VFI & JSH Conference in the USA in Charlotte, NC – April 10-12, 2008. Speakers include: Michael Brown, Jay Sekulow, Howard Morgan, Bob Weiner, Barry Segal and Claren McQueen.  Conference theme is:  The Restoration of Israel and the Nations. 
Register now: www.visionforisrael.com

UPDATE ON AMIEL ORTIZ: Ami had successful eye surgery a few days ago and will regain his eyesight. He has lost two toes due to the fierce explosion. His burns are healing faster than doctors expected but continue to pray. The police investigation proceeds with positive signs they have leads. People should write the Foreign Ministry in Israel, the Prime Minister’s office, the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism and express their concerns about this growing trend of violence and religious hatred by extremist groups against Jewish and Christian believers living in Israel.

ISLAM SURPASSES ROMAN CATHOLICISM AS WORLD'S LARGEST RELIGION: Islam, for the first time in history, has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican said Sunday.  Catholics accounted for 17.4% of the world population, while Muslims comprised 19.2% according to this year's Vatican yearbook. The increase is attributed to far higher birth rates among Muslim families, while Christians tend to have fewer and fewer children. Such news is ominous considering Islam's agenda to dominate the world. (Ynet) "Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you." Is: 60:2  

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ALLAM: Magdi Allam, one of the leading and most courageous Muslim intellectuals in Europe today, converted to Christianity last Saturday night. The baptism conducted by the Pontiff himself, widely impacted both Christian and Muslim worlds. For years Allam, 56, has sharply condemned radical Islam. After a long and agonizing path, he says, he came to the conclusion the Arab states' refusal to recognize Israel was to the Palestinians' detriment, and the Muslim culture in which he was raised nurtured falsehood, tyranny, hatred, violence and death. He concluded the universal defense of the sanctity of life goes hand in hand with the defense of Israel's right to exist. The Pontiff conducted the baptism without making any personal distinctions regarding the identity of the convert. He said all newcomers to the faith were "equally important before God's love and welcome in the community of the Church." Allam described his baptism as the most beautiful day of his life. "I was reborn...I have discovered the one true God," he said. (Haaretz) "Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. Ps 144:15

USA VERY SURPRISED AT EXTENT OF ISRAELI CONCESSIONS: Israeli diplomatic sources said Sunday the American delegation was very surprised at the extent of Israeli concessions to the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority. The latest Israeli concessions to the PA in Judea and Samaria include permission for construction of two new Arab neighborhoods in the Ramallah area, with a total of 5,000 to 8,000 housing units. In addition, some 50 closed roads will be opened in Samaria and a permanent IDF checkpoint near Rimonim will be removed. (INN)

CHASM IN ARAB WORLD: HALF OF ITS LEADERS SKIPPED ARAB SUMMIT: "The strength of the Arabs is in their solidarity," was this year's slogan for the Arab League Summit in Damascus, but the Arab world has not been this fragmented for a long time. The leaders of 12 Arab nations did not attend the conference which started March 24th. One source said decision-makers declined to participate since there is no progress on the Lebanon issue. This topic relates to Arab counties' demands, led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt, that Syria help find a solution to the political crisis in Lebanon, and allow the election of a new president. The Arab peace initiative is also not expected to see any progress. (Haaretz) Pray all unity will be scattered among the enemies of Israel.

ABBAS URGES ARAB INT'L FORCES TO PROTECT PALESTINIANS FROM IDF: PA President Mahmoud Abbas, March 29th, called on Arab and international forces in the Palestinian territories to protect his people against Israeli attacks. It marked the first time he has urged Arab countries to send forces. In his speech at the annual Arab summit, Abbas accused Israel of undermining the basis for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and of attacking Gaza and killing innocent Palestinians. (J.Post) Editors comment: Abbas is supposed to be Israel's Palestinian peace partner.  He said nothing about recent brutal Palestinian terrorist attacks on Israel or the daily Kassam rocket fire on Israel's southern cities.

CHENEY TO PALESTINIANS: 'END TERROR, GET A STATE': During his visit to Israel last week US VP Cheney said the Palestinians Arabs' ongoing use of terrorist violence against Israel's Jews is the primary roadblock to creating a Palestinian Arab state. Cheney singled out the incessant Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza, insisting they are both killing and wounding innocent civilians, as well as "legitimate hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people." Cheney also said it is clear Syria and Iran are aiding Hamas and other Palestinian elements opposed to peace in torpedoing negotiations through violence. (Israel Today)

CLOSE TO 2,400 AFRICAN REFUGEES HAVE ENTERED ISRAEL THIS YEAR: Some 2,400 African refugees have crossed the border into Israel from Egypt since the beginning of 2008. The total number of African refugees to have entered Israel is estimated at 6,000. As many as 2,600 of these displaced people live in Tel Aviv. Many dwell in abysmal conditions at shelters and parks throughout the southern part of the city. (Haaretz)

ISRAEL SUFFERS WORST DROUGHT IN DECADE: Israel is suffering its worst drought in a decade and will have to stop pumping from one of its main sources of drinking water, the Sea of Galilee, by the end of the summer. This winter was the fourth in a row in which Israel had only 50-60% of average rainfall in most areas. Israel has two desalination plants, with three more scheduled to be completed by 2013. (AP) "They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Jer. 2:13

TOUR GROUPS COMING TO ISRAEL:  We are preparing packages for families and are in critical need of specific items.  We need groups to assist us by bringing some desperately needed items in an extra suitcase or in your belongings.  You can email us at info@visionforisrael.com to receive a list of the most needed items.  This act of kindness and generosity, would bless these families greatly. “Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.” Deut 15:10

Jerusalem On The Line, a weekly prayer and news update, conveys the pulse beat of Israel and surrounding Middle East countries with concise, hot-off-the-press information.  Writing and editing staff members heed the cry from those who love the Jewish nation and desire to pray intelligently to please keep sending accurate news from Jerusalem as there is so little in the foreign media.  We seek to alert, inform and educate on events and concerns locally, as well as trends developing abroad that pertain to Israel and the Jewish people. Jerusalem On The Line is translated into German, Dutch, French and Polish. Consider making a donation in support of this important global outreach at: www.jnnnews.com/donations.htm

Shop on-line at: www.greetingsfromjerusalem.com.  Purchase high quality Messianic and Judaica gifts, a wide assortment of books, praise and worship music, videos, jewelry and study materials. This is a tangible way to show support and solidarity with our people in Israel. (For N. America only at this time.)

SAVE THE DATE AND PLAN AHEAD:
VFI & JSH Conference in the USA in Charlotte, NC – April 10-12, 2008. Speakers include: Michael Brown, Jay Sekulow, Howard Morgan, Bob Weiner, Barry Segal and Claren McQueen.  Conference theme is:  The Restoration of Israel and the Nations.

VFI & JSH Conference in The Netherlands – June 6-8, 2008.

VFI & JSH Conference in Bromsgrove, England – June 28, 2008. Join us for a day of praise and thanksgiving for 10 years of The Joseph Storehouse at Bromsgrove. Celebrations will include a dedication of the UK Storehouse which is presently being reorganized and expanded.

Succot Tour & Celebration: October 12-24, 2008 – for USA participants there will be a direct flight with Delta from Atlanta leaving on October 11th. The package price, including tips, is $3,099. Call JDI Tours in the USA at 248.340.9191.  There are only 30 places left for this exciting tour group from the USA.  Sign up now, otherwise alternative flights will have to found.

We are so grateful to all our wonderful volunteers who come from so many different places to work tirelessly at The Joseph Storehouse in Israel. We are always glad to have more volunteers, there is so much work to do, and if you have the opportunity to come and work with us, please contact us at info@visionforisrael.com and you will be most welcome in Jerusalem.

Special Request: If you are visiting Israel soon we have an urgent need to receive supplies of vitamins and toiletries at The Joseph Storehouse. If you have spare luggage capacity we would be really grateful if you would bring some with you. Please visit www.visionforisrael.com for more information.

Blessings from Jerusalem,
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff