Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Zech 12:2-3

Bully in Washington

Who is a bully? A bully is one who picks on someone smaller, weaker. Someone who cannot (normally) fight back. The USA has chosen to play the bully with Israel. After more than a year of one foreign policy disaster after another, after being rejected and ignored by the leaders of both Europe and Russia and China, US President Obama has decided to flex his muscles with Israel.

America claims it is "outraged" and insulted by the Israeli Interior Ministry's Planning Commission giving the OK for 1,600 new homes in an ultra Orthodox neighborhood that is in post 1967 Israel. As the world would say "over the Green Line." Certainly it was not good timing as the US Vice President was visiting, but it was a continuation of 43 years of Israeli Government policy that United Jerusalem is the undividable capitol of Israel - whether the world likes it or not. The US has never agreed to this policy but all Israeli Governments have adhered to this policy.

Why did the Obama administration choose this time to make it not just a "big deal", but an explosive confrontation with Israel? The explanation according to the US is that the permission for the housing coming during the Vice President's visit was a terrible insult to the USA. Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized more than once for the "bad timing", the Interior Minister apologized and explained that this was simply Israel's bureaucracy at work - not something meant to offend. None of this has mollified America's wrath. The Americans and the world say that Israel's building in its capitol and in Judea and Samaria is preventing peace talks with the Palestinians. This is rubbish - the Palestinians are playing a political game. The Palestinians are demanding a total halt to all Israeli building in post 1967 Israel including in Jerusalem. This is a new demand that they have never demanded before during 17 years of negotiations (since the Oslo accords of 1993). It seems that nothing that Israel does is sufficient - the Palestinians, with American encouragement, continue to demand building stop before they will even agree to talk to Israel. And the Americans are on the same track as the Arabs. They demand more and more so called "confidence building measures" (read this as compromises), toward the Palestinians while at the same time the Arab World refuses to make any move towards Israel - even when Obama openly asks them to.

What have the Palestinians done this week? They named a square near Ramallah after a terrorist. A woman terrorist Dalal Mughrabi. She commanded a terrorist team that hijacked an Israeli bus in 1978 that is still Israel's worst terror attack. Thirty seven Israelis (13 children) and one American were killed and seventy wounded - men, women and children. To the Palestinians she is a "holy martyr". To Israelis she is a bloodthirsty murderer. The Americans have said NOTHING about this event preventing peace talks to resume, actually they have totally ignored it. The Americans are demanding that Israel prove its commitment to peace while they continue to make no demands of the Palestinians.

Also this week Jerusalem has been beset by Arab riots. What was the cause of these riots? It began a week ago when Arabs on the Temple Mount threw rocks down upon Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall. Of course the Israeli police went up to the Mount to stop the rock throwing. To the Muslim community this became a "desecration of the Al Aksa Mosque". The way they act and respond to police, you could easily believe that throwing rocks at Jews was not only OK, but an integral part of being a Muslim.

Then few days after that, the Hurva Synagogue in the Old City's Jewish Quarter was rededicated. The Hurva had been destroyed in 1948 by the Jordanian Arab Legion after they conquered the Old City. For forty years it stood as a wreck with just its arch rebuilt. Five years ago it was decided to completely restore it. On Monday (15 March), it was rededicated. The Arab community responded to this with a new call to "come and protect Al Aksa Mosque". The cry in the Arab world was that by rebuilding a synagogue that had been destroyed by Arabs, Israel was Judaizing Jerusalem. And the response of the Americans, the Europeans and UN? A call to Israel to not cause disturbances that could get out of hand. The world surely is upside down, where left is right, up is down and right is wrong.

In response to Obama's pressure on Israel The Wall Street Journal in an op-ed wrote that the Obama administration "has endorsed 'healthy relations' between Iran and Syria, mildly rebuked Syrian President Bashar Assad for accusing the US of 'colonialism,' and publicly apologized to Muammar Gadhafi for treating him with less than appropriate deference after the Libyan called for 'a jihad' against Switzerland. However, when it comes to Israel, the administration has no trouble rising to a high pitch of public indignation. This episode does fit Mr. Obama's foreign policy pattern to date: Our enemies get courted; our friends get the squeeze. It has happened to Poland, the Czech Republic, Honduras and Colombia. Now it's Israel's turn", wrote the article entitled "Obama's Turn Against Israel".

Is Obama anti-Israel and pro-Islam? While only God knows what is in his heart, his actions clearly lead one to strongly draw that conclusion. What will this mean for America? To be fair there are many Americans like the editorial writer of the Wall Street Journal who are speaking up and calling on Obama to change his policy/attitude towards Israel. Unfortunately most of these voices are not from Obama's party (Democrats), but from the opposition Republicans. Next week the annual conference of the largest American pro-Israel political lobby group will take place. P.M. Netanyahu will go to the US to address the group. US Secretary of State Clinton will also address the group. How will all of this work out? Who will back down, Israel or the USA? How will this impact the continuing anti-Israel attitude of the US President - who will be in office for almost another 3 years? It is amazing how a little, seemingly insignificant act can impact world history.

And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest

But is Jerusalem "insignificant" in the eyes of the Lord? In Jewish thought, Jerusalem is the center of the world. The Temple Mount is called the "navel" of the world. It has been the place of God's manifest presence on the earth - the pillar of fire during the night and the cloud of the Lord during the day. In Jer. 3:17 Jerusalem is refer to as the "throne of the Lord". In Is. 62 God calls upon us to give ourselves AND HIM no rest till He makes Jerusalem a praise in all the earth.

For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you. I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Isa 62:1-7

Obama and the others have no idea that they are confronting and affronting God Himself when they come against Jerusalem. Obama has claimed that he and the USA have been insulted. He doesn't realize that he is insulting not just the nation of Israel but God Himself. God has made Himself clear on the penalty of what Obama is demanding: JUDGEMENT!

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.

Joel 3:2

Obama is acting as if he were the sovereign lord of Israel. He is terribly wrong. Yeshua Himself is the sovereign and Jerusalem is an expression of His sovereignty and of His election.

Iran

Where does this leave us with Iran and its pursuit of a nuclear weapon? Can we trust the USA to take on the responsibility of stopping Iran by any means needed? If the answer to that question was not a definite "yes" before this crisis, it is even more doubtful now. The sanctions that the USA is pursuing in the U.N. are very weak and will not do the job of stopping Iran. The American Congress has passed a very strong sanctions bill that would immediately impact Iran's economy and its war machine - but Obama has instructed the Democrat leaders of both houses of Congress to delay passing a joint resolution. (Both House and Senate versions must be reconciled before they become law.)

This leaves Israel alone once again facing a possible nuclear attack with the rest of the world standing by doing nothing.

Pray for:

• Prime Minister Netanyahu to be inflexible on the question of Israel building in Jerusalem. May he clearly state that this is a "red line" that his government will not cross. Isa 62:1-7

• All the Zionist Party's in the Knesset to support this "red line" by Netanyahu and his cabinet.

  Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.

  2Chron 32:7

• Believers in the USA to "give Obama no peace" until he steps back from this ungodly pressure on Israel. (In the latest poll, 68% of Americans view Israel as a faithful ally and support her over the Palestinians.)

  A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

  Proverbs 17:17

• Obama and his counselors to realize that they are fighting against God Himself and that aligning the USA with the Muslim World against Israel will only bring disaster on America.

  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

  Ps. 128:4-6

  But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

  Matt. 5:37

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

Eliyahu Ben-Haim
Jerusalem Israel, 18 March