Quote: ""The creation of the myth of Muhammad al-Dura has caused great damage to the State of Israel. This is an explicit blood libel against the state. And just as blood libels in the old days have led to pogroms, this one has also caused damage and dozens of dead," said Government Press Office director Daniel Seaman. The arguments were based on investigations that showed that the angles of the IDF troops' fire could not have hit the child or his father, that part of the filmed material, mainly the moment of the boy's alleged death, is missing, and the fact that the cameraman can be heard saying the boy is dead while the boy is still seen moving.

The remainder of the film contains other unexplained mysteries... A Palestinian man is struck in the leg by an Israeli bullet, and is picked up by an eagle-eyed ambulance driver two seconds later before he even has time to finish rolling around in the dirt. In another incident, a wounded man is carried on a stretcher into the back of an ambulance, but jumps out of it again a few minutes later. It's what has become known as Pallywood, the manipulation of the media by Palestinian terrorist organizations waging a propaganda war against Israel. But as we saw during the Second Lebanese War, the manipulation of the media is not limited to Palestinian terrorist organizations. The New York Times complied with the anti-Semitic propaganda, publishing staged photographs of one Hizbullah worker playing dead for the cameras, supposedly killed in the collapse of a building following an Israeli airstrike. Reuters published photographs of one unfortunate woman whose house had been blown up by Israeli aircraft on no less than two separate occasions. Reuters also published pictures of an Israel F-16 aircraft, supposedly firing missiles at a Lebanese town. The only problem was the three missiles were actually a single flare that was being dropped, and the aircraft was taking evasive manoeuvres to avoid being attacked by Hizbullah fighters. And who can forget the picture of Beirut going up in smoke, thanks to the artistic talents of the same Reuters journalist. That's just the tip of the iceberg. They would have gotten away with all of this, were it not for a determined few who were prepared to question the official version of events presented to them by the mainstream media. One common thread runs through all of this, hatred of the Jewish people

Jeremiah 20:10-11 
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, [say they], and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

During the tribulation period, the mainstream media will play a significant role in inciting hatred of God's people. Perhaps through the modern technology of mobile picture phones, CCTV and satellite technology, the whole world will witness the slaying of God's two prophets in the streets of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8). As Palestinians rejoiced at the deaths of those caught up in the attacks on the Twin Towers, and give sweets to children following successful attacks on Israeli civilians, so all the world rejoices at the news that their tormentors have been killed by the Beast, and give gifts to one another. It will be a terrible time to be on earth during the tribulation period. You don't have to be. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today, and be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass.

Luke 21:36 
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Source YNet News, YNet News, The Atlantic

Quote: "Foreign Minister Tzipi welcomed the UCU decision. She said that "the suspension of the impending boycott is important news for the Israeli academia. It supports the internationally held view that limiting the freedom of speech in academia is inherently wrong." She also said that it "proves that joint efforts can foil a cynical political move to undermine Israel's international legitimacy."

No such hope for the United Methodist Church. The denomination's official lobby office is urging church agencies and members to divest from companies such as Caterpillar, who supply Israel with equipment used to bulldoze the homes of known Palestinian terrorists. The Israeli government had a policy of bulldozing the homes of suicide bombers, the idea being that would-be terrorists might reconsider perpetrating an attack against Israeli civilians if they knew their families might suffer as a result. Homes along the Gaza border, complete with underground tunnels for used for smuggling weapons in from Egypt, were also demolished by the IDF. But the United Methodist Church turns a blind eye to mass murder, as it sees Israel - the Jewish people - as the prime cause of conflict in the region... and that is plain old anti-Semitism.

Quote: "United Methodist General Board of Church and Society sponsored the resolution, accusing Caterpillar of facilitating Israel's destruction of Palestinian property. Caterpillar, along with Israel, was the target of a lawsuit by the family of Rachel Corrie after the activist was crushed by a bulldozer in 2003 while attempting to block the destruction of a Palestinian home used to facilitate arms smuggling. The resolution will go before the United Methodist General Conference in April 2008.

The United Methodists have apparently around $5 million worth of shares invested in Caterpillar. What on earth a church is doing investing God's money in stocks and shares is beyond me. Like the one talent servant, this church will soon find its Lord inquiring what they have done with His goods, and especially what they have done with His chosen people, the Jews.

Matthew 25:28-30
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Thus the United Methodist Church has joined the ranks of denominations and organizations that are pressing for the division of God's land. Looking at the amount of support for this anti-Scriptural endeavour gives us a glimpse into how close we are to the fulfilment of prophecy and the tribulation period.

Jeremiah 31:35-37
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

Source Haaretz, WorldNetDaily

Yesterday the Iranian Prime Minister addressed the United States of America, after having been invited to participate in a conference being held by Columbia University. Ahmadinejad's responses to questions from University President Lee Bollinger were generally moderate in tone. Ahmadinejad declared that Iran would attack no other country on earth, and that the Jews were friends of Iran. Of course the Iranian government refuses to recognize Israel as a country, and so would still be justified in attacking it in Ahmadinejad's thinking. When questioned on the holocaust, he proclaimed the need for more research to be undertaken and asked why the Palestinians were suffering in its wake. Thus he justifies himself in his hatred for the Jewish people... On one hand denying the fact of the holocaust, believing it to be a myth created by the Jews in order to garner sympathy from the nations, and to pave the way for the creation of the state of Israel. And on the other hand if the holocaust really did occur, once again the Jews are to blame for stealing "Palestinian land". In response to a question from a Fox News reporter on whether or not Iran was planning to wipe Israel off the map, he said the Jewish state would be dissolved in the same manner as the USSR. In any case Israel would go if this was permitted, as a majority of Arabs are no doubt opposed to the existence of the state of Israel... But addressing the United Nations today, President Ahmadinejad's true intents were not so well cloaked in his liberal language. 

Quote: "The world was "nearing the sunset of the time of empires," he said, and urged the dominant world powers to eschew their "obedience to Satan" and "submit to the will of Allah." If they did so, "they will be saved." If not, "calamities will befall them." But whether or not these powers chose to reform themselves, he said, the day was fast approaching when "occupied lands will be freed. Palestine and Iraq will be liberated from the domination of the occupiers." And the people of America and Europe would be liberated from Zionist oppression. "This is the promise of Allah," he said. "Therefore it will be fulfilled." 

He warned the nations of the world that the age of empires would soon end (colonialism - in the Islamic mindset, America, Britain and Israel), and that unless the world submits to the will of Allah, great calamities will come upon us. Some would call that a veiled threat. In the mind of Ahmadinejad it is the truth according to the Qur'an. He also stated that Palestine (including Israel) and Iraq will be liberated from Zionist oppression. It's hard to believe that such a man as this is able to address the United Nations with impunity, literally inciting Muslims to rise up against another member of the world body. The promise of Allah will not be fulfilled, praise God. Although Israel is in for a very difficult time ahead. I was reading the book of Jude last night, and happened to come across the character of Balaam, mentioned in Numbers 22. Balaam was a prophet, who was called by Balak King of Moab to curse Israel. The nation had come out of Egypt, and was on its way to the promised land. Balak feared Israel and sought enchantments against the people to help him destroy them. Balak presumed that God would curse such a people because of their wickedness, but he did not consider that Israel could not be cursed so long as they were under the covenant of blood.

Numbers 23:20-23
Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God [is] with him, and the shout of a king [is] among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely [there is] no enchantment against Jacob, neither [is there] any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

Praise God that those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation are also under the blood covenant. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Whenever God looks upon believers He does not see our sins, but He sees us as sanctified in Christ. Have you trusted in Him for salvation?

Source Jerusalem Post

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon addressed the UN Conference of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace today, being held at the EU Parliament in Brussels. Ban Ki-Moon could not attend the conference in person, but a speech that he had written for the event was read out by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Angela Kane. In his speech, the UN Secretary General praised the meetings being held by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and said that recent initiatives "all have the potential to result in a significant breakthrough".

Quote: "Mr. Ban stressed that a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains "one of the foremost priorities of the United Nations. The continued occupation of the Palestinian territory prolongs hardship and injustice for millions of Palestinians, yet it has also failed to ensure the security of Israeli civilians." Both sides need to demonstrate renewed commitment to a two-State solution, he said, calling on Israel to stop settlement activity and construction of the barrier and to ease restrictions of Palestinian movements, and urging Palestinians to make every effort to end the violence of militants and to make more progress on building robust institutions.

The conference was organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, a group that has been criticized for another conference held in Durban in 2001, which ended up becoming an Israel-bashing session and resulted in the UN equating Zionism with racism. Many world leaders were present at today's event, including representatives of 140 civil society organizations, members of the European and national parliaments, 53 government observers and 16 intergovernmental organizations. Conference delegates once again blasted Israel as a racist, apartheid state, and called for an international boycott against it.

Quote: "According to the Bnei Brith organization, which sent delegates to attend the conference from its European Affairs Office, British Member of Parliament Clare Short said during her speech that Israel was not interested in a two-state solution, and blasted the EU for "allowing" Israel to build "an apartheid wall". "The boycott worked for South Africa, it is time to do it again," Short was quoted as saying. The security fence was also attacked by the European Parliament's vice president, Edward McMillan-Scott, who maintained that it would not bring peace to Israel. McMillan-Scott added that the European Parliament was committed to "a two state solution with safe borders," according to the Bnei Brith report of the conference. 

It seems even Israelis are joining in the demonisation of the Jewish state. Speaking at the conference, a columnist for the left-wing Israeli daily Haaretz stated that Israel was an "apartheid state with different status for different communities". Whoever thought that a tiny strip of land around 200 miles long could evoke so much raw emotion in people? Governments are burdening themselves with this conflict, in a vain hope of finding a peaceful solution to it. Israeli and Palestinian leaders are at loggerheads over the status of Jerusalem. Just like the prophet Zechariah stated, the whole world will burden itself with this issue. Jerusalem has literally become a burdensome stone and a cup of trembling for all people. Woe to the nation that seeks to divide God's land!

Zechariah 12:9
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

But for the believer, there is hope. The Lord Jesus Christ will soon return to take His waiting people home. Are you on the Lord's side? Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation?

Exodus 32:25-26
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Just like the tribe of Levi, the Bible teaches that every true believer in Jesus Christ is a priest unto God (Revelation 1:6). When the Lord comes, He will gather His saints unto Him, and then the judgement of this world will come.

Source UN, YNet News, Jerusalem Post