ICEJ NEWS
Headlines from Jerusalem, 11 July 2019
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“‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” Jeremiah 32:17
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Tensions Soar After Iran Attempts to Block UK Oil TankerThe British government announced on Thursday morning that “Contrary to international law, three Iranian vessels attempted to impede the passage of a commercial vessel, British Heritage, through the strait of Hormuz.” The statement added that a British warship, HMS Montrose, was “forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned away. We are concerned by this action and continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region.” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) denied the accusations.
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Netanyahu Guest of Egyptian Embassy Celebration
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin visited the Egyptian ambassador at Cairo’s embassy in Tel Aviv on Wednesday to help celebrate Egypt’s 67th National Day. “We are celebrating 40 years of peace between Israel and Egypt,” Netanyahu said. “Our two countries, and many other countries, are fighting extremism, violence and terrorism. I would like to commend my colleague President al-Sisi for standing firmly against this wave of extremism and terrorism.”
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Israel Takes Side of Cyprus Against Turkey
Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday saying that “Israel follows with serious concern recent steps taken by Turkey in the waters off Cyprus’ northeast coast and reiterates its full support and solidarity with Cyprus in exercising its sovereign rights in its maritime areas and its opposition to any attempt to violate those rights.” The statement came following warnings to Turkey from the US, EU and Egypt against attempts to explore for oil and natural gas in the territorial waters of Cyprus.
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Israel Strengthens Ties with World
The movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel suffered more defeats this week, including a visit by a large delegation of Evangelical Christians from Colombia led by Pastor Raul Rubio Garzon and including Senator Edgar Palacio Mizrahi, who is part of a group of Comombian lawmakers dedicated to deepening ties with Israel. Also this week, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion was in Japan for meetings with mayors of several large cities. The trip is meant to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration between Jerusalem and Japanese cities in all areas, particularly art, culture, science and technology, and tourism.
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PA Increases Stipends to Convicted Terrorists
It was revealed on Thursday that the Palestinian Authority is doubling the monthly stipend it pays to Husam Al-Qawasmi, a terrorist convicted of organizing the 2014 kidnapping and murder of Israeli teenagers Gilad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel. In related news, PA leaders angrily denounced Monday’s ruling by the Jerusalem District Court that is can be held liable for civil damages from terrorist attacks by Hamas and other groups during the Second Intifada in the early 2000s.
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Trump’s Iran Sanctions Face Seven Fallacies
Amir Taheri, Asharq al-Awsat (UK)
As President Trump tightens the screws on the current ruling elite in Tehran, the debate on the possible consequences of his policy rages on in American media, think tanks and political circles. Moreover, because Trump’s constituency is outside such elite spheres the impression created is that his Iran policy either has failed already or is set to produce undesirable unintended consequences. In that context, seven claims form the main themes of the campaign launched by the pro-Tehran lobby with support from sections of the US Democrat Party and others who dislike Trump for different reasons.
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Israel is Working to Solve Global Problems
Did you know that: The average person accidentally eats 70,000 micro-plastics each year, or that plastic waste kills more than 1.1 million seabirds and animals annually. – Following an increase of plastic pollution, 700 species of marine life are facing extinctions (Source: Global Citizen) Plastic pollution is everywhere and it has negative consequences for the environment and for life on this planet. But there’s hope. These Israeli technologies are helping tackle this serious problem in Israel and around the world.
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ICEJ History
In the summer of 1980, the Israeli Parliament declared the city of Jerusalem to be the undivided, eternal capital of the State of Israel, established as such by King David almost 3,000 years earlier. Protest resounded across the international political spectrum, resulting in the closure of thirteen national embassies in Jerusalem. A number of Christians living in Israel were then hosting a Christian celebration during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. They sensed Israel’s deep hurt over the withdrawal of the foreign embassies and felt the call of the Lord to open a Christian Embassy in this, the City of the Great King.
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Today’s news was written and compiled by Aaron Hecht.
ICEJ News is a free email service providing news and comments on Middle East affairs compiled by journalists at the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and supported by donations from subscribers.
Photographic content subject to copyright, do not use without permission of copyright holder.
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