VFI News March 11, 2022

Russia is "very disappointed" with Israel in the UN vote & Israel preparing field hospital for Ukraine, lets's watch Barry and hear what he has in this new episode!

#Ukraine #Russia #Putin #Biden #Invation #Evacuate #Iran #UN #hospital #Israel

• 00:26 - Iran gets more than it expected in Nuclear talks
• 01:44 - Russia "very disappointed" with Israel in UN vote
• 02:50 President Zelensky thanks Bennet for mediation efforts
• 03:59 - Israel preparing field hospital for Ukraine

Want more of what you just saw?

SUBSCRIBE TO GET NOTIFIED! https://www.youtube.com/c/VisionforIs...

A Russian diplomat taking part in renewed talks with Iran said Tehran got much more than anyone expected as it negotiated with other nations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that then-president Donald Trump destroyed.

"Iranian colleagues are fighting for [their] national interest like lions," Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov said in a video interview posted online by Polaris NatSec. "They fight for every comma, every word, and as a rule, quite successfully."

A nuclear agreement involving the United States, China, Russia and Iran is expected within days, officials previously told Fox News. The talks have been mired in uncertainty after Russia made last-minute demands that assure guarantees that the sanctions it faces over its invasion of Ukraine will not hurt trade with Iran.

"I am absolutely sincere in this regard when I say that Iran got much more than it could expect," Ulyanov said. "Our Chinese friends were also very efficient and useful as co-negotiators."

"I can recollect dozens of such cases when on rather serious, significant questions, we managed together to get positive results close to what we wanted to achieve," he added.

The Biden administration has sought to revive the nuclear deal, but talks stalled after Iranian leaders demanded a significant reduction in sanctions. (FOX / VFI News)

“God, we ask that You stop both Iran and Russia from committing acts of violence.”

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.

Russia’s embassy in Tel Aviv has reportedly conveyed Moscow’s “disappointment” with Israel over its condemnation of Russia at the United Nations to the Foreign Ministry.

In a missive sent in recent days, the embassy said Russia was “very disappointed by your position at the UN,” Channel 13 reported Monday, March 7.

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last week to adopt a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Israel joining 140 other countries in the 193-member body to demand that Moscow immediately withdraw its forces from the soil of its sovereign neighbor.

The final tally of the vote on the resolution, entitled “Aggression against Ukraine,” was 141-5 with 35 abstentions.

The only countries that voted against the resolution alongside Russia were Syria, North Korea, Belarus and Eritrea — a powerful indication of the international isolation that Russian President Vladimir Putin faces for invading his country’s smaller neighbor. Among those that abstained were China, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and South Africa.

Ahead of the vote, Deputy UN Ambassador Noa Furman read a statement urging Russia to cease its attack on Ukraine and calling the invasion “a serious violation of the international order.”

Days earlier, Israel had declined a US request to co-sponsor a resolution condemning Russia in the UN Security Council.

Since tensions between Russia and Ukraine began escalating, Israel has sought to avoid aligning too closely with either side. It is one of the few countries that maintains relatively warm relations with both Ukraine, a fellow Western democracy, and Russia, which controls the airspace over Syria, in which Israel operates to target Iranian proxies.

Over the past week, Israel has taken great efforts to further develop a potential role as a mediator between the Russians and Ukrainians, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett flying to Moscow on Saturday, March 5, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, becoming the first Western leader to sit down with the Russian leader since he invaded Ukraine on February 24. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we ask that You advance the cause of peace between Israel and the rest of the region.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, March 8, thanked Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for his diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Bennett and Zelensky spoke for the fourth time since the former met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, March 5.

Bennett spoke with Putin again after the call with Zelensky on Tuesday.

Israeli sources say Bennett has been passing messages between the sides and not bringing up a proposal of his own.

Bennett has served more as an intermediary between Putin and the West than between Putin and Zelensky, according to the sources, with Western leaders looking to Bennett as someone who can report Putin’s position and state of mind to them because of good relations between Israel and Russia.

More serious negotiations are taking place directly between Russia and Ukraine, and Putin has made an offer that he considers to be final, according to reports in Hebrew media: Zelensky would have to give up on the Donbass region and agree to his country having a smaller army, as well as declare neutrality between Russia and the West and abandon his attempt to join NATO. (JPost / VFI News)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” - Matthew 5:9

Israel is preparing to set up a field hospital to help wounded Ukrainians, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Thursday, March 3.

“It will be operated by civilians; preparations are underway in the Health Ministry,” Horowitz told Kan Bet. “There are many volunteers, medical professionals, and medics who want to go.”

The field hospital will be managed entirely by the Health Ministry and not by the IDF Medical Corps, the minister said.

“Our aid is coordinated with the Ukrainian government and we are sending it through Poland at this point," he said. "It is part of our expression of solidarity with Ukraine."

A field hospital is something that Kyiv had specifically asked Israel to establish.

Earlier this week, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk said, following discussions with the Israeli Foreign Ministry: “I hope that they will consider this possibility to provide for medical assistance to the wounded soldiers and civilians. The discussion is ongoing whether it should be the mobile or field hospital or it should be the medical treatment provided in Israel.”

The Foreign Ministry is preparing an additional humanitarian aid package for Ukraine, following the 100 tons it sent this week.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General for Eurasia Gary Koren said that "the Ukrainian Health Ministry and one of the central hospitals in Lviv sent organized lists."

"We are working closely with the airlines and we are in advanced preparations," he told Army Radio.

Other items expected to be in the next round of humanitarian aid are generators that Israel bought, which will be brought to Ukraine directly from Europe, Army Radio reported and a diplomatic source confirmed.

In addition, Israel plans to continue to send medical equipment, medications, and bandages. Ukraine has also asked for protective gear, such as helmets and ceramic vests, which Korniychuk said Europe has run out of, and weapons.

Israel condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a statement and at the UN General Assembly but has stopped short at providing any military aid, because of Russia’s major presence in Syria. The Israeli Air Force coordinates with the Russian Army before it strikes Iranian targets in its northeastern neighbor.

When asked why Israel hasn’t voiced its condemnation more robustly, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request that Israel try to mediate with Russia, telling Channel 13: “The players want us in a place where we can hold dialogue with everyone.” (JPost / VFI News)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:4

We donated shoes to 44 underprivileged children in Ashdod. Told that these gifts were especially for them—from people who loved them—their faces were filled with joy. Thank you for helping us bless these dear children, and for helping them in their walk with the Lord.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday, March 8, apologized for accusing Israel’s national airline of bypassing international sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine by accepting funds via a Russian payment system.

In a tweet Monday, Kuleba charged that El Al was continuing to accept payments from Mir, sharing a screenshot of a booking page showing the Russian electronic transfer’s logo along with Visa and Mastercard.

“While the world sanctions Russia for its barbaric atrocities in Ukraine, some prefer to make money soaked in Ukrainian blood,” he alleged. “Immoral and a blow to Ukrainian-Israeli relations.”

El Al disputed the accusation, saying it had stopped accepting Mir on February 28, four days after Russia launched its military offensive in Ukraine. The airline lamented that Kuleba had not checked before posting his “misleading tweet” and noted that its planes have brought humanitarian aid to Ukraine and also ferried refugees to Israel.

“Indeed, the ‘Mir’ payment button remained on the website, but the use of it was blocked,” Kuleba acknowledged Tuesday morning, though the system’s logo did not appear on the El Al website during attempts to book flights from the United States, Israel, and Russia on Monday.

“I am grateful to El Al for its important humanitarian operations and convey my apologies,” he added in a Twitter post.

El Al has faced criticism for being one of few Western airlines still operating flights to Russia. It said Monday that it was doing so at the request of Israel’s government and “will continue to get Israelis and Jews out of Russia so long as it is possible.” (TOI / VFI News)

Samaritan’s Purse CEO Franklin Graham took to social media to support a global prayer event organized by Ukraine’s churches and pastors to seek peace from Russia’s invasion.

“I’m grateful for the churches & pastors across Ukraine & how they’re ministering to their communities during these dark days. The Baptist Union of Ukraine put out this urgent request for prayer over the next 2 days. They’re asking every Christian worldwide to pray,” Graham wrote regarding the prayer event scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 9.

Graham noted that at least one church leader in Ukraine is concerned about losing his freedom of worship if Russian President Vladimir Putin is successful in taking over the nation.

“Ukrainian families are hurting and in desperate need of physical aid and prayer during this difficult time,” Graham said in a statement regarding the emergency hospital. “We are deploying life-saving medical care to aid people who are suffering. We want to meet the needs of these families in their darkest moments while pointing them to the light and hope of Jesus Christ.” (DailyWire / VFI News)

“God, we ask You to bring light and peace to Ukraine during this violent time, and that many souls will be saved.”

Monday, March 7, Samaritan’s Purse head Franklin Graham discussed his organization’s efforts to set up a field hospital in Ukraine and its challenges in delivering supplies to those in need in the wake of the Russian invasion during an appearance on Newsmax TV’s “Spicer & Co.”

Graham emphasized that his organization’s mission was conducted in Jesus’ name.

“Well, first of all, the city of Lviv right now is not a target, and it’s been quiet there,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean it’ll be quiet for long. I don’t know. For us, you know, we just feel this is something God has told us to do, wanted to do. I want the people of Ukraine to know that God hasn’t forgotten them, that he loves them. He cares for them very much. And so when we go, Sean, we’re going in Jesus’ name and we’re going to bring the best medical care that we possibly can. We’re going to love these people the best that we can, and we pray as we go that somehow there can be an end to this very violent conflict. But right now, we’re going to patch up people and take care of as many people as we possibly can.’

He discussed some of the logistics for Samaritan’s Purse’s efforts, noting that it had been involved in Ukraine in the past. However, he also described the current conditions as “absolute chaos.”

“It is total chaos on the ground,” Graham said. “But yet we’ve had nothing but a warm welcome from everybody from government officials, church officials. Samaritan's Purse has a network of over 3,200 churches in the Ukraine. But right now, it’s just absolute chaos,” he continued. “We are setting up a clinic tomorrow down at the train station. There’s about 65-to-70,000 people a day. Come to the train station. Women are having babies on the train. You have people that are wounded. There are emergencies, all kinds of health care emergencies, and there’s nobody there at the train station to take care of them. So we’re going to put a triage center in, and those that really need help, we’re going to take him to the hospital. And so when we start tomorrow at the train station.” (BB / VFI News)

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. - Hebrews 13:16

Finland is looking to purchase air defense systems from Israel, the Nordic nation's defense minister Antti Kaikkonen said on Finnish television show Ykkösaamu on Saturday, March 5, according to YLE News.

Finland previously sent an invitation for bids to five companies, including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Now, Finland has narrowed it down to the two Israeli candidates, Kaikkonen revealed. "It's a substantial investment...a big one right after fighter jets," he said.

Under the anti-aircraft project, Finland plans to purchase equipment such as transporter erector launchers, radar systems, missiles, and related integration equipment, the defense ministry said, adding the goal is to make a final purchase decision in early 2023.

The decision to increase its air defense capabilities reportedly comes as a direct response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, Russia threatened Finland of "serious military and political" repercussions after prime minister Sanna Marin said Finland is considering applying for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership.

Finland, which has historically been against joining NATO, has seen more and more Finnish voices calling to join the defense alliance.

A poll commissioned by YLE found that a majority (53%) of Finns now believe it is in Finland's best interest to join NATO. In contrast, only two years ago just one out of five Finns were in favor of joining NATO.

Despite that, President Sauli Niinisto ruled out the possibility of Finland reacting to the invasion by immediately applying for NATO membership.

In Finland, "we are now seeing quick comments for applying today and joining tomorrow," he said. "These sensitive reactions are understandable but cannot really work in the real world." (JPost / VFI News)

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

Want to see more from VFI? Follow us on Facebook! Our official Facebook name is Vision for Israel. Follow us there and please hit “like” if you like us.