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VFI News February 7, 2020

Kinneret Nearing Maximum Level

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem. They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." Isa. 62:6-7  

In the wake of last month's torrential outpouring of rain in Israel, the Sea of Galilee is now at its highest level since 2013. The lake is 1.4 meters below its maximum level after having received 1.27 meters of rain in Jan. 2020. Following last month's deluge most parts of the country have had most of their annual rainfall for the year and in some areas double the monthly average for January. After a brief dry spell at the beginning of Feb. 2020, heavy rain is again forecast for much of the country this weekend. (VFI News)

Thank you, intercessors, for your continued prayers for rain in Israel.  "He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth." Ps. 72:6

Sudan Moves Toward Closer Relations With Israel

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Mon. 3 Feb. 2020 had two hours of talks with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's sovereign council. The military leader has agreed to work toward normalizing relations, in what would be a historic step for the Arab League member that's never officially recognized the Jewish state. USA Secretary of State Michael Pompeo welcomed the talks and thanked General al-Burhan for his leadership in normalizing ties with Israel. Normalizing relations with Sudan, where Arab states gathered in 1967 to issue what became known as the "Three No's" - no recognition of Israel, no peace with Israel and no negotiations with Israel - would strengthen Netanyahu's diplomatic credentials a month before Israel's March 2020 elections. (VFI News)

"Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Isa. 60:3

The Importance of Sudan's Shift in Regional Allies

People are sometimes unaware that Sudan is an Arab state and a member of the Arab League. While the Palestinian Authority has been trying to incite Arab states against the USA peace plan, one of the largest Arab countries has been thawing its relationship with Israel. In the past, the Sudanese had brought together many of the main Islamist terror organizations and supplied them with training camps, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah, and the PLO. It was one of the earliest locations that hosted the Saudi jihadist, Osama bin Laden. Tehran gained access to Port Sudan on the Red Sea for its naval forces. Frequently they carried shipments of Iranian weapons that were transported northward into Egypt, destined for Sinai and Gaza. This was one of the key supply routes for Hamas as it built up its capacity to wage war against Israel. Then Sudan changed its pro-Iranian orientation and aligned its foreign policy with Saudi Arabia, severing Hamas' Sudanese supply line. Sudan was part of the joint front against Israel in many significant ways. With Sudan exploring new ties with the Jewish state, that front has been split. And the forces that waged war against the West over the last two decades have lost one of their most important bases of operations. (J. Post/VFI News)

Please Continue To Help Those in Need in Israel

People coping with poverty in Israel are in need of basic commodities such as food, housing, appliances, and medicines. Think of the blessing you can be to underprivileged children, victims of terror, the elderly and entire families living in this Land, who are beloved of the Lord. Consider His promises to you as you share your financial gifts on behalf of those who are undernourished, cannot purchase necessary medicines, or pay their bills.  Please continue to help Vision for Israel ease the pain of hardship by giving generously at: www.visionforisrael.com. Your donations are needed and appreciated.

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

6 Nations Say No To EU Attempt To Condemn USA Peace Plan

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on Tues. 4 Feb 2020 tried to convince the 27 European foreign ministers who are members of the union’s Foreign Affairs Council to issue a shared resolution criticizing the new peace plan proposed by the Trump administration. He harshly warned against Israel's intention to annex parts of Judea & Samaria within weeks. Israel’s Foreign Ministry lobbied hard with European governments against the resolution, arguing it was one-sided and encouraged Palestinians to avoid direct negotiations. At least six European member states agreed and chose to block the resolution. They included Italy, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and two other unnamed nations. That opposition killed the joint statement, as EU foreign policy declarations must have the agreement of all 27 member nations. Israel's leaders responded sharply to the remarks by Borrell, a Spaniard in office since the start of Dec. 2019. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat tweeted: "The fact that the High Rep of the EU, Josep Borrell, chose to use threatening language towards Israel, so shortly after he assumed office & only hours after his meetings in Iran, is regrettable &, to say the least, odd. Pursuing such policies & conduct is the best way to ensure that the EU's role in any process will be minimized." (VFI News)

New Peace Plan, Same Old Palestinian Response

USA President Donald Trump’s peace plan would see the eventual creation of a Palestinian state over some 70% of Judea & Samaria. It was, of course, rejected by Palestinian leaders who said it fell far short of their minimal demands and left sizable chunks of the territory in Israeli hands. The Palestinians seek all of Judea & Samaria and East Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war - for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israelis from these areas. But that's not all: Responding to the USA peace plan, the Fatah movement made clear in the official Palestinian Authority paper al-Hayat al-Jadida that any future Palestinian state must include the whole of what is currently Israel, as well as Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Mahmoud Abbas, as chairman of both the Palestinian Authority and Fatah, may assert that the Palestinians are only interested in a state on the 1967 lines, but that is not what he has said in times past and the messages from Fatah negate this. PA and Fatah leaders often use the expression "from the river to the sea" to describe "Palestine" and deny Israel's right to exist. The Palestinians memorialize the "Nakba" or "catastrophe" to mourn the 1948 War of Independence and the creation of Israel. That is the so-called "occupation" they seek to end. (VFI News)  

Palestinians: Nothing Less Than All Will Do

For most Palestinians, the occupation began in 1948 when Israel was born, and they won't be satisfied by anything less than the elimination of the State of Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told Palestinian TV in October 2013: "All Palestinian land is occupied - Gaza is occupied, the West Bank [Judea & Samaria] is occupied, the 1948 lands [Israel] are occupied and Jerusalem is occupied." A June 2019 survey by the Palestine Center for Public Opinion found that only 30% of West Bank Palestinians would approve a two-state solution. The majority says, "the conflict should not end, and resistance should continue until all of historic Palestine is liberated." One cannot mistake the meaning of the chant heard at all pro-Palestinian rallies: "From the river to the sea, Palestine must be free." The river is the Jordan River and the sea is the Mediterranean Sea. In other words, Palestine is Israel. (VFI News)

"The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made themselves crooked paths. Whoever takes that way shall not know peace." Isa. 59:8

Palestinians in Deep Denial

The Palestinians are deep in denial about their part in the creation of the USA peace plan. Their grand expectation, built up over the decades, was that there would be an international plan that would force upon Israel a sovereign Palestinian state on all of the West Bank (Judea & Samaria) with a mass return of refugees that would shatter the foundations of the Zionist state. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a thorn in the side of most Arab states, which are dealing with extremely difficult issues of their own. Many of the leaders of the Sunni bloc believe that now that Israel has accepted the principle of two states, President Mahmoud Abbas must end his boycott and reenter into discussions with the Americans. The USA put considerable effort into preparing the ground with the moderate Arab states ahead of the release of the plan. The Saudi Crown Prince tried to convince Abbas that it "would not be a disaster" if the Palestinian capital is in the Abu Dis neighborhood of Jerusalem. (Israel Hayom)

Israel Develops Face Masks to Protect Against Coronavirus

In one of several swift measures Israel is taking to protect its society against the deadly coronavirus, an Israeli company called Sonovia has created a washable antiviral fabric that kills bacteria and viruses upon contact. Sonovia uses soundwaves to impregnate the surface of the fabric with metallic nanoparticles like zinc oxide and copper oxide. These particles have antiviral and antibacterial properties that destroy viruses and potentially save lives. Israel is tackling the global coronavirus outbreak head-on to keep it from becoming a health crisis in the country. PM Netanyahu has said, it’s not a question of if the coronavirus will spread to Israel, but when. “Our foremost goal is to postpone the arrival of the virus to Israel. I say ‘postpone’ because its arrival is unavoidable. We will then identify, treat, isolate and deal with those infected,” Netanyahu explained after a meeting with government leaders this week. “We have closed land crossings, seaports, and airports to arrivals from China; this is temporary. We are also updating the Palestinian Authority on all public health measures that they must put into place here as well,” said Netanyahu. As of Wed. 6 Feb. 2020, China reported that at least 490 people have died and 24,324 were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. (VFI News)

Continue to pray that those who are ill with the coronavirus virus will be healed and that its spread would slow and soon be eradicated.

Dear VFI Readers

Subscribe to Barry and Batya’s Music Youtube channel and sing along with them in easy to learn and remember songs of Zion: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Nj8CTAGFJZUVvSL-7iBBg

There are 5 music videos thus far and we will be adding more: Hodu La'Adonai - https://youtu.be/zXkO24MiWZw  Hine Lo Yanum - https://youtu.be/TTQoRNbIPFA  On Your Walls O Jerusalem - https://youtu.be/9yDt8B170N4  Ma Navu - https://youtu.be/omZ7OyfT5uM Go Through the Gates - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL6JMC4Ixb8 

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