HAMAS FOUNDER’S SON HELPED ISRAEL’S SHIN BET FOIL ATTACK ON PERES: An attempt on the life of then-foreign minister Shimon Peres in 2001 was foiled by Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of one of the founders of Hamas who worked for more than a decade as a Shin Bet security service agent. The terrorist plot, concocted by senior Hamas terrorist Abdullah Barghouti, is revealed in Yousef's soon to be released book "Son of Hamas."  One of his former Shin Bet handlers confirmed his role in thwarting the plot on Peres and also in foiling a plan to assassinate another senior Israeli official. None of his actions were done for money.  Yousef became an evangelical Christian and moved to the US in 2007. He has said that from an early age he was appalled by the brutality of the Hamas movement. “The root of the problem is Islam itself as an idea,” he added. (Ha’aretz) “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt 5:44   Pray other terrorists will turn from evil through the revelation of Yeshua.

HAMAS LEADER KILLED IN DUBAI USED MULTIPLE PASSPORTS IN ARMS DEALS: Mahmud al-Mabhuh, the Hamas strongman assassinated in Dubai last month, often altered his appearance and used multiple passports to facilitate the terrorist organization's arms trade, a close associate said Thurs.  "He used to supply money and arms to Hamas and other allied factions," said the confidant, who is based in the Gaza Strip.  Mabhouh was killed last month in his hotel room in what Dubai police say was a hit by Israel's Mossad spy agency.  Israel has neither denied nor confirmed the charge. Dubai authorities have named 26 alleged members of the team that tracked and killed the terrorist leader and said they used fraudulent British, Irish, French, German and Australian passports, and disguises. People with the same names of many of the suspects live in Israel and say their identities were stolen. The passport abuse has drawn criticism from the EU. Some of the governments involved have summoned their Israeli ambassadors. (Ha’aretz)

WASHINGTON SLAMS ISRAEL OVER DESIGNATING HERITAGE SITES: The Obama administration criticized Israel last week for designating two shrines in the West Bank as Israeli national heritage sites.  State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the administration viewed the move as provocative and unhelpful to the goal of getting the two sides back to the peace table. Toner said US displeasure with the designations of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and the traditional tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel in Bethlehem had been conveyed to senior Israeli officials. The Palestinians claim all the West Bank as part of a future state. The move heightened long-standing tensions, particularly around the shrine in Hebron.  Jews revere the site as the Cave of the Patriarchs, where the Bible says the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried along with three of their wives. (Ha’aretz)

1,000 VISITORS TO JOSEPH’S TOMB IN SCHECHEM: The ancient Jewish Biblical sites in Judea and Samaria continue to make headline news: Following the mass entry into Jericho and an ancient synagogue there last week, and after PM Binyamin Netanyahu included the Machpelah Cave and Rachel’s Tomb on the new National Heritage Site list, it’s now the turn of Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem.  A crowd of over 1,000 people from across Israel made their way to Joseph’s Tomb on Wed. night, in honor of the Fast of Esther.  MK Danny Danon expressed dismay at the Arab vandalism he saw there, especially the site’s smashed dome. “It is shocking to see the barbarism of those who are supposed to be our partners in peace,” Danon said. (INN) “And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants. Josh 24:32

FATAH TOLD TO IMMORTALIZE MARTYRS: Mahmoud Al-Alul of the Fatah central committee said last week Fatah will continue to immortalize all its terrorists, especially Dalal Al-Mughrabi, second in command in the 1978 Bloody Coast attack, in which 35 people were murdered and 71 wounded. Speaking at a gathering in Ramallah to mark the anniversary of the event, the former governor of Shechem said Fatah has to be proud of every martyr and bequeath the "heritage of struggle" to future generations. (INN)

AHMADINEJAD: ARAB WORLD WILL USHER IN NEW MIDEAST WITHOUT ZIONISTS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday Arab nations will usher in a new Middle East without Zionists and without colonialists. Ahmadinejad made the comments during his visit in Syria, where he met with President Bashar Assad, following recent US efforts to end Syria's 30-year alliance with Tehran. The Iranian president also said "if the Zionist regime wants to repeat its past mistakes, this will constitute its annihilation."  Assad reconfirmed his strong support for Iran.  Ahmadinejad said Iran, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon will all stand against Israel.  He emphasized Syria is on the front line against Israel. (Ha’aretz) “But you give us victory over our enemies. You put our adversaries to shame.”  Ps 44:7

GALLUP POLL: AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AT A NEAR 20 YEAR HIGH: American sympathy for Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict has surged, with 63% of Americans saying they side more with Israelis than with Palestinians, according to a new Gallup poll which was conducted in February. (INN)

NEW BLOOD TEST TO DETECT CHANCE OF HEART ATTACK, STROKE: A new blood test, the PLAC Test, will serve as an early warning system for seemingly healthy patients who may be on the verge of having a heart attack or stroke.  Dr. Osama Hussein, chief of internal medicine at Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat, said the test can identify risks of life threatening episodes and enable the provision of intensive drug treatment, reducing by 50% the risk of stroke or heart attack.” (INN)

MEETING ISRAEL’S NEEDS DURING INCREASINGLY TROUBLED TIMES: The National Insurance Institute's annual Poverty Report released Nov. 2009, paints an extremely grim picture: There are 1,651,300 needy people living in Israel, including 783,600 children. Hardship is mounting. 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  If you prefer to send your donation by check, you can mail it in to the Israel address or the addresses in the USA and the UK or one of our other branches in The Netherlands and Germany:     

Vision for Israel   P.O. Box 7265   Jerusalem, 91073 Israel

The Joseph Storehouse Trust  P.O.Swindon, SN3 4FB Box 5    England

Vision for Israel P.O. Box 7743 Charlotte, NC  28241 USA

Blessings from Jerusalem,
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff