ASSEMBLYMAN HIKIND: ‘OBAMA IS A HERO TO THE TERRORISTS’: New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind blasted USA President Obama for allowing the passage of an anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council last week. "He is now clearly the hero of the terrorists; of Hamas, of Hezbollah. That's what our president in the United States is," said Hikind "He is an utter, complete, failure." Hikind accused Obama of doing irreparable harm to the peace process. "He set a new standard for the Palestinians. He ended whatever peace process there was, because of his actions." According to Hikind, Barack Obama is much better in terms of how he treats the Ayatollah from Iran, the way he treats the enemies of Israel, the West, and the dictatorships of the world. “The one democracy in the Middle East - Israel- he takes a knife to and stabs in the back. The United Nations is a cesspool." Hikind said, adding that he hopes Trump will use America's economic leverage over the UN to compel it to change its anti-Israel and anti-Semitic ways. (Arutz-7)

KERRY TO MAKE MIDDLE EAST PEACE SPEECH ON WED. 28 DEC. 2016: Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan criticized USA Secretary of State John Kerry on Tues. night, 27 Dec. 2016, shortly after it was announced that he would give a speech on Middle East peace. On Wed. 28 Dec. 2016, Kerry will make remarks regarding Middle East peace and discuss the next steps needed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "It's pathetic to present a peace plan at the last minute when he hasn't managed in changing anything for his entire time in office," Erdan said Tues. night. "It's unfortunate that the Obama Administration, that erred for years in the Middle East, is trying to make sure that the chaos will last far past its tenure," Erdan said. "Kerry's speech on parameters right before the end of his tenure will make sure that the Palestinians won't agree to any sort of negotiations with Israel in the coming years and will push off chances of advancing peace." (Jerusalem Post) Indeed, here comes the next USA diplomatic bomb and Obama betrayal against Israel. “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.” Jer 6:14

NETANYAHU TO ISRAEL: "I AM HERE TO COMFORT EVERYONE FOLLOWING UN DECISION": Israel's PM Netanyahu made his first comments since the previous day’s, UN Security Council vote at a ceremony celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Netanyahu told the crowd that he was there to comfort everyone following the UN's decision. "The Security Council decision calls Israeli land occupied and that is just shameful, the decision calls the Western Wall occupied land, it is shameful," Netanyahu said. Speaking of USA President Obama's choice to abstain from voting, Netanyahu stated that Obama went against Israel, backing out of the commitment it had made to stand for Israel. "The decision not only does not help us make peace, it stands in the way of peace," stated Netanyahu. “Israel will not accept the decision and it will be cancelled,” he said, "though it may take time". He also stated that Israel would stop funding UN institutions.

The UN Security Council voted on Friday, 23 Dec. 2016 to adopt a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity as illegal, and demanding that Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the 'occupied' Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem". Fourteen out of the 15 voting members of the Council voted in favor of the resolution, none voted against it, and the United States chose to abstain instead of casting its veto on the initiative. The new resolution, which is the most extreme ever issued, claims all Israeli towns built outside the pre-1967 borders are illegal and renders their residents international criminals. Netanyahu, on Sunday, 25 Dec. 2016 instructed that the ambassadors of those countries that voted in favor of the UN Security Council anti-Israel resolution be summoned for reprimand at the Foreign Ministry. (J.Post)

ISRAEL HAS WARY EYE ON IRAN AFTER SYRIAN REBELS LOSE ALEPPO: The fall of Aleppo to Syrian government forces backed by Russia and Iran has heightened alarm in Israel about potential threats to its borders and a wider reshaping of the region. The war in Syria has enabled Iran, whose Supreme Leader has called for an end to the Jewish state, to steadily increase its influence across the region. Avi Dichter, chair of Israel's foreign affairs and defense committee said Iran had tried several times in the past to move forces into the Syrian Golan Heights. Those moves were repelled, Dichter said, but with Iran flush with cash and confidence after last year's agreement restricting Iran's nuclear program, it was possible further attempts would be made to test Israel's responses. "We have no intention to allow Hizbullah to test their sophisticated weapons because there are no other targets in the Middle East except Israel when Hizbullah and Iran think about an offensive initiative," said Dichter. "By all means Israel is going to stop it."

Likewise, on 15 Dec. 2016, Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel's interest lay in having both Assad and the Iranians out of Syria. “Assad is a butcher, who has slaughtered and murdered hundreds of thousands of people, including by using chemical weapons. In my opinion, he should be removed from power - and we should block Iranian involvement in Syria. Where is the international community? It's a shame that instead of focusing on the very unfortunate fact that 500 people are killed in the Middle East every day, the international community would rather criticize Israel for every new balcony built in a settlement." (Ha'aretz/Reuters)

UN EXPECTED TO VOTE FOR FUNDING UNHRC BLACKLIST OF COMPANIES WITH TIES TO ISRAEL: The UN Fifth Committee, which oversees the international body’s budget and administration, is expected to vote this week to fund a blacklist of Israeli and international companies operating in Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Judea & Samaria. The Israeli mission to the UN said the list is expected to be utilized by BDS activists for anti-Israel activities. Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the Israeli Mission will publicly oppose the list and is committed to bringing together international partners and pro-Israel organizations to propose new ideas to combat the initiative. "We will not be silent in light of this shameful initiative," Danon said. "The UN's intent to mark Jewish businesses and international companies with ties to Israel so that they can be boycotted reminds us of dark times in history. The UNHRC has become an anti-Israeli circus with their attacks on the only democracy in the Middle East and their disregard for the gross violations in Iran, Syria and North Korea.” The UN is known for its anti-Israel bias, and days ago passed a series of anti-Israel resolutions during its annual “International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People”. The body’s outgoing chief, Ban Ki-moon, admitted that the UN is biased against Israel during a 2013 session with students participating in a UN educational program. (INN)

"A weather phenomenon occurred at 8 a.m. Thursday on the other side of the Syrian border, in the same place where ISIS attacked Israel," Israel News Online posted to their Facebook page. "This strange storm of what appears to be dust, cloud and rain did not cross the border fence into Israel. It sat like a barrier between ISIS and Israel."

http://www.charismanews.com/world/61640-numbers-14-biblical-pillar-shields-israel-from-the-islamic-state

ISRAELI PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER: 'NEARLY HALF OF FIRES WERE ARSON': Israel's Minister for Public Security Gilad Erdan told the Knesset on Wed. 30 Nov. 2016 that 40-50% of the fires that broke out across Israel last week were the result of arson, based upon "the estimates of professionals." The Fire Services backed up his claim. (Times of Israel) Please continue to pray for those who have suffered injuries and lost property in this national emergency, and help us at Vision for Israel to do all that we can for those who have contacted us in desperate need, having lost everything in the fires. Please donate without delay at www.visionforisrael.com

MAHMOUD ABBAS TO PAY SALARIES TO THE ARSONISTS: So far Israel has arrested 23 suspected arsonists connected to the hundreds of fires that raged across the country last week. According to Palestinian law, anyone imprisoned for "resisting the occupation" receives a high monthly salary, including Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. Therefore, all of those convicted and imprisoned for arson will receive PA salaries from the day of arrest until the day of release. (J. Post)