Israel is soon to complete the construction of the largest runway in the Middle East. The Israeli Air Force is planning to move its base of operations from Lod in central Israel to Nevatim in the south. The project cost roughly $421 million to complete, and special bulldozing equipment had to be flown in to Israel to help make this 'highway' in the desert. The asphalt used in its construction was enough to cover a two lane highway fifty-six miles long. At two and a half miles long, the new airstrip will be the longest in the Middle East, and will provide plenty of room for Israeli pilots to manoeuvre on take-off and landing.

Quote: "The Nevatim base, which currently houses several fighter planes, will now have some new "occupants" in the form of transport aircraft such as the Hercules and the Boeing 707, which are also used to refuel aircraft in mid-flight and are occasionally also utilized in combat operations. The new landing strip will allow the IAF to utilize the Nevatim Air Base for routine as well as emergency operations. Construction on the new airstrip will be complete by 2009, at which point the IAF transport base will officially make its move to the Negev. This project heralds an IDF wide initiative to move many of its bases to the Negev.

If you remember back to a few years ago, you will recall Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's proposed 'convergence' plan, in which the Israeli government was preparing to disengage from Judea and Samaria and forcibly relocate hundreds of thousands of its citizens to the Negev desert. Olmert was convinced that his party was elected by the Israeli public to carry out the plan, although this unilateral move was strongly opposed by both the Palestinian Authority and the international community. Shortly following his appointment as Israeli Prime Minister, Olmert stated that he believed Israel's possession of Judea and Samaria actually posed a threat to the existence of the Jewish state. Recently we heard that the convergence plan may not be dead yet, but that the government may be considering implementing some sort of disengagement plan in the event that no agreement can be reached with the Palestinians. Olmert's convergence plan also has the full backing of Israeli President Shimon Peres, who believes Israel's future lies in the desert. In preparation for the inevitable eviction of over 100,000 Israelis from their homes in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, Israel is constructing settlements in the Negev.

According to the Scriptures, the proposed Middle East peace plan will fail (Daniel 9:27). And as the Gentile nations lay siege to Judea and east Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2), it seems that Israel may be forced to urgently airlift hundreds of thousands of its citizens to the desert. With the largest airstrip in the Middle East now nearing completion in the Negev, and the international community pressing for a solution to the Middle East conflict, perhaps this prophecy has just come one step closer to fulfilment.

Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Source YNet News

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to hold a press conference today at 12pm Monday. Although the purpose for the meeting has not been announced, some journalists have speculated that Olmert intends to make an announcement about his health. The conference will be broadcast live on Israeli radio.

The Prime Minister has been under pressure, having been involved in several political scandals. He used his position as Finance Minister to assist his friends in bidding for shares in Israel's second largest bank following its privatisation. He also purchased a home in Jerusalem at a substantial discount, in return for helping the builder to obtain construction permits from the Jerusalem authorities. Olmert could face jail if he is convicted of the charges.

Quote: "Yitzchak, Israel's most prominent investigative journalist, says police investigators have unearthed evidence implicating Olmert not only in fraud, as was originally publicized, but also "fraud in aggravated circumstances," which carries an additional two year jail sentence. Yitzchak said that police sources had revealed to him that Olmert was questioned on additional charges of fraud and breach of trust. If Olmert is convicted, Yitzchak says, he could serve from three to five years of active jail time for each of his crimes. Yitzchak quoted the sources as saying that police "without question" have enough evidence to indict Olmert on both charges.

I think if this announcement were related to the peace process, he would be addressing the Knesset and not the media. In any case, it will be interesting to see what all the fuss is about.

Source Jerusalem Post, Wall Street Journal, Arutz 7

The Israeli government has voted this week in favour of restricting the Law of Return for Jewish descendants seeking to return to their ancient homeland. There are several people groups that claim a direct lineage from the twelve tribes of Israel, such as the B'nai Menashe of India (sons of Manasseh) and the Falash Mura of Ethiopia. These groups have customs and rituals that are remarkably similar to those in found in Judaism, despite having been separated from their homeland for thousands of years. Many of these Jewish descendants have made Aliyah (ascension) to the land of their fathers. Earlier in the year, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attended a ceremony to remember the lives of those Ethiopian Jews who did not realize their dream of going home to Israel. Jewish emigration from Britain and the United States is also at an all time high, due to increased anti-Semitism in these countries. Presently around 400 Jewish people leave Britain every year to to live in Israel. But this process is likely to become more difficult, now that the Israeli Interior Minister will no longer be responsible for approving the immigration of olim (people who make Aliyah). Instead the entire Israeli cabinet must vote every time a new group wants to make Aliyah to Israel. These regulations have caused some to accuse the government of post-Zionism, believing that Jewish emigration to Israel is no longer necessary following the establishment of the state of Israel.

Quote: "Michael Freund, chairman of Shavei Israel, a Jerusalem-based organization working to bring the remaining 7,000 Bnei Menashe from India to Israel, slammed the decision. He accused Sheetreet of attempting to "prevent groups with historical ties to the Jewish people from returning to Judaism and moving to Israel." "Requiring full cabinet approval every time a group of 100 or 200 people wish to move here and undergo conversion is a recipe for bureaucratic inertia, as there is little chance of getting such an item onto the busy agenda of the entire government," said Freund, who previously served as deputy communications director under former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While I'm not sure if the Israeli government could be accused of propagating post-Zionism, it is sad that they are seeking to restrict Jewish people making Aliyah to Israel. For I believe the desire born within the hearts of these people to return to the land of their fathers is the Lord's doing. The Old Testament prophets spoke of the days when Israel would be regathered out of every nation where the Lord had driven them...

Jeremiah 23:2-8
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

Isaiah 11:1-5
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse (father of David), and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Zechariah 3:8-9
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Zechariah 6:11-13
Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set [them] upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

As we can see from Jeremiah's prophecy, the regathering of Israel to the land is inextricably linked with the return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. The Lord did raise unto David a righteous Branch, and as Jeremiah predicted, this Son of David would be none other than the Lord Himself. While Jesus Christ was born King of the Jews, He was rejected by the nation and as a result the remainder of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning Him has not yet been fulfilled. A King does not yet reign and prosper, judgement and justice is not yet executed in the earth, and Judah and Israel do not yet dwell in safety. But the Scriptures state that one day Christ will reign over the house of Israel (Luke 1:32). Just as we have witnessed the regathering of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, we can be sure that the Scriptures concerning the Millennial Reign of Christ must also be fulfilled. The prophets Isaiah and Zechariah give more detail on who this Branch would be, and what He would accomplish. Zechariah 3:8-9 states that He will remove the iniquity of the children of Israel in one day. In one day, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary put a complete end to the Jewish sacrificial system, God being fully satisfied with the travail of His soul (Isaiah 53:11) in bearing the iniquity of the house of Israel and the world. Zechariah 6:11-3 says this Branch shall be a Priest upon His Throne. Not since the days of Melchizedek has a man filled the roles of both priest and king in Israel (Genesis 14:18). The priestly tribe were the sons of Aaron, and the Levites looked after the administration of the Tabernacle and Temples. But only the tribe of Judah was given permission by God to reign over His people. Jacob prophesied that the sceptre would not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes (Genesis 49:10). The Scriptures state that Jesus Christ was born of the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1, Luke 1:27), and as descendant of Judah and David He has a legal right to the Throne of David. As Jacob states, the sceptre shall not depart from Judah "until He come who's right it is". Upon this earth Christ fulfilled his role as Prophet. In Heaven He presently intercedes for us before the Throne of God as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 8). And soon Jesus Christ will return to Jerusalem to fulfill the Scriptures concerning His reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Have you beheld the Man whose name is the Branch? Have you beheld the Man with the nail wounds in His hands? Jesus Christ died for you. He's coming again soon. Trust in Him for salvation today. 

Source WorldNetDaily

I'm sorry I haven't updated the site today, as some of you have noted :). I was up at 8am this morning, and away with my grandfather to an all-day conference in a village called Garvah, some 60 miles north of here. The conference was held by the Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures. It was really encouraging to be there. Several people gave reports on the work, which focuses on seeking out Jewish people and giving them, free of charge, copies of the T'Nach (Old Testament) and the New Testament Scriptures. We heard reports from a man and his wife, Eric and Joy, who told us some fascinating and moving accounts of how the Lord led them to individual Jewish people to give them the Scriptures. What struck me the most was response of many of these dear Jewish people. They were so thankful when they were given the T'Nach in Hebrew as a gift. Not only were they thankful for also receiving the New Testament, but many of them actually asked for it after having been presented with the Old Testament. Jews are discouraged by their Rabbis from reading the New Testament, and some Jewish people who become believers in Yeshua are disowned by their families and cast out of their synogogues. It is a big thing for a Jew to be a believer in the Messiah. One of the men who gave a report said that he was able to visit a college in Belfast were 120 Ultra Orthodox Jews were staying, and was able to present them with a single copy of both the Old and New Testament - something that would normally be unheard of. Another couple from Holland spoke of their witnessing to Jews in France, Germany and even in Israel. They spoke to IDF soldiers stationed along the border of Lebanon, following the end of the Second Lebanon War. They were able to tell them of their experience living in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, and tell them how their faith in Messiah gave them hope. I wish I had a recording of the meeting on tape, I would have put it on the site.

I have given to this work in the past, as I love the Jewish people. But this meeting has helped me to realize how important this work is. Don't get me wrong, I believe Pastor John Hagee is a good man, and does a good work in encouraging Christian support for Israel. But I do not believe that we should seek to withhold God's Word from them. So many Jews are now seeking the truth. How can we withhold from them the truth of who their Messiah is, for the sake of a few religious leaders who object? How can we preach that the Gospel is for all, but withold it from those for whom Christ died?

Matthew 9:36-38
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Source Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures