COLUMNS

G'day from the Sentinel Team

Many Christian leaders have called on the church to pray for Israel at this strategic and painful time. Media photos and news clippings portray the sorrow and heartache felt in the land in a way that words alone cannot.

If you are unsure of how to pray then we hope that this update will give you an insight into key characters and groups involved and help to guide your prayers.

This update gleans information from all sides, beginning with the good news of a massive prayer meeting at the Western Wall. I particularly recommend reading the official statement issued by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem as they also give insight into how to pray at this time.

Under His Banner

Bev Holmes-Brown

On Wednesday evening, 10th August, 50'000 to 150'000 people from all over Israel gathered at the Western Wall Plaza and in and around the Old City of Jerusalem crying out to God with prayers of repentance for His mercy and the cancellation of the disengagement plan.

The peaceful meeting was led by religious, orthodox and ultra-orthodox Rabbis and lasted several hours. (HaAretz – Jerusalem on the Line Prayer Letter 8/11/05)

"Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help…" Psalm 28,2

Israeli PM, Ariel Sharon address on the eve of disengagement :

August 15, 2005

Citizens of Israel,

The day has arrived. We are beginning the most difficult and painful step of all – evacuating our communities from the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria.

This step is very difficult for me personally. It was with a heavy heart that the Government of Israel made the decision regarding Disengagement, and the Knesset did not lightly approve it.

It is no secret that I, like many others, believed and hoped that we could forever hold on to Netzarim and Kfar Darom. However, the changing reality in this country, in this region, and in the world, required another reassessment and changing of positions.

Gaza cannot be held onto forever. Over one million Palestinians live there, and they double their numbers with every generation. They live in incredibly cramped refugee camps, in poverty and squalor, in hotbeds of ever-increasing hatred, with no hope whatsoever on the horizon.

It is out of strength and not weakness that we are taking this step. We tried to reach agreements with the Palestinians which would move the two peoples towards the path of peace. These were crushed against a wall of hatred and fanaticism.

The unilateral Disengagement Plan, which I announced approximately two years ago, is the Israeli answer to this reality. This Plan is good for Israel in any future scenario. We are reducing the day-to-day friction and its victims on both sides. The IDF will redeploy on defensive lines behind the Security Fence. Those who continue to fight us will meet the full force of the IDF and the security forces.

Now the Palestinians bear the burden of proof. They must fight terror organizations, dismantle its infrastructure and show sincere intentions of peace in order to sit with us at the negotiating table.

The world awaits the Palestinian response – a hand offered in peace or continued terrorist fire. To a hand offered in peace, we will respond with an olive branch. But if they chose fire, we will respond with fire, more severe than ever.

The Disengagement will allow us to look inward. Our national agenda will change. In our economic policy we will be free to turn to closing the social gaps and engaging in a genuine struggle against poverty. We will advance education and increase the personal security of every citizen in the country.

The disagreement over the Disengagement Plan has caused severe wounds, bitter hatred between brothers and severe statements and actions. I understand the feelings, the pain and the cries of those who object. However, we are one nation even when fighting and arguing.

Residents of the Gaza Strip, today marks the end of a glorious chapter in the story of Israel, and a central chapter in the story of your lives as pioneers, as realizers of a dream and as those who bore the security and settlement burden for all of us. Your pain and your tears are an inseparable part of the history of this country. Whatever disagreements we have, we will not abandon you, and following the evacuation, we will do everything in our power to rebuild your lives and communities.

I wish to tell the soldiers of the IDF, the police officers of the Israel Police and Border Police: you face a difficult mission – it’s not an enemy you face, rather your brothers and sisters. Sensitivity and patience are the order of the hour. I am certain that this is how you will behave. I want you to know: the entire nation stands behind you and is proud of you.

Citizens of Israel,

The responsibility for the future of Israel rests on my shoulders. I initiated the Plan because I concluded that this action is vital for Israel.

Believe me, the extent of pain that I feel at this act is equal only to the measure of resolved recognition that it was something that had to be done.

We are embarking on a new path which has many risks, but also a ray of hope for all of us.

With the help of G-d, may this path be one of unity and not division, of mutual respect, and not animosity between brothers, of unconditional love, and not baseless hatred.

I will do my utmost to ensure that it will be so.

http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speech150805.htm

The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem issued the following Media Statement on the 21st July, 2005:

FOR ZION'S SAKE WE WILL NOT KEEP SILENT

"For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink." Joel 3:1-3 (NKJV)

The Bible is clear about the fact that those nations that divide the Land of Israel will incur the disfavour of God. So, the conflict now unfolding in Gaza has serious implications for all the world. The Land of Canaan belongs to God! He has bequeathed it to the Jewish people as an everlasting possession as part of His plan for world redemption. To meddle with that which God has given is a grave oversight. The nations must be warned and even though they happily discount the reality of the God of Heaven, they will soon hear from Him and are!

On the other hand, the prophets have always spoken to Israel about her spiritual condition. Her departure from serving the God of her forefathers has always led to judgment, anguish and trouble within her borders. In addition the God of the Bible has always warned Israel about making alliances with foreign nations that in the end bring her to a place of compromise and land forfeiture. Israel is called upon to trust God fully.

The present drama unfolding in Gaza is therefore complex and cannot be reduced to simplistic deductions. As an organization that has a proven track record of standing with Israel, we do speak out today in the following way:

(1) We are convinced that Israel is placing herself in grave and serious danger by the "Gaza pullout". We are not persuaded at all of the peaceful intentions of the Palestinian people. On the ground in Gaza, where the majority influence is Hamas, they unashamedly declare their desire to remove the Jews from what they call "Muslim soil". They will most definitely continue their violent struggle from their new vantage point after disengagement. We fear that Kassam missiles will soon rain down on Ashdod and Ashkelon.

(2) We affirm that all nations participating in the present process to divide the land will eventually fall into the hands of the Living God. He has not changed and those nations like Assyria, Babylon and Rome that engaged in "this business" are now extinct. Why should it be different in the future?

(3) We lovingly call upon Israel to call for a Day of Humility and Repentance. The God of the Bible has always responded to your cry and will do so now. We will never tell you what to do because we respect your democracy but we feel that we must urge you to cast yourselves upon the God who has borne you on "Eagles' wings" for centuries. He will not fail you now. He will hear your cry when you call upon Him with all your heart (2 Chronicles 7:14).

(4) We urge the Church to come to a place of urgent and persistent prayer. Israel is in real danger. The avalanche of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism in the world is alarming. Now is the time to rise up and pray. Pray for Israel's leaders, pray for wisdom, pray for deliverance and pray for Israel's redemption.

Please note that we have often stated that to pray for Israel without reference to her spiritual condition is to disconnect yourself from the purpose of God. God is dealing with Israel and in the end He will have His way with her.

(5) We urge Christians everywhere to reject all forms of anti-Semitism and to pray for the Jewish communities of Gaza. These precious people were encouraged to settle in the region by a government that is now determined to remove them. Whatever the debate may be in Israel about this, the undeniable fact is that we are looking at a very real human tragedy. Men, women and children are being uprooted from their homes and familiar surroundings with very painful and traumatic consequences. They need our prayers and comfort.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is fully committed to the above position and always has been. We urge all our supporters to act now and help us fulfill our calling to be a light of love and comfort to Israel.

Malcolm Hedding
Executive Director, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

PRESIDENT BUSH: “GAZA PULLOUT WILL BE ‘GOOD’ FOR ISRAEL”

President George W. Bush told Israel's Channel One television in an interview broadcast yesterday, August 11, that the planned Israeli pullout from Gaza "will be good for Israel." "First of all the previous system wasn't working. There was an intifada, there was death, there was killing. And if you notice, there's been a calm in attacks."

"I can understand why people think this decision is one that will create a vacuum into which terrorism will flow," he said. "I happen to disagree. I think this will create an opportunity for democracy to emerge and democracies are peaceful." "I think in the long run two states living side by side in peace is the ultimate solution for Israel's security," he said. "In the meantime we've got to work to dismantle terrorist organizations, and that's precisely what the road map calls for." (Reuters 8/11/05) (Intercessors for America Newsletter)

Less than three days after he urged Palestinians to refrain from excessive celebrations over the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank (Judea and Samaria), Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) (left) presided over a huge celebration in Gaza City where he declared, "Today we are celebrating the liberation of Gaza and the northern West Bank; tomorrow we will celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem."

PA Civil Affairs Minister Muhammed Dahlan, who appeared next to Abbas, told the crowd that the Palestinians were celebrating "the day of victory and the beginning of a new era that was achieved with the blood of our martyrs." (Bridges for Peace News Update)

Unfortunately, confusion is now the order of the day. The army seems to have been well prepared to remove the people, but the follow-up care of the people seems much less organized. Everyone is scrambling to meet the needs of housing, food, clothing, and transportation of goods. Many don’t have anyplace to go, and so the Israeli government is taking them to temporary homes in hotels. The government will pay for the hotel costs for ten days in order to give time for displaced families to decide where to go next.

It may have sounded like a reasonable plan, but logistically is proving difficult. In the confusion of being put on buses, some families become separated. Many of the bus drivers don’t have clear instructions with the result that they go from hotel to hotel trying to find vacancies. The hotels are full and turning people away. Many of the exhausted and mourning former Gush Katif residents find themselves without lodging.

The people of Israel are rallying to help them, with many volunteers showing up at hotels. Others are opening their homes, preparing Shabbat (Sabbath) meals, and giving encouragement.

The mood of the nation is somber. Even though many Jewish Israelis agree that the disengagement was the right action, no one is having parties except the Palestinian Arabs.

Soldiers cry as they follow orders to remove their own people from their homes. Those being torn from their homes, cry, scream, and tear their clothing in the traditional Jewish symbol or mourning a death.

The Jews of Gaza now enter an extremely difficult phase. Many have no income, having lost their livelihood with the expulsion. Many don’t have anyplace to live. Most have not yet received government compensation checks and so don’t even have the funds to rent an apartment. Many of the families are large, some with more than ten children. Finding suitable housing is difficult. Children need to be enrolled in schools for the soon to start school session. Many of the families left with only the clothes on their backs. The problems are overwhelming.

Truly this is a black time in Jewish life in Israel. A tremendous price has been paid for the hope of world support and peace. The Palestinian rhetoric promises more war, not peace. Yet, we must not lose our faith in God. He promised this land to the Jewish people, and we know that He is absolutely faithful.

By Rebecca Brimmer, Bridges for Peace, Jerusalem, August 19, 2005

Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10).

http://www.bridgesforpeace.com

Excerpted from the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) News Update :

Q: "Will Hamas resume its operations in Israeli towns after the withdrawal?"

A: "Firstly, there are no Israeli towns. These are settlements. If the aggression and occupation continue, the Palestinian people will have no alternative but to defend themselves. The Palestinian people are not killing the occupiers or being killed out of fun or madness. The life spent by our generation in killing, imprisonment, and exile is not the life that we want for our sons. We want them to live in security and peace and to live in a homeland in which they are able to move and not to live as slaves of the Israeli enemy."

Q: "In other words, the resistance of Hamas in the future will be in response to Israeli actions."

A: "No, our position depends on two things: the withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and the extent of the aggression against the Palestinian people."

Q: "You talk about attacks on the Palestinian territories as if you recognize the existence of Israel."

A: "I strongly disagree with your statement. We do not and will not recognize a state called Israel. Israel has no right to any inch of Palestinian land. This is an important issue. Our position stems from our religious convictions. This is a holy land. It is not the property of the Palestinians or the Arabs. This land is the property of all Muslims in all parts of the world. We regard the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, and the West Bank as a geographical unit, as mentioned by resolutions 242 and 338, which have not been implemented. We are currently talking about this area."
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Q: "Israelis fear that Gaza could become the land of Hamas after the withdrawal."

A: "Let Israel die."

Q: "Is this an encouragement for the Palestinian Authority to clamp down on Hamas with an iron fist?"

A: "No one can crackdown on us with either an iron fist or a golden fist."

Q: "Have you prepared to enter the settlements?"

A: "We will enter the settlements and sully the dignity of Israel with our feet. We will stand on the ruins of the Israeli settlements and tell our people we have prevailed. This is non-negotiable. We will secure the Gaza Strip and prevent anyone from occupying it again. ....

Q: "What is the relationship. between Hamas and Europe?"

A: "All the Europeans that we have met admit that the European position is hypocritical and subservient to U.S. pressure. They look forward to freeing themselves from such pressures. If you want democracy to express the will of the Palestinian people, wait for the results of the elections. If you regard the Palestinian liberation movement, of which Hamas is part, as a terrorist movement, you must look at history. Was De Gaulle a terrorist? Were those who worked to liberate their countries from occupation terrorists? We do not consider the West as an enemy but we believe Christian Zionism is criminal."

Original Source Link : http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=3&id=1294

MEMRI Link : http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP96405

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: “THE DISENGAGEMENT PLAN IS BRINGING NO BENEFIT TO ISRAEL” - Israel’s Minister of Finance, Benjamin Netanyahu, resigned from Ariel Sharon’s Cabinet on Sunday, August 7. The following is from his letter of resignation:

“Sadly, the government is blindly moving forward. Just as I feared, Hamas is getting stronger, the terror is continuing, mortars and kassams are being fired on our towns, and our enemies boldly declare that they will transfer the rockets that expelled us from the Gaza Strip to Judea and Samaria, and fire them until they achieve their goal of ‘the complete Liberation of Palestine.’

I do not know when the full force of Palestinian terror will return. Perhaps it will take a month or two, perhaps a year or two. I pray that the terror will stop, but I fear it won't. Just as I was convinced in 1993 that the Oslo agreement would result in rocket attacks from Gaza and terror attacks from Judea and Samaria, I am convinced today that the disengagement plan will strengthen terror and not weaken it. As you well know, our security experts expect that terror in the medium-term will increase.

In short, it is becoming crystal clear that the unilateral disengagement is bringing no benefit to Israel. On the contrary, it is endangering our security, dividing the nation, and justifying the untenable demand that Israel return to the indefensible borders of 1967. This is not the way to achieve peace.” (Intercessors for America Newsletter)

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday, August 17, said that while she feels for evacuated settlers Israel will be expected to make further concessions that would ultimately lead to an independent Palestinian state.

"Everyone empathizes with what the Israelis are facing," Rice said, but added "It cannot be Gaza only." (Intercessors for America - Middle East Prayer Alert )

Derek Prince was a Founding Board Member for Intercessors for America. He spoke often about International relationships, particularly with regard to Israel :

" In the eternal counsel of God, He has determined to make Jerusalem the decisive issue by which He will deal with the nations. Those nations who align themselves with God's purposes for Jerusalem will receive His blessing. But those who follow a policy in opposition to God's purposes will be severely dealt with.

Commit yourself to pray that divine wisdom, discernment and understanding would be the portion of all who hold positions of influence over matters in the Middle East." (Full Article:"The Importance of Jerusalem)

In another article called "The Watershed of History" Derek says, "For more than three thousand years, from the time of Exodus onward, God has chosen to identify Himself with Israel as His people. Amazingly, this has never been affected by Israel's weakness or waywardness. Even at a time when they were enduring divine judgment on their disobedience, the prophet Zechariah pronounced God's wrath against all the nations who plundered them, but said to Israel : "He who touches you, touches the apple of My eye" (Zech 2:8)

In Psalm 129 we read that "those who fight against God's purpose for Israel will be like `grass upon the housetops.' They may begin to sprout with unnatural rapidity, but their root has no soil. They will wither as quickly as they grew, and be left as a relic of history. The key to true prosperity, for individuals and for nations alike, is to discern God in His people and identify His purpose for them'. (Book : Chords from David's Harp)