““Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Psalm 122:6 (NIV)
Shalom, my friend.
While the Scriptures tell us to pray for the “peace of Jerusalem” in any and every season — my heart is moved for us to be more vigilant in prayer than ever before.
While all indications appear that war with Iran seems to be inevitable and even imminent, we know that God has the power to change hearts, lives and circumstances.
I’m sure you’ve experienced God’s supernatural presence in your own life. And I hope you’ll hold up your experience as a point of confidence and faith as, together, we ask God to bring His peace to Jerusalem, to Israel and to the Jewish people.
“CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME . . . AND NOT A LOT OF TIME”
Israeli Finance Minister, Avigdor Liberman, told reporters late last week that a confrontation between Israel and Iran is inevitable. His comment comes, according to Ynet News, in response to questions regarding the overall efforts being made to bring Tehran back to the 2015 nuclear deal.
While there have been hints out of Iran that negotiations of some form will continue, Tehran continues their nuclear program development — refusing to abide by the 2015 nuclear agreement.
“A confrontation with Iran is only a matter of time, and not a lot of time,” Liberman continued. “No diplomatic move or agreement will stop the Iranian nuclear program. This is a problem of the international community but first of all ours because they have stated that their policy is the destruction of Israel, and they do mean it.”
The Finance Minister, as reported by Ynet News, also added that the Israeli government recently approved a $1.5 billion budget to prepare for a strike against Iran.
ISRAEL, IRAN SEPARATELY RUN AERIAL DRILLS IN PREPARATION FOR POTENTIAL MILITARY CLASH
The Jerusalem Post reported last week that both Israel and Iran are reportedly holding large-scale aerial exercises. This report comes as tension between both countries continues to accelerate.
The Jerusalem Post indicated that Israel and seven nations – Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India, Greece and the US – are participating in Blue Flag 2021, the largest and most advanced aerial exercise ever held in the Jewish State.
This year’s drills will focus on the integration of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, including the F-35 Adir in complex operational scenarios, the Israeli military said.
Israeli Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin told reporters that the threats posed to Israel continue to increase and that the drill is a “steppingstone” toward cooperation with other countries in the region.
“We are living in a very complicated region, and the threats to the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran are only increasing,” Maj.-Gen. Norkin said. “Holding an international exercise in this current reality, while continuing our public and covert operational activities on all fronts, is of utmost strategic importance and has an extensive impact over the Israeli Air Force, the IDF and the State of Israel.”
Meanwhile, according to The Jerusalem Post, Iran’s Air Force kicked off Modafe’an Aseman-e Velayat 1400 (Guardians of ‘Velayat Sky’ 1400) last week, which is aimed at testing the capabilities of the Islamic Republic’s Air Force.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the drill will see the use of indigenous and upgraded systems and weapons, including heavy and semi-heavy smart bombs, all kinds of laser, television, thermal, radar missiles, rockets and bombs.
Iranian F-4, F-5 and F-7 fighter aircraft as well as Sukhoi Su-27s, F-14s, Mirage F1s, and MiG-29s, are taking part in the drill.
ISRAELI AIR FORCE DRAWS UP PLANS FOR STRIKES ON TEHRAN’S NUCLEAR SITES
In light of growing uncertainty regarding a return by Iran to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), amid long-stalled negotiations with the United States, The Times of Israel reported earlier this week that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in recent months has ramped up its efforts to prepare a credible military threat against Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
At the beginning of this year, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi announced he had instructed the military to begin drawing up fresh attack plans, and last week the government reportedly allocated billions of shekels toward making those plans viable.
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that “Iran’s nuclear program has hit a watershed moment, and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning . . . We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Earlier this week, The Times of Israel indicated that they had learned that some aspects of the strike plan, which is still in the “draft” stage, could be ready within a short period of time, while others would take more than a year to be fully actionable.
Preparing for such a strike has become a top priority for the Israeli Air Force and making the necessary preparations has required changes to its training schedule.
In addition to having to find ways to strike Iranian facilities that are buried deep underground, requiring specialized munitions and tactics, the Israeli Air Force will have to deal with increasingly sophisticated Iranian air defenses in order to conduct such a strike. The air force will also have to prepare for an expected retaliation against Israel by Iran and its allies throughout the region.
ISRAEL TO OPEN BORDERS TO VACCINATED TOURISTS STARTING NOVEMBER 1
Ynet News reported that, while waiting for the final approval of the Coronavirus Cabinet, Israel’s Health Ministry has agreed to open Israel’s borders for vaccinated tourists, starting next week.
This decision, however, comes with a variety of conditions for entry, depending upon the tourist’s country, vaccination type and/or recovery from COVID.
Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said this was only the beginning of the resumption of tourism to Israel.
“I commend Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz for maintaining a balance between public health and a robust economy, and thank the professional staff that has worked hard to bring the tourism industry back,” Razvozov said.
Let Us Pray Together
Please pray with me for:
- God to give wisdom and insight to Israeli and global leaders as tensions continue to escalate in regard to Iran’s nuclear threat
- God to move in the heart of Iranian leaders and officials to join the table of diplomacy and prevent any violence or potential war
- God to protect His people, their neighbors and tourists as the Israeli borders open amidst the ongoing effects of COVID-19
- Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
- Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah
