In a result which took many observers by surprise, former environmental protection minister Avi Gabbay emerged triumphant from Monday’s Labor Party runoff leadership election, garnering 52% of the votes to the 47% collected by MK and former Labor chairman Amir Peretz. In his victory speech, Gabbay, who only joined Labor six months ago, was magnanimous towards Peretz and his other primary opponents, telling them he would need their support as he seeks to topple the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and form a new Left-wing government in its place.

Rwandan President Paul Kageme arrived in Israel Monday afternoon for an official state visit. Greeted warmly by Israeli leaders, Kageme praised Israel for being a true friend to his country while his hosts praised him for being the “bridge” which allowed Israel to re-establish ties with many African nations in recent years following decades of chilly relations.

Israel’s Tourism Ministry published a report Monday showing that the Jewish State had more visitors in the first six months of 2017 than any other half-year in its history, with reasons to believe that the trend will continue into the winter months. The report estimated that the 1.74 million incoming tourists generated NIS 9.4 billion in revenues for Israel so far in 2017, sustaining and creating thousands of jobs.

A Palestinian terrorist rammed his vehicle into a group of Israeli soldiers near the West Bank settlement of Tekoa on Monday afternoon, wounding one soldier before existing his vehicle and charging at others with a knife. He was shot by the soldiers he was attempting to attack and later died of his wounds.

Jason Greenblatt, the special representative for international negotiations in the Administration of US President Donald Trump was in Jerusalem on Monday as part of a round of talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials. He stopped by the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City and said a prayer for “peace for all” hours before the meetings scheduled to take place throughout the day Tuesday.

All over the world, people take the side of the Palestinians without knowing much about them and their collective beliefs and intentions. Many Palestinians (and certainly the leaders they elect) assume that terrorists who randomly slaughter men, women and children are heroes.

Pastor Chad shows us the urgency at the end of Paul’s second letter to Timothy as Paul gives Timothy his final instructions.