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VFI News May 3, 2022

Iran increased military - VFI News

Iran increased military spending in the past year & Israel issues Cyber warning ahead of Jerusalem Day and more. Watch Barry for more!

  • 00:54 - Moody’s upgrades Israel to A1 Credit Rating
  • 01:08 - IDF fires shells into Lebanon
  • 02:17 - Iran increased military spending in the past year
  • 03:28 - Israel issues Cyber warning ahead of Jerusalem Day
  • 04:12 - At Cairo Summit Middle East Leaders discuss Jerusalem tensions
  • 06:37 - Death Threats to Jews chanted openly in the UK
  • 08:17 - Half of all Israelis fear a second Holocaust
  • 09:52 - Bennet & Lapid congratulate Macron on French Election win

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Hamas’s Sinwar Threatens a ‘Regional, Religious War’ if Al-Aqsa is Again ‘Violated’

In a speech Saturday night, April 30, filled with murderous threats and denunciations of Israel, Hamas’s Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar said the terror group “will not hesitate to take any steps” if Israel violates the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“Our people must prepare for a great battle if the occupation does not cease its aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Sinwar said.

“Violating Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem means a regional, religious war,” he said.

Gesturing at a photo behind him of Israeli police inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sinwar threatened violence against synagogues around the world if the action were repeated.

“Whoever makes the decision to allow this photo to be repeated, the violation of Al-Aqsa — he has decided to allow the violation of thousands of synagogues all across the world,” Sinwar said. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we ask that You protect Israel and Your children from violence.”

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 Backs All Groups That Are Ready to Fight Israel

Iranian officials threatened Israel on Friday, April 29, as thousands of Iranians marched in Tehran to mark "Al-Quds Day," The Associated Press reported.

Friday was the first time such marches were held since before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Al-Quds Day was declared in 1979 by Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Iranian Revolution. It is marked throughout the Middle East and in countries around the world, including the United States.

During Al-Quds Day, rallies are held around the world and are used to incite against Israelis and Jews.

Demonstrators chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" and set fire to American, British, and Israeli flags during Friday’s rally, according to AP.

Iranian state TV later showed a variety of ballistic missiles on display at the rally, describing them as "Israel hitters."

The head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary force, known as the Quds force, said that Iran backs all groups ready to fight Israel.

"We support any front that is formed against this criminal regime, and we will support any community that is ready to fight this criminal regime," Gen. Esmail Ghaani said at a speech in the northeastern city of Mashhad. (INN / VFI News)

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. - Psalm 25:22

Ahead of Memorial Day: 24,068 Fallen IDF Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism

Ahead of Memorial Day, which begins on Tuesday night, May 3, the Ministry of Defense publishes the number of fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terrorism from 1860 to the present day: 24,068.

From Memorial Day last year and until today, 56 people have been added to the tally, as well as another 84 handicapped people who died as a result of their disability and were recognized during the year as IDF casualties.

The Department of Families and Commemoration at the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for the Memorial Day events, has completed the preparation of the 52 military cemeteries, the Memorial Monument to the Bedouin Warriors at Hamovil junction, hundreds of military burial plots, and thousands of graves scattered in various localities from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat. The works included renovation, accessibility, maintenance, cleaning, landscaping as well as polishing and replacing damaged or old tombstones. In recent weeks, the department's employees have initiated calls to the bereaved families in preparation for Memorial Day, in order to provide any assistance they may need. (INN / VFI News)

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. - Romans 14:8

More Mariupol Residents Died in Russian Invasion than Under Nazi Occupation

"In two months, the Russian army killed twice as many people in Mariupol than the Nazis did in the two years of occupying the city during World War II," said Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko in a Telegram message on Saturday, April 30.

"In two years, the Nazis killed 10,000 civilians in Mariupol. And the Russian occupiers in two months killed more than 20 thousand Mariupol residents. More than 40,000 people were forcibly deported. This is one of the worst genocides of civilians in modern history. The Russian army is purposefully and ruthlessly destroying our city and its inhabitants," he continued.

The United Nations is conducting a "safe passage operation" for civilians from the Azovstal steelworks in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Sunday.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that about 100 people were being evacuated.

Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant, which has served as the last bastion for pro-Ukraine fighters, has been shown to be "significantly destroyed" by Russian attacks. Photos show damaged roofs and buildings reduced to rubble. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that You protect the people of Ukraine from the Russian invaders and that You would lead them to safety.”

True Faith. Incredible Hardship.

Ambushed and stoned by terrorists. In self-defense, he responded by shooting at the ground to drive them away. A few years later, in 2002, Boaz tragically lost his wife and 3 of their children in a separate terror attack. Still, Boaz is such an inspiration to us—having lived through tragedies that most of us will never experience, yet keeping an optimistic and positive outlook on life.

Israeli Population at 9.5 million Ahead of 74th Independence Day

Just ahead of the celebration of Israel’s 74th anniversary, the population of the Jewish state stands at 9,506,000, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) announced Sunday, May 1.

That includes nearly 7.02 million Jews, accounting for 73.9 percent of the population; 2 million Arabs, just over one-fifth of the population; and 478,000 members of other groups, amounting to 5% of the population. About 79% of Israel’s Jews are native-born.

Since last year’s Independence Day, 191,000 babies were born, 55,000 people died, and 38,000 people immigrated to the country, according to CBS. A considerable percentage of the immigrants who have arrived in the past year are from Ukraine, Russia, and surrounding areas.

This was the largest number of new immigrants to reach Israel’s shores in 20 years, according to the Jewish Agency, the quasi-governmental organization tasked with encouraging and facilitating immigration to Israel.

Roughly half of the 38,000 immigrants came from Ukraine and Russia, overwhelmingly in the last two months since Moscow launched its invasion. The remaining 19,000 or so immigrants came from the United States, France, Belarus, Argentina, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Canada, among other countries, the Jewish Agency said.

“Every Jew and Jewess who immigrates to Israel contributes to the resilience of the state and the strength of Israeli society,” the acting chairman of the Jewish Agency said in a statement.

Overall, the Israeli population increased by some 176,000 people, amounting to a 1.9% rise. (TOI / VFI News)

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” - Exodus 19:5-6

Israel, UAE to Collaborate on Beresheet 2 Moon Mission

Israeli space company SpaceIL signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to cooperate on a joint mission to the moon in 2024, according to the Technion UK.

The mission, called Beresheet 2 in a reference to the Book of Genesis, is one of many new collaborations between the two countries following the signing of the Abraham Accords normalization agreement.

It follows the original Beresheet spacecraft launch in 2019, which failed when the craft crash-landed.

SpaceIL called the Beresheet 2 mission "the first scientific-technological project to create a common history for the two peoples: the flags of Israel and the Emirates on the moon," adding that “it is about creating a model for cooperation between the two peoples in many aspects — technological, scientific and educational – which will deepen the connection between the countries and serve as inspiration for further cooperation between Israel and all Arab countries.”

"The company is committed to promoting science and science education, as well as regional peace via cooperation with "peace-loving and space-seeking countries,” SpaceIL CEO Shimon Sarid said.

The mission is projected to cost $100 million and would be the first double moon landing in the same mission and the launch of the smallest spacecraft ever, according to Technion UK, which it says is the leading British organization promoting education, science, and technology through the support of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Public Research University in Haifa.

One of the orbiters will remain in space for five years so that scientific research can continue, the Technion added. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that You give wisdom to the scientists who are working for the good of Your people.”

Israeli Tech Firm Says it Can Delete Your Digital Footprint

Three young Israelis formerly serving in military cyber units have figured out how to locate your digital footprint — and give you the tools to delete it.

The company Mine, co-founded by Gal Ringel, Gal Golan, and Kobi Nissan, says it uses artificial intelligence to show users where their information is being stored — like whether an online shoe store kept your data after a sneaker purchase three years ago.

Ringel said Mine’s technology has already been used by one million people worldwide, with over 10 million “right to be forgotten” requests sent to companies using the firm’s platform.

Mine launched after the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — now an international reference point — set out key rights for users, including the deletion of personal data that was shared with a site for a limited purpose.

The company’s AI technology scans the subject lines of users’ emails and flags where data is being stored.

Individuals can then decide which information they want deleted and use Mine’s email template to execute their right to be forgotten. (TOI / VFI News)

Eight-Year-Old Israeli Wins European Chess Championship

Noam Sason from Ganei Tikva won on Friday, April 29, the European school chess championship for children under 9 years of age in Rhodes, Greece.

Sason, 8, won the top spot for his age group after a long match with a player from Turkey. He won seven out of nine games in the championship against competitors from Turkey, Greece, Georgia, Romania, and Ukraine.

The player from the club “Chess4All” adds the championship to a growing list of accomplishments.

By the end of 2019, Sason won the Israeli championship for the under-6 group by winning six out of six matches.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of 2020, Sason won first place in an international competition for children under age 8 in southern England.

Chess4All is an Israeli organization that encourages children to learn the game of chess as well as its culture and to develop learning and decision-making skills while mastering the game. (TOI / VFI News)

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

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

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