Shalom from the Jezreel Valley in Israel! It is so good to be back home. On my return from vacation, I took the opportunity to stop in Switzerland so that I could teach at ICF Zurich. What an amazing church and what amazing people! The last time I spoke abroad was November 2023, but teaching God’s Word is like riding a bike. The Holy Spirit moved and we had a wonderful time. Thanks to all at ICF Zurich!
The same day I arrived home is the same day that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave what I believe to be the most powerful speech of his political career. Two days earlier, six hostages had been executed by gunshots to the back of their heads because Hamas felt the IDF was getting too close to discovering them. It shocked the world and outraged the nation. In response, and under fire from Israeli leftists, families of hostages, international governments, and the United States’ White House, Netanyahu risked his political life by taking the unpopular stand against appeasement for the sake of hostage returns. As the saying goes, “With friends like these….”
There was one truth that Netanyahu communicated that could not be misunderstood. As long as he is prime minister, Israel will not back down. Despite the liberal politicians, Bibi’s stand will stay strong. And despite IDF generals who prefer plotting with one another rather than listening to the government, the PM is going to ensure that the military serves the government’s wishes rather than the government serving the military’s. After listening to the speech numerous times, I believe there are four main takeaways:
1. Unity is vital to winning the war. This was a message to the Israeli public, and it came in the wake of protests and a failed labor strike that the courts declared illegal and political. The majority of our citizens agree with Netanyahu that we must remain strong together as we push to finish this war. Unfortunately, those who stand contrary to him – leftist media, big-mouth politicians, and buttinsky foreign governments – have the microphones and the television screens and the news sources.
2. We received a detailed explanation of the history and importance of keeping the Philadelphi Axis in the hands of the IDF. It is through that area along the Egypt-Gaza border that most of Hamas’s armaments pass into the country. It provides the military oxygen that keeps the terrorists breathing, so it must remain cut off. Passing it back over to Hamas is like committing martial suicide for the IDF.
3. Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, U.S. President Joe Biden, and all the others exerting political pressure on Netanyahu need to back off and let him work. As always, the left-wing media took up the cause of the anti-Bibis and grilled the PM mercilessly. But Netanyahu responded masterfully. No matter how hard they tried to trip him up, he was able to communicate his point clearly and concisely.
4. Yahya Sinwar now knows in no uncertain terms that he is a walking dead man. No pressure from the U.S. or our own far-left elements will change Bibi’s stance on the Philadelphi Axis or on the removal of Sinwar from this planet. By saying it so publicly, Netanyahu has locked himself in and he can never go back.
Again, I think it is the best I have ever seen the prime minister. If you want a more detailed breakdown of his speech, check out my special Breaking News Update from Tuesday.
Once again, I am angered and heart-broken at the barbaric loss of life. But I am not surprised. In fact, I remain optimistic, because biblically I know that we must win this smaller war for the big one of Ezekiel 38 to begin. A time of peace and security is coming for Israel. Once that is finally achieved, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and others will pour out of the north with the intention of destroying and pillaging Israel. All that has happened, God knew before. And He has planned out the perfect path that will ultimately lead to His people crying out to Him, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35).
The Middle East
Once again, I remind you to check out my Telegram channel to get all the latest news. Make sure you only subscribe to the one with over 560,000 followers, so that you can avoid scammers. In addition, with the future of Telegram possibly a little sketchy, I’ve been increasing my presence on X, formerly known as Twitter. Once again, for safety’s sake only subscribe to the one that has over 112,000 followers.
Gaza and the Massacring of Hostages
Last week we celebrated together the rescuing of Arab Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi from a Hamas tunnel. Just a few days later, Israel was once again outraged and mourning as six of its innocents were executed via gunshot to the back of their heads by their Hamas captors. Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, were stolen away nearly 11 months ago from the Nova Music Festival and forced to live underground up until their lives were unceremoniously taken from them in just a moment. Carmel Gat, 40, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, was massacred alongside them. Hamas readily admits to the executions, saying that these are the new rules. But they don’t accept responsibility. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said, “Netanyahu killed the six prisoners, and he is determined to kill the remaining ones.” The lie is so transparent, and it is so evil. And the media is printing it as if it came from the lips of an archangel.
What about an agreement? Is Hamas begging for Israel to put down their weapons? After their tremendous losses, are they pleading with their hands folded desperate for relief? Hardly. Khalil al-Hayya, senior member of the political wing of Hamas, boldly asserts, “Without an Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, from the Nezarim Corridor, and the Rafah crossing there will be no agreement.” In other words, “Israel, you are defeated. You must give up and go home.” It sounds asinine, but is it really? Hamas is counting on the two weapons that might be big enough to defeat Israel. The first is international pressure, and the second is the left-wing inside Israel. Hamas can’t do it themselves, but they have some pretty powerful allies.
It's not all bad news from Gaza. On October 7, Ahmed Fozi Nazer Muhammad Wadia, the commander of the Nukhba Company in the Daraj Tuffah Battalion, paraglided into the Netiv HaAsara community and took charge of the slaughter. While the children of slain father Gil Taasa were forced to stare at his body, Wadia looked on as he casually a coke. On Tuesday, Wadia and seven others were killed in a Gaza City compound.
Hezbollah and the North
The battle in the north continues. On Monday, the IDF attacked ten rocket launchers belonging to Hezbollah. Unfortunately, there are many other locations where rockets are stored and from which they can be launched, as evidenced by the 60 rockets they launched during the morning hours yesterday. The IDF responded immediately with a heavy strike. It will be interesting to watch how and when the prime minister will address Hezbollah. So far, it seems that the terrorist group is content to let their chicken-killing rocket attack of August 25 serve as a strong message to Israel that they should stop killing Hezbollah commanders like they did with Fuad Shukr. Unfortunately for the terrorists, the only ones who really seem to be upset are the members of the National Poultry Lobby who apparently took to the streets soon after, crying, “Fowl!”
The West Bank
The violence inside and coming out of the West Bank is only getting worse. On Sunday, a Palestinian gunman belonging to a group known as the Khalil al-Rahman Brigade ambushed an Israeli police car, killing the three officers inside. Later that day, the terrorist was dispatched while hiding out in a home in Hebron. Terrorism has become rampant in the West Bank. In recent weeks, Shin Bet has thwarted two significant terrorist attacks originating in the Nablus area. This is the same region that sent the failed suicide terrorist of August 18. Since the beginning of the year, about 200 terror attacks have been thwarted by Shin Bet.
UK Bans Arms
In a case of the worst timing ever, just a few days after Hamas cold-bloodedly executed six Israeli hostages, the United Kingdom announced that it was suspending a whole series of weapons exports bound for Israel. This move brought criticism from all corners of the land, including former prime minister Boris Johnson and former home secretary Priti Patel. British columnist Allison Pearson called the Labour party’s ban “a shameful betrayal of a heroic ally”, adding that doing so immediately following the execution by Hamas of six innocents “presents a bold challenge to the limits of satire.” Hey, UK, at least let us mourn our dead for a few days before you stab us in the back.
Russian Missile Attack on Ukraine
As Ukraine struggles to push farther across the border, Russia is fighting back. On Tuesday, two ballistic missiles hit a military educational institute and a nearby hospital in Poltava. More than 50 were killed and hundreds were injured. Russia defended its actions, saying that the military institute was a viable target.
The Ministry
Have you wondered what it would have been like running for your life from the terrorists on October 7? Have you thought about how life has changed here in Israel since that horrendous massacre? Those two themes lay the foundation for our new Nir Tavor thriller, The Sick Man’s Rage, and give the story a depth like none that we’ve written before. After giving you a glimpse into what that fateful day was like, we’ll take you into Israel’s response and the resulting repercussions that triggered a global reaction. Preorder your copy today of The Sick Man’s Rage, releasing December 3, and prepare to be drawn into the Israeli mind deeper than you’ve ever been before.
On Monday, I have an exciting opportunity to be interviewed on the “Got Questions?” podcast. If you have ever done a Google search on a biblical question, then chances are you have seen Got Questions. It’s a great opportunity with a solid organization. Once I learn when it will be aired, I’ll pass the information on to you.
Also on Monday, it will be time for another live Q&A CONNECT with Pastor Barry Stagner and me. We’ll talk Israel, the Bible, and Israel as it relates to the Bible. Come loaded with your questions at 10:00 AM PDT. Then, be sure to join me the next day, Tuesday, for a fresh edition of MidEast Update.
While the vacation was good and the time with family was great, it’s still wonderful to be back at work in the office at CONNECT. Thank you for your prayers and your support. Your faithfulness to God allows Him to be faithful through you. May He bless you as you trust Him day by day.
Awaiting His Return,
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