Thursday, December 14, 2006

The Middle East in Focus

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"This is what the LORD says: 'I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.'" (Zechariah 8:3)

1. EU tells Israel to clarify Olmert's remarks on nuclear weapons - Ha'aretz

The European Union on Wednesday called on Israel to clarify remarks made by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert earlier this week that indicated a shift in Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity.

2. Gaza tensions escalate: Grenade thrown at Hamas rally - Ynet News

Two Hamas activists were injured Wednesday after a grenade was hurled by a Fatah member at a rally held by Hamas in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza. Hamas security officers managed to subdue the attacker.

3. Gaza: Another judge shot to death - Ynet News

Wednesday morning, anonymous gunmen shot and killed a judge in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. Palestinian sources reported that the four gunmen got out of a civilian vehicle and opened fire at Judge Bassem el-Fara, who was killed on the spot. This is the second murder of a Palestinian judge this week: Three days prior, Judge Jamal Abu Salim was killed in the same area.

4. 'Barrier will be done by end of 2008' - Jerusalem Post

Construction of the West Bank security barrier will be completed by the end of 2008, a senior defense official involved in the project told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

5. Holocaust denial outrages Europe - Washington Times

A gathering of Holocaust deniers in Iran touched off a firestorm of indignation yesterday across Europe, where many countries have made it a crime to publicly disavow the Nazis' systematic extermination of 6 million Jews.