israel

Reader Question: Why did you post a story about stripping on Worthy News?

Shalom everyone,

Yesterday, there was an article in the UK Telegraph entitled, “Girls urged to strip to support Vladimir Putin as President” which I ran, however we had some people wonder why we would run such an article.  So I thought I would explain my reasoning behind it.

First of all, it was only a text article and absent of any kind of photography that would be a stumbling block for a believer. [Editor’s note: From the time we posted it, they’ve added a video and thus we removed it when this took place!]

I debated whether or not to run the story, but as I prayed about it, all I could think about was the Russian women stuck in brothels in Tel Aviv.  Most people are completely oblivious to the sex trade industry, and until there’s real respect toward women starting from the heads of government, nothing will ever change.   When heads of state endorse such behavior, it’s a reflection of the direction a country is heading.

This is a portion of a report about the exploitation of Russian women by the mafia in Israel.

The non-profit Israel Women’s Network estimates that 70% of prostituted women  in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial center, come from the former Soviet republics, and that about 1,000 women are brought into Israel illegally each year. At any one time, as many as 100 women may be awaiting deportation in Neve Tirza women’s prison near Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion airport, a prison spokeswoman said. (Elisabeth Eaves, “Israel not the promised land for Russian sex slaves”, Reuters, 23 August 1998)

The Russian mafia has moved into Israel to profit from trafficking and prostitution. Police in Israel have been keeping around 30 organized key crime suspects under surveillance. (Kevin Connolly, “How Russia’s mafia is taking over Israel’s underworld,” BBC, 3 April 1998)

And this is the shocker for many, but prostitution in Israel is LEGAL, but organized prostitution in the form of brothels is prohibited.  –Wikipedia

So when I saw this article in the UK Telegraph about women encouraged to “strip” for Putin, I thought about a possible connection between Putin and the Russian mafia.  The women that would be ‘encouraged’ to do so, would probably be those already connected in some way to the sexual trade industry — which is run by the Russian mafia.  Then it’s plausible that this article is just touching the tip of the iceberg of the corruption within the Russian government.

And so this is why I decided to run the story.

Until next time…

San Remo Mandate

This is a good video detailing the San Remo Mandate, which most people have never heard of — but it answers a fundamental issue that still plagues the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks today.  And answers the question, “Does Israel have a right to the land?”

Understanding Israel’s Security Needs

Yesterday, President Obama said they were genuinely interested in creating a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel based off the 1967 borders.  Yet, a return to these borders ignores Israel’s security needs.  This short video details Israel’s defense needs in a few minutes.  Take a few minutes and watch this informative video.

A New World, Winning a War without Weapons

A few weeks ago, I was stunned that Israel would allow the Iranian reactor in Bushehr to begin loading.  However, today’s report in the UK Guardian helps explain why Israel has not yet struck the nuclear plant.

Click to read the entire UK Guardian article.

These are a few excerpts within the UK Guardian piece.

Experts at Iran’s nuclear agency are trying to disable a complex computer virus that has attacked the country’s industrial sites and appears to be aimed at shutting down its Bushehr nuclear plant, which was due to go online next month.

Computer security experts who have studied Stuxnet since it emerged two months ago believe it was designed specifically to attack the Siemens-designed working system of the Bushehr plant and appears to have infected the system via the laptops and USB drives of Russian technicians who had been working there.

Western experts say the worm’s sophistication – and the fact that some 60% of computers infected appeared to be in Iran – pointed to a government-backed attack.

While there have been no reports of damage or disruption at any Iranian nuclear facilities, last Tuesday’s meeting signalled a high level of concern about the worm among Iran’s nuclear officials. The Stuxnet worm has surprised experts because it is the first one created to take over industrial control systems, rather than just steal or manipulate data.

If Israel is behind the worm, then it helps explain why Israel is waiting to take military action. Israel hopes that the Iranian nuclear program can be stopped without having to go to war.

Until next time…

Is Peace Possible? Part 3: Dividing the Land

Creating a territorial link connecting the West Bank and Gaza would divide Israel in half.

One key development that has not been reported is the fact that the Palestinians demand a “territorial link” connecting the West Bank and Gaza.

What does this mean? It would literally divide Israel into two parts.

The PLO released a statement through its news agency Wafa and stated a “territorial link connecting the West Bank and Gaza is crucial to the integrity of the Palestinian state”, and was a prerequisite for peace.

The Bible says in Joel in 3:2:

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.

Notice one of the reasons for the gathering of the nations for judgment is dividing My land.  As I said in an earlier blog piece,

This land was given to the Jews as an eternal homeland. As nations try to divide this land, remember what God says in Deuteronomy 32:8-9:

When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

According to this passage, it is the nations’ borders that are based on Israel, and not vice versa. From a Biblical perspective, altering Israel’s borders is an expression of rebellion against God who established the borders of Israel.

As the passage continues in verses 13-18 of Joel 3, it says, “Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow — For their wickedness is great.” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.” And it will come to pass in that day That the mountains shall drip with new wine, The hills shall flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; A fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Acacias.

As the nations continue to pressure Israel into trading land for peace, unknowingly they are fulfilling this prophecy of dividing the land – and thereby sealing their fate.

Until next time…

Is Peace Possible? Part 2: Security for a Jewish State

Is peace possible without security? Netanyahu said last week, “security is the foundation of peace. Without it, peace will unravel. With it, peace can be stable and enduring.”

However, we recognize the “peace process” is fragile considering in the midst of the peace summit two terrorist attacks took place in Israel that left four people dead, including a pregnant woman along with another two who were injured in a separate incident.

Last week, the Western Media failed to report one of the main factors that allowed these terrorist attacks to take place — was the removal of checkpoints at the request of the Obama Administration.

George Mitchell, the U.S. Mideast peace envoy, specifically requested that Israel remove the checkpoints as a confidence-building gesture to restart talks with the PA. Over the past year and a half Israel removed at least 15 staffed checkpoints near Hebron where the first terrorist attack took place.

The checkpoints were put in place, not to prevent the movement of Palestinian people – but rather to prevent terrorist attacks like the ones that took place last week.

What would happen if the Palestinians ceased their acts of terrorism against Israel? The checkpoints would be removed, and they would be able to move freely in and out of Israel. I know what you’re thinking –  Israel would never allow that to happen!  Yeah. Right.

You’re probably asking yourself – how do you know? Okay, I’ll tell you.  Well, I live in the Israeli city of Arad, which is about 20-minute drive west of the Dead Sea. Our little city is completely surrounded by Bedouin Muslims. I’ve never counted how many villages there are, but I venture to say at least 20 are within a half hour from where we live.  Now let me ask you a question:  How many security checkpoints do you think Israel has established to prevent terrorist attacks? If you guessed – NONE, you are correct! That’s right, there’s not a single checkpoint in any of these Muslim towns where their minarets (prayer towers) can be seen from miles away!

Why are there no checkpoints? These Muslims are not carrying out terrorist attacks! The media would love you to believe that Israel places these checkpoints in order to prevent the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank.  But careful examination of the facts on the ground shows that Israel establishes checkpoints to PROTECT its citizens.

Israel doesn’t care if you’re a Muslim – however, Israel does care if you’re going to commit an act of terrorism against its citizens! So this is the reason why there are checkpoints in some areas and other areas are completely open without any restriction of movement.

Another fascinating aspect of the recent peace summit that wasn’t reported was the fact that Abbas wants those sitting in Israeli jails to be “freed”. Let’s take a look at what he said. I wrote on it in Worthy News last week:

“Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said much has already been accomplished over the years and now was the time to address the “final status issues” of “Jerusalem, the settlements, the borders, security, water, and also releasing the detainees — in order to end the occupation that started 1967, the occupation of the Palestinian territories, and in order to create the state of Palestine that lives side by side with the state of Israel.”

Let me translate what the “releasing of detainees” means, since the Western Media failed to report it! Abbas wants the release of those who’ve been serving sentences in Israeli jails for carrying out terrorist attacks against innocent civilians in Israel!

Let’s look at what took place just before the peace summit last week. The Palestinian Authority honored Um Yousuf Abu Hamid, whose four sons are sitting in Israeli jails for carrying out terrorist attacks targeting Israeli civilians.

Palestinian Media Watch translated an Al-Hayat al-Jadida article in which the Palestinian Authority calls her a “central partner in the struggle, by virtue of what Hamid has given and continues to give.”

“It is she who gave birth to the fighters, and she deserves that we bow to her in salute and honor.”

So what did her sons do?

Nasser Abu Hamid: Seven life sentences plus 50 years for serving as the commander of Fatah’s military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, in Ramallah. Hamid was convicted of killing seven Israeli civilians and 12 attempted murders. His Brigades is responsible for scores of suicide bombings, shootings and civilian-targeting rocket attacks.

Nasr Abu Hamid: Five life sentences. He is a member of the terror faction of Fatah, Tanzim, and was convicted of involvement in two terror attacks and arms dealing.

Sharif Abu Hamid: Four life sentences. A member of one of the brothers’ units carrying out terror attacks against civilians and soldiers. He accompanied a suicide bomber to his attack in March 2002.

Muhammad Abu Hamid: Two life sentences plus 30 years for involvement in terror attacks.

Are these “detainees” the type of prisoners Israel should release out of their jails to “ensure” peace?

While we’re on the subject of security — what about Gaza? Can Mahmoud Abbas “guarantee” security in Gaza? In Gaza last week, Hamas called on the renewal of terrorist attacks, and called Abbas an illegitimate leader. Let’s face facts – Mahmoud Abbas’ term ended in 2009 – over a year ago! Nevertheless, he’s trying to bring peace to the region, so in the eyes of the world he will remain the “unelected” leader of the Palestinian people!

How can you bring security to a region when trust has been broken? You bring trust by backing your words with your actions.  The PA, however, continues its incitement of violence towards the “Zionist enemy” on its airwaves and what it teaches in its schoolbooks.

If you want to bring peace to the region,  you must change your words of hate and violence to those of peace;  then back those words with actions — and I don’t see that happening any time soon!

Until next time…

Is Peace Possible? Part 1: Legitimacy of a Jewish State

As I reviewed the positions on both sides of the conflict, one can’t even begin to fathom how Netanyahu and Abbas will ever come to a peace agreement.

Today, I want to cover one major point of contention in the negotiations: the legitimacy of a homeland for the Jews.

As Netanyahu stated in his speech last Thursday, he wants “legitimacy” of a “Jewish” state of Israel.

Last Friday, I wrote on Worthy News:

Abbas continued by stating that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) had already recognized Israel in 1993. He pointed to a “document of mutual recognition” signed by late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and former PLO leader Yasser Arafat.

“And in this document, we give enough so – to show that our intentions are good, our intentions with respect to recognizing the state of Israel,” he added.

However, the previous night PLO Executive Committee member Wassel Abu Yousef told reporters in Ramallah that the “Palestinians reject the demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.”

Last year in Bethlehem, Abbas’ Fatah faction of the PLO adopted a platform rejecting the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

The media totally MISSED this key point! Why don’t the Palestinians want to recognize Israel as a “Jewish” State? Because the PLO says it will never accept anything less than the “right of return” for refugees within the state of Israel.

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and a return of refugees would destroy the “Jewish” homeland from within. The “refugees” alongside the one million non-Jews that reside in Israel would quickly match the Jewish majority within the democratic state and within one election cycle — the homeland for the Jews would be lost.

So will the United States strong arm Israel into accepting anything less than recognition of a “Jewish” State of Israel?

…just so you know what life is like in Arad

Last night, I posted a Facebook status about our night last night in Arad and it dawned on me — how much people really don’t know what happens all the time in our town for those who believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah. So I thought, I’d post a video that was done four years ago. Not much has changed and it’ll give you an idea of what we deal with in our little town in the Negev.

Until next time…