January 7, 2020

Israel on High Alert After Soleimani Assassination

Netanyahu Praises Trump for Soleimani Hit 

Dems Not Coping With Death of a Terrorist Mass-Murderer 

Liberal Democrats Won’t Endorse Trump…On Anything 

Spare Us! Qassem Soleimani a ‘Revered Leader?’

Heavy Rains Continue to Fill Israel’s Kinneret 

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“Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you and I will save your children.” Isa. 49:25

The USA military in an early morning strike on Friday 3 Jan. 2020 took defensive action to protect USA personnel abroad by killing Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force. Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, along with 10 other people, were also killed in the attack. The Iranian Quids Force is a USA-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and was said to have been actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more.  According to the State Department, 17% of all deaths of USA personnel in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 - 608 American troops - were planned by Gen. Soleimani. He had also coordinated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months and approved the assault on the USA Embassy in Baghdad that took place last week. Washington defense officials announced last weekend that the military was sending approximately 3,000 soldiers to the Middle East after thousands of people stormed the compound of the USA Embassy in Baghdad on Tues. 31 Dec. 2019. The USA embassy in Baghdad directed American citizens to leave Iraq immediately. (VFI News)

On the heels of a USA Drone attack early Friday 3 Jan. 2020 that struck down Iranian Quids commander Qassem Soleimani, Israel’s military went on high alert. Army sources admitted to concerns that Iran could strike through its regional allies, which include terror groups, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. "They will wait for the right moment to exact revenge, perhaps by firing into Israeli territory through terrorist militias in Syria and perhaps even from Gaza," said one military source. In Gaza, Hamas condemned Soleimani's killing and sent its "dearest condolences" to Iran. Israel has long regarded Soleimani as a major threat. The IDF foiled a Quds Force attack last August, administered by Soleimani, involving multiple drones from Syria. Israel has also accused him of leading efforts to establish a precision-guided missiles program for the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorist organization. (VFI News) 

Pray for Israel’s continued protection from Iran and Iranian supported terrorists groups at this very tense and dangerous time.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, 3 Jan. 2020 said USA President Trump acted ’forcefully and decisively' in eliminating Iranian Quids Forces leader Qassem Soleimani in a drone attack hours earlier.  "Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right. Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the deaths of American citizens and many other innocents. He was planning more such attacks, and President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively. Israel stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security, and self-defense", said Netanyahu.  Israeli opposition lawmaker Yair Lapid also congratulated Trump for killing those responsible for "murderous terrorist acts from Damascus to Buenos Aires." Likewise in the USA former national security adviser, John Bolton tweeted his "congratulations" to the Trump administration for the strike and said he hoped "this is the first step to regime change in Tehran." Ari Fleischer, who served as President George W. Bush's press secretary said that he hoped Soleimani's death would be cheered in the same way al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's was. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, put it this way: "This morning, Iran's master terrorist is dead." (VFI News) 

“Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” Job 8:22

Ilhan Omar one of the liberal “squad” of Democratic freshmen said Friday 3 Jan. 2020 that she and her fellow Democrats are “outraged” that President Trump assassinated Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani (whom she called a “foreign official”), without consulting Congress. “We are outraged the president would assassinate a foreign official, possibly setting off another war without Congressional authorization,” Omar tweeted in response to comments made by Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz had pointed out that even the Obama administration acknowledged Soleimani was a terrorist directly responsible for the murder of over 500 USA military men and women. “Why are congressional Dems outraged that he’s finally dead?” Cruz asked on Twitter. The administration considered Soleimani as commander of a terrorist network and not a legitimate representative of Iran’s government. Another member of “the Squad,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, also condemned Trump’s mission in Iraq. “We cannot stay silent as this lawless president recklessly moves us closer to yet another unnecessary war that puts innocent lives at risk at home & across the globe,” she tweeted. “Congress alone has the authority to declare war, & we must reclaim our responsibility & say no to war with Iran.” Looking back, it is noteworthy to recall that former USA president, Barack Obama launched close to 3000 strikes on Iraq and Syria in 2016 - without congressional approval. (VFI News)

The liberal wing of the Democratic Party has no interest in endorsing anything USA President Donald Trump does. In fact, it might be pondered what exactly the Democrats have done since Trump has been in office, but try to impeach Trump. Knowing this, it is no surprise at the mealy-mouthed responses of four Democratic candidates for president at the removal of Iranian Quids terrorist commander Qassem Soleimani: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “Soleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans. But, this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of a new Middle East conflict.” Former vice president, Joe Biden likewise admitted that terrorist murderer Soleimani “deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region.” "But", said Biden, “none of that negates the fact that this is a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region.” (Biden is the man who rallied in the 2012 Democratic National Convention with the words "Bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive.") Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said more of the same regarding Soleimani’s death: “Trump’s dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East.” Former South Bend Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg had this to say: "Soleimani has blood on his hands from countless operations against American interests, American allies, and American citizens". “But”, added Buttigieg, Trump’s move "must not be the beginning of another endless war." (VFI News)  

As things get underway for the 2020 USA primary elections this coming November, please keep informed about what presidential candidates and their party members are saying and doing regarding issues such as Iran, abortion and Israel. So far, if you are pro-life, a lover of the Jewish state and the Jewish people, and one who sees the danger the present Iranian Islamist regime to the entire world, you will turn out in rain, wind or snow to vote in candidates of like mind and values in November's 2020 elections.  Please continue to intercede for USA President Trump and against the unprecedented opposition he faces in his leadership role from those who have no real focus other than to oppose and pull him down.

The Washington Post ran into some trouble over the weekend for referring to Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani as the Iranian nation's "most revered military leader" amid reports of his death. Soleimani is the terrorist murderer whom Secretary of State Mike Pompeo deemed equally as dangerous as ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed last October in a USA military strike. The Washington Post headline sparked a string of negative reactions on social media. Many critics also pointed to the Post's previously mocked headline in Oct. 2019, which referred to deceased ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an "austere religious scholar". They rejected as well the NY Times' recent description of Iraqi terrorists who attempted to raid the USA embassy in Baghdad as "mourners".  Meanwhile, on the ground in Iran, as the world reacted Friday to the USA killing of General Soleimani, Iranian resistance groups hailed the move as a “major blow” for the repressive regime in Tehran.  They predicted that it will boost the morale of dissidents and bring what they see as the likely downfall of the regime’s one step closer. Soleimani was also allegedly responsible for the killing of thousands of protestors in Tehran. All-in-all, he has left behind nothing but a legacy of hatred, death, and oppression. (VFI News)

It’s expected, although grievous, to hear terrorist entities in the Middle East saying things like, “Hamas condemns Soleimani's killing and sends its ‘dearest condolences’ to Iran”.  However, it is utterly unacceptable to find Western media sources referring to such killers as Soleimani or al-Baghdadi, as ‘revered’ or in al-Baghdadi’s case an ‘austere religious scholars’.  Such men are mass- murderers, those who orchestrate and carry out torture and death upon hundreds of thousands of men women and children across the planet. May such people be identified and dealt with for what they are; “Evil”.

The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) has risen 42 centimeters (16.5 inches) in total since the beginning of the current rainy season. Last weekend alone the water level in the lake rose five centimeters and currently sits at two meters and 68 centimeters below the upper red line, which is considered the lake's maximum capacity. Precipitation is expected to continue throughout the week. (VFI News) 

Thank you, intercessors, for continued prayers on behalf of Israel for much-needed abundant rain this season. "The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord." Isa. 51:3

While Israel enjoyed much increase in 2019, end of the year poverty figures revealed that some 2.3 million Israelis, including one million children, live beneath the poverty line. The report also found that nearly one-fifth of Israelis, over 1.6 million people suffer from food insecurity. Please continue to help us ease the very real distress of hardship in Israel. Strained government budgets are due in part to Israel’s high-security needs. Additionally, the allocation of funds for welfare programs are presently being stalled and impacted by the ongoing lack of a functioning government and the high cost of repeated elections.  We at VFI continue to be deeply concerned for, and dedicated to, assisting underprivileged children, the elderly and entire families who are beloved of the Lord and in need. Please continue to enable us to be expressions of His heart and hands. We need and appreciate your donations at: www.visionforisrael.com. 

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Prov. 19:17

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