~ Thursday 1st July 2010 ~

Compiled by David Soakell Tel: 01642 469663 E-mail david@cfi.org.uk Website: www.cfi.org.uk

The Word: For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. (Zechariah 2)

"Praise God, O heaven and earth, seas and all creatures in them. He will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and possess the land, the descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love him will live there" (Psalm 69: 34-36)

• Pointers for prayer: As we continue to stand with Israel, please pray that we would have ears to hear, and hearts open to the areas the Lord wants us to be effective in.

• UK Methodist Conference: The Methodist church, the fourth largest Christian denomination in Britain, this week debates on "Israel-Palestine" then votes on whether to implement a boycott of products and services from the "West Bank" (see full report). It is difficult to tell you what to pray for...but, setting aside the acceptance of this report which would be a disaster, there are two other possible outcomes of the debate that can be prayed into: 1) That it will be totally rejected and thrown out. This is probably unlikely. 2) That it is not accepted, but sent back to those who complied it for further consultation to bring some balanced views into it. This would be the next best outcome to No.1 as it would then give people at all levels of Methodist Church life the opportunity to have input. Whichever you sense the Holy Spirit leading you towards, please do pray and let us trust that whatever happens, that the Lord will be honoured and His will done.

• Iran probably has enough low-enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons. Please continue to pray into the way Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is being allowed to bring the whole of the Middle East into a potential world-war three.

• Please continue to intercede for the issues in and around Gaza. As conflict between Hamas & Fatah continues, pray for the many problems within the Arab areas, especially with the children. As the UN and the media continues to portray a distorted picture of Arab life, please pray that God would reveal the truth regarding this whole situation. Please remember though that there are genuine problems for many Arabs. Pray that their lives would see an increase in being allowed to work and support their families. Cry out too for the Arab people struggling under the heavy restraints of Islamic oppression. Pray that they may find freedom in following the Lord God.

Methodist Conference causes outrage As we begin this week's News Report, and indeed as I write, I'm watching live on the Internet the Methodist Conference taking place all this week. The Methodist Conference first met in 1744 under John Wesley, who gathered together his assistants (both ordained ministers and itinerant lay preachers) to confer together about 'what to teach, how to teach, and what to do, i.e. how to regulate our doctrine, discipline and practice.' However, there appears to be an almighty gulf in the basic principles of what John Wesley stood for and preached, to that of this week's Conference.

I live close to the North Yorkshire Moors, and in Castleton lies a memorial stone which states, "John Wesley preached from this spot in 1772." I've often wondered about what kind of a response he got that day and why was it that the church then experienced revival. Yet we shouldn't be surprised really, as his doctrine about Israel was correct. Likewise, John’s brother Charles Wesley also understood the importance of standing with Israel. He certainly didn’t preach “replacement theology”, nor was he ignorant of the issue of Israel. In many of his famous hymns, he wrote on how Israel would come back to their land, and how God had not forgotten His promises to the Jews. He constantly prayed that the LORD would bless Israel, and he and his brother John saw revival. Some examples of the Hymns that Charles Wesley wrote include: "We know it must be done, For God hath spoke the word: All Israel shall the Saviour own, To their first state restored; Rebuilt by his command, Jerusalem shall rise; Her temple on Moriah stand Again, and touch the skies..." And again, "Send then thy servants forth, To call the Hebrews home; From East, and West, and South, and North, Let all the wanderers come; Where'er in lands unknown, The fugitives remain, Bid every creature help them on, Thy holy mount to gain."...

O that the Church today would arouse herself, O that her leaders would grasp the revelation and relevance of Israel. Yet within the heart of many of today's mixture of lay people, ordained presbyters and deacons, lays a mist of confusion wherein deceit prevails. And as their "words of wisdom" cascade from pulpits on high, the Methodist Church of Britain today is on a collision course with the Jewish community leaders after being accused of producing a document against Israel to debate at the conference. The Methodist church, the fourth largest Christian denomination in Britain, is debating on “Israel-Palestine” and then will vote on whether to implement a boycott of products and services from the "West Bank". Written by a group of Methodist clergy, academics and peace activists, the document, titled “Justice for Palestine and Israel,” has been accused of being selective and “full of historical distortions and bias.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has expressed concern saying the document could damage Jewish-Methodist relations in the UK. Board chief executive, Jon Benjamin, wrote to the president of the Methodist Conference to ask for an urgent meeting. “This deeply disturbing paper is full of historical distortions and bias,” Benjamin told The Jerusalem Post. “That's unsurprising, given that its main sources appear to be anti-Zionist campaigners. Especially troubling is the suggestion that the Methodist Church will investigate expelling Zionists. If it passes, the paper will be damaging to Jewish-Methodist relations. We are seeking an urgent meeting with Methodist leaders to make our objections clear and to seek a resolution.”

The 54-page document has been distributed to all Methodist churches, circuits and regions throughout the UK in order to “resource them in their understanding of and engagement with the issues,” the document described. Almost all the sources used in the document are controversial. It includes anti-Zionist and anti-Israel activists such as scholars Ilan Pappe and Avi Shlaim; Jeff Halper from the fringe group ‘Israeli Committee against House Demolitions’; Anglican vicar Stephen Sizer and journalist Robert Fisk. There are also testimonies from Breaking the Silence and the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel, a group funded and supported by the World Council of Churches, which supports the divestment campaign against Israel.

NGO Monitor president Prof. Gerald Steinberg stated, "Christian groups that promote anti-Israel demonisation and international isolation display a very disturbing insensitivity and fuel the conflict. The report reflects the distortions of the World Council of Churches, Amos Trust, KAIROS, EAPPI and other groups in this one-sided and biased document. The exclusive emphasis on "occupation" strips away the context of Palestinian terror and rejectionism for seven decades, which forced Israel to response in defence of its citizens". "This document entirely ignores the rights of Israelis including Gilad Schalit, who was kidnapped and held in Gaza for four years, in violation of all moral principles. If the Methodist leaders and their allies were really concerned about justice, they would not ignore the suffering of Jewish victims of Palestinian terror.” Steinberg added.

As mentioned, on Wednesday, 30th June 2010, the Methodist Conference debated the paper, “Justice for Palestine and Israel”. What was clearly evident was that no one from the "pro-Israel" side appears to have been consulted in the compilation of this report. In the report's appendix, where readers are encouraged to do further research for themselves, there is not one website, book, tour organiser, other research source - that communicates from a pro-Israel perspective. If it is accepted as Methodist Church policy, then it will leave many of these in extremely difficult situations with very hard choices to make. Many of our CFI UK Area Reps including Monmouth's Pam Smith, who is also a local preacher and Methodist Minister's wife; CFI Birmingham's Rep David Walker (also from the Methodist church), and CFI Northern Ireland's Ivor McClinton have been speaking out against this throughout the past weeks. In many ways this is just one of the area's our Area Reps can get involved in. Pam has been in touch with many Jews and Christians regarding this and has written to the Jewish Chronicle and to Steve Hucklesby, Policy Adviser of the Methodist Justice for Palestine and Israel paper.

Writing to one recipient, CFI's Ivor McClinton states, "Yesterday there was to be a "fringe" meeting hosted by EAPPI at which a member of Sabeel was speaking. I found it difficult reading the report because I believe that we owe an inestimable debt to our Hebrew roots. The Bible was written by Jews; Jesus grew up as a Jew, lived as a Jew, died as a Jew and is coming back as a Jew. Neither is God finished with the Jews. Looking at the anti-Semitism that has been directed against the Jews for centuries, the explanation that remains valid is that such prejudice is satanic. This report is historically inaccurate, prejudiced and anti-Semitic. There is one, and only one, explicit command in the Hebrew Scriptures as to what to pray for and that is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. This document does nothing for that Shalom and will damage both the dialogue between Jews and Christians, and the work being done by Christian organisations such as CFI in Israel."

Ivor McClinton continues, "Jewish leaders have condemned this as a "skewed" report on Israel, warning it could set back interfaith relations for years... It totally lacks balance; Israel has a right to exist as a nation but more importantly it is the apple of God’s eye. I do not believe that all that Israel does is correct and blindly support every Israeli action. But I am not going to swallow Palestinian propaganda without questioning the veracity of what they feed the media. CFI seeks to present a Christian witness to Jew and Arab alike in Israel and reaches out in love to many in the land, not just Jews. Surely you can see the pro-Palestine bias in even a superficial reading of the report? How can you accept the word “occupation” being used about the land God promised to these people? How come there is no mention of 9000 rockets fired into Sderot from Gaza in 8 years? Are you not concerned that the people there have 15 seconds to get to a bomb shelter when missiles are fired towards them?"

Indeed, as Ivor pointed out, the Board of Deputies of British Jews represent a broad cross-section of the Jewish community throughout Britain, and these have been greatly offended by the contents of this Methodist debate. The next link will take you to a PDF file which is the official response from The Board of Deputies to this Methodist conference paper entitled; Justice for Palestine and Israel . Even the title of the paper is misleading as there clearly appears to be no "justice for Israel". Should you desire to read the paper yourself click here: Justice for Palestine and Israel
Iranian bombs worrying and more flotillas expected Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is never far from the top of current affairs within the Middle East. This week Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called a CIA report that Iran had sufficient uranium to build two bombs "worrying." Medvedev stated, "This information has to be checked, but such information is always worrying - and all the more so because the international community does not recognize the Iranian nuclear program as transparent," Medvedev was quoted as saying at the G8 summit. CIA Director Leon Panetta said on Sunday that Iran probably has enough low-enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons, but that it likely would take two years to build the bombs. Panetta told ABC television’s 'This Week' that he is doubtful that recent UN penalties will put an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He said the penalties could help to weaken Teheran’s government by creating serious economic problems, but he added, “Will it deter them from their ambitions with regards to nuclear capability? Probably not.”

Meanwhile, former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar has warned Israel to expect the resumption of international flotillas to the Gaza Strip in the near future. This report came from the Independent newspaper on Monday. Mahmoud al-Zahar stated, "After the World Cup at least eight ships will come from the Gulf... " So it would appear, according to al-Zahar that the international humanitarian rights protesters are not too bothered about Gaza whilst the football is on TV. When asked whether Iranian vessels will be involved al-Zahar responded, "Why not?" In an interview with the Independent newspaper, the Hamas figure said that there would be more flotillas "than in your imagination." Referring to the possibility that Egypt might prevent a flotilla from the Persian Gulf passing through the Suez Canal en route to Gaza, al-Zahar said; "They have the right in international law to go as the Israelis go. Egypt will never be able to stop such a campaign."

The Independent newspaper quoted al-Zahar addressing the possibility that Iran may sponsor vessels: "I ask you about morality. Where is your morality if Iran is going to give food and drugs? What justifies preventing that?" Al-Zahar also accused the Israeli government of reneging on a prisoner swap agreement which he insisted could have led to the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, now entering his fifth year of captivity. The Hamas official repeated the group's claim that during the last negotiations, brokered by a German mediator, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to an initial list of 325 Palestinian prisoners to be released, and possibly 125 more. However, he noted that things have changed since then, and refused to answer a question about whether the German mediator is still involved in negotiations. Is one Israeli life worth that of 450 terrorists? Yes, it probably is, but the sheer politics of all this is immoral.

Al-Zahar claimed the Gaza blockade by Israel conformed to Western definitions of "terrorism" by using "violence" to change the attitudes of its victims. "I am asking you, why did you accept this process four years ago?" The Hamas leader expressed satisfaction at pressure put by the Quartet on Israel to relax the siege but stressed that his Hamas organisation continues to reject the international community's demand to recognise Israel; adhere to past agreements with Israel, and renounce violence. The Hamas figure added, "What is the real border of Israel? What about the occupation of Jerusalem, what about the occupation of the Golan Heights? I ask Israelis to renounce violence... I ask your country (Britain) and then the Americans to renounce violence in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan and then we are going to speak about renouncing violence."

Conflict between Hamas & Fatah continues It wasn't too long ago that Islamic Hamas were fighting and killing Islamic Fatah members and throwing their bodies off buildings in Gaza. This week the continued power struggle between Hamas and Fatah has left tens of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip literally in the dark following the closure of the area’s main power plant. The power plant, which supplies 25% of electricity to the Gaza Strip, was shut down on Friday night because of a dispute between the rival Palestinian parties over payment for fuel that is needed to keep it running. I'm not sure if you have noticed this, but the Palestinians never appear to be in the wrong. All week, Hamas and Fatah traded allegations over the power outage, with each party blaming the other for the crisis. The Hamas government accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) government in the "West Bank" of failing to deliver the fuel although it had received payment for the supply. The PA, on the other hand, blamed Hamas for the electric outage and said that the Hamas government was not collecting money from consumers in the Gaza Strip. The PA also said it has been covering up to 95% of the Gaza Strip’s total bill for electricity every month.

So Hamas blames Fatah, while Fatah blame Hamas, who blames everyone else but themselves... It's a bit like the story of when a fly falls into a coffee cup... (That can wait for another time). Meanwhile... Kana’n Obaid, director of the power plant in the Gaza Strip, blamed the PA’s Finance Ministry for the crisis, claiming that it had reduced the fuel supply needed to keep the plant running. He said that there were no direct contacts between Hamas and Fatah to solve the crisis. Instead, he added, he was talking to representatives of the European Union with the hope that they would intervene to solve the problem. Obaid claimed that a payment of $2 million was sent to the PA government in Ramallah to cover the cost of fuel last week. Ghassan Khatib, spokesman for the PA government in the West Bank, accused Hamas of creating a crisis for “political considerations” and with the purpose of inciting against the PA. He said that Hamas was also seeking to exploit the crisis to win sympathy. Hamas’s Health Ministry warned that the lives of some 500 patients hospitalised in various hospitals were at risk because of the electric outage. It said that those who would die first are the ones in intensive care units and heart and kidney patients. The Gaza City Municipality warned of an “environmental crisis” in the area because of the possibility that the sewage system would break down. It said that the sewage was already threatening to flood the power plant and other parts of the city. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Sunday cast blame on both sides for the blackouts.

John Ging, director of UNRWA in Gaza, was quoted by AFP as saying. “It's an unbearable situation here at the moment, and it needs to be solved very quickly. It’s a Palestinian problem, made by Palestinians, and causing Palestinian suffering. So let’s have a Palestinian solution,” he added. Where are the peace activist, the EU, Arab League, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and others who blame all of Gaza's problems on Israel?
Correction And finally… One or two people picked up on a small error last week which I'd like to point out. In my final article last week I stated, '...believers in the LORD who unconditionally stand with Israel'... I would just like to apologise if I have mislead anyone, as I may not have made myself clear. I wasn't suggesting that we should support Israel even if they deliberately act with inappropriate action. What I meant is taken from one of CFI's foundational principles, that being, "Although we believe our Lord Jesus is both the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of the world, our stand alongside Israel is not conditional upon her acceptance of our belief." Loving Israel unconditionally simply means we WILL LOVE THEM, expecting nothing in return.

David Soakell

Sources: Unless otherwise stated: Personal sources throughout Israel along with the Jerusalem Post, Arutz-7 News & Israel Radio