1. Iran-We'll send Our Ballistic Missiles to Tel Aviv
2. IDF Strikes Targets in Strip
3. Report-Netanyahu to OK 10ñMonth Building Freeze
4. Pro-Iranian Charity Funded Columbia and Rutgers Universities
5. "Heavy" Prisoners-We're on Our Way to Freedom
6. Mubarak Lambasts Israel in Speech to Parliament
7. Vilnai-Next War to Include All Israel
8. German FM Condemns Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
9. Sorting through Garbage for Gold
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1. Iran-We'll send Our Ballistic Missiles to Tel Aviv
Before the dust settles from Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, the Islamic Republic will send its ballistic missiles into the very heart of Tel Aviv. This was spelled out at the weekend by a deputy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative in the Revolutionary Guards, Mojtaba Zolnour. It came hours before Iran launched what it described as "huge" war games intended to "promote [the] military power of the armed forces against any attack," according to a Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani quoted in Iranian television. The verbal threats and military exercises comprise the latest saber rattling on the part of the Muslims in Tehran—a leadership that regularly denies the Holocaust even as it prepares to perpetuate another once against Israel. Instead of forcefully confronting the genocidal government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the United States and European Union have done nothing more effective than repeatedly threaten sanctions. Iran has made full use of the space afforded it by this appeasement approach to race ahead with its efforts to achieve nuclear capability. In the words of a Christian Zionist who served for many years as a tank commander in Israel's Armored Corps—the international community is nearly ready to allow a second Holocaust to take place. "Israel has become a thorn in the flesh of the world," he said. “The sooner it is erased from the Middle East the happier mankind will be.” By Stan Goodenough, www.jnewswire.com , Nov 22, 2009 Prayer FocusPray that the world will take the threats of Iran seriously and not allow another massacre of the Jewish people to occur. Scripture“Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult, and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (Psalm 83:1–4).
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2. IDF Strikes Targets in Strip
Israeli jets struck a Hamas weapons factory in the northern Gaza Strip and two smuggling tunnels in the southern Strip in the early hours of Tuesday morning (November 24). The IDF (Israel Defense Force) Spokesperson's Unit said Tuesday's strike was in response to Monday's rocket. Around 6:50 pm Monday, Palestinian gunmen from the Gaza Strip launched a Qassam rocket at the western Negev. The rocket exploded in an open area between two kibbutzim. There were no reports of damage or injury. "The IDF will not tolerate attacks from terror organizations on the State of Israel's territory and will continue to operate with a firm hand against any attempt to disrupt the calm in Israel's towns and the south of the country," an IDF statement said. Excerpts from an article by Hanan Greenberg, Ynet, November 24, 2009 Prayer FocusPray that God will put a hedge of protection around the borders of Israel, as He strengthens and gives courage to the IDF. Scripture“May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you” (Psalm 20:1).
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3. Report-Netanyahu to OK 10ñMonth Building Freeze
According to a report on Israeli television [Channel 1], Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will offer a 10–month freeze on construction in areas built on land acquired in the 1967 war [the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria]. Jerusalem neighborhoods will be excluded from the freeze. If the reports are true, the temporary halt in building is Netanyahu’s attempt to assuage intense international pressure and ease tension between himself and U.S. President Barack Obama. The Palestinians are demanding that [East] Jerusalem be treated the same as other post–1967 areas, but successive Israeli governments have been firm on distinguishing the Israeli capital from other areas. Netanyahu is known to have pitched his proposed temporary freeze to the White House in an attempt to get negotiations with the Palestinians back on track. But Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas [Abu Mazen] has been adamant that talks will not resume until Israel puts a complete halt to construction in post–1967 areas [including East Jerusalem]. (By The Media Line, November 24, 2009) Prayer FocusPray that God will lead and direct Prime Minister Netanyahu as he deals with pressures on every side. Scripture“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8).
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4. Pro-Iranian Charity Funded Columbia and Rutgers Universities
Anti–Israel and pro–Iranian lecturers received hundreds of thousands of dollars from an Islamic charity in New York believed to be a front for the Iranian regime, the “New York Post” reports. The Alavi Foundation reportedly supported Middle Eastern and Persian studies programs of Columbia University in New York and Rutgers University in New Jersey, which employ professors sympathetic to the Iranian regime. In one of the donations, $100,000 was transferred to Columbia University. A spokesman for the prestigious university said the school was surprised the Alavi Foundation had direct ties to the Iranian government. The newspaper also reports that between 2005 and 2007, the foundation had donated over $250,000 to Rutgers University. In recent weeks, US authorities raided institutions owned by the Alavi Foundation in New York, Maryland and California and filed a request for the seizure of its assets. This followed suspicions of money laundering [on behalf of Iran]. If the foreclosure is executed, it would be the largest in American history and would include the bank accounts of Islamic centers, including schools and mosques throughout the United States. (Excerpts of an article by World Jewish Congress, November 23, 2009) Prayer FocusPray that any hidden agendas of Iran or other fanatical Islamic movements will be revealed. Scripture“Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear, and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’ Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion who plot my hurt. Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the LORD pursue them. For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation” (Psalm 35:1–8).
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5. "Heavy" Prisoners-We're on Our Way to Freedom
On the backdrop of increasing reports on an impending prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian prisoners involved in deadly terror attacks have been informing their families that their names are on the list of inmates slated to be released. Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for an expected struggle at the High Court of Justice. Three bereaved parents from Haifa, whose children were murdered in terror attacks, are planning to petition the High Court, demanding that the government be ordered to publish the list of prisoners slated to be released as part of the deal, in order to enable a public and legal discourse on the matter. The parents have also sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, asking them to publish the details of the impending deal. At first, Hamas demanded 1,400 prisoners in exchange for Shalit, but according to a recent Fox News report, the deal includes the release of 1,000 prisoners, 450 of whom appear on a list of names submitted by Hamas, including the most “heavy” prisoners. Israel is expected to select the additional 550 prisoners slated to be freed. According to the Fox News report, Israeli rejected 70 of the names submitted by Hamas, and Hamas recently submitted a new list of 70 prisoners, who meet Israel's criteria. According to a series of recent reports—the latest one by the al–Arabiya network—the deal will be implemented within days, and is expected to be finalized this Friday [November 27], the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al–Adha. Fox News, however, quoted a source in the Prime Minister's Office as saying that “the deal has not been completed yet.” Hamas attempted to downplay the reports as well. According to Osama Hamdan, who is in charge of the organization's foreign affairs, the recent progress made in the talks is not enough for the deal to be implemented. The families of the “heavy” prisoners are preparing for the return of their loved ones. The West Bank [Judea and Samaria] prisoners who have contacted their relatives include senior members of Fatah's military wing, the al–Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, including some who have been sentenced to several life terms for carrying out and planning deadly attacks. Of the prisoners who have contacted their families, one is responsible for one of the most shocking terror attacks of the al–Aqsa Intifada [Second Intifada terror war]. The family members do not know, however, whether he will be released to the West Bank or deported abroad. In general, the prisoners' families are trying to lower expectations as well. One of the relatives noted that the families had already experienced such times in the past, when the deal appeared to be very close but was eventually not implemented. Meanwhile, three bereaved fathers who lost their children in a terror attack on a bus in Haifa—Yossi Tzur, Yossi Mendelovich and Ron Kerman—are protesting “the serious censorship on any detail regarding the deal for the release of terrorists.” According to the fathers, “The lack of knowledge and the lack of time due to the censorship are causing us great suffering and a feeling of contempt towards the moves taken and the punishments imposed by the legal system on the murderers of our children and the collaborators responsible for our children's murder.” The three parents are threatening to turn to the court “in order to receive reliable information, in real time,” about the impending deal, including a list of the prisoners slated to be released from Israeli jails. The bereaved parents have been joined recently by senior retired Israel Defense Forces officers. On Friday [November 20], a group of bereaved parents and retired officers met with Rabbi Chaim Druckman, a prominent Religious Zionism leader, and asked him to join them in their struggle. A similar meeting was held Saturday [November 21] evening with heads of the national–religious public. "We are currently busy setting up a coalition of officials and organizations who believe, like we do, that this is a disaster to the people of Israel," Yossi Tzur told Ynet. "There is an awakening in the national–religious public, and I hope this will be beneficial. Obviously, we will also turn to the legal level and petition the High Court, but experience shows that this is more of a formal procedure rather than a practical one. To this day, no deals including the release of terrorists have been stopped by the High Court." Tzur and the other parents and activists are considering setting up a protest tent in Jerusalem, as they have done in the past, and demonstrating against the release of hundreds of terrorists on the expected deal. (By Ali Waked, Ahiya Raved contributed, Ynetnews, November 23, 2009)http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L–3809110,00.html Prayer FocusPray for the speedy release of Gilad Shalit, held for over three years by terrorists. Pray that prisoners who are released in exchange for his freedom will cease from violence. Scripture“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God…The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners” (Psalm 146:5,7b).
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6. Mubarak Lambasts Israel in Speech to Parliament
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak used his parliament’s podium to launch a sharp attack on Israel. In a Saturday [November 21] address, Mubarak accused Israel of “destroying the opportunity for peace, with its plans to populate Jerusalem with Jews and excavate around the al–Aqsa mosque [on the Temple Mount].” Mubarak’s charges echo the recent strategic move by the Palestinians to aggressively attack Israel over its policy of strengthening the Jewish presence in its capital and charging that it is excavating in the area of the Temple Mount (referred to by Muslims as Harem Al–Sharif) in a manner that endangers the mosques located there. The Media Line has verified that archaeological work being carried out in the area does not extend beneath the Temple Mount. Nevertheless, Mubarak angrily addressed Israeli leadership, demanding, “Stop your actions in the West Bank [Judea and Samara] and remove the blockade on the (Gaza) Strip. Enough with your stubbornness and manipulations—accept the calls for peace." Mubarak’s tirade preceded a scheduled visit by Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was to meet with Mubarak in Cairo on Sunday [November 22]. The Egyptian president also had a warning for Iran, telling it to “stay out of ‘inter–Arab affairs.’” He warned Iran that Egypt will defend itself against acts of “destabilization.” (By The Media Line, November 22, 2009) Prayer FocusPray that Israeli/Egyptian relationships will improve. Scripture“Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, ‘Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance’” (Isaiah 19:25).
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7. Vilnai-Next War to Include All Israel
Three–and–a–half years have passed since the Second Lebanon War, and Tuesday morning [November 24] saw the end of a project for the renovation and restoration of bomb shelters in northern Israel in a festive ceremony. The Prime Minister's Office and the Defense Ministry invested NIS 96 million (roughly $25.27 million) in the renovation of 3,019 public shelters. An additional 1,838 joint shelters were renovated by the administration for the restoration of the north and the Amigour company. Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said that in the event of another military operation, the fighting will not only be felt near Israel's borders, but throughout the entire country. “We are building the State of Israel's civilian front,” he said, “A war only on the military front, as in the Yom Kippur War—not involving the civilian population—will not reoccur.” The minister added that “the best war is one that is prevented, because if there is a war, it will reach every part of the State of Israel.” Vilnai slammed the proposed budget cuts in communities on the confrontation lines and said, “It is unreasonable and unfathomable that they are trying to take away from grants to authorities in the periphery. These towns are located around the state's borders and determine how the State of Israel looks.” Eyal Gabai, director–general of the Prime Minister's Office, also noted the importance of supporting periphery communities. “The recent conflicts have proven the strength of the communities along the border. It is the State's responsibility to change the perception, and the places that have been ignored will be made a top priority.” Gabai added that the government plans to invest tens of billions of shekels in reinforcing infrastructure in the periphery, which he said would “change the lives of the residents of the Galilee and the Negev [Israel’s desert] within 10 years.” Head of Shlomi Local Council Gabi Naaman warned that the calm in the north in recent years could lead to complacency with regards to the continued restoration of shelters. “We must not forget that the confrontation line has not disappeared, or that, alongside the economic and professional threats, there is still a security threat that is demonstrated with a Katyusha [rocket] attack on the northern communities from time to time,” he said. (By Hagai Einav, Ynetnews, November 24, 2009)http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L–3810005,00.html Prayer FocusPray that Israel will be well prepared for any attacks. Scripture“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” “About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho” (Joshua 1:9, 4:13).
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8. German FM Condemns Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
Today [November 24] Israeli President Shimon Peres held a working meeting at the Presidential Residence with the visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. Westerwelle, who is Germany's new foreign minister, is meeting leading politicians in Israel during this visit. Peres told Westerwelle that he would like to see German foreign policy being positive on peace and negative on terror. Peres told his guest that pronouncements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling for the destruction of Israel are unacceptable. Westerwelle said that Germany shares Israel's concern and has the same thoughts. "For us it is absolutely clear that nuclear weapons in the hands of the government of Iran are not an acceptable option,” said Westerwelle. “And we have to work with dialogue or with sanctions if this dialogue doesn’t help… Not only for Israel, not only for the region, but I think it’s in the main interest of the whole international community.” During the meeting the two discussed how to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. On this issue President Peres said that the present differences between Israel and the Palestinians are not deep and can therefore be bridged. He added that there is a clear majority in Israel that supports two states for two nations. The President said that Israel is willing to go the extra mile to ensure peace with the Palestinians; that the opportunity should not be wasted; and that Israel and the Palestinians must sit immediately at the negotiation table in order to advance peace, and move forward the formation of a Palestinian state that will stand side–by–side with Israel. (By Edgar Asher, Isranet, November 24, 2009) Prayer Focus Thank the Lord for the nations who stand with Israel against those who would destroy her. Scripture“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time has come. For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust. So, the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory” (Psalm 102:13–15).
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9. Sorting through Garbage for Gold
Like death and taxes, garbage is inevitable. And with environmental concerns growing, cities across the globe are searching for smarter ways to dispose of their trash. Sydney and Santa Barbara are among the cities that are now working with Arrow Ecology, an Israeli company whose revolutionary, ecologically sensible method sorts huge volumes of solid waste, salvages recyclables and turns the rest into "green" biogas and rich agricultural compost. The ArrowBio patented system takes trash directly from collection trucks and separates organic and inorganic materials through gravitational settling, screening and hydro–mechanical shredding. CEO Yair Zadik likens the process to panning for gold. “Our ‘gold’ comes from waste—whether it's plastic, metal, glass or organic materials which contain energy,” he tells ISRAEL21c. Zadik explains that the water used by ArrowBio comes from the moisture in the trash. Any excess water is discharged into the public sewage system or biological treatment plant. Similarly, a small fraction of the resulting methane biogas powers the process itself and the rest is made available for municipal energy needs. According to Zadik, the system can handle any proportion of organic–to–inorganic waste. In the Middle East and Asia, biodegradable organic matter may comprise up to 90 percent of the waste stream, while European and North American municipal solid waste generally contains less than 50 percent organics. The flexibility of the system is the key to its success in locales as diverse as California, Australia, Greece, Mexico, the United Kingdom and at home in Israel.The facility in Sydney, for example, was installed in July 2008 and treats 270 tons of municipal solid waste every day—diverting the equivalent of 9,000 garbage trucks per year from landfills, and generating greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking about 8,000 cars off the road. An ArrowBio plant that has been operational at the Hiriya landfill site since December 2003 serves the Tel Aviv area, and processes up to 150 tons of garbage a day. Arrow principals hoped to generate interest in their system among water industry decision–makers from around the world at WATEC 09, the international Water Technologies & Environmental Control trade conference, which closed today [November 22] in Tel Aviv. The event provides a forum for displaying and sharing technological innovations. The innovation that became ArrowBio originated about a decade ago with a group of entrepreneurs that included Zadik's brother. “My background includes many years in the [Israeli] Air Force and with the Ministry of Defense,” says Zadik, who holds a degree in physics from Bar–Ilan University and served as project manager for the Arrow anti–ballistic missile system jointly funded by Israel and the US. Eight years ago, Zadik's brother asked him to bring his experience in defense and high–tech projects to help Arrow Ecology export its technology. He succeeded in securing several contracts as well as an initial round of funding from British and Israeli investors. Two years ago, he became CEO of the 32–employee company and is now looking to raise $10 million in a second financing round. Originally based in Haifa, Arrow's corporate offices moved a bit south of that port city to the Yokne'am National Priority Area to encourage capital investment. "Recently, we have won some more contracts for basic design," says Zadik. "We also won a tender for a project in Slovenia and another in Civitavecchia, the port of Rome." Teri Cohan Link, ArrowBio's California representative, says the company is under consideration for a contract by the Los Angeles municipality based on its success in Santa Barbara County. "We are also in the design stage of a plant for a private strategic partner in Southern California," Link tells ISRAEL21c. "These are all impressive accomplishments for Arrow Ecology, particularly since the barriers to entry into this market are extremely rigorous." (By Abigail Klein Leichman, www.israel21c.org, November 22, 2009) Prayer FocusThank the Lord for the many innovative ideas He gives to the people of the covenant. Scripture“In you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3b).