Iran Doesn’t Back Out of Nuclear Plans, Continues to Attack Jews

Ve'Shamru by Barry & Batya Segal

Iran Close to Testing Nuclear Weapons for First Time - European Intel

Iran Never Has and Never Will Seek a Temporary Nuclear Deal - Iranian FM

Iran Tried to Assassinate A Pro-Israel Georgian Jew. Here Is How He Survived

Israeli Forces Blast Terror Lab Amid Terrorist Gunfire in Judea and Samaria

One Seriously Injured in 4th Explosion Near Former Israel Military Industries Site

Paraguay to Reopen Its Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel Says

Israeli Desalination, Wastewater Treatment Becomes Global Model for Water Scarcity

New Israeli Blood Test Can Diagnose Bipolar Disorder - Study

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Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of  "Ve'Shamru," a soul-stirring song performed by Barry and Batya Segal. Inspired by the sanctity of the seventh day as described in scripture, this uplifting melody captures the essence of God's gift of Shabbat to His people. Join us as we celebrate the holiness of the Sabbath. Experience the powerful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with the timeless tradition of honoring God's commandments.

Today, August 18, we at Vision for Israel want to pause and reflect upon the life and journey of a remarkable woman whose birthday we are celebrating. Batya embodies unwavering faith, an epitome of enduring love, and a symbol of an unflinching commitment to our community and the land of Israel.

Please join us in wishing our beloved Batya a big Happy Birthday, or Yom Huludet Same’ach!

The Islamic Republic of Iran is close to possibly testing a nuclear weapons device and has sought to obtain illicit technology for its active atomic weapons program, according to a series of shocking European intelligence reports released in 2023. 

The most unsettling revelation from the batch of intelligence data comes from the Netherlands General and Intelligence Security Service (AVID). The AVID determined the Iranian regime’s fast-moving development of weapons-grade uranium "brings the option of a possible Iranian first nuclear test closer." 

According to the Dutch intelligence report, "Last year, Iran proceeded with its nuclear program. The country continues to increase stocks of 20% and 60% enriched uranium. By means of centrifuges, this can be used for further enrichment to the 90% enriched uranium needed for a nuclear weapon." 

The Swedish Security Service wrote in its annual report in 2023 that "Iran engages in industrial espionage, which is mainly aimed at the Swedish high-tech industry and Swedish products that can be used in nuclear weapons program."

The AVID report added "Iran is further ignoring the agreements that were made within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). And by deploying increasingly more sophisticated uranium enrichment centrifuges it is enlarging its enrichment capacity." (JPost /VFI News)

“God, we ask that You stop Iran from enriching its uranium and testing its nuclear capacity. We trust that it won’t be able to proceed with its nuclear plans and that most of our allies in Europe, the USA, and the Middle East will take urgent measures to prevent the realization of such plans.”

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

Iran never has and never will seek a temporary or interim nuclear agreement, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told Iranian media on Monday, August 14. 

"We have always said that we have never deviated from the path of diplomacy and negotiation. From the beginning of the government's work, the president decided that we should act in two ways: neutralizing the sanctions and trying to cancel the unilateral and unfair sanctions of the United States through diplomacy." 

"The part that is related to trying to neutralize the sanctions, goes back to the content of the JCPOA. We have been discussing, negotiating, and exchanging indirect messages with the American side for months," said Amirabdollahian. 

"In this direction, I would like to emphasize that we have never sought a temporary agreement or a lesser agreement and we will never seek it." 

Efforts by the US, European nations, and Iran to return to compliance with the JCPOA nuclear deal have been stalled for months. In June, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani confirmed that the US and Iran were holding negotiations in Oman about Iran's nuclear program and prisoner swaps. (JPost / VFI News)

“Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.” - Deuteronomy 23:6

Itzik Moshe says he has been the target of three attempted killings in the past year in his hometown of Tbilisi, the capital of the Caucasian Republic of Georgia. Fortunately for him, all three attempts failed, and his attempted assassins were apprehended, thanks to the intervention of the Georgian security forces. 

Two of the attacks involved attempted stabbings. The third involved a shooting in which the gun failed to fire due to previous sabotage by the Georgian security forces.

Investigations by the local authorities found that Iran’s IRGC was behind the attempted hits, Moshe told media. The attacks were apparently aimed at halting Moshe’s efforts to advocate for better ties between Israel and Georgia and to improve the perception of Israel in the region. 

“The attempts were downstairs from Beit Israel. We are located in the main street, and the order was, according to the investigation, to murder me at the entrance of the office so that they could show the blood together with the flag of Israel,” he said. 

He added, “I need to say thanks to the security services in Georgia and Azerbaijan. They are very active. They do not update us, but they guard us 24/7. All my respect to them, because Israel is a friendly country for them. And they are not only guarding their ties with Israel. Allowing terrorism to step into their country puts it in danger.” (JPost /VFI News)

“God, we thank You for guarding our people in every corner of the world. We are extremely grateful for Your constant provisions, as well as for the alertness and efficiency of international defense forces that strive to cooperate with ours and protect Israeli and Jewish people worldwide.”

IDF and Border Police forces destroyed a lab used by Palestinian terror groups in Judea and Samaria, as well as seven functioning explosive devices in the Balata refugee camp early on Wednesday morning, August 16. 

Additionally, Israeli forces destroyed a warehouse containing seven explosive devices to be used by terrorists. 

Clashes broke out upon Israeli forces entering the refugee camp after troops had to defuse an explosive device set up at the entrance ahead of the expected raid. 

During the raid, Palestinian suspects hurled stones and explosives before some armed rioters opened fire at the soldiers. Israeli security forces returned fire. There were no Israeli casualties, the IDF confirmed. 

Elsewhere on Wednesday morning, IDF Unit 636 soldiers shot at terrorists who attempted a drive-by shooting targeting the troops near a military post close to the city of Nablus. 

The soldiers arrested one of the armed terrorists who had been injured in the exchange by Israeli fire. The weapon used by the terrorist, an M-16 rifle, was confiscated. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we thank You for assisting our soldiers during their missions. We are humbly thankful for their protection and we feel safe knowing they are able to quickly apprehend terrorists and prevent them from wreaking havoc in our region. ”

One person was moderately to seriously injured and two others were lightly injured after an explosion was reported at the site of a former Israel Military Industries factory near Herzliya and Ramat Hasharon on Monday night, August 14, according to Israel Fire and Rescue Services. 

This is the fourth time in the past two months that an explosion or fire has been reported in the area. Video from the dashcam of a vehicle driving in the area showed a large explosion lighting up the night sky. 

According to Fire and Rescue Services, firefighters who arrived at the scene found several fires outside of the area where buildings are located and gained control of the fires. No dangerous or explosive materials were found by Fire and Rescue Service investigators at the site. The background of the explosion will be investigated. 

Ramat Hasharon Mayor Avi Gruber stated that the explosion was caused by a work accident at an Elbit factory east of Highway 4. 

"The IMI areas are a ticking time bomb. There must be no construction in them and the creation of explosive and dangerous materials must be moved from the center of the country to isolated areas," added Gruber. 

Gruber added that he has instructed the municipality to set up a meeting with the Environmental Protection Ministry on the matter and such a meeting is set to take place this week. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we pray for the swift recuperation of all the citizens who were injured during Monday’s explosion. We hope that our leaders will take into great consideration the latest set of explosions and make necessary changes so that all civilians who work in or come by these areas remain safe.”

Newly inaugurated Paraguay President Santiago Pena pledged to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, for the second time in the last five years, Israeli’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday, August 16. 

Israel has long campaigned to strengthen international recognition of its hold on Jerusalem by pushing its allies to relocate their embassy to the country’s capital. The United States was the first country to do so in 2018, followed by Guatemala, Honduras, and Kosovo. 

Those countries that have embassies in Jerusalem acknowledge that the city is Israel’s capital, at a time when many in the international community refuse to issue such a recognition. 

"We continue to strengthen the international status of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the State of Israel,” Cohen said. “I invited the president of Paraguay, Santiago Penia, to make a presidential visit to Israel this year and to inaugurate the Paraguayan embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel,” Cohen said. 

“The opening of the Paraguayan embassy in Jerusalem, and the Israeli embassy in Asuncion will strengthen Israel's regional and international position and the significant ties between the countries. We will continue and strengthen the important historical connection with the Latin American nations, which stood by the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” Cohen said. (JPost /VFI News)

In the scorching summer heat, an Israeli farmer tends to a dripline taking a mix of ground and recycled water to palm trees — an approach honed for decades in the arid country and now drawing wide interest abroad. 

“All of Eilat’s sewage is treated,” said Arik Ashkenazi, chief engineer of Ein Netafim, Eilat’s water and sewage utility. “The treated wastewater is transferred, to the last drop, to farmers” who mix it with groundwater and use it on the trees, he said. 

“We began to realize that sewage was a water source, reaching almost 100% reuse in Israel,” said Yossi Yaacoby, vice president of engineering for Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, noting that 90% of the treated wastewater went to agriculture. 

“That wasn’t enough either, so we began desalinating seawater,” he said, beginning with Eilat in 1997 and then the Mediterranean, with desalinated water now providing 60-80% of Israel’s drinking water. Israel has had sole access to the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake, since seizing the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. 

Clive Lipchin, an expert on water management at the Arava Institute in southern Israel, said the rising unpredictability due to climate change should make “everybody around the world” consider desalination and treating wastewater.

“The world is undergoing a huge crisis,” Yaacoby said, noting that “states you’d never imagine” like France, Germany, and Italy were rethinking the issue. (TOI / VFI News)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.” - Proverbs 11:30

A simple blood test developed by the University of Haifa neurobiologists can identify people coping with bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) and predict the efficacy of lithium – the drug given to patients with this disorder. 

Bipolar disorder is quite common, with one in every 100 adults diagnosed with it at some point in their life. It can appear at any age, but it often develops between the ages of 15 and 19 and rarely after 40. 

People with bipolar disorder experience dramatic shifts in mood that may include periods of depression and mania. These shifts can make it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks. 

The findings from the study showed that 80% of the differences in gene expression are related to the expression of immunoglobins, the chief components of the immune system. 

“The most significant finding is that in people suffering from bipolar disorder, a difference was found at the expression level of genes of the receptors to the antibodies; this may explain the high rate of comorbidities. There is a known correlation between various psychiatric disorders and ancillary morbidity,” Dr. Shani Stern, who was the corresponding author of the study noted. 

The findings of the mathematical model were capable of predicting at a level of precision of over 90% if a person suffers from bipolar disorder and whether they respond to lithium treatment. 

The test diagnoses bipolar within only a few days and at a relatively low cost. “This method can enable people coping with psychiatric disorders to save many months of suffering by adjusting the right medication for them,” Stern concluded. (JPost / VFI News)

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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