Israel Election Deadlock Dilemma

20 09 2019
Netanyahu and Gantz

Benny Gantz and Bibi Netanyahu

Let me make this simple. No party has enough seats in the 120 seat Knesset (parliament) to form a government (61 needed). The Gantz Blue & White Party had 33 seats, with Netanyahu’s Likud Party only earning 31 seats. However, when you factor in the other parties, the Left (Gantz) has only 44 total seats. The Right has 55. Therefore, either a unity government is formed combining the two blocs or there will be new elections. Whew!

To be sure, there are two other factors, but they will not change the above facts. The Arab bloc has 13 seats but will not join the government. Avigdor Lieberman’s party has eight seats but refuses to join the Right bloc with Netanyahu. Therefore we are stuck at 44 and 55. Netanyahu tried to pursuade a small left party of six to join the Right, but failed. So, a combination unity or new elections in four or five months. Deadlock Delimma! 

We need to pray for God’s answer. Yehovah has the final say!

Here is analysis from Caroline Glick, my favorite Israeli columnist: I need to point out a basic fact about the election results which the US media, in particular, is missing. Benjamin Netanyahu did not lose and Benny Gantz didn’t win. Gantz cannot form a government under any circumstances. He cannot build a majority coalition.

By forming a unified political bloc of 55 Knesset members with the Likud’s satellite parties, Netanyahu has created a situation where he is the only possible prime minister. Either the Blue and White Party — or one of its factions — joins him, or Amir Peretz and Orly Levy bring the Labor party in, or Israel goes to new elections. Those are the only options. In other words, it’s either going to be Netanyahu or elections. It’s up to Gantz, and Peretz.

I’ll say more. The balance of power is still very much on the Right. The Right has 55 seats. The Left has 44. Liberman is nothing but a Bibi hater. And the Arab parties are so extreme that they cannot be considered for any governing coalition. Netanyahu is the only person capable of forming a government. It remains to be seen if that will happen, but Gantz cannot form a government. And he is slowly coming to terms with this unalterable reality.

We need to pray faithfully that God will bring wisdom and unity in the midst of this dilemma. Only He knows His purpose. Pray that He will reveal to the leaders of Israel the “one heart and one way” of this promise:

Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul. Jeremiah 32:37-41

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and thank God for the beginning of the seasonal rains.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists              (Read more)


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Discerning Israel Sept 17 Elections

16 09 2019

OmarToday I urge prayer and discernment for Israel as they go to the polls. I will add an update in two days with results. But right now we pray for Yehovah God’s purpose be fulfilled. If you want your prayers answered, pray what God has already said He will do. If you pray for a Palestinian state in the God-given territory allotted to Israel, your prayer will not be answered. He is opposed to dividing the land (Joel 3:2). The land-for-peace idea and the two-state idea have both failed miserably. Yet the mantra goes on. Consider this example of “election interference” on CBS Face the Nation Sunday by US Rep. Ilhan Omar.

Ilhan Omar: Netanyahu’s ‘existence’ a problem – Controversial congresswoman says “existence” of PM is “contradictory” to peace, reiterates support for BDS. Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s “existence” a problem in an interview with CBS’ Face the Nation program.

“I certainly hope that the people of Israel make a different decision. And my hope is that they recognize that his existence, his policies, his rhetoric really is contradictory to the peace that we are all hoping that that region receives and receives soon,” Omar told host Margaret Brennan. INN

Aside from the fact that the two-state idea is dead, do you know the Muslim concept of peace? There will be peace when all the world either joins Islam or is defeated by Islam. For Omar to state that Netanyahu’s “existence” is the problem, says all you need to know about her bias. He has been freely elected Prime Minister  multiple times by the democratic will of the Israeli citizens, both Jew and Arab.

The polls open in Israel in about nine hours, about midnight East Coast time. Please pray tonight and all day tomorrow as Israel votes. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move on the voters to choose wisely and hear God’s voice. I do not support every idea of the Israeli government, just as I do not believe every US Administration decision is right. But I am convinced that God is working in both leaders for His purpose. Pray, pray, pray!

Check back here Wednesday for the update.

Wednesday Update: The election gave no clear winner, so a unity of several factions is likely with or without PM Netanyahu. We wait and pray. Here is good analysis from the Editor-in-Chief of Jerusalem Post, Yaachov Katz: Four scenarios I see moving forward:   1. Gantz goes first, fails to form gov’t. Then Bibi tries & public pressure pushes Gantz (w/o Lapid) into Likud’s arms.   2. Bibi goes first & fails. Gantz begins & offers Likud rotation as PM w/o Bibi. Likud cuts off head & joins Gantz.   3. Bibi offers Liberman rotation as PM. Serves 1-2 years, passes immunity-related bills and then Liberman takes over.   4. After 12 weeks, no one succeeds in forming gov’t and we head to round three (ex-PM Olmert predicted next election in February).

 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, ​​I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of  Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” Joel 3:1-2

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for the rainy season to begin.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists                  (Read more)

 


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Israel Good News: Aliyah Rises

7 09 2019

Aliyah 19

ALIYAH RISES BY 30%: Jewish aliya (immigration) to Israel rose by nearly 30% in the first half of 2019 over the same period last year. The sharp increase in newcomers, 16,005 arrivals, has been attributed to Russian speakers from countries facing financial problems, nationalism, and crackdowns on civil liberties. The majority of immigrants came from Russia, where aliyah rose by 72% to 7,884 arrivals this year, and Ukraine, which saw a 9% increase to 3,007 immigrants. (JNN)

“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 43:6

What a day to be alive, to see the scattered captives of Israel returning by the millions in our lifetime. It is truly a resurrection miracle. A nation that was exiled, a language that was dead, and a people without hope, are now growing, blossoming, prospering in their own land. Hallelujah! Yehovah God is faithful.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain in the time of latter rain.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists                  (Read more)


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Biased Much?

15 07 2019

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Lobbying for Israel

11 07 2019
Israel lives

Christians United for Israel 2019 Summit

Doreen and I just returned from 4 days in Washington, DC with Christians United for Israel. CUFI is the largest Christian pro-Israel group in the world at 7.1 million members! We heard an amazing array of speakers gathered together in one place by Pastor John Hagee, the founder of CUFI.

Speakers included VP Mike Pence, Sec. of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton, US Ambassador David Friedman, Holocaust survivor Irving Roth, National Jewish leader Malcolm Hoenlein,Watchman Host Erick Stakelbeck, 2 IDF Commanders, 4 Senators, several Congressmen and many others. Their college outreach, CUFI on Campus, now has chapters on some 300+ universities. What an inspirational experience! Here is a YouTube link to the videos of the speakers. Enjoy!

Yet, the goal of the Summit was for the 5,000 people from all 50 states to lobby our representatives for pro-Israel legislation. It was our privilege to meet with staff of Senator Thom Tillis, and then four of us in a personal meeting with our Congressman, George Holding of NC District 2. He was totally willing to stand with Israel regarding the three bills we shared.

On a personal note, we enjoyed taking the train from Raleigh to DC and also took time the last day to visit the new Bible Museum near the National Mall. It was an outstanding experience and you could spend days researching the massive treasure trove of material, interactive displays, videos and ancient archaeological artifacts.

Keep praying and acting for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain in the time of latter rain.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists              (Read more)


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Is Israel the Garden of Eden?

20 05 2019
Yad Vashem view today

View from Yad Vashem today

“So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden;” Ezekiel 36:35

Doreen and I first visited Israel 35 years ago in 1984. My memory of the Jerusalem hills is that they were rocky and quite barren. The picture below is from that trip. You can see the horizon, beyond the sculpture. It is clear that there are relatively few trees. The above picture is close to the same area today! (Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center)

1984 at Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem view in 1984

Am I saying that Israel is the garden of Eden? I really don’t know where it was, but the promise is clear. People will “say” that it is like the garden of Eden. That is my point. The contrast from just the last 35 years is stark. Imagine the changes since Jew first started returning to the land 150 years ago! More than 250 million trees have been planted since 1900. The Jewish National Fund plants 3 million trees as year!

Thus says the Lord Yehovah: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, Yehovah, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, Yehovah, have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:33-36

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists                (Read more)


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Abortion Constitutional Right?

16 05 2019

bernie-sandersBernie Sanders tweeted this week that abortion is a constitutional right. Really? … Only in a bizzaro, upside-down world. Have you ever heard of the “right to life” movement? Where did they get their catchy slogan? Oh wait, the constitution, or more specifically the Declaration of Independence!

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Declaration of Independence 2nd paragraph)

There are greatly profound words here. These truths are undeniable rights.

  1. They are obvious (self-evident). An earlier draft said “sacred and undeniable!
  2. These truths are equally granted to everyone (no caste system here).
  3. These rights come from the CREATOR (the living God who is the source).
  4. These truths belong to everyone and cannot be taken away or transferred (unalienable).

Then the three classic examples are given in ascending order. Life itself is first (obviously!) or the other two don’t exist. Life is granted by the CREATOR and it is guaranteed by the good government constituted by the founders and expressed in the Declaration. Government exists to preserve this most basic right: to LIFE. 

It is only in life that liberty and happiness may result. For Bernie Sanders to brazenly contradict the specific words of the Declaration of Independence is nothing short of political blasphemy. Abortion has taken the LIFE of 60 million babies since 1973 in America. Talk about genocide!

For years we have talked about Psalm 83 in this blog in the context of Israel’s current threat of war from the bordering nations. But it starts with a transcendent revelation explaining why they attack Israel. They hate God! They only attack Israel because they can’t reach God, so they go after those He loves. Notice the underlined words:

Do not keep silent, O God! ​​Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! ​​For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. ​​They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. ​​They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” ​​For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: Psalm 83:1-5

Therefore, I submit that abortion is the ultimate rebellion against God, against LIFE itself. May Yehovah God our Father, and His Son Yeshua, have mercy on our land and give us His Holy Spirit!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists                   (Read more)


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