Pray for restraint for both Palestinians and Israelis as peace talks continue.
Three Palestinians were killed and 16 injured during a raid at the Qalandia Refugee Camp, located just outside Jerusalem. As Israeli troops entered the camp in the early morning to apprehend a suspected arms dealer, hundreds of Palestinians began rioting and throwing rocks at the soldiers, who eventually reacted with live fire. It is the most serious incident of violence since the recommencement of peace talks earlier this month.
Pray for restraint for both Palestinians and Israelis as peace talks continue.
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As part of a deal brokered during the current peace talks, Israel has released twenty-six Palestinian prisoners. Most of these prisoners have committed acts of terrorism that have murdered innocent Israelis, and each has served close to 20 years in prison. The victims' families describe the act as "caving in to terror." These prisoners are the first of 104 that Israel has promised to release within the next year as part of the peace negotiations. (Ynet) Please pray for the victims' families as it is hard to witness the release of their loved ones’ killers. Pray also that those prisoners released would not return to terrorist activity. The head of Lebanon's Syriac League, Habib Avram, said the world is ignoring the suffering of Christians in the Middle East while it goes through a phase of restructuring. Avram said Christians have not found any support in other powers and sects, and must be wise and remain rooted to their homeland like trees. During a dinner party held on the occasion of the Babylonian New Year, he noted, “People, ethnic groups, sects and civilizations that enjoy historical depth in the East must not disappear. It is a crime against humanity when such civilizations are marginalized or attacked.” "There are the same problems in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Palestine. The Christian presence deserves equal citizenship regarding dignity, freedoms, and rights,” he continued. Avram noted it is time for the Lebanese regime to recognize the rights of Christians, and that history will not forgive those who work to prevent them from realizing their rights. The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to recognize a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians still face enormous limitations: They don't control their borders, airspace or trade, they have separate and competing governments in Gaza and the West Bank, and they have no unified army or police.
Gaza residents cleared rubble and claimed victory on Thursday, just hours after an Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers ended the worst cross-border fighting in four years.
The cease-fire announcement had set off frenzied late night street celebrations in the coastal strip, and raised hopes of a new era in relations between Israel and Hamas. The two sides are now to negotiate a deal that would open the borders of the blockaded Palestinian territory. Palestinian terrorists fired a rocket aimed at Jerusalem on Friday, setting off air raid sirens throughout the city and opening a new front in three days of fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli campaign has been limited to airstrikes so far. But military officials say they are considering expanding it to a ground campaign. |
Walter Blackwood
Associate Pastor with The Bridge Community of Faith in Kelowna BC Canada. Archives
May 2017
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