VFI News May 13, 2022

Israel has reportedly told foreign allies that it is readying teams to carry out the targeted killing of leaders of the Hamas terrorist group who live abroad in retaliation for a wave of deadly terror attacks.

While Hamas has not taken responsibility for most of the attacks since March 22 that have left 19 people in Israel and the West Bank dead, the group’s Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar has repeatedly called for Palestinians to assault Israelis and the group has publicly praised the perpetrators, encouraging more attacks.

However, the terror group did claim responsibility for an attack that killed a security officer guarding the West Bank settlement of Ariel last month.

While some Israeli legislators and pundits have advocated killing Sinwar in response to the current terror wave, which he has urged on from the coastal enclave, officials are wary of carrying out targeted killings in Gaza or the West Bank for fear it could spark rocket fire on Israeli towns and cities. However, any potential targeted killings are more likely to take place in other countries in the region where Hamas leaders live, with Lebanon and Qatar given as examples.

Targets could include Saleh al-Arouri, a deputy leader of the terror group who splits his time between Qatar, Turkey, and Lebanon and is in charge of West Bank operations. (TOI/ VFI News)

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. - Proverbs 21:31

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.

The Israeli embassy in New Delhi has been on high alert in recent weeks amid “serious” fears of a possible terror attack by Iran-backed perpetrators. Security measures have been tightened in areas surrounding the embassy in the Indian capital and nearby streets have been outfitted with surveillance cameras and subject to increased security patrols.

The security alerts are “serious” as the embassy in New Delhi has become one of several “likely targets” for Iran-affiliated militias.

Indian police and counter-terror forces recently conducted a security drill to prepare for a possible attack where streets around the diplomatic mission were blocked, and gunfire and explosions could be heard.

This comes just a week after Israel’s Mossad spy agency foiled a recent Iranian attempt to assassinate an Israeli diplomat working at the consulate in Istanbul. In addition to the Israeli worker at the consulate, an American general stationed in Germany and a journalist in France were also targeted in the plot. (TOI/ VFI News)

“God, we ask that you protect Your people no matter where they are in the world.”

Israel doesn't need permission from the United States to build in West Bank settlements, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told reporters in the Knesset.

"Israel is a sovereign state and does not ask for permission to operate in its territory," Lapid said.

He spoke amid the latest diplomatic row between Israel and the United States over the Higher Planning Council for Judea and Samaria's meeting on Thursday to advance and approve plans for 3,988 settler homes.

The US had asked Israel not to advance the plans, given its stiff opposition to any Israeli settlement construction.

"We always update the Americans" when it comes to settlement construction. He clarified that this was not the same thing needing their approval. However, to offset US anger regarding the move, Israel cut back on the scope of the plans by some 1,800-2,000 units.

US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides and Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as State Department spokesman Ned Price have stated many times that they believe such settlement activity harms the possibility of creating a two-state resolution to the conflict.

When asked about tension with the US on this matter, Lapid said, that if the advancement of plans for 3,988 settler homes had "international consequences - it is my job to deal with them and I will deal with them.” (JPost/ VFI News)

“Lord, we pray that Your will be done and that building new homes for the growing population of Israel will continue without pressure from foreign countries.”

The UN atomic energy watchdog chief said Tuesday, May 10, that he was “extremely concerned” about Iran’s lack of cooperation as the EU seeks to unblock talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Talks between world powers and Iran have stalled since mid-March as negotiators seek to return to the landmark accord that curtailed the Islamic republic’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is “trying to clarify a number of still open matters with Iran,” IAEA head Rafael Grossi told a European Parliament committee.

“I am referring to the fact that we, in the last few months, were able to identify traces of enriched uranium in places that had never been declared by Iran as places where any activity was taking place,” he said.

“The situation does not look very good. Iran, for the time being, has not been forthcoming in the kind of information we need from them… We are extremely concerned about this,” he said.

EU diplomat Enrique Mora, who chairs the negotiations, said he was on his way to Tehran Tuesday as the United States — which is seeking to come back to the deal that GOP then-president Donald Trump unilaterally left in 2018 — voiced hope for progress.

Mora tweeted he would hold talks with Ali Bagheri, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, and other officials. “Work on closing the remaining gaps of this negotiation continues,” he said. (TOI/VFI News)

“God, we ask that You bring Your peace to the world, and stop the terrorism and hatred that plagues it now.”

This compelling passage is from Isaiah 61:10a, communicating thanks to a merciful God, for His salvific work. It reads: "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness...“ Let this be a meditative reminder to you of all the blessings He bestows upon His beloved children.

Germany’s leading airline, Lufthansa, issued a public apology on Tuesday, May 10, after dozens of passengers, whose appearance clearly showed them to be Jewish, were not allowed to board a flight in Frankfurt last Wednesday because some of them allegedly did not comply with COVID-19 mask rules.

“Lufthansa regrets the circumstances surrounding the decision to exclude affected passengers from the flight, for which Lufthansa sincerely apologizes,” said the statement. “While Lufthansa is still reviewing the facts and circumstances of that day, we regret that the large group was denied boarding rather than limiting it to the non-compliant guests.”

Some passengers on a flight from New York to Frankfurt had not complied with COVID-19 masking mandates, including some of the identifiably Jewish passengers traveling to visit the tomb of Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir in Hungary. Jewish passengers had also reportedly irritated the flight crew by praying in the plane’s aisles.

“We confirm that a larger group of passengers could not be carried yesterday on Lufthansa flight LH1334 from Frankfurt to Budapest because the travelers refused to wear the legally mandated mask (medical mask) on board,” Lufthansa said.

After the flight from New York had landed in Frankfurt, the Jewish passengers waited to board their connecting flight – only for the passengers, who were visibly Jewish, to be allegedly singled out and denied boarding. Lufthansa reportedly identified many of the Jewish passengers as part of a large travel group, reportedly punishing them collectively.

“I’m not with the group,” one Jewish traveler said in a video of the incident. “Is this a Lufthansa decision that all Jewish people that were on the flight can’t get on any flight today – because this is 2022 and this is a Western country and this has to go up to upper management.”

A Lufthansa representative explained to the Jewish passenger that everyone had to pay for the action of the other passengers. Non-Jewish passengers reportedly faced no such denial to board, despite allegedly also flouting masking requirements.

“Jewish people who were the mess, they made the problems,” said the representative.

"Lufthansa's 'apology' makes no mention of the fact that it was Jews specifically who were denied boarding the plane," noted the American Jewish Committee.

"This 'apology' is a cop-out," a report pointed out. “It calls the denied passengers a large group, when in fact there were several dozen Jews on the flight who were denied boarding, despite not being part of any group! This apology skirts the primary issue of racial profiling by Lufthansa employees." (JPost/ VFI News)

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! - Psalm 31:15

Jewish groups on Monday, May 9, called on Florida officials to condemn an incident where protesters outside Disney World flew swastika flags and yelled slogans at people entering the amusement park.

The Anti-Defamation League called it “an abhorrent display of antisemitism.”

“At a time when incidents of anti-Jewish hate are at their highest, it is incumbent upon all in positions of power and leadership to condemn this bigotry,” the group said.

The Florida Holocaust Museum also slammed the incident and called for action.

“It’s a sad day for humanity when even Disney World – the ‘happiest place on earth’ – is not immune to blatant antisemitism,” the museum said in a statement.

Some reports said that the protesters also had an American flag and a sign that said “DeSantis Country.” Disney is currently embroiled in a dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis has been criticized for his handling of previous Nazi protests in his state. He declined to specifically condemn a Nazi rally in February, instead, attacking Democrats for attempting to smear him in connection with the small gathering that saw two dozen people in Orlando waving swastikas, stomping on Israeli flags, and yelling antisemitic epithets at passersby. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you remove antisemitism and hatred from the world, protect the Jewish people in the diaspora and stop the evil acts of the enemy.”

Israeli egg producers are rife with health and safety concerns, sparking fears of sanitation problems and the possible spread of zoonotic diseases, according to the State Comptroller’s Report.

The situation was especially bad in the North, where chicken coops were found to host severe diseases at a much higher rate than the rest of the country, the report said Tuesday, May 10.

There was a large outbreak of bird flu in Israel late last year. It was likely brought to the country by migratory birds and spread throughout chicken coops in the North. The Agriculture Ministry was forced to cull about one million birds in poultry farms throughout the country.

It was necessary because bird flu is a zoonotic disease, meaning it could have made the jump from animals to humans; in fact, this has occurred in several countries worldwide already.

On average, Israeli chicken coops produce 2.2 billion eggs each year. However, 94% of all hens laying the eggs are housed in cage coops. In light of the recent mass recall caused by salmonella contamination, which is a zoonotic disease, there is a grave concern for public health. (JPost / VFI News)

The Church of England on Sunday, May 8, apologized for anti-Jewish laws that were passed 800 years ago and eventually led to the expulsion of Jews from the kingdom for hundreds of years.

A special service held at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford was attended by Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and representatives of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to mark the Synod of Oxford, passed in 1222.

The synod forbade social interactions between Jews and Christians, placed a specific tithe on Jews, and required them to wear an identifying badge. They were also banned from some professions and from building new synagogues. The decrees were followed by more anti-Jewish laws, and eventually the mass expulsion of England’s 3,000 Jews of the time in 1290. It would be another 360 years before Jews were permitted to return.

“Today’s service is an opportunity to remember, repent and rebuild,” Welby tweeted. “Let us pray it inspires Christians today to reject contemporary forms of anti-Judaism and antisemitism and to appreciate and receive the gift of our Jewish neighbors.”

“Our intention is for this commemoration to be a strong signal of such rich potential, reflected in the depth of interfaith encounter and service that increasingly exists in Oxford and across our society,” the Diocese of Oxford said in a statement ahead of the event. (TOI / VFI News)

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” - Mark 11:25

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

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