VFI News Jul 27, 2021

Israel will be joining the African Union as an observer state, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.

Israel’s ambassador to Addis Ababa, Aleleign Admasu, submitted Israel’s charter as an observer member to the 55-member continental organization.

“This is a day of celebration for Israel-Africa relations,” said Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. “This diplomatic achievement is the result of efforts by the Foreign Ministry, the African Division, and Israeli embassies on the continent.”

“This corrects the anomaly that existed for almost two decades,” Lapid continued, “and is an important part of strengthening of fabric of Israel’s foreign relations. This will help us strengthen our activities in the continent and in the organization’s member states.” (TOI/VFI News)

“God, we ask that you continue to support Israel and African ties, and promote continued diplomatic relations between Israel and the nations.”

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.

Israel is about to become the first country in the world to test the oral COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oramed Pharmaceuticals, the company's CEO Nadav Kidron said.

Oramed’s subsidiary, Oravax Medical, is gearing up to commence clinical trials of its vaccine at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv after receiving approval for its study protocol from the hospital’s Institutional Review Board. It is now waiting for approval from the Health Ministry, which is expected within a few weeks.

Oravax already completed GMP manufacturing in Europe of several thousand capsules that would be available for the Israeli trial and eventually in other countries.

Kidron said the new Oravax vaccine candidate targets three structural proteins of the novel coronavirus, as opposed to the single spike protein targeted by the current Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. As such, “this vaccine should be much more resistant to COVID-19 variants,” he said. “Even if the virus gets through one line, there is a second line, and if through the second line, there is a third.”

The vaccine is being tested in preclinical studies against COVID-19 variants, including the Delta one. (JPost/ VFI News)

“God, we ask that you guide doctors, nurses, and researchers as we continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke to the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Friday and sent him well-wishes for Eid al-Adha.

Bennett also thanked him for opening the UAE embassy in Israel and hosting Foreign Minister MK Yair Lapid when he visited.

He also underlined the importance of strategic relations between the two countries. (JPost / VFI News)

IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee on Thursday explained on Twitter what caused a mysterious explosion in Gaza City.

The explosion, which occurred Thursday morning in a civilian area with many stores, reportedly left one person dead and at least ten others wounded and caused a great deal of damage to stores and other buildings at the site.

According to Adraee, the Islamic Jihad terror group bears responsibility for the explosion in Gaza City's marketplace.

"We warned them in the past, but they did not wake up!" Adraee tweeted in Arabic. "This morning, an explosion of great force shook a weapons storehouse belonging to the Islamic Jihad terror group - in the heart of the al-Zawiya marketplace, in the center of Gaza City. The explosion caused deaths and injuries, as well as destruction of the site and a great deal of damage." (INN / VFI News)

“Lord, we pray that you would stop the acts of terror coming from Gaza. We pray that the funding that has been going to terror organizations would be stopped and that the funds will go towards rebuilding Gaza and will aid the people who need it.”

A group of 160 French Jews making Aliyah arrived in Israel Wednesday, on a special flight from Paris organized by The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

The new immigrants were accompanied by the Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata, who was returning from a tour of the Jewish community in France due to growing interest in Aliyah in that country.

According to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and The Jewish Agency, Israel has seen a 137% jump in the number of new immigrants from France so far during 2021 compared to the same period last year.

Although Aliyah during 2020 declined by almost 40% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a dramatic increase in the opening of new Aliyah files, including from France – where 6,053 files were opened compared to 2,475 in 2019.

Among the 160 immigrants who landed on Wednesday night were doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and marketing and media professionals, as well as 46 young people under the age of 18 who will enter the Israeli education system. (JPost/ VFI News)

“God, we ask that you watch over the new Olim, and provide them safety, security, and love in their new home.”

Street protests over water shortages spread from the oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province to a nearby area overnight where one youth was shot dead with pellet guns and seven were injured, a police official said, blaming "counter-revolutionaries."

"The people showed their displeasure, but we cannot really blame the people because the issue of water is not a small one especially in Khuzestan's hot climate," Khamenei was quoted by state TV as saying, about the protests.

At least one policeman and three young men had been shot dead in earlier protests. Officials have blamed "rioters," but activists said that the protesters were killed by security forces in Khuzestan on social media.

Amnesty International said on Friday at least eight people have been killed during the week-long crackdown. (JPost / VFI News)

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14

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. Follow the link and subscribe to their channel to stay immersed in the meaningful music of the Land.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Nj8CTAGFJZUVvSL-7iBBg

Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine has reportedly forfeited his place in the Olympics as he was told he would have to face Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

The two Judokas would have faced each other in the second round if both were to progress.

According to reports, Nourine said "we will not recognize the Israeli flag and we will not stain our hands with it" to Algerian media.

Tohar Butbul is set to face Sudanese Judoka Mohamed Abdalarasool in the first round. (JPost / VFI News)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:10

A year late due to, and in the shadow of COVID-19, the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games was held on Friday in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. The 32nd Olympics were supposed to take place in the summer of 2020 but were postponed after the outbreak of the virus. The games in Japan will be held without an audience and will end on August 8

The International Olympic Committee, which for years has vehemently opposed any memorial service in memory of Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics in Germany, arguing that politics should not be involved in sports, has for the first time ever approved a moment of silence in the athletes' memory.

After each previous Olympics, the Israeli delegation has held a memorial service at the Israeli ambassador's house in the country where the Olympic Games are held and not in the Olympic Village, due to opposition from the Olympic Committee. This time, the massacre by Arab terrorists was mentioned in the official opening ceremony. The Israeli delegation was in tears at the news that the International Olympic Committee would allow a ceremony in memory of the martyrs. (INN / VFI News)

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. - Isaiah 1:17

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

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