The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
“Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, ‘Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, and take vengeance on My enemies.’” (Isaiah 1:24)
1. U.S. And Iraq Launch Aggressive Campaign To Curb Oil Smuggling - Wall Street Journal
U.S. and Iraqi forces have launched an aggressive campaign to curb the oil smuggling that is helping to destabilize the fragile Baghdad government and finance insurgents, adding another facet to the Bush administration's latest pacification plan for Iraq.
• Pray for protection over Iraqi oil, and victory for the coalition forces. • "and do not harm the oil and the wine. . ." (Revelation 6:6)
2. Syria Operates Al Qaida in Lebanon - MENL
For the first time, Lebanon has accused Syria of controlling an Al Qaida network.
3. PA Unity Government to be Brought to a Vote Saturday - Arutz Sheva
Palestinian Authority government spokesman Dr. Ghazi Hamad announced late Wednesday night that the new unity slate is ready for presentation to the Legislative Council. Hamad told reporters that the names of the ministers will be presented to the legislature on Thursday and that the unity government will be brought to a vote on Saturday.
4. Bill: No economic ties between Israel, Iran - Arutz Sheva
Opposition Chairman Netanyahu presents Knesset with legislative initiative prohibiting Israeli institutional bodies from investing in companies that have business ties with Iran
5. Messianic Jew attacked, wrongly arrested - Baptist Press
The arrest of a Messianic Jewish evangelist in Israel reflects the strife that often confronts Messianic Jews despite Israel’s guarantees of religious liberty and without any repercussion from law enforcement officials, the leader of a Messianic congregation told Baptist Press. Messianic evangelist Eddie Beckford was arrested outside his business, the Chess and Bible Shop in Arad, after a mob of ultra-Orthodox Haradim Jews surrounded his van in the parking lot and beat him Feb. 25. “In general over the years here in the south in the Negev, in Arad and in Beer Sheva, there has been some form of harassment or persecution,” Howard Bass, leader of the Nahalat Yeshua congregation in Beer Sheva, said.
7. Israeli excavation in Jerusalem should stop, UN says - Ha'aretz
Israel should immediately cease work on an access path to a holy site in Jerusalem, the United Nations said Wednesday. The Israel Antiquities Authority wants to repair the walkway to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. A wooden bridge provides temporary.
