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From Jerusalem...

Information, Opinion and Comment

Access and then interact with regular updates posted by our special correspondent in Israel's capital, Jerusalem.

Our correspondent

Cheryl is our main correspondent based in Jerusalem. She holds a full Israeli Press Pass, which affords her excellent opprtunities to report from areas not accessible by 'ordinary' civilians.

Cheryl is the Middle East Broadcaster for Bible Voice Broadcasting. Her weekly reports to the station’s website, are re-broadcasted through other radio stations in the US and Canada. She is also a member of the International Press Association and the Government Press Office in Jerusalem. She speaks internationally to groups, churches and through TV and radio programming.

For nineteen years Cheryl was involved in selling and using drugs. She was arrested several times on various charges. In 1989 she became a Christian and gave her life to the Lord.

Cheryl moved to Israel in May of 1999, where she worked with Christian Friends of Israel and Voice of Hope Radio in Jerusalem. She co-founded the ministry of ‘Love Without Borders’ and Founded the ministry of “FAST For Life”, which are dedicated to bringing physical and spiritual relief to those in need. Her ministry is two-fold, to take Hope and Truth to the people of Israel and to take the truth concerning Israel to the Western World.

She is a member of the International Press Association and speaks internationally to groups and through radio and television programming. She interacts with Christian ministries and churches in several countries to accomplish this work.

About Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and its largest city. It has a population of 747,600 residents and an area of 125.1 square kilometres (48.3 square miles) if disputed East Jerusalem is included. The modern City of Jerusalem, taken from the Mount of Olives It is located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern tip of the Dead Sea, and modern Jerusalem has developed to become a bustling modern city, outside the Old City’s walls.

The city has a history that goes back 4000 years BCE, making it one of the oldest cities recorded in world history. It is the holiest city in Judaism and has been the spiritual centre of the Jewish people since the 10^th Century BCE. It contains a number of significant ancient Christian sites, and is considered the third-holiest city in Islam.

Despite having an area of only 0.9 square kilometres (0.35 square miles), the Old City is home to sites of key religious importance, among them the Temple Mount, the Kotel (Western Wall), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque.

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Recent posts

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Israel Update - 30.12.08

Shalom,

Sunday was the last night of Hanukkah and I was invited to the house of Holocaust Survivors for a party. What a blessing it was as they thanked God for a wonderful Hanukkah here in Israel.

Some of the Survivors told us stories about their experience in the Ghettos and Concentration Camps. One woman said her family made a Hanukkiah and the candles were made of sticks. They did what they could to remember the miracles of God.

Another Holocaust Survivor put his hand on my head and prayed for me it brought me to tears. This humble man was put in a pile of dead people in the Bergen-Belson camp when he was 12 years old. They left him for dead but he was found alive.

One of the women began crying because her two grandsons were sent to the front lines of Gaza Sunday. We prayed for her and them.

These people are precious and have been through soooo much. It's a blessing and honor to get to see them smile and celebrate life.

CLOSE CALLS

Sunday Afternoon: As I was on my way to a Hanukkah party I could see black smoke coming from the neighborhood I was entering. Traffic was stopped as Arabs began running and throwing stones at Israeli Soldiers. I'm not sure what was burning because the smoke was too thick. I decided not to hang around, I've had enough rocks thrown at my car.
Monday Afternoon: I took 3 guests from England to the Excavation at the Pool of Siloam. As we were adventuring I noticed police near my car. I asked what the problem was and someone had stoned the car in front of mine cracking the window shield. They told me to leave quickly as more stones were expected.

NEWS ISRAELI ARABS CONTINUING TO ATTACK JEWS THROUGHOUT ISRAEL

Monday Morning: Two Arab repairmen arrived to fix a heater in an apartment in Modiin, and proceeded to stab the occupants of the home. The father is in serious condition, and others were more lightly hurt. The Arabs then ran down to the street and stabbed two passersby using a sharp instrument, and punched and kicked a third person. One of the terrorists was shot by a passerby and is listed in moderate-to-serious condition. The second terrorist has not yet been caught.
Monday Morning: Arabs rioted near Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, throwing rocks and a pipe bomb at the holy site.
Monday Morning: 25-year-old sustains serious injuries after being stabbed in Bnei Brak (Army Radio)
Monday: Man lightly wounded as Palestinians hurl stones at IDF soldiers outside Jerusalem.
Tuesday: Police arrest 3 Israeli Arabs from northern town of Mashad for hurling stones. (Haaretz)

GAZA BATTLE STILL RAGING

Monday: 50 rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel. (Israel Radio)
Monday Morning: A Grad Katyusha rocket killed one person in the center of Ashkelon and wounded 16 others as Hamas continues to attack Israel.
Monday Evening: Two Israeli civilians were critically wounded as a Katyusha rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a bus stop in Ashdod, some 35 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Three people were lightly hurt in the attack.
Tuesday AM: Rockets fired from Gaza hit Yavneh, farthest target North to date. (Channel 10)

POSSIBLE GROUND WAR? - The IDF positioned hundreds of tanks along the Gaza separation barrier as the Air Force resumed attacks on terrorist targets throughout Gaza. Israeli gunboats fired several missiles towards the Gaza coast. Sources said that several people were killed or wounded, including terrorists hiding in mosques.

PREPARE FOR ATTACKS - The Home Front ordered Be'er Sheva to prepare for Katyusha rockets and to open 250 public bomb shelters, bringing back memoires of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 when families slept in shelters during Egyptian attacks.

COLLABORATORS KILLED BY GAZANS - At least eight people were killed for allegedly helping Israel fight terrorism by providing information on local terrorist groups. Several prisoners managed to escape the damaged building, among them many who had been accused of cooperating with Israel or convicted and sentenced to death for "collaboration". Upon hearing of the airstrike, terrorists and relatives of terrorists killed by the IDF rushed to the prison and caught several of the escaping inmates. Those caught were immediately killed.

ISRAEL HELPS GAZANS - 100 trucks carrying food, aid enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom crossing (Army Radio)

ISRAEL HOSPITAL TAKES IN GAZA'S WOUNDED - Dozens of Gaza Arabs are being treated in Ashkelon's Hospital at the same time Gaza terrorists are bombarding the city. The medical facility, is in the line of rocket fire, and medical staff often have to stop caring for patients and run for cover during air rain warnings.

Thank you all for your prayers. I know these aren't easy times anywhere in the World, so thank you for your love and care for the people of Israel.

Cheryl

Israel Update - 04.01.09

Shalom,

Wow! What a day!

I went the Media Center near Gaza with 2 Journalists. I interviewed a Government Spokesman and someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report may not be on the website until Monday but to listen to the interview click here.

All quiet, but not for long

It was quiet all day until we left S'derot (1 mile from Gaza). As I was driving away the sirens began to wail. Around 4:00 PM I got back to Ashkelon and dropped off one of the reporters then my friend and I began to drive out of town.

S'derot Under Attack, image courtesy of israpundit.com Suddenly the Code Red sirens began to blare again. Everyone stopped in their tracks and ran from their cars. My friend said "We have to go now", I said, "You mean leave my car in the middle of the street?" He said "Now!" So I shut off the engine and we ran for cover behind a cement wall. Two seconds later the explosion came and a house was hit one man was lightly wounded. We ran back to the car and immediately, we saw people running for ambulances. We went to a nearby restaurant to get a cup of coffee before the ride home.

We were watching the news about the preceding 3 explosions when all of a sudden the sirens began wail again. We looked at each other and at the staff. (We were the only ones in the restaurant). They said "Hurry, this way"...and we took cover behind a wall. This time I grabbed my coat! (I'm learning!) Five seconds later a huge explosion shook the building. (At least my reaction time is getting better). We decided it was time to leave Ashkelon.

The Jewish journalists that I have been spending time with have seen the Lord doing miracles around us. Even yesterday there seemed to be a break in the rocket activity as we were getting interviews, and nothing happened until we left the town. I thank you all for your prayers for protection and for these people to know the Lord in a personal way.

HELP FOR GAZA - Israel is allowing on the average 90 trucks a day into Gaza for Humanitarian Aid. Since the beginning of "Operation Cast Lead" 6,500 tons of humanitarian relief has entered Gaza. "There is so much aid that the receiving organizations have declined any further aid at the moment - the warehouses are over flowing." (IDF Spokesperson)

TUNNELS FROM EGYPT -There are reported to be 1,200 tunnels from Egypt to Gaza. (Israel had struck some of them)

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST ISRAEL AND USA - More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital Jakarta to protest the ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, aiming fake missiles labeled "Target: Tel Aviv, Israel" at the U.S. Embassy.

GAZAN GIRL SAYS IT'S HAMAS' FAULT - A young Arab girl whose family members were killed in Gaza says in a TV interview, "I say Hamas is the cause of all wars." The girl told of how she woke in the morning and part of her room had collapsed: "We were sleeping 7 girls in the room. We were asleep and didn't know what was happening. In the morning all the bricks were on top of my head, and the heads of all my sisters. My 4 year old sister next to me was dead. In the other room dead were my mother, my father, my younger brother and another sister, who is 13 days old. I say, Hamas is the cause, in the first place, of all wars." The interview was translated into English by Palestinian Media Watch

CHRISTIANS IN GAZA - With a Christian population of around 3,000 people, the Hamas takeover in June 2007 led to a series of attacks on Christian institutions. Attacks included murder, vandalism, bombings and abductions, most especially targeting schools and churches. Last Wednesday, jihadists fired a mortar at the Erez Crossing into Israel just as a group of Christians were on line, waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas. Most Gazan Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, while others are Roman Catholic.

MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD - Arab rioters threw rocks at a Border Guard force Tuesday afternoon in the northern Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Shuafat. The soldiers responded with riot-dispersal weapons, lightly wounding three of the demonstrators.

ISRAEL'S POPULATION - According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel's population at the end of 2008 stands at almost 7.4 million. More than three quarters of the population are Jewish, while more than 20 percent are Arabs. Natural population growth was consistent with the last five years at 1.8 percent. Aliyah (immigration) was down this past year in general. The number of English speakers moving to Israel is up.

ISRAEL WARNS GAZANS BEFORE ATTACKING - The Israel Defense Forces has unveiled a new tactic meant to reduce civilian casualties, phoning homes before they are to be targeted in order to give people time to flee the attack. Palestinians reported that in some cases, the caller leaves a message on their voice mail warning that the IDF will bomb any house where weapons or rockets are found and the owners of the houses will be the ones to suffer the consequences. The IDF has also used a sound bomb to warn civilians before striking homes.

The IDF has also used what they are calling "roof knocking" operations, in which they inform the residents of suspected buildings that they have 10 minutes to leave the premises. In some cases, residents of suspected houses have been able to prevent bombing by climbing up to the roof to show that they will not leave, prompting IDF commanders to call off the strike. In these cases, the IAF sometimes launches a relatively harmless missile at the corner of the roof, avoiding casualties but successfully dispersing the crowd.

It appears that the "roof knocking" technique was used in the assassination of Hamas leader Nizar Ghayan Thursday, but Ghayan decided to stay indoors with his family, and the army opted to bomb the house anyway. Sources familiar with Ghayan's record said he was one of the people who encouraged Gazans to climb on rooftops to prevent bombings.

Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement.

Cheryl

Israel Update - 08.01.09

Shalom,

Thursday (08.01.09) I went back to the southern towns of Israel to get an update on the Gaza situation and to distribute lollypops and encouragement for the hurting people.

Palestinians and Soldiers, Healing Side-by-Side

As my friend and I came to the Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon the Code Red siren began to blare. Barzilai Hospital, Ashkelon - image courtesy of Reuters

Barzilai Hospital, Ashkelon - image courtesy of Reuters

All the journalists outside were rushed into the hospital for cover. After the siren the journalists were told to leave. But my friend and I somehow were overlooked and got to stay inside.

The Deputy Director of the hospital asked if he could help me, so I said sure, and interviewed him. I was astonished at the care they are providing for both Palestinians from Gaza and Israeli soldiers. These people lay side by side in the hospital beds as they heal. It's an amazing thing to see.

Sderot

Afterwards we travelled the road to Sderot, but somehow I made a wrong turn. I was stopped by soldiers who cautioned me to turn around. I told them I had an appointment with the Media Centre and acting like an Israeli I argued my point until he almost let me through the blockade. A Relaxing Bath In Sderot? Not Likely.

Suddenly we both realized that I was going in the wrong direction. I was heading to GAZA when I wanted the town to the west. We laughed and were relieved that we caught the miscommunication in time!

In Sderot, which is one mile from the Gaza border, we kept our appointment at the Media Centre. I was in the Restroom washing my hands when the Code Red siren went off. I IMMEDIATELY began to run towards the bomb shelter. Soldiers were waving me in quickly as I was the last one to enter, then the rocket hit a street down from us.

My friend happened to know the IDF Spokesman who told us there was a media blackout. He apologized for not being able to give me an update. As we continued to 'shoot the breeze' he received a call that the media blackout was lifted. He asked if I wanted to be first to receive information from the front lines, of course I said YES.

Hamas Uniforms In UN Aid Trucks

I was amazed what he shared as I interviewed him! Yesterday as the IDF were allowing 90 trucks of aid into Gaza they found a truckload of winter uniforms for Hamas. They are looking into where this shipment came from. To listen to the 5 minute interview click here.

At The Media Centre

The next stop was the local Media Centre. As we were being briefed another Code Red siren began to wail. We all began running out the door to the bomb shelter. The last person entered and shut the door. We were in the dark, all quiet, waiting to hear the explosion and hoping it would not be near us. I got the bright idea of doing a radio interview from inside the shelter. So as I was reaching for my microphone, we suddenly heard the rocket land a few streets away. I thought we were going to leave the shelter, but they said no, because there may be another bomb on the way. So I interviewed a volunteer worker as we stood waiting. That interview can also be heard by clicking here.

Bed Wetting, Shaking… from 8-Years of Explosions

The more I experience these sirens and explosions, the more understanding I have of the people who live on both sides of the battle zone. Israel was victim to the rockets for 8 years, there was no retaliation during this time. People especially children are having horrible symptoms of shock. Teenagers wet their bed, they shake uncontrollably.

Over 3,000 people have been treated for shock in the past 8 years. Some are not getting better. Please pray for these children, especially for an 18 year old boy who was shaking so bad at school this week that he had to be escorted by security back home. This boy has lived under the rocket attacks since he was 10 years old. The families are stuck, they can't afford to buy another home, or even rent. And no one will buy their homes.

The People of Gaza

I'm sorry for not writing more about the people of Gaza. There is much suffering there by innocent people. Hamas is hiding amongst the civilian population and using them and their homes as shields to save their own lives. What can the people do? We really need to pray for Hope to reach the innocent people. I have received one report that the Believers are having a VERY difficult time. They are left out of the dividing of aid many times because they are Christians.

OTHER NEWS

Palestinian militants this week have continued the daily barrage of rockets.

Tuesday

Gaza militants fired almost 30 other rockets into Israel. A Grad rocket fired by militants struck Gedera, located 30 kilometres from Tel Aviv, and lightly injured a 3-month-old baby. This is the first such attack on the central Israel city.

Wednesday

Just after 4:00 PM following a 3 hour truce as Israel sent aid to the people of Gaza, Palestinian Militants fired at least 13 rockets into Israel. Two rockets exploded in Be'er Sheva (Beersheba in the Bible). Two rockets hit Ashkelon, one exploding in the backyard of a three-story building. Nine people were treated for shock. Four rockets struck Sderot earlier, Ofakim and Netivot were each hit by two rockets and one landed in Kiryat Malachi.

Thursday

At least two Katyusha rockets fired from south Lebanon exploded in northern Israel, leaving two people in a nursing home lightly wounded and a number of others suffering from shock. Hezbollah denies any involvement.
Since Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2006, 10,000 rockets and mortars have been fired at civilians in Israel.
Half a million people are in range of the Hamas missiles.
Israel dropped leaflets and made 100,000 phone calls warning Gaza residents to get to safety.
One of Israel's nuclear power plants is near range of Gaza rockets.

General

Jordanian PM apologizes for police beating of reporters outside Israeli embassy (Reuters)
Expelled Israeli ambassador leaves Venezuela in wake of Gaza escalation (AP)
Defence sources: Deputy Head of Hamas rejects permanent truce with Israel but his group is studying peace initiatives to end the violence in Gaza Strip.

Please Pray…

Will you please pray with us that the people will focus their eyes on the only help and Saviour. That they will remember the seeds planted in them about who that Saviour is. There really is no other hope for any of us without The Lord.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you…”

~ James 4: 8 ~

Have a blessed week!

Cheryl

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Recent posts

Palestinians and Soldiers, Healing Side-by-Side

Sderot

Hamas Uniforms In UN Aid Trucks

At The Media Centre

Bed Wetting, Shaking… from 8-Years of Explosions

The People of Gaza

OTHER NEWS

General

Please Pray…

Read more blog posts by our Jerusalem correspondent