On a visit to Israel’s northern border Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that reports of an Israeli strike on Iranian targets in Syria Saturday evening were accurate. “Israel attacked an Iranian armory at the Damascus International Airport, that reflects our determination to stop Iran’s military buildup in Syria, and we will strike harder in Syria if needed,” he said. “The IDF also uncovered a sixth Hezbollah terror tunnel, which has so far been the biggest. This brings Operation Northern Shield to its successful end, we will continue to monitor Hezbollah’s and Iran’s activity.”

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, told media outlets in Teheran on Sunday that the Islamic Republic has begun the process of designing uranium fuel purified to 20%, a process which has some utility for the generation of nuclear power but is an essential component of a military nuclear program of the type Iranian officials continuously deny they are pursuing. The move is also a violation of the 2015 JCPOA nuclear accord Iran insists it will adhere to.

The International Paralympic Committee declared itself to be “disappointed” over the weekend following a decision by Malaysia to refuse entry to Israeli athletes wishing to participate in the Paralympic World Championships later this summer. The Committee further declared that it was in the process of attempting to “find a solution” to the situation after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said if the Committee wanted to move the event to a different country which would allow the Israeli swimmers to participate that was fine with him.

Research institute NGO Monitor issued a report over the weekend showing that the World Council of Churches (WCC) is conducting a project it calls the “Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)” with the purpose of training young volunteers to be opposed to Israel and promote the movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) the Jewish State. The report adds that the project is being funded by Western governments, the EU and the UN.

The full report can be read by clicking HERE

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led a meeting Sunday at the Kiryia military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Sunday to pay respects to outgoing IDF IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, whose official last day on the job will be Tuesday when he will be replaced by Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi. “You served the IDF for over 40 years, making it a record for any Chief of Staff,” Netanyahu said. “The citizens of Israel no little of the hundreds of bold operations we carried out in the last 4 years under your command. Now it is time for you to spend time with your family. I thank you for your service.”

The Arab Christian community in Haifa reacted with outrage on Friday to the display in the Haifa Museum of Art of a sculpture depicting Ronald McDonald crucified on a cross, with many participants in a street protest in front of the museum saying it was a deliberate affront to their community and faith such as would not be tolerated if it was directed against Judaism or Islam. Finnish sculptor Jani Leinonen, who created the piece, told the Jerusalem Post he was sorry for the bad feelings it had produced in Haifa and that he had not intended the piece to be displayed at the museum because he is a supporter of the BDS movement.

Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, in his farewell interviews, confirmed that the Israeli army has attacked thousands of targets in Syria. On Sunday, the prime minister revealed that Israel was responsible for the Friday night attack in Damascus. The Israeli decision to end the ambiguity of its attacks in Syria is a calculated move.

Francis R. Fannon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Energy Resources, United States Department of State, addresses the the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, discussing the Trump Administration’s policies in the Middle East regarding energy, trade, security and related topics.

As Christians, we are called to be a prophetic community. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven” (Mt. 6:10). We should pray to be a prophetic people with great faith, so we can give evidence of what God has declared and call into existence the promises of God even before they can be seen.