Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his decision to order the Israeli military to attack Hamas’ last two strongholds in the Gaza Strip, amid a continuing storm of international criticism of the move. In a press conference with global media, Netanyahu stressed that the goal of the operation would be to free Gaza from the Hamas terror group and to free the Israeli hostages.
Welcoming the chance to “puncture the lies and tell the truth,” the prime minister pointed out that Hamas continues to subjugate Gazans, saying the terror group “steals their food, it shoots them when they try to move to safe zones,” but added that many Gazans are now fighting back. “They’re begging the world: ‘Free us. Free us, and free Gaza from Hamas.” He added, “No nation can accept a genocidal terrorist organization committed to its annihilation, a stone’s throw from its citizens.”
Netanyahu laid out his five principles for the “day after” the war. “One, Hamas disarmed. Second, all hostages freed. Third, Gaza demilitarized. Fourth, Israel has overriding security control. And five, non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration. By that, I mean a civilian administration that doesn’t educate its children for terror, doesn’t pay terrorists, and doesn’t launch terrorist attacks against Israel. That’s what we want to see in Gaza,” he said.
Ultra Orthodox warn of civil war in Israel.
Ultra-Orthodox Knesset Member Meir Porush of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, which recently withdrew from the government, began a hunger strike in Jerusalem, in front of the Office of Legal Advisor to Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Porush warned that the disputes over the ultra-Orthodox Draft Law may lead to a civil war. This law would compel Haredi Jews to join the IDF.
He said, “You’re talking here about tens of thousands of believers for whom the Torah gives them life,” Porush said, referring to yeshiva students. “I don’t see any country that can cope with hundreds of thousands of citizens who believe in something and the state tries to thwart them. You can’t go to war with one and a quarter million Haredi citizens who want to live here in a certain lifestyle, it can’t be.”
The withdrawal of the Ultra Orthodox party from Netanyahu’s governing coalition has left him with a majority of one in the Knesset, which means the government could fall if it loses any more members of the coalition.
Drought affects Galilee.
Israel’s Water Authority director, Yehezkel Lifshitz, said that Israel is experiencing the worst drought it has faced within the past century, with only 50% of the average rainfall for the period. This is affecting the Sea of Galilee, Israel’s largest fresh water lake. ‘Drying is a catastrophe. A reduced flow allows some recovery, but complete drying lets invasive species dominate, preventing springs from returning to their original state.”
Local Israelis were alarmed when unusual red patches formed on the surface of the lake, sparking apocalyptic concerns. God turned the Nile River to blood as a warning to Egypt, because Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites from slavery. In the Book of Revelation waters turning to blood are a sign of divine judgment during the apocalypse.
According to science though, the red spots actually come from green algae, called Botryococcus braunii. Israel’s Water Authority explained that ‘the red coloration is due to the accumulation of a natural non toxic pigment secreted by the algae in response to strong sun exposure.’
Third Temple setback.
The Temple Institute in Jerusalem declared that the five red heifers brought to Israel from Texas three years ago are no longer considered viable candidates for the biblically significant sacrifice needed to purify the future Third Temple. The red heifer, described in Numbers 19, plays a critical role in the purification rites necessary before temple service can be reinstated. Its ashes, combined with water, are to be used for the ceremonial cleansing of those defiled by contact with the dead. Without a perfect red heifer–one without blemish -the rebuilding of the Temple cannot be fully actualized according to traditional Jewish law.
Despite this the Temple Mount Faithful continue with their aim to rebuild the Temple. Jews are singing and praying openly on the Temple Mount–a practice once completely suppressed. Priestly garments have been crafted. Utensils have been made. Even the training of Levites has begun. Messianic expectations are common amongst these Orthodox Jews.
The WAKF (Muslim administration of the Haram al Sharif / Temple Mount) is implacably opposed to any idea of a Jewish structure being built on the Mount. Also most Israelis are not in favour of the rebuilding of the Temple at this time. Many Orthodox Jews say it should only happen following the appearance of the Messiah. Nonetheless there are many who do look for a third Temple, including religious Jews, allied to the Temple Mount Faithful, and Christian prophecy watchers (who believe it will be rebuilt before the Second Coming of Jesus).
Netanyahu debunks fake news.
Israel PM debunked accusations of Israel deliberately starving Gazans. He said “The only ones that are being deliberately starved in Gaza are our hostages.”
He showed three images that media outlets had used to support reports of alleged starvation in Gaza. “The first one is Osama Al-Rakab. He is in Italy, getting treatment, because Israel got him out… He has a genetic disease that damages the lungs and digestive system, it makes it hard to absorb nutrients and gain weight.”
“The second one is Abdul Qader al-Fayoumi. He suffers from a genetic neurological disorder – spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative condition that causes muscle wasting, weakness and severe weight loss, unrelated to nutrition. In fact, he was treated in Israel in 2018, doesn’t help because it’s a congenital disease and it defies most treatments, at least.”
“The third one is on the front page of the New York Times, of Mohammed Zakaria Ayoub and his mother. Ayoub is suffering “from a genetic illness, called cerebral palsy. His mother is well-fed, and his brother is healthy.”
Netanyahu noted that Israel is weighing “the possibility of a governmental suit against the New York Times because this is outrageous. Of course, the correction was postage-size; I don’t know where it was buried. But this is outrageous, these are the three most celebrated photos, and they’re all fake.” Concluding his statement, Netanyahu said: “It’s the kind of malignant lies that were levelled at the Jewish people in the Middle Ages, we won’t suffer. We won’t allow it to go unchallenged, and this is the purpose of this press conference. I hope that you open your eyes to a simple fact: Hamas lies.”
