The Israeli Geophysical Institute reported on Wednesday afternoon that a 3.8 magnitude earthquake had hit in the southern Dead Sea region, south of Jerusalem. No injuries or damage were immediately reported but residents and tracking stations from the Sea of Galilee in the north to Eilat in the south reported feeling tremors.

Already white-hot tensions between Iran and the US intensified further on Tuesday with officials in both countries throwing insults and accusations at the other, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi tweeting that US sanctions on senior regime officials meant the “permanent closure of the path of diplomacy.” Iran also announced it would soon take additional steps in the area of nuclear development  that it said it wouldn’t when it signed the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, various statements by Russian officials indicated their support for Teheran against the US while a Chinese statement urged “calm and restraint” from all parties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to quell rumors swirling around Jerusalem that a cancellation of September’s elections and the formation of a national unity government were in the works, saying “I respect Knesset Speaker Edelstein’s efforts to avoid another round of elections in Israel, and I will meet with him in the days ahead at his request. All the rest is spin.”

Palestinians protesting near the border between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip against the “deal of the century” economic forum in Bahrain this week were fired upon by IDF troops Tuesday evening, resulting in a dozen protesters being wounded. Several incendiary devices attached to kites and balloons were sent over the border into Israel amidst the protests, sparking fires in Israel. A senior Saudi official spoke to Globes about the protests recently, speculating that “Maybe it is hard for (the Palestinians) to part with the character of the ever-suffering victim and they don’t believe they could survive without it.”

The movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel suffered another defeat on Monday when RwandAir, Rwanda’s national carrier, landed an aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport on a direct flight. “This is a big step for us,” Rwandair CEO  Yvonne Manzi Makolo said before the flight to CNBC.

The Iranian regime’s worst fear is a foreign invasion. In order to bring the mullahs to the negotiating table, the US should eliminate the regime’s proxies in Iran’s Iraqi and Syrian “near-abroad” and bring that threat into full relief.

The Middle East, and more specifically – what is now the state of Israel – is of course the birthplace of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. That said, Christians do not necessarily enjoy freedom of religion in most of the countries in the region – and repeatedly are face with harassment, persecution and discrimination, by either regimes or individuals. A panel of experts weighs in.

Israel faces many overwhelming social needs. Yet, as Christians we have an unprecedented opportunity to bless her people in an act of reconciliation and love. Our extensive experience and network of local relationships on the ground in Israel will ensure that your gift is used in the most effective way possible. Your donation will allow us to maintain funding for emergency projects, and embark on new initiatives to support Israel in these critical days.