UPDATE ON AMIEL ORTIZ: Ami's physicians continue to deem every point of his recovery a miracle. They say he will even play basketball again! Ami needs prayer for full restoration of his hearing and further healing of injuries.

ANOTHER GAZA CHRISTIAN ABDUCTED BY MUSLIMS: Fuad Ayyad, a Christian resident of Gaza City, was abducted days ago by Muslim assailants. Fuad is a relative of Rami Ayyad, the 32-year-old director of Gaza's only Christian bookstore who was brutally executed last October by Islamists intent on imposing strict religious law in the area. A Palestinian newspaper also reported last week Muslims in Nablus had vandalized a local Christian cemetery, smashing many of the tombstones. (Israel Today) "The hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies." Is 66:14

'ALLYING WITH CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS IS BAD FOR ISRAEL': Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, told the annual conference of the movement's rabbis that an alliance with Christian Zionists was harmful and must be rejected for the sake of Israel. Yoffie claimed Evangelicals reject a two-state solution and oppose Israeli territorial concessions, and for those reasons the Reform Movement cannot cooperate with them. Two years ago, Yoffie slammed the Evangelicals' opposition to homosexuality. (Haaretz) "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Is 56:7

ISRAEL'S LARGEST MILITARY DRILL EVER: Israel is conducting its largest ever nationwide drill this week to simulate a massive attack on its Home Front, possibly by a joint Iranian/Syrian missile strike. Lasting five days, the drill will begin with security-related government departments and assess their readiness for a true conflict. All of Israel's major infrastructure services from the police to hospitals to all military sectors will be involved in simulations. The public is being asked to find the nearest bomb shelters or closed rooms during sirens on Tuesday. Clear messages were sent to Syria that the week's operation is a drill and not a threat. (IHC)

IRANIAN MORTARS NEGATE SOUTHERN ISRAEL DEFENSES: Numerous mortar shells fired at southern Israel by Gaza-based Palestinian forces last week were Iranian-made 120mm shells. They have a range of five miles and far greater destructive capabilities than Gaza- produced Qassams. They also travel far faster than the Gaza-made rockets rendering obsolete early warning systems installed in several southern communities. Residents now have no time to reach safety before an attack. In a recent report the US State Department said Iran was the world's "most active state sponsor of terrorism." US officials claimed Iran provides funding, weapons, training, and sanctuary to numerous terrorist groups based in the Middle East and elsewhere, posing a security concern to the international community. (J6D)

NEARLY HALF OF ISRAELI ARABS SAY LET IRAN HAVE NUKES: A recent poll conducted by Israel's Haifa University disclosed some 48% of Israeli Arabs believe the Islamic Republic should be permitted to develop nuclear weapons. One poll supervisor said the high level of support for Iran is, in most cases, due to their desire for Israel not to be a strong entity and to be stood up to by Arab or Islamic states. The survey also found 75.5% of Israeli Arab citizens want Israel to hold direct negotiations with Hamas. Some 84% support a two state-solution. While many Arab Israelis prefer to reside in the Jewish nation a large majority would clearly support Israel's hurt, weakness or defeat. (Haaretz)

AL-QAEDA DEPUTY SAYS UN ENEMY OF ISLAM - JIHAD INFLUENCE TO SPREAD: Al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a new online audio recording, said the UN is the enemy of Islam and Muslims because it "legitimized the setting up of the State of Israel." He predicted when Americans exit from Iraq the jihad influence will move towards Jerusalem. He vowed his terror organization would strike Jews within and outside Israel. (Haaretz) "I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run." Exodus 23:27

IDF DEPUTY CHIEF VOWS 'PAINFUL' RESPONSE TO ANY ATTACK ON ISRAEL: IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Dan Harel days ago warned Israel's enemies not to attack, saying, "anyone who tries to harm Israel must remember it is the strongest country in the region, and retaliation will be powerful and painful."  Harel's words came during a briefing hours after a well known Arabic-language newspaper reported the Syrian army was calling up part of its reserves over fears of an IDF offensive. (Haaretz)

CONGRESS RECOGNIZES JEWISH REFUGEES FROM ARAB COUNTRIES: The US House of Representatives approved an unprecedented resolution last week recognizing Jewish refugees from Arab countries who were banished following the creation of the state of Israel. US officials involved in Middle East peace negotiations which reference the Palestinian refugee question must now "also include a similarly explicit reference to the resolution of the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries." Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) said the world needs to understand it is not just the Arabs and it's not just the Palestinians in the Middle East, but also Jewish people who themselves were dispossessed of their possessions and their homes, and were victims of terrorist acts. (Haaretz) "...Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is close at hand..." Is 56:1

TIBERIAS TO RECONSTRUCT ANCIENT ROMAN CITY: The Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of Tiberias have announced plans for an archaeological park modeled on the Roman city that existed on the shores of the Sea of Galilee 2,000 years ago. The new center will feature a visitor's center, recreation facilities for children, an amphitheater and more. (INN)

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 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