PM Benjamin Netanyahu clarified on Sunday 29 Jan. 2017 that the Israeli government holds the position that the USA embassy in the country should be located in Jerusalem. The premier's remarks came amid implications that Israel had urged new USA President Donald Trump to delay fulfilling his pledge to move the American mission in Israel from Tel Aviv to the capital. "I would like to clarify unequivocally that our position - now and at all times - has always been that the USA embassy should be here in Jerusalem," he stated. "Jerusalem is Israel's capital, and not only should the American embassy be in Jerusalem, but all embassies should be moved here, and I believe that in due time they will all reach Jerusalem," Netanyahu added. The prime minister's remarks came after Marc Zell, the co-chairman of the Republicans Overseas Israel group, indicated that Netanyahu had urged Trump to delay the process of moving the embassy. "Before the election Trump said that he would move the embassy to Jerusalem. Then he spoke to Bibi Netanyahu. I don't know what happened, but suddenly the White House said 'we'll think about it' and that same week Israel announced the construction of 2,500 new settlement units and the response from Washington was extraordinary - quiet," Zell told Army Radio on Sundaymorning.

Once committed to quickly moving America's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Trump administration has recently turned to express caution, promising only to review the matter extensively and in consultation with "stakeholders" in the conflict. Asked days ago about moving the embassy, a move he said he favored during the campaign, Trump said, "I don’t want to talk about it yet. It’s too early.” That deliberative process tracks closely with the policy evolution of two prior presidents, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, who also campaigned on a pledge to move the embassy. Both ultimately reversed course while in their first terms office. Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and other Arab allies have warned the White House of severe repercussions should it proceed with the move, including a review of bilateral relations with both the USA and Israel. Arab states have also warned of an upsurge in violence should the embassy be relocated. (J.Post) "This is what the Lord says, ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.’”Zech 8:3

It happens nearly every night. After dark, the Syrian wounded come to known locations on the Israel-Syria front in the Golan Heights, driven by desperation to seek help from an enemy army. Israeli soldiers on lookout or patrol spot them waiting by the fence and whisk them away to a rear position where army medics soon arrive, according to army officials operating in the area that was seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel refuses to accept refugees fleeing the nearly six-year conflict in Syria, a country with which it remains technically at war. But it has allowed in more than 2,600 Syrians for medical care. On one bitterly cold January night, gunfire and explosions could be heard in the near distance as Israeli medics dressed the injuries of two Syrian men, one suffering a head wound. "We're doing everything we can to save their lives, to stabilize them and evacuate them to hospital," said Captain Aviad Camisa, deputy chief medical officer of the Golan brigade.

"Some of the stories stir your emotions. When children come, as a father, it touches me personally," Camisa said. Millions have fled and hundreds of thousands have been killed in Syria's conflict, which shows only fitful signs of being resolved. The Israeli army helps facilitate access to nearby hospitals. One man, his legs pierced by shrapnel, survived a bomb attack in his village in which 23 people were killed. "In the past we used to know Israel as our enemy. That's what the regime used to tell us," he said. "When we came to Israel we changed our minds, there is no enmity between us. In the end we discovered that our regime is the enemy of us all," he said, referring to Syrian president Bashar al-Asad. (Reuters) [Comment]

 The ISIS suicide bombers who attacked Brussels airport on 22 March 2016, targeted passengers travelling to the USA and also Jewish people. Airport security camera footage shows one bomber apparently pursuing Hasidic Jews seconds before one of the blasts. One of the airport bombers attacked the Delta Airlines check-in at Zaventem airport. "Early on in the investigation there were indications that they targeted USA, Russian and Israeli check-in counters," a USA law enforcement source said. An airport source said a bomb that did not explode was left near the United and El Al counters, which face each other. Mohamed Abrini, a member of the attack team nicknamed the "man in the hat” who was arrested in Brussels on 8 April, 2016 told a Belgian court that one of the original targets in the attacks that killed 32 was the departure area for flights to Tel Aviv. Abrini ran from the scene of the airport attack without detonating his bomb-filled suitcase. "We know they wanted to target Americans. It’s clear they had quite specific targets,” the law-enforcement source told AFP. "We know they were obsessed with the Israelis too,” he added. (AFP) [Comment]

Israel approved the construction of approximately 2,500 homes in Judea & Samaria, most of them in existing settlement blocs, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced on 24 Jan. 2017. The decision came two days after a Jerusalem planning committee approved the construction of 566 housing units in East Jerusalem, and on the heels of a phone conversation over the weekend between Netanyahu and USA President Donald Trump, in which the two discussed their plans for the region. Most of the housing units will be built in the large settlement areas, notably in the city of Ariel and in Givat Ze’ev, outside Jerusalem. But some will also go up in settlements outside the larger blocs, due to prior agreements and court decisions. "We’re building - and will continue to build,” PM Netanyahu said, following the announcement. (Arutz-7) Pray Israel will stand strong in its resolve to provide much needed housing for its citizens and peruse its rights to expand well established and thriving Jewish communities – despite Palestinian and international unmerited disapproval. "For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” Isa. 54:3 [Comment]

Gulf Arab states are quietly applauding the arrival in the White House of a leader opposed to their adversary Iran, even if they suspect Donald Trump's short temper and abrasive Tweets may at times heighten tensions in the combustible Middle East. While many countries around the world listened with concern to his protectionist inaugural address, Gulf Arab officials appear optimistic. They see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washington's role as their main strategic partner in a region central to USA security and energy interests. In Gulf Arab eyes, that involves above all checking what they see as a surge of Iranian support for paramilitary allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon and for fellow Shi'ite Muslims in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province.

Saudi Arabia in particular appears relieved at the departure of Barack Obama, who it felt considered Riyadh's alliance with Washington less important than negotiating a deal in 2015 to neutralize Iran's nuclear program. The relationship is a pillar of the Middle East's security balance. But it has suffered since Riyadh took issue with what it saw as Obama's withdrawal from the region, and a perceived inclination towards Iran since the 2011 Arab uprisings. There have been tensions over Syria, where Obama dismissed Gulf Arab urgings to give more aid to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, who has survived thanks to Iranian and Russian backing. "Perception is important: Trump does not look like the kind of guy who will bend towards Iran or anyone else," said Abdulrahman al-Rashed, a veteran Saudi commentator. "If he behaves as he says, then we will see another Ronald Reagan, someone all the forces in the region will take seriously. That's what we have missed in the past eight years." (J.Post)

1. Doubt is natural

2. You're not defined by what other Christians say or do

3. You can always come back

Antonio Tajani who served in recent years as the deputy and acting president of the European Parliament was chosen on 17 Jan. 2017 to serve as president of the European parliament. 63-year-old Tajani defeated his left-wing rival by a significant margin and will serve for the next 2.5 years in place of Martin Schultz who served the two previous terms. The Conference of European Rabbis welcomed Tajani's election. The head of the Conference, Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinhas Goldschmidt said that Tajani is a "true friend and lover of Israel who has proved in his actions and declarations that he is 'good for the Jews'". In a speech before senior European rabbis and rabbinical judges and leaders of Jewish organizations from 32 European countries, Tajani said the rise in anti-Semitic acts must cause us to lead a determined fight against it and to eradicate it. We in the European Parliament will fight for the right to live on this continent as Jews. "We respect the precepts of your faith and will fight without compromise for this right. The Jews are and were an important part of Europe's history, present and future and we will continue cooperation between the EU and the Conference of European Rabbis and its representatives in foiling anti-Jewish legislation and fighting anti-Smuts," said Tajani. The Conference's representative in the EU, Belgian Chief Rabbi Avraham Gigi said that Tajani will balance the EU's attitude towards Israel as a "true friend of the Jewish nation." (INN) "Behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isa. 60: 2-3 [Comment]

Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas on 18 Jan. 2017 promised a "diplomatic response” if USA President-elect Donald Trump moves the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Speaking at a press conference in Bethlehem, Abbas called on Trump not to move the embassy to Jerusalem, warning that there would be a "political and diplomatic” response to such a move. He did not elaborate. The PA chairman said there is a need to establish an international mechanism and a set schedule to realize a comprehensive peace based on the resolutions of international institutions, UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and the two-state solution within the pre-1967 borders. He also claimed that the year 2017 is the last chance to discuss and work towards the implementation of the two-state solution in order to reach a peace agreement with the "Israeli entity". Abbas said this opportunity must not be missed and called on all the countries that have not yet recognized the "state of Palestine” to do so. The PA chairman has in recent weeks warned several times against moving the embassy to Jerusalem. On 17 Jan. 2017 he told Trump that moving the embassy would be a "provocation that would harm the peace process”. Two weeks ago, Abbas wrote Trump a letter in which he warned the President-elect against moving the American embassy, saying that such a move would be crossing a "red line" and could jeopardize peace prospects. (Arutz-7) Upon reading PA leader, Mahmoud Abbas’ ongoing, tiresome rhetoric regarding the dangers to the so called "peace process,” and who is or might be responsible for the collapse of the "two state solution” or what must be done to end "Israel’s occupation,” etc. it can only be said that lies and failed responsibilities writhe and squirm at the feet of the Palestinians and their terrorist loving, Israel hating leaders. In truth, they want Israel destroyed, period, and "peace,” is the last thing on their minds – rather text books that teach Palestinian children to hate and glorify the murder of Jews, no recognition what-so-ever of Israel in text books and maps, the glorification of terrorist murderers as national and religious heroes, and not one, single, baby step towards peaceful co-existence with the Jewish state.

One can only continue to hope and pray that Abbas and the Palestinian people will escape the sewer of deception in which they continue to wallow, and that the rest of the world will stop buying into it as well. In finality, Mr. Abbas, you and those you purportedly lead are the ones to blame for the ruin of the "Peace Process.” It is already dead, not threatened, not endangered, but in the grave. So go do something, anything, worthy of honor and respect with a glimmer of hope for its resurrection! Spend some of the billions that tax payers of the world continue to send to you to build bridges - literally and otherwise - in your relationships with Israel and the nations, rather than paying terrorist salaries and sponsoring hate mongering and murder against God’s beloved people, Israel. [Comment]

 Incoming President Donald Trump was asked by Israeli media sources on 17 Jan. 2017, if he intends to go through with his pledge to move the USA Embassy to Jerusalem. "Of course I remember what I said about Jerusalem. You know that I am not a person who breaks promises," Trump responded in remarks published on Thur. 19 Jan. 2017. Likewise, this week, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Trump's nominee to be the USA ambassador to the UN, was asked during her confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if she supported Trump's campaign promise to move the USA embassy to Jerusalem. "Absolutely," Haley said. "And not only is that what Israel wants, but that is what this Congress supports." (Asharq Al-Awsat-UK/Times of Israel) Pray that Donald Trump will keep his repeatedly published promise to move the USA embassy to Jerusalem. Intercede that he and his administration will grow in their love and respect for- and delight in - Israel and the Jewish people. May the lies that have been perpetrated against the Jewish state be exposed, unraveled, shattered. [Comment]

While serving as a senior adviser in the White House, Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will work to help broker a Middle East peace deal. Trump said that Kushner, Ivanka Trump's husband, would take on the task of negotiating peace between Israelis and Palestinians– an appointment Trump has previously floated due to the fact that Kushner "knows the region, knows the people, knows the players." Kushner has no previous diplomatic experience, but steered Trump's foreign policy throughout his presidential campaign and subsequent presidential transition. "What we know, he’s a really tough, smart guy, and we hope he will bring new energy to our region,” Israel's defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said of Kushner. (J.Post) "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers” Prov 11:14. Intercede earnestly for Donald Trump and his carefully chosen administrative team that they may strengthen and lead the USA with wisdom and clarity, and cultivate among the nations respect and support for Israel. Pray also for the physical protection of Donald Trump from political and religious extremists. [Comment]