TRUMP MAY PULL USA OUT OF UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DUE TO ISRAEL BIAS: The Trump administration may soon back Israel on its claim of UN bias and pull out of the organization's Human Rights Council, Politico reported on Saturday 25 Feb. 2017. Discussion of the option has already begun and is expected to include input from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and President Donald Trump. The administration regards the Council as being inherently anti-Israel which is the main reason for the consideration for pulling out of the international body, according to the report. The news site also reported that in private conversations, Secretary Tillerson has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the Council. Former Israeli ambassador to the USA and current deputy minister for the Kulanu party Michael Oren welcomed a potential USA move to withdraw from the council. "The decision to quit the insanely anti-Israel UN Human Rights Council would send a moral message to the world," Oren wrote on Twitter. Since its creation in 2006, the UN Human Rights Council has been persistently criticized by the USA for its biased treatment of Israel, which has been condemned more than any other country, including persistent human rights abusers such as Iran and Syria. (J.Post)

IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER BACKS ‘HOLY INTIFADA’ TO DESTROY ‘CANCER’ ISRAEL: Calling Israel a “cancerous tumor,” Iran’s supreme leader on Tues. 21 Feb. 2017 expressed support for a “holy intifada” to eradicate the Jewish state, arguing that the international community is headed toward confrontation with the “Zionist regime.” In the opening address of the regime’s sixth international conference in support of the Palestinian violent uprising against Israel, Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the “resistance” against the “cruel occupation,” which he described as the worst case of oppression against one particular people recorded in history. He also accused Israel’s founders of being responsible for the current upheaval in the wider Middle East. A wave of terrorism some called a third intifada, which began last year and manifested itself mainly in stabbings and vehicular attacks against Israelis troops and civilians, is “moving forward in a bright and hopeful manner,” the ayatollah declared. “And by Allah’s permission, we will see that this intifada will begin a very important chapter in the history of fighting and that it will inflict another defeat on that usurping regime.” (Times of Israel) 

Actually, it is Iran that is heading towards a confrontation with the international community with its support of global terrorism, its nuclear ambitions, and its unrelenting hateful tirades against Israel and the USA. 
     
“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. Isa 41: 11-12

HAMAS ELECTS NEW RADICAL LEADER IN GAZA: Yahya Sinwar has been elected to lead Hamas in the Gaza Strip after internal elections were held for the organization's institutional and leadership positions. Sinwar was one of the most senior officials released by Israel in the Shalit deal in which hundreds of terrorists and political prisoners were released in exchange for the return of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. He has developed a reputation as being among the most radical in Hamas, calling since his release for further kidnappings of IDF soldiers, and is thought of as the link between the military and political wing of the terror organization. With his ascent to power, Sinwar will take the reins to rule the Strip from Khaled Mashal. (Ynet) 
    Terrorist murderers released in prisoner swap deals notoriously return to their terrorist occupations despite signing promises to refrain from doing so. They receive the status of Palestinians heroes, and, as in the case of Yahya Sinwar, rise to the ranks of elected Palestinian leaders. As such, it is a reflection of the values of the society and officials who put such men into power. Pray there will be growing numbers of Palestinians who weary of terrorist leaders and their focus on destruction of Israel, rather than on building better lives for their own citizens.

NETANYAHU TELLS ISRAELIS TO CALM DOWN OVER TRUMP MEETING: Israel’s PM Netanyahu is meeting with USA President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday 2/15. Right-wing Israelis especially are anxious over the gathering, hoping that Netanyahu will take advantage of Trump’s sympathy for Israel to end the charade of the land-for-peace process. And if he doesn’t, Netanyahu could be in for a political firestorm at home. Education Minister Naftali Bennett wrote on Facebook that if Netanyahu and Trump come out of the meeting and mention a commitment to the two-state solution, “it will impact us directly for years to come. It will be an earthquake.” Like many Israelis, Bennett sees in Trump an opportunity for Israel to wrest itself free from a destructive peace process that has only brought decades of escalated conflict and bloodshed. At Sunday’s 12 Feb. 2017 cabinet meeting, Netanyahu tried to downplay the significance of the discussions, insisting that even with a president like Trump, there are limitations. “I understand that there is great excitement in advance of this meeting, driven by various motivations. But I only have one motivation: My utmost consideration is to ensure Israel’s security and strengthen our relationship with the United States as well as the joint interests that stand behind it,” Netanyahu told his ministers. “To think that there are no limits with Trump is a mistake,” he added. “After eight years of complicated maneuvering in the Obama era, we need to continue to act judiciously during the Trump era.” (Israel Today) 

Pray that patience among Israel’s leaders and citizens will prevail during the early months of USA President’s Trump’s presidency as he continues to familiarize himself with the critical issues in the Middle East through his advisers and also leaders in the region – but also that the subject of Israel’s major-block settlements, their expansion and eventual annexation will not be swept under the rug. Intercede that solid networks of trust and friendship will be established between Israel and the Trump administration wherever it is merited.

JAMMED GUN SAVES LIVES IN PETAH TIKVA TERROR ATTACK: The terror attack in Petah Tikva Thursday afternoon 9 Feb. 2017, could have been deadly had the terrorist’s gun not jammed midway into the attack, says an eyewitness. The gunman, a 19-year old resident of the Palestinian Authority city of Shechem in Samaria, opened fire on shoppers at the entrance to the Petah Tikva market at approximately 4:40 p.m., wounding several people before charging into a sewing machine shop. But when the terrorist attempted to open fire at those inside, his firearm jammed and he was unable to continue shooting. At that point, the terrorist grabbed a screwdriver and began stabbing customers. The terrorist was then subdued and handed over to police. (Arutz-7) 

"Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death” Ps 68:20. Continue to pray that God in His miraculous ways will undermine and avert murderous attacks against innocent Israelis.

USA WARNS PALESTINIAN LEADERS AGAINST SUING ISRAEL IN INTERNATIONAL COURTS: The USA has warned Palestinian leaders that suing Israel in international courts would trigger severe steps including the closure of PLO offices in Washington and an end to economic aid to the Palestinian Authority. A high-ranking Palestinian source said that President Trump signed an order to execute a congressional resolution, passed in 2015, to bar the transfer of any funds to the Palestinian Authority were it to initiate any investigation against Israel at the World Court or support such an investigation. "Messages arriving from Washington in recent days made clear that any such step by the Palestinians would lead to a severe American reaction, so much so that some talked about returning the PLO to the list of terrorist organizations," said the Palestinian source. (Ha'aretz)