VFI News November 30, 2021

Record number of hate crimes against Jews and Christians in Europe, and a WARNING to America Barry's got the latest!

#israel #themiddleast #israelipolitics #iran #proisrael #antisemitism #borisjohnson #history

• 03:18 Hodu La’adonai - Barry & Batya Music
• 03:48 Herzog meets with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
• 05:49 Record number of hate crimes against Jews and Christians in Europe (edited)
• 07:38 Israeli Squash team could be banned from World Championships in Malaysia
• 08:06 Israeli 11-year-old girl finds coin dating back to the 1st Century
• 09:55 A warning to America

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A top US general said Iran has the ability to build a nuclear weapon in a very short time and that the US military is ready with other options to prevent this should diplomacy fail.

“Our president said they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of US Central Command, told TIME magazine in comments published Wednesday, November 24. “The diplomats are in the lead on this, but Central Command always has a variety of plans that we could execute, if directed.”

While other US officials have spoken in recent days of “other options” should efforts to bring Iran back to the nuclear deal fail, McKenzie’s comments were the clearest to date as regards an American military option.

Reports in recent days have indicated that both the US and Israel believe Iran has pushed far enough ahead with its illegal enrichment program that it could build a nuclear weapon within a matter of weeks to months, should it choose to do so.

The UN nuclear watchdog told member nations in its confidential quarterly report last week that Iran has an estimated stock of 17.7 kilograms (39 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, an increase of almost 8 kilograms since August. The highly enriched uranium is only a short technical step from becoming weapons-grade.

However, McKenzie said that Iran still did not have a weapon design small enough to fit on the top of a ballistic missile, nor did it have the technology for the warhead to survive re-entry from space.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken of “other options,” although negotiator for the JCPOA talks Rob Malley, in an interview this week with the US broadcaster NPR, made it clear the United States was thinking foremost of economic pressure.

Nevertheless, Malley warned that Washington would not “sit idly” if Iran delayed progress at the talks. (TOI / VFI News)

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 UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday, November 24, there had been "no progress" in talks with Tehran on disputes over the monitoring of Iran's atomic program.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a quarterly meeting of the agency's board that talks he held in Tehran on Tuesday, November 23, were "inconclusive" despite being "constructive", according to the AFP news agency.

Grossi had sought to tackle constraints put on IAEA inspections earlier this year, outstanding questions over the presence of undeclared nuclear material at sites in Iran, and the treatment of IAEA staff in the country.

"In terms of the substance... we were not able to make progress," Grossi told reporters, saying that the lack of agreement had come "in spite of my best efforts".

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told Iranian television his team "tried until the last moment" but there is still work to be done.

Iran said last week it had invited Grossi for talks after he expressed concern over a lack of contact with Iranian authorities.

Days before the invitation, the IAEA chief said it was “astonishing” that he has had no contact with the new Iranian government over several important outstanding issues since it took office.

Grossi visited Iran in September, where he reached an agreement with the government over access to surveillance equipment at Iranian nuclear facilities.

His latest visit to Tehran came ahead of the scheduled resumption on Monday of negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

The United States said it was "disappointed" by the outcome of Grossi's visit and said it was ready to negotiate in Vienna.

"But of course Iran's failure to cooperate is a bad sign about their seriousness in a successful conclusion to our negotiations," a State Department spokesperson said. (INN / VFI News)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Israeli Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) on Monday, November 29, met the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, Elizabeth Truss, at the Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office in London.

At the start of his remarks, Lapid said, "I know that we are committed to the same goal – Iran will never be allowed to get a nuclear weapon."

"The Iranians are coming to these talks for only one reason - to get sanctions lifted," Lapid stressed. "They will play for time, earn billions from the removal of sanctions, continue to deceive the world, and covertly advance their nuclear program. This is what they have done in the past, and it is what they will do this time as well."

"The world must prevent this, and it can prevent this. Tighter sanctions. Tighter supervision. Conduct any talks from a position of strength.'

He added: "Foreign Secretary Truss and I signed today a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation between our countries. This is not only an agreement between close friends but between two technological superpowers. This MoU will lead to a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Israel. It will strengthen economic, security, technological and cultural ties between us.

"This agreement is not just a win-win, but a must-must," he concluded. (INN / VFI News)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6

The cabinet unanimously approved renewed immigration from Ethiopia from among the community of descendants of Jews, against the background of a severe civil war in the country.

The decision on Sunday, November 28, to approve the government resolution – which in effect is the ongoing implementation of a previous government resolution from 2015 – will initially bring 3,000 Ethiopians to Israel.

Should the number of eligible candidates for immigration exceed 3,000, the government would need to pass a new resolution to appropriate a separate budget for their immigration and absorption.

The budget allocated for the immigration and absorption of the first 3,000 immigrants totals NIS 570 million.

Under the terms of Sunday’s decision, those who comply with the terms of government resolution 716 from 2015 and who have first-degree relatives in Israel – either a parent, child or sibling – will be able to immigrate. Resolution 716 called for bringing all remaining members of this group to Israel, and 4,500 have arrived since then.

Those eligible for immigration now will be allowed to bring with them their spouses, minor-age children, and unmarried adult children.

Someone whose parents came to Israel and died here will also be allowed to immigrate. (JPost / VFI News)

For the people of Bethlehem, Coronavirus has hit hard. Between travel restrictions, closures, and mounting bills—people have been hurting. But thanks to your heroic support, we’re able to provide vital assistance to people in need this Christmas—regardless of their background or religious affiliation.

A special form of radiation known as millimeter waves can kill 99% of corona and polioviruses from surfaces within two seconds, new research from scientists at Ariel University has shown. The results can have important implications on how to disinfect environments and equipment in a fast and efficient way.

“Our laboratory focuses on electromagnetic radiation sources,” said Prof. Moshe Einat from the Department of Electrical Engineering, and a co-author of the study recently published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters. “This type of radiation operates in the millimeter-wave regime, which means that they have a wavelength of about three millimeters. Just for comparison, the radiation from a cellphone has a wavelength of about 30 centimeters, and that from a microwave of about 12 centimeters.”

Millimeters waves have many applications. In the medical field, preliminary research has shown that they can be very effective in targeting tumors and killing cancerous cells. In addition, they can be used to transfer energy and electricity without using wires, as well as in the manufacturing process of unique materials such as synthetic diamonds.

It does not appear that the technology can currently target the virus in the human body, “but it can be very useful for rooms, equipment and all forms of surfaces that need to be clear from any virus and coronavirus specifically,” said Garlitz, lead author of the study.

According to Garlitz, the big advantage offered by millimeter waves is that they can disinfect a surface very fast.

“Other methods currently used for this purpose, like UV radiation, take minutes and sometimes even a full hour, and in addition, they might be toxic for humans, which makes the disinfection process very impractical,” he said. “With our technique, we have cleared almost 99.9% of the virus within two seconds.”

The radiation is also very gentle on the surfaces, neither heating them nor affecting them and therefore can be used on delicate surfaces such as electronic equipment.

The scientists also tried the same technology with the poliovirus and obtained similar results. (JPost / VFI News)

You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. - Exodus 23:25

The Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) is examining the characteristics of the Omicron variant in its national safety laboratories at the request of the Health Ministry, the Defense Ministry told The Jerusalem Post.

The institute will use samples from one of the verified cases in the country or work to bring in samples in a controlled manner for abroad. So far, only two Israelis have been confirmed to be carrying the variant.

IIBR spearheaded the creation of a coronavirus vaccine candidate that is expected to remain effective against new variants, research has shown.

Earlier this month, the Post reviewed reports that showed via neutralizing antibody tests performed in the IIBR lab that the vaccine’s antibodies maintain their neutralization capacity against all four major viral strains: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta.

The data was submitted for peer review by The New England Journal of Medicine.

BriLife is being managed by the American pharmaceutical company NRx, which in July signed an agreement with the Defense Ministry to help fast-track the vaccine. The company, which is traded on Nasdaq, was given exclusive worldwide development, manufacturing and marketing rights.

The BriLife vaccine, in contrast, is a vector-based vaccine. It takes the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and genetically engineers it so that it will express the spike protein of the novel coronavirus on its envelope.

Once injected, it does not cause a disease by itself. VSV does not harm humans; instead, the body recognizes the spike protein that is expressed on the envelope and begins to develop an immunological response. The vaccine will initially be delivered by traditional injection.

“The BriLife vaccine differs from other COVID-19 vaccines by presenting the entire COVID-19 spike protein to the body’s immune system,” NRx explained in a release in August. “It also differs from other COVID-19 vaccine approaches in that it is a self-propagating, live-virus vaccine in which the spike protein of the vaccine appears to evolve in a manner consistent with the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in nature.

“Thus, while variants may arise that support manual enrichment of the vaccine against those specific variants, the vaccine itself may continue to evolve in a manner that provides ongoing protection against variants,” the release said.

It is too early to know if BriLife would be equally as effective against the Omicron variant, but such tests will be conducted, the Post confirmed.

While Pfizer is also still testing the effectiveness of its vaccine against Omicron and would likely only know more in the next two weeks, the Health Ministry said on Sunday that the variant is not expected to cause severe disease among those who are vaccinated. (JPost / VFI News)

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. - 3 John 1:2

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday, November 28, decried anti-Semitism in a video message released in honor of the first night of Hanukkah.

“The very happiest of Hanukkahs to everyone who’s lighting the menorah this week, and for the Jewish community, it’s time to fry some latkes, spin some dreidels and remember the triumph of Judah and his band of Maccabees, who didn’t have the numbers in their favor but who came out on top thanks to a tactical nous and a rock-solid belief in the righteousness of their cause,” said Johnson.

Hanukkah, he added, “is a great opportunity to celebrate our fantastic Jewish community and all they bring to British life and to reflect on what we all need to do to preserve that. Because the Seleucids weren’t the first to try to erase Judaism, they certainly and tragically, weren’t the last.”

“This Hanukkah let’s all light a candle for our Jewish friends and family, neighbors and colleagues, and together let’s drive away the darkness of anti-Semitism, not just for the next eight days, but every day. Chag Sameach,” concluded Johnson. (INN / VFI News)

“God, we thank You for Your blessings and we celebrate You this Hanukkah.”

A lead projectile dating back to the times of the Maccabees was discovered by the Civil Administration’s Archaeological Department on Sunday, November 28.

The 3 cm projectile carries the name of Diodotus Tryphon, a Hellenist king who reigned over the Seleucid Empire from 142-138 BC.

A symbol representing Zeus, the ancient Greek religion's king of the gods, is also etched onto the projectile.

The projectile was discovered at Zif, an archaeological site in South Hebron Hills.

Tryphon is known for the assassination of Jonathan, one of Mattathias' sons, Judah Maccabee's successor as leader of the Maccabees and High Priest of Judea.

Jonathan was the younger brother of Judah Maccabee, who led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in 167-160 BC after King Antiochus IV Epiphanes issued decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice.

After restoring Jewish worship at the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem, leading to its rededication — Which is celebrated on Hanukkah — Judah Maccabee appointed Jonathan as High Priest. He eventually became Maccabee's army commander following the death of Judah.

"We continue to discover new findings that add to the rich history that took place in the West Bank hundreds and thousands of years ago," said Civil Administration Archaeological Department officer Hananya Hizmi. (JPost / VFI News)

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

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