The Word On The Street

"The WORD on the street" is a way for those living in the United States to be connected with those living in the Land. The day's events, politics, pop-culture, family life, maybe even what’s on the dinner menu—all of this and more is likely to be found here. Visit regularly to hear the WORD on the street from our MAs and friends in Israel.

Pray for the leaders: An update on the situation in Israel

07 January, 2009

My kids and I were visiting with friends in southern Israel on Saturday when we heard about the Israeli counter attack in Gaza. Like most Israelis, we have been glued to the news since. We ourselves are well. We returned home on Sunday, and today the children have gone to school as usual and us to work as usual. Although we are just some 60 miles from the "missiled" area, like many Israelis we live in a strange dissonance as our daily life is basically not directly affected, while war is raging so near. Of course, we have close friends and family who are living in the areas which are affected, and our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with them constantly.

The atmosphere among Israelis these days is truly that of unity, in a way that we have not felt in a very long time. There is pretty much a consensus that after 8 (!) years where our civilians—women, children, elderly—in the northern Negev have been taking rockets and killing daily, after 8 years of diplomatic attempts, after 8 years of breaking cease-fires by the Hammas, our army must put an end to this.

So Israelis are not pleased at all that innocent Palestinians are suffering, and yet as a few Arab countries put it these past few days—Hammas is reaping what they have sown! Israelis do take pride in the fact that our army attempts at all cost to avoid civilian casualties and target only Hammas terrorists, even when cynical use is done by putting children and women right next to weapon arsenals or terrorist bases.

This is a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem fervently. Time is short before even a more significant pressure is applied on Israel to stop, when in the meanwhile, no change in the security situation of our civilians is achieved. This is already evident, especially in European media. Please pray for the believers both in Gaza, and Israel and the IDF. This is a time of need for the Light to shine—the Prince of Peace, who is our only hope for peace in this world!

Pray for the leaders who make decisions these days.

Hebrew Christian Fellowship