CHRISTIAN STUDENTS TO DEFEND ISRAEL ABROAD: In recent years more and more Israeli politicians lecturing in universities abroad have had to deal with disturbances stirred up by pro-Palestinian students, forcing them to halt their lectures, or even canceling them altogether. The phenomenon led Knesset members to come up with a creative solution, realizing the response to Muslim forceful demonstrations will not come from young Jewish students but rather from Christian ones eager to defend Israel. Knesset member David Rotem, began locating and training Christian students in every prestigious university and college in North America and Europe, with the aim of establishing a non-Jewish support group that will represent the Israeli side in each campus.  So far, 150 students have been trained for the program. (Ynet)  “Blessed are you, O Israel!  Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?  He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.”  Deut 33:29

1.5 BILLION BARRELS OF OIL DISCOVERED IN ISRAEL:  On August 18, an Israeli oil exploration company announced an oil field near Rosh Ha’Ayin, which potentially holds 1.525 billion barrels worth of oil. However, it didn’t provide further details about the site’s daily production capacity, the production cost and whether the site is economically viable.  The amount of recoverable oil will only be known when a final report is released in September. Despite the lack of details about the economic feasibility of the find, by early morning the media was full of headlines announcing the exploration's possibilities. "This is a joyful and heart-warming discovery," said Amir Makov, the Chairman of Israel Institute of Petroleum. (Worthy News)

SUCCOT 2010 CELEBRATION AND TOUR TO ISRAEL: SEPT. 22 TO SEPT. 29:  Barry and Batya Segal extend a warm invitation for you to attend The Succot Celebration (Feast of Tabernacles) in Jerusalem together with the remnant of Israel and the remnant from the nations. Speakers and worship leaders for the 2010 celebration: Lance Lambert, Barry and Batya Segal, Frank and Marlou van Essen, David Silver, Zvi Randelman, Mattheus van der Steen, and more to come. There will be an optional tour group package available beforehand which will be touring all over Israel. For more information and instructions on how to participate go to: www.succotcelebration.com  If you need help with information and flights call Polly at Arch Tours in the UK: +44.(0)1372-843678, and Christine or Dee at JDI Travel in the USA: 1-800-596-5100.

NETANYAHU: FIRST SECURITY; BORDERS AFTERWARDS: Just two days after the US announcement that the PA had agreed to direct talks, many issues still remain unresolved - such as where the talks will be held, who will participate, and what they will deal with.  Sources in PM Netanyahu’s office emphasized that the talks will deal first with final-status security arrangements, and only afterwards with the borders and Israel’s territorial concessions. (INN) Among dozens of valid reasons why Israel is slow and careful in agreeing to the creation of a Palestinian state, is its experience in Gaza.  Israel ended its presence there in 2006, dislodged all of its hardworking Jewish families in the Strip, and left behind millions of dollars worth of agricultural and other facilities designed to make Gaza into an economically-viable democracy.  Land for peace is what the Palestinians promised. Instead the Jewish state received ongoing rocket and suicide attacks against its innocent civilians, issuing from the Gaza Strip - the very area Israel had given over in hopes of peace.  Additionally, the valuable farm equipment, greenhouses and businesses were mostly vandalized or destroyed by Palestinian Arabs. The waste of resources and opportunities freely given by the Jewish state is beyond calculation. Only those who don't know the facts, would desire to see a repeat of so called land for peace deals with Israel’s avowed enemies.  Pray that well-meaning political and religious leaders will be thoroughly informed.

JEWISH ASTRONAUT CONSIDERS ALIYAH: American Jewish astronaut Garrett Reisman is considering immigration to Israel.  Reisman, 42, said the question of whether or not he will live in Israel will be decided based on his ability to find suitable work. Reisman took his first space flight in 2008, when he spent three months in the international space station. During his stay, he gave a live interview from space for the popular American show The Colbert Report. He sent another message as well, congratulating Israel on its 60th Independence Day. (INN)

PREPARING TO REBUILD JOSEPH’S TOMB:  Chief Rabbis, Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger, issued a joint call Thursday to rebuild Joseph's Tomb in Samaria. The tomb, which contains the remains of the Biblical Joseph, has been seriously damaged by Palestinian Authority vandals. The site is under PA control, and for most of the year is closed to Jewish worshippers. On select occasions Jews are allowed in to briefly say prayers under IDF guard. The number of worshippers is limited, and would-be visitors often wait months for their turn to pray at the holy site. The tomb has been vandalized several times and periodically also set on fire since 2000, when Israel turned control of the city of Shechem over to the PA.  In 2009 visitors arrived to discover smashed headstones and swastikas painted on the walls. (Arutz-7)

ISRAEL WINS ‘NOBEL’ OF MATH: Hebrew University of Jerusalem Professor Elon Lindenstrauss has won this year's highest global math honor, the 2010 Fields Medal. He is the first Israeli to have been awarded the prize.  Lindenstrauss, 40, was awarded the prize for work using probabilistic and dynamic systems for solving problems in number theory. The Jerusalem resident is a major member in the IAF elite Talpiot program.  The professor will receive the prize at a ceremony to be held at the International Mathematical Union Congress in India. (Arutz-7)

ISRAEL FINDS RARE 2,200-YEAR-OLD GOLD COIN: Archaeologists have uncovered the heaviest and most valuable gold coin ever found in Israel. The 2,200-year-old coin weighs 28 grams and was found at the Tel Kedesh site near the Lebanon border.  It said this coin is six times the weight of most others from that era. The coin dates back to the rule of the Iraq-based Seleucid Empire, though it was minted by the rival Egyptian Ptolemies. It is only the second gold Ptolemaic coin ever found in Israel. (Ynet)

CYPRUS TO BLOCK LEBANESE SHIP FROM GAZA: A ship full of female activists intent on breaking Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza plans to set sail Sunday from Lebanon. The “Maryam,” is unlikely to make it past Cyprus, its first port of call, due to the fact that Lebanon is technically still at war with Israel, thus prohibiting direct travel. The Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon announced his nation will not allow the pro-Hamas vessel to proceed to Gaza. (INN)

YOUR DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED: Please continue to enable us to assist terrorist victims, entire households suffering from poverty, the elderly and others in need in Israel. Your donations are needed and welcomed at www.visionforisrael.com  Make your online donation today. For residents in the UK and outside North America you can visit www.josephstorehouse.co.uk

Blessings from Jerusalem,
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff