As events concerning Israel happen at an ever-increasing rate, one good way to stay informed is with Intercessor's for Israel's Friday Prayer Alerts. This newsletter gives a biblical overview, but the weekly alerts are recent updates.

For instance, as we write this (mid-April), the Israeli-Palestinian 'peace' talks are collapsing. For the April 11^th Prayer Alert, Chuck wrote: The piece-by-piece 'peace' process is on life-support. God have mercy and let it die! This anti-biblical 'land-for-peace' deal is a stench in His nostrils, as it is based on Israel trading her God-given inheritance for a deceptive 'peace' with intractable enemies. Yet even if real peace was offered, this land is not Israel's to trade: The land shall not be sold forever; for the land is Mine, and you are strangers and pilgrims with Me. (Lev. 25:23) It is far better to have the world upset with Israel than to have God against it. While this 'peace process' almost died last week, US Secretary of State Kerry is trying to keep it alive - with reported bribing of Israel by trading Jonathan Pollard for Israel's release of hundreds more terrorists. Yet Pollard has served exhorbitant jail time for his crime and confessed his wrongdoings - while statistics show that freed terrorists often return to committing further acts of terror.

That alert was followed by examples of prayers and scriptures God's Spirit had given to intercessors gathered in Jerusalem: Lord, You have given Your land to Your people for Your glory! (Ezek. 35:12-13; 36:5, 22-24) "Do not let man prevail against You or Your plans. (Psa. 9:19-20) Cause Your people to be married to this land and to love the very soil. (Isa. 62:4-5; Psa. 102:14). We proclaimed Isaiah 8:9-10: Associate yourselves, O people, and be broken…Gird yourselves and be broken…Take counsel together. It shall come to nothing. Speak a word. It shall not stand - for God is with us. Help this government come into line with the description of a godly government that Paul gives us… (Romans 13:3-4). If you do not receive these weekly alerts, we encourage you to sign up.

A prophetic outline for intercession today

To intercede effectively with the increased turmoil and chaos in the world, we must focus on God's overall goal and His revealed way to get there. Our God reigns (Psa. 103:19) and works out His purposes despite rebellious mankind (Psa. 2:1ff), yet He seeks for those who will stand before Him, asking Him to do His will (Isa. 62:6-7; Ezek. 22:30; Matt. 6:9-10).

A biblical mindset is essential to intercede effectively. So His/our goal is this: For the earth [to] be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YHWH, as waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14). This will happen when Messiah Yeshua returns to rule as King of kings from Jerusalem (Zech. 14:16; Rev. 19:11-16).

Focusing on foundational issues clarifies how to pray into Israel's current situation. From God's word, we see two foundational events that must be fulfilled before the Lord returns - and both are happening today!

1. This gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in the entire world as a witness to all nations, and then the end shall come (Matt. 24:14). Today, masses of people are coming to Messiah in China, Iran, Mongolia, Africa, India, etc. In fact, the end-time revival many in the West are waiting for is happening now, largely bypassing Europe and North America where replacement theology and 'Christian' anti-Zionism is growing.

2. Jews in exile are coming home (Isa. 43:5-6). Some are also receiving a revelation of Messiah (Ezek. 36:24-28; Zech. 12:10), ready to welcome Yeshua back to Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37-39).

Yet certain conditions need to be in place for this second event to be completely fulfilled. Once this is seen, praying about Israel's current struggles becomes clearer.

• Jews must be able to live anywhere in the Promised Land. [Ezek. 36:1-15 describes all of the land (see v. 4-6; cp. Jer. 32:41-44; 33:13); Jer. 31:4-5 Samaria; Zech. 12:2-3 Jerusalem & Judea; Jer. 50:19 the Golan, i.e., biblical Bashan. All these areas together are falsely called by the world 'occupied territories'.] So we pray against any plan to divide God's land (Lev. 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

• For Israel to resist the pressure to divide its God-given inheritance (Psa. 105:8-11), it needs the good government which God promised when He brings Israel home (Isa. 1:26; Jer. 23:3-4). So we intercede for God-fearing leaders.

• Jews need to be alive to be saved, so we pray for a strong IDF, which also lines up with God's promises (Isa. 41:14-16; Jer. 51:20-14; Ezek. 37:10; Mic. 4:11-13; Zech. 9:13-15; 12:6-8).

• God's Word indicates that Israel's national redemption, when 'all Israel will be saved', happens in His land (Jer. 32:37-44; Ezek. 36:23-28; Zech. 12:10). Therefore we pray for aliyah - the return of Jews from exile to Israel.

We intercede against all that would hinder or halt these things from happening. So praying against 'land-for-peace' is not praying against 'peace'! Since God's peace is only found in Messiah (Isa. 9:6; Acts 10:36), we are praying for the real 'peace process'.

Our prayers are not determined by dates and charts, but by these prophetic events clearly laid out in His Word.

Aliyah - God's Word being fulfilled today

Rabbis have said, Dwelling in the Land of Israel is equal to all the commandments of Torah (Tosefta, Avodah Zarah 5:2), yet there is resistance to aliyah by Jews living in the nations, whether orthodox, secular, or messianic. Many Jews do not see Israel as their true 'home', nor do they appreciate that to be biblically correct means seeing their birth nations as 'exile' and 'captivity'. Jews and Christians are to obey God and government, unless obeying government causes us to disobey God.

God wants His people Israel home: Fear not; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give up; to the south, Do not keep back; bring My sons from far and My daughters from the ends of the earth; all who are called by My name; for I have created him for My glory … (Isa. 43:5-7; also Psa. 106:47; Ezek. 39:28; Zech. 8:7-8, etc.).

Jews in exile, who see Israel as a place to visit but not as 'home', are in danger. The hunters (Jer. 16:16) are being released upon His people, yet many of them are as deaf, blind and stubborn as we were in the 1930s in Europe.

Israeli Minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, N. Bennett, just released updated statistics on European anti-Semitism. An EU Agency for Fundamental Rights online survey in 2013, showed that, 23% of respondents refrained from attending Jewish events or religious services for fear of being attacked on their way; 38% are afraid to wear religious symbols…in public; 66% view anti-Semitism as having a major and constant impact on their lives…  European Jews believe their governments view anti-Semitism as an inevitable part of life…; [77%] are unwilling to report any… anti-Semitic bullying or violence to authorities…; 33% are afraid they will become a victim of anti-Semitic violence; 29% are considering emigration… ("'No Reason or Justification' for European Anti-Semitism," Arutz 7, 26 Jan. 2014)

The 'Peace' process - dead! Maybe…

As mentioned, the anti-biblical 'land-for-peace' negotiations are in deep trouble, and Kerry has now blamed Israel for their breakup. While he and the State Dept. say that is not what he meant, it is what he implied [see below]. Still, his heart is in God's hand (Prov. 16:9; 21:1), and He overrides man's counsel so that His counsel stands (Psa. 33:10-11; Prov. 19:21). Hallelujah!

As Americans, we grieve that our birth-nation has fallen from being a lighthouse for truth. Obama has accelerated the fall of the US before the world. He is no idiot; this must have been his plan from the start. We thank God for the US Congress and that remnant of the Church in America that sees the truth and stands with both God's Word and His nation, Israel.

As believing Israelis, we pray that Israel stops trusting in an America-that-used-to-be, and starts looking to the One who has created Israel for Himself (Isa. 43:7,15; 45:11), and is restoring and saving it - for His glory (Isa. 46:13; Jer. 33:7-9; Ezek. 20:40-42; Mal. 1:5).

Under intense US pressure, Israel had agreed to free over 100 terrorists, in four groups, to restart the 'peace' talks. Three groups were released, with no progress whatsoever. In mid-April Israel delayed a 4^th release of terrorists because Palestinian Authority [PA] President Abbas refused to commit to extending negotiations past Apr. 29^th. After the delay of the 4^th group, Abbas breached the agreed conditions by submitting a request for 'Palestine' to join 15 international UN conventions. Yet the PLO's secretary general Abed Rabbo said, The Palestinian leadership respects its commitments and wants the political process to continue, but we want a real political process, without tricks.

Tricks? In March, a PA official admitted that UN status was being used as a 'weapon' to 'blackmail' Israel into releasing terrorists. And last fall, a PLO official said the PA is only staying in the peace talks to secure the release of all 104 promised terrorists. ("PA Asks Kerry to Keep Trying to Make Peace," Arutz 7, 2 Apr. 2014)

Former Israel government minister, E. Wilf, a senior fellow with the Jewish People Policy Institute, said Abbas has just moved the talks into the battlefield of the UN. This recent mode of warfare, called 'lawfare', must be seen in the context of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, and is part of the strategy to isolate, delegitimize and undermine Israel in every possible arena without using violence. ("Wilf: Abbas renewing 'the war' at the UN," JP, 3 Apr. 2014)

At a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister [PM] Netanyahu clarified that it was Abbas who abandoned the talks. Throughout these negotiations, we've made tough measures and demonstrated a willingness to continue difficult moves…Just as we were about …to continue negotiations, Abbas declared that he will not even discuss the recognition of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Yet he knows there will be no final agreement without this. [see below] ("Netanyahu: Israel Will Respond to PA with 'Unilateral Moves'," Arutz 7, 6 Apr. 2014)

Defense Minister [DM] Ya'alon said the peace talks are dead, and lamented that Israel is again blamed for their demise, saying it is clear that Palestinians are interested in getting, not in giving. They have openly said, I will not talk to you about the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state or giving up the Right of Return. ("All Talk & No Action in Peace Negotiations," Arutz 7, 8 Apr. 2014)

Kerry implied Israel was to blame, despite denials from the US State Dept. His spokeswoman, J. Psaki said, He was frankly surprised by the coverage of his comments in the Israeli media. But this is not the first time he has done something like this in which Israel's media - which are mostly pro-'two-state solution' - has criticsed him. Recently Kerry was seen as threatening Israel with a 3^rd intifada and a global boycott. Strike three, Mr. Kerry!

The PM's office said Israel was deeply disappointed by what Kerry said to the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, that the talks went 'poof' when Israel announced a tender to build 700 'settlement' housing units in Gilo, our Jerusalem suburb of more than 40,000 people. The PM's office noted the real breaking point was Abbas applying to those 15 UN linked groups.

Kerry knows it was the Palestinians who said 'no' to continued direct talks with Israel in November; who said 'no' to his proposed framework for final-status talks; who said 'no' to even discussing recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people; who said 'no' to a meeting with Kerry himself; and who said 'no' to an extension of the talks. Also, in understandings reached prior to the talks, Israel did not commit to any limitation on construction. So the claim that building in Gilo is a violation is just not true.

Kerry's comments shocked Israel, as officials said repeatedly the past few weeks that the US knew very well the steps Israel has taken to move the talks forward, and it also knew the Palestinians were not showing any flexibility. ("State Dept. urges Israel to keep Kerry's 'disappointing' comments in proper context," JP, 9 Apr. 2014)

Dan Margalit favors a two-state solution, yet he was also critical of Kerry, saying he ignored the real issue… Abbas has no interest in renewing the talks, under any circumstance. Time and again, he has slashed the tires of the negotiations wagon just as it was about to move. He did that in 2000, when he and… Arafat, rejected then-PM Barak's offer at Camp David; he did it again in 2009, when he rejected then-PM Olmert's peace plan. He is doing it again by refusing to recognize the Jewish people's right to self-determination or its right to a sovereign state…

Kerry's bias has been amplified by the blunt statements 'senior American officials' make every so often, who repeatedly bash DM Ya'alon and other straight-speaking Israeli officials, but not once have they criticized any of Abbas' cohorts.

The PA's conduct shows there is clear malice on their part. If Arafat said Israel was a Jewish state, Abbas can too. But clearly he does not want to. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing… ("Mistakes all around," D. Margalit, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 10 Apr. 2014)

'Peace' with whom?

My soul has long dwelt with a hater of peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Psa. 120:6-7; see also 109:1-3

Israel has been threatened with violence - whether peace talks succeed or not! A. Zaki, a high ranking member of Abbas' Fatah party, told Syrian state TV recently that any concessions the PA gained from US-brokered talks would simply be the 'first step' towards the destruction of Israel. ("PA Reps Slam 'Israeli' Kerry Plan, Threaten Intifada," Arutz 7, 2 Feb. 2014)

Isi Liebler writes, It is now time for the Obama administration to accept…that the PA has evolved into a criminal society. How else to define a regime which brainwashes kindergarten children into believing Israel and Jews are evil parasites, and constantly calls for their destruction? This demonization of Israel is reinforced daily…in mosques, and by PA-controlled media. Also terrorists are treated as heroes and awarded state pensions. ("The disastrous outcome of the 'peace negotiations'," I. Leibler, JP Op-ed, 1 Apr. 2014)

Israel is the Jewish homeland

Ali Salim, a Muslim, says all Muslims know the Jews are the descendants of the ancient Hebrew nation known as the Israelites …that Jews have been connected to the blessed land of Palestine for thousands of years, even before the Romans…changed its name to Palestina. The close ties between the Jews and the land are found in all the sacred books, including the Holy Qur'an.

Yet the PA rejects Netanyahu's demand to affirm the State of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish People. PA leaders lie that Jews have no religious or historical claims to the Land, but the true reason for their refusal is that Abbas' goal is to create a 'Palestine' by flooding the State of Israel with…a so-called 'return' of Palestinian refugees.

Salim knows Israeli Jews do not need Abbas' recognition, as it is the Palestinian people who have been only recently created and who barely if at all meet the international criteria for the definition of 'a people'. Most of these Arabs came with invading armies, or were imported as cheap labor by the Turks and British, or wanted to profit from the economic advances made by the Jews who had returned to rebuild their homeland.

They only began to see themselves as a political entity in the early 1900s. Yet the Jews have had a common identity for nearly 3,000 years. Unlike the Jews, Palestinians are not documented in the Holy Qur'an or the Old and New Testaments. There is no documentation of their presence in Palestine in history books of the ancient or modern world or in books written by travelers…

Israeli Jews have good reasons for demanding this recognition, wanting to be sure a 'Palestine' next to Israel is the Arabs' final demand and that no attempt will be made to force Israel to accept a return of…Palestinian refugees who have been long settled in neighboring countries and should remain there…The end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict basically means mutual recognition.

The PA knows that if they affirm Israel as a Jewish state, their claims and demand for all of the land…will no longer be considered legitimate. Palestinians demand a state for themselves, and also demand to settle their citizens in Israel, the neighboring Jewish state. This hypocrisy increases exponentially as they say Israel is a country of discrimination, occupation, apartheid and oppression. If true, why should their refugees settle there?

Salim's conclusion, If I were an Israeli, I would insist on Palestinian recognition of the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish People. ("Why Palestinians Refuse to Recognize Israel as a Jewish State," Ali Salim, Gatestone Institute, 3 Feb. 2014)

Caroline Glick wrote on the US administration's recent retreat from backing this Israeli demand. A State Dept. spokesman said that America sees Israel as the Jewish state, but that doesn't reflect what the parties will agree to… Glick: So it's fine with Washington if the PLO accepts Israel's right to exist. And it's fine if the PLO continues to refuse to accept Israel's right to exist.

Today's US 'peace' plan no longer insists on Arab recognition of Israel as the Jewish state. Yet if they do not accept our right as Jews to determine our own destiny and define our own state, and the Arab League has repeatedly supported Abbas' refusal to do this, then how can Israel trust them? The conflict began and continues, because Arabs, Palestinians, and the Islamic political world, reject all Jewish rights to peoplehood and to national self-determination.

So why continue a 'peace' plan? After all, Palestinians won't live at peace with a state they refuse to recognize. ("Why make light of PLO non-recognition of Israel?" C. Glick, JP Op-ed, 10 Mar. 2014)

Dror Eydar notes that this century-old battle is over the Jewish people's right to an independent home in the Land of Israel. Not only Palestinians, but no Arab state recognizes our right as Jews to any part of the region… There will be no end to the conflict without recognition of a Jewish state.

The Palestinian National Charter, the founding document of Abbas' 'moderate' Fatah party, ratified at their General Assembly in Bethlehem (Aug. 2009), declares an absolute irrevocable opposition to recognition of Israel as a 'Jewish state' to protect the rights of refugees and…our people, that is, Israeli Arab citizens. ("The debate is about our right to exist," D. Eydar, Israel Hayom, 16 Mar. 2014)

The Quran: 'Palestine' belongs to the Jews

Ariel University's Prof. Dana's new book could be translated into English as, To Whom Does This Land Belong: A Reexamination of the Quran. His conclusions are surprising. In the Quran, which according to Islam is the word of God whose holiness cannot be minimized or exceeded, there are ten passages which state that Allah bequeathed the land to the Jewish people and all of them say there is an obligation on the Sons of Israel to inherit the land.

Quranic scholarly works support the Jewish people's claim of a historic link to the Land of Israel. Al-Tabari, a highly respected Quran exegete even delineates the borders of the Land…which stretched from the Euphrates River to the east bank of the Nile…

The Palestinian claim of being Canaanite descendants is a mark against them, as the Quran says that the Canaanites were ordered expelled from the holy land by Allah after they had defiled [it]. ("The fabricated Palestinian history," Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom, 7 Feb. 2014)

Jordanian Muslim scholar Sheikh Adwan, said on his Facebook page that 'Palestine' does not exist. [Where] did you get the name Palestine…when Allah has already named it The Holy Land and bequeathed it to the Children of Israel until the Day of Judgment [Sura 5:21]. There is no Palestine in the Quran…Your demand for the Land of Israel is a falsehood and it constitutes an attack on the Quran, the Jews and their land. Therefore you won't succeed.

He calls Palestinians, killers of children, elderly, and women, whom they use as human shields to falsely accuse the Jews of targeting them. He had seen this tactic used by the PLO against Jordan's army in the 1970s.

His acknowledgement of the Jewish people's sovereignty on their land is based on the Quran. ("Allah Gave Israel to the Jews, There's No Palestine," Arutz 7, 7 Feb. 2014)

Obama's foreign policy creates a dangerous vacuum

As Netanyahu was flying to the US for meetings, an interview revealed that Obama was going to press Bibi to accept Kerry's framework 'peace' agreement - whatever it was. At that moment, the Ukrainian situation exploded and ME peace was no longer headline news. Although shocked at Obama's weak response to Russia's actions, what did people expect? Syria and Iran had already revealed his shape-shifting.

Russian President Putin sent troops into Crimea for the same reason Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia - to protect their own people (Russians or Germans) living in those areas. Compared to many Western leaders, Putin is a leader who actually leads. And this has caused many to reread Ezekiel 38-39.

America is no longer the world's policeman. To some this is good news. But is it? In areas where there is no law enforcement, anarchy reigns until a strongman/dictator arises. Is the stage set for the Anti-Christ? Meanwhile, we thank God for giving Israel a leader like Netanyahu.

Walter Russell Mead writes how Israeli DM Ya'alon opposed unilateral military action against Iran, hoping that America would lead the campaign… But now the US is negotiating with them, and, as Ya'alon said, when it comes to negotiating at a Persian bazaar, the Iranians are better.

Many nations, including Israel, are concerned with Obama's weak foreign policy. Mead said, This is big news. Israel is one of America's staunchest allies in the region, and it is losing faith in America's ability to keep it secure. This is why we pray for Israelis to look to God and not to man (Psa. 56:11).

Mead adds that a nuclear-armed Iran is something Israel is probably willing to go to great lengths to prevent, with or without Washington's blessing. ("US Weakness Pushing Israel toward Unilateral Strike on Iran," W. R. Mead, The American Interest, 18 Mar. 2014)

Ya'alon was forced to apologize to the Obama administration for offending them, but an unnamed senior Israeli official, talking to journalists, said many nations, seeing the events in Ukraine, are realizing that the US was no longer a reliable ally.

For Israel, this has implications on the Palestinian front… It is ridiculous to hear about American guarantees for Israeli security… We must be the sole guarantors… ("Ya'alon Apologizes for Remarks as another Minister Echoes Them," ICEJ News, 20 Mar. 2014)

A world in turmoil

Daniel Pipes notes that the ME, minus remarkable Israel, is in total disarray. Water is running out. Ethiopia is building a dam on the Blue Nile that will cut Egypt's main water supply by devastating amounts…Syria and Iraq suffer from water crises [as] the Euphrates and Tigris rivers are drying up…

People are also running out, as the ME birthrate is diving. Iran has undergone the steepest decline…of any country ever recorded…from 6.6 births per woman in 1977 to 1.6 births in 2012. This has created what one analyst calls an 'apocalyptic panic' that fuels Tehran's aggression…

Starvation haunts Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

Vast reserves of oil and gas have distorted nearly every aspect of life…The privileged can indulge their cruel impulses, protected by connections and money…

Efforts at democracy and political participation either wither, as in Egypt, or elevate fanatics who cleverly disguise their purposes, as in Turkey…

Islamism, currently the most dynamic and threatening political ideology, is summed up by a morbid Hamas declaration to Israelis: We love death more than you love life… ("The sick ME," D. Pipes, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 26 Jan. 2014)

One of Israel's best friends, Canada's PM Harper, while in Israel said at a press conference, I'm not here to single out Israel for criticism. He said that when in Ramallah, no one asked me …to single out the PA for any criticism…I'm asked to single out Israel. When I'm in Israel, I'm asked to single out Israel…and in half the other places around the world you ask me to single out Israel. ("Harper: I will not single out Israel for criticism," Israel Hayom, 22 Jan. 2014)

Netanyahu, speaking to American Jewish leaders, blasted EU threats to boycott Israel, calling it disgraceful, an outrage. In the past, anti-Semites boycotted Jewish businesses and today, they call for the boycott of the Jewish state. The boycotters are classical anti-Semites in modern garb… ("Netanyahu: Israel boycotters are anti-Semites," Israel Hayom, 18 Feb. 2014)

Is this really the way to stop an Iranian nuke?

The pro-Iran left responded to each Iranian disavowal of their supposed ground-breaking deal by pretending words don't matter. Only actions do. When asked about the statements by Iranian top officials that none of its nuclear program would be dismantled, White House Spokesman Carney responded, It matters less to us what they say than what they do. So Obama & Co. are implying that while we can't trust what Iran's leaders say, we are supposed to trust that they will do what they supposedly said they will do in a secret agreement we aren't being allowed to have full access to.

So is Iran lying or is Obama? Since Iran has consistently said it will not dismantle anything, Iran appears to be more credible than Obama and his allies who claim that Iran did agree to it.

If Obama & Co. are telling the truth, then their argument is that Iran's regime is pathologically dishonest, but it can be trusted not to lead the US and the international community around by the nose the way it has all these years, the way Syria, India and Pakistan have… ("Obama Inc.: Don't Trust What Iran Says, But Trust it to Keep its Word," Daniel Greenfield, FrontPage Mag, 24 Jan. 2014)

Israel's Economy Is Booming

Threats of boycotts recall the 1930s in Nazi Germany, yet today's threats are not against a people in exile - but against a resurrected nation. The world has been warned not to curse those whom God has blessed (Gen. 12:3; Isa. 60:12; Joel 3:1-2; Zech. 12:9)!

By God's grace, Israel's economy remains strong with signs that it will get even stronger. Today, Israel's known gas reserves are 30 trillion cubic feet, and the US Geological Survey says there's at least twice that amount still to be discovered in Israeli waters… Moreover, the USGS predicts there are 1.7 billion barrels of oil gas basins as well.

S. Henderson, ME energy analyst and senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy says, Israel will soon be a net exporter of energy, strengthening its political, geopolitical, and diplomatic position… Of course, this adds new security issues. Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah have warned that Israel's new energy industry could be a strategic target. Israel is expanding its navy to protect its oil rigs, building and ordering new ships, increasing patrols, developing new weapons systems, etc.

These finds will also shake up Israel's foreign policy, as they transform relationships with many nations, including the US. And this might have prophetic implications, so that Gog and Magog invade Israel to take a spoil (Ezek. 38:12-13). ("Israel's Big Gusher," Martin Fletcher, Moment Magazine Jan/Feb., [momentmag.com])

The PA was criticized by the 'Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions' groups for not boycotting Israel. Yet a PA report showed how damaging this would be as 70% of the PA's imports are Israeli - about $3.5 billion annually.

Palestinian merchants say their customers prefer Israeli goods because they believe they are higher quality than cheaper local products or products from Arab countries. Israeli-made products are popularly priced, and consumers believe they get good value for money when they buy 'blue and white'. ("PA Report: Palestinians Prefer to Buy 'Blue & White'," Arutz 7, 4 Feb. 2014)

Noah's Ark vs. the Titanic

Israeli Maj. Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan said, Always remember that Noah's Ark was built by a man of faith, while the Titanic was built by world-renowned experts. ("Silence of the lamb," Gonen Ginat, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 31 Jan. 2014)

Save, O YHWH, Your people, the remnant of Israel.

Jer. 31:7b