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VFI News April 6, 2021

Knesset Rejects Extending Shin Bet Coronavirus Tracking

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee rejected the government’s request to extend the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) program for coronavirus surveillance of infected citizens by a narrow 4-3 vote on Monday.

If the government does not give more specific criteria and greater evidence as to why it needs to extend the program, along with a new government request to extend, the surveillance will be frozen indefinitely as of midday on Tuesday.

With the total infections in Israel having dropped from more than 80,000 total to under 10,000, and the new infections per day down from more than 10,000 to under 1,000, the tide finally turned on the committee, where the majority has mostly voted in lockstep with the government despite some loud minority resistance. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you continue to spread healing throughout the land.”

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.

US and Iran Agree to Begin Negotiations to Restore Nuclear Deal

U.S. and Iranian diplomats will take part next week in talks in Vienna about bringing Tehran into compliance with the controversial 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama that Donald Trump rejected – and the U.S. is 'open' to direct engagement.

Officials from Tehran and Washington will travel to Austria next week to try and revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and global powers that was signed under Obama, although they will not hold direct talks, diplomats said on Friday.

In a sign of the tightrope diplomats are walking, Iran Friday rejected any direct meeting with the U.S. in response to news of the in-person talks. (DM / VFI News)

They heal the fracture of the daughter of My people by treating it superficially—saying, ‘Shalom, shalom,’ when there is no shalom. - Jeremiah 8:11

Iran to Target Israelis Abroad

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau at the National Security Headquarters on Monday evening published the main points of its assessment of risks to Israelis abroad by terrorist elements.

A significant increase is expected in the number of Israelis traveling abroad this year due to declining coronavirus morbidity statistics and the growing number of Israelis who have been fully vaccinated against the disease.

In recent months, Elements in Iran have threatened to strike Israeli targets. An explosive device was detonated in January near the Israeli embassy in India, and officials in India determined that Iran was behind the bombing. (INN / VFI News)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

Lebanon PM Warns of 'Dangerous Nuclear Chemicals' in Oil Facility

Lebanon's outgoing prime minister said on Friday that experts had found "dangerous chemicals" at a warehouse at the Zahrani oil installations in the south.

Hassan Diab said the country's atomic energy authority identified the substances as "nuclear" after reviewing a report by German company Combi Lift, which Lebanon had tasked with clearing hazardous material at Beirut port.

The comments came nearly eight months after a stockpile of chemicals detonated in Beirut, killing nearly 200 people in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions on record. The ammonium nitrate went up in flames after being stored unsafely at the port for years.

A Combi Lift spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the firm was in talks with Lebanon over potential recovery projects in Tripoli and Zahrani refineries but said there were no concrete results yet. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you protect us all from the threat of dangerous chemicals and weapons.”

Barry & Batya’s Music Channel on YouTube

Messianic praise & worship duo Barry & Batya Segal proclaim the word of God in their music. They are one of Israel's leading Messianic recording artists, two Jewish believers who reside on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Barry plays guitar for the duo, representing a style called Mizrahi, which mixes traditional Middle Eastern sounds with modern world music. Batya writes the songs and sings in both English and Hebrew.

10,000 Israelis Converge on Joshua’s Altar in Response to PA’s Destruction Attempts

About a month ago, Israel365 News reported that the outer wall to Joshua’s Altar was breached by Palestinian Authority Arabs.

But the nation of Israel wasn’t about to let that incident go unanswered. That’s why on Monday, 10,000 Israeli pilgrims gathered at Joshua’s Altar in the Samarai region near Mt. Ebal, during the week-long Passover holiday reported Channel 20.

The site was discovered in 1980 by Professor Adam Zertal from the University of Haifa. He was able to date the site to the end of the 13th century BCE and found it to be an unusual ritual site whose dimensions correspond directly with the biblical altar described in the book of Joshua after the victory over Ai. (I365 / VFI News)

Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel. - Joshua 8:30

Linoy Ashram Wins Two Gold Medals at Gymnastics World Championship

Israeli gymnast Linoy Ashram won two gold medals and a bronze in the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup taking place over the weekend in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Ashram won the multi-sport race category on Saturday with an impressive 98.45 score, guaranteeing a gold medal. The category includes a continuous series of stages that require athletes to switch from one athletic discipline to another.

And Ashram did not stop there. On the following day, she managed to win another gold medal in the ball event with a 26.5 score, beating Belarusian rhythmic gymnast Alina Aliaksandraŭna Harnasko (25.85) and Bulgarian gymnast Brianna Klein (25.5). (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you continue to bless us with talents that demonstrate your beautiful gifts.”

Rare Coin Rediscovered During Conservation Project of Jerusalem Museum Tower

A box of artifacts was rediscovered during a major conservation project to restore the stones of the “Phasael” tower of the Jerusalem citadel’s $40 million renewal project, the Tower of David Museum said Monday.

Additionally, the team discovered a box of artifacts, originally excavated in the 1980s. Within it, they uncovered a rare silver coin from the Second Temple period — a “Tyre shekel.”

Two images are imprinted on either side of the coin: On one face is Melqart, the chief god of the Phoenician city of Tyre, and on the other, an eagle. (TOI / VFI News)

The World's Largest Matzah

In honor of the Passover festival, the Matzot Aviv factory in Bnei Brak in central Israel baked the world's largest matzah.

Weighing in at 13.2 pounds (6 kilograms), the massive matzah was nearly 20 feet (six meters) long, 3.5 feet (1.06 meters) wide, and 0.16 inches (4 millimeters) thick.

The recipe for the record-breaking matzah included 15.4 pounds (seven kilograms) of flour and two liters of water. It had a total of 119,000 holes across its surface.

The Matzot Aviv bakery was founded in 1887 by the Wolf family in Neve Tzedek and sells matzot, cookies, and other baked goods to over 30 countries around the world. (INN / VFI News)

“You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.” - Exodus 12:20