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VFI News July 6, 2021

Israel’s President Tells UN Chief: Your Bias Won’t Bring Peace

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday at the U.N. headquarters in New York as part of his farewell tour of the United States.

During the meeting, Rivlin addressed anti-Israel bias in the U.N. and called for it to end.

“Our region, the Middle East, needs trust between people. Peace between Israel and the Palestinians will never ever be achieved by anti-Israeli resolutions or investigation committees,” Rivlin told Guterres according to a news release.

Rivlin was accompanied by Lea Goldin, mother of Hadar Goldin whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza. (i365 / VFI News)

"Lord, we pray that you will uproot any anti-Israel and antisemitic notion within the U.N.".

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.

Israel Bombs Hamas Weapons Factory in Gaza

Israeli warplanes bombed a Hamas weapons factory in the Gaza Strip early Friday in response to a wave of arson balloon attacks launched at Israel from the coastal enclave the day before, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The army said the site was used by the terror organization to develop and build weapons.

“The strike was carried out in response to the arson balloon attacks on Israeli territory. The IDF will respond with determination against all terror attempts from the Gaza Strip,” the army said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The incendiary balloons launched from Gaza Thursday sparked four fires near Israeli towns along the southern border, breaking more than two weeks of quiet since the last wave of arson attacks. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you protect the innocent from acts of terror and that you establish peace for the people of the land.”

COVID Unemployment Benefits Said to Cost the State $12B

According to figures from the National Insurance Institute, Israel has paid out more than NIS 39 billion ($12 billion) in unemployment benefits since the start of the COVID outbreak.

The benefits were paid out to 1.2 million Israelis who lost their income due to the pandemic, Channel 12 reported Thursday night, based on those figures. From March through the end of 2020, the unemployment benefits cost the state NIS 23.5 billion, and NIS 15.5 billion has been paid out so far in 2021.

The unemployment model enacted in March 2020 came to an end on Thursday after the Knesset voted to update the program and significantly cut back on benefits. Under the new law, the majority of Israelis under age 45 will cease to receive benefits. Those over 45 will see their current level of payment reduced, and their benefits continue through to the end of October. (TOI / VFI News)

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. - Proverbs 28:27

Iran Restricts IAEA Access to Main Enrichment Plant after Attack

Iran has been restricting UN nuclear inspectors' access to its main uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, citing security concerns after what it says was an attack on the site by Israel in April, diplomats say.

The standoff, which one official said has been going on for weeks, is in the course of being resolved, diplomats said, but it has also raised tensions with the West just as indirect talks between Iran and the United States on reviving the Iran nuclear deal have adjourned without a date set for their resumption.

It follows various moves by Iran that breach the 2015 nuclear deal or have angered Washington and its allies, ranging from enriching uranium to close to weapons-grade to failing to explain the origin of uranium particles that the UN nuclear watchdog found at several undeclared sites.

"They are provoking us," said one Western diplomat who follows the International Atomic Energy Agency closely, adding that inspectors should be able to have full access next week. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you continue to protect your people from the threat of nuclear attack.”

Our Vision for Israel – Barry & Batya Segal

Vision for Israel co-founders Barry & Batya Segal sit down to talk about their work of blessing and mercy in the land of Israel—thanks to the unshakeable support of all who believe in the restorative power of Yeshua’s love.

Boston Rabbi Stabbed Nine Times, 24-Year Old Suspect in Police Custody

Rabbi Shlomo Noginsky, a Chabad emissary in Boston, Massachusetts was stabbed nine times Thursday afternoon by a knife and gun-wielding assailant outside his Chabad House known as the Shaloah House.

“Today's attack on a rabbi in (Brighton, MA) has sent a shockwave of fear & anxiety throughout the community. As this investigation unfolds, we call for full transparency so that the community gets answers as to why a rabbi was stabbed outside of his house of worship,” tweeted the ADL.

According to media reports, Rabbi Noginsky was initially sitting on the steps of the building when the suspect walked up to him and threatened him with a gun.

The alleged assailant, who has been identified by Boston police as 24-year old Khaled Awad of Brighton, Massachusetts, then told Rabbi Noginsky to take him to his car where he attempted to force him inside.

When Rabbi Noginsky fled his attacker by running across the street to Brighton Common, a small-sized park, the man chased after him and stabbed him nine times in the arm with a knife. (INN / VFI News)

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” - 1 John 4:20

Lapid Inaugurates Dubai Consulate: ‘Symbolizes Our Ability to Change the World’

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid officially inaugurated Israel’s consulate in Dubai on Wednesday, calling it a center of dialogue and cooperation.

“What we are opening today is not only a consulate but also the center of our cooperation,” he said. “This place symbolizes our ability to think together, to develop together, to change the world together.”

Lapid emphasized that the peace between the UAE and Israel “is not between governments and leaders, but between people and nations.”

“It is not my peace or that of my friends standing here, but of our children,” he said.

Lapid opened Israel’s embassy in Abu Dhabi the day before, hailing the “historic moment” as a time “we chose peace over war.”

While in Abu Dhabi, Lapid went out of his way to thank former prime minister and political rival Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called “the architect of the Abraham Accords and who worked tirelessly to bring them about.” He also expressed his gratitude to former US President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden.

Israeli Team Wins Gold at World Acrobatics Championships

According to a press release, the Israeli team won gold at the World Acrobatics Championships currently taking place in Geneva.

Michal Stratievsky, Yarden Ron, and Tamar Stoller received a score of 28.450 points, beating out trios from Russian and Portugal to take first place. The athletes are all between the ages of 13 and 20 years old.

Besides participating in international competitions, the Israeli team also represents their local acrobatics club Hapoel Begin Holon, having won the Union Cup for their age category in the past year.

The win by the Israeli team comes as other Israeli athletes continue to score high in gymnastics competitions. In June, rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram won gold at the European championships, paving her way to the upcoming Tokyo Olympic games. (JPost / VFI News)

First All-Female Tank Crew to Be Stationed on Egyptian Border

A tank entirely staffed by female soldiers, including its commander, will deploy to the Egyptian border for the first time in Israel’s history.

The tank is set to be stationed there in the coming days, KAN reported on Wednesday evening.

The news comes despite the IDF’s continued uncertainty about whether or not the latest pilot program to integrate women into the Armored Corps has been successful.

The first pilot program, which was aimed at training women to operate tanks, concluded in June 2018 with four female soldiers graduating as tank commanders and two-thirds of the overall program successfully completing the course. However, in April 2019 the military announced that despite the seeming success of the trial program, it would not be continuing and the women who qualified would not be permitted to continue working with the corps. (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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