 
  • Hamas uses its own Gazan citizens as human shields in an effort to show the world that Israel targets women and children. In fact, the Israeli army does its utmost to avoid civilian casualties.
  • During the three-month battle, out of a population of about 2 million, approximately only 14,000 civilians and around 9,000 Hamas fighters died, all within one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
         Tragically, civilians are killed in all wars. In this war, however, the relatively small number of civilian deaths cannot support any intent on Israel’s part to commit genocide nor that genocide is taking place.


What is the International Court of Justice?

The ICJ, or World Court, based in the Hague, the Netherlands, was established in 1945 as the United Nations’ judicial arm to resolve international disputes between states and to issue advisory opinions on matters of international law at the request of UN entities.

According to international law, the legal basis for the charge of “genocide” (a 1940 term introduced by Holocaust survivor Raphael Lemkin to ensure the absence of impunity for mass killings like those in the Holocaust) is a specific intention to bring about the destruction of a nation, race, or religion either wholly or partially.

It will likely take years for the ICJ to examine these claims and reach a decision on their merits.

During these lengthy deliberations, South Africa hopes the Court will force Israel to stop the war in Gaza. To this end, South Africa has asked that Israel be found in violation of the Genocide Convention, be forced to cease hostilities, and take measures to provide victims with redress.

Furthermore, South Africa alleges that Israel has failed to prevent and punish incitement to genocide committed by members of the government and others. 

Why is South Africa Accusing Israel of Genocide?

The case filed by South Africa is only the latest of a long series of anti-Israel positions the country has taken. In recent years, its historic alliance with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) has shifted to also include Hamas, the antisemitic terror organization that controls Gaza.

Present accusations represent the most dangerous and deceptive rhetoric to date. The implied hypocrisy is that the survivors of the Shoah genocide are now themselves committing genocide, making it a powerful accusation in the war of words against Israel. 

What is Behind South Africa’s Stance?

The anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian government of South Africa, the African National Congress, is likely seeking more votes in the upcoming national elections wherein the ICJ claim may provide a distraction from pressing domestic issues such as persistent unemployment, inequality, and poverty.

Last November, South Africa recalled its diplomats from Israel and called on the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders for “statements of genocidal intent” and other alleged war crimes. Israel withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria for consultation.

South Africa’s legal team is led by John Dugard, who falsely accused Israel of committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians when he served as the UN’s special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories during the 2000s. Now he seeks victory at the ICJ.

Also joining the South African delegation is former U.K. opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, a fierce critic of Israel who recently refused to call Hamas a terror group. Corbyn was ousted by the Labour Party after a report revealed rampant antisemitism that forced a number of Jewish members and lawmakers to leave the party at the time. Now he is seeking victory to redeem himself.

How will Israel Prove that the Accusation is Baseless?

Israel has recorded proof of the October 7 massacre demonstrating that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is in self-defense, a response to a genocidal attack against it by Hamas. Israel’s proof satisfies international law. This would convey to the Court that it would be inappropriate to order Israel to cease its defensive military operations. 

Israel’s team will also emphasize the extensive precautionary measures taken by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) to avoid disproportionately harming Palestinian civilians and Israel’s ongoing humanitarian relief to Gaza since mid-October to render baseless South Africa’s assertion that Israel is acting with genocidal intent.

Since the start of the war, Israel has transferred over 11,000 tons of medical supplies to Gaza. Israel has also transferred over 78,870 metric tons of food, 17,260 metric tons of water, and 16,210 metric tons of shelter equipment. 

Israel’s team will likely rebut South Africa’s accusations by pointing to oft-repeated statements by those with actual command authority that Israel’s war is against Hamas, not Palestinian civilians in Gaza. 

Officials, Leaders, and Experts Around the World Rebut South Africa’s Claim 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the accusation of genocide “meritless”. It’s particularly galling, given that those who are attacking Israel – Hamas, Hizballah, the Houthis, as well as their supporter, Iran – continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews,” he said. 

John Kirby, communications coordinator for the U.S. National Security Council, also called South Africa’s allegation “meritless, counterproductive, and completely without basis in fact whatsoever.”

In earlier statements, he said the term “genocide” to describe the Israeli operation is inappropriate: “What Hamas wants, make no mistake about it, is genocide. They want to wipe Israel off the map …That’s genocidal intentions,” Kirby said last December. “It is obvious that Israel is not trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map. Israel’s not trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat. If we’re going to start using that word – fine. Let’s use it appropriately.”

A spokesman for the German government has made it clear that Germany does not view Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide.

Retired Canadian Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella also has lambasted South Africa’s genocide case against Israel as an abuse of the postwar legal order.

Meanwhile, French historian Vincent Duclert, who examined France’s role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis, has said “a humanitarian situation, even frightening, is not enough to define genocide.”

• Some of the information in this newsletter was taken from an article by Dr. Dotan Rouss, who holds a Ph.D. in Law and was a criminal prosecutor in Israel. 


Please Pray

Thank you friends for praying with us for justice. For nations and people to realize that Israel is still in the plan of God and the powers of darkness are trying to destroy her, in our time, through radical Jihadi Islam through the destruction of Israel to prevent God’s plan from being fulfilled. Thank you also for your prayers for the Israeli government, the hostages, and the many thousands who evacuated their homes along the borders where the war is still going on.

  1. Pray against the distraction of lawfare against our government – and also against anything else that brings division and disunity to Israelis.
  2. While Israel does its best to rid the land of terrorism both for the sake of Jewish and Arab Israelis and also for Palestinians including Gazans, please pray for success in this mission.
  3. Please pray that Israel rescue the hostages very soon.
  4. Pray that Hamas is Contained and Restrained in any way the Lord sees fit.
  5. Pray for protection for the IDF and all of the non-involved citizens of Israel.
  6. Pray that the plans of the enemy are thwarted in every way.

Israel at War With Hamas

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Who or What is Hamas?

There is a song Jewish people sing during the Passover meal:
  “What happened to our forefathers and to us, that not only one came against us to annihilate us, but in every generation, they come against us to annihilate us, and the Holy One Blessed be He saves us from them all.”
[Click to listen to this stirring rendition of the song.]

This has been very true, throughout history, ever since the existence of Pharaoh, Haman, Hitler, and the Nazis, and is now truer than ever in Hamas and Islam (Hamas is the Islamic Resistance Movement.)

Now this is the History of Islam
(according to Hamas)

“After the Islamic armies conquered Syria and Iraq (in the 7th century), [the Muslim’s Caliph and companions of Islamists] decided that the land should be left with its (present) owners who could benefit by its fruit. As for the real ownership of the land and the land itself, it should be consecrated for Moslem generations till Judgement Day. Those who are on the land, are there only to benefit from its fruit. This Waqf (Endowment under Islamic law, involving donating a building, plot of land, or other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets) remains as long as earth and heaven remain. Any procedure in contradiction to Islamic Sharia, where Palestine is concerned, is null and void.

Notice that the above declaration steals God’s words to Jeremiah; “As long as there are the sun, moon, and stars in the heaven, Israel will always be a nation before Him.”

What Does the Lord Say?

The Lord God of Israel said through the prophet Jeremiah:
“He who appoints the sun to shine by day who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is His Name (the God of Israel): “Only if these decrees vanish from My sight,” declares the Lord “will Israel ever cease being a nation before Me.” This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord, God almighty.”
 
GOD promised the Land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel; therefore his descendants – the Israelis – named the Promised Land “Israel.”
 
Meanwhile, God sent Abraham’s son, Ishmael, to the Arabian desert of Saudia, promising to make him a great nation there. The descendants of Ishmael later became Muslims, whose religious ideology is to conquer the entire world.
 
True to their ideology, the Muslims conquered the Promised Land in the 7th century. At that time, the Land was called “Palestine,” after the conquering Romans had changed its name centuries earlier. Hence, the marauding Arabs called themselves Palestinians, after the Promised Land’s changed name, Palestine.

Who is Allah?

So, it is clear that Islam’s god, Allah, is not the true God of Israel, who promised the Land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants and not to Ishmael and his descendants.
 
There is an ongoing spiritual battle as Allah is actually satan in disguise. We know that satan still wants to be the most high god and usurp God as ruler of the earth. Since the God of Israel, the only true God has chosen Zion/Jerusalem as His dwelling place in the Promised Land of His people Israel, satan wants to destroy the Israelis and take the Promised Land for himself.
 
Therefore, through Hamas and “The Islamic Resistance Movement, satan is trying to kill the Israeli Jews and replace them with his cohorts, the Palestinians. This is what the war is all about.


Hamas creed:
“… The Islamic Resistance Movement is a link in the chain of the struggle against the Zionist invaders.’

“…. Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the [Zionist] enemy is vanquished and Allah’s (satan’s) victory is realized.

Our movement’s program is Islam…and Hamas aims to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine…”

“The day that enemies usurp Muslim Jihad (Islamic holy war) becomes the individual duty of every Moslem.

In the face of the Jews’ usurping Palestine, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised. This requires the diffusion of Islamic consciousness among the masses … It is necessary to instill the spirit of Jihad in the heart of the nation (even children) so that they confront join the ranks of the fighters.”

Hamas Rejoices After the Murder of Jews

Right after the brutal attack on Israel on October 7th, senior Hamas official Khaled Mashaal made a special speech to celebrate Hamas’ horrific atrocities. He sent “Allah’s blessings” to all the Hamas leaders involved in planning the Hamas attack, and “to everyone who prepared, organized, arranged, and made this dream come true… They brought about this glory.”

In addition, he sent “Allah’s blessings” to the “heroes” who committed the atrocities.

Hamas – Image from Reuters.

While Israel is fighting Hamas physically, we need to fight the evil one behind Hamas spiritually. We proclaim that the enemy is defeated, Yeshua has given us the victory and we are more than conquerors in His Name and by the authority He gave us.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but might in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”…2 Corinthians 10:3

“And what is His (God’s) mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion, and every name that is named…and He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church (His body of believers that includes us) the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19b-22
and
“God made us alive together with Christ (by grace you, we are saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Yeshua” Ephesians 2:6.

From this lofty position, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12

The Story of Purim

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The central character in the story of Purim is the Jewish girl Esther (originally Hadassah.) Hadassah was an orphan, raised by her uncle Mordechai. They descended from exiled Jews who lived in the ancient Persian Empire. On one occasion, the Persian King Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes) became furious at his beautiful wife Vashti for refusing to appear at his great banquet and decided to replace her. An order was issued to bring to the Palace all the kingdom’s beautiful virgins from whom Artaxerxes would choose a new queen.

Esther, being very beautiful, also was brought to the Palace. The king loved Esther more than all the other virgins and chose her to replace Queen Vashti. Esther’s uncle Mordechai advised her to hide her Jewish origins.

The King had elevated a certain man, Haman the Agagite (descended from Amalek) to the powerful position of Prime Minister of the Empire. Haman was extremely wealthy and influential and according to the King’s command, all the royal servants at the king’s gate had to bow down to and revere Haman. However, Mordechai who also sat in the king’s gate worshiped only the true God of Israel.

Mordechai could not bow down before any man. When Haman heard of Mordechai’s refusal to bow before him, and that he was a Jew, it aroused his anger and hatred, not only toward Mordechai but toward all the Jewish people. Haman schemed to destroy them. Haman persuaded the King to sign a decree authorizing the extermination of the Jews. A date was set for this purpose by casting lots (“PUR”). The lot fell on the 13th of the month of Adar.

It was a time of mourning for all the Jews in the kingdom of Persia and Media.

Esther realized that she was chosen as Queen of Persia for such a time as this; to be used by God for the salvation of His people. She rose to the occasion by taking a step of faith and went before the Highest Authority (the God of Israel) in prayer and fasting after calling all the Jews in the capital city of Shushan to stand with her in prayer and fasting for three days before she risked her life by approaching the king uninvited.

Although Esther was the king’s beloved queen, she was part of his harem. As such, coming to him uninvited meant certain death unless the king extend his royal scepter. Esther was now willing to take this risk in hope of saving her people and said, “After that (the three days of prayer and fasting) I will go to the king, although it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Even though God’s name is not mentioned in the story of Esther, His hand is visibly at work. It is obvious Esther and the Jews fasted and prayed to the God of Israel during those three days. God not only used Esther’s beauty to find favor in the eyes of the King, but He also gave her wisdom and a strategy.

On the third day of the fast, Esther, dressed in royal attire, stood in the inner court in front of the hall where the King sat on his throne. When he saw her, he remembered his great love for her and extended his golden scepter, inviting her to approach.

 “What is your request?” he asked. “I will grant you up to half the kingdom.”

Esther simply requested that the King and Haman attend a private banquet she had prepared that day in the King’s honor. Neither of them knew Esther was Jewish.

During the banquet as they were enjoying the food and wine, the King sensed there was something more on her heart and asked her again, “What is your request? I will grant it up to half the kingdom.”

Her request was that they come again the next day to another private banquet she would prepare for the King and Haman. In his pride, Haman bragged to his loved ones how important he was that Queen Esther chose to invite only him, besides the King, to her banquet.

At the second banquet, as they were enjoying the food and drink, the King again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

This time, Queen Esther revealed she was Jewish and asked that her life and the life of her people, the Jews, be spared. “This is my request, for I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I would have kept silent and not disturbed the King.”

When the King asked who dare do such a thing, Esther pointed to Haman and said, “An adversary and enemy! This wicked Haman!” The King was enraged, left his drink, and went out to the garden to absorb all this new twist of events.

Haman was terrified of what the King might do to him and stood in front of Queen Esther to beg for his life. At that very moment, the King returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall and saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was. Alarmed, the King exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

The King ordered that Haman be hanged on the very pole Haman had set in his house to hang Mordechai the Jew. (Esther 7: 9-10)

Mordechai received the honor of being placed in the highest position and was given the King’s signet ring to reverse the edict. It was a day of joy and celebration for the Jews, and the Purim holiday was established for all generations.