Victorious or Not Victorious - that is the question...

 

Barrage of rockets coming out of Gaza on left, Israeli Iron Dome taking out incoming rockets on right.

So - a ceasefire has been agreed on by both Hamas and Israel.  But first a few images from Israel in the past week and a half....

Fence infiltration into Israel on the Lebanon border.

Iron Dome (right) taking out incoming missiles (left).

Rockets (left), Iron Dome (right).

Iron Dome up close.

Israel explains why it demolished so many buildings in Gaza.

Not all the fighting has been in Israel and Gaza - Also very troubling is the anti-Israel protests and openly, violent attacks against Jews, especially in the past week, all over America and around the world.  Many countries in the world have shared their opinions, condemnations and financial support for either Israel or Gaza.  

Newspaper in the UK

Note that some Arab leaders are trying to draw "Christians" into the battle....

So what is the outcome of this ceasefire after 11 days of war - a war that Hamas started, and now claims victory??

Israel and Hamas are agreeing on a ceasefire with supposedly "no conditions." Before the ceasefire was imposed, about 70% of Israelis wanted the operation to continue, especially those in the communities surrounding Gaza (there was a similar percentage during the war in 2014).  We have to wonder what pressure/threats were placed on Israel by international leaders, especially in America.  Some government leaders in America were against financing the missiles for the Israeli Iron Dome to be replenished - these are not missiles used against Gaza, these are missiles that protect Israeli citizens from rockets fired from Gaza. 

One reason for Israel to choose now for a ceasefire is that it was getting to the point where if Israel was going to continue, they would most likely have to go in on the ground, which would definitely endanger soldiers lives (and possible kidnapping, which is a goal of Hamas as a pawn).

Hamas is lying about any victory. They are making claims that Israel gave into their conditions (concerning the Temple Mount and Sheikh Jarrah), which is not true. But that’s what they do.  They are needing to “save face” because Israel did a lot of damage to the Hamas info-structure/leaders in Gaza.  They have to make it look like they succeeded in their mission.  They did fire about 4,400 rockets at Israel in 11 days, but hundreds of those landed within Gaza on their own people, and the Iron Dome had a 90% success rate.  And remember, this is at least the 4th time Hamas asked for a ceasefire, but Israel kept saying not yet… until now.

Israel did accomplish a lot, much more in the past 11 days than they did in the 40 days of fighting during 2014.  They especially caused much damage with demolishing about 100 kilometers of the huge Hamas tunnel network in Gaza, but it will just get built back up again. Countries are already pouring in tons of money, including the US.

Just after the 2 am ceasefire began, Palestinians in Gaza, Israel and around the region began to celebrate their "victory."  There were parades throughout the streets with handing out candies.  Even in our neighboring Arab village they were shooting off fireworks at 2:15 am.  

As is common amongst the Palestinians, they called for yet another "day of rage" today (Friday).  With today being the Friday Muslim prayers, there were tens of thousands that made their way to the Temple Mount in the Old City Jerusalem.  What may have caught them off guard, was that the Israeli police were still there to attempt to squelch their riots - proving that Israel had not given into their demands concerning the Temple Mount.

Very early Friday morning before sunup on the Temple Mount, Old City Jerusalem.

What is the ultimate goal of Hamas, Iran and many of the Palestinians? "From the river to the sea" is the phrase that is constantly the motto heard throughout the Muslim world and now in many countries in Europe and North America.  Their goal is not a two state solution, it is to remove Israel and the Jews completely from this Land that God Himself deeded to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel).  For those of us who believe in the Bible, the end story of this battle has already been written - GOD WINS - His plans and His purposes will succeed.  HE is VICTORIOUS.  In the meantime, we trust in His promises knowing that His Eye is on the Land that He loves, and He will protect it. Amen.

Iron Dome protecting Israel against Her enemies.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out 

and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Psalm 121

OPERATION GUARDIANS OF THE WALL - DAY 3

Picture of the Iron Dome anti missile defense system.

 OPERATION GUARDIANS OF THE WALL - DAY 3

As many of you know, Israel is in the midst of its first large scale operation since the war in 2014 (known as Operation Protective Edge).  Things are happening rapidly and have been nonstop since the rockets began Monday at 6 PM Israel time, when Hamas, the terror organization in Gaza, began its rocket assault on Israeli civilians.  But how did we get to where we are now?  It is complex, but here are a few reasons for this recent attack:

1 - Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah) has not allowed elections since he became president 15 years ago.  The first elections since that time were going to be held soon and Hamas had a good chance of winning the election.  In Middle East, pre-election style, they began their "campaigning" by putting Israel in the middle of it, trying to show who had greater strength.  Hamas began sending rockets periodically toward Israel, and Fatah riled up protesters in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount.  This rioting served a specific purpose, if Israel would not allow Palestinian elections in Jerusalem due to rioting, Abbas could postpone the elections and stay in power.  This is exactly what happened, and Hamas was not happy about it.

2 - Contention in a neighborhood in north eastern Jerusalem called Sheikh Jarrah in Arabic and Shimon HaTzadik in Hebrew.  Over 70 Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah are set to be evicted in the coming weeks, to be replaced by Jewish Israelis or pay rent to the Jewish owners. The Palestinians live in houses built on land that courts have ruled were owned by Jewish religious associations before the establishment of Israel in 1948.  This has caused much rioting in this neighborhood, on the Temple Mount and at Damascus Gate of the Old City Jerusalem.

3 - Rioting on the Temple Mount - they are claiming their mosque is under attack, which is obviously not true.  Israeli police have been challenged with trying to stop the unrest on the Temple Mount without a lot of success.  

4 - We have been in the middle of Ramadan (Islam's holy month).

5 - Monday was Jerusalem Day - celebrating 54 years since reuniting Israel with its capital.

Key dates this week:

Monday, May 10th - Jerusalem Day (celebrated in Israel, according to Hebrew calendar)

Wednesday, May 12th - last day of Ramadan 

Friday, May 14th - Israel Independence Day (according the the Gregorian, world's calendar)

Saturday, May 15th - Nakba Day ("day of catastrophe" - Arabs lamenting Israel Independence)

    

Monday night at 6 PM Israel time, we were in our apartment when 6 rockets came at Jerusalem from Gaza, when we heard the explosions in the distance.  We made our way to a lower floor in the stairwell which is fortified until the 10 minute waiting period was over.

At this point, about 1100 rockets have been shot at Israel from Gaza in the past 48 hours. The death toll is at 6 with dozens injured, some seriously. Ashkelon has been the most targeted city, but Tel Aviv and other cities around it have now come under intense fire. The Israeli Air Force is striking targets in Gaza and have successfully eliminated a number of senior terrorists so far. No ground troops have been sent into Gaza yet, but 5000 reservists have been called up and the Golani Brigade is reportedly being transported to the area.

Israeli Arabs who live in cities alongside Jews have been rioting and attacking Jews and Jewish religious buildings throughout the country.  This is a very distressing new situation. In Lod (near the Ben Gurion Airport), the situation is being compared to Kristalnacht by the Mayor of Lod, and Israeli President Rivlin has called the riots in Lod a pogrom.  PM Netanyahu has declared a state of emergency in Lod and sent in backup security forces.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gantz and other high level security officials are meeting to discuss how Israel will be moving forward tonight with this operation - by air or land? With a ground operation as in 2014? Hamas has asked for a ceasefire, and Israel has replied no - not yet. This is good, Hamas does not start this conflict and then get to decide when it's had enough.  Israel now needs to complete its mission.

Hamas has promised a new attack Israel in Haifa (North) and Eilat (South) - at 6 pm today Israeli time (Israel is 7 hours ahead of EST in the US).

We will share several pictures and videos below, please forgive it for not being in any order. We want to get this out quickly.

Inside the mosque on the Temple Mount, preparing for Israeli police.

Synagogue destroyed in Lod

Areas where rockets hit last night causing the airport to close for many hours
and flights to be diverted to Cypress.

Last night...

Home in Ashkelon where a rocket hit, killing the homeowner.

Nursery in a hospital in the South taking cover in fortified hallways.

Monday night - Jerusalem Day at the Western Wall just before the rockets began.

Last night - huge barrage of rockets against central Israel.

Posting on Facebook of people wanting to help - everyone is one big family here.

Another posting on Facebook of people wanting to help.

A little earlier today.

Tanks heading south towards Gaza.

Recap

Rockets during the Jerusalem Flag Parade

Arab rioters on the Temple mount caught a tree on fire to dispel Jewish worshipper below.

Rockets in Tel Aviv

Rocket lands near people on the street.

Rocket sirens at Ben Gurion airport.

Rocket hits a bus in Holon north of Tel Aviv.

Israel Air Force demolishes a building in Gaza. IDF warns before destroying any buildings with leaflets, calls, sms, or "knock on the roof" - this is an empty bomb dropped about 10-20 minutes before the real one as a last warning.  Each knock on the roof costs $20,000 USD.

Rockets at the airport.

Rioting in Lod.

Unrest in other cities

Arab Israelis in Lod set about 30 cars on fire.

Arab protesters in Haifa.

More unrest around the country.

Rioting and unrest

Have you ever heard of Pallywood? It is Palestinian Hollywood.

Under the String Bridge at the entrance to Jerusalem last night. 

Am Yisrael Chai - The People of Israel Live!

If you would like to watch live Israel News in English, we recommend i24News broadcasted from Jaffa (just south of Tel Aviv). https://video.i24news.tv/page/live

PLEASE BEGIN PRAYING NOW FOR 

GOD'S HAND OF PROTECTION 

AND FOR HIS WISDOM FOR OUR LEADERS.  

Do not keep silent, O God!

Do not hold Your peace,

And do not be still, O God!

For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;

And those who hate You have lifted up their head.

They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,

And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.

They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,

That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

For they have consulted together with one consent;

They form a confederacy against You:

Psalm 83:1-5