Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Sunday Reflections - January 10, 2017

AN IMPORTANT ITEM I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT

Dear Church Family,

I’m sending this to you today as I am flying to Washington DC.  I received a call this past week from Christians United For Israel (CUFI) letting me know that there was a decision made by the leadership that it was urgent to send a group of CUFI leaders to Washington DC.  The decision was based on the recent UN Resolution 2334 which was a very damning decision regarding Israel.  President Obama specifically directed our UN representative to abstain from the vote.  I’ve included the bullet points of the recent weeks leading up to and including this decision.  Thanks for our dear friend, Randy Neal, for mapping these out.  I’m asking you to be praying diligently for the next 24-36 hours for God’s favor to rest on those of us headed to Capitol Hill to meet with Senators.  Pray that God’s divine favor will precede us and that the reception will be nothing short of a “God thing.”  Take a look at these bullet points, and then I’ll have a closing note.

“Greetings friends, several have asked for bullet talking/prayer points on the most recent event that unfolded regarding Israel, the UN, and the US. I tried very hard to simply state the facts without commentary, but could not restrain myself on a couple. I hope this is helpful, Randy”.  Western Regional Director for CUFI

These bullet points regarding Israel are just the tip of the iceberg but will help connect the dots of actions and intentions. They can also be used as prayer points in this increasingly contentious time for the Jewish State.

* In October  2016, the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organization’s World Heritage Committee voted by secret ballot and passed a resolution on the status of the Old City of Jerusalem, concluding that there are no Jewish historical ties to the Temple Mount. UN entities, their printed materials, and their public comments will now only refer to the site by its Arabic name, The Noble Sanctuary, referring to the al-Aqsa Mosque area.

* Summer/Fall 2016 increasing evidence confirmed that UN, US, and EU aid to the Palestinian Authority is used to pay stipends to terrorists in jail for injuring or killing Jews, and to the families of terrorists killed in the act they were committing. 
US House members seek to cease payments to the UN until incitement for terrorism ends. 


* December 23, 2016 (one day before Chanukah) the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 2334 with 14 of 15 voting yes, and the US, by order of President Barak Obama, to abstain rather than veto the resolution. The resolution affirms that all land Israel recaptured in the Six Day War in June 1967 is legally Palestinian territory and illegally occupied by Israel. 2334 calls for “a complete cease of all settlement activity and expansion.” In addition to east Jerusalem and zones in Judea and Samaria, aka the West Bank, long agreed in all past peace accords to remain part of Israel in the event of  two State solution was forged, the resolution denies Israel to possess the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, or the Jewish Quarter.


* Days following UNSC 2334 International dignitaries, including from the supporting UNSC member nations, denounce the resolution as biased, one-sided, and a road block to peace. They also denounce the abstention by the US to be malicious, shameful, damaging to the region, and politically motivated.


* December 25, 2016 - Senator Lindsey Graham, followed by Senator Ted Cruz, committed to lead efforts for the US to withhold its $8 Billion dollar annual funding of the UN until it rescinds UNSC 2334. The US funds 22% of the UN annual budget, far more than any other country.


* December 28, 2016 Secretary of State John Kerry gave a 72 minute speech defending the US abstention and choice to not veto. The majority of the speech criticized Israel as blocking peace by occupying pre-1967 territory and expanding “settlements”. He had presented a detailed six-point plan initiate a two state solution. 
(It is important to know and to note that the cornerstone premise legitimizing Kerry’s Two State Peace Plan hinges on the notion that “there were no Jews living in these areas before 1967”. It sounds reasonable and compassionate to intervene after 50 years of illegal occupation . . . if it were true. Mr. Kerry failed to mention that Jews lived in these areas for thousands of years, until 1947 when Jordan attacked and captured them, expelling, imprisoning, or killing every Jew in east Jerusalem. Twenty years later Israel recaptured east Jerusalem, the Jewish quarter, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount in 1967. 


* January 15, 2017 - There are growing concerns that the Paris Peace Conference, at which dignitaries from seventy nations are set to assemble January 15, 2017 to discuss how the international community can assist in expediting a Two State Solution will result in a blue print based upon John Kerry’s proposal to the UN Security Council for a resolution that would include an implementation timeline and enforcement mechanisms, possibly resulting in sanctions against Israel. 
It is further concerning that such a resolution could be presented and voted on before the new US president is inaugurated to prevent a US veto.


Paris claims no plans at UN:

* January 4, 2017 - Senators Heller, Rubio, and Cruz seek Congressional mandate to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, an edict approved by Congress in 1995 but delayed by Executive Waiver by all US presidents since its passing.


* January 5, 2017 - US House condemns UNSC 2334.

* January 2017 - CUFI is preparing to launch a national campaign in DC and nationally at the grassroots level to support efforts to undo UNSC 2334 and significantly strengthen the US -Israel alliance - details are not public until January 11, 2017.

This is a whirlwind trip.  I will arrive in DC late this afternoon and spend the evening in a detailed briefing.  I will be given all of the behind the scenes happenings and hear the plan presented regarding going forward with these thoroughly thought through efforts at pulling down this recent resolution.  On Wednesday, some 200 of us will be lobbying every Senator on the Hill.  The appointments have already been made.  We are so fortunate to have both Idaho Senators, Risch and Crapo, be pro-Israel.  I will fly back home late Wednesday afternoon.

So many of the Deer Flat family share a heart for Israel and the Jewish people.  I couldn’t be more proud. I know you would want to know about this serious event happening this week.  I look forward to being with you this coming weekend.  Until then, I rest in your prayers and thank God for the privilege of serving such a great congregation!

Deeply Grateful,

Pastor D

No comments:

Post a Comment