LIBYAN AID SHIP DOCKS IN EGYPT INSTEAD OF GAZA:  Another crisis on the high seas was averted on Wednesday when a Libyan-chartered humanitarian aid ship decided not to challenge Israel's maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip and instead docked in the Egyptian port of El-Arish. Egyptian officials said the ship's cargo of food and medical supplies would be transferred to Gaza over land. The organization that funded the ship had until Wednesday insisted it would sail for Gaza and would not surrender to Israeli demands that it alter course either for Egypt or the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israeli commandos were prepared to board and seize control of the ship if it tried to enter Gaza's territorial waters. (Israel Today)

ABBAS CALLS ON HAMAS TO RECONCILE WITH FATAH: Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas issued a renewed call to the Hamas terror group to sign an Egyptian-mediated reconciliation document. The proposed agreement would allow elections to take place in the PA, which is currently split between the Fatah-controlled area in Judea and Samaria and the Hamas-controlled area of Gaza. The US and Israel oppose a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.  Hamas is an avowed terrorist group.  Fatah claims it has renounced violence against Israel and is therefore a legitimate political entity and peace partner.  Israel conducts negotiations with Fatah despite the fact its members have carried out attacks killing hundreds of Israeli civilians in the past decade alone. These attacks often intentionally targeted small children.  Washington expects any Palestinian Authority government to follow the conditions of the Quartet (the US, Russia, the UN and the EU), which include recognition of the State of Israel, acceptance of earlier agreements and the renouncing of terrorism.  Hamas has steadfastly refused to recognize the State of Israel, recognize previous agreements or renounce terrorism. (INN)  Fatah headed by Mahmoud Abbas disguises itself as Israel’s “peace partner” to gain international aid and recognition. Continue to pray Hamas and Fatah factions will not be united and hence pose an even greater threat to the Jewish state.

ABBAS PRAISES DECEASED MUNICH MASTERMIND: Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the American-backed Palestinian Authority, praised Mohammed Oudeh in a telegram Wednesday.  Oudeh, who recently died of kidney failure was the key planner of the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack that was financed by Abbas and killed 11 Israeli athletes.  "How wonderful he is as a brother, a friend, a tough and uncompromising fighter," Abbas reportedly wrote about Oudeh.  (Israel National News)

KNESSET VOTES: NO MONEY FOR PA IF IT BOYCOTTS ISRAEL: The Knesset recently voted in favor of a bill that would prevent the transfer of funds to the Palestinian Authority, (Israel’s so called peace partner) if it continues to encourage and enforce a boycott of goods manufactured in Jewish communities. The bill makes it illegal to initiate or encourage the boycott of individuals, factories, firms and organizations anywhere within Israel. The new measure would also provide compensation to businesses hurt by the Palestinian boycott. Coalition Chairman Ze'ev Elkin (Likud), explained that Israel must defend itself from processes of delegitimization that have increased recently. (Arutz-7)  A member of the central council of the Fatah party, headed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, some weeks ago called on the Palestinian Authority to extend its boycott of Yesha (Judea and Samaria) products to all of Israel.  Mahmoud al Aylool said an all-out boycott of all Israeli products is “legitimate resistance” and is effective because the PA market is Israel’s second largest outside of the US.  Previous agreements between the PA and Israel ensure open markets and implicitly prohibit boycotts.  PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, several weeks ago, attended a public burning of thousands of dollars of Jewish products that were confiscated, and PA forces have arrested several Arabs for purchasing Jewish goods.

PRO-ISRAEL GROUP HAILS PRESBYTERIANS FOR AMENDING RESOLUTION: The Presbyterian Church's General Assembly amended at week's end a report that had originally condemned Israel as an “apartheid” state and called for divestment from it.  A group of influential pastors from within the denomination including Rev. John Buchanan was unhappy with the report issued by the USA's Middle East Study Committee. That report was so harshly anti-Israeli that even radical leftist group J-Street took exception to it.  After a group known as Presbyterians for Middle East Peace called on the assembly to reject the report in its entirety, it was decided to delete the historical analysis from the report and replace it with eight personal narratives – four pro-Arab and four pro-Israeli ones – which have yet to be written. The committee also added a clause that affirmed Israel’s right to exist. (Arutz-7)

JERUSALEM NAMED BEST CITY IN MID-EAST BY TRAVEL AND LEISURE MAGAZINE: Jerusalem has been named the best city in the region of Africa and the Middle East by the New York-based Travel and Leisure magazine.  Cape Town, South Africa came in second, with Tel Aviv ranking third.  The results were based on a questionnaire answered by readers, who ranked cities based on their enjoyment of sights, culture and arts, dining and food, local people, shopping and value. Tourism has been record-breaking in Israel in 2010. (INN) “Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night.” Isa 60:11

UNEARTHED FRAGMENT BEARS OLDEST TEXT FOUND IN JERUSALEM: Archaeologists in Jerusalem have uncovered an ancient clay fragment dating back some 3,400 years, the oldest-ever sample of writing found in the Holy City. The tiny fragment measures about one square inch and is covered with cuneiform script, the earliest known form of writing in the world. The clay chip is a key find which indicates the importance of the city in the Bronze Age, around 1,400 BC, researchers said. The minuscule chip is believed to have been part of the royal archives. Before now, the oldest sample of text ever discovered in Jerusalem was a tablet found in the same area that dates back to the eight century BC reign of the biblical King Hezekiah. The tiny clay fragment predates that tablet by about 600 years. (AFP)

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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