The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.(Psalm 5:8)
1. Olmert: Israel willing to make 'painful concessions' - USA Today
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that Israel was willing to make "sweeping, painful and tough concessions" to encourage dialogue with its enemies.
2. Conflict with Hezbollah to be known as 'Second Lebanon War' - Ha'aretz
Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi warned the security cabinet yesterday that the Israel Defense Forces would need time to reach the necessary level of preparedness.
3. Rice to Palestinians: End incitement against Israel - Ynet News
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the US is discussing with the Palestinians the need to end incitement against Israel in schools and print maps that include the State of Israel.
4. US: We gave Israel time to defeat HizbAllah - ICEJ News
The United States resisted calls for an early cease-fire in last summer's Israel-Lebanon war in order to give Israel time to defeat HizbAllah, former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said in a television interview this week.
5. Jews Welcome Nisan, Hebrew Month of Redemption - Bridges for Peace
The first commandment given to the nascent nation of Israel before the Exodus from Egypt was: “This month [Nisan] shall be for you the first of the months” (Exodus 12:2). [The first day of Nisan this year was Tuesday, March 20.] Nisan is the first month specifically for the Jewish nation as it contains within it Pesach (Passover), the holiday in which the exodus and birth of the Jewish nation took place and are recounted to the next generation.
