NEWS FROM ISRAEL BY MY GOOD FRIEND DAVID HOYLE.

Here is an "Update From Israel" from my very good friend and colleague in the Lord's Work, David Hoyle, who has organised something like eighty tours to Israel over his gifted and anointed lifetime:

"All around the world anti-Semitism is on the rise and in many countries Jewish people are living in fear.

A headline in the Jewish telegraph read “Greek Jewry fearful after election…. But for French Jews its wait and see.”

Greece – Jewish leaders expressed concern and disappointment after the neo Nazi “Golden Dawn party” won 21 seats in the Greek Parliament.  When their leader won a seat on Athens City Council in 2010 he said “we are coming” and gave a Nazi salute.  During the election the party’s supporters shave their heads and wore black shirts!  The party said it would tolerate religious freedom “except in cases that affect national interest and undermine Hellenism.”

However the party displays Mien Kampf and works on Greek racial superiority at its headquarters.  The party has plans to landmine Greece’s borders!  The party’s banner has a swastika like motif.

Whilst the neo Nazi’s are not in power the right wing is strengthening and anti-Semitism is on the rise.

France – There was a mixed reaction in Jewish circles to the election of the left wing François Hollande as France’s president.   Fears are that despite soothing noises Mr Hollande election would lead to a rise in the anti-Israel left.  It is estimated that 92% of the Jews living in Israel cast their votes at the French Embassy in Tel Aviv in favour of Nicholas Sarkozy who was linked to the release of Gilad Shalit and has also strong links with the Jewish Community.  Anti Semitism has been rising in France for years and a holocaust survivor who left there 3 years ago told me whilst I was speaking at their association in Leeds  that parts of France were like Berlin, where she was in 1938.   She escaped Berlin, went to Paris, and left for England only to find that there is anti – Semitism here!  Only a few years ago swastikas were painted on Jewish peoples doors in Harrogate! Shortly before Ariel Sharon went into a coma (he is still alive) he caused outrage whilst on a visit to France by calling on French Jewry to make aliyah and live in Israel; such was the vilification of Jews at that time.

Someone has said recently “there is only one safe place for Jews – Israel!”

Jordan – Israeli and U.S. flags were recently burned in Amman and calls were made for that cancellation of the Jordan- Israel peace agreement.  However their PM said, ‘Given a second chance I would sign again’. Jordan has of course gained immensely in Israeli technology, farming techniques and not least… water from their peace treaty.

Aliyah - All around the world there is a movement of Jewish people back to their homeland. Recently 5,000 queued to attend an aliyah fair in Paris – an unprecedented number!  It raised memories of the tens of thousands (ultimately over 1,000,000) who left Russia at the time of Mr. Gorbachev. Natan Sharansky was in Paris for the event.  I met him 2 years ago and he asked me, ‘Ask your Christian friends to keep praying for us, God answers prayer’.

U.K. – An Israeli invited to speak at a conference on mental health had his visit cancelled at the behest of the UNISON union.

The Co-op has severed its connections with Israeli exporters and will ban all imports from so-called Jewish settlements.  Stop buying from the Co-op, embargos can work two ways. Support Morrison’s and Waitrose, who both promote Israeli goods.

Israeli Election – One day after Israel was set to call an early election on September 4^th the move was cancelled as the main opposition party Kadima agreed to join the coalition. Shaul Mofez, their leader, had previously said he would keep them in opposition, but as they faced possible annihilation in an election he changed his position.

The government will now have one of the biggest majorities in its history, 94.  Friction may well be on the horizon as Mr. Mofez has stated he will give the Palestinians all they want! This is diametrically opposed to Mr. Netanyahu’s position.  Additionally Mr Netanyahu has consistently stated that he might bomb Iran, Mr. Mofez is against any such move.

Mr. Netanyahu has often reiterated that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel; Mr. Mofez takes the opposite view.

Orthodox – The new unity government has stated it will make, ‘Equality of military service a priority’.  Currently more than 60,000 orthodox men of military age are exempt from army service.

Olympic Games – An online petition is calling for the International Olympic Committee to honour the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered at the Munich games in 1972.  Petition organisers hope for 1,000,000 signatories.

Lebanese Border – Israel is to build a mile long wall to protect the town of Metulla from rockets. During the second Lebanese war in 2006 160 of its residents were killed.

Iran – Iranian Jews are reported to be living in fear as talk of an attack on Iran continues.  A Tel Aviv spice seller who imports through a third country said, ‘The people there need food, not a bomb’, nevertheless if they get a bomb they will use it.  Israeli Iranian Jews fear for their families in Iran should war break out.

Gaza – Speaking at the UN Israel’s Ambassador Ron Prosor (formerly Ambassador to the UK) addressed myths surrounding the Middle East.

He went on,’ There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza’.   Numerous international organisations including the Red Cross confirm this. Exports are expanding and there are no civilian goods that cannot enter the country.  “Yet” he said, ‘as aid flows in, the missiles fly out, that is the problem not aid’.

Jerusalem – Mr. Prosor, again speaking at the UN said, ‘Across the Arab world we are accused of Judaising Jerusalem, this accusation is 3,000 years too late’! He went on, ‘We are accused of the ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem even though the Arab population has risen from 26% to 35%.’

Refugees – Mr. Prosor pointed out that, ‘No one talks about 850,000 Jews uprooted from Arab countries in our 64 year history they are of course busy talking about Arab refugees.’

Good News – 7,000 visitors descended on Tel Aviv from 115 countries for “Agritech Israel” to study new approaches to growing better crops, flowers and even fish and dairy cows. Israel has solved problems of irrigation, recycling, crop storage, drought, disease resistant pest control and purification of waste water for its thirsty agriculture.

A 7 man medical crew visited Ethiopia to provide free cataract surgery. Hundreds of adults and children were waiting and one young girl with a protruding eye was flown to Israel for a very special gift ‘A life-changing operation’. Another 10 year old girl had a tumour behind her eye removed.

Undoubtedly Jewish people are specially gifted by God.

Finally – Congratulations to Israel on her 64^th birthday!

Truly God’s hand is upon them!

DAVID HOYLE.