VFI News October 26, 2021

Barry's got the latest updates you've been waiting for - today, we're talking about the recent shaking (physical & spiritual) in Israel and the neighboring countries. God is shaking the earth!

#israel #themiddleast #israelipolitics #joebiden #proisrael

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The Israeli Air Force will begin practicing for a strike on Iran’s nuclear program beginning next year, having set aside funding and updated its training schedule for the mission, The Times of Israel has learned.

In light of growing uncertainty regarding a return by Iran to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, amid long-stalled negotiations with the United States, the Israel Defense Forces in recent months has ramped up its efforts to prepare a credible military threat against Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

Following the signing of the JCPOA in 2015, Israel put the issue of a military strike on the Iranian nuclear program on the back burner, allowing the IDF to invest its resources into other areas. But following the US abrogation of the nuclear deal in 2018 and Iran’s subsequent violations of the agreement since then — which picked up considerably ahead of and during the stalled talks — the matter has taken on renewed importance to Israel, which sees an Iranian nuclear bomb as a near existential threat.

In the beginning of this year, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi announced he had instructed the military to begin drawing up fresh attack plans, and last week the government reportedly allocated billions of shekels toward making those plans viable.

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that “Iran’s nuclear program has hit a watershed moment, and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning… We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”

Some aspects of the IAF’s strike plan, which is still in the “draft” stage, could be ready within a short period of time, while others would take more than a year to be fully actionable. Preparing for such a strike has become a top priority for the Israeli Air Force and making the necessary preparations has required changes to its training schedule.

In addition to having to find ways to strike Iranian facilities that are buried deep underground, requiring specialized munitions and tactics, the Israeli Air Force will have to deal with increasingly sophisticated Iranian air defenses in order to conduct such a strike. The air force will also have to prepare for an expected retaliation against Israel by Iran and its allies throughout the region. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you protect Israel from nuclear weapons and nuclear war.”

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 US military killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar in a drone strike in Syria on Friday, October 22, a US Central Command spokesman said.

"The removal of this al Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks threatening US citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians," US Army Major John Rigsbee said in a written statement.

The strike comes two days after a US outpost in southern Syria was attacked. Rigsbee did not say if the US drone strike was carried out in retaliation. (JPost / VFI News)

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” -  Ephesians 6:11

Russia is attempting to disband a militia it formed, funded, and armed in southern Syria near the border with Israel over the past few years, a part of an ongoing reconciliation process in the province of Daraa.

The Russian military police demanded earlier this month that groups affiliated with the Eighth Brigade hand over their weapons to the command of the brigade, the London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi reported.

The leader of the group, which comprises mainly former opposition fighters, agreed two years ago to join the Syrian army with his 10,000-strong paramilitary.

But soldiers of the 8th brigade of the 5th corps of the Syrian Arab Army are not paid by Damascus, but rather by the Russians.

Reports have indicated they were not particularly loyal to the regime nor to its Iranian partners, and that Damascus and Tehran have long been unhappy with them.

Since last month, when a Russian-brokered ceasefire came into force in the Daraa province, reconciliation efforts have been ongoing to allow rebels who refuse to disarm to be evacuated.

The southern province of Daraa, held for years by opposition forces, was returned to government control in 2018 under a previous Moscow-backed ceasefire that had allowed rebels to stay in some areas.

With the 8th brigade expected to be entirely disarmed, Israel is reported to be keeping a close eye on the border area.

“This opens a wide door for the Iranians, for Hezbollah, for Assad’s forces… to complete a takeover of all this region near the [Israeli] Golan,” Channel 12 news Arab affairs analyst Ehud Ya’ari said Wednesday. (TOI / VFI News)

“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.” - Psalm 18:39

As tensions continue to rise between Iran and Israel, both countries are holding large-scale aerial exercises.

Israel and seven nations – Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India, Greece and the US – are participating in Blue Flag 2021, the largest and most advanced aerial exercise ever held in the Jewish state. This year’s drills will focus on the integration of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, including the F-35 Adir in complex operational scenarios, the Israeli military said.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi visited the drill on Thursday, October 21, and was informed of what was learned so far.

“This is an important and significant exercise, at both the strategic and tactical level,” he said, adding that “the unique cooperation with the air forces from around the world is an expression of the strategic state of the State of Israel.”

The exercise will focus on “broadening and enhancing the operational capabilities of the participating forces,” with a focus on air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks, as well as evading ground-based air defense systems “and various operational scenarios in enemy territory,” the army said.

The two-week drill which is taking place in the Negev desert out of Uvda Airbase marks the first time that a British fighter squadron has been deployed to Israel since the establishment of the state as well as the first time that India has sent a Mirage fighter squadron to Israel and that France has deployed a Rafael squadron to the Jewish state.

Israel Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin, who took part in a symbolic flyover over Jerusalem alongside his German counterpart Lt.-Gen. Ingo Gerhartz last week, said that the threats posed to Israel continue to increase and that the drill is a “stepping stone” toward cooperation with other countries in the region.

“We are living in a very complicated region, and the threats to the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran are only increasing," he said. "Holding an international exercise in this current reality, while continuing our public and covert operational activities on all fronts, is of utmost strategic importance and has an extensive impact over the Israeli Air Force, the IDF and the State of Israel."

"This exercise is groundbreaking in terms of technology, quality of training, and the number of participating nations. It illustrates the partnership and strong bond between the nations' air forces and acts as a stepping-stone toward regional and international cooperation,” Norkin said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Air Force kicked off Modafe’an Aseman-e Velayat 1400 (Guardians of ‘Velayat Sky’ 1400) on Thursday, which is aimed at testing the capabilities of the Islamic Republic’s Air Force.

According to the Iranian Fars News Agency, the drill will see the use of indigenous and upgraded systems and weapons, including heavy and semi-heavy smart bombs, all kinds of laser, television, thermal, radar missiles, rockets and bombs. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you strengthen Your people and advance the cause of peace in Israel.”

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

Israel will begin allowing tourists who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus into the country starting November 1, the Prime Minister's Office announced Thursday, October 21.

Tourists will be allowed from all countries except 'red' countries and countries which are seeing an outbreak of the new AY4.2 variant. Six cases of the AY4.2 variant have been discovered in Israel so far.

The first case to have been discovered in Israel was that of an eleven-year-old boy who had recently returned from Moldova and was already in quarantine when his test came back positive.

On Wednesday, October 20, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a consultation with senior government and ministry figures on ways to combat the spread of the new mutation. The Prime Minister stressed that developments must be closely monitored and acted upon quickly.

Bennett ordered that each case of the new strain in Israel be focused upon with an increased epidemiological investigation. It was also decided to contact countries in which the variant exists, in order to clarify and share information. (INN / 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

Israel and the UAE signed a historic space exploration and cooperation agreement last Wednesday, October 20, at ‘World Space Week’, part of 2020 Expo Dubai.

Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Orit Farkash, and the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri signed the historic agreement together at Expo 2020’s World Space Week, held throughout this week in Dubai.

Alongside the umbrella agreement, two other specific cooperation projects were signed: one on the 'Beresheet 2' moon mission and the other on groundbreaking scientific research based on the Israeli-French satellite ‘Venus’ and its data.

The Beresheet 2 is Israel's second attempt at launching a lunar mission. The first – named 'Beresheet' after the first word in the Torah meaning "in the beginning" – was launched in 2019 with the goal of landing on the surface of the moon, making Israel just the fourth country on the planet to attempt a moon landing.

The agreement pertaining to the Israeli-French ‘Venus’ satellite will examine phenomena related to Earth resources, precision agriculture, desertification, and monitoring of bodies of water, among other research. By constantly examining the earth, the satellite will analyze agriculture, desertification, water monitoring, and climate change– issues common both to Israel and the Emirates.

In addition, the two will promote a project with the participation of Arab and Jewish students from both countries. The project began as an educational initiative for Arab and Jewish students of the 'Nazareth Space Center' to study satellite engineering and astronomy, and is now being promoted between the two countries as they attempt to determine the exact timing of the moon's birth.

After the two nations reached a historic peace deal just last year, this marks the fifteenth agreement in a row since the establishment of peace between the two countries. “It would be wonderful if we could develop a space program that would be a combination of Israel and the Arab world,” SpaceIL’s chairman Morris Kahn told the Global Investment Forum in Dubai on Wednesday. “I would welcome it – if it fits in with the program the Emirates have. They have an ambitious program.” (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we thank You for allowing us to explore Your creations. Please bless Your children as they depart on this mission.”

Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer signed a memorandum of understanding with Liberty Science Center (LSC) and broke new ground on Friday, October 22, in New Jersey to develop a cutting-edge high-tech hospital simulation space called “SciTech Scity” that is designed to highlight the future of digital health and home healthcare.

“COVID gave us the opportunity to accelerate innovation and especially digital health solutions,” said Sheba’s CEO, Prof. Yitshak Kreiss. “We have much more in store.”

Phase I of SciTech Scity is scheduled to open in late 2023 or early 2024.

The “city of tomorrow” will be a full campus focused on developing world-changing science and technology companies and Sheba is the city’s first innovation partner and international tenant. Specifically, Sheba will transform one floor of the “city” into “Liberty ARC HealthSpace2030,” which will serve as a simulation space and leverage the expertise of its existing medical simulation center, and focus on advances in digital health and home healthcare.

Technologies that will be harnessed include digital sensing and monitoring, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, and robotics.

Solutions will be focused on promoting healthy living, coping with chronic diseases at home and promoting health equity.

Kreiss said that participating in the center will “enable Sheba Medical Center to spur the digital healthcare revolution within the realm of ARC HealthSpace 2030, providing an engine of economic growth, as well as creating a myriad of cutting-edge healthcare options for the citizens of New Jersey and the metropolitan region.”

He added that “this is also an important development for the State of Israel, collaborating with our partners in New Jersey on ground-breaking medical innovation for the benefit of all.”

The feedback on all the technologies being piloted at Sheba and soon in SciTech Scity’s space will be shared with partner hospitals throughout North America and Europe, explained Dr. Eyal Zimlichman, chief medical officer and chief innovation officer at Sheba.

Specifically, there will be a focus on collaboration with Sheba ARC’s planned innovation center in Chicago that will host many Israeli startups. ARC Chicago technologies will be showcased in New Jersey, too.

Finally, the ARC should also assist the city in serving underserved communities in Jersey City and create jobs in the area, said LSC’s President and CEO Paul Hoffman. (JPost / VFI News)

I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.” - Jeremiah 33:6

The first-ever depiction of the Balm of Gilead, the exclusive perfume of Cleopatra and the Temple, may have been found in Jerusalem.

Inscribed on the 2000-year-old amethyst seal, which was worn as a ring, there appears a bird and next to it a branch that apparently depicts the famous plant. In ancient times, this expensive plant went by multiple names including biblical persimmon, bosem or balsam, and even the Balm of Gilead. This amethyst seal was discovered at the Foundation Stones of the Western Wall, north of the City of David. This may be the first depiction discovered in the entire world with an engraving of the famous plant.

This biblical persimmon plant, which is not at all related to the orange persimmon fruit that we are familiar with today, is known from biblical and historical sources and was used during the Second Temple Period as one of the more expensive ingredients for producing the Temple incense perfume, in addition to medicines and ointments.

According to the historian Josephus, Mark Antony gifted valuable persimmon orchards that formerly belonged to King Herod, to his beloved, Cleopatra.

Some commentators identify the persimmon in the list of gifts given by the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon.

This surprise discovery was found at the Emek Tzurim National Park operated by the City of David, where archaeological remains are sifted by volunteers and archaeologists. Participants were sifting soil from Israel Antiquities Authority excavations conducted along the foundation stones of the Western Wall, when they saw the 2,000-year-old tiny oval stone that served as a seal during the Second Temple Period. (INN / 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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