ICEJ NEWS

Headlines from Jerusalem, 17 March 2017

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” Hebrews 12:1-3

TOP STORY

IDF on High Alert Following Airstrikes on Syria

The IDF spokesperson’s office announced on Friday that Israeli warplanes carried out strike missions in Syria overnight and were targeted by anti-aircraft missiles which missed the planes but later landed in Israeli territory. The missiles prompted an alert siren in Aravot HaYarden Regional Council in Israel’s Jordan Valley, while witnesses in Jerusalem said they heard the explosion from the impact. There were no reports of damage or injuries in Israel.
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NEWS BRIEFS

Israeli Military Aid Unscathed by US Budget Cuts

The budget proposed by the Trump Administration in the US leaves the $3.1 billion in foreign military financing for Israel agreed to by the Obama Administration last year intact, despite deep cuts in other areas of spending affecting America’s international relations, including contributions to the UN. The presentation of the budget proposal came as the Administration’s envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, was in Jerusalem on the last leg of a regional tour to consult with Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders.
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Lieberman Labels Palestinian National Fund Terrorist

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman issued a statement on Thursday labeling the Palestinian National Fund as a terrorist organization due to “its continuous and sustained support to entities responsible for serious terrorist activity against Israel.” The statement continued by explaining that the Fund, which calls itself a charity, actually pays money to the families of suicide bombers and terrorists serving prison terms for murdering Israelis.

Ghattas To Resign from Knesset Under Plea Deal

Balad MK Basel Ghattas agreed to a plea bargain Thursday, confessing to smuggling cellphones to security prisoners in Ketziot Prison in the Negev during visits there, for which he will spend two years in prison himself and give up his seat in the Knesset. MK Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beytenu) lamented the sentence, saying “This light punishment harms the deterrence effect and will encourage shameful acts like these in future.”

Jerusalem Marathon Enjoyed by Thousands

Around 30,000 people from around Israel and the world participated Friday morning in the annual Jerusalem Marathon. Kenyan Shadrack Kipkogey was the first to cross the finish line of the full marathon, recording a time of 2:17:36. Hundreds of police officers were on hand to protect the event from threats to disrupt it by Ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jewish groups as well as anti-Israel protesters who held up signs declaring that the route of the race was “occupied land”.

OPINION

Why the U.S. Should Withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council
Michael Oren, Newsweek

Would the U.S. remain a member of an organization that condemned it for human rights abuses more frequently than it did Syria, North Korea, and Iran? Yet, the U.S. is currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council that does precisely that to Israel, America’s foremost democratic Middle Eastern ally. Over the past nine years, the UNHRC has condemned Israel 61 times, as opposed to its 16 resolutions on Syria and five on Iran. Denunciations of Israel outnumber those of all other countries combined.
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WEEKEND FEATURE

Technion Israel Video

Researchers at the Technion Institute for Technology in Haifa recently announced the development of new treatments for various infections and bacteria which are resistant to anti-biotic drugs. The growing problem of such infections claims the lives of hundreds of people daily around the world, making the Israeli research vitally important to every human being living in the world today.
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GET INVOLVED

ICEJ-Israel in Crisis Fund

The Prophet Ezekiel Calls It an “Ancient Hatred” (Ezekiel 35:5). This hatred takes pleasure in the shedding of blood and is driven by demonic forces that want to annihilate the Jewish people. It is directed against the purposes of God.
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Feast of Tabernacles 2017: 6-11 Oct

The 2017 Feast will be an historic convocation with great prophetic significance as Israel celebrates 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem. You don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate this Jubilee feast in the “City of God”!
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Today’s news was written and compiled by Aaron Hecht.

ICEJ News is a free email service providing news and comments on Middle East affairs compiled by journalists at the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and supported by donations from subscribers.

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