VFI News October 25, 2022

For those living in Israel, rocket attacks from Gaza are not uncommon. But in the towns of Ofakim, Netivot, and others in the south of Israel, the lack of shelters remains a huge problem. Most of the residents don’t have access to bomb shelters or safe rooms. During the recent Guardian of the Walls operation, a war that went on for 11 days, more than 4,360 rockets were fired at Israel. We were urgently contacted to help provide lifesaving equipment designed for these emergencies—specifically: mobile shelters. Watch as we deliver them, along with the hope of a safer future for their communities. Learn more about blessing Israel in practical ways, and how you can restore lives by spreading love and compassion, and by distributing humanitarian aid and disaster relief to those who need it most.

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the United States to reconsider a nuclear deal with Iran, as any funds could end up helping Russia sustain its invasion of Ukraine.

"I believe that we should place heavy sanctions on Iran, and those who advocate lifting the sanctions, which is what this nuclear deal would do if it ever gets signed, would bring hundreds of billions of dollars not only to Iran, but to Russia's coffers as well," Netanyahu told American media in an exclusive interview.

"So the people are saying, 'Let's take a tough stance against Russia' – [it’s] actually taking a soft stance when they are willing to lift the sanctions on Iran," added Netanyahu, who just released his memoir, "Bibi: My Story." "I'd be a lot more consistent on that."

Israel’s election in two weeks will decide whether Netanyahu will return as prime minister after he narrowly lost the seat two years ago to a coalition of opposition parties. Netanyahu says that he approaches an election "assuming" that he will lose, but current polls show a slight majority in his favor. Israelis will go to the polls on November 1st.

Netanyahu said that his first point of business, should he return as prime minister, would be to "complete the circle of peace" he started with Arab nations when he and then-President Trump initiated four peace deals that comprised the Abraham Accords, and the next phase would be to bring in Saudi Arabia. (FN / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you protect the citizens of this world from territorial wars and nuclear attacks, and that you help our allies recognize that the Iranian deal could have even more drawbacks, by benefitting Russia and its troops.”

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.

Iranian troops have moved into Ukraine to help Russia use kamikaze drones that Tehran sold to Moscow to target Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, the White House said Thursday, October 20.

Russia purchased about 1,000 Shahed-136 drones from Iran at the end of August, “dozens” of which have been deployed across Ukraine since last month, US officials have said. “We can confirm that Russia’s military personnel that are based in Crimea have been piloting Iranian [drones,] using them to conduct strikes across Ukraine, including strikes against Kyiv,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

“In just recent days, we assess that Iranian military personnel were on the ground in Crimea and assisted Russia in these operations.” It’s the first time in the eight-month-long war that a nation other than Russia has sent troops into Ukraine, though Russia has considered Crimea its own territory since it illegally annexed the region in 2014.

“Both Iran and Russia continue to lie about it, denying that Iran is providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine,” Kirby said. “They can lie to the world, but they certainly can’t hide the facts. And the fact is this: Tehran is now directly engaged on the ground and through the provision of weapons … that are killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.” (NYP / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you shield Ukrainian people from the ongoing war, and that you help governments worldwide acknowledge the devastating impact the Iranian – Russian alliance has already had on them, so that they minimize its effect onwards.”

Ten Iranians, training Russian soldiers, were reportedly killed in Ukrainian strikes over the past week, a Ukrainian official told media on Friday, October 21.

The report comes as American and Ukrainian officials warned that Iranians are training Russians to use Iranian drones in Crimea.

The Ukrainian National Resistance Center claimed on Wednesday that Iranian instructors were overseeing the Russian launching of kamikaze drones from within annexed Ukrainian territory.

"The Russians took Iranian instructors to the territory of the temporarily occupied Kherson Region and Crimea to launch Shahed-136 kamikaze drones," the government body alleged, citing Ukrainian underground resistance.

"They teach the Russians how to use kamikaze drones, and directly monitor the launch of drones on Ukrainian civilian targets, including strikes on Mykolaiv and Odesa." Pentagon Press Secretary Brig.-Gen. Pat Ryder stated on Thursday that "Iranians have been on the ground in Ukraine to assist Russia with the drone operations there."

A spokesman for the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated on Friday that Ukraine had succeeded in downing 85% of the Iranian kamikaze drones fired by Russia. (JPost / VFI News)

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. - Proverbs 12:20

Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Wednesday, October 19, reiterated that Israel would not supply weapons to Ukraine to fight Russia’s eight-month-long invasion, but said Jerusalem could supply an early-warning system to the beleaguered nation to warn of incoming strikes, like the one used in Israel.

Speaking to a group of European Union ambassadors a day after Ukraine said it would submit a formal request for Israeli air defense systems like Iron Dome, Gantz ruled out the sale of such weapons.

“Israel supports and stands with Ukraine, NATO, and the West. This is something we have said in the past and repeat today. Israel has a policy of supporting Ukraine via humanitarian aid, and the delivery of life-saving defensive equipment,” Gantz said in remarks provided by his office.

“This being said, I would like to emphasize that Israel will not deliver weapon systems to Ukraine due to a variety of operational considerations. We will continue to support Ukraine within our limitations, as we have done in the past,” he said.

“We have sent a request to the Ukrainians to share information about their needs for air defense alerts. Once we gain this information, we will be able to assist in the development of a life-saving civilian early-warning system,” Gantz added. (TOI / VFI News)

“May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” - Psalm 122:7

A top Iranian general warned Saudi Arabia Thursday, October 20, against ‘relying’ on Israel, claiming that the Jewish state “is collapsing” and will lead to disaster for the Saudi royal family.

Major General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was quoted by the country’s semi-official outlet as warning the Al-Saud dynasty of Saudi Arabia against developing Riyadh’s relationship with Jerusalem.

“This is our warning. Your house is that of a spider. You are relying on an Israel which is collapsing, and this will be the end of your era," Salami said during an address at the Qom Islamic Seminary Thursday.

Salami also demanded that the US and UK end their sanctions against Tehran, and threatened reprisals for any possible attack. “Whatever move you make against the Iranian nation, you will receive blows several times harder.”

The general condemned the ongoing protests, launched in the wake of the death of a woman, Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by modesty police last month, blaming the demonstrations on Iran’s foes overseas. (INN / VFI News)

A total of 359 anti-Semitic incidents took place on U.S. college campuses during the 2021-22 academic year, according to a report released by the Anti-Defamation League.

The ADL’s Campus Report documented instances of accusations or “genocide” and “ethnic genocide” levied against Israel, as well as the “ostracizing of Jewish students from campus organizations because of their assumed support for Israel or Zionism.”

Among the incidents, there were 165 protests/actions, 143 anti-Israel events, 20 BDS resolutions and referendums, 11 incidents of vandalism, nine instances of targeted verbal and/or written harassment, and one physical assault.

In response to the large number of incidents, the ADL announced that it would be “broadening its educational and programmatic investment on campus, including the launch of an expanded online resource to support students and combat anti-Semitism on campus.”

The report provided information about the sources of funding for the student clubs responsible for many of the incidents, including Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. While most funds come from student activity fees, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund funds JVP, and Westchester Peace Action Coalition sponsors SJP. (I365N / VFI News)

“If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.” - Exodus 23:22

David Lenga was not yet a teenager when World War II began. A Polish Jew born in Lodz, he would lose all but one member of his extended family in the Holocaust, while he himself suffered through the Dachau, Kaufering and Auschwitz concentration camps.

Now, decades after the war, Lenga has preserved a prewar memory of his mother, Sarah — namely, the beloved recipes she made. Two of her pastry dishes are part of a remarkable new cookbook, “Honey Cake & Latkes: Recipes from the Old World by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Survivors.”

All of the 110-plus recipes in the book were contributed by survivors of the notorious death camp. The book was released on September 13, ahead of Rosh Hashanah. All of the sale proceeds will benefit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation.

The idea originated in a January 2020 delegation of 120 survivors, plus their family members, who returned to Auschwitz for the 75th anniversary of its liberation.

The organizer of the visit was Ronald S. Lauder, the chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation and the president of the World Jewish Congress, as well as a former United States ambassador to Austria. (TO I /VFI News)

On Wednesday, October 19, the agriculture ministers of Israel and Bahrain signed a first-of-its-kind joint declaration for the promotion and expansion of cooperation between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain in the fields of agriculture, livestock and food security.

Also agreed upon were the mutual sharing of knowledge, technology and diverse products to expand agricultural products and improve their production quality.

“The issue of global food security is occupying us constantly – not only us, but the world. One of the solutions, in our point of view, is the production of food from the sea." Director General of the Agriculture Ministry Naama Kaufman Fass said.

The signing took place during the world’s first Sea the Future summit: an Eilat-based event that gathered aquaculture start-ups from throughout Israel, along with investors, ministers and other representatives from 25 countries to address the impending issue of global food security in the face of climate change, population growth and decreasing fertile areas for agricultural development. (JPost / VFI News)

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” - Joshua 1:8

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

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