A couple of months ago, I had an appointment with a new doctor, just hours before I had to fly to the States. We didn't know each other, this new doctor and I, but he seemed like a nice guy. I was in a rush, and needed to get back home to pack. All I wanted was my prescription, so I could get meds before I got on a fifteen hour flight to LA.
But he was in a kind of friendly mood. “Why you going to the States?” he wanted to know. “Work,” I said, not terribly effusively. “What do you do?” I was feeling way too lousy to explain what the Mandel Foundation does, and referring him to our website seemed a bit obnoxious (and wouldn’t help me get meds). So I lied, a bit, and said, “I write.” “What do you write about?” he persisted. Really not wanting to have this conversation, looking hungrily at the printer which I was praying would soon spew out a prescription, I said, “About the future of Israel.” At which, he looked up from his keyboard, turned to me and said, “Oh, you write short stories.”
I laughed, and he did, ...   more »

Settlers have appealed to American Jews to save their communities by buying homes in the West Bank and renting them out to young families at affordable rates to help solidify Israel's hold on the area.
In a dramatic appeal that showed how the absence of government-assisted construction in the West Bank has stunted growth, settlers have warned American Jews that otherwise Judean and Samarian residents, particularly young couples, could leave.
They have asked United States Jews to financially fill in the gap left by the Israeli government, which at one time massively subsidized West Bank housing. Such help trickled to a slow stop this decade and finally dried out this year, settlers said.
On February 25 settlers will be in Teaneck, New Jersey hoping to entice ideological Americans to buy homes in places like Karnei Shomron, Eli, Otniel, Kiryat Arba and Shiloh.
"Almost all communities in Yesha (Judea and Samaria) are full, with no possibility of accepting new young couples or families," said the Amana Settlement Movement in a letter to potential American buyers.
"If we don't find a solution now, we will create our own population freeze, which may, in turn, begin a phenomenon unknown before in Yesha, that ...   more »

Mission Network News
CWNews.com –Gaza (MNN) -- Christians in Gaza are asking believers around the world to pray for them. Palestinian Authority (PA) police of the Fatah party have seized the six-story Gaza Baptist Church building.
President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller says, "They've taken it over as a military out-post in their gun battle with the Hamas. This situation is just terribly tragic because for so many Christians that remain in Gaza, this was their only bright light. This was their hope."
That hope has turned to questions, Moeller says. "They're wondering what's becoming of that building as it's now being used by the forces of the Palestinian Authority and of course it'll make it a target for Hamas attacks."
Fatah authorities forcibly took over the building, however no one was injured. According to Moeller the Palestinians are losing a lot. "It's a six story building that houses not only the church, but a mammogram clinic. On the ground floor, there's a public library and then there's a hostel for people who are visiting."
Pastor of the Gaza Baptist Church Hanna Massad is devastated. "He's seen the international restrictions on the economy (which) has affected everyone. He's seen ...   more »

The excavation work and bridge construction near the Mugrabi ramp have turned into the Battle of Armageddon, as happens every time the Temple Mount and its environs are involved. Who can withstand the temptation to get involved in the religious-national conflict embodied in the Temple Mount, a conflict that has already been compared to a ticking bomb with apocalyptic powers of destruction?
“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.”
Rev 11:1
Since the work there - whose goal is to replace a pedestrian bridge that links the Western Wall with the Mugrabi Gate - began, many have joined the commotion. The first to jump on the opportunity were leaders of the Islamic movements in Israel, headed by Sheikh Raed Salah.
The Islamic figures in Israel long ago turned themselves into the “defenders of Al-Aqsa” and they were the spirit behind the massive construction in the Temple Mount compound over the last few years. Now they are standing at the head of the very public struggle against Israel, which allegedly intends in the bridge work “to undermine ...   more »

A tense calm is reported in the Old City of Jerusalem after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians erupted at a contested holy site.
Dozens of people were hurt when police moved in to quell violent protests against excavation work in the area.
Skirmishes in other parts of the city have also been reported.
The violence flared over the digging work, which protesters say threatens the foundations of the al-Aqsa mosque - Islam's third holiest site.
The compound containing the mosque is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples.
The BBC's Tim Franks, in the Old City, says the area may now have been cleared and sealed but elsewhere in East Jerusalem the police have said that Palestinian youths have been throwing rocks and petrol bombs.
He says the police themselves have been hitting back with stun grenades.
Stand-off
Palestinian Muslim clerics had called for a day of protest against the excavation works following days of rising tension.
Braced for possible violence, Israeli authorities had restricted entry to the mosque and deployed thousands of police in the Old City.
The clashes broke out after thousands of Palestinians attended Friday prayers at the mosque.
 SACRED TO MUSLIMS ...   more »

Police chief Franco says decision to break into Mount to quell Muslim riots was difficult but necessary. Police respond with stun grenades after rioters hurl stones, Molotov cocktails in protest of excavations near al-Aqsa Mosque
After police managed to contain Muslim riots near the Temple Mount in protest of Israeli excavations there, Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi explained the disturbances were sparked by a group of masked youths who managed to infiltrate the site despite the over-45 age restriction.
A week of tensions reached its peak Friday afternoon, when police forced their way into the Temple Mount compound, firing stun grenades at rioters who hurled stones, Molotov cocktails and metal shards at policemen shortly after Friday prayers ended.  
Five Arab youths were arrested outside the Old City, police said, for hurling stones and inciting for violence. A total of 17 arrests were made.  
A number of worshipers who barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa Mosque to avoid police arrest were convinced by Arab MKs to vacate peacefully after police officer promised not to arrest them for throwing stones.
Over 3,000 policemen were deployed in Jerusalem as police raised the level of alert. The controversial excavations were paused for the weekend, ...   more »