Israel Update - 14.07.10

More news bites from our correspondent based in Jerusalem... let them feed your heart and prayers for the Jewish people and the wider Middle East region.

2 Chronicles 7:14:

"... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Jews March for Temple Mount –

A crowd of 10,000 Jews gathered at the old gates of the Temple Mount Monday night and declared their allegiance to the holy site.

The "pledge of allegiance" to a Jewish Temple Mount and a united Jerusalem was part of the monthly "March around Old City Temple Gates," a colourful event featuring the recital of Psalms at various gates around the Temple Mount.

The march usually attracts 2,000-3,000 people, but thousands more joined as Jews around the world marked the beginning of the Hebrew month of Av. The Ninth of Av is marked every year as the day when foreign invaders destroyed the First and Second Holy Temples.

United Nations warns of War in Northern Israel –

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that violence may break out again between Hezbollah and Israel as tensions rise over charges that the terrorist organization has obtained advanced long--range Scud missiles from Syria. Now in control, with Iranian and Syrian support, Hezbollah has an arsenal of 42,000 missiles with ranges that cover all of Israel.  Ban's warning came as the IDF concludes a massive training exercise in the north, where soldiers are preparing for war.   

Israel Sends Aid as Gaza Sends Rockets –

Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza are continuing without a break, despite the stepped-up rocket attacks on southern Israeli communities. As a rocket hit an Israeli building 128 trucks filled with humanitarian aid supplies were sent through the crossings into Gaza, as they are every day except Friday and the Sabbath. The trucks carried various foodstuffs, diesel fuel for the Gaza electric power generator, cooking gas and 82 electric wheelchairs from the flotilla.  Israel increased the goods going in by 200%.  Gaza fired more than 10 other missiles and mortar shells at southern Israel over the past week. More than 90 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israeli civilians from Gaza since January.

PA Ready to Follow Arab States Against Israel –

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Arab leaders that the PA is ready to wage war on Israel if the rest of the Arab world does.  "If you want war, and if all of you will fight Israel, we are in favour. But the Palestinians will not fight alone because we don't have the ability to do it,"

New Immigrants (Olim) Landing in Israel –

232 North American Olim, including 96 children and 27 young men and women who are volunteering to serve in the IDF. You can watch a live feed of the Olim landing in Israel and follow the welcoming ceremony on a dedicated online webcast at: www.nbn.org.il/live   This summer 2,500 Olim will be arriving on Aliyah (Immigrant) flights from North America.