Israeli News Update
©January 9, 2011 by Asher Intrater

Mossad Chief Retires

After an outstanding term of 8 years as chief of the Mossad (Israeli international espionage agency), Meir Dagan was honored at a farewell ceremony at the Israeli cabinet. Dagan, who is rather short, balding, bespectacled, chubby and shy, probably did more than any other human being this decade to stop terrorism.

 Prime Minister Netanyahu recalled this story:

"Last year, I sat in your office and I saw on the wall the picture of a religious Jewish man, on his knees before Nazi thugs.  This picture caught my eye and I asked you about it.  You said that that was your grandfather.  I asked you what happened to him.  You told me: 'They murdered him.'

"Then I said, 'Meir, now I understand you.  I understand your deep commitment to ensure that nobody could ever again be able to implement the threat of annihilating the Jewish people'." 

Looking to retirement, Dagan said that this would be his first "day off" in 8 years. He also mentioned that contrary to other forecasts, he did not see Iran coming to nuclear capacity until the year 2015, thus hinting that the Mossad had played a certain role in delaying their progress.

[Note: Israeli military correspondent Alex Fishman reported this week that in spite of Dagan's statement about the nuclear capacity, Iran's (and Syria-Hizballah's) arsenal of conventional missiles is growing rapidly. At a briefing in November 2009, Israeli Army Chief Commander Gabi Ashkenazi reported that Iran had 300 missiles with a 2,000 kilometer range (enough to reach Israel). The U.S. and European intelligence community had mistakenly estimated the number at 1/3 of the reality. That capacity has grown to the point where Iranian produced missiles can reach all areas of Israel today.] 

Anti-Semitism and Anti-Christ

All evil in the world is focused in hatred on one target: Messiah Yeshua. However, Yeshua also said to His disciples that if the world hated Him, it would also hate them. John 15:18, 19 – "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me first. You are not of the world; rather I have chosen you from the world. Therefore the world hates you."  

A similar principle is found in Revelation 12:17 – "The dragon was angry with the woman and went to make war with the rest of her offspring, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Yeshua."  The anger of the devil is transferred over to the "rest of the offspring." Who are those offspring?

The disciples were believers in Yeshua and were Jewish. Half of the anger of the devil is transferred to Spirit-filled, evangelizing believers around the world. The second half is transferred to the Jewish people. The first is an anti-Christ spirit; the second is an anti-Semitic spirit. Ultimately they are of the same origin.

Another example is found in the book of Esther. Mordecai is a type of Yeshua; Haman is a type of Satan (or anti-Christ). Haman's hatred of Mordecai is transferred to the entire Jewish race. Haman's "final" solution was genocide. Esther 3:6 – "It was despised in his eyes to destroy Mordecai alone, for it was told to him of the people of Mordecai; so Haman sought to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom."

Around the world today, there is a rise of both anti-Christ and anti-Semitic spirits. Large numbers of Christians are persecuted or murdered every day. Western liberal society rejects Christians for being too religious; and then justifies radical Islam out of "political correctness."  Radical Islam is the greatest perpetrator of crimes against both Jews and Christians.

As we draw closer to the Second Coming, these two evil spirits will work in tandem. In the tribulation, both Jews and Christians will be attacked by the anti-Christ. At the Second Coming, there will be a world wide attack upon Jerusalem, which is also an attack on Yeshua Himself (Zechariah 14:1-9).

This week 21 Coptic Christians were killed in a Muslim terror attack in Alexandria, Egypt. Our Messianic Jewish community in Jerusalem is reaching out with humanitarian aid to help the families of the victims. Please stand with us as we stand with them.

Dozens of evangelical Christians were arrested in Iran last week during the Christmas vacation. They are asking for prayer. For more details, see: http://www.elam.com/articles/70-Christians-Arrested/

A new video from Middle East Media Research Institute, describes the rise of anti-Semitism in Arab nations. It shows Muslim clerics calling Jews "monkeys and pigs" (in agreement with the Koran), blaming Jews for killing Christian children to use their blood to make Matsoh for Passover (from the "blood libels" of the Dark ages), and praising Hitler for his attempts to murder the Jews. The Muslim clerics also make it clear that even if the Jews gave all of the Land to the Palestinians, they would still hate the Jews, for that is part of their religion. See: http://vimeo.com/16779150

Haiti Reminder

This Tuesday, January 11 marks one year from the Haitian earthquake disaster. Mobile Medical Disaster Relief ministry, led by David Vanderpool, is calling for a day of prayer for Haiti on this date. MMDR continues to serve the destitute there, who have been hit by a continuing series of natural disasters and epidemics this year. For more info, see www.mmdr.org

World Mission

We believe in the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 and endeavor to be witnesses of Yeshua, everywhere in the world. Eddie and Jackie and Mati and Alex returned from their ministry in India this week. Jonathan and Simcha are traveling on tour in the US. Asher and Betty will be sharing in Denmark this week.

Our friends, Victor and Harun, of Al Hayat Television, broadcast an evangelistic "Christmas" program in Arabic from Nazareth this week. By the end of the message, they had already received over 1,000 written email responses by interested viewers. We thank you for partnering with us in prayer for much fruit to be borne.