Israel & The Middle East

• Fighting escalates in Israel

Israel has intensified its assault on Gaza, with more than 1,000 bombs and shells fired from air, land and sea overnight in the heaviest bombardment since fighting broke out earlier this week. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets into Israel on the fifth day of hostilities.

The fighting broke out after days of escalating clashes at the Al-Asqa mosque, which Israeli police raided because Palestinians were rioting and apparently using this sacred Islamic site to store concrete slabs, rocks and fireworks, which they turned on officers. Read more here.

The violence also followed weeks of rising tension in East Jerusalem, inflamed by a series of confrontations with police after dozens of Palestinian families were found to be at risk of losing their homes to Jewish settler groups following a decades-long legal battle (see also David Longworth's take on the origins of the violence).

What followed was a constant barrage of rocket fire from Hamas – with 1,200 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip between Monday and Wednesday alone. Netanyahu insisted Israel would respond “with great force”, which it did by pummelling Hamas targets, even destroying a large apartment block (but with warning of attacks, to allow civilians to evacuate – a significant point ignored by mainstream media). So far, some 120 people have been killed in Gaza, including numerous women and children, and nine have died in Israel since the fighting began.

Israel has struggled to cope with the unprecedented civil unrest in the country, and its state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defence system has been stretched to the limit by Hamas’ increased firepower.

Of deep concern to Israel has been the intensity of rioting from Arab-Israelis, with brutal attacks on Jews and their property in many townships. In the city of Lod three synagogues and numerous shops were torched, and dozens of cars were set alight, resulting in a state of emergency being declared in the mixed Jewish-Arab city.

With some of its top commanders killed, Hamas reluctantly called for a mutual ceasefire. This was soundly rejected by the Israeli government, who instead elevated the offensive against Gazan terrorists and their underground rocket launchers. This hasn’t stopped hundreds of further rockets being fired from Gaza in the past 48 hours. (Read also this article on Hamas's backing by Islamic regimes in the Middle East).

• Anti-Israel protests held across the world. Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in London, New York, Washington DC, Bangladesh, Johannesburg and other major cities across the globe to show their support for the Palestinians, often directing their protests at Israeli embassies and buildings. In part due to longstanding heavily-skewed worldwide media reporting, global opinion has again taken on a predominantly pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel sentiment. France’s interior minister, on the other hand, has asked police to ban a pro-Palestinian protest in Paris this weekend, such request being heavily criticised by activists and politicians. Read this pertinent article on the “global woke loathing for Israel”.
  

Society & Politics

• Chaplain reported as terror threat for opposing LGBT curriculum. A boarding school in Nottinghamshire reported its chaplain to Britain’s anti-terror unit for telling pupils they're allowed to disagree with LGBT teaching. The Rev. Bernard Randall preached a sermon on the biblical view of gender identity and same-sex relationships after being approached by students who were confused and upset by some of the material being taught in a new LGBT-inclusive curriculum at the school. Astonishingly, the school reported Randall to Prevent, which deals with UK terrorism threats, and he was subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct. The chaplain is taking Trent College to court for discrimination, harassment, victimisation and unfair dismissal. Read more here and in this week’s Editorial.
• University principal faces calls to quit for his 'intolerant' cancel culture policy. Lecturers at Edinburgh University claim that Peter Mathieson, the University Principal, has created an 'intolerant and illiberal' cancel culture. It comes after an investigation was launched into senior lecturer, Dr Neil Thin’s opposition to the university's decision to rename the David Hume Tower, due to the 19th century philosopher's controversial views on race. Many lecturers supported Dr Thin, but are said to be too scared to speak out. One academic stated, "How could Scotland's greatest university have fallen to a position where the core academic values of free speech, reasoned argument and pursuit of truth cannot be publicly articulated?"
• Train conducter reprimanded for saying 'Good morning ladies and gentlemen'. In other news, London North East Railway has apologised for and promised to deal with a conductor who wished passengers a cheery “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” after a 'non-binary' LGBT rail union rep complained that the greeting didn't “apply to them”. And Twitter has suspended a Spanish MP for saying men can’t get pregnant!

World Events

• Remarkable revival in Nepal. The mountain kingdom of Nepal – where the government recorded no Christians at all in their census just 70 years ago – now has the 12th fastest growing Christian population in the world with over 1¼ million believers. And the World Christian Database says the real total could be much higher, with the main contributing factor being conversion from other religions. Most Nepalese still practise Hinduism, and the Christians face persecution. One of their leaders, Pastor Tanka Subedi, said: “Although most Hindus live in peace with Christians, some fiercely oppose the gospel. And state media and government officials [say] Christianity is coming to Nepal to destroy our culture. It’s challenging to evangelise people who have that mindset.” Read also.
• Overwhelming Gospel response to Christian radio station. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) has seen an overwhelming gospel response from their listeners in some of the most unreached parts of the world, from China to Myanmar to Cambodia. With many people being restricted to their homes, the gospel station became a source of comfort and hope. “We heard from so many people sharing, ‘I’m lonely, I’m depressed, I’m anxious, I’m worried, But your radio has become my best friend,’” said FEBC President Ed Cannon. As well as sharing the gospel message, FEBC has helped a great many people to connect to a local church.
• Muslim nurses took over a chapel and tried to convert it to a mosque. Three Pakistani Christians shared or liked a social media post that was critical of the Pakistani government, but which contained no blasphemous content. Nonetheless, a “blasphemy” accusation was made against them, and a group of Muslim nurses occupied a nearby Christian chapel calling for it to be turned into a mosque. Later hundreds of staff joined a demonstration, and the three Christian nurses were forced to flee in fear of their lives.

Opportunities to serve with Issachar Ministries
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