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VFI News January 22, 2021

Joe Biden Sworn in as 46th President of The United States

Joe Biden called his inauguration day “America’s day” as he was sworn in as US president on Wednesday, saying the time had come to end the “uncivil war” and unite the country.

Shortly before noon, under heavy security arrangements and with minimal in-person attendance due to the deadly global novel coronavirus pandemic, Biden took the oath of office “to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” becoming the 46th president of the US.

Kamala Harris was sworn in as the 49th vice president. She is the first woman, the first black person, and the first South Asian person to serve in the role.

“Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and I ask every American to join me in this cause,” said Biden in his inaugural address. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you work Your will through this new administration.”

Netanyahu Wishes Biden 'The Greatest Success'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated incoming President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on his inauguration on Wednesday.

Netanyahu referred to his "warm friendship going back many decades" with the new president.

"I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister wished Biden "the greatest success."

"God bless the United States of America. God bless Israel," he added. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you continue to build friendship and trust between Israel and the United States.”

US-UAE Arms Deal Signed an Hour Before Biden Takes Office

The United Arab Emirates has signed an agreement with the United States to purchase 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 armed drones, people familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday.

Although the UAE and the United States were working to ink a deal before President Joseph Biden took office on Wednesday, the new president has said he will re-examine the agreements.

The UAE, one of Washington's closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize relations with Israel last August, which was later finalized on September 15 as part of the Abraham Accords. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you continue to foster peace and friendship among the nations.”

Biden Administration to Engage with Israel, Gulf States on Iran Policy

Anthony Blinken, US President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, said that when it comes to Iran policy, it is vitally important that the incoming administration “engage on the takeoff, not the landing, with our allies and with our partners in the region, to include Israel and to include the Gulf countries.”

Blinken, addressing a question from Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, was under scrutiny as part of his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

“President-elect Biden is committed to the proposition that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said. “Iran with a nuclear weapon, or on a threshold of having one, would be Iran that is even more dangerous than it already is when it comes to all of the other malicious activities that it has engaged in, whether it is support for terrorism; whether it is fueling and feeding its proxies; whether it is destabilizing the region.” (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you keep us all safe from the threat of nuclear war.”

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Secretary of State-Designate: Jerusalem is Israel's Capital, the Embassy Will Remain There

Antony Blinken, US President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, said at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday that the Biden administration would not move the US embassy from Jerusalem.

Blinken, who spoke to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was asked by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) if he believes that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and if the Biden administration will keep the US Embassy there.

Blinken replied “yes” to both questions.

Trump moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May of 2018, fulfilling his campaign promise to do so. The move angered the Palestinian Authority, which last year submitted a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for legal action against the US over the embassy relocation. (INN / VFI News)

Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. - Psalm 122:3-5

US Ambassador to Israel Bids Farewell with Trip to Western Wall

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman completed his tenure Wednesday evening in a visit to the Western Wall at Jerusalem's Old City.

He was greeted by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, and Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

Eliav presented Friedman with the most recent archaeological findings from the Western Wall Tunnels.

Friedman came full circle, as when he began his role as ambassador, landing in Israel in May of 2017, his first act was to pray at the Western Wall.

During his time visiting the holy site, Friedman recited a Psalm of thanks in front of the Western Wall stones and spoke of the importance of Israel to him, particularly Jerusalem, in addition to his accomplishment while serving as ambassador. (JPost / VFI News)

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:20-22

Israel's Stormy Weather Reaches Mid-Week Peak

The wintery storm that began at the beginning of the week continued on Wednesday with an expected peak throughout the day, and rain, thunderstorms, and even hail in northern Israel expected.

Mount Hermon saw snowfall already due to the storm, as did the northern Golan Heights, and other hilltops in the north and center of the country that are over 900 meters high are expected to see snowfall as well.

There is still a concern over possible flooding throughout the day in the rivers in the south and east Israel, and temperatures throughout the Jewish state will be far colder than usual. (JPost / VFI News)

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” - Isaiah 1:18

Ancient ‘Christ, Born of Mary’ Inscription Unearthed in Northern Israel

A 1,500-year-old Greek inscription bearing the name “Christ, born of Mary” was unearthed in northern Israel, the Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday.

The archaeologists discovered the inscription engraved at the entrance of an impressive building from the Byzantine or early Islamic period, featuring mosaic pavements decorated with a geometric design.

The finding was unveiled in a salvage excavation directed by Tzachi Lang and Kojan Haku ahead of the construction of a road inside the village of Taiba in the Jezreel Valley. (JPost / VFI News)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14