PM: DIRECT TALKS TO BEGIN SOON: Speaking in New York Wednesday, PM Binyamin Netanyahu said direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority would begin “soon,” and that the talks would be difficult.  Netanyahu outlined security, legitimacy and prosperity as the three pillars of successful peace. He commented there are two lines of attack against Israel: the denial of the Jewish people’s connection to the land of Israel and the denial of Israel’s right to protect itself.  “So much of the world supports Israel’s right to defend itself in theory, but consistently condemns it in practice. But the purpose of the Jewish state is to defend Jewish lives,” said Netanyahu.  He stated that Israel faces three great challenges in the coming months: (1) staying focused on preventing a nuclear Iran, (2) redoubling its efforts to find the path to peace with the Palestinians and (3) uniting against any effort to challenge Israel’s right to defend itself. US President Obama said Tuesday he expected direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to begin “well before” a moratorium on settlement construction in Israel expired at the end of September. Tuesday's meeting between US President Obama and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to go well, but right-wing Israeli lawmakers, with good reason, said they remain wary of the American leader. (INN)

‘OBAMA APPEARS DETACHED FROM ISRAEL’ SAYS FORMER US NEGOTIATOR: Time is working against US President Obama, who appears to be “detached" from Israel, former US Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller commented on Tuesday. He maintains “there is not much of a US strategy yet” for Middle East peace. The Republican Party has pounced on President Obama for his shabby treatment of PM Netanyahu during his visit earlier this year and for its lukewarm support of Israel over the flotilla clash with Turkish terror activists. Miller also said that unlike former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, “who seemed in love with Israel…Obama seems detached.” (INN)

MK ORLEV TELLS PM TO GIVE OBAMA A LESSON ON PA SCHOOL SYLLABUS: MK Zevulun Orlev, who chairs the Knesset Education Committee, asked PM Netanyahu to bring up the subject of the incitement to hatred that fills PA textbooks while meeting with Obama this week. He asked the PM to tell Obama the conclusions of the Knesset Committee’s Monday discussion on the subject…. “When the curriculum is based on a sequence that starts with Holocaust denial, and goes on to teach that Israel’s existence is not legitimate and that a violent struggle must be waged against Israel, there is not much chance of a Palestinian leader completing a peace process,” Orlev said at the meeting. “If one’s cultural milieu does not allow for discourse, it is no surprise that when former PM’s Olmert and Barak each offered the Palestinians everything and anything, they still refused to make peace. Their educational framework doesn’t allow them to consider peace and the recognition of Israel as a legitimate neighbor as options.” (Arutz-7)  Hatred for Israel and the Jewish people is at the very roots of Islam’s tenets.

ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC TO PLAY FOR SHALIT OUTSIDE GAZA:  Zubin Mehta will conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra outside Gaza, demanding that Hamas allow a Red Cross visit to Gilad Shalit. Renowned conductor Zubin Mehta will conduct the concert. Mehta said he hopes the concert will inspire Gaza residents to pressure Hamas to allow the International Red Cross to see Shalit, who has been denied contact with human rights groups since being kidnapped in 2006. The concert coincides with a 12-day march to Jerusalem calling for Shalit's freedom.  (INN) Continue to pray for G-d’s intervention with a miracle for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit.

SYRIA WARNS ISRAEL’S RIFT WITH TURKEY UNDERMINES PEACE: Syrian President Bashar Assad supports Turkey in its diplomatic crisis with Israel and warned that Israel undermines stability in the Middle East. Assad warned Israel that it is risking what he called Turkey’s significance in regional peace talks. If relations between Israel and Turkey are not renewed, it will be very difficult for Turkey to continue its role in the negotiations,” according to the Syrian leader. Turkey has threatened it will cut off diplomatic ties with Israel if Jerusalem does not apologize for the May 31 flotilla clash. Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman stated Monday that if anyone should apologize for the incident, it should be Turkey, which sponsored the IHH flotilla ship whose Turkish terror activists attacked Navy commandos. (INN)

NEW IMMIGRANTS FULFILL PROPHECY OF INGATHERING: Though international politics and intrigue have turned up the heat on another Israeli summer, a breath of fresh air breezed into the country on the tail of an El Al plane on Wednesday, as 232 North American Jews made aliyah.  Among the new citizens are a five-month-old, a 95-year old, 96 children, 27 new Israel Defense Forces soldiers, and 4 dogs hailing from 21 states. (INN) “I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.”  Amos 9:14

ISRAELI PUPILS WIN GLOBAL SCIENCE COMPETITION: Israeli high school students made an impressive showing at the world physics competition known as The First Step to a Nobel Prize in Physics, taking home gold and silver medals. High school students from 75 countries competed in the competition. Israeli twelfth-grader from Beersheba, Eli Goudinevsky, won the gold medal.  Israeli students Evelyn Jenis from Beersheba and Daniel Achdut from Netanya won silver medals in the competition. Dorin Yerhi from Arad won a silver medal. (Ynet)

JOBLESS CLAIMS DOWN 24%: Israel's National Insurance Institute said the first half of 2010 saw steadfast decline in applications for unemployment benefits. The first half of 2010 has noted a 24% decrease in jobless claims and a 9% drop in unemployment benefits applications filed with the National Insurance Institute.  Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog commented on the data, saying that "Despite the steady decrease in jobless claims, as evident from the past six months, we still have high unemployment rates." (Ynet)

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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, 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. This year there will be a direct flight from the USA with no stopovers in Europe! For more information and instructions on how to participate go to: www.succotcelebration.com 


Blessings from Jerusalem,
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff